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HI S TORY 



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EA S T- 1 N D I ES. 



WITH BRIEF 



OBSERVATIONS 



O N TH E 



Religion, Cuftoms, Manners and Trade of 

the Inhabitants. 

with a 

Defcription of all the Fort* and {Settlements of the 

Europeans, and the Trade carried on by the Eaft* 
India Company; with an Account of the Wars they 
have been engaged in from their firft Settlement by Queen 
Elizabeth in the Year 1601, to the Prefent Time. 

With a M A P of the Country, and feveral other Copper- 
Plates, curioufly engraved by the beft Mailers. 



ByCAfTAiN COPE* 




LONDON: 

Printed for M. Cooper, Pater-nofter-row, W. Reeve, 
Fleet-put, and C. Symfson, at the JftiM-warekoufe, 
Cbanctry-lme, MDCCUV, 



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THE 



PREFACE 



|R. POTTER, the late learned Arch^ 
t bijhop of Canterbury, in bit Antiqui-* 
h ties of Greece, tells us, the ancient At- 
* tkans, were of Opinion, that in the Be~ 
5 ginning of the World, MenandWi/nien, 
\ tike Plants, were in the feveral Parts 
thereof, produced out of the fertile Womb of one com- 
mon Mother, the Earth, by fome Jlrapge prolific Virtue. 
This, though quite contrary to the Mofaic Syjlem, is 
nevertbelefs much more rational and creditable than the 
mating alt Men, every where, Jpring from one Man 
only ; hence the Northern, &c. as well as the Eajlern 
Nations might be, as they certainly were, peopled at one 
and the fame Time, And in this there doth not appear 
the leajl Abfurdity or biconfiftency, fnce that Almighty 
Power, which in Eden produced the firft Man and IVo- 
mdhj was equally capable ofcaufing the Earth in every 
Part of it, IJland as well as Continent, he thought pro- 
Per;, to produce therein alfo aflrft Man and Woman. 

And tbt>' the ancient Fathers were not of this Opinion, 

yet they often in their Dijfuajhes to the People from the 

too eager Purfuit ofRicbes t and in their Reflexions on 

a the 



L. 



ii The P R E F A C E. 

the Hazards and Dangers of the Seas and long Jour- 
nies 'offer -t, that Almighty God has in every Country and 
Nation, provided at Hand all Things necejfary for the 
Support and Convenience of Life, and that whatever 
we want more is not abfolutely necejfary > but are the 
Inventions of Luxury and Vice. 

The Study of Trade and Commerce therefore in the 
early Ages of Chrijlianity gave Place to Religion and 
Devotion \ and from hence it happened, that a vajl 
Number of Monafleries and r^Ugious Houfes tvere- ereSled 
and endowed with large EJiates in this and all other 
Parts of Chrijiendbm; but at length it pleafed God, 
to expel the Darknefs oj Popifo Superjiition, the Worjhip 
of Images, blind 'Devotion, and implicit Faith-, with 
all the Traditions and lying Wonders of defigning Men by 
the IritroduBion or Refioration of primitive Chrijlianity 
under the Difpenfation of Protefiantifm, which has not 
unfitly by fome of our mojl learned Divines been filed, 
the Beginning ofCbrifis Reign hereon Earth, predi&ed 
in the Revelation of St. John. 

Henry the Eighth obferving, that almofl all Property 
wa$ centered in the Hands of the Ecclefiafticks of his 
Time* and being jufily weary of the \ Tyranny and Op- . 
preffim of the See of Rome difcovered the moft effeflual 
Manner Jo put an End to the Dominion and Hierarchy 
of the Church by felling and difpofing of the Abby and 
f acred Lands, to the Laity, which produced this great 
Elejjing that the' new Nobility and Gentry created there- 
by, would fight for their Property, and fupport bis Su- 
premacy. 

Till the glorious Reign of^uen Elizabeth we made 

but\dn vMonfiderable Figure in commercial Affairs* 

and it mufl be allowed, that the .Dijhovery of the Indies 

haw greatly improved the Trade \ Shipping, Naviga-. 

< - ~tion 




ft*. PHEf A C E. # 

tion -and Commerce of all the Europeans. > The Queen 
' and her faithful Council fenfible of the great Utility of a 
Trade to Eaft India incorporated a Society of Merchants 
to carry it on by a Common Fund, -who- extended* their 
Commerce to Arabia, India, China arid Japan; to all 
tvbicb Parts they have from Time to Time exported con- 
fiderable Quantities of our Manufactures', Befides which^ 
this Trade is one of the greatefi Nurferm (f Seamen, 
above Five Thoufand whereof are continually employed, in 
the Service of this Company. . ' 

We yearly export to thefe Parts great Quantities of 
Bullion, Lead, Tin, all Sorts of our Cloths, efpeciauy 
Broad Cloths, Stuff's, Callimancoes, Long-Ells, &c. and 
in Return import, China-ware, Tea of all Sorts* 
Cabinets, Raw and Wrought Silk, Mujlin> Callicoes, 
Cotton-Cloths, Coffee, Canes, Diamonds, Drugs of 
many Kinds, and Grocery Wares of various Sorts* 

This Trade has hitherto proved the, mojl beneficial of 
all others to this Nation, and the Qovefnment truly fen- 
jible thereof has with the utmoji Expedition fitted out a 
Fleet to protect it from the daring Infultsofthe French, 
or of any ether Power who Jhoula ha*be the Effrontery to 

cbjtruftit. 

» 

As to the general Benefit of Trade to this Ifiand, it is 
now become jb important, that it is the Bafis of our Li- 
berty and Happinfs, the Support of the State, the Bul- 
wark of our Religion, and the Source of our Wealth. It 
■ is from hence, that we are able to maintain and man 
our Navy, and keep in Pay a Standing Army. It is 
Commerce that makes our Lands valuable, our EJlates 
faleable, and our Funds ufeful. And if it jhould be faid 
'there arefome Inconveniences arifing from foreign Trade y 
not quite fo agreeable 'to the primitive Simplicity, this is 
not the F#ult of the Thing itfelffo much as it is an Evi*> 

dence 



» tef>ft.fe#Ac£. 

Idettce of the general Conxion and Depravity ofMafa 
Hind. 

4ty)e Cohtiderations and the Importance of the Eaft- 
IficKa TraShave induced the to drtetb up the folkming* 
UiJIofy Iheheof, htitb brief Obfervations oh ibi Religion, 
Caftom, Manners and Commerce of the Inhabitants, 
ithatt th&ejore novo leave the Reader a the Perufal of 
m ehfuing tFort, which, kMib htm little jirtftevet tl 
may be executed, ivill yet from the_ Importance of the 
Subject merit fome Share of the public Attention. 






THE 

CONTENT & 

CHAP. I, 

A Brief Narrative of the firft Difcovery of the Philip- 
pine Iflands. Page 3 • 

CHAP. II. . 

Contains a Defcription of the Spice Iflands, viz, the Mo- f 

lucca,' Banda y Amboyna^ and Ceylon, with thofe that co- ; 

ver them. 33 \ 

CHAP. III. M 

The firft Voyage of the Portuguefi to India, in the 
Year 1498. 57 

CHAP, IV, 

Contains a Defcription pf the Sunda Iflancjs, with Captain 
Becktnan's Opinion concerning the Management of the 
Trade to Borneo. yy 

CHAP. IV, 

Contains a Defcription of the Iflands of Sumatra and 
Java. gy 

CHAP. V. 

Defcribes the Kingdom of Tonqttin, and Coucbin-cbina. 13^4 

CHAP. VI. 

Contains a Defcription of Siam 9 and of (he Kingdoms of 
. Pegu; Aw and Art a can. 145 

CHAP. VII. 

Gives a lhort Defcription of the Iflands in the Ethiopian 
Seas, with fome remarkable Paffages hiftorical and 
accidental. 172 

b CHAP. 



■■L. ». A. 



Tie contents; 

CHAP. VIIL 

Gives a Defcription of Zeyla's Sea-eoaft, and of a Part of 
Ethiopia* Zuqkin ajid Upper Egypt. 176 

CHAP, IX. 

£ives a little Defcription of the £oaft of Arabia t£f Hafipyj 
^fifom Mount ¥ Sinai to Mocha, with Tomfe Obfervations 
on the Religion > Cuftoms and Laws, as they are now 
eftablifhed. 

CUAP, X, 

Cpntaips a Defcription of Aden-, with fpms hHtoripal.R^* 
marks about the Turkjjh Expedition from thence into 
India: Alfo an AcEbunt of thi Sea Coaft of Arabia 
J>etrfa y 2f fpf as Mjpjkat ^nd^ tfajfcr/ii v^tb a parti 
cular Account of an En? lilh Ship loft on the I&uid u 
Maeeira. icji 

C H A ?, :XI, 

T^fljats of the Kingdom and* City of- Mujkat* an^Qf theii 
religious and civil Cufltoms ; with fome'hiftoric^iAc- 
' count of their Wars and Qeconpngy. And alittle Ac- 
count of the §ea Coaft of Arabia Defer ta^ aifq> qi { £aj[?^ 
- ra 9 with the famous River of Euphrates* ' k ' *' " i^i 

\: CHAP. XII. 

I ' Obfervations on the JEvRipi^ of.EerJia y giving an Ac- 
\\ count of its Magnitude, the Reduction of Ortnufe ro 

J the Obedience of. Peifia by. tfie Affiftjince of the EngBjh* 

i \ Alfo of the late Revolution by Meriweys* "' 2jq 










Treats of the Mogul's Dominions on the River Indus % 
particularly of the ancient Kin^doS of Sindy ; its Pro- 

- di^ and ;Qogymerf e,. Religion ,an£ Cuftoms. of < tfce In- 
habitants j with a Defcription o£ x^V^iff Jndu^ 219 

C H A;P.y XFb 

Qives an Account of : the, ansfcn^Kiingfofli eff: GuzeraJ now* 
a Province anpexed tp the MfgHfe ^P.wwnipns, it? Situ- 

!ation, 



■t 



ation, Produft, Mjnne^s and Religion $ with fome 
• Account of the Pi rates that inha^ Patt qf^ a^ %* 
: Qbfertatjons on Diu t a Portujtfjf Cty <?a Jfo Ifland 

appertaining to GuzerdU 2,27 

c H, A P. xv. 

Gives an Account of the C#e>of tafag, Jftfr^,^ 

'"^f^J with fevetal QccOrepces ^ h^gRene^ 1ft thffip * 

and of the Sea Coaft from Damaan to Bombay. 234 

CHAP. XVI. 

Gives a Defcription of Bombay, with hiftorical Remarks 
on its Wars, Gwgramenj fp^ Tipde, till the Year 
1687^ wbp th f e Itftunclation i of \^% ma laid^cH 
jirdvea flic ^uin;<if ; r the Ucif £^/$, ^-J/^Cqm- ; 

* CHAP. XVII. 

Gives an Account of\tbtL&ft^if£, KajaV* Dominions, the 
Pxadi$:, Region* artf £yftoifl$ of WfrCpjjiyyry* wA 
Obfer^tions ori his War with th$. Ifgtfijb Eajkt India ■ 
Company in the Year 1 7 1 8 j witli a fhort Description 
of Canar a, < 201 

c h A p. xvm. • • • . < * 

Ol?(e r ry^ons; 9p thq Sapyrfc sod hiA. Country, and of 

" Qoum^y ' thqr ^ttSPfl* . I*aw..*nd Cyftoms, Product 

of the Country, and its Commerce* an - Account of 

their Commerce with* the Dutch, begun in the Year 

1708, andtheConfequehces.ofat* T ^ 301 

CH A Pi XIX. 

Gives a fhort Defcription of Fort St. George, its firft Set- 
tlement and Rife, Its Situation and Sterility, and fome 
Remarks on it$ ^oy^tpfl^|i^ a^ the A&iohs ok$me- 
c>f its Governors, w^fQf-r^O^ 
to the Fiiglijfr Fa&ory at Vizagapatq^ -3*8 

CHAP. XX. 

Gives an Account of the famous Kingdom of Pegu, its 
Situation and Product j with its Laws, Cuftoms, and 
Religion, &c. 325 

CHAP. 



.1 



?U. CO N TIE N'T S; 

— : ; /' ' : ; CH A P. XXL '•'' ' *""' ; 
^Yeatk of Mtrjee arid Tenacerin> and of the Sea Coaft "in 
'•'- the Kfrig hi -Sidnts- Dominions,' of the Maflacree there 
\ -of the Englijh in the Year 1687. - * 340 

chap. xxn. 

Gives an Account of the Iflandi and trading, ports on 
• * the Coaft of Sumatra and of the Jfland of Jdva^ &c. 244 

CHAP., XXIII. 

Gives an Account of Borneo. • . • 353 

"'■:"> • • CH A Pi : XXIV.' r " 

Gives an Account of Cambodia, its Trade ; alio of a late 

t\ " War brought into their Country by the Siamer, and the 

t . * ill Succcfs they had. < 372 

..•..•. CHAP. XXV. 

Treats of Couchin-china* and Tpnquin, their Religion, 
; . Laws, arid Cuftoms. 376 

\ " • C H A P. XXVI. 

^■H— Gives fome Account of the Religion, Laws, Cuftoms, 
• ; Commerce, Riches, Cities, Temples, Gods, and God- 
defies, Priefts, Military Forces, Produce, and Manu- 
factories, t£c. of China 379 

f 1 CHAP. XXVII. 

Sonic Occurrences that happened among the Englifh at 
dmoy in the Year 1 700. 382 

m • 

* : ; C H A P. XXVIII. 

A fhort Account of the Taking of the Manila Ship, in 

; . die Eaft-Indks by Mr. Anfon in the Ship the Centurion* 

in the Year 17+3. '" ~ * ^ 388 



1 



i 



..tUAAMI 



ANEW 

HISTORY 

t>? T Hi 

EAST- IN D I E S. 

CHAP; I. 

A brief iterative . of the firft . Difcoverj ef tit 

Philippine yidnis. 

i T is generally agreed, that the Know- 

[ fcdge of the World is the molt useful 

I in& enTeraming Subject, a Man can 

I employ his' Thoughts upon: The 

! reading Novels and Romances indeed,' 

| ingfofies a great deal of the Time of 

i the present Generation ; but I per- 

fiaadc myfeJf, that a Majority of thefe 

" Readers would rather apply themfeives to the Study of 

inftmftiveHiftory, if it could be rendered equally plcaftnt 

stai intereftmg; 

MXtfV Colonies' of our Countrymen .having within. 
thefe two hundred Years, fince Trade, Commerce and 
•Wry 1 Science' b*gah' to revive' and flburilh under the au- 
spicious Reign of die ever merhbrable Elizabeth, being; 
from Time to Time- eftaWrfhed oh the vaft Continents of 
Afi<x 'and America we afe hence naturally induced to read 
*rth"' Pleasure the Accounts of People* their (Juftoms and; 
A % Manne- 




4* A New HISTORY . \ 

Manners, which before were unknown to us ; but- finc< 
which Period moll of us have, through the great IncKeait 
of Commerce, Friends and Relations concerned in the 
Traffic carried on to thole Places, and many of us have 
Sons and Kindred fetded there. It is therefore I humbly ! 

prefume, the following Treatife concerning the Englifh* 
Settlements 5 afid Trade to the Eap-Indks, andthe naghy j 

houring Ccjntinent, *defcribing the Relijjioji, Government* 
Cuftoms and Mannefs of the Natives of thofe Parts will be* 
acceptable to the Reader. 

The Globe is divided into- two great Continents ; the 
Eaftern comprehending Afta^ Africa and Europe* and the 
Weftern America oijly. ~ * - ^ . «, f t " 

4 Tiie Antients were not acquainted with half tAe eaftern 
Continent, and as to America, and great Part of Afia and 
Africa, neither Antients nor Moderns knew any thing 
of them three hundred Years ago. * The Atlantick Ocearr 
divides Europe and Africa from America ; the Pacifick 
Ocean divides Amef^ca ffom ^Cbtpa. ^JThat Part of the K 
e^Jter/i Continent which m is denominated Afia> is bounded 
By the Jce^Sea, Qr Frozen, Ocean, *orf the - North V. by , thi* 
Pacifick Ocean on the Eaftj.bythc Indian Ocean on the 
South ; and on the Weft by the Rivers Oby and Don, the 
Pains' Moetis,' the Euxine Scz, the Ebfphbrus, HellefpoHt, 
Egean Sea, or Archipdag o ;« and by tjie Levant, the Red 
Sea, and the Jfthmus of Suez, which feparate it from Ew- 
mpe and Africa. A/id lies between the Equator and 
feventy-two Degrees of North Latitude, and between 
twenty-five and a hundred and forty-eight Degrees of 
eaftern Longitude, and .compreheiids. China, Siberia, 
Perfia, Arabia,. Afiatick Turkey, and the two Indies, 
Eaft and Weft. ^ ' • ' 

; The Portuguefe /having difcoverqd the Way to* India by;' 
the Way of the Cape of Good Hope, planted theCpafts of. 
Africa-znd 'Afia, till they arrived at length at the King- 
dom of China, \ ■ "* 
* J\OHN, KingofP^/^^/ f having«KpelledtheM>^rifrom> 
that Kipjgdom, purfued diem to the Coaft of Africa, and; 
took Ceuta from them, in the Year 141 5. King John was: 
attended in that Expedition by his Son Prince Henry, who. 
being informed,, while iri Africa, that the Moors traffick^ 
. ■ - ' " . ' ed 



pf the E.AS T - I NDIES. ' 5 

cd with the Coaft of Guinea, over Land by their Caravans, 
and brought home Gold Duft, Ivory, &c . from thence, 
proje&qd-jthe Difcoyery of that Co^ftbySea, and, accord- 
ingly,., equipped a Squadrpn ojf Ships at his Return to Por-. 
tugah and commanded them Xo make what Difcoveries 
they .could on the South- Weft Coaft of Africa, and after 
forty Years diligent Search, the Portuguese advanced, by 
flpW Degrees;, as far as $rerra Leon, on tht K Guinea Coaft, 
in feven Degrees of North Latitude, planting Colonies on 
the Sho$rs all the Way they went; and their Language is 
fpoke almoft all along the Coaft of Africa at this Day. 

Prince fienry dying in the Year 1463, the Portuguefe 
proceeded, tQ plant the Gold Coaft, in the Year 1469, and 
fretted the Fortrefsj called St. George del Mina,' now in 
Pofiefficm of the Butch : And in the Reign of King John 
■ ll. in the Year 1486, Bartholomew fyiaz, the, Portuguefe 
Admiral difcqvered she - Cafe of Qojofl Hope, the. moft 
iouthern Prpjnofitojy of! Africa, which lies in thirty four. 
Degrees oue hajf of South. Latitude, bjtf found the* 
Oce^n fa jt^mpeftuqus, that he gave it the Name of Cabo\ 
Tormentofa, and did not tliink it feizable to pafs it at that; 
Time. "King John dying in the Year 14.95, his Succefior,' 
Don Emanuel, commanded his Admiral, Vafco de Gama> to. 
endeayojur to furround this ftormy Cfpe f >yhich being 
effe&ed, Kiflg Emanuel gave it the Name of the Cape cf 
tiood Hope, as he had now a fair Profp£# of tracing out, 
the Way to India by Sea : The Admiral having doubled 
the Cape on the eighteenth of November, I497> which is 
their Summer Sealbn, failed along the e^ftcrn Coaft of 
Africa, till he arrived at Mclinda, tfiree Degrees South' 
of the Equinoctial, frofji when he (haped his Courfe to* 
the Eaftward, and arrived at Calicut, on the Malabar 
Coaft of the Hither India, on the aofh of May, 1498. 

The Portuguefe foon after made feyeral Settlements,, 
and planted Colonies qi> the Coaft of the Farther India, 
and in the Spice Iflands,' and arrived at Canton in China, 
in the Year 15 17, where they were permitted to trafic, 
and fix a Colony on tfye little Ifland of Macao, at the 
^fouth of the River of Canton, which the Portuguefe pof-' 
fefs at this Day $ but as Subjefts to the Crown of China* 
Their Mijfionaries were not permitted, however, to go 
",. ' A3 over 



U..m. —, 



e A New H*I S T O R Y 

1 over to the Continent, till fome Years after Francis Xavier* 
from his indefatigable Labours, ftiled the Apoftlc of the 
Indies* who died in the Year 1552, was nefver (uflfarcd 
to fet his Foot a^fhoar upon the Continent of China : The 
Portuguefe laboured for more than thirty Y*ars after in 
vain, to get their Miffionarjes admitted into that Kiog~ 
dom. 

ROGER and Ricciu two Jefiiits,.were the firft that 
were permitted to refide on the Continent, who became 
very acceptable by their Skill in the Mathefnaticks * but 
the Chinese were amazed, when they faw them produce a 
M ip of the World, to find that China was fo very fmall 4 
Part of it. Thcfe Jefuits were permitted to compofe 3 
Catcchifm, and explain the Christian Do&rines, and gain^ 
ed great Numbers of Converts amopg People pf Figunp s 
but at the fame Time were infulted by the Mob. They 
continued their Miflion, however, for feven Years, till a 
jiew Viceroy came to Canton* and obliged them to retire to 
Macao ; however they were fooh aftef recalled, and otn 
* tained Leave to refide in the capital City of iW«, whi- 
ther they carried Prefents for the Emperor, among whicfy 
was a Clock and repeating W^tch » biit a little before they, 
arrived at Ptktn y they were flopped by an Eunuch, a 
CommifUpner of the Cuftoms, and imprifoned, on Pre- 
tence that a Crucifix which they carried in a Portmanteau. 
Was a Charm, which might affeft the Emperor's Lifej 
however, an Order foon after arrived* for banging thoie 
Foreigners up to Pekin, where they were well- received by 
the Emperor, and their prefents accepted, ajid a Houfe 
dnd a maintenance were affigned therft, with th? Liberty 
qf making what Profelytes they P could, among whpm they 
relate were many Princes of the Blood ; and the, Convert^ 
eftcreafed fo faft, that in the Province of Kiamji alone there 
were ninety Churches, and forty^five Oratpries. The 
Bonzes (the Priefts pf the God Fo) raijed fcveraj Perfe- 
cfutions againfl: them - 9 but nothing proved : more, fatal xo 
them than the Opppfitiofl they met with from the Domini- , 
can Friars at Macao ; one of this prefer declaring that the. 
Tefuits had a Defign to cjepofe the Etpperor, and ufurp 
jiis Throne. That the Places they were Wttled in between, 
Gwtop aod Pekiny favoiijed their Defigni ' and that the 

Putck 



of tbi, E AS T-I N D I E S. 7 

Dutch Fleet, which was then upon the Coaft, was intend- 
ed to proteft them v that the Governor of Pekin was m 
their Intereft, and that the Chriftians of Japan were ready 
to join them. 

The Viceroys and Governors of Places were exceed- 
ingly alarmed at this pretended Confpiracy, and one of the 
Miffionaries paffing through Canton before the Forgery was 
difcovered, was condemned to the Baftinado, under which 
be died \ but RiccH was prote&ed by the Emperor at 
Peking and the Falfity of the Report being proved, he 
lived in that Capital in Peace, till the Year 1610, when 
he died* aged eighty-eight Years* twenty-feven \yherepf 
ha had refided in China % and the Emperor had fuch a Re- 
. gard for him> that he ordered a £iece of Ground to be 
affigned for building him a Tomb, which was afterwards 
the Jefuks Burykg-prace. 

A PiRs^otiTWN being raifed againft the jefuits and 
thai* Ptfofelytes in die Year 1 617, they were obliged to 
retire to Ma&to \ but there happening at War with the 
Tartar** m the Reign of the (uceeeding Emperor, he re* 
caJied cherry again, knowing they would be very ufeful to 
him in the Management of his Artillery, and they lived 
unmolefted in the Kingdom until the Year 1628. Two 
Years after the Jefuk, Adam Skoal, reforted to the Court 
of Pekin, and was mightily* carefied by the Emperor and. 
his Minifters, on account of his Skill in the Mathematicks j 
- and the fame Year the Dominicans and Prancifcam got Ad* 
million into China, ahd> as well as the Jeuiks, boaft 9f 
the numerous Converts chey made; and notwithftand- 
ing the Revolution that happened in the Year 1640, when 
Xmcbi) King of Niucb, made a Conqueft of Cbin*> the 
JeAiits maintained their Ground, and were no lefs in Fa- 
vour with the Emperors of the prefent Tartar Race, than 
they were with thofc of the Cbinefe. Adam Sbaalvf&% 
made President of the Society of Mathematicians by the 
Emperor Xu»cbi>}which had been undfer the Dke&ion of 
the Mahometans for three hundred Years before. It was 
jp Adam that reformed the Kalendar, which ftill encreafed 
' fX his Intereft at Court, and the Emperor was fo fehfxble of 
the Serwice the learned Europeans were capable of doing 
him, that he fent for fourteen more of the MUBonaries to 

A 4 Court, 



S A New HI S T O R Y 

Court, among whom was Father Verbieft ; and the Jefuits 
infinuate, that they fhould have made a Convert of the 
Emperor, if the Ladies of the Court had not prevented 
it, on his reproving that Prince for entertaining one of 
..them. 

On the Acceflion of Kanghi, the Son of Xunchii thfs 

firft Tartar Emperor, Adam Sbaal was made Preceptor tQ 

the young Monarch, who was then but eight Years of 

: age, and the Bonzes (Priefts of Fo) were expelled the 

Palace ; whereupon the Bonzes prefented a Petition to the 

Regents, letting forth, that the Jefuits had been banilh- 

ed their Country for their Difaflfe&ion to their natural 

Princes, and would infallibly ralfe a Rebellion in China : 

That they had introduced a Multitude of Foreigners into 

the Empire, who travelled through the Provinces, and 

. made Plans of their ftrpng Towns, and that they only 

waited a favourable Opportunity to raife a Rebellion, 

1 To this Petition they annexed a Book, publifhed by Adam 9 

containing a Lift of their Churches, and of the Converts 

"they had made, which the Bonzes faggefted was the 

Mufter-Roil of an Army, which they could bring into 

the Field on the firft Signal ; that their Beads were Marks 

< whereby the ' Confpirators knew one another, and (hewed, 

* in the Popilh Books they diftributed, the Pi&ure of 

Chrift crucified, faying, Behold the God vf the Cbriftians 

nailed to a Crofs^ for attempting to make hhnfelf King of the 

Jews ; this is the God they invoke to favour their treafonabie 

Confpracies agqirift the Government. " . ^ 

This Charge againft the jefuits being brought before 

'•the Tribunal of Rites, they, were imprifoned and laid in 

'Iroiil, and tlie Chriftiah Religion was declared to be a 

falfeand pernicious Dodirine. Adam Sbaal was condema- 

; ed to' die, and though the Sentence was nfcver executed, 

; he died under the Hardfhips he fuflfered in the Year \6€6 \ 

I twetfty^five <»f the Miflioriaries were banifhed to Macao \ 

-but four ' were' ftill permitted to remain at Court, who 

\ fonrkltime afterwards procured an Order for recalling the 

-reft of their* Brethren, -and procured a Declaration from 

one of the principal Tribunals; That the Cbriftian Law 

: /bad heeri tinjuftly condemned^ and that it taught nothing ' in- 

confident with ' the Welfare- of the State. The £hniftians 

1 were 



ef'tk E A S T.INDIB S. 9 

; were thereupon tolerated, and put into Fofieffipn of their 
Churches again, in the Year 1 67 1 . Father Verhiefi taught; 
.the Emperor Mathematicks, and caufed light Bra£s Cafot 
. non to be call, which gained the Emperor. great Advan- 
tages in his Wars, by 'which he became fo much in Fa- 
: your, both/with Prince ^nd People, that Multitudes of 
- Converts were daily made,- and VerbUft wrote to Europe 

• for mote Millenaries, whereupon Lewis XIV. fent over 
I -fix Jefuits front France, among whom was LeCtmpte* 
y who redded in the Chineft Court many Years, and wrote 

t the beft Hiftory of that Kingdom which has been pubiifh- 

ed. Thefe ; Jefuits arrivea at Nhnpo in China, in the 

*Year i6$8:y Verhiejk being .dead before their Arrival, .they 

;w(ere jjrcfented :to the Emperor . foon after, who always 

. kept fame ;of them near Ms Perfon, who improved him fo 

; fdr in the Mathemalicks^ that he wbote a Book uppn that 

-SubjedL Some iof the Viccwys in the dtftant Prormcfes, 

.'however, raifedfa Perfecufiton againft die Chriflians, in 

: whkh: they jwerc countenanced by fome ^Tribunals, and 

At was as iftudi as the: Empferor foulddo tor proteft them ^ 

he,advifel them io be v^ry circumf|5eft in' their. Conduft, 

dnd give-as little Offence as poffifcde v , or hwr appearing. their 

Prote£fcor might endanger his Throne/ ^ . « 

The? Encouragement the Miffionariea received from the 
Emperor, brought oyer pore of them from Frame \ and 

• the prefent French King Lewis XVI vfettled an annual 
% Revenue of 9000 Livres a Year ^an twenty pf riaem 
,that were lent to China and India* The Fathers Gerbillon 

and vRwret having cured the Emperor of an Ague, he 
\ gave them a large Sum towards building a Church, which 
: they, fimlhed, and made it one bf the iirreft Temples, in 
t that Part of the World- 

-, . ;The Jeljjit MiffiOnarics.were fo complaifant to the 
Chinefe Christians, in fuffering them to retain the JWorfhip 
of Confucius ', their Anceftor^ the Heavens, £s?r. that they 
might have remained in China, and made Profelytes to 
this P^y, jf r xheJD<winican and Francifcan'Friars hacl not 
oppefecrthis Pra&ice, and charged the Jefuits with coun- 
tenancing Idolatry, which creating great Feuds among the 
Fathers, they pjrofecuted one another in the Courts of 
China with great Violence, reprefenting their Opponents 
: * . . as 



I© 'A New HISTORY 

as difeffc&ed to the Government, and fcveral of them 
-were imprifemed, and fevcreiy ufed by the Chintft Magi* 
ftrates. JLt length both Parties appealed to the Pope. 
The Jefuits rcprcfentfcd, that unlefs they complied with 
the Cbinefc in thetfe Articles, the Chriftians would infalli- 
bly be expelled the Country* and infilled,, that thefe 
Compliances wexe xtry innocent; that it was not intend- 
cd to pay gftriQC Honour ta Confucius, when they pro- 
grated thcrafehre* before hat Image, hut only to pay their 
Jtefpeft to him as a Lapflator : That the libations and 
Ceremonies obferved before the images of their Parents, 
joniy exprefled the Veneration and Ajle$ion they had for 
their decea&d Relations*, and this they procured the 
Emperor of China to certify the Pope: Whereupon his 
Holinefs deputed the Cardinal de. Tosrwn has Vicar m 
£bin<L> with full Authority t6 examine and determine this 
Matter. The Cardinal having admomftied the MHfiand- 
aies- to lay afide their Animofirie& and Difputes, which 
had given great Scandal ta the infidels*, as weiiaa to thofe 
who had been converted to Chriftiankyv he decreed and 
commanded all the Miffionarits, e&emliy the Jefuits, 

j. That in their Writings and Sermons they fhootd 
jfifapprove and condemn: only llich^Etoftrinesraiid Cuftoms 
a& the Cbincfey as were ixiconfifcttt with, the Christian 

Faith- 

2. That they Should declare, tfiat the Offerings made 
fcy the Ckinefe to. Heaven, the Moon r and other Planets, 
to Spirits and Inventors* of Arts, wete only due: to God, 
the Creator of all Things'; that they ftauld condemn par- 
ticularly the' Offerings to. Confucius*, and the Adoration of 
the Pi&ures - of deceafed Men* a? inconfiftent with the 
Service of the true God, and with the Declaration of die 
Pope, the infallible Guide of the Chriftians* in all Mat- 
ters that concern Religion* 

Signed* 

Pated at AWfcwr, 
zlJamidrj, 1707. *C HA RLE $> 

Tatriarcb <^AntiOch>. Cardimli &c; 

The 



^■^I^^p 



of tie E A S T-I N D I E S. 

Thb Jefuits and Miffionarios of other Orders conti- 
nued to wraogle on thefe Heads, until the Year 1720, the 
Jefuits being all the ythik careffed at Court, while the 
others were thrown into Prifons, and feverety perfecuted. 
At length a Deputation bring fent to the Pope, to know 
if he would adiftit of no Alteration in the Pecree of Car- 
dinal de STwrnon, Cardinal Meffahrka y titular Patriarch 
of JkxandriO) was f$nt over with the Pope's Anfwer ; but 
the Jefaits fo n^anagfd Matters, that he was not permit- 
ted to fee the Emperor for feme Time, and coukl only 
read the Anfwer of his HoHnefc tq the Mandarins* who 
were fent to receive it ; the Tenos whereof follows : 

1. The Miffionaries may tolerate in private Houfev 
the yfe of T^tlets, con tsiniog only the Narne of the dead 
Perfon, putting on the Side of k a convenient Explka-. 
lion. 

2. They may tolerate all 1 the Cbinefi Ceremonies to- 
wards deceafed Perfons, which are not fuperftitipuft but 
merelycivil. 

3. They may render t<o Confucius aWorffcip merely 
civil, adding a convenient Explication \ and it may be 
lawful ft? light Candles, burn Incenfe,, and offer Meat* 
by way pf Oblation, before the Tombs, or the dead Bqn 
<li$$ themfehres. 

5. Th e v may penjsit Tables to be fet with all manner 
of Meats, and Fruits before die Tombs of the Deceafed, a* 
a civil Honour and A& of Piety towards them, without 
•bferving .any fuperftmous Rite, 

%r>ed, 

Th e Mandarins thereupon declared, that the- Emp** 
ror would be fatisfied with this Anfwer ; but Suarez, the 
Jefuit bbferyed to them it was all a Trick, for the Words, 
$bis is the Stat of the. Soul of the Deceafed^ were to be omiN 
ted;; however the Jefuits and Mandarins being of another 
Opinipn,, the Anfwer w*$ trapflated, put in, Writing, and 
carried to the Emperor* ,| 

£ ■ Ok 



* 



1 



• 



■y 
y 



t& : jiiNew H I S T o r y 

. O n the jweptieth of November 1 730, the Legate ^ra$ 
admitted to an Audience, and direfted £q appear in the 
feme Ecclefiaftical Habit he. wore in Italy 5 but thf Empe- 
ror prefenting him with his pwn. Robe at the Audience, he 
•put it oyer his European £iai>i(, and after fay Entertain- 
jnent, at yrhich the Egapejror gaye hijn a Glafs of Wine 
with his own Hand> he proceeded to. aflc the Legate fe- 
vej-al Queftipos, particularly whom thQfc/Pifture5 repro 
Jented, which ,fhe Miffiona^ies brought from Europe ? H? 
^tnfwered, they might be the Pictures of the « Lord Jefus, 
£he Bleffed Virgin, or of Tome Saints or Angels % buf why, 
lays the Emperor, $p yoxx put thejn on ; Wipgs _? This is 
what the Cbinefe ca^'t jinderf&nd : It is abfurd to .give 
iWwgs *Q tyk/V Tfe Emperor t^en ; $akii}g up thre* 
JPieces of^Silk off j;he Table, one whtfe, the fecpnd red, 
and the third yellow •, and addrefling himfelf to the Aflem r 
Jhly, faid, If anyone fhouid maintain that ^he red was 
white^ or the white yellow, wh#t wpuld any of yop think 
of it ? Intimating, that die Miffibnaries required them ,to 
believe Jtacxmfiftencies, in their pretended. E3g)lanation of 
.the Cbinefe Rites, as, well as in^the Do&rines they taught; 
The Legate anfwefed, Chrift being afcended tp Heaven 
'had constituted the Pope and his Succeffors his Vicars op 
Earth, to determine Controverfies ; knd that Clemen\ l£ 
enlightened' by his Spirit could not be deceived. The 
jEmperor replied, Can the Pope judge of the Rite? of 
C^/>w,;whicfi he has never had any perfonal Knowledge 
of, any more than I can judge of the Affairs pf $urof* f 
The Legate anfwered, He does not pretend to be a Judge 
of the Affairs of China, but of whatlCuftoms and Ufages 
the Chriftians fhouid be allowed to pra&ife, and what 
ought to be prohibited, as inconfiftent with Christianity. 

The Emperor told the Legate that he had tried to 
.unite all the Miflionariesof different Nations,: Portuguefe> 
.French^ Italians and Germans % but they were always quar- 
relling among themfelves,. and even the Jefuits could not 
'agree together > he was furprized at their Difunion, as 
they ajl profeffed to. propagate the fame Religion.; And 
he wondered the Pope could give any Credit to them, fince 
fome affirmed what the other denied : Frorn fuch con r 
♦tradi&ory Reprefentations, how can the Pope take upon 

him, 



of tit EAST-1N0IES. 13 

him, fays his Majefty, to judge of the Affairs of China t 
The Legate aniwered, he was aflifted in his Determina- 
tions hy the Holy Spirit, who never fuffered his Holinds 
to err in religious Matters : His Majefty knfwered, I love 
your Religion much* I adore the fame God you do, and 
if there be any Thing you do not underftand in our Rites, 
I will explain it to you •, intimating again, that the Pope 
could be no Judge of them, for want of fufficient Evi- 
dence ; adding, that the Decrees r concerning the Cbinefe 
Rites, had not been made 'with a View to Religion, but. 
were levelled purely againft the Jefuits. At ahother Au- 
dience, the Emperor faid he fhould not fuffer the Pope to 
determine any Thing concerning the Cbinefe Rites j that 
belonged to him* his Viceroys and Governors: And 
when Meffabarba deftaed he might remain Superior of the 
Miflionaries in China* he seceived no Anfwer to that, and 
the Emperor confirmed the Decree of the Tribunal of 
Rites, That no Europeans fhouldfor the future be fuffered to 
propagate their Law, which he apprehended might produce- 
fatal Effe&s : And the Legate was foon after infulted by 
the Mandarins in a mod outragious Manner, for main-* 
gaining the Authority of the Pope's BuUs r and declaring 
his Determinations infallible ; and feveral of the Dominica* 
and Francifcan Miflionaries were ;fent to Priibn. 

MESSARARBA however obtained the Releafe of 
the Prifoners, and then retired io Macao* where he re- 
fided fix Months, and in the Year* iy 22 returned to Eu- 
rope ; about which Time the Emperor JCanghi died, and. 
being fucceeded by Tong Omg* the Miflionaries were ba- 
niflied xa Macao in the Year 1723, and their Churches 
deftroyed* 1 

< Some European Mathematicians, who were ufeful to* 
the Court (that is, the Jefuits) were ftill fuflfered to re-' 
piain at Pekin * but the Cbinefe Converts that refufed to* 
upoftatife, and return to their antient Superftition, a- 
mounting to three Hundred Thoufajid Souls,, as is com- 
puted, were ufed with great Rigour, particularly one of 
the iPrinces of the JBlqod, and his Family,, were banifhed 
to the Defajtg of Tartazy, amounting to three Hundred 
of both Sexes. Other. Convert? were imprifoned, under- 
went the Baftinado, and other Punilhrp^nts : . But the Chi- 

nefe 



I* J tie* HISTORY 

tiefe feehied to hare had more Mercy oh them, than Chri- 
ftians in this Part of the Werld hive on one another, for 
few of them Tfrere eohdemned to die for theit Religion. 

Trt£ Perfetutiori of Cardinal Tour/ion, formerly the 
Pope's Vicar thert, preteeded from the Jefuits themfthr^, 
who did not cdafe to tecufe hkh to die Emperor, till they 
effected his Ruin ; and, however the Jefuits may apolo- 
gize for theif Cdndu& in this* arid Gther Inftances of the 
like Nature, it appears* th$t (he kte Pope JkhediS con- 
firmed the Decrees of his Pfedeceflots agaihft thk Worfhirt 
of Confucius, reproached the General of the Jefuits with 
the Practices of their Order, in Gbika+ and prohibited his 
fending my rtiore Mif&onaries thither without his Leave ? 
from whence, ami fame other Cireumftances* it appears 
to me that the Jefuits have m vefr bedn entirety tkptlikii 
from China y but are differed to inake a Kind of hsflf 
Chriftians ffill •; that is, foth as worfhip both Perpifh and" 
Chine/tan Idohr* rind this &&§ given Birth to tint Reptfrfj 
tharChriftianity is again toiertted in China. 

The Popiffi MrffionarieSj thoty^ they are rery readv 1 
to indulge their Converts fa rrtany Inftances, yet infift 
peremptorily on tlhfeir |>arriAg vHxk att thfcir Women tot 
one v and that the Women mould leave the Hufttmd that 
entertains other Females -, which may have cheeked eh* 
frogrefs of Chriftiamty^ as much a* their Db£trin£ of 
Trajifubftantiation does ? nor is it practicable, for thd 
J*aws of the Country will not admit of their ptrtfingl away 
their Wives, unlefs for foftrt? very fttbftantls* Reafcft. 
Her Relatione may dofi and Sati^fadtiony if he fttotrig *t- 
trmpt k y and tf hast tmft become of ete Children* 6f tHe 
feveral Mothers in this Cafe ? lam apt to thihk, thaft 
Chriflt and his Apoftles weft fo fenfibte bf th6 Coftfofion 
this aiuft ofeate ki Families* thkt tiiey nfcvet ffientidned 
aheir parting with their Wives ;• though dvefy ohe knawty 
that neither Jms ta Gtnrttet cotffiiwd thethfidve* to Oftd 
Woman m that Age : They oftlyYecommetidddthe taking 
But one Woman,* thettfofe,* for the foture. As to the 
Wife, file it in foch Ckcktthftafcces fai this Couhtfy, that 
there fc rto PoflibiUfiy <Jf h«* f)artM^ frbm h«tf Hufbarid: 
He might iscteitfi h&if if fiaf 4tt» : ^ pCimflr her fd* 
cfc^dg: ftstfh Hfotf r H0 ^rfohafe* tafy fed** ho doubts 

thinks 



of the E A S T - I NT I E S. ij^ 

thinii he has as good a Right to her, as to the reft of his 
Goods. 

The Philippine Iflands are fituatc in the Cbinejian Sea,, 
Part of the Pacifick Ocean, between one hundred and 
fourteen, anA one hundred and twenty-feven Degrees oC: 
Eaftern Longitude, and between five and nineteen Degrees * 
of "North Latitude, about one hundred Leagues South 
Eaft of China. There are ibme hundreds of them, and 
feveral very large. The chief and the moil Northerly oi 
(hem is Manila or Luconia y fituate between thirteen and 
nineteen Degrees of North Latitude* being about four 
hundred Miles long, and one hundred bsoad in moft Pla- 
ces, The Capital of this Ifland* and of all .the reft, is the 
Ctey of Manila^ Ikuate on a Bay m the South- Weft Part 
of the Iflaod* being two Miles in Circumference, &r- 
founded by a Wall and other Works* a very commodious 
^arbour, out ef difficult Aceefs, oa Account of the Rocks 
and Sands which lie before it > a Caftle defends the Ei*~ 
trance. 

Tub chief Buildings are the Cathedral* Farlftt Chur- 
ches and Convents ^ one of the Religious Houles is ap- 
propriated to the Support of Orphans* Daughters of th& 
Inhabitants* who are provided for during; their Lives-: 
Or, if they chufe to marry T have a Portion of two or 
three hundred Crowns given them. Their Churches^. 
Chapels and Altars are richly adorned, and theuf Procef- 
fions oa Holidays as fpkndid as in. Spain. The Colleger / 
of the Jttfuits here, as in moft other Pogitii Countries, is> 
snore magnificent than any of the reft. 



-.-> 

i 

V 



Writer of Commodore AnfotC^ Voyage gives the 
following De£bription of Jt£z*jfr, and its Produce aod 
Traffick. 

Th& Ifland of Luconiay or Manila, lays that Gentie- 
man» is efteemed healthful,, and the Water in it the befit 
in the World. It produces all the Fruits ofwarnrCli* 
mate* and has aa excellent Breed of Horfes carried thi- 
ther from. Spain. It is well fituated for the India* and 
Chinefe Trade; and the Bay and Port* which lies on thrf 
Weft Side of it,, is a Utge circular Baibn of ten Leagues 
Diameter, etfiujcly Landlocked. The City of Manila t 

which 



\ 



I* ' 



Id < 'A'-fifo HlS'TORt 

■: vhieh ftands on the Eaft Side* is large and populous $ 
and at the Beginning of the late War was an open* Place, 
chly defended by a little Fort ; but cdnfiderable Additions 
JtaVe lately been triade fo its Fortifitations; The : Port pe* 
hilfer to the City is that ,df Cttbite, which lies two Leagues 
to the Southward* and \ here the Ships employed in the 
feapulco Trade are ftationed. 

The City is healthfully fituated, and well watered, and 
has a very fruitful Country in its Neighbourhood ; but it 
is fome Difadvantage to its Trade, that it is difficultget- 
ting out to Sea to the Eaftward, through fuch a Number 
of Iflands ; here the Spaniards wafte Abundance of Time, 
and are often in great Danger. 

$ The Trade from hence to China and India confifts 

chiefly in fuch Commodities as are intended to fupply 1 
Mexico and Peru, namely, Spices,- Cbinefe Silks, and 
Manufactures, particular Silk Stockings, of which no left 
than fifty thoufand Pair have been (hipped in one Cargo, 
' with yaft Quantities pf Indian Stuffs, Calicoes and Chints,* 
Which; are much worn in America, together with other 

- , final! Articles, fuch as Goldfniiths Work, fcfr. wrought 
* at the City of Manila by the Cbinefe y of which Nation 
*-%« there are not lefs than twenty thoufand refiding there, as 
Servants, Manufacturers, or Brokers/ All thefe Articles 
are tranfported annually to the Port of Acapulco in Mexico : 
This Trade is not open to all the Inhabitants of Manila* 
but is reftrained to the Convents of Manila, principally to 
thejefuits, being. a Donation to fupport the Millions for' 
the Propagation of the Catholick' Faith. The Tonnage- 
of each Ship is divided into a certain Number of Bales, all* 
of the fame Size ? and the Convents havef a Right to em- 
bark fuch a Quantity of Goods on board the $iamla Ship, 
as the Tonnage of their Bales amounts to. 
• The Trade is limited by royal Edi&s to a certain 
Value ; according to it fhould not exceed fix hundred; 
thoufand Dollars, but it is known to amount three; 
Million of Dollars frequently : It has been repreftnted to 
the Court of Spain, that this Trafick is prejudicial to.thc 
Mother-Country, efpecially their Silk Manufa&ure ; <and. 
that the Linen fent from Cadi?*, is much injured in the 
Sale, fince the Cbinefe Silks coming dire&ly to Acapnia?, 
4 can 



*bf the E A 8 T * I N D I E S. i 7 

fcm be afforded confiderably cheaper there, than anf Eu- 
ropean Manufa&ures ; and the Cottons from the Coaft of 
Coromandtk make the European Linens a Drug in Mexico > 
and this Manite Trade renders both Mexico and iW& lefs 
dependent on 5^<w>r, and exhaufts thofe Countries of Silver 
which would.otherwife be brought to Europe, and center . 
in Spain. Whereas now the only Advantage arifing froni ' 
the Monti* Trade, is the enriching the Jcfuits*. and fame 
private Perfons in thofe remote Parts of the World j and 
Don Jqfcpb JPutinhoj the Spamjh MinifEer, was fo far con- 
vinced o( thi^ that he had determined to aboliih this 
Trade about thb Year 1725, and would have permitted no 
Indian Merchandize to . be brought into any of the Spamjh 
Ports of America, except what were fent thither by the 
Rejtiflsr, Shi jis from Europe \ but the Jefaits found Means ' 
to. divert the' Court from putting that Projeft in Exe- 
cution., s ; ' 

. TnnT^ridt between Manila ahd Acapulco is carried on 
by qne (or two) annual Ships, which fail from Manila in 
Jftlyi and arrive 2.1 Acapulco about Cbr(ftmas $ and having' 
Uncled the Cargo, return again towards ManiU % \n March 
following, arriving there \njune j and: though* there is of- 
ten but one Ship freighted, yet there is always one ready ' 
for the Sea when the other arrives * therefore the Com- 
itierce at Manila is provided with three of four ftout 
Ships, that if any Accident happens, the lYade may not 
be fufpended, the largeft of thefe Ships being little lefs 
than a firft Rate Man of War, and the other are of 
twelve hundred Ton and upwards, and ufually carry from 
three hundred to fix hundred Hands, including Paflen- 
gers, ind have upwards of fifty Guns each, and thefe 
being all King's Ships, one of the Captains is (tiled the 
Cjeneral, ahd carries the Royal Standard at the Main- 

Th£ Ship fails from the Port of Cabite, the Port- 
Town to Manila, about the Middle of July, taking the 
Advantage of the wefterly Monfon, which fets in about 
that Time* and, the Paffage through the Channel called . 
the Boccadero is fo difficult, that it is fbmetimes the End 
of Aug ujl before they get through it \ when they are got 
clear of the Iflands, they Hand to the Northward of the 

B Eaft, 



iS A New HISTORY 

Eaft, till they' arrive in thirty Degrees* where they ekpe&f 
to meet withawefterly Wind to carry them over to Cali- 
fornia, in which Voyage they fee no Land ; not one Fort 
ot Road is yet found oi# between the Philippines -and' && 
Coaft of California. The Ship never lets go her Anchor 
till fhe comes thither. This Voyage feldbm takes up fe& 
than fix Months, and as the Ship is deep loaded, and 
crouded with People, it is difficult to imagine. Itow they 
can be fuppiied with a fufficient Stock of frefh Water w 
fo many Months ; and firft it muft be obferved, that the 
Spaniards in the pacifick Ocean do not keep their Water . 
in Calks, but in earthern Jats, and taking in more Wa- 
ter than can be flowed between Decks, they hang the reft 
of the Jars all round the OutS.de of the Ship upon the 
Shrouds and Stays, which make a very odd Figure ; bttt ; 
as it is Impoffible to take in Water for fucfi^wimber of : 
People for three Months, much lfefs for fix, b^gyCon- ' 
tfivance whatever, they depend upon the Raim which, 
they conftantly meet with between thirty and forty Be* \ 
grees pf North Latitudfc, and catch enough of it to re- 
plenifh their Jars, by preparing Troughs, inta which the 
Rain runs from a Slope contrived with Mats for that Pur- 
pofe ; and when the Voyage has provetfrlonger than ufual, 
they have filled their Jars feveral Times :♦ Nor has this 
Method ever failed them, and they feldom lofe many Men 
in this tedious Paflage, unlefs they happen to be affli&ed ' 
tf ith the Scurvy ; and I find it is the Opinion of the Wri- 
ter of Lord Anfotf* Voyage, that if they ftood further 
North, the Voyage might be performed in half the Time 
the Spaniards perform it •, and then he proceeds to give a 
further Account of the Manila Ship. 

He fays, that having ftood North until fhe meets with 
a'wefterly Wind, and rtfn 'about one hundred Degrees of 
Longitude from Spirito Sanfto* they fee a Plant floating 
on the Sfca, tailed Porra, a Kind of Sea Leek,* when they t 
believe themfelves near California* and then ftand to the 
South, arid rely fo much on the Certainty of it that all 
the Ship's Company fing Te Deum on the Occafion, ima- 
gining, all the Difficulties and Dangers of the Paflage to 
be over. . They correft their Lprfgitude on the Appear- 
ance of this Plant, before they Come within Sight of 

Lani 



<t - • — « 



LaricL r After this their fail Southward, ^itfioift *nd£kj[ 
*ourihg to approach the Coaft, till they -dftw toc**th* 
fouthern Extremity of California, in order to amVe'af 
Cape St. Lucar, where they get Intelligence whether there" 
ate any Enemies upon the Coaft, and if not, the Ship 
proceeds to Cape GvritnUs^ and then coafts it along to 
Acafulat, where (he arrives about the Middle of January. 
ufually, fometimes a Month fooner, and at other Time* 
a M&rithrlater; ^ 

. This is the fafeft and moft commodious Port on the 
Coaft of' Afoot*, being a fpacious Bafon, Surrounded by 
Mountains * but the Town is a moft unhealthful Place, 1 
there being no Paflage fcrf the , Air, and no frefh Water: 
It is deferred by the Inhabitants die*efore, except at the 





Pafleng*ra c ibh6ttdting itt all to about fix hun%d-ftopie: 




may flornufs it in a dark Night, Orders are gtvttt for 
mabing Fires on -the higt> Land all thte Month" <# jfaw £ 
ha& ttarffcritoii «*eit with Rfefrelhh^nts, Intf make?* rjcx 
Stay, the Road of Guam being a *wry dangettms^Si^a- 
nxxri^Sh^atitmssts 4ier Coumth«refo#e* to VSpjrSpitito 



jialsi arettagaiit made, to Inform *iiih : if *hete be-kiV^nemy 
upon th»iOwft^ and if ditfre bfe -no*, -He lafis to Port 
Ctf/7* ft the Porrtorthe City of Jfcfiwtf&r, and the Station of 
the AcapdcQ Ship. 

. The Bulk of the People dt Manila are of Cbinejfr or 
Maylan Extra&ion, *rwf there ate fofhe Blacks. iThfc 
Spaniards^ the* leaft in Number, hare die Gorerrrmeht h\ 
thwHfarts.; .- The adjacetif^ouatry is foil t>f flmr Plan- 
tations, Farms, and Country^Houfes of (he principal |n^ 
habto]ftrr::t^^\hxi Mountains, in the Middle tif rxhc 
Counwy^ *e P«>pJe^live in Tents and^Hutsr, undc^the 
fpreadii^^n-es. £ The Plains ate oversowed- in tfe hriny* 
ScafoA, the Houfet built upon high Pillars, andthePeo- 

B z . . : pic 



A 



*o * A JSttw HISTORY • 

« 

plc-h^vt* po Communication but by Boats, . during th* 
Rains, which ufually iail , in jMn&> July* Auguji* nji&'Sep* 
Umber* and then arc terrible Storms* ot Wind and Tfaunl 
cler. : Earthquakes are frequent, the City, of Manila' had 
fuffefed. feveral -Times by them; and .from the /Volcano's 
which abound Jierey.ii&e Torrents of Eire and meke^ 
Minerals. , Thefe are: the Inconveniences we meet wkh^ 
but the faif Seafon i$ ufoally exceeding pleafawfc. : < 

The Complexions of the feveral People who inhabi* 
thefe. Iflands,- are' very different :.Thd Blacks ace as black 
as the Caffres of utfrica, but differ from them ia tboirJFea-* 
tures and long Hair, and therefore are. fuppofcd to have 
been of Indian* E%tr?£tion •, and as they pofiefs the rnoun-* 
tainous and inacceflible Parts of the Country, it is con* 
je&ured, that they yere jthe original Inhabitants, ' and 
driven up thither by fucceeding. Adventurers. 
> The Defendants of the>3f<iiijjfr (Inhabitants of Malic- 
ca) are very tawny, the Cbhtefe not fo dark, and the 
Spaniards are pretty near the Colour of theC£nu/ir. . There 
is alio a Nation pf painted People, . called Pintado\> who 
colour their Skins ljke. our Anceftors the Pi&s. , v : • 
. The. Natives are' for the moft Part of. a moderate Sta?- 
tiiire, and their Features juft, the Spaniard's hare taught 
them to clqath themfelves except «he Blacks, utho only 
tie a Cloth about their Ldns, and awtsher about: their 
Heads, and ufually gp bare Footu , . , _ r. ' ; 

, Rice, and fifli.- we moftreften by ihofe. who live near 
the Sea-Coafts, aod the Mountaineers eat the . Flefli they 
take in .Hunting, and the ? Fruits of the- Earth, which 
grow "ipontaneaufly in great Plenty. . Their Liquor is 
Water, which they ufually drink warm as the Cbmefe do. 
They nave alfo Palm Wine, and fpirituous Lkjwora (Hf- 
tijled froip the Jiw$ qfc the r Sugar-Cane, Rice, fSc. 
Thff bathe twice, a Day in cold Water* either for Health 
oi; piverfion, or both : Play* are another Diverfioa, and 
they are entertained frequently with Dancing iad . mock 

FjgHtS- • ";•■.,.•'.. ;■:.-.:■ > «.. 

, ;THfSE Maads are; extreamly Well fituated for {Trade t 
afl^tlie rich Merchandize pf Jftdia'xs «fent ironlJbfcBce tcr 
4mrica r i*nd the Tretfyr^of Mmm and Per* are brought 

1 l'.. . ■... bkher 



« 



*f*bi'- E* AST-INDI E S. ft t 

ftKhel* * annually, by which- Exchange, k is fkid, they 
make a Profit of four hundred per Cent. 
' ' Few fcduntries enjoy a more fruitful- Soil ; the People 
ift many Places Jive upon what the Earth produces ipon-* 
tanebufty* and the Surface of the Ground is exceeding 
bfeautffuli the Trees are ever green, and feldom without 
Fruits '' ■ * - ' - ■ * *• '• * • 

* Their neat Cattle run wild,, in; tlie Mountains; and are 
htf&tod as weii as Dger v wild Hogs and Goats. Wast is 
fo plentiful, that they make no other Candles, and never 
bdfn&iUijiB. r ThtirBtes are of feveral Kinds; foine of 
them very large, and' make <their Combs in the Woods, 
pvoducin^fiKSh Quantities of Honey ^as would alfnoft /ub-* 
fift- diefNatives. ; ' . 

. Mepigihal aikl'fwekvGums iflliing from the Bodies' 
of Trees are Part of • the » Produce : Serpents of various^ 
Kifnd^a?e fo^nd-irt thde Iflands ; but die Fathers who re- 
late thai loitieioftthem are fo large, they will . lwallow a* 
Stag, 'Kfcrns and ally ftirely do nfct *expe<St to be* believed' 
any more* than When they relate, that the Leaves 1 of Trees 
are converted into : Ifliofts * but die -toft of theft Stories 
niay: proceed from a Miffcake^ lor ^tis certain that fome 
Infedte . depofit thfcir Eggs upon the Leaves of Trees, 
wiiich areihaftdhed ^there, as is the gafc of the Cochineal 
Fly* and they- might imagine that thofe Infefts proceed- 
ed from the Leaf. Among their Binds .are Parrots and' 
Ctftatoes, Fowls with black Bones, and the Bird Tavan, 
which lays a Number of Eggs in Trenches in the Sand, ' 
and leaves them to hatch there. The Saligan fattens her- 
Neil to fome Rock, as a Martin does againft a Wall, 
which diffolving into a Kind of Jelly in warm Water, i*> 
efteemed delicious Food. 

Their Fruits are Mangoes, Plantains, Bananoes, 
Coco&s, Tamarinds, Caflia, and the Cacao or Chocolate 
Nut, which has been brought over from Mexico, ©ranges* > 
Lemons, and all Manner of tropical Fruits. The Cin- 
namon and Nutmeg Tree have been planted here, but de- 
generate and are gtfod fop little. . . ; 

A- QKUAt deal of good Timber and dying Woods grow 
in thefe Wands ; i and the Caiamba, or Sweet-wood, a 
Kind of Cane, gn?ws . in thev Mountains^ which, if cut y 

B 3 yields 



yfeps ja Pr^ig^t of Water, and is of great Scm«e «*tfct 

• Natives, ,.. 

■ ; ; Fj^w^RV^d fwcet Herts grow wild here, but they 
. do' not , cultivate ^m » : *hw . Gy4eqs t aiid^ ij^re. art 
. ^k>^doape of Medicinal I^crUj >s . well ;,» poifonout 
J^lwt^ ^luch Jcequcntly infe#_&e v £iri Hh^;tfe ar« 
in Bloffom. The Camandag is fo venomous, that with 
the. J^ of it jfcfy pttfoji |l?fiw Pv5S:aft4 JfcfTOW * 
theye ,are .«ilfp. feyeral fcferfcs wl^cl* vc Anti4pt» ag&ftft 

\ J.he general Language fpolge in thefe Iflands is the 
Ifolayau Tongue, beiides whjch every People bajre « 
Language peculiar to them, They writfe on Cocoa-Nu$ 
Leaves, with an Iron Stile ; and Arts and. Sciences havo 
been introduced by the Spaniards* the .Native* having 
nothing of this- Kind to boaft of before tbw AtotoI/: * \ 
- At^ .thefe Iflands, except Mindanao and Parigea, are 
under the Jurildidign of 4 <S£**#& Viceroy, who has. Go- 
Vejnripr^pQder,! him in $very other Iflajia tod Town of 
CPttfeqUcncei *nd the Ufce. Counts &$ erc&od for th* 
Trial of civil 4nd criminal Caufes, as in Old Spain. - 

The :Archbi(hop of Manila* the Bifhops and their: 
CpmnriilTane^ determine ecclefiaftical Cauies as in Europe y 
but there lies an Appeal from them to the Popefi Dele* 
gate, who refides in one of the Iitands* Xbe ifajuifitioft 
^fohaveia Commiflary here. - ..." . > 

Xh^ Chine fr were formerly To numerous here, thao 
tpey idifputed. the Authority of the Spaniards over them v 
forty thoufand pf them, it is computed, refidedinand; 
a^PAt the „ City of Manila •, but the Spaniards- qpnspelled; 
theip/^ofuhout, and bantfhed fome Thousands, of theny 
the reft were permitted to remain here to carry on ^eir> 
fylanu a&tire$*, far they are ulmoft the only Artificers, 
The Spaniards . tolerate them in their idolatrous Woribip^ 
^nd iudfep tftem tp game, on paying to the Government; 
*o,qdq Qrowns^flr Xnwtnh for none are Bftore ad#& e <* to 
GsRiiog jhatt :the Cbinefa who will frequency hazard, all 
they have in the World on the Chance of a Die. , Thej{ 
are ^fp m^h^iyfn' to Sodomy, and did not imagine it 
to be a Crime*: till the Spaniards punifhed tliam. tor it* 
Notwithitanding this Spaniard* are jty^epted>as JSove-v 

reigns 



of the E A S T - I N D I E S. zz 

fcigOS of thefe Iflands, this muft onlj be underftood of the 
open Country and (he Sea-Coafts, in which there may 
be three hundred thoufand Souls •, but thefe are not a 
ten th Part of the Inhabitants. The reft look .upon them-1 
felves as a Ghee People - f every Mountain almoft is poflefied 
by a d!iHt rent Trioe, and make War upon one another i 
(he Spaniards Seldom intermeddling in their Quarrels : 
Their Arms art Bows and Arrows, and Lances or Spears, 
Broad Swords, and Tubes or Trunks, through which 
they blow poifoned Arrows, the flighteft Wounds whereof 
are mortal, if immediate Remedies are not applied. They 
have Caflfc Shields alfo covered with a Buffalo's Hide, and 
a Pead- Piece for defenfive Arms. , 

Thsse Savages, as the Spaniards' call them, worfhip 
One fupteme God, and their Anceftors, as the Cbhiefe do^ 
from whom moft of them are descended ; they worfhip 
dJ9 the Sun and Moon, and almofl: every thing they fee, 
whether animate or inanimate, Groves, Hocks, Rivers, 
4^d one particular Tree, .which they would efteem . it Sa^ 
Crilege to cut down, believing the Souls of fome of their. 
Friends may r^fide in- it; and that in euttiqg the Treer 
they may wound a near Relation, Inftead of Temples* 
they have Caves, wherein they place their Idols, and facri- 
fjee to them : Some beautiful young Virgin firft wounda 
the Vittim with a Spear, and then the Priefts difpatch the 
Animal, and having dreficd the Meat, it is eaten by the 
Company. Superftitioh prevails amongft them, they 
have their lucky and unlucky Days, and if certain Animals 
croft the; Way when they are going upon any BufineiW 
they will -return 'Home, and go out no more that Day. 
. . Th e Men purchafe t^ieir Wives here a^ in China* and 
the Marriage is performed by a Prieftefs, who facrifice* 
ibme Animal on tl^e Occafion ; after which the Bride ii 
led. Home, and the Ceremony concludes with an Enter-, 
tainment as in other Places. They marry in their own 
Tribe, knd with their neareft Relations, . except the fcrft; 
Degree; fome of them are confined to one Wife, other 
Tribes allow a Plurality of Women, and Divorces for 
reasonable Caufes on either Side. They bury their Dead 
as \v\Qbina % and do not burn them. 

B4 Th* 



iU 4 New HISTORY 

The rjext Spanijh Ifland to that of JMMldyf Sfatar p* 
ffilippina, between which and Manila is* a narrow Chan* 
hel, called the Strait of Manila^ the North-Eaft Point 
^Rereof is called Spirit o §anfifo \ the Ifland i? near foup 
hundred Miles m Circumference; the chief Town Qatba^ 
lagan* governed by* a Spanijb Alcade/ The Ifland of 
Stbiiy which lies in ten Degrees "South Latitude, is thp 
Place wherfe Magellan firft fet up the Spanijh pplours,;^ thft 
chief Town, napied Ttfotfibr? de t)ios, afterwards made ± 
Biftiqp's See, has in. ii a Cathedral and fev$ral othei? 
Churches and Monafteries. The Iflarid of Negros lies. 
Weft of Sebu, ajid was fo named becaufe it is inhibited 1 
chiefly by Blacks.'' Mindanao lies the moft foutherlyjof 
any of the Philippine Iflands, and is* the largeft of them 
except Manila, being near two hupdred ^lilcs in Length^ 
ind one huftdred and fifty in Breadth. It fs fofftficahf 
People of different Nations and different Religions v but 
the Mahometans, who are fituate pn the Sca-Coafts ? fyp 
much the moft numerous, whole Sovereign is ftiled Sul- 1 
tan pf Mindanao. Thdfe who poflefs the' Middle qf the* 
Ifland ate called Hillanoons y and another Nation ftilect 
StfogneSj art fituate on the North- Weft Cbaft. "The Atf 
of this Ifland is not fo hot as might be expe&ed, b#ng re-; 
frelhed frequently by^ the Sea Breezes,' and the periodical" 
Rains, which lay the: Country under Water. Tne Winds 1 
blow from the Eaflr, from Ottober to May, and then turn 
about aiid fet wefterly ; next Month the Raids and Storms 
fucceed ; At firft there are not more than two or three 
Showers a Day \ they afterwards come qftener with vio- 
lent* Hurricanes and loud Thunder, and the Wind conti- 
nues wefterly until November, during which Time they 
jiave fuch Storms that Trees are 'blown up by the Roots* 
the Rivers are overflowed, and they do not fee the Suri 
*r Stars fomethncs in a We*k : About Augujt the Air is 
very cool, the Rain and Wind are moderate in heptmber x 
and m t)£lob&r the Wind blows from the Eaft again, and 
it continues fair till 4 April and fometimes May. 
;' MTRDANlJO, the Capital City, lics-on/ the. South' 
Side *>F the Hland,v in one hundred tlvfenty-two Degrees of 
Eaft^h Xrongitude, and- fix Degrees odd IVfinutes North 
Latitude, neitr the Mouth of a River, and about two 



*. 



ef tU E A 8 T-INEUE S. 'a* 

Miles from the Sea i the Houfes Being bxrift pri Bariibob 
Pillars* fixteen or eighteen Feet, above the Surface of thV 
Ground, oh Accouft of the anmial FloocJ$; ; when they 
Hare no Qbmmvnication with one another bat 4>y Boats, 
"The City is about a Mileiri Length ? built along the wind- 
. ing $ank Qf the RiV?r ; the Sultan's Palace is fupported 
: by one hyndred ^tid eighty TjreeSj and ha$ twenty C^- 
~ non moujited in tfee Front ; jmd ieveral of the Nobility 
have great Guns in 6r before their Houfes. IUrge Shijprs 
: tannot come up to the Towjj, there being fcarcc eleven Fefet 
-Water on/the Bajv at the 'Enhance of the River. The Na- 
tives are held to be Men t)f a fprighdy- Genius, but very 
lazy and indolent, and will rather thieve than work; bt£ 
" none are mPre a&ive when they find there is a Neciflity 
{for it 5 and there rtia^ be twb Reafons for their lazy Dff- 
' politibn, one from the Heat of the Climate, arid the bth^r 
'from the Tyranny of die Government, no Man beinfe 
favt Ke lhaH enjoy what he acquires by his Ihduftry. The 
Mtruknayatts . aw of a low Stature, and very flendeft rff 
^lartj tawny Complexions, black Eyes and Hair, flat 
l Faces ? fhprt Nofes, wide MbutHs, arid black Teetli, 
which they take Abundance of Pains to : dye of diat Cd- 
Jour ; ami they wear the Nails of their Left Hands afr 
moft as long £? their Fingers, fcraping and dying them 
with Verminon. ; ,v ' * 

The Men liave a hayghty Mien, -and yet are feid to be 
very complaifant to Foreigners, unlefs they art infulted, 
and then they ieldom fail to refcnt the Affront, and de- 
ftroy their Enemy by Ppifoji or a Dagger, never hazard- 
ing th&r Perfohs in a Duel. 

Thiir Habit is a linen Frock arid Drawers, and a 

.faiall Piece of linen Cloth tied about thfcir Heads; but 

they go barefoot : The Complexion and Features of the 

Women are better than thofe of the Men $ but they tofc 

-much refemble the other Sex, and cannot be admired foj: 

their Beauty 5 they wear a Frock like the Men j and "a 

-Piece of Cloth -round 1 their Waifts; the Sleeves of the 

FVock being large, Jtnd coming ddwn to theii- Wriftk 

: Their Hair tied up in a Roll at die fender Parts' of ; their 

i t * 

Heads: As for the Men their Heads art fliaVqd all but k 
'Lock that is left in the Middle of fhe Crown, 'like other 

Mahometans j 



x Maho«et^n3 ; *he Mens Beafds arc yery thiu> being puH- 
.eel |»j6y the. Roots lyith T%ejsers. 'peojje, of Figure are 
f downed in 5Uk iQf fine Calico,* the Womeagp^a^e-ibot-as 
jp£$ aa the Men ; Bracelets and Rings adorn ^Jieif Arms 
jl^^ingci;^ Ilie Women: are mi\ rcifaaiaefj fxom. cqn- 
Mwfingwi& . " • 

" " ^ w £oo4 oflPeopfe' of Condition ,~isj FJefti, R&, aijd 

hoc^etana ipver touch. . ThejgQQref, Sort .wntent thfifl?- 
Jfelves "Witfi Rice and Sago. ;1 Kicp: is dip principal Vu% pf 
l^J^^' with. all of themi ; ihia.thcfy take jxo with their 
.jEllands^ ufing rjeither Knives Qr Spooi^s;, and the Meat, 
Wha^«^,b?v is boiled to Rags, that it mayvtry eaifty 
!be pulled to Pieces with tfcfr Fingers, They ufuaJJy' 
ilrink Water £ but make i pretty Jftrong Liquor with 
,PJant5un$^ they .wa&'bdferc and after. eye^',MfeaV aiul 
bathe feveral . Times a JDay, Swimming i» ; one of the 
Ichtef Diverfioni ©f the Women, .as well a& the Meiv.tb 
>& they ^.ufed from their Infancy/ '. : ; 

Upon joyful Occafions the Dancing Girls, aa.thev are 
calW, arc Lt for ro d,vcr t the' Company, but "tho 
X)ancine confifts only in ikrewmg themfejve? into lafcivi- 
jqus Poftures, and aqdr.effing their great Men with flatten 
fog Speeches. They have Plays and mock Fights alio 
acfccl t>efore theirf, and* Hunting of wild Beafts i$ thejr 
jjrinqpjd rural Sport, , in. which their Women partake; 
put their Hunting is only driving the Deer and otb$r 
Game into an Inclofy re, from whence they cannot efcape, 
pxid then Jhooting at ;them. 

MINDANAO is a fruitful Soil, well watcied witji 

Rivers,, and then: Mountains afford excellent Timber 

PftheLibby, or Sago Tree .there are large Groves; the. 

Sago is the Pith of a Tree, whjch*he Natives eat inftead 

pf Bread r and is frequently. fr ought over to Europe* 

bejog fo grained, that it. if fqmetimes taken for a Seed* 

They Have no Corn but foce. Guava's* Manr 

£$ev and all, tropical Fruits abound J^erc^ Cloves and 

jYutnjeg* have been, transplanted hither, and appeal lair 

^ th^%&. but dege^eratf * -and the Fruit i^»>od : .fpr 

jiottin& ; 9 %\$ iaid ; /)wt , if tjiefe Plan^ were *ciUtiylite<fc 

^afiftly ithcy. i^t^u^thofe tfjhf. Spice JfflMjk 

which 



*/ (be E;A Srt«i N9 WE ,8. 27 

which k vttitlld be worth the while *$f v our •Bsfrlndia 
Merchants to make a Trial of* 'as they :aic raider a Na- 
ceffify of purchasing d^ £ptocs of the Ztottir at ekt^ya- 
,g*rtfcRa|»s. 

HfitE are no Bcaft s of Pity inthislfland, butatmoft 
jcvery other ufefal Animal* &ch at Horfcs, Cows, But 
dfrioes and Hogs, with Bunches 6vdr their Eyca; here arc 
'i^lfo Si»i«^ Sc<^ion$^ tod other vtriomoj^s lnfcfls v anji 
ith^f<«thtoe4 KM are the feme ts.mMmla. The Af#- 
4^1tpgaagr is generally 6x1km here, and the Mahor 
,mettjtf: hxvfe.tfa* Alcoran nod Books of Devotion in die 
*&<&& tarigujgfc , The literal Arts do not fiouriih here , 
tthty me ft»[ced;io jwnplpy, the QW»g£ to keep their Ac- 
/CxmtmJoEthcm j inqr hayc they fo much as a Clock or • 
tWatcto:iaih*Coimt^ Drums every throe 

ObONtei ihatPccple n^ know the Time of Day. The only 
working Trades alraoft jrre the Goldfmiths* Carpenters 
*nd Bl^ckfhriths, who perform their Work very wdl frith 
the Tools they have, for the Smiths have neither. Vice or 
Anvil, nor the Carpentets any Saws %i hut when they 
have 4>lit their Planks plane them with the Axe or Adze. 
•Their Diieaies are Fluxes, Fevers, and the Small-pox % 
and fome are afflicted with a Kind of Leprofy, or dry 
Scurf, which covers the Body, and itches intolerably. 
- T h$ Religion of the Sultan, and thofe who inhabit 
*be; Sca-Coafts is Mahometanifm ; and the Religion of the 
llnland. People i$Paganilm, differing from tfipr of the 
Clpntfe. I It is fufficient to obferve alto, that in allowing 
fc Plurality of Wives and Concubines, the Mahometans of 
*hk> Ifbfed- imitate thofe oi Turkey^ only they allow their 
Women greater Liberties, fufiering them to converfe free- 
ly with their Acquaintance or Strangers : but 'tis faidthey 
are fo prejudiced againft Swine's Flefh, that one of their 
great Men rcfufecl tor wear a Pair of Shoes made him by a 
-European, when -htf* was informed that the Threads with 
which they were iewed were pointed with Hog's Briftles, 
They look upon themfclve^ 4» be defiled^ if they touch 
-any Thing which belong* to a Hog r they durft not kiH 
them, kft they fhould be defiled by the Touch of thfc 
Weapon they make life of, which occafibns thefc Animals 
so multiply fo faft, that the Illand is over-run Vith them* 



■ass ? '*A 3fa£ BWto: R.y 

vThfey ;arc very tglarf to fee -the Europeans Iriitehtai * b«j: 
*nu(t undergo femal AUu*ib«~or Waflungsv if they 
ihould:happcn t£) touch afMan that hod eaten: itg Flefh. 

The Sultan of Mindanao is an abfolute Prince, and h* 
Thrant Kepeditiry •, both the Perfons and^Purfei of his 
-Subjods ape in his Power, and if he Tcnows anv of them 
abound in Wealthy Reborrows It of them. He hasp onfe 
.'great Minifter, in whom he lodge* the Admiwifeation cf 
-the. Government, both civil and: milk^ v to whom both 
Natives and Foreignefs muft apply xhemfeJ^e^ for- JLiberty 
16 Trade. Their Wats ar&chiefy wiA dab Mouhtuneem, 
,who inhabit the Middle of the Wand, with wboiti ihey. are 
-veky\ cautious hi coming to a general* Engagetneat ; {but 
.when .the Armies are pretty near, they begin to intrench 
-sod cannonade each other, aad'iwill remain-in :the fame 
Camp fbme Months, lending out Parties to make Incurs 
fions in to the Enemy 's Country; and furprize d^fencelefe 
Places. Their Arms are a Crice or ihort Dagger, and a 
Broad Sword, a Spear, and Bows and .Arrows; : - '. - J 
? The moll coqftderable of the Philippines that h^ve not 
.been . mentioned," are Mindora, South Weft of Manila ; 
i&anvy and Ley te, which lie North of Mindanao and the 
Ifland of Paragon, which Ues very near the North "Pact of 
Borneo, and is fubjeft to one, oPthe Princes of that Ifjand. 
, ' T b ZiLadrone Iflands, i&hich Magellan touched at . aJit- 
:tle before he arrived at the Philippines, remain iHll to be 
^dtferibed. Magellan, a Marine-Officer, who had.ferved 
;imder Albuquerque, the/ great Portuguese General . in the 
\JLajfcIndiesy at the? Redu&km.of the .Cities of Goa and Ma- 
iaccu, vbeing refufed ther trifling Addition to his Pay. of a 
Dncat a Month,, .or rather \ feeing himfelf flighted by 
>ih*s. Superiors, : deferted the Service of Portugal, bis <na- 
•five Country, and ' applied hipifelf to the Court of Spain, 
areprefenting to them, )that there. was a. Probability of 
Jailing to the Eafidhdiwb by. the Weft,- which would en- 
.title ithe Spanmrlis\to, a>JSbare .ior the fine Spices, if fiich 
i: Way could be- tfcaced «it^ . IXhe. Brapepor . Charles 1 V. 
tyHoMftaf thenrupoQ th& Throne-;. o£ JSpa&Q* ;\apprchend|ng 
diirhia Ybyagp prfaftiaitfie, obdered fiver Ships ta bfe eqiript 
dndi m&ntfdJ with' three f huirdre4 Men? bfowhich be made 
Magellan Admiral**. ondtheJfleeto ffltfrfaxfrSwille on the 
•$otlf ofjiuguft, 1519, He ftood over to the Coaft of 



if tifCt 'A S T > I N D Jl&JSf. *? 

Brajtl m ^mtb America^ arid 7 continued his: Vqyage v.**: 
fifty-two Degrees of South ^Liri|5ide f ')\fehc^ heidifcovfcrfxL 
ai Striit wMdc led frcm ^^Aidanti*^ 
Ocean, beiag abautoitth^redrLea&iifiS te Length; a3i4: 
iyfome HaEurfhurc halfcaiLogtoe broad; -wfckh he pa&'d 
through, and atrivedi ia*he South-Soa afr P^aStk Qcea*: 
ocx the 2&h oHM««wft»i .152^ which Straks^atCcevc^i 
fatce beeacalied fay the Nanie± of this Afhratngpn. the. 
Mtgdlknick .Straits* ■ /From thwMe Straits heiafled threat 
MeiithB t6 fheiNocth-^tik; without Sight ofc kand,! bcuU 
tie Wmd federally Fair r and oa the ith of Mmch i 52*^1 
difcovered the Ltidrobe Bhhds, *b whiok bc^g^sre thatJ 
Name bn Account of the thievifli JDifpofitkm ofTitt Inha- 
bitants*; tHey are alfo dfenoiniimted th^M?rr#* -ftktodsJt 
Here he landed, and took in . tew Refrelhfrients, and' 
fetring Sail -from thence,, he arrived at Seiii, one of the? 
RbMippiHt Iflands, where he fet up the Ktag of Spain 9 ** 
Standard ;■ and:being come thus far in Search . tf cbe S{?ice' 
Iflands, he had the Misfortune to.be ldlkd.ih,a;SkirinifhJ 
\wih the Natives of the Pbi%ippiries\ before he arrived at the 
Moluccas, xx.Clavt Iflands. . Thus much, it was thoughf 
proper to /preiriife upon entering, on a Defcriptian: of> the. 
Ladrone Iflands* 

/ These Iflands are fituate in the Pacifick Ocean,' in :one> 
hundred and forty Degrees, of Eastern Longitudr> and be*; 
t><rcen twelve and twenty-eight Degree* of North latitude/ 
Guam or Tgnanu 7 xhc lafrgpft, isr fitaate in thirteen Degrees: 
twenty-one Minutes, . North Latitude, kvcsxl thoufand. 
thiee< hundred Miles Vit^ ti Cape Coritntesin^Mmc^ ac- 
cording to Dampier; . The xrthcr Iflands are;, a. Sarpanta. 
3. Bonavifta or Tinian. 4. Sefpara. 5. Anatan. .6* Sarig^ 
nen; 7, <juagafn.< S. Alamagnan. 9. P.agen. , ,ia. The 
Bktniing iMoiuitain ot j^^ih Lir.M^q?. . 1*. -itaar> iji: 
Dif comet da 5 and^ 14* /MMtfajfrf*/ GJWflf is -about twelve- 
Lseagues'loog* indfaur bn>3d» lying North and South; It 
is pretty high: cha<nf>aia Land, ildping do wn towards the 
Goad. The Eafr Side, which & the higheft, b fenced with 
fteep Rocks, oniyhichthc Wavts.tionfUnriy. fce$f, driven. 
by: the Tra<fc Wind. . The Weft, Side is low fcand, in 
which are levexal little Tandy Baysr'divided: byJJLqcks, . 

The Natives are of a good Statunv have largQ Limbs,; 
a! tawny Complexion, black long Hair, fmall Eyes, and 

thinks 



3$i ZtPIto&HtST OK 

thick Lypsf and f are,long vlfaged. They aite ibtnetimef . 
a£Rk&*d tdttr i Kind of Lepioly , othcrwifc the Country istv 
healthful, a&ecfeUjr in tte dry S&fon. > The Rains begia , 
ii>^^mflaft€iUt3i^^, bmarc not violent. 
; The Iflebd pipdoces Rice and mo£t tropical Fruits* 
and rine Sbi^%vhich ^P^^ turned Jrau/ i^nafv 

grows upon a Tree like /Ajjpfea, and at its full Blgnefc iao 
as iar^^^4ui Ordinary Football* it has a hard thick 
Rindj and within u foft yellow: Pulp, of a fwfceteft Tafte > 
the N4ti5P^ cat it inftead of Bri^d, having firft baked car 
rpafted it in die Embers : Uni in Staibn eight Months of: 
the Year, and grows only in tbdft Iftands^ . .> 

DAMBIER relates, .that^tfheri he* was there (about 
the Ydar a 700) there were not above one hunched fndia&A 
dpon die Ifland, thou^ he was infi^rmedi there had bceiu 
three or four <hundrod Jotne TimebefcflG; sasdnfte Reaibn>> 
there was nana oteac that Time was, <that moft of them 
had bun* thdr PkntaciDhB^knd fled to Other Iflands on 
theirs being uted ill by sfce Spaniards. . M 

Their fwiffc failing* Sloops, or flying Proas, are the 
Admiration of adl that fee them v the Bottom of the Vcf* . 
fcl,. oo the Keel, is of one .Piece,, made like a Canoe,: 
twenty-eight Feet in Length, built fliarp at both Ends,, 
oner* Side, -of the Sloop fiat, and the otter founding with a 
pretty large; Belly ; being four or five Feet broad, I with, mi 
Maft in the Middle. They turn the flat Side to the Wind,: 
and having a Head at each End, iail wkh either of them* 
fbremoflv and have never: any Occafton to tack* Dam* 
pier computed * they would £dl twenty^bur Miles ah* 
Hour. The Tide nevec rifcs above two or three Feet at* 
this Ifland. .• '• - .- .-.- v- *» .? 

' The Writer bf Commodoir Anfirtt . Vqyage relate*, . 
that they arrived at the Ifland of Timan or ^mavijla, cm*: 
of the Ladront Iflands* whjch lies North of Guam, on the 
27th of Aaguft, 1742, being fituate in fifteen Degrees 
eight Minutes North Latit^c, and one j hundred and 
fourteen Degrees, fifty Weft of Ampulcaxxx America. This < 
Ifland is twelve Miles in Length, and fim in Breadth, ex* 
tending fibm &* S. S^W. .to *f^N. Ev V The Soil is dry i 
and fandy, and the Air healthllil j/ the Land rifes in gen^^ 
tie Slopes from the Shore to the Middle of the Bland* in- 



»i 



a » -4 



- r 




r 






i 



6/ ttie *AltirNMJ r I»9. ft. 

tOT^jpt«r : by ; VWn«i 6f^^«yCfc<€c«c:( i£ *he Vi&ts ami- 
gradual Sweil&gt of the GWXflfd, - tire JxtfutifWIy dttrcdte** 
edby thcE^mIcttt^nt*6f W&di and Lawhs; ind tht± 
Woods cbnfifteA tif* ta» ijfreadirig Trees, cikbr&tdLfor* 
tkefr Jfpe8 : er tbefr Frtff t m Ttatf 6f dife Lawns clean r 
and 'uniform, compofetf >bf Bttfe Trefoil; imermixfed with" 
a Variety of Ffcwers ^ ^e^oSds,- ifc Many Places, open, 
ftfet? from Duffies, *fcnd IfaSderwo6d,' frfordihg moft ele- 
gant ai^ditatamingPrbipfcdjSi - - : - - - - 

The ;Cat*Ie ,bri mi* tflandwerd computed to iriipunt 
to ten tkcfafahd ^I t; fupp<*-he'-me«M. -Honied Cattle) -all 
perfeajy fcKHe j exfce)?t their 'Eark * befitfcs-whfeih- ch^re 
were Hogst ah3 Poultry without Number. ; The Cattle 
ahd Fowls were fo Fat thattfie Men co\ild rim them down* 
and were under* no Neceffity of flioofcing diem. The 
Fiefh offcbth is exceeding good and eafy of Digeftion, as 
well as that of the wild .Hogs, which rhey took with the 
Dogs, a P&xiy of Spaniard* had brought into the Iflandjuft 
before they arrived. - < . \ >' . -* 

: Tm« Fruits produfced-here art Cocoa, Nuts^ Gufcvees, 
Liines* fwtet and four Orahgjes, an&Cdbbages growing' 
ait the Topi of Trees* het& were attfr* Water Me36ns>- 
Dandalion, creeping Porflain, .Mint, Scurvy , Grafs and J 
So^relj alt which contributed to cure : tfheir Men of -die 
Scurvy in a fhort Time, though they buried ten in a. Day . 
at their firft Coming thither. They had Fifli in great 
Plenty alfo ; but fome of thtif Men bdftg forfeited with 
them, they did not eat mud* Fifli. Thejr met<with great 1 
Plenty df wild Fowl he**, which feferted to two little : 
Lakes or Pieces of Water in theMiddteofthelffands 
but Rfeems, there ii riot ; orie Rivulet or running Stream ' 
in it, though they have excellent - Well W&ter, whidhliea 
near the Surface : There are no People itfidmg conftantly ' 
on the Ifland of finian. It is a Plantation that ferves to 
Hipplf Guam (whercthe; ^»wh& have a Town and Fort)' 
with all Manner of Provifions. ' - 

The Writer of the Yoyage above mentioned, ofcftryes 
that there are alyvt twenty/of thefe Hlands, if 'we count 
all the litde Rocks abpve Watwy ?nd "that on the IflawJ', 
of Guam. The Spaniards have two Caftles dn the Sea- 
shore, viz. St. /fagekf-iymg- hear the Road, where the" 

"'- • Mantis 



a* ,- 4 $fc*/if 1 f f P * ¥ 



4^& ^ ?S^y..*»f^*'TW^'M bm*?Mffinft .^of* 
tre&, n^u/jting «»nly, five\Gwvfc and^t&vCattJc of St* 
fe%. ftandiftg four L&qm #or& 7 E*i| : of . 'SLjbgfa I 
deigned, to prot*& ; the Roeifcwhetf* W* YefieJ,anchpr»7 
thatt arrives here, every, othqr Tear. Befides.thefe Forts, 
therfr is. ^Batjtery; o^fiye; Cannon .oa $m Ja^eo^ n$ar the j 
Sliore, }Tnc Spaniards have three Cochf^r^es of Soldiers 
iaih^e IQand pf Guorn^ about i^j Men in each ;, and t'-« : 
Natives are about four thoufand Men,: Sixty- Years ago* 
there were alloys fifty thoufand of th<Jn\ upon, the three" 
Iilands of Guam. Rota, and Tiniatt, and -die reft were 
peopled in Proportion, but were deftroyed by a Kind t of, 
Plague afrqut Si3py : Years ago* Thole thsft ^jfeis left aijer * 
this Misfortune in the other Iflaods* were all xethoved to 
G«*p, wjiich made Malecontents pf many of them j and 
the Spaniards \zxt fo apprehenfive of a Revolt, that they 
tirqa't; fuffer the Natives to have any \ Arms* : . • 

Ths feme Writer in Speaking. °f thf LaS-$n$ t Sloops, 
or flying Proas, fays, they will fail i twenty -Miles an; 
Hoiif $ . and that there is ufually ;fpc or . feven Men in one 
of them, two of them fitting in the Head and Stern, who 
fteex alternately* a^d the others are employed in trimming ; 
the Sail. ,. , . , . . , . . 

It is difficult to reconcile thefe two Accounts, Datn- 
^r relatcp, that there were one hundred Indians upon the 
Ifland of Guam, and thirty or forty Soldiers ; and that 
there never had been mope than three or four hyndred In- 
j&zo; there ; ^jhile thp Wjitef; of Commodore Anfetft Voy- 
age afTures us there .were one hundred and fifty Spanijb 
Soldiers, pad, four thoufand Indies upon the Ifland pf 
(j#4j», when he .was at Tinian * ana that there had been 
fifty thoufand jO# the three Iflands of Guam* Rota and 
tinian iix$y .Y$ar$ : before, v which, was but a little before 
T)amphr was ; there. The : Defcription. t>f the Ifland of 
Tinien alfo has fo much the Air of a Romance, that' it is 
chough to make a Man fufpend his. Belief of feme other. 
Parts of the Relation. . I am apt to F think that the Spanijb 
Serjeant, who was made Prifoper by Qmimodore Anfcn % 
was the Perfon who gave. the. Writer that Account of the 
Numbers of Indians and Soldiers in the Ifland of Guam, to 
deter the Commodore from making a Defcent there. 

CHAP, 



pf the EAST-INDIES. 33 

* * * 

. chap, n. 

t • 

Contains a Dejcription of the Spice I/lands, viz* thi 
Moluccas, Banda, Amboyna, and Ceylon* with 
thofe that cover them. 

THE Iflands of the Moluccas are fituated In on6 
hundred twenty-five Degrees of Eaftern Longitude, 
and between one Degree South, and two Degrees North 

^ Latitude ; having the Ifland of Gilolo (near which Coaft 
they lie) on the Eaft, and the Ifland t&Qelebes or Mdcajfar 
on the Weft, and the Phillippine Iflands on the North* 
and are five in Number, viz. i. Bacbian. 2. Machian* 
3, Motyr. 4. Ternate \ and, 5. Tydore. Bacbian is 
fituace a very little South of the Equator, in which is a 
good Harbour, defended by a Fort, to which the Dutch 

^ have given the Name of Barnevelt ; here is Plenty cf 

"* Sago, and the tropical Fruits, and it formerly had Plan- 

tations of Cloves. ^Macbian lies almoft under* the Equi- 
noctial \ the Land is very high, and of a pyramidal 
Form. It was once very fruitful in Cloves, and yielded 
the Dutch a greater Quantity than any of the other 
Iflands-, they have three Forts upon it, fituate on inac- 
ceflible Rocks. Motyr refembles Machian in its moun- 
tainous Appearance, but is not fo large, and lie* about 
half a Degree North of the Equator. This Ifland alfo 
formerly produced a great Quantity of Cloves, and is 
defended by a Fort on the North. Tydore lies a little 
North of Mbtyr 9 and is fotuething more than thirty Miles 
in Circumference. Here is a pretty good Harbour, but 
the Entrance of it hazardous, on Account of a Chain of 
Rocks which lies before it. ' Thfc chief Town is Tydore \ 

f ftrongly fituated, and well fortified by the Dutch after 

the Modern Way j but the chief of all the Moluccas is 
Ternate, which lies in one Degree of North Latitude, 
and is about twenty-four Miles in Circumference, the 
chief Towns being Gamolamo^ Malay o % Tallaco and Ty cone; 
The Fort of Tallaco is the firft the Dutch built here, an J 
after that the ftrong Caftlc of Orange. 

C The 



y 



34 r A New H I S T O R Y 

The Inhabitants of the Moluccas live chiefly upon 
Sago (the Pith of a Tree) made into Cakes; there is 
neither Corn or Rice, and fcarce any Meat but Goats 
Flefli in thefe Iflands. Their Liquor is Water, and the* 
Milk r of the C0C04 Nut, or Toddy, drawn from the 
Body of that Tree : Befides the Cocoa and Sago, here 
are Almonds, Oranges, Lemony, and other tropical 
Fruits; but their greateft Riches were their Cloves^ 
which they bartered with other Nations for every Thing 
el fe they wanted. This Tree is like the Bay Tree, the 
CloVes grow in Clufters at the End of the Branches, 
where they hang like Bunches of Grapes ; they are firft 
white, then greda, afterwards red, and when full ripe 
they turn brown. After they are gathered and dried in 
(heSun, they are almoft: black; nothing will grow under 
ifae Branches of thefe Trees, and a Heap of Cloves laid 
in a Room, 'tis faid, will fuck up a Pail of Water, and 
^hereby increafe their Weight. 

. The Banda, or Nutmeg Iflands, are fituate in the 
Indian Ocean, having the great Ifland of Ceram on the 
North, and are five in Number, viz. 

1. POO LOW AY is a moft delightful Country, the 
Nutmeg and' other Fruit Trees being cut into pleafant 
Walks thro* the Ifland, arid form one beautiful Garden 5. 
but here are neither Springs or Rivulets ; it is the rainy 
Seafon, which lafts fome Months every Year, that fupplie$ 
them with "Water, that is preferved ift Cifterns. The 
Dutch have a Fort on the Eaft Side of the Ifland, called 
the Revenge^ being one of the ftrongeft Fortrefies in India. 

2. ROSING EN is one of the fmalleft of thefe 
Iflands, and I do not find there are* any Bonifications 
upon it. , % 

3; GEN API has the Caftle of Nero for its Security, 
by which Name the Ifland is frequently called. This 
Fort ftands on a Plain, clofe to the Water-fide ; but being 
commanded by a rifing Ground, about a Mufket-Shot 
Pittance from it, the Dutch have built another ftrong Fort 
on that Eminence., and on the Eaft of them have a nume- 
rous Garifon. 

4. PO LERON has not much Spice upon it, but 
is fortified to prevent other People fettling fo near the 
ifland* that have Fruit. $. BAND A, 



of the E AS T-IN D I E S. 3$ 

$; BAND A* or Lantor % is the biggeft and moft 
fruitful of all the Nutmeg Iflands. The chief Town of 
Lantor is fituate on the Top of an inacceflable Rock y and 
the Dutch have, improved the Strength of the Situation* 
by the Fortifications they have erefted about it. Band* 
is about fixty Miles round ; none of the reft are near fa 
much: Several of them are Vulcano's, which occafioa 
frequent Earthquakes, and Eruptions of Fire, and melted 
Minerals that run down like Torrents, and do a great 
Deal of Mifchief . to the Plantations as well as the 
Buildings. . 

A MB OTN A is not one of the Molucca Iflands j but 
as now the only Country that produces Cloves, the Dutch 
having rooted them up in the Molucca Iflands, and planted 
them here, where they can beft defend their Pofleffion of 
that Fruit. This Ifland is fituate in one hundred twenty- 
fix Degrees of Eaftern Longitude ; and in three Degrees 
forty Minutes South Latitude \ one hundred Miles North- 
Weft of the Banda Iflands, and a little South of the Ifland 
of Ceram* Befides Cloves, it has plenty of moft tropical 
Fruits and Fifli, nor do they want good Water * but 
!Flelb is very fcarce here. Here is a quadrangular Fort* 
and other Works, in which the Dutch have a- Garifon of 
feven or eight hundred Men to defend the Approaches ta 
this Ifland^ which is efteemed the moft profitable GQvern- 
ment the Hollanders have in India % next to that of Batavia* 
They encourage no Plantations here but Cloves •, on the 
contrary, they endeavour to render this, and the other 
Spice Iflahds as barren as poflible, that they may depend 
entirely on their Mailers ; and that no Nation may find 
a Subfiftence if they (hould invade them. 

The next Spice Ifland, and* the only one where the 
true Cinnamon grows, is that of Ceylon , which I (hall 
defcribe next, though it lies at a great Diftance from the 
Spice Iflands already mentioned, becaufe it feems proper 
to give an Account of all the fine Spices together, and 
they are all fubjedt to t the Dutob. 

CETLON is fituate between feventy-eight and 
eighty-two Degrees of Eaftern Longitude, and between 
fix and ten Degrees of North Latitude, lying about forty 
Miles South-Eaft of the Peninfula of the Hither India * 

C a and 



$6 . A 'New HISTORY 

and is two hundred, and fifty Miles long, and two hta* 
dred broad. 

. I t is for the moft Part a mountainous Country, co- 
vered with Wood; but there are feveral fruitful Plains 
and Vallies, well watered by Rivulets. The moft re- 
markable Mountain, which ftands on the South Side of 
Conduda> the Name of the Northern Divifion, is by the 
Natives called Hamalet, and by the Europeans, Adam's 
Peaky being of a piramidal Form, only on the Top is a 
little, rocky Plain, with a Print of a Man's Foot on it, 
near two Foot long, to which the Natives come in Pil- 
grimage once a year to worlhip the Impreffion, having a 
•Tradition that their God Buddon afcended to Heaven from 
hence, leaving this Print of his Foot, ( which the Portu~ 
guefe, when they poffeffed this Ifland, called Adam** Foot 9 
and the Mountain Pico de Adam. In this Mountain rife 
the principal Rivers, which run into the Sea in different 
Directions. The largeft of thefe is the Mavillagonga^ 
which runs North-Eaft of the Cities of Candy and Alatneur* 
difcharging itfelf into the Ocean at Trincomale. Thefe 
JRlvers run with fuch Rapidity, and are fo full of Rocks, 
xhat none of them arc navigable : The Rains, which 
happen when the Sun is vertical, encreafe their Waters* 
and create Abundance of Torrents, which are not vifible 
in the dry §eafon. The Air is for the moft Part health- 
ful, except near the Sea, and the North Part of the Ifland, 
where they have no Springs or Rivers ; and if the Rain 
fails them, they are fure to be affli&ed with Famine and 
Sicknefs. Their chief Towns are, 

i. CANDT, the Capital of the Ifland, is an opea 
Town, without Fortifications, and yet al moft inacceflible, 
•being furrounded by Rocks, and thick Woods, that are 
impaflable, except through fome Lanes, which are fenced 
with Gates of ftrong Thorns •, and yet it appears, that 
the Portuguefe made themfelves Matters of Candy, and 
alniQft demolifhed it, obliging the King to retire to D/g^ 
ligyneur, five Miles South-Eaft of Candy. 

.2. COLUMBOj Capital of the Dutch Settlements, 
is a great Port Town, has a good Harbour, defended by 
a Caftle, and feveral Batteries of Guns. In this Caftfe 
refides the Governor, Merchants, Officers, and Soldiers 

belonging 



,<f 



c/rfrEAST-INDIES, 37 

belonging to the Eaft-India Company ; and four thoufand 
Slaves have their Huts between the Cattle and the Sea. 
The Dutch have two Hofpitals here ; one for the Sick and 
Wounded, and another for the Orphans : As the Boys- 
grow up, they are entered into the Sea and Land Service; 
and the Girls are married at twelve or thirteen Years of 
Age, and they have a Malabarian School for teaching 
the Indian Language. 

3. NE GUMBO, another Port Town, is fituatc 
about twenty- five Miles North of Cohmbo. 

4. CHI LAO, one of the belt Harbours pn the Coaft, 
Kes twenty Miles North of Negumbo. 

5. JAFFNAPATAN, the Capital of the Pro vince . 
or Jaffnafatan, the Northern Divifion of this IQand, U 
regularly fortified ; for though there is no Cinnamon in 
this Part of the Ifland, the Dutch have fortified it all round, 
to prevent any other Nation fending Colonies hither. 

6. TRINCOMALE is fituate on the Eaft Side- 
of the Ifland, about eighty Miles South of Punta Pedra 9 
the mod: Northerly Promontory on the Ifland. 

7. BATTACALAOis another For t refs, fifty Miles 
South of the former. % 

The Country Villages of the Natives are not divided 
into Streets, but every one enclofes a Piece of Ground for' 
himfelf, which he fences in, and twenty or thirty fuch 
Enclofures, lying pretty near together, are called a 
Town. The Houfes confift but of two or three Rooms 
on the Ground Floor, built with clay Walls, and thatched j 
they are not fo muflf as white- waflied, unlefs they can ob- 4 
tain a Royal Licence for it. People of Figure have a 
large Square in the Middle of the Houfe, and a Bank or 
Sopha about it, on which they fit crofs-legged at their 
Meals, and when they receive Vifits. A Mat, two or 
three Stools, fome China- Ware, and Brazen Pots and 
Bowls, are the principal Part of their Furniture. The 
Matter of the Houfe only has a Bedftead covered with 
Mats to lie on, without a Feather- Bed, Tetter, or Cur- 
tains : As for the Women and Children they lie on Mats, 
about a Fire, which burns all Night ; their Covering is . 
pnly the Cloths they wear about them in the Day-Time. 

C 3 Their 



3* A New H I S T O R Y 

Their Fuel is Wood, which is fo plentiful, that ever/ 
body is at Liberty to cut what he pleafes. 

Some of their Pagoda's, or Temples, are built with 
Stone, adorned with Images both on the Infide and Out \ 
but are wretched djrk Rooms, having no Windows in 
them, but lighted Lamps, which, with the Heat of the 
Country, renders thefe Places exceflive hot and ftifling : 
They facrifice, and perform their Devotions therefore, 
in a Portico in the Front of the Temple. Befides the 
publick Pagoda's, every Man almoft has a little Chapel 
ip his Yard, not above two or three Foot fquare, in which 
he places the Idol he has moft Veneration for, lighting 
Lamps, and ftrewing Flowers before it; and here he 
performs his Morning Devotions. 

The original Inhabitaqs, of* whom the Body of the 
People confilt at prefent, are called Cinglajfesx, befides 
whom there are a great many Moors, Malabars, Portuguefe 
jand Dutch in the lfland. 

The Natives are efteemed Men of good Parts and a 
pretty Addrefs, grave, and of an even Temper, eat and 
Jleep moderately, but lazy and Indolent, which is the 
Cafe in moft hot; Countries. They are not given to 
Thieving, 'tis faid, though addi&ed to Lying, which, 
to me, feems a Paradox ; for a Man that will lie and de- 
ceive jne, would not make much Scruple to cheat me, 
They are far from being jealous, or reftraining their Wo- 
pien from taking innocent Freedoms. 

The Men are of a moderate Stature, and well propor- 
tioned, wear long Beards, and have ^fbd Features ; they 
have long black Hair tfnd black Eyes, dark Complexion,; 
but not black as the Natives upon the neighbouring Con- 
tinent of India are. They fit on Mats and Carpets on the 
Floor, but have a Stool or two for Strangers of Diftinc- 
tion ; the Vulgar are prohibited to fit on Stools. 

Young Men of Figure wear their Hair long and 
combed back, but in a more advanced Age, Caps in the 
Form of a Mitre are worn. Their Drefs is a Waiftcoat of 
Calico, and a Piece of the fame wrapped about their 
Waifts, in which they put their J£nife and Trinkets, and 
£ a ve a Hanger by their Side, in a Silver Scabbard ; be^* 
fide? which they walk with a Cane or Tuck^ and a Boy 

tarries 



of the E.AST-IN-DIES. %$ 

carries a Box with their Betel and Arek Nut after them t 
which they continually chew, as many do Tobacco 
amongft us. 

The Women wear their Hair long without any Covers 
ing, and make it fhine with Cocoa-Nut Oil, though this 
Oil has a very ftrong Smell with it, perhaps the Natives 
efteem it a Perfume, for Cuftom will bring People to» 
like any Thing almoft. The Women are- drcffed in a. 
Calico Waiftcoat, which difcovers their Shape, and they 
wrap a Piece of Calico about them, which falls below 
their Knees, and does the Service of a Petticoat, and thefc 
are longer or fhorter, according to the Quality of the 
Perfon that wears it ; they bore Holes in their Ears, in 
Which they hang fuch a Weight of Jewels, or fomething 
that refembles them, that you may put a Half-Crown 
through the Hole ol their Ears ; they load their Necks 
alfo with weighty Necklaces, which fall upon their 
Breads, containing a great many Strings or Rounds of 
Beads, £&•. Bracelets adorn their Arms, a great Number 
of Rings their Fingers and Toes, and a Girdle of Silver 
Wire and Plate furrounds their Waifts ; when they go 
abroad they throw a Piece of ftriped Silk over their Heads, 
which refembles a Hood. 

The ufual Salute here, is the Salam, that is, the carry* 
ing one or both Hands to their Heads according to the 
Quality of the Perfon they falute. The neareft Relations* 
and Friends do not talk much when they vifit, but fi* 
iilent great Part of tjac Time. Talkative People are in nQ 
Efteem. 

» This Ifland produces Rice, the common Food of the 
Inhabitants in all hot Countries : Of this they have feveral 
Kinds ; one of them will be feven Months before it comey 
to Maturity, fome fix, and others five between the Seed- 
Time and Harvefti that which grows in Water yields moflr, 
but the other is better tafted. Of this the Natives fow bur 
little, but are at great Expence in levelling their Rice 
Grounds, and banking them about that they may hold 
Water. .If they can find Water on the Top, of a Hill, 
they convey it down into the Squares they have made from 
the Bottom to the Top, which looks like Stairs at a Di* 
ftancc, In thofe Parts of the Ifland where they hay* 

C 4 «ithef 



4 o A New HIS TO R Y 

neither Springs or Rivers, as is the Cafe in the North, 
they prefervq the Rain. Water in vaft Rqfcrvoirs, in the 
Time of the Monfons, and convey it -gradually by Rills 
to their Fields and Gardens, until the Rice is aim oft 
ripe 4 and foon after, the Sun having exhaled the Water, 
and left the Fields dry, they begin the Harveft, treading 
out the Corn with Oxen and Buffaloes in the Field where 
it grew ; they prepare a circular Piece of Ground of 
about twenty-five Foot Diameter, digging it a Foot and 
half deep, apd the. Women bringing, in the Bundles or 
Sheaves of Rice on their Heads, the Cattle are driven 
rpurtd the Pit, tell they haVe trampled it out of the Straw, 
and fhgn ■' a new Floor of Sheaves is laid j half a Dozen 
Oxen will tread. out fifty Bufhels of Rice in a Day. When 
they enter upon Bufineis of this Nature, they always pay 
their Devotions to fome Idol, and beg a Blefling on their. 
Labours. 

There are feveral other Kinds of Grain, which they 
Hiake Bread of the latter End of the Year, when Rice is 
fcarpe, particularly {he Coracan, which is a very fmall 
Seed » this grows oi\ a dry Soil, and will ripen in three 
or four Months. The Grain Tanna does not differ much 
from this, of which alfo they make JJread ; but it is ^ 
very dry infipid Food. Of the Seed Tolla they make an 
Oil, ^vith which they anoint their Bodies; and here I 
?an't but qbferv$, that in every hot Country almaft, the 
JsTatives anoint their Bodies either with Oil or Fat. 

X;hb Fruits this Country yields are the Betel Nut, of 
which they life to export great Qualities to the Coaft of 
CoromanieU making a confiderable Profit of it, till the 
Dutch fhut up all their Ports, and reduced them to a State 
Qf Servitude. 

The fruit Jack, of which they will fometimes make a 
Meal, is of a round Form, and as big as a Peck Loaf, 
covered with a green, prickly Rind, in which are enclofed 
Kernels, as big as Chefnuts, -and in Colour and Tafte 
not unlike them ; they gather this Fruit before it is ripe, 
and being boiled it eats like Cabbage ; they eat them raw 
alfo, when they come to Maturity. Another Fruit called 
Jambo taftes like an Apple, and is exceeding beautiful 
vppR the T??e. They have Fruits alfo that rcfemble th$ 

' . European 



of the E A S T - I N D I E 8. 4* 

f' '. European Plums and Cherries, and abound in Mangoes, 

Cocoa's, Pine Apples, Oranges, Citrons, and all Man- 
ner of tropical Fruits. 

Their Kitchen Gardens are well ftored with Roots, 
Plants, and * Herbs, and the Portuguefe and Dutch have 
introduced almoft all Manner of European Plants that grow: 
in our Kitchen Gardens. They abound alfo in Medicinal 
Herbs, which they know very well how to apply, and 
perform many notable Cures. 

Flowers alfo of various Colours, and a delicious 
Scent, are found here, which grow fpontaneoufly, but are 
never cultivated; however, the young People of both 
Sexes adorn their Hair with them. Among other Flowers, . 
they have whjte and red Rofes, as fwtet and as beautiful 
as thofe of Europe* and a white Flower refembling Jaffa- 
mine, which the ljung referves for his own Ufe, no Sub- 
jeft being allowed to wear it. There is another Flower, 
which is obferved to open about Four every Evening, 
and clofe again about Four in the Morning. 

Among their Trees, the Tallipot is much taken No* 
ticeof, which grows very tall ^ndftrait, a Leaf of which 
will cover fifteen or twenty Men, and will fold up like a 
Fan ; they wear a Piece of it on their Heads on a Journey, 
to fkreen them from the Sun : Thefe Leaves are fo tough, 
that they make their Way with them through the Bufhes 
and Thickets without tearing them j they ferve the Sol- 
diers for Tents to lie under in the Field. 

There is a Tree called Reflule,*a Kind of Palm, as 
high as a Co<?oa Tree, from whence they draw a pleafant 
/ Liquor, but not ftrong •, an ordinary Tree yielding three 
or four Gallons a Day, and when boiled, makes a kind 
of brown Sugar, called Jaggory ; the Wood of this Tree 
is black, hard and very heavy. 

The Tree of mpft ineftimable Value to the Dutch > as 
it was formerly to the Arabs and the Portuguefe^ is, the 
Cinnamon, which is found in no other Country, b.ut 
grows commonly in the Woods, on the South- Weft Part 
of the Iflana. This Tree is of a middle Size, and has a 

Leaf of the Form of a Laurel Leaf, When the Leaves 

■ 

firft appear, they are as red as Scarlet, and rubbed between 
the Fingers, fpidl lij^e Cloves, Jt bear$ a Fruit like an 

Acorn, 



4» 'A New HISTORY 

Acorn, which neither fmells not taftes like the Bark; 
but if boiled in Water, an Oil fwims on the Top* which- 
fmells fweetly, and is ufed as Ointment in feveral Diftem- 
pers ; but as they have great Plenty of it, they frequently 
burn it in their Lamps. The Tree having two Barks, 
they ftrip off the outfide Bark, which is good for little, 
and then cut the inner Bark round the Tree with a Pruning- 
Knife ; after which they cut it long-ways in little Slips, 
and after they have ftripped thefe Pieces off, lay them in 
the Sun to dry, and they roll up in the Manner we fee 
them brought over. The Body of the Tree is white, and 
ferves for Building and other Ufes, but has not the Smell 
or Tafte the Bark has. When the Wind fets off the lfland, 
the Cinnamon Groves perfume the Air for many Miles 
Out at Sea, of which we have inconteftablc Evidence; pro- 
bably, it is at that Time of Year, when the Cinnamon 
Trees are in Bloflbm. 

This lfland abounds in Elephants of a very large Size; 
they have alfo Oxen and Buffaloes, Deer, Hogs and 
Goats, and fome wild Beafts, with Monkies in Abun- 
dance; but they had neither Horfes, Afles, or Sheep, 
till they were imported by the Europeans* nor have they 
any Lions, or Wolves ; and here is an Animal in all 
Refpe&s like a Deer, but not bigger than a Hare ; The 
wild Elephants feed upon the tender Twigs of Trees, 
Corn and Grafs* as it is growing, and do the Hufband- 
men a great deal of Mifchief, by trampling down his 
Corn, as well as eating it, and breaking and fpoiling his 
Trees. The Monkies have black Fato,, ar *d white 
Beards, very much refembling old Men. Alligators, or 
Crocodiles, abound here, and Serpents of a monftrou* 
Size ; but the Story of the Snake that fwallowed a Stag 
with the Horns, does not deferve much Credit, efpecially,. 
I as Mr. Knox* who relates it, had it by Hearfay, and never 
I met with one above the common Size, though he refided 
in the lfland twenty Years. 

They arc almoft over-run with Vermin ^nd Infedts, 

particularly with Ants, which eat every Thing they 

[jcome at, except Iron and other Minerals as hard. Their 

:oufes are peftered with them ; if a Difti of Meat is fet 

lown, it is immediately full of Ants ; In the Fields they 

raife 



N 



^/^EAST-INDIES. 4£ 

faife Hills fix Feet high, of a pure white Clay, fa hard* 
that a Pick- Ax will hardly demolifh them ; and of this 
Clay it is that the Priefts frequently form their Idols : 
Thefe Infe&s are not long-lived -, when they are full grown 
they have Wings, and fly up in fuch Clouds, that the/ 
intercept the Light of the Sun •, foon after which they 
fall down dead, and are eaten by Fowls, who devour 
(hem alfo at other Times, or there would be no living at 
Quiet for them. 

The common Sort of Bees build in hollow Trees or in 
Holes of the Rocks ; but there are much larger Bees, of 
a more lively Colour, which form their Combs upon the 
high Boughs of Trees, aryi at the Seafon for taking them, 
the Country People go out in the Woods and take their 
Honey. 

When the Rains begin to fall, they are troubled with 
little red Leeches, which are not at firft much bigger 
than . a Hair : Thefe run up Peoples Legs as they travel, 
for they all go bare- legged, and fixing themfelves there* 
are not eafily removed till the Blood runs about theit 
Heels : The beft Remedy againft them, is to rub their 
Legs with Lemon and Salt, The Bite of thefe Creatures 
is fo far from being attended with any ill Confequences* 
that this Bleeding is efteemed very wholefome. 

Their: Fowls are Geefe, Ducks, Turkies, Sens, 
Woodcocks, Partridges, Pigeons, Snipes, wild Peacocks, 
and Parokeets, and a beautiful Sparrow a$ white as Snow, 
all but his Head, which is black, and a Plume of Fea- 
thers Handing upright upon it ; the Tail is a Foot long. 

The Natives make favoury Soups of Flefh or Fifh,- 
which they eat with their Rice ; People of Condition will 
have feveral Difhes at their Tables, but they confift chief- 
ly of % Rice, Soups, Herbs and Garden-Stuff ; they eat 
but little Flelh or Fifh : Their Meat is cut into little 
fijuare Pieces, and two or three Ounces of it laid on th$ 
Side of their Difli by their Rice, and being feafoned very 
high, gives ^ Rclifh to the infipid Rice. They ufc nei- 
ther Knives or Forks, but have Ladles and Spoons, made 
of the Cocoa-Nut Shell •, their Plates are of Brafs or China 
Ware : The poor People have a broad Leaf inftead of a 
Plate, and fometimes feveral £-?avs$ f§wed together with 

Bea" 



5j4 A New HISTORY , 

Bents, where broad ones are not to be had. It is amazing 
to fee what vaft Quantities of Rice an Indian will eat at a 
- Meal, and it is no doubt much wholefomer Food than Meat' 
in hot Countries. Water is their ufual Drink, which they i 
pour out of a Cruife or Bottle, holding it more than a Foot" 
above their Head : Some of them will fwallow near a 
Quart of Water in this Manner without gulping once. 
There is neither Wine or Beer made in this Country ; but 
Arrack or Spirits they draw from Rice, and feveral other' 
Ingredients. 

$T e i t h e r the People in high or low Life eat with 
their Wives. The Man fits down by himfelf and his 
Women wait upon him, and when he has done the Women 
and Children are allowed to eat. I fhduld have taken No- 
tice that they never eat Beaf, the Bull and Cow being 
Obj,e£ts of Adoration here. 

There are no Wheel Carriages in this mountainous 
and woody Country, unlefs wh#t belong to the Dutch* 
Dear the Sea*Coaft. The Baggage is ufually carried upon 
the Backs of their Slaves. 

The chief Manufacture here is the Calico, or Cotton 
Cloths, which they fpin and weave * they make alfo Brafs, 
Copper, and Earthen Vefiels, Swords, Knives, and work- 
ing Tools ufed by Smiths, Carpenters, and Hufbandmen; 
Goldfmiths Work, Painting and Carving alfo is«performed 
tolerably well, and they now make pretty good Fire- 
Arms. 

Their foreign Trade may be traced up to the earlieft 
Ages. They fupplied Perfia, Arabia* Egypt and Ethiopia* 
with their Spices before Jacob went down into Egypt* 
which is above three thoufand Years fince, as appears by 
the Hiftory of JoftpV% being fold to the IJhmadite Mer- 
chants, who were travelling with a Caravan crofs Arabic}. 
to Egypt* with the Spices of India* of which the Cinna- 
mon of Ceylon, that lies near the Coaft . of Hither India* 
was, no doubt, the chief ; So profitable was this Branch 
of Trade, that all the Nations above-mentipned feat Co • 
lonies hither, whofe Defendants were planted here when 
the Portuguefe firft vifited the'fe Coafts, as will appear when 
the Hiftory of the Spice Iflands is further confiderecL 

T«sv 



* 



of the- E A S *£- 1 N t) I B ft 4$ 

• Tflfe Portuguefe Language is fpoken upon the Coaft 5 
the Natives, however, have a Language of their oWn, 
which comes neareft to that fpoken on the Malabar Coaft ; 
and there is a dead Language only fpoke by their Bramins 
or Priefts, in which the Books relating to their Religion 
are written. 

* They write upon the Leaves of the Talipot cut into 
Pieces of three Fingers broad and two Foot long, with a 
Steel Stile or Bodkin. They have long ftudied Aftrono- 

• my, which they learnt from the Arabian Colonics, which 
fettled on the Coafts, and foretel Eclipfes pretty exa&ly. 
They art great Pretenders alfo to Aftrology, and by the 
Planets calculate Nativities, foretel future Events, and 
direft People, when will be the moft lucky Days to enter 
upon any Affair of Moment, or to begin a Journey ; and 
they find Men weak enough to be impofed upon, if they 
have been never fo often difappointed. Their Year is 
divided into three hundred fixty-five Days, and every 
Day into thirty Pays or Parts, and their Night into as 
many ; and they have a little Copper Diflb, with a Hole 
at the Bottom of it, which being put empty into a Tub 
of Water, is filled during one of their Pays, when it finks, 
and it is put into the Water again to meafure another Pay * 
for they have neither Sun-Di#is nor Clocks. 

As to Piiyfick, every one almoft underftands the com- 
mon Remedies, applying Herbs or Roots, according to 
the Nature of the Complaint, and they have an Herb 
which cures the Bite of a Snake \ but there are neither 
Phyficians or Surgeons amongft them, who make a Pro- 
fefiion of this Science. As they abound in poifonous Herbs* 
* and Plants, fo they have others that are Antidotes againft 
them. Their Difeafes are chiefly Fevers* Fluxes, and the 
Small-Pox. 

^The Natives worftiip God, but make no Image of 
him -, 'however they have Idols, which are Reprefentatives 
of fome great Men that formerly lived upon Earthy and 
are now, they imagine, Mediators for them to the fu- 
preme God in Heaven. The Chief of thefe Demi-Gods is 
Buddou, who, according to their Tradition, originally 
came from Heaven to procure the Happinefs of Men, and 
afcended thither again ivom Adam's Mountain already men- 

4 turned^ 



4 Q 



r Anew Distort 



tioned ? leaving the Impreffion of his Fqot on the RocK 
They worftiip alfo {he Sun and Moon, ^nd other Planets* 
Every Town has its tutelary Demon, and every Family* 
$heir,Hou(hpuld God befides, to whom they build Chapel* 
in their Courts, facrifice and pay their Devotions every 
Morning \ but to the. fupreme God they eredt no Temple* 
pr Altars. There are three Clafles of Idols, and as many 
Orders of Priefts, who have their feveral Temples, and to 
Yfhich v\ ftates in Lands are appropriated. The God BuddvHy 
already mentioned, is the chief ofthefe fubordinate Deities* 
apd his Priefts in the greateft Efteem, being all of the 
higheft Clafs or Tribe in the Nation, They wear a yellow 
Veft and Mantle, their Heads fhaved, and. their Beards 
grow to a great Length. Their Difciples fall down on . 
their. Faces before them ; and they have a Stool to fit on 
wherever they vifit, which is an Honour only ihewn to 
their Prince* and Magiftrates, 

These Priefts have no Commerce with Women* 
drink no ftrong Liquor, and eat only one Meal a Day, 
but are debarred from no Flefh except Beef. They are 
ftiled Sons of the God Buddou> and can't be called to Ac- 
count by the Temporal Power, whatever Crimes they 
commit. 

There is a fecond Order of Priefts that officiate in the 
Tfcmples of other Idols ; thefe are allowed ta profefs any 
fecular Employment, and are not diftinguilhed from the 
Laity by their Habit, but have, howeYer, a certain Re- 
venue. Every Morning and Evening they attend the 
Service of their Temples, and When the People facrifice 
Rice and Fruits, the Prieft prefents them before the Idol, . 
mid then delivers them to the Singing-Men and Women, 
and other Servants that belong to the Temple, and to the 
Poor that come to perform their Devotions, who eat the 
Frovifion: No Fleftx is ever facrificed to the Idols - of thi} 
Clafs. 

The third Order of Priefts have np Revenues, but 
buiki Temples f of • themfelves, without any Ele&ion or 
Confecration, and beg Money to maintain them. Wednesdays 
and Saturdays are the Times they refort to the Temples \ 
sand at the New and Full Moon they offer Sacrifices to the 
9&d BuddaUy and 9n New-Year's Day, in the Month of 

March) 



; 



<>f the E A S.T-IND IE 9.. iff 

diarchy tbcy offer a folemn Sacrifice to him on a high 
Mountain* or under a Ipreading Tree, which is efteemed 
facred. This Tree, according to Tradition, like the Cha- 
pel of LorettQ % has travelled through feveral Countries* 
and palling the Sea, at length planted ijfelf in this Ifland, 
under whofe Branches the God Buddou ufed to repofe him- 
felf ; for the Truth whereof I will not anfwer, but certain 
it is, near this Place are the Remains of Temples he wi> 
put of the Rocks, of fuch Magnitude and Workmanfhip^ 
that the Natives believe they muft have been ere&ed by a 
pertain. Race of Giants they annually commemorate. 

' The Figures of many of their Idols reprefent Creatures 
that never had a Being, partly human, and partly Fifh, or 
fome Quadruped 5 but thofe in the Buddou* § Temples, are; 
only the Images of Men fitting crofs^ legged in yellow 
Veils, refembling the Habits of their Priefts. Before the 
Eyes of the Image arq*made it is not accounted facred, but 
thrown about like a common Block 5 but when the Eyes 
are finilhed, it is efteemed complete, and becomes the 
Qbjeft of Adoration. 

At the New Moon in July y annually, begins a folemn 
Feftival, . which lafts till the Full Moon, when forty or 
fifty Elephants, magnificently accoutered, march through 
the principal Streets of their Cities, followed by People 
refembling, Giants, in Memory of that Race of Giants 
^bove-mentioned, who once inhabited the Earth, ac- 
cording to their Traditions •, and after thefe come the Mu- 
fick and Dancing Girls, dedicated to their Temples. Then 
follows one of the Priefts of the God Buddou y mounted on 
an Elephant of an extraordinary Size, and covered with 
• white Cloth, and the richeft Trappings, adorned wit& 
Colours, Streamers and Flowers. The Prieft reprefent- 
ing the Allout neur Dio, or the fupreme God, another Prieft 
holding an Umbrello over his Head, and on the Right and 
Left are two Priefts of the inferior Deities, mounted upon 
Elephants. Thefe are followed by Hundreds of Ladies 
of the firft Quality with lighted Lamps ; and the Generals 
at the Head <>f their Troop?, with the Courtiers and 
Officers of State, clofe the Proceffion, making the Tour 
of the City once in the Day -Time, and once in the Night $ 
and this is repeated every twenty-four Hours, from the 

New 



4S A New H t $ ? OR Y 

New Moon to the Full, the Intervals being fpent in team- 
ing, 'Singing, and Dancing, none following their Trades 
or Bufinefs during the Solemnity. 

There are great Numbers of Portug uefe Chriftians in 
the Ifland,defjp ended from the Prbfelytes made by the Po- 
pilh Mifjionaries, while the Portuguefe poffeffed the Ifland 5 
there are alfo fome Churches, which the PortUguife built- 
ilear the Sea-Coafts, but none in the upland Country. 

When a Contraft has been made by the Parents of the 
young Couple defigned to be married, the intended Bride- 
groom fends his Spoufe a Piece of Callico and a flowered 
Linen Waiftcoat, and aTime is appointed for the Wedding, 
or rather the Hufband's bringing Home his Wife, and he 
goes the Evening before with his Friends to her Father's, 
where he entertains the Bride with Sweetmeats, and the 
bcft Provision he can get. 

After Supper they deep in the fame Room, and 
having dined at his Wife's Father's, the next Day a 
grand Proceffion begins to the Bridegroom's Houfe 5 but 
nothing is faid of the Prieft's repeating the Words of the 
Contract, or even blefiing the Marriage ; one Reafon 
whereof may be, that it is but a temporal Agreement. 
The Parties, after they have tried one another, are ac 
Liberty to part, and take another Spoufe ♦, and this they 
will do feveral Times before they fix upon one they think 
proper to fpend their Lives with ; but as the Father gives 
a Portion with his Daughter, either in Money, Cattle, or 
Slaves, thefe, or an Equivalent muft be returned with 
the Woman, and though a Man is allowed but one Wife 
at a Time, a Women frequently marries or cohabits with 
two Men, and thefe fometimes Brothers, and keep Houfe 
together, which I take to be no more than fome frugal 
Gentlemen do in Europe, i. e, keep one Miftrefs between 
them : It is faid alfo, that Parents feldom refufe to let a 
young Fellow lie with their Daughter, in Hopes of his 
marrying her, if it is likely, to prove an advantageous 
Match. 

Where a Man of Quality vifits his" Inferior, it is 
frequent for the Man of the Houfe, after Supper, to 
Compliment his Gueft, with his Wife or his Daughter, to 
fleep with him, though it would be efteemcd a Crime to 

offer 



of the t AS T.INDIES. 49 

offer either to one that is his Inferior ; and the taking a 
Man's Wife againft his Confent, is fo great an Offence, 
that the injured Hufband is juftified if he kills them both, 
when he takes them together. 

The Women here make no Ufe of Midwives, and 
think it no Crime to procure Abortion ; when a Child is 
born, a pretended Aftrologer is fent for and confulted, 
whether it is like to prove fortunate, and if he is of Opi- 
niort it will not, after he has confulted the Stars, they 
expofe the Child or drown it, or elfe give it to fome 
Neighbour ; for though it would be unhappy with the 
Parents, it may prove lucky to another j they pretend. 
When the Children grow up, they are called by the 
Name of the Family, or the Place where they refide. 
During their Minority the Parents call them by what 
Name they pleafe, which they lofe when they are grown 
up. 

When a Perfon dies, the Corpfe is burnt; it is carried 
on an open Bier to the Top of fome neighbouring Hill, ' 
and laid upon the Wood about three Foot from the Ground, , 
then more Wood is heaped upon the Body to a confidera- 
ble Height ; and if it be a Perfon of Oiftin&ion, an Arch 
is erefted over the Pile, adorned with Flags and Strea- 
mers, and the Whole confumed in the Flames ; the Afhes 
being afterwards fwept together, and furrounded by a 
Wall, fome Days after, a Prieft is fent for to the Houfe 
of the .Deceafed, and a melancholy Dirge is fung, the 
Women of the Family letting ldofe their Hair, crying 
and bewailing their Lofs, which is repeated every Morning 
and Evening for feveral Days, the Male Relations {land- 
ing by fighing and groaning, as if they would break their 
Hearts •, but it is no ftrange Thing, however, to fee the 
Wife married again in a very little Time, the Laws not 
requiring the Woman to be burnt with her Hufband, as 
on the neighb6uring Continent of India. On the contrary, 
*tis laid, that the Government of Ceylon exempts Widows 
from all Manner of Taxes. 

The Iflands of Celebes or Macaffar, Gilolo y Ceram, BoW"o y . 
and Bouton, lie near the Molucca and Banda Iflands, and. 
though they produce none of the fine Spice*, are of great 
£onfequence to the Dutch* who have fubdued and forti- 

D fiedr 



5 o . A New H X S TO R Y 

£ed them in order to defend their Poflcffion of the Spic^ 
Jflands. 

CELEBES, or Macafjar, lies under the EquinoftiaL 
and on both Sides of it, being fituate between one hundred 
Sixteen and one hundred twenty -four Degrees of Eaftern 
longitude, and between two Degrees North, and fix 
Pegrees South Latitude, and is five-hundred Miles long* 
and for the moft Part two hundred Miles broad. The 
Air is hot and moid, the rainy Seafon lafting the greateft 
Part of the Year ; but thep the Mornings ufually are fair. 
JDuring the Rains there are innumerable Torrents tumbling 
from the Hills. At other Times there is but one navi- 
gable River, running from North to South, and dif- 
charging itfelf into the Bay of Macajfar* running under 
the Walls of that City. 

MACASSAR is a Jiarrge Port Town, the Capital of 
the Ifiand, fituate on the South-Weft Part of it, confid- 
ing of fpacious Streets, planted with Ever-greens. The 
Palaces and Mofques are built with Stone, the reft of 
Wood. It contained upwards of one hundred thoufand 
Men, able to bear Arms, formerly ; but fince the Dutch 
Ijave fubdued the Ifland, and monopolized the Trade, 
there are not half thatt, Number here; the Dutch have 
a ftrong Fort garifoned^with ieven or eight hundred 
Men. 

J AMP AD AN is another Port Town, about fifteen 
Miles South of Macajfar, one of the beft Harbours in In- 
dia, and the firft Town the Dutch took from the Natives - f 
here they funk or feized all the Portuguefe Fleet when they 
were in full Peace with that Nation. /The reft of the Towns 
and Villages lying in the flat Country near the Sea or the 
Mouths of Rivers, are for the moft Part built with Wood 
or Cane, and ftand upon high Pillars on account of the an- 
nual Flood, when they have a Communication with one 
another only by Boats. 

The Natives are of a middle Stature, and of a deep Cop- 
per Colour, their Features not very engaging, having very 
high Cheek Bones, flat Nofes, and blade Teeth, which 
are not natural, but a great deal of Pains is taken to make 
them fo j and they anoint themfel'ves with Oil from their In- 
fancy. Their fhining black Hair they tie up in a Roll, 

and 



•/A EA8T-IND.IE8. 51 

and a white Cloth or fmall Turbant about their Heads, and 
have fcarce any other Cloathing than a linen Cloth wrap- 
ped about their Loins. 

They are an ingenious People, and very brave, infpired 
with juft Notions of Honour and Friendftiip, retaining fuch 
a Love of Liberty, that they long defended themfelves a- 
gainft the whole Power of the Dutch, and were the laft Na- 
tion in the Indian Seas that were fubdued by them, after a 
very long and bloody War; and as the Men are «bravfc, 
the Women are remarkably chafte. 

Their Princes and great Men wear a Veft, tied with a 
Safh, in which their Dagger is placed, their Knife, Crice, 
and other little Trinkets. People of Figure dye the Nail 
of the little Finger of the Left- Hand red, and let it grow 
as long as the Finger. The Women wear a Shift, or ra- 
ther Waiftcoat, clofe to their Bodies, and a Pair of 
Breeches, which reach down to the Middle of the Leg, 
made of Silk or Cotton, and have no other Hcad-Dref* 
than their Hair tied up in a Roll, with fome Curls hang* 
ing down their Neck \ they throw a loofe Piece of Linen 
or Muflin over ail when they go abroad ; nor have they any 
Ornaments but a Gold Chain about their Necks. 

They are fond of a fine Equipage and a great Number 
of Servants to attend them, and if they have not fo many 
of their own as their Quality requires, they will not ftir 
out, till they have got tKe ufual Number, by hiring or 
borrowing them. The Furniture of their Houfes confifts 
chiefly of Carpets and Cufhions, and the Couches they 
deep on. They fit crofs legged on Mate and Carpets, as 
molt /fjiaticks do. ,/ ' A 

This Ifland produces mod Animals except Sheep- 
There are Monkies in Abundance, that will fet upon 
Travellers; fome of them are as big as MaftifFs, and a 
Man muft be well armed to defend himfelf againft them. 
They hunt in Packs, and will run down a wild Beaft; they 
are afraid of nothing but Serpents, which frequently at- 
tack thefe Gentlemen, purfuing them to the Tops of the 
Trees* and wouhding them. There are no Elephants in 
the Ifland, but they have a fmall Breed of Horfes, on 
which the Natives ride without a Saddle, having a painted 
Cloth, without Stirrups, inftead of it j a Cord fer ves in*. 

Da ftead 



> 



52 A 'New HISTORY * 

ftead of the Reins of a Bridle, and a Piece of Wood for i 
Bit. They ride alfo upon Oxen and Buffaloes. 

Bambous of a great Length and Thicknefs, and other 
Caries grow here; alio Cotton Trees, Ebony, Calambac,- 
Sanders, and other dying Woods and Timber, proper for 
building Houfes, Ships, and Boats. The Pepper Plant 
alfo abounds here, as well as Rice, Sugar, Oranges, and 
the tropical Fruits ; but of all their Plants, thofe that 
afford Opium are molt cultivated; for of this, they eat 
great Quantities, and no Country abounds more with 
poifonous Plants and Herbs, which afford a Liquor, into 
which they dip their Darts and Daggers. 
" The Natives don't fcruple eating any Flefli but Pork, 
this no Mahometan will touch; but their Food is chiefly 
Rice, Filh, Herbs, Fruits and Roots; Flefh they eat 
but little of. Their ' chief Meal is in the Evening, 
they chew Betel and Arek, or fmoak Tobacco mixed with 
Opium moft Part of the Day. Their Liqiibr is Tea, 
Coffee, SherWti or Chocolate, and they have Palm 
Wine, Arrack, or Spirits, which they fometimes indulge 
in, though 'tis prohibited by their Religion. They loll 
upon Carpets at their Meals, and eat off of Difties made 
or China, Wood, Silver or Copper, which are fet before 
them on little low lacquered Tables ; and take up the 
Rice with their Hands inftead of. Spoons,- which they 
ieem not to know the Ufe of. 

Young Gentlemen here are taught to ride, to fhobt, 
and handle the Crice and Scymetar ,; and particularly they 
are.inftru&ed how to blow their little poifoned Darts 
through a Tube, or hollow Cane; about fix Foot in 
Length; with thefe they engage their Enemies, and if 
they make the leaft Wound with thefe Darts, it is faid to 
be mortal. . Though thefe Weapons would not be much 
dreaded among People that are well cloathed; yet as the 
Natives engage naked, their Skins are eafily penetrated, 
-3nd the Poifon operates fo fpeedily, that it is difficult 
.curing them. It is related of an Englijhman who had 3cil- 
iled one of the Natives, and was delivered up to the Of- 
ficers of Juftice to execute, that the King fhot fuch a 
.poifoned Dart as has been mentioned, and wounded one of 
his Toes, having agreed, that if the Europeans could fare 
. . • * him 



of the EAST-INDIES. $3 

him afterwards, he fhould Kve ; and though two Surgeons 
ftood by and immediately cut off the Toe of the Criminal, 
he expired immediately after. 

The King of Macajjar was an abfolute Prince before the 
Dutch fubdued him, and ufurped his Throne. Theft 
• Monarchs were fucceeded by their next Brothers, and not 
by their Sons: The Forces of this Kingdom were a well 
regulated Militia; never chargeable to the Government, 
but when they were called out to aftual Service. The 
Soldier carries a light Shield made of Cane, and covered 
with a Buffaloe's Hide, and he has aSword, Dagger, and 
Sampit (the Tube above mentioned) which ferves inftead 
of a Spear, beirg armed with a Dagger like a Bayonet at 
the End of it, io that when he has ufed it as a miflive 
Weapon, and difcharged the poifon'd Dart thro' it, h6 
ftands firm, as a. Pike-Man, ready to defend himfelf, or 
advance towards the Enemy. 

There are no written Laws in this Country, but what 
are to be met with in the Alcoran. The Judges, or Ca* 
dis, who are Mahometan Priefts, interpret them, and 
every Man pleads hfe own Caufe ; there are no Lawyers 
amongfl: them, and in feveral Cafes, private Men are al- 
lowed to do themfelves Juftice$ as in Adultery, Robbery 
and Murder of a Relation, where the Offender is takea in 
the Faft, .they don't yvait for the Judge's Sentence. 

Cotton Linen is their principal Manufacture. The 
\Vomen are taught to fpin and w^ave, and make their own 
?md their Hufbands Cloaths, as well as their Childrens. 
The Men jmake their Arms, Utenfils, and Inftruments of 
Husbandry ; .there art? no particular Trades that work for 
Others, but every Family provide themfelves with what 
they want, and they will imitate any thing they fee very 
exa&ly. 

MACASSAR had formerly a very great foreign Trade, 
fupplying the Molucca's and Banda with Rice and other Pro- 
vifidns, and'taking their Nutmegs and Cloves in Returns 
iyhich they coqveyed to India 9 P*rjia y Arabia and Egypt y 
and were by them diftributed among the weftcrn Nations 
of Europe and Africa^ before the Navigation round the 
Cape of Good Hope was difcovered. 

; D 3 The** 



54 4 New HlfTORY 

Their, common Language is the Malayan Tongue, 
but the Alcoran and religious Books are written in Ara* 
hick ; for the Religion of this People is Mahometanifm. 
\ 'The !(Und of Gilolo is fituate between one hundred and 
twenty-five and one hundred and twenty-eight Degrees of 
Eaft Longitude, and between three North and two South 
Latitude ; the Iflands of Molucca's lying yery near the 
Weft Coaft of this Ifland, for which Reafon it has been 
ftrongly fortified by the Dutch, to prevent any other Na- 
tion approaching them, though there are no Spices grow- 
ing here. The chief Town is Batochina, the Name by 
which the Ifland is frequently called, fituate on a Bay of 
the Sea, on the South- Weft Part of the Ifland. The 
Climate, Soil, Produce, and Inhabitants differing very^ 
little from thofe of Celebes^ need no particular Dsfcription 
here, 

C E RAMis fituate between one hundred and twenty- 
fix and one hundred and twenty -nine DegreesL of Eaftern 
Longitude, and in a Manner covers the Iflands of Amboyna , 
and Banda, where Cloves and Nutmegs are produced $ 
Vhich was the Reafon the Dutch fortified this as well as 
Gilolo., The firft Adventurers that vifited this Ifland and 
thofe in th>e Neighbourhood of it, give out that they were 
Canibals, though the only Reafon given for it was, that 
they retaliated the Cruelties that l>ad been exercifed on 
them by the Portuguefe and Dutch, who came to. take their 
Country away and enflave them, and particularly that they 
roafted fome of the Prifoners, that fell into their Hands* 
alive. There* 1 does not appear to have been any Witnefs 
that ever faw them, devouring human Flefli ; but this wa$ 
given out by thofe Invaders, for the fame Reafon the 
Spaniards accufed the Americans of the fame Crime, namely, 
to excufe their own Cruelty and Injuftice. 

BOURO and Bout on are two Iflands that lie between 
Macajfar and Ceram, which the Dutch alfo have fortified, 
in order to defend the Avenues to the Spice Iflands* 

It is now between three thoufand and four thoufand 
Years fince this Part of the World hath been acquainted 
with the Spices of India, and perhaps longer. The firfl: 
Time we read of Spices being brought from thence was,, 
when Jofepb was fold to the IJhmaclite^ who were travel- . 
. ":' ~* ling 



•i 



of the EAS'T-lfrDIES. $5 

Ikig with a Caravan of Camels crofs Arabia to Egppt with 
Spices, among other Merchandize of the Eaft. This was 
one thoufand feven hundred and five Years before the 
Birth of Chrift, to which if we add one thoufand feven 
hundred and fifty-four Years , fince the Beginning of the 
Ghriftian .SEra, the whole makes three thoufand four hun- 
dred and fifty-nine Years, fince Jofeph was carried into £- 
gypt\ and though this be the firft Time we read of this 
Trafick between India and Egypt t it is very probable the 
Trade was begun feveral Years before, it not being men- 
tioned as a Trade then newly begun : And yet the Iflands 
where the fine .Spices grow were never vifited, or even 
known to the Europeans, until the Portuguefe difcovered the 
Way to India by the Cape of Good Hope, about two hundred^ 
and fifty Years ago. 

The Neceffaries of Life were common to all the World' 
from the Beginning, but the fine Spices are only to be had 
in fome fmall Iflands in the Indian Seas ; and tho* Spices ; 
may be reckoned among the Number of Superfluities,* 
nothing has been more fought after on Account of their 
giving an agreeable Relifti to our Food. The fearching 
after them firft promoted Commerce and Navigation, and 
brought one Part of the World acquainted with the other. 
This Trafick feems firft to hive been carried on, for the 
moft Part, by Land, though it was neceflary to pafs fome 
StTaits and Arms of the Sea, before this Merchandize 
could be loaded on the Backs of Camels. The Ancients 
muft have had fome Boats and Veflels in order to go over 
and people thefe Iflands ; and in the like Veflels they, no 
doubt, carried their Produce to the adjacent Continent, 
and traficked with their Mother-Country, in which Voyages 
they were feldom out of Sight of Land, and if they were 
at any; Time, the Sun and the northern Stars were a Di- 
rection for them ; they feldom went to Sea but in the fair 
Seafon, when, the Heavens were clear, and when the Mon- 
fons or periodical Winds fat right for them, as they always 
do fix Months in the Year, in the Latitude of the Spice 
Iflands. 

- The Cloves and Nutmegs of the Molucca's and 
Banda were probably tranfported alfo by the Natives to 
the Ifland of Celebes or Macajjar> which lies near them, 

D 4 from 



$6. A New HISTORY 

from whence they were tranfported to Borneo % and the In- 
habitants of Borneo might carry them to Malacca on the 
Continent of India, which was but a little Diftance from 
thence, and the greateft Mart for Spices in that Part of 
the World; from Malacca they, might coaft it along to 
Bengal, from whence the 'Caravans of Camels might take 
this Merchandize, and carry it crofs the Hither India, Per* 
fia and Arabia, which is contiguous to Egypt , and it might 
be tranfported over the narrow Strait of Babelmandel into 
Abyffinia, or the Upper Ethiopia ; for we find the Queen 
of Sheba, the Sovereign of Ethiopia, made a Prefent of the 
fine Spicies to King Solomon, which fhe might have alfo 
of the Phoenician Merchants* who muft fail clofe to her 
Coafts, in their Voyages to and from India : Or file might 
have Colonies in India herlelf, as I am moft inclined to 
believe fhe had, becaufe the Natives of Ethiopia, and thofe 
of India are alike both in their Features and Complexion ; 
aim! this Ethiopia, lies more convenient for trading with 
India than the Country of the Phoenicians. It. is nearer to 
India alfo by the whole Length of the Red-Sea, which is 
not lefs than one thoufand two hundred Miles, and the 
moft difficult Part of the Navigation to India. 
. As Cinnamon grows only in the Ifland of Ceylon very 
neer the Hither India, there was no Difficulty in carrying 
that over to.«the Continent rn the fmalleft Vefiels, and 
then there are no Seas to crofs between that and Egypt \ 
and here it feems very evident that India and the remoteft 
ftlands in thofe Seas were planted very early, for it was 
not much above five hundred Years after the Flood, before 
we hear of the fine Spices being brought through Arabia 
from thefe Iflands, 

Tjh e Phoenicians, the firft great maritime Power, who 
werefeated in Paleftine, on the Shores of the Levant, and 
were Mafters alfo of fome Ports on the Red^Sea ; obferving 
what a Demand there was fdr thefe Spices in the Weft, 
ventured to fend their Fleets as far as India, and brought 
the Spice6 and other rich Merchandize from thence all the* 
Way by Water -Carriage ; but it is probable they went no % 
farther for them than Malacca^ which was very early, the 
great Mart for thofe Goods : And indeed, this might 
well take up three Year?, as they were forced to coatt it 

alongj 



of the E A S T-IN DIE S; $f 

ajong, and they could only fail fix Months in the Year, 
when the Monfon was favourable for them. It is evident* 
that the Phoenicians had ufed,this Voyage before Solomon's 
Time ; for it is faid, that Solomon defired the King of Tyre' 
(the Capital of Pb&nicia) to fend his Mariners to aflift his 
People in the Voyage to India, becaufe they bad Knowledge 
of that Sea. 

The Navigation to India being better known fome Time 
after to all the Nations bordering on the Red-Sea, viz. the 
Egyptians, Ethiopians and Arabians, they fent Colopies to. 
the Continent of India and the Iflands, whofe Pofterity re- 
mained' there, and continued to trafick with the Countries, 
from whence their Anceftors came, even to our Time.: 
The Portuguefe found them pbflefled of moft of the Coafts 
both of the Continent and Iflands of India, when they ar- 
rived there ; which brings me to give an Abftraft of the 
mod remarkable Voyages and Expeditions to the Spice 
Iflands, during the twolaft Centimes. 



CHAP. III. 

^thefrjl Voyage of the Portuguefe to India, in the Tear 
One thoufand four hundred and ninety-eight. 

IN the Reign of Don Eman&el, King of Portugal, Vafco 
de Gama, his Admiral pafled the Cape of Good Hope^ 
and arrived at Calicut in India, on the 19th of May, 1498, 
where he was. oppofed by the Moors or Arabians and E- 
gyptians, who at that Time monopolized the Trade of 
that Coafl:;. however, upon his Return to Europe, the 
Portuguefe equipped a more confiderable Fleet, jind made 
thegiielves Mafters of feveral Places on the Continent of 
India. And in one thoufand five hundred and eleven, 
Albuquerque, the Portuguefe General, took the Cities of* 
Goa and Malacca, after which he fent Antonius Ambreus in 
Search of the Spice Iflands, who coming to the Molucca's* 
fpund the two Kings of Ternate and Tydore engaged in a 
War 5 moft of the adjacent Iflands being in an Alliance 
with the one or the other of them, and both of them court- 
ing the Friendfbip of the Portuguefe, fuffered them to build 
• Forr* 



jji A -New HIST OR Y 

Ports in their Territories, and eftablifli themfclves there* 
3$ they did Coon after at the Bands, Iflands, monopolizing 
the Trade both of Cloves and Nutmegs^ the Produce of 
thofc Countries. They enjoyed the fok Trafick to the % 
Molucca's and Banda 9 until the Year 1520, when Ma- 
gellan, being employed by the Spaniards to difcover a 
Way to India y by the Weft, paffed the Straits in South 
America, which go by his Name, ind arrived at the 
Philippines, where happening to be killed, John Sebaftian 
del Cam took the Command upon him, and fettled a 
Factory at the Clove Ifland of uydore, , and left one of his- 
Ships there, while he returned in another tojSpain^ by 
the Way of %htCape cf Goo&Hope* being the firft Com* 1 
tnander thaC ever (u rrounded the Globe •, and as by Agrees 
ment between the two I^ations r confinac&by' the Pope, - 
all the Difcdvfcries Weftwsfrd; were allotted' to 4 Spain; as* 
all the Eafttftfi Difcovertes vmt to Portiigd r xfo& Spaniards* 
looked upon themfelves* now to be entitled 1 to a< Share in^ 
the Spice Trade ; however, the Pmtu^uefe demolilhed, the 
Spani/h Fa&ory upon the I'fland of Tydore, and* made Prize 
of the Ship that was left there v-vwhieh occafioning a Quar- 
rel between the . two Nations, the Portnguefe at length a- 
greed to Jend the Spaniards, or rather Charles V. 350,000- " 
Ducats to relinquiih their Preterifions, which Sum was 
never repaid, and* the Portnguefe had the fole Trade to the 
Spice Ifland^r afterwards, until Sir Francis Brake palled the 
Straits of Magellan,- and arrived at the Ifland of tternate on 
the 14th of November, 1579, when the Kingof ftrtetf?*- 
weary of the Tyranny of -the Portuguefe, defired his Pro- 
te&ionv and- acknowledged the Queen of England his So- 
vereign, and as a Teltimony thereof, fent her Majefty 
his Signet; and the Admiral having promifed" to return, 
again with a greater Force, and taken in a Loading of 
Cloves, fet Sail for England,, by the Way of the Cape of 
Good Hope, and arrived in England on the 3d of November, ~ 
X580, being the fecond Commander that furrounded the 
Glotfe. 

The. Court of England negle£ted the Indian Trade, 
however, until the Year 1591, when the Captains Lan- 
cafier, Kendal and Raymond^ were, in the latter End of 
the Reign of Queen -Elizabeth, fent on a trading Voyage % 

thither. 



of the E A S T.INDIES. 5$ 

thither. Captain Lane after, in one of the Ships, arrived 
in the Straits of Malacca, but loft his Ship in his Return 
Home, and the other two never reached India. 
. Three other &hips were fent to China , commanded by 
Captain Wood, in the Year 1 596, who carried a Lette* 
from Queen Elizabeth to the Emperor of China ; bat they 
all died in the Voyage thither except four, who were caft 
away on a little Ifland near Hifpaniola, and were murthered 
by the People of the Ifland. 

These Misfortunes did not difcourage the Merchants 
of London from making another Effort to begin a Trafick 
with the Indies ; they formed themfelves therefore into a 
Company, and were incorporated by Queen Elizabeth, by 
a Charter dated the 30th of December* 43 Etiz. i6o&± 
Mr. Thomas Smith, Alderman of London, beifcg their firft 
Governor. 

Four Ships were thereupon equipped, having four huiH 
dred and eighty Men on board, and the Command of then! 
given to Captain Lancafter, was conftituted their Admiral; 
or General, as he was called ; the three dther Ships were 
commanded by Captain John Middleton, Captain Brandy 
and Captain Hayward. ■ ; 

• They fet fail from Dartmouth, April 22, rfoi', 1 and 
arrived at Achin, in the Ifland of Sumatra, June 5, 1602* 
where they took in as much Cinnamon, Cloves, and Pep- 
per as they could meet with at that Port; and' having de- 
livered the Queen's Letter and Prefents to the King of 
Achin, the Admiral fettled Articles of Trade with that 
Prince, from whence he went to Priaman, on the Weft 
Coaftof Sumatra, and took in more Cloves and Pepper,' 
Then he proceeded to Bantam, in the Ifland of Java, and 
fettled a Fadtory there •, and having ordered a Veflel with 
Fadtors* on Board to fail to the Molucca's and Banda Iflands^ 
and begin a Trade there, he returned to England, where 
hearrived, September 11, 1603. In the mean Time tha 
Dutch began to trade with India, the City of Amfierdain 
fitting out four Ships in the Year 1595, which arrived ats 
Bantam, m the Ifle of Java, in June, 1 596. Here the 
Portuguefe inciting the Government of Bantam, to make 
fome of the Dutchmen Prifoners that were on Shore ; the 
Dutch guide Prize of feveral Portuguefe Vpffels in the Har- 
bour, 



6o A [New H ISTORY 

bour, and fired upon the Town, after which they failed to 
Jacatra, now Batavia, a little to the Eaft ward of Bantam ; 
and here having taken in a Cargo of Spice and otl\er Mer- 
chandize, they returned to Holland in Augufi, 1597, with- 
out feeing the Spice Iflands in this Voyage. 
- The firft Time the Butch traded dire6Uy to the Spice 
Ifland$, was in the Year 1599 ; for having fitted out eight 
Ships, and given the Command of them to Admiral Neccius, 
in the Year 1598, he arrived at Bantam the Year following, 
where he loaded four of his Ships with Pepper, and the 
other four, he fent to trade with the Molucca V, Amboyna 
/and Banda, where they fettled Faftories, and took in their 
Loading of Cloves, Nutmegs and Mace, and returned to 
flolland in the Year 1600. Thefe Ships fucceeded fo well* 
fcveral other Companies were ere&ed in Holland, befides 
that of Amfterdam, and great Numbers of Ships were daily 
* difpatched to India \ Whereupon the States forcfeeing of 
yrhat Advantage it wpuld be to their Country, if they could 
jnonQpolize the. Spice Trade, formed them all into one . 
JSpdy, that they, might be the better able to contend with 
fuch .European Powers as fhoyld attempt to rival them in 
this Commerce, This was their grand Concern at that 
tfimej^nd this we (ball find they effe&ed by moft iniqui- 
fous Pra&kes, and the mod unaccountable Indolence and 
Folly in the" Powers that were concerned to prevent it. 

T«£y prpceeded therefore to raife a Stock of fix Millions 
of Florins (fix hundred thoufand Pounds Sterling) fitted 
aut ftrong Fleets for India, attacked the Portuguefe Set- 
tlements there, and took their Ships wherever they met 
them, the Kingdoms of Spain and Portugal being at that 
Time united under one Prince, and confequently the Por- 
iuguefe involved in that War the Spaniards were engaged in 
with the Dutch. 

The Command of another Fleet bound to India was given 
to Ad miral Nefcius, in the Year 1 602, who attacked the Por~ 
tuguefe in the^/tfftVi the folio wingYear ; but thtPortugue/e 
maintained their Ground at that Time. This did not dif r 
courage the Hollanders, who fent another Fleet to the Spice 
Iflands, commanded by Admiral Van Hagen, in the Year 
1 605, who defeated the Portuguefe, and reduced the Caftle 

of Ambcyna. They afterwards attacked the.FOrtbelongr 

• • • 

ing 



of the EAST-INDIE £ 61* 

t • ... 

ittg to the Portuguefe in the Ifland of Tydore, and the Ma- 
gazine of Powder blowing up, and destroying great Part 
of the Wall, the Befieged were under a Neceffity of fur- 
rending it ; but the Spaniards in the Philippines fitting out 
a Fleet, foon after recovered the Forts the Dutch had taken' 
m the Molucca's again, and the War continued between. 
Spaniards and the Dutch fome Years afterwards. 

In the mean Time the Dutch fent a Fleet of Men of 
War, ,with Land Forces on board, to the Banda Iflands* 
requiring the Orancayas, or States of thofe Iflands, to 
permit them to build a Fort on the -Ifland of Nero ; which 
the Bandaneje refufing, the Dutch landed a Body of 
Troops, and maflfacreed great Numbers of the Natives* 
who finding it impoffible to defend themfelves againft fg 
formidable a Power, fubmitting to the erecting a Fort $ 
but the Dutch infifting that they fhould exclude all other 
Nations from traficking with them, the Bandanefe, under 
Pretence of a Treaty, drew the Dutch Admiral Varhoof % 
and feveral of his Officers into an Ambufcade, where they 
fell upon them, and cut them off, facrificing the Dutch 
to the Manes of their Countrymen, whom tftey hM maf- 
facreed without any Provocation a little before. , 

And now the Bandanefe and the Dutch being at open 
War, the Englijh, who trading thither at th# Time r 
and were one of the Nations the Dutch infifled fhould be 
excluded from the Trafick of thofe Iflands, were called 
into the Afiiftance of the Natives againft thofe Ufurpers, 
and the Orancayas, or Governors of thofe Iflands, made 
a formal Surrender of their Country to James I. then King 
of Great-Britain ; and consequently the Englijb having the 
moft unexceptionable Title to thofe Spice Iflands, that it 
is poflible for any Power to have, the Dutch muft ever be 
looked upon as Ufurpers by us. . 

The Hollanders, not long before, had hindered Cap- 
tain Middleton from taking in a Cargo of Cloves at Am* 
boyna, and prohibited the Natives to trafick with . any 
Englijh Ships: By the fame Authority they would have 
excluded us from Banda, that is, by Force, without any 
£olpur of Right. Whereupon Captain. Middle, on failed 
to Ternate, where the King feeming inclined to trade with 
him,, the Dutch thrqatned his Tcrnatian Majefty that they 

would 



.» 



tt * r A Neib k I t TOR Y 

would join his Enemy, the King of Tydore i if he did * 
affirming, That thi Englilh were Pirates and Robbers, and 
that the King 0/ Holland was more powerful at Sea than alt 
the Princes of Europe. To which the Captain anfwered, 
that the Dutch had been entirely ruined, and treated as 
Traitors and Slaves by the King of Spain, their Sovereign* 
if the Queen of England had not taken Pity of them, an4 
flcrecned them from his Fury. 

The Captain, notwithftanding the Opposition, of the 
Dutch, having loaded his Ship with Cloves, returned to 
England, where he arrived the 6th of May, 1606, bring- 
ing Letters from the Kings of Ternate and Tydore to King 
James I . of which the following are Extracts. ' 

The King of Te/nate, in his Letter dated 1605, ob- 
ferves, That Captain Drake vifited that Ifland about 
thirty Years before, in the Reign of his Father, and that 
his Father fent a Ring to the Queen of England, in Token 
of his Friendlhip, and that he lived many Years in Ex- 
pectation of Captain Drake's- Return, as he himfelfhad 
done fince. In the mean Time, feveral other Nations had 
arrived there, who represented that his Majefty's Subje&s 
came thither with a Dcfigh to ufurp his Throne j though 
he was very fenfible to the contrary, and was exceedingly 
rejoiced on the Arrival of Captain Mtddleton : He acknow- 
ledged, however, that sifter waiting many Years for the 
Forces Captain Drake had promifed him, and being out 
of Hopes of Relief from the Englifh, he had been com- . 
pelled to defire the Affiftance of the Dutch, againft hi$ 
ancient Enemies of Portugal, and that they had aflifted 
him to drive them out of his Country, on his promifing 
not to tracfc with any other Nation : That he readily con- 
fented to Captain Middleton's leaving an Englifb Faftofy 
there ; but the Hollanders would not admit of it : That, 
notwithftanding the chief Captain of the Hollanders infill- 
ing that he fhould have no Friendfhip with the Englifhf 
nor have any Regard to his Majefty*s Letters, if he pleaied 
to fend thither again, his Subjedts fhould be welcome, 
and as a Mark of his Friendlhip he had fent him a Bahar 
of Cloves. 

The King of Tydore, in his Letter to King James I. 
informs him, That the Kingof H Hand's Forces had joined 

thofe 



ef the E A S T - I N t> I E ft 6f 

thofe of his antient Enetjvy, the King of Ternate^ and that 
they had over-run, and plundered his Country, and were 
determined to deftroy him and his Subjects. ,He defired 
his Majefty, therefore, to take Pity on them, thit they 
might not be deftroyed by the Kings of Holland and Ter+ 
nate, to whom he had done no Wrong ; and as great 
Kings were ordained by God to releave the Opprefled, h* 
applied tq his Majefty to preferve him from Deftruftion, 
and that he would feid over Captain Henry Middle ton, or 
his Brother, with whom he was well acquainted, with a 
Reinforcement of Troops ; praying that God would en- 
large his Majefty's Kingdoms, and blefs his Councils. 

Captain Keelyng, or board the Heftor, arriving at the 
Ifland of Bdnda, February the 8th, 1608, with the Leave 
of the Orancayas, erefted a Houfe for the Ufe of the Com- 
pany's Faftors, and agreed upon Articles of Trade with 
them. He did the like with the Orancayas of the Ifland 
of Pooloway, and received of them, two hundred and twen- 
ty-five Cattees of Mace, and one thoufand three hundred 
and feven Pounds of Nutmeg. T^he Dutch Admiral, 
Varboof, coming into Banda Road, foon after acquainted 
the Bandanefe, that he was impowered by Count Naffau 
and the States-General,' to treat with them, and required 
that he might build a Fort on the Ifland •, which the Ban- 
danefe refilling, the Dutch landed one thoufand two hun- 
dred Men, and killed many of the Bandanefe ; whereupon 
the People of the Ifland drew the Admiral and feveral of 
his Officers into an Ambufcade, as mentioned above, 
and deftroyed them. .The Dutch Vice- Admiral having 
landed more Men, laid Siege to the Town of Sabataca? 
ar)d took it, and burnt feveral Bandanefe Vefiel* he found 
there* and commanded Captain Keelyng to quit the Ifland ; 
having made a Conqueft of it, he faid, and ere&ed the 
FortofiV^«for its Defence: Captain Keelyng, however* 
ftaid at Banda till he had taken in v his Loading of Spice, 
after which he failed to Bantam, and having fettled a 
Factory there, he returned tq England, where he arrived 
on the lothof May, 1610. 

Captain Middleton afterwards coming to the Ifland \>f 
Nero % the Dutch did not only oppofe his dealing with the 
Natives ofNere and l^tor* but were contriving to deftroy 

his 



64 A New M I S T 6 R Y 

his Ship, which induced him to leave Nero, and fail toiWi-' 
w*y, where he loaded his Ship with Nutmegs and Mace. 
* Captain Saris, who commanded a Ship belonging to 
the Englijh Eaft-India Company, coming to the Molucca's 
in the Year 1612, found the Dutch building Forts there, in 
order to exclude all other Nations from traficking with 
them. 

The Natives, however, came on board the Captain, 
and agreed to fell, him a Quantity of Cloves, and fent 
their Boats loaded with Cloves, to the Ship : Of which the 
Dutch took fome, and threatened the Natives to cut them 
in Pieces if they brought any more. The Dutch, alfo,' 
fent two Ships to lie clofe to the Englifh Ship, to prevent t 
any Cloves being brought on board of her, pretending, 
the People of the Ifland had agreed to fell them all they 
had for defending them againft the Spaniards, and they 
looked upon the Natives as their Subjedts, by Right of 
Conqueft, and would not fuffer any other People to deal 
with them. The Captain anfwered, he fhould continue 
to trade with the Natives as long as they would deal with 
him, and did not regard thofe idles Stories of Conqueft 
and Compact, which were inconfiftent, and continued ftill 
to take Cloves on board. 

The Kings of Ternate znATydore being ftill at War, the 
Prince of Tydore failed by Captain Saris, with the Heads 
of one hundred Ternatians, among which was the Head 
of the Prince of Ternate, his younger Brother ; and in the 
fame Aftion, where thefe c ternatians were cut off, the 
King of Gilolo, his Confederate, was killed. This Prince 
of Tydore had a little before taken a Dutch Man of War, 
and fent a Compliment to. Captain Saris, to let him know 
' he defigned him a Vifit ; but he appeared fo entefprifing a 
Prince, that the Captain was jealous of his Defign, and to 
avoid him, fet fail for Japan. 

The Orancayas of Pcoloway, one of the Banda Iflands, 
dreading the Tyranny and Cruelty of the Dutch, fent a 
Reputation to the Englijh Fadtory at Bantam, in the Year 
J1615, defiring their Prote&ion, to which the Englijh Fadjtors 
anfwered, that they durft not oppofe the Dutch, without 
Orders from England: So exceeding cautious were our Mer- 
chants in India of quarrelling with the ufurping Hollanders. 

Ano- 



of *tke ;E A 5 1 1 I N BJ £ S. 6jft 

;,A^AT,BffR. Inftance of, the 'Goofafa Qifimii&aft'fjifyh 
Merchants towards the Ifntcb^ we fcax3*.H$£n Mofajfar^ 
wjiere Q^pxiyxi.Courtkope arriving 4 in the Xear \\§\% fc 
Duicb Ship fent her Boat oR^Jhofe: with ..eight Men* : ;whffrt 
had been. cut to pieces by the Natives,/ if .the £nglijbi tya$L 
not interpoied and faved their Lives,, the .- Hottanfofs {&&& 
ing committed great Outrage^jiear .MfCMjfyri\oti ;he Ifl?pd} 
of Celebes , and taken fevered of the Natives. j?r.ifoji;j& -^t 
mong whom was one of their SaiandraSiQ^Govtrnors.-rJ^hp^ 
next Djiyuhe. Dutch Shipping in great Qijtfreftffor^Pi^j 
vifion* was fending another Boat cai Shore for Rice t- ,a§ 
which the King of Maccjfar. was fo. exafgeraf^d^ th4t JbCi 
commanded his Gallies/o board the Boat,' and they-kil^d*. 
ey^ry Dutchman in it before t;hey reachedjfre Shore, whiclft- 
the Englijb could not prevent,, but, the Dutch. Ship bsingiift 
a fjiarving Condition, the IungHjh ^onimo^ore^; Courth$$t} 
was fo exceeding obliging 3$ to.fupply then* w,ith as much 
Ripe a^chey wanted ; how th^tfe Kindneffes y/$re re&urntd, 
will be iecn hereafter, .- ;, i • '• ," , '•> - ' '. . .\ ,; 
apt AiNjjfourtfiope . departing from Mdcajj-ar with , gvf^ 
FjirliJb&h'ipSr viz. the ,Sw#. and the Defque $ and arrww 
ing at ^hp'ifoWtf.Iflands, December 13,, i6i6 y% .jthe0riW(f^)w 
of ^00/0*0^ and P<?<?/mw , entere4 itfto<i 4 r £rQ$t£,wjtfr,.b!in» 
wherein it^a^ agreed, jThatin ConfidetfitioiVflf' *heir be- 
ing prbt&fted againft the Hollanders, and annually fu,ppli$jL 
jWixh Rice, Ck)4thijng 9 ,an^i otjyei: Necefifajiks by the Ekglifo, 
they .fliould acknowledge themiHvps Sutje&s f of the^I^iqg 
of Great -rjtritfiin-, \?u% .^pfqre, ;he ^Tjre^ty- ,w^ figged*- 'the 
.Captain demanded, if they "h^d .^ver .entered into any CQ&r 
»tra<j£ with tbp-J)uicb 9 ,©r made, a Surrender of thev Goian*- 
.try tq zh§.. Htf lander s -, to which. they aafwerfd^-they nev^f 
"hacj, v nor heyser, would - % They^kfjqyy t\it { Dttycb %o> be jhe 
.gre^teft Enemies they bad* .adding, that before, the Hok- 
.landers cajnein-to/the .Raad T of Poqloway^thp Qraneayas^ 
^PoQierpn^^t^aolo^ay had made a ^ypl^tary, ^urrgndeV of 
4:Kofe*Ifla^s ?i ;if?to the Hands of Capt%\j\.l{ic$ard ffunt s to' 
' the.0fc.of lii^JMaiefiy King JftyW* an ^ c K at t\}£.jQ{ancqw 
v of JPovJo&ay had let up the.:£?g//^j Colpurs;pn : t^e-fpft 
whiHi .the fiufeb (hot dowafeyeral Tinjes,^ and .werje guilty 
!,of fuch reproachful Language towards that J^ripce and his 
* Subje^s, as tione but Dutchmen would '"Ofter, againft a 

E crowned 



66 A New HISTORY' 

crowned Head, and a Nation to whom they underftood 
they were -infinitely obliged : That th^ Orancayas of Poeto- 
ttoay had defended that Ifland as long as they were able for 
the King of England ; and when they could keep it no lon- 
ger* they Bed to Pooleron> and the adjacent Iflands ; but 
never fubmitted to the Hollanders,. The Articles for trans- 
ferring thole Iflands to the Britijh Crown, were figned on 
the 14th of December^ 1616, in which they agreed to fell 
die Produce of their Country, namely, Mace and Nutmegs, 
only to the King of England and his Subjects. On the o- 
ther Hand, it was ftipuiated, that the Natives fhould 
Hot be difturbed in their Religion, which was Mahome- 
tanifm, or any Things praftifed that might refleft upon 
h ; that their Women fhould not be meddlecF with ; that 
nd Swine fhould be kept in their Country ; that their 
Goods fhould not be taken from them, or any one mifufed, 
nor any Thing done contrary to their Laws, 
v That if ah Englijhman chofe tp profefs their Religion, 
it lhould be. allowed \ and if any of the Natives chofc 
to profefs Chriftiahity, it fhould be permitted, fo as it was 
done upon mature Advice and Confederation at a Council 
of both Nations : And at the Signing thereof, a Turf of 
Earth was delivered to the Commodore of the Englijh Ships, 
as an Evidence of their Ceflion of their Country to the 
King of England. 

The like Ceflipii of the Iflands of Rofinging and Wayrt 
was madetothe£rownof England by their Orancayas. 

Some few Days after this/Tranfaftion, feveral Dutch 
Ships approached the Ifland of Pooler on, and taking down 
their Colours, hoifted a bloody Flag, as if they deflgned 
to attack the Englijh Ships, The Englijh thereupon landed, 
feveral Pieces of Cannon, and cre&ed a Battery which 
commanded the Road, Five or fix Days after, three other 
large Dutch Ships arriving, the Englijh fhewed them the 
Ceffions of the Iflands above-mentioned to the Crown oF 
* England^ and demanded that Pooloway might be delivered 
vp to them. The Dutch were then fo far from pretending 
to have a prior Grant of thofe Iflands, that they acknow- 
ledged they had none. The Hollanders had, however, 
attacked the Englijh Ships, if they had not difcovered the 
Batteries on Shoar. They deferred difegvering their ho- 

- ftilc- 



of the EAST-INDIES, 6? 

ftile Intentions* therefore, at that Time ; but Captain 
Davis, who comrnanded the Swan, going over to thct 
Ifland of Wayre, which *was not t^hen in the Power of the 
Dutch, two Ships of Holland poured in their Broad- Sides 
upon him, and took him after fome little Refiftance, 
though they were then at Peace with England. 

Commodore Court hope, after the Lofs of the Swan% 
r finding it impracticable to defend himfelf againft the Dutch 
at Sea, landed the reft of his Guns, and ere&ed a Fort on 
the Shore, believing he ihould be able to defend himfelf 
againft the Dutch, till re-inforced from England or Ban- 
tam ; but the few Men he had left on board his Ship thought 
fit to defert* and carry .the Ship over to the Dutch \ who 
plundered both Ships of every' Thing that was valuable, 
throwing the reft over-board. Then they loaded the Men 
with Irons, imprifoning them in (linking Dungeons, and 
in Contempt of the Englijb Nation, dunged upon their 
Heads ; and here many of them periihed in the Stench, 
while others were put in Cages, and (hewn US the Natives, 
to whom the Hollanders declared, That the Engliih were their 
Vaffals and Slaves in Europe, where they frequently ujed them 
as they didtbefe Prijoners, telling the Natives, that this was 
but a Trifle to the Punilhments they intended to inflid for 
the future, on all that durft oppofe them ; and, indeed, 
nothing could be more barbarous than the Ufage the 
Englijb met with from the Dutch, who were obliged to this 
Nation, by all the Tics that Gratitude or Religion could 
lay upon them ; fu?h as none but the Englijb would have 
tamely borne, or rather that mercenary Miniftry that was 
then at the Head of Affairs, and whom the Dutch had the 
Forehead to declare, they had in their Pockets. Surely, 
, the greateft Misfortune that can befal this, or any other 
Nation, is a felfifti mercenary Miniftry, that has no Re- 
gard to the public Welfare. 

In this unhappy Situation, Captain Courthope difpatched 
Mr. Spurway, Fa&or to the Eaji-India Company, to Ban- . 
tarn, with fcveral of the Orancayas of the Ban da Iflands to, 
reprefent the State of his Affairs to the Factory there * but 
they were not in a Condition to relieve him, whereupoa 
Mr. Spurway wrote to the Company in England, entreating 
and conjuring them that they would have fome Compai* 



6# • A New' BI $ TO R Y 

Ron dn'their Sfcfvants, whorti the Hollanders had imprr- 
foried? That the Outrages they had committed might be 
fo refented in Eurcpe, that the Dutch might be afraid to 
commit the like Villanies again ; representing* that if a 
Reinforcement was dot fpeedily fent toPooleron, the Englijh* 
Name rnuft undergo the greateft Difgrace in that Part .of 
the \Vorld, and the Nation muft fuffer fuch a Lois, by 
being deprived of their Spice Iflartds, as could never be 
retrieved. - - 

Besidvs this Reprefentation of Mr. Spurway 7 and the 
'BaniamF'd&OTSy it may he proper to recije fomePaffages,. 
*in r Relation to thefe Tranfactions, from Commodore 
Cvurtktipe'-s Journal : He relates, that the Hollanders offer- 
ing to rellore' his Ships, on Condition he would abandon 
the Iftaria of Pooleron y he anfwered, he could not give a- 
w ay -the -King and the Nation's Rights, and defert the 
Iflahddrs,i his Majefty's Subje&s, without incurring the 
Guilt of High-Tre2fcn, and drawing the Blood ot that 
People' on his Head, who had thrown themfelves on his 
Majefty's Protection •, but if the Dutch would reftore the 
Ships, with the Crews and Merchandize, and give Security 
that no Attempt Ihould be made on the Ifknds, till the 
Right te* them was fairly decided, he would leave the 
ftland's. To-. which' the Dutch replied, that they would 
force him out. ••'.•• 

In March following, two Englifh Ships came within 
Sight of the Fort of Pooleron, but were attacked by .four 
great Dutch Sh!p& before they arrived there, and after a 
imart Fight, which lafted feven Hours, were taken.;. but 
^had not one of 'them been fo loaden with Rice for the Ban\ 
danefe, that (he could not make ufe of "foer lower Tixe, it 
might, h&ve* been otherwife, especially, if a third Eyiglijh 
Shipi : which cime out with them, had not parted irora 
them a little before. . * : r^ 

1} itf is ufustf with the Dutch to* deny 'that their Officers 
•"had it\y Authority from the Government to commit fiitfi 
'Outrages.— In ^aniwer to.which, it appears* that their 
'Generals and Admirals declared, they were commiiliuoed 
toy the States to take- all 8hipsthat approached ihtsBanda 
lflands: A*id what makss itiiitther evident, is, that thdrt 
Officers- ware never* called * to Account by. .their Superiom 

for 



»V 4. J 



of the E AST-IND-LE S. 6g % 

for what they had done, and that the Hollanders jc\&\$ the. 
fofleffion of* thefeip valuable Iflands, which they robbed) 
the Englijh of, to this Day. ; 

In the late Enea^ement, there were feveral of theS^w- 
danefr on .board ,the Englr/h Ships, who fought bjavely,. 
and feveral Titles cleared the iJecks of the Dutchmen;* 
and njany of them, as well as of the EngliJJo* were maf* 
fecred -in cold*Blood after the Engagement. ^ 

Notwithstanding thefe Misfortunes, the Natives 
ftill continued faithtul to the Englijh. The Orancayas of 
Lantcr qarrie over to Captain Courthope^ and aflured him" 
they would endeavour to hold out another Year, in Hopes 
that fonwShips from England would arriye to their Relief 
in that Time, though the Captain had now but thirty-eight- 
E/iglijhmen left in thcFort, and no otherProvifiori but Rice, 
ai)d fvjch Filh as they could take on the Coaft. j 

The Commodore takes Notice in his Journal, that 
the Dutch Officers boafted they had Copies of all EngliJIo 
Comrrriflions before the Company's Ships fet fail from ' 
England; and they told the Bandanefe, that they mull he- * 
ver expedt tp enjoy any Peace, until they fubmitted to 
the Hollanders* for there was no Natipn in the World able" 
to contend with them 9 but ftill that brave People chofe to 
hazard every Thing, and fuffer the raoft pinching Wants' 
and Hardfhips, rather than fubmit to the Dutch: On the 
contrary, the Town of Lantfir y which was ftill in Pofief-' 
fion of the Natives, being affaulted by the Hollanders, they 
were beaten off and forced to retire. 

In another Part of Commodore Ccurthcpe\ Journal, he' 
feys,- he had not only the "Dutch Forces and many Hard- 
fliips to contend with, but the Importunities of the Englijh 
Sailors, who were perifhins: in the Dutch Priions, and 
begging him to make Peace with dieir Tormentors on 
any .Terms. That he feat a Flag of Truce thereupon to. 
the Dutch* to reprefent the cruel and inhuman Treatment" 
their Prifoners fuffered, and feht them fome Rice, Oranges, 
and. fuch little; JRefre foments as he "could Tpajr.e, afluring 
them, that if any Thing left, than the betraying the In-, 
terefts of his King and Country had been required of him, 
he would not have failed to comply with them 9 but that 
he hirnielf was ready to fuffer, and to hazard every Thing, - 
t 'E j - " - : ': . " rather' 



7 o A New HISTORY 

rather then abandon a People, who had put themfelves 
under the Profe&ion of the Crown of England* and to 
whom he had engaged himfelf in the folemneft Manner. 
In the midft of this Diftrefs, viz, on the 27th of January , 

161 8, the Captain received an Exprefs from Sir Thomas 
jDale, Commander of a ftrong Fleet of Englijb Ships, in- 
forming him, that he was arrived at Bantam, and had 
defeated the Dutch Fleet, and compelled them to quit 
the Coaft of Java j that he would fpeedily be with Km at 
JBanda, and oblige the Dutch to do the Englijb Juftice. 

Ths Commodore, however, waited another full Year 
in Expe&ation of Succours, but received neither Intelli- 
gence or Supplies frorru Bantym or England. Itfthis me* 
Jkncholy Situation, however, the Orancayas of Lantor, or 
fianda Proper repeated their Ceffion of that Ifland to the 
£rown pf England - 9 for the Dutch pretended they had 
m&de an entire Conqueft of it. The Natives, however, 
often attacked them with Succefs. The Hollanders had 
pot the peaceable Poffeffion of any one of the Banda Iflgnds 
while the brave Courtbope lived, and encouraged the Ban- 
(lanefe to defend their Country againft thofe Invader* j but 
what a Shock muft it have been to the Commodore and 
his little Gamfon, after they had defended the Fort under 
3II thefe Difad vantages for two Years, on which depended i 
the whole Trade to Banda } to hear, on the 20th of March 

1 6 19, that Sir Thomas Dale % who commanded the Englijb 
Fleet, was dead, and that the reft of the Captains, not a- 
greeing amongft themfelves afterwards, had difperfed tq v 
feveral Parts of lndia y and that by this unaccountable 
Conduft, feven of their Ships had been taken by the Ene- 
jny, arid confeqqently the Fort of Peoleren had vfcry little 
Expeftatjon of being relieved? tyfr. Courtbope himfelf now 
began to look upon his Affairs as defperatc, as appears by 
Jiis Letter to the Englijb Prcfident at Bantam? where he 
informs him, that he muft long ago have furrendered for 
>Yant of Food, if a Portuguefe Ship had not accidentally 
touched there, and. fufnifhed him with Rice •, h$ prefled 
him therefore to fend him Supplies immediately, adding, 
Gcd grant me well out of this Country , for the People have. 
Jpent their Gold and Eftates? and tiiatiy of them loft their Lives 
Qf jfjkrtiesj in Expectation of Englifh Succours* ^ Can every 

itbev 



of the E A S T - 1 N D I E S. yj 

♦ r 

fiber Nation come into theft Seas, and art the Engfcfh ra$r 
afraid to venture hither ? Ton bid me rub on another Tear % 
we have rubbed offjbe Skin already, J pro; hok to it. Hfcw* 
ever, the Commodore resolved to maintain his Poft to 
the laft Extremity* and procured feme Country Vefleli to 
fetch him Rice from Macojfar ;, he alfo repaired a*d inn* 
proved his Fortifications, and fet fo good a Face upon 
the Matter, that the Dutch never durft attack him in hii 
Fort: But, unfortunately for England* Mr. Courthope go* 
ing over to one of the neighbouring Iftands to regulate 
fome Affairs, was met by two Dutch Vefiels on the o6th 
-of ORober, 1619, and having fought them bravely, wis 
fhot in the Breaft, and after a little P&ife, threw himfelf 
into the Sea, that he might not fall into the Hands of the 
Hollanders alive, as is conje&ured, or poffibly, he might 
hope to reach the Shore, as fome of the Bandanefe did, by 
Swimming, and efcaped •, but he was never heard of moret 
The Relation of this tragical Event may poffibly draw 
Tears from many of his Countrymen; but furely, they 
ought rather to rejoice, that Britain has produced a M aa 
of fuch confummate Virtue, whofe Courage, Condud, Fi- 
delity and Patience were put to the fevereft Trial in his 
Country's Service, and that he never could be conquered 
while he lived : That he expofed himfelf to the greateft 
Difficulties and Dangers in the remoteft Parts of the Globe, 
to Hem the Encroachments of the ungrateful* Hollanders* 
who, like a Torrent, were breaking in upon our Com* 
merce. Surely, the Name of Courthope will ever bt grate* 
fully remembered by the Englifc and his illuftrious Ex* . 
ample induce others to imitate him, whom neither private 
Intereft, or an elegant Retirement, to which his Friends in- 
vited him, could ever prevail on him to give up his Country's 
Caufe, or abandon a People who confided in the Promifes 
of Britifh Aid. This he was fenfible was the Crifis, when, 
if the Engli/b had exerted themfelves in Defence of their 
Traffick, and their Empire at. Sea, the Hollanders had 
never been able to have infulted our Coafts, as they did 
fome Time afterwards. The Spices are the Bafis of their 
Trade, as they might have been of ours. The Silver 
Mines of Peru are not v fo valuable to the Spaniards ; for 
the Spices produceTreafure, without thoTrouble of fearcfr- 

E 4 ing 



9? < *I M H T S n X Q RAY v 

*ng iffie: Bovsefc tfk &e Earth fttf.it, and * witfe- tliefe ihte 
,£Wiri? vpiischafe mqftof the ;valuable Merchandize of .4$* , 
imdiEurope*; itrtti^g yh a f ! Prite chey pleafe uptoit'th'em, afc 
<ike5hhyve:maBflprilm . 

oi l&iaggrarad^^ it! isifaid,* we pro*- 

mathkxm owniSecarity -,; tftfey-ark become a ^Barrier be* 
cweeai tisaind; fome-Popifh. Powers -on the Contiaaht: But 
hadwcibqeniMafteais of thte fine/Spices^ we had needed nd 
dcclvBarrieiv. ,iP4w&r<i$ ui\ialiy an Attendant on'. Wealthy 
an^;tf .tl>e)Pa3diHe c of rthe? Spioelflands -has rendered that 
Bible fibg^i th^^fo//^^rj , ;CouJnrry/fo confiderable, "what 
aKFigMhvmightsGr^hiBr^f^-have i«ade^ if (he had been 
"Miteds/ofi th^faitid rich Produce? Befides, ii m$y bede- 
sriorlft noted in many. other fcnftajites* that our Alliances with 
th^Duttb JisWe/^cncralJy done us more Hurt' than Good j 
Wwidid they thtowitihe Burthen of the War upon us in the 
ReigosiroE King'fFilJia&t 2nd Queen Anne '? And how did 
lhaty fl^and^by and fee. the Uritijb Troops cut to Pieces in 
tb<blafe;Wax J. If we had not dependecbupon them, we had 
j»cWrfufFeiied^fo i much : Difgi:ace.- : ;:.- % .' 

-i^tfT.:Turth^5^the*2)«/^iiTarQ'plrafed'.to tell us, that-the 
£pi<ra Mantis; have:been; gceat Gainers,, by coming xftider 
thcitijuild Govfirnmenst': The Tranquillity to be met. with 
flicr% r :is-aQt vo be .parallelled ;,we hear of no Rebellions 
prMofurrieftions ■ *irr thofe . Iflarids : But this Tranquillity 
^ems.tQ'refemble.what we meezmtfoin thcPrifdns of the 
Jtaqutfition,,- where: none durft Ipealp or ftir, . for 'fear of 
^tftfajtjng their niercilefsPerfecutors.toinfliA new Tortures 
-Qriltheou for the Sufferings of -the ■ Sandaxefe,- as v?$l & 
Sfa.Et^iJbtlixX'ttbAV Fart of thdWorld; from your- good 
-AJUfej^have m&de Xuch { Impre2i0ili on-jhat wretched Peov 
^>\TaficCjianneyST2^>o)dcfaceri; : fomejuhey have ^nafTacred > 
££foj&thcy jlwfe^aflaved, >imd haste extirpated more than 
^»SHy^N*tlcm in^tht ['Indian. :BbAsj' <&* agjgrkidize< their 
^ftBjyi^WQ-riJJonida /Wb£oa,«vthat*tlie. "Natives 1 , are fo 
5^ii6ck and\infeftfib < k.i3f thctr.:Wrohg& in etfeny J?lace,Tas 
Jk&fetfp • reprffe^cii;.) How :itiany»CofifpiracieR'do: they 
ihfi^pi^Y^ ' i^i^i^t tht'CStnefevand* .Javamsfe) in- the 
^&&k&thooduQf'\d}4tavia; hate dxencifed/ thon-ifcith'i 
•l^ow^nwoypf tbfcftt.jpGfer Pcopiif havechcy* .tortured' arid 

&pi& liiyOppR^^ tfcy cafel 



of the*- -EVA^S T 1 - 5 * N I> I l E S. 73 

them, Treafbtv againft'thbfcjHigh' ahdJlS^^hty^States, 
wboiave'uiufpodthe Dominion of their Countr/. If every 
qrhirig^ks.' tailed by its^gKt,^ftle, p6ffibly it ViIF& 
found, that the Hollandersw&the rial'Trators'andUfdr 4 
£ers, who beiflg admitted to trade with thbfediftanft Pe<£ 
pie, conftantly -enflayed-them/ i; ' - -" ' : "~ : * V3L ; - ^'^ 
- To return to the Gart-ffon; in the Port of Pdoleron: Th€ 
4>rave Gourthcrpe having loft r his : Life in the- Manner' abovfe 
♦related, Mr. Hdyes; With the£qtife'nt "bdth" 'of the Englifh 
*and Bandanefel took : upon ! Hrm the Command, -and tw$ 
or three Days after intercepted a Dutch ■ "Packet, whereby 
'it-appeared^ that a Treaty of Peace had' been' concluded 
"between England and Hvlldnd* • in relation to the Spicfe 
'Trade', which Packet he fent to the Dutch ^Governor at 
Nero,' that<hef might have ho -Pretence fot committing $nf 
'Afts of Hoftility for the future \ 'but rive Governor laughefl 
at it, andYe^i)irfedthe5^«^^^td'icknowledgfethem-fel^ 
Tubjeft to their* State; which' when the Natives refufedi 
•the Dutch hoifted * a r£d ^Fkg^ £nd attacked the" Town of 
Lantor* where . ih&j were a fecorid Time repUHed, and 
tpurfued by- the l Ba#daneft 9 -who' cut many of *thehi in 
'Pietes! J •—'•♦** -«• •)•.•<*. : ; < . > '••••- < ■■ • 1 - 

* 

* j" i» February* '1620*, ftirfrtd.a Dutch Fleets with Lani 

iJForoesyon bbard$ in order to make ah entire* Gonquefbof 

■the Spice Iflands. Mr. Ha$es thereupon £<ymmunifcate8 

•the Treaties'the Bandanefe had made vritK England, cedifi* 

their Hlaridfr to 1 the Britijh Grown, to which' the : DufSh 

Admiral made no other Anfwer • to the Mefferiger, ! tHai 

1 that h£ flidWd : be gone inftantfy, at his Peril; and upon 

t\i£ Orancayd** refuting to TuPrtfader the Town of llanior 

tohim; t he ftormed- the Place, took it, and having pi urt* 

dprtd and maflacred many of the Natives, laid it in A'ftitfl. 

*The Englifh Fa&ors, who were in thtf Place., he tfrjpp&l 

naked, beat and abuled them ; and having tied thetti 

; Hand and-Ftobt,' carried them on board his Ships, : where 

-they were laid in Irons. He then proceeded tofeize' 1 th£ 

- : Effe<fts of the Englifh , confifting of twenty* three thoufariSL 

-Weight of Mace, and 'one hundred afid twenty thoufartd 

Weight, of ' Nutmegs, befides their Money, 'Cloth, and 

fiiffcer Merchandize. ; - 1 

• * r . * • . - . • 

» - 1 ' The 



74 r A New HISTORY 

Ttf£ Dutch then proceeded to attack Pookron y threaten- 
ing the Natives, if they did not immediately furrender, 
they would have no more Mercy on them, than they, had 
on the Inhabitants of Lantor. They anfwered, they 
were Subjeds of the King of England 9 and as there was 
]?eace between the two Nations, they hoped the Hollanders 
would not now commit any Ads of Hoftility \ but if the 
Englijh negle&ed to defend them, they muft fubmit; 
whereupon (he Dutch took Pofleffion of the Ifland, and 
made the Natives demolifh the Fort and other Works in 
the Ifland, the EngUJb never offering to interrupt them* 
*un3er Pretence that they cTurft not ait in a hoftile Manner* 
now the Peace was made. In the "mean Time, the Hol- 
landers compelled all the reft of the Iflands to fubmit to 
their Tyranny, whicji when they had effe&ed, they com- 
s rnanded the Natives to fell the Evglijh no more Spice, and 
iuch of the Orancayas % or Magiftrates of thefe Iflands, as 
had (hewn the greateft Affcdion to the Englijh ^ they cut 
to Pieces in cold Blood, under Pretence they were in a 
Confpiracy againft thefe High and -Mighty Hollanders* 
Thus an unlucky Peace was concluded with the Dutch* 
as Mr. Herbert obferves, that was more deftru&ive both 
to the Englijh > and Bandaneje* than the moil unfuccefsful 
War could ever have proved \ but this Treaty, by which 
the Dutch would have been great Gainers, if they had 
obferved it, they broke through immediately after it was 
made : Such a Treaty as never would have been made 
but by a mercenary, corrupt Miniftry j and it was not at 
Jaft a Treaty between the two Nations, for they were not 
at War at that Time ; but a Treaty between the Englijh 
and Dutch Eafl- India Companies, ratified by the Sove- 
reign of each Nation, the Englijh Miniftry compelling the 
Englijh Company to accept fuchTerms as they were p leafed 
to di&ate. 

By this Treaty the Englijh were to have hut a third Share 
of the Trade to the Molucca? s and Banda, but were to be 
at half the Expence, in defending that Commerce. It 
was agreed alfo, that each Party fhold remain in Pofieflion 
of the Towns and Forts they refpe&ively poffefled •, but 
how this was performed, has been fliewn already. The 
Treaty was figned the 7th, and ratified at London on the 

16th 






I ^/^BAST-INDIES, f 5 

1 6th of Jufy, 1 619. The Englijb Eaft- India Company 
} abferving what an advantageous Bargain the Dutch had 

fnade for themfelves, did not doubt their Defign to per- 
form their Part of the Contract; and therefore, as the 
Treaty empowered them, fettled Fadories in the Moke- 
ca's, Ambcyna and Banda, to carry it on in the Propofr 
tion of Trade agreed on. 

But the Dutch from the Beginning never intended to 
keep one Article of the Treaty, as is evident from the 
Outrages they committed at Amboyna, before three Yean 
were expired, where they pretended that the Englijb and 
Japonefe were in a Confpiracy to feize one of their Forts 
at Amboyna, and tortured a Japonefe and Portuguefe in the 
Englijh Service till they made them fay what their Tor* 
mentors dictated to them, and then fending for Mr. TVicn 
erfon, the Chief of the Englijb Fa&ory, charged him and 
the reft of the Englijh Factors with a Confpiracy to feize 
their Fort ; feme of them they imprifoned, and others 
they loaded with Irons, and fent on board their Ships ; 
(hey fejzed alfo all - the Englijb Merchandize* with their 
JBooks and Writings, as if the Englijb had really been -their 
Vafials and Slaves, as they had reprefented them to the 
Indians. 

After this, they proceeded to torture the Englijb 
.Fa&ors, both by Water and Fire, compelling them to 
f wallow Water (or drown) till ooe Body was fwelled as 
big as two, and the Water gulhed out at their Ears and 
Noftrils, and their Eyes were ready to ftart out of their 
{leads, Then taking them down from the Boards they 
h^d fattened them to* and having made them bring op 
the Water again, if they did not lay what was di&atod 
%o them, they repeated the Torture. 

Others tney burnt by Inches from the Foot upwards, 
to make them confefs the pretended Plot ; fome had the 
Nails of the Fingers and Toes corn off, and in fome they 
made Holes in their Breads, ramming in Wild- Fire* and 
then fet Fire to it \ but were fo merciful at laft as to pot 
them to Death. Mr. Clark and Mr. Tbontfon were fo 
mangled that they were forced to be carried to their Exe- 
cution, after they had lain five or fix Days in a Dungeon* 
10 that ipifcrable Condition, where they would not iuffer 

a Surgeon 



fH «3 3 iNew H I S *T\QlR Y 

3 Surged od '-come neartheiv their Flefh putrifted iaiftj 
bred MsggoMji aiid;th&r Wounds, flunk, to;, .that' Degree^ 
rfctt ttoey Were lba^fome;tx>ihtmfeIv^s,rjaAd:all thatckma 

~.*'.Si;ch of the unhappy.jSafferers as could . fpeak to be 
beajd,^decfafii4:in^be moftrfojemn Manner, that, t]iey, 

, knew nothing of any Plot, but were entirely, innocent ok 
«iiatthe:fi^<f»*1«ad;charged-them v^ith. 
sriJTHB Dutch jtoovizvvc^ iuffercd ibme of ; the Fa&ors to' 
eonae to England'^ who made Oath of the Truth, of theie 
barbarous ApFobeedlfags) for which I can affign no other 
Reafomthanithafcthe World might know : how they had 
treated the.EtigJijbi thtir Allies,; and might be deterred] 

* ftorti vifking thofc Seas where the Spice Iflands lie. It 
isobferreflji^hja^the' Govemorof Amboyna, as Jezebel did 
formeri^,; prockiraed :a Faft. when he perpetrated this 
Yilfainy, vand? fofzt exceeded Jezafol? that he. pre tended- 
€Q'db-jtlItbisir^^iB£sBif of ike Lord. . ;.•*■. : 

rTd'the* Nartath^i :whichl was printed of this'iphurxiari* 
Proceeding,,2tH«f»*£2g , /|!5 Eaft- India* Company annexed, 
finaniy. ceaviHcin^Reafens /tarflte w.the Improbability t&at' 
diiedr.Faftc©5 Afoa&bbe esgatgofl in any fuch G6nl"pkacy. j 

As firft, that the Dutch had a Garrifon of three h.undred. 
fi^n-iii the:Foift^«bdfid£s.the^Sur^iers in t{*£ ; Town, , and 
^c^.otheriIEDf^>'andGarfifons/in the-. Ifltfod* \vhereas' 
tfee \Englijh and *thefr Servants did'dot amount/to twenty. 
Men* arid hddnDjgreatiGtmsjj ikiall j&rn)g 4 -op.Aipinu-] 
nit*on.to*effe& fucii; ? Defign..a« tlxey were charged with ;, 
nor iwas there*ofcieiiE»^/i^ Veiled in the Harbwt* wherea^ 
the p^/^'tead^eight'Ships riding jiearithef T&wn; Then 
to. what* End ;fhb«ld xh& Fi6h)rs:attempt,tafuBprize this 
Fort, fince if they had :taken'ft,v. they could ,n§vpr hav;e^ 
ijj&ntained iowft&fnr.fmaUaPdr^ againft fuch. Numbers 
otf ttte Dtstcbi faoifrfelt provided wiclr Cannon, Arms and 
Ammunition o^allelQnda I No* could the Fadtprsexpeft 
teibz countenAhaeyfiayr. .rfieir Principals i in England, whej 
had accepted ^fcnthcT-erms fpeeified in- the late k Treaty,: 
and* there,- was hot found -one',. Paper or Letter when the.* 
Xtarzfc ; broke open- the Befks. aoti Trunks of th& Fatftor^ 
\ybich had any;: fifelatibr* . 00 the* pretended C©njpjj*acy-; 
from, iwhence they concluded it „\y assail Ja Dutfib S'lflfi.to 

expel 



— %* •> 



of He iE A S T -- V N ;D\I E S. #r 

titfpel the EngUJh from the Spice Iflands, ; wdi nsf>iK>RpH z i2 
tfcat Trade, asr was abundantly nnfanifeft, fijmj.thejr: feizifigj 
the Engli/h'Fz&arlis in the. .reft of the.Iflgnd^i^ffts^iat^ljf 
afterwards. , « •'»..' .'.^ 

- Om the like Pretence of a*Ploit,/they^4.idj%boyt_yw5 r 
femeiTime.iput to the Torture one hundred £n4 fitty two 
of the Natives "of Pooler on at ooce, fonje of fhefft dying* 
under the Torture* and all. the reft. we*e executed. 'by their. 
Hangman, their Wives and Children "being *pade ^Slaves* 
Qf ;> and'one ,of their Priefts prefumiftg to declare their.- 
Innocence, they ordered to be cut afunder in theMiddJLr^ 
If it be demanded again, to what Purpofe , (hpwld the 
Dutch be guilty of this Barbarity ? Could ; tl)ey : not have 
feized on the EngUJh Company's £fte<5ts,; and . expelled, 
their Fa&ors* or put them* .tp Death* withoutrj/W#n#£ 
them, when they had fu.ch a Number of C^tt^s and Qar- 
rifons in the Iflands, and the £nglijb had pot a.^Fon^or 
Military Man amongft them, but lived in ordinary, de- 
fencelefs Houfes* .dj^erfed..0yelF. ^ tjie .Ifland ?. t ; The true 
and only Reafon that can l?e imagined, as. I -have hinged 
already, muft have "been? to d0tqr.f}ie ^nglijb fuxlali otfier 
Nations from, yep tuHng into t;h©fe Seas. ..-..'• « 






»'*>.♦.* | j 



» • » 



'''.C'H A -P.' IV. •'"-•: •• •*»' ••! '. 

Contains a X)efcr?ption g/T w?" Sunda JJlai?ds> with 

. Caftain Bed* man 'j : Opi^ioi\-smfermng : jb^ Ma- 

*« : Mgementoftke.Tradtto. 1 BqKto£Q. • . 



... J y. I 

- A - ... 



fTOH-B Chief; of the Sunda Jfla.rids are* thole, of iforjK*, 
-JL iSum&tra* and J#w, fo denominated, from lying; near 
ihe Straits ofSffldfy: I il^all enter firflf yppn tHq Cefcriptioa 

■3vT*e: Ifland ,$f .B^m°i the Jifrgeft. ir} t^ knQw^.Wori[d s 
is fituate in the I Indian Qcean f t becween .one hundred, and 
iitefl a»d!'0^ihwndrest : and feyenjeen pegrees of Eafterri 
i-Ofigkuds, >ftBd /bfct^een, feyen;Degree& North, and .^opr 
JDsgffees Souih^i^tifi^e} . haying'tke Ifland of Celebes oi 
Mfc^ffctf. pji tV'.E^fti and the- Ifland of Sumatra ,on jtfie 
Weft, being about feven hundred Miles long, and near 
i.:T as 



?8 A New HISTOUT 

ts much to Breadth* and as it lies under the Equino&iatf* 
or near it* the Days are about twelve Hours long all thi 
Tear round, and never twelve and a half long in any Fare 
of it. The Air muft be hot, as the Sun is over their Heads 
great Part of the Year-, but the Heats are rendered tolera- 
ble by the Rains, which continue more than half the Year, 
laying the flat Country under Water, and the Sea Breezes, 
which blow from the Sea mod Part of the Day, contribute 
to make it cool. The Sea Coafts being annually flooded 
for feveral hundred Miles, on the retiring of the Waters, 
-the Surface is nothing but Mud, or a foft Ouze, which the 
Sun fhining upon with perpendicular Rays, occafions thick 
Fogs that are not difperfed till Nine in the Morning, and 
the Frogs and other Vermin and Infedts the Waters leave 
behind, being killed with the Heat, caufe an intolerable 
Stink, and corrupt the Air. The cold chilling Winds al- 
io that fuccted the hotteft Days, contribute to render the 
Air unhealthful. 

From September to April the Winds are Wefterly here, 
and this is their rainy Seafon, when they have terrible 
Storms of Thunder, and fcarce two Hours fair Weather 
in the four and twenty. The reft of the Year is their dry 
Seafon, but even then they have a Shower alraoft every 
Day when the Sea Breeze comes in, 

This is a mountainous woody Country in the Middle, 
b\jt the Coaft is flat and level almoft all round the Ifland, 
and overflowed in the Time of the Rains ; and even ia 
this Part are very extenfive Woods of excellent Timber, 

Their chief Rivers are, 1. Baujar. 2. Tata*. 3. Java* 
4: Succadanta.i and, 5. Borneo. 

The River Banjar is a fine River, rifing in the Moun* 
tains in the Middle of the Ifland, and running South, dis- 
charges itfelf into a Bay on the South-Eaft Fart of the 
Ifland, being navigable for feveral hundred Miles; the 
Banks planted with tall Trees ever green. The River 
Tatas falls into the Mouth of Banjar River, and is fre- 
quently called the China River, becaufe the China Juries 
lie in the Mouth of it. The Rivers Jma and Succadanes 
run from the North -Eaft to the South- Weft, and fall into 
the Bay of Succadama in the South- Wtft Part of tho 
Ifland. 

The 



of the E A S T - J N D I E S. 79 

The River Borneo falls into the Bay of Borneo* in the. 
North- Weft Part of the Mand. The Tides in the River' 
Banjar .flow but once in twenty four Hours, and that in 
the Day-time ; they never rife more than half a Foot in the 
Night (unlefs in a very dry Seafon) which is occafioned by 
the rapid Torrents, and the Land Winds blowing very 
ftrong in the Night-Time. There lie three Iflands within 
the Entrance of the. River; the firft of which is covered 
with tall Trees, that may be feen at Sea, and are a good * 
Mark for failing over the Bar. If a Ship be aground, the 
Ebb is fo very ftrong, occafioned by the Land Floods, that 
fhe will run the Hazard of being broke to Pieces; and the 
Trees continually driving down the River, render thd 
Navigation ftill more dangerous. The beft Anchoring 
Place is a Mile or two within the River; it is beft to fail 
up with the Flood, the Tide of Ebb runs fo ftrong. There* 
are a great many fine Bays and Harbours on the Coaft, 
but that moft reforted to . is at the Mouth of the River 
Banjar. 

Th e Natives of Borneo confift of two different People,* 
that are of different Religions; thofe upon the Sea Coaft 
are ufually called Banjareens* from the Town of Banjar % to 
which moft Nations refort, to trade with them. The 
Banjareens are of a low Stature, very fwarthy, their Fea- * 
turesbad, refembling moft the Negroes of "Guinea* though 
their Complexions are not fo dark; they are well propor- 
tioned, their Hair is black, and (hines with the Oil wkfv 
which they perpetually greafe it. The Women are of a 
low Stature and fmall Limbs, as the Men are, but their 
Features and Complexion much better, and they move 
with a good Grace. 

The common People go almoft naked; they have only 
a little Bit of a Cloth before, and a Piece of Linen tied a- 
bout their Heads Their Betters, when they are drafted on 
Pays of Ceremony, were a Veft of red or blue Silk, and 
a loofe Piece of Silk or fine Linen tied about their Loins, 
and thrown over their Left Shoulder. A Pair of Drawers 
they wear, but no Shirt, and their Legs and Feet are bare; 
their Hair is bound up in a Roll, and a Piece of Muffin or 
Calico tied over it ; a Crice or Dagger in their Sa(h they 
Always carry when they go abroad. 

Thb 



%>'. . ;4 [Nfuf HJifi T/.O R.Y ■ . 

. The Byqyos ^.Mountaineers are much taller and largef 
bodied Nlea.ttian the BapjarqeKs, and a braver People?, which; 
tHeir"Situaxibn ? ^nd: Manner of Life may account tor, being* 
inured to kabouV and .to follow the Chace for their d&ily 
FoocU whereas . the Banjareans ufe very little Jixerciie, 
tjfay'elling chiefly by Water.. 

/^Tft£ %yv$M go almoft naked, but not admiring their, 
tawny §kin$V paint thar Bodies blue,, and like all other. 
People, that live in hot. Climates, .anoint themfelves vvith. 
On,whjch fruelb vjery ftrong; and 'tis faid, every Man 
of 'Figure.an)ongft.theip> almoft, pulls out his Teeth to 
place a Set of Gold Teeth in their Room ; but this I can- 
not believe, and. think it wants Confirmation. 

< The pdnjkr^m^m an hofpitable, friendly People, where 
they are not : abufed, or apprehend Foreigners. have a De- 
figa upon theibLiberties \ -they feem to be Men of good 
S^ni^ but, not' Being acquainted with the World, are fre- 
quently ijppoled^poja in thejrTraffick with the crafty Ckinefe. 
Rice *is the'chieF Part of their Food here, as it is in 
other hot Countries, but with it they eat Venifon, Fifh, or 
F6wk . and air Kind of Meat, almoft, except Hogs Flefh ; 
ai)d',Men of Figure are ferved in Gold or Silver Plate ; the 

' common People are content with Brafs or Earthen Pifhes, 

^ aniftall fit.cfofsTlegged upon Mats or Carpets at their Meals, 
ancTiridee.d 'almoft all Day long*, chewing Betel and Ar^k % 
or fmpaking Tobx&cQ, . which* both .Sexes are very fond, of 
when it 'is rnijeed with Opium. The whole Company 
ufualjy fmook out o/ one Pipe; the Matter of the Feaft 

■ liavyig fmoak'ed lirtf, pafies it round the Company, and 
they^willfometirQ^s fit fpioaking fo lon.g, that. they grow 
ffupid.- At' "other Times they "divert themfelves with 

v (lomgdies, and the Cbineff have taught them to g^me \ their 
rural Sports, are Hunting, Shooting, and Fifhing. They 
liave fuch Plenty pf Jnm, that they may take as many as 
will ferve thsm.aJPay at on$' C^ft/ from, tliupif Houfes* 
which' are built u f pon Floats in their Rivers. ' A -'. , " 
' Thij?. ufual §alute is the Salam, .lifting their Jrlahds r to 
*th'eic Heads, and " bowing their Bodies a little ; ancTbefqre 
Ifheir Princes, they throw, themfelyes prpftrate r.on the 
Gfound : No one prefumes to fpeak to a great Man, till he 
is firft fpoke.to, and required to tell his Buftnete: They 

ufually 



- - J» r ■ , 



of the £ A S T-I NDI ES. 8* 

u&ally travel in covered Beats upon their Rivers; but the 
great Men who live in the inland Country ride on Elephants 
or Horfes. 

The Produce of this Country* befides Rice, already 
taetioned, is Cocoa Nuts, Oranges, Citrons, Plantains, 
Melons, Bananas, Pine- Apples, Mangoes, and all Man- 
ner of tropical Fruits ; Cotton, Canes, Rattans, and 
Plenty of very fine Timber; Gold, precious Stones, 
Camphire, Bezoar, and Pepper. There are three Sorts 
of black Pepper; thefirft andbeft is tht Molucca, or Lout 
Pepper ; the fecoqd is called Caytongee Pepper,, and the 
worft Sort is the Negaree Pepper ; of which there is the 
greateft Plenty. This is fmall, hollow and light, and 
commonly full of Duft, and the Buyer will be impofed on 
if he buys it by Meafure, and does not weigh it. He muft 
take Care.alfo, that the Pepper be not mixed with little 
black Stones, which are not eafily feen. The white Pep- 
per grows on the fame Tree that black Pepper does, and 
yet bears twice the Price : It is conje&ured to be the beft of 
the Fruit which drops of kfelf, and is gathered up by the 
poor People in fmall Quantities, before it turns black, and 
that it is the Scarcity o?it which occafions it to be fodeari 
but I think we want a. more fatisfa&ory Account of this 
" Matter. 

There are the fame Animals here as on the Continent 
of India, viz. Elephants, Buffaloes, Deef, tec. but the 
moft remarkable Animal, and which is al moil peculiar to 
this Ifland, is that raonftrous Monkey called the Oran- 
Ootan, or Man of the Woods, near fix Foot high, and 
walks upon his hinder Legs. He has a Face like a Man, 
and not fo ugly as ibme of the human Species, no Tail, 
or any Hair on his Body, but where a Man has Hair. 
Mr» Beckman, Captain of an Indiaman, purchafed one of 
them, who would drink Punch, and open his Cafe of Brandy 
to get a Dram,' if he was left alone with it, drink a Quan- 
tity, and then return the Bottle to the Cafe* He would 
lay himfelf down to fleep as a Man does : If the Captain 
appeared angry with him, he would whine and figh till he 
was reconciled. He would wreftle with the Seamen, 
and was ftronger than any of them, though he was not a 
Year old when he died ; for the Captain loft him as foon as 

F b* 



82 A New HIS TOR Y 

he came into cold Weather, having been bred in the hotteffc 
Climate. 

Among their Minerals is Gold, which the Mountaineers 
get out of the Sands of their Rivulets in the dry Seafon, an4 
difpofe of it to the Banjareens, from whom the Euorpeans 
receive it: There are alfo Iron Mines, and the Load- Stone 
may be had here. 

The Merchandize the Europeans chiefly import from 
•Borneo is Pepper, Gold, Diamonds, Champhire, Bezoar, 
Aloes, Maftick and other Gums; and the Goods proper 
to be carried thither, befides Bullion and Treafute, are 
fmall Cannon, from one hundred to two hundred Weight, 
Lead, Calimancoes, Cutlery Wares, Iron Bars, fmall 
Steel Bars, Hangers, the fmalleft Sort of Spike Nails, 
Twenty- Penny Nails, Grapplings of forty Pound Weight, 
red Leather Boots, Spectacles, clock- Work, fmall Arms 
with Brafs Mountings, Horfe Piftols, Blunderbufles, 
Gunpowder and Looking-Glaffes. The purchasing Gold 
is a profitable Article, and Diamonds may be had reafona- 
bly, tho* they are generally fmall ones: They purchafe 
Gold ufually with Dollars, giving a certain Number of 
Silver Dollars for the Weight of one Dollar in Gold. 

Some are of Opinion, that the Trade to Borneo might 
be made as advantageous as that to any other Country of 
'India i for here lies the China Fleet great Part of the Year, 
which will fupply the Merchants with the Goods of China* 
upon as eafy Terms almoft as at Canton; and if it be 
confidered how much longer, this Voyage to China is, the 
Cuftoms, Port Charges, the Extortions of the Hippo's or 
Cuftom*Houfe Officers, we may deal with the Cbinefe to 
greater Advantages, perhaps, at Borneo than at China. 
Here the Europeans alfo meet with the Macajfar Praws, 
which, notwithftanding all the Care the Dutch can take, 
(till bring thither Cloves, Nutmegs, Mace, Gumbage, 
Caflia, Lignum Aloes, and many other Sorts of rich 
Merchandize. 

Captain Beckman has given us the following Directions 
for the Management of this Trade to Borneo* and obferves, 
in the firfh Place, that if Ships arrive there in the Begin- 
ning of Augufti it is Time enough to contrad for the Pur- 
chafe of the Pepper of the laft Year's Crop, which is better 

than 



of the EAST-INDIES. 83 

than the new Crop, becaufe the Natives have had full 
Time to cure it, and it will not wafte and lofe fo much in 
the Weight; he advifes the Ships to anchor at Pooh 
Cockety an Ifland at the Mouth of the River Banjar^ and 
from thence fend by a Country Boat to the Sultan of Cay- 
tongety to acquaint him with their Arrival; for the Coun- 
try would be alarmed by fending up the Pinnace befoVe 
• they had Notice of their Coming; and when the Natives 
come on board, it will not be prudent to (hew any Fear or 
Diftruft of them, by arming the Sailors ; for if they fufpeft 
the Ship to be a Man of War or a Pirate, they will not 
trade, being a timorous Sort of People, that dread the 
leaft Appearance of Danger. 

There will be always fome of the Natives, who under 
Pretence of doing you Service in your Trade, will expedt 
a Prefent, nor muft they be negie&ed; but it will be ad- 
vifeable to feed them with fmall Sums, from Time to 
Time, and keep them always in Expectation, and not 
give them too much at once. The greateft of their Officers 
or Noblemen are not afhamed to accept four or five Dol- 
lars wrapped up in a Piece of Paper. 

Whatever Contracts are made, let them be drawn up 
fo clear as to leave no Room for Mifund^rftandings ; and 
among other Things, the Merchant will do well to con- 
trail for a Houfe in the Town of Tatas, to make a 
Warehoufe of, for which they will make extravagant" De- 
mands, if the Price is not agreed on at firft : And though 
a peaceable, quiet Behaviour be recommended, yet a Mer-. 
chant cannot be too much upon his Guard; it will be bet- 
ter to fend two fmall Ships thither for that Reafon, than 
one large one, they will be in a much better Condition to 
defend themfelves> if any Difference fhould happen with 
the Natives, and two fmall Ships will be much fooner 
loaded than a large one; for one might lie at a Diftance 
while the other goes up to Tat as to take in her Lading, ic 
not being advifeable to truft your whole Force in their 
Power ; and the fending down every Parcel of Pepper in 
the Country Boats, will take up a great deal more Time 
than the taking it on board at the Town. 

Care, ought to be taken, that the Sailors are not too 
free with the Banjareen Women that bring Provifion ; and 

F 2 though 



$4 A New H I S T O R T 

though the Houfe will be often crowded with People that 
come thither, under Pretence of Trade, this muft be borne 
with, rather than affront them ; but they muft, be watch- 
ed very narrowly, for the Natives are a thievilh Genera- 
tion. 

The Cbinefe will carry it very civilly towards you, tho f 
they are Rivals in the Trade, and you ought in outward 
Appearance to be as civil to them ; for you may purchafe 
ftveral Sorts of Goods of them to Advantage, which are 
not to be had in that Country. > . . 

The Banjareens don't know the Value of -European 
Goods fo well as the Cbinefe, and it will be proper to aflc 
twice as much as you defign t9 take, for they will not 
bid a fourth Part of what you afk ; and on the other hand 
they will frequently afk ten times as much for their Goods 
as they defign to take, and there is no relying upon their 
fjamples or Weights.. They have learnt of the Cbinefe to 
be as great Shypers as themfelves, and, like them, think 
it no Difgrace to be detc&ed in their Knavery. 
\ The Gum Dragant or Dragons Blood, which this 
Country produces, is in great Efteem ; that which ap- 
pears of the brighteft Colour, after it is rubbed on Paper* 
is the beft, and is fold at about forty Dollars the Pecul. • 

Canes are another Article the Europeans purchafe here* 
and are fine fmall Joints, ufually called Jambee Canes, 
an Hundred of which may be bought for four Dollars or 
Crowns. When the Natives come to fell Gold Bars, they 
muft be cut through and touched, or you muft expe£ta 
Mixture of other Metals with it. The Gold here, as in 
other Places, being taken out of the Sands or Rivulets, 
is fometimes mixed with Iron Duft, and is cleared of it 
by rubbing a Load Stone amongft the Duft in a Difli, 
the Iron Particles adhering to the Load-Stone. The 
higheft coloured Gold is the beft, when it has no Alloy. 

The Bezoar Stone, called Monkey Bezoar, is fold for 
five Times the Weight in Silver - 9 they weigh from a Pen- 
ny-weight to an Ounce, and the beft are of a greenifh Hue ; 
the largeft are fuppofed to be Goat Bezoar. The Natives 
have a Compofition, which refembles the right Bezoar, 
The Way to difcover the Fraud, is to rub ^hite Lead, 
Lime, or Chalk on a white Paper, and then rubbing the 

Bezoar* 



pf the E A S T-IND IE S: B$ 

Uezoar, upon it, it will change the White Lead or Chalk 
to a greenifh Colour, if it be right. The beft £afnphire 
alfo is produced here. The delicious Birds-Nefts aifo arc 
to be had at Borneo, where they are fold for one hundred 
Dollars the Pecul. Pepper is ufually fold for four or five 
Dollars the Pecul. 

The Cbinefeketp Shops at Tata:, and are the only 
People that fell Goods by Retail here, particularly Silks, 
Chints, Calicoes, Bcteles, and other Muflins ; Tea, Drugs* 
China, and Japan Goods. 

The chief Town in Borneo was Banjar Maffeen, which 
once lay about twelve Miles up the River Banjar, and waa 
built on Floats, or Rafts, in the River, but is now re- 
moved to Tata s, fix Miles higher up the River * thefe 
floating Towns being removed with very little Trouble, 
the Reafon of which Removal feems to have been for 
Security againft the Infults of Foreigners. 

This floating Town forms one long Street, no Houfe 
having more than one Floor, divided into Rooms, accor- 
ding to the Number of the Family ; their Walls and 
Partitions made of fplit Cane, and their Roofs covered 
with Palm Branches, the Eaves reaching within five Feet 
of the Bottom, to flielter them from the fcorching Sun. 
Thefe Houfes lie at an Anchor, and are fattened together 
with Hooks and Rings ; but as they are fubjeft to Fire, 
they are eafily unloofed and fet a drift, which faves the 
reft of the Street. The Tide of Ebb is fo ftrong at Tatas, 
that fometimes the Houfes on thefe Floats break loofe 
from their Moorings^ and are driven- out to Sea* but 
befides this floating Town before Tatas, there is another 
built of more fubftantial Materials on Shore, and others 
that ftand upon Pillars, feveral Feet above the Surface, 
and having no Communication but by Boats during the 
rainy Seafon. 

The Town ofCaytongee, the Refidence of the greateft 
Prince in the Ifland, may now be deemed the Capital 5 
it lies above two hundred Miles up the River Banjar, of 
which I meet with no Defcription j but before the Palace 
is a large Room fifty Yards long and thirty broad, buite 
upon Pillars, open on all Sides, but covered with a Roof, 
in the Middle whereof is the Sultan's Throne, being a 

F 3 wooden 



«6 . A New, H ISTORY 

wooden Chair gilded, and over it a large Canopy of Gold 
and Silver Brocade, and about the Room are feven or 
eight great Guns upon broken Carriages. 

About eighteen Miles below Caytongee are two Wooden 
Caftles, on which are twelve great Guns pointed down 
the River, the Works fo out of Repair, that no Danger 
is to be apprehended from them. 

The Town of Matapoora is fituate in a Part of the 
Country to which the Floods never reach, being about 
ten Miles from Caytongee, where the Prince of Negaree 
refides, who has a good Magazine of Fire-Arms, and 
ibmc great Guns mounted before the Gates of his Palace, 

The City of Borneo was formerly the Capital, being 
the Refidence of the Sultan, then the moft powerful Prince 
in the I (land. It is fituate on a fine Bay of the Sea, in 
the North-Weft Part of the Ifland, in four Degrees thirty 
Minutes North Latitude. This Town has not much 
Trade at prefent. 

SUCCADANEA is fituate on a commodious Bay 
in the South- Weft Part of the Ifland, in one Degree of 
South Latitude, and was fqrmerly more reforted to by the 
Europeans than any Port. The Ifland of Borneo is divided 
into a great many Governments, which have each of thena 
their Sultan or Sovereign, the moft powerful whereof is 
at prefent the Emperor of Caytongee,, who is probably the 
richeft ; moft of the Peppqj Plantations being within his 
Territories, which brings a Multitude of foreign Mer- 
chants thither. The Mouth of the River Banjar, or rather 
Fatas, is now one of the greateft Marts in the Indian Seas* 
where moft of the Produce of Afta &nd Europe may be met 
with. As to the Sultan's Forces by Land, they appeal* 
to be very indifferent Militia; I don't find he has any 
Standing- Army, and the Fortifications of his Towns ana 
Caftles are very mean. Here are no Ships of War, nor 
many Merchant*Ships belonging to the Country; but 
they have fwift-failing Vefiels, like thofe in the Ladrom 
Jflands, which will fail above twenty Miles an Hour. 

This Ifland, no doubt, was firft peopled from the neigh- 
bouring Continent of India and China. The Arabians and 
Egyptians, 'tis probable, fucceeded the firft Inhabitants* 

*$ the Portuguefe found them Matters of this Coaft and or 

tho 



•« 



jf A EAST-INDIES. 87 

the Coafts of the adjacent Iflandsj when they arrived 
here, and had driven the firft Poffeflbrs up the Moun- 
tains, where they ftill remain, being divided into nume- 
rous Tribes, under N their refpe&ive Chiefs, and not fub- 
jed to the Banjareens on the Coaft. The Arms of the 
Byayos* or Mountaineers, are their Crice or Dagger, and 
the Sampk, which is a Trunk or Tube about fif Foot 
long, through which they blow the little poifoned Darts, 
mentioned in the Ifland of Celebes* and at the End of the 
Sampit is fixed a Kind of Bayonet, which ferves them 
inftead of a Spear, and is fometimes thrown as a Lance. 

The new EngUJh Eafi- India Company, in the Year 
1700, fent Captain Coat/worthy in the Julian* to fettle a 
Fa&ory at Banjar MaJJeen % appointing Mr. Landan Pru- 
dent, and four other Merchants to be of his Council, if 
the Defign fhould fucceed. 

At their Arrival they made fome conliderable Prefenta 
to the Sultajj ofCaytongee* and received his Chop or Great 
Seal, for a Licence to trade, and to ereft flich Houfes at 
Banjar as ihould be neceflary to lay their Goods in •, and 
foon after provided themfelves with three Lantings or 
floating Houfes, and another ere&ed on Pillars or the 
Bodies of Trees, feveral Feet above the muddy Shore, 
which was ufually flooded. at High- Water. • 

At this Time there were three hundred fuch floating 
Houfes, ranged on each Stf e the River, inhabited by 
Chinefe* Malays* Macajfars* and native Banjareens * but 
the Natives removed higher up the River to Tatas on the 
Arrival of the Enrlijb 9 the reft remained at Banjar* to the 
Number of two hundred Families ; and of this floating 
Town Mr. Landan* the EngUJh Prefident, was looked 
•upon as Governor. The EngUJh Faftors traded with the 
Banjareens for three Years, without any Difturbance ; but 
then the Natives having about twenty thoufand Dollars 
of the Company's Money in their Hands, upon, a Pro- 
mife to deliver their Faftors the Value in Pepper j the 
Banjareens fold the Pepper, they had agreed to deliver the 
.EngUJh to the Chineje* and when the Injuftice of this Prac- 
tice was reprefented to them, the Natives pretended they 
had loft their Crop* and were not in a Capacity to deliver 
the Pepper , and as the fhorteft . Way to wipe off the 

F 4 Score, 



88 A New H,I STORY 

Score, fecretly plotted to deftroy the EngUJh Settlement^ 
of which their FaAors being informed, did not give much 
Credit to the Report, till they faw one Mornings great 
Numbers of Boats and Guntings, Veffels:' of about forty 
Tuns Burthen, full of armed Men, prepared for an En- 
gagement; and though the Banjareens did not think fit to 
attack the EngUJh at that Time, they came to an Anchor 
a little Diftance from them. fc 

♦ The Ship Borneo, Captain Barre Commander, being 
in the River of Banjar at this Time, the Prefident con- 
fulted with him upon the Occafion, and they agreed, for 
their mutual Safety, to hire as many of the Macaffar Sol- 
diers out of their Praws as they could (for there were not 
above fixty Englijhmen in the Ship and Fa&ory.) Having 
manned a Gunting, therefore, and mounted two great 
Guns upon her, and waited two or three Days in Expecta- 
tion the Banjareens would have attacked them ; they ad- 
vanced towards the Enemy, but were foon flopped by i 
Boom, or Chain, which the Natives had laid crofs the 
River, a little under Water, and fattened to the Trees on 
the Sides -> however, the Macaffar Soldiers foon unfaftened 
it, and the little Fleet moved forwards, whereupon the 
Banjareens difcharged feveral great Guns at them ; but 
being ill Marks- men did them no Mifchief. The EngUJh 
.advancing ftill, fired fome Shot, and the Banjareens* 
fled before them y but two of their -largeft Veffels^ 
not being able to keep up with the reft, fell into thfe 
Hands of the EngUJh, and the Men on board jumped into 
the River, and efcaped to Shore. Two Days after the 
JLngliJh arrived at Fatas, ten Miles up the China River, 
which they found deferted by the Natives, and every 
Thing of Value carried off, except fome Pepper, which 
Captain Barre brought on board-, and then fetting Fire 
to the Town, the EngUJh returned to Banjar. 

No Enemy appearing, Captain Barre, about ten Days 
afterwards, failed up the great River Banjar, with fome 
Jarge armed Veflels, attended by forty Praws, or Macaffar 
Uoats, and arrived within ten Miles of the Town of Ne- 
garee, which lies between two and three hundred Miles 
up that River, he difcovered the Enemy had built a Kiqd 
Qt floating Cattle, upon the Water, one hundred Foot 

long* 



of the E A S T - 1 N D I E S. "89 

long, and forty broad, with two Decks, having four Iron 
and two Brafs Guns mounted on the lower Deck, and 
-fixty Patereroes on the upper Deck ; the Sides of this 
Caftle being near a Yard thick, walled with Ratans, like 
Balket-Work, which covered their Men both from great 
. and fmall Shot, the Banjareens began to fire at a great 
Diftarice, and feemed refolved to difpute the Paffage of 
* the River: Captain Barre advanced, however, without 
firing, till he came very near their floating Caftle, when 
'he was fo fortunate as to fire into their Port-Holes, dis- 
mount one of their Guns, and killed feveral of their Men, 
^ which fo frightened the Banjareens* that they fled out of 
the Machine, through the oppoftte Port- Holes, unper- 
ocived, and hid themfelves in the Woods. The Captain 
obferving their Fire ceafed, advanced clofe to the Machine 
with fome Caution •, and hearing no Noife, he ventured 
to board the floating Caftle, and became Mafter of it;; 
: feut not thinking it prudent to advance further, returnea 
to Bdnjar with the Prize, which was fo unwieldy; that 
they (pent a Fortnight in bringing it down the River* 
The Prefident, who remained With the Ship Borneo at 
tBanjar, to fecure the Fadtory from any SurjSrize, pre- 
fented the Captain with the two Brafs Guns he had taken, 
and the Captain brought them to England on his Return 
thither. . !* * 

The Englifh Fa&ors now refle&ing, that notwithiiand- '• 
ing their Succefs, it could never be the Interefit of their 
Matters to remain in a State of War with the Natives, as 
they muft expedt no further Trade with them while it 
continued, and beginning to be in great Diftrefs for Pro- * 
vifions, having received none out of the Country fincg^-^ - 
this Rupture, they fent a Letter, by fome of thfe Prifoners 
they had taken, to the Banjareens* to demand the Reafon 
of their treating them in that Manner they had done, when 
' they had given them no Provocation. On the contrary, 
they had advanced them great Sums of Money for Goods* 
< which they had not yet received ; with their Letter they 
fent a confiderable Prefent to the Sultan of Caytongee 9 
defiring he would fend a Boat with a white Flag to the 
Factory, if he thought fit to treat with them ; but having 
; waited fome Time ? and jeceive.d no Anfwer, the Prefident 

deter- 



/^o A New H I S T O R Y 

determined to try agiin what Force would do, and failed 
up the River again, almoft as far as Caytongee, when they 
difcovered a Float, like the Wall of a Town/ extended 
crofs the River, with feveral great Gunsr upon it \ but 
as they were advancing to it, a Praw came off, with 
~a white Flag on board, wherein was an Officer, who 
acquainted the Prefident* that the Sultan would iend 
fome of his Minifters to treat with him, if he would 
promife that they fliQuld return in Safety. The Prefi- 
oent promtfing to protect them, Commifiioners arrived, 
among whom was the Sultan's Son, without fo much as 
requiring Hoftages ; aftd entering upon a Treaty, it was 
agreed, that the Banjareens fhould pay the Charges of the 
War, and deliver Pepper in lieu of the Money the 
Englifh had advanced, without requiring any Duties ox 
Cuftoms for the future, according to the former Grant 
for a free Trade ; the whole Demand amounting to forty 
thoafand Dollars : Which Treaty was ratified by the 
* Sultan and the Mufti, or chief Prieft. 

Thi$ Agreement was ill obferved on the Part of the 
Banjareens \ for, pretending the Seafon had been very bad 
for Pepper, they never delivered more than fifteen Coyang, 
worth about one thoufand Dollars \ and the Factors fee* 
ing no Probability of getting more, they embarked for 
Batavia, from whence the Prcfident went to Bengal* and 
Captain Barre to England in the Borneo. 

Stij-l the Eajt-Jndia Company were of Opinion, that 
Banjar was the moil advantageous Situation in India to 
fettle a Factory at, becaufe there they met the Ships of 
the Chintfe % from whom they might have the Merchandize 
of thdr Country on eafier Terms than at Canton ; and 
""they did not doubt but they would fettle there, rather 
than at Batavia, if the Company was in a Condition to 
pjrote£t .them ; and as to the Trade of Borneo, Gold, Be- 
zoar, Camphire, Pepper and Precious Stones were the 
Produce of the Country, and the People of Macajfar would 
fometimes bring over Cloves and Nutmegs clandeftinely, 
without the Knowledge of the Dutch, and Banjar might 
Income as con fid er able a Mart for the Englijh, as Batavia 
was for the Hollanders. 

In the Year 1 704, therefore, feveral Ships were equip- 
ped 



cf the E A ST~IU DIE S. $f 

pcd for Borneo ; and Rojet, who was one of the Council 
in the former Voyage, was fent Prefident of the intended 
Faftory inthis, and was vef y acceptable to the Banjareens* 
especially as he made no Demand of the old Arrear. The 
Natives, therefore, continued to trade with the Faftory a 
confiderable Time ; but the Company underftanding, that 
if a Fort could be erefted on the firm Land, and they 
had a Strength there Sufficient to protefl: the Cbinefe and 
other Nations, this Settlement might be vaftly improved ; 
they fent over Captain Barre again, who was well ac- 
quainted with the Country, and a good Engineer, with 
Dire&ions to build a Fort at Banjar j and the Captain, 
in Purfuance of his Orders, carried over what waa 
riecefiary to fortify the Place; and Rojet dying, was 
fucceeded by Captain Barre, as Prefident. 

The Captain hereupon imported great 1 Quantity of 
Earth and Stone, and drove down fome Thoufands of 
Piles or great Trees, to make a Foundation for the defign*- 
ed Fort, the Place being a perfect Morafs, and without 
railing the Ground, he could not fecure his Works from 
the Flood. He alfo employed fome of the Cbinefe to 
make Bricks at Tombarneo, which is fituate eighty Miles 
Eaft of the River Banjar ', where the Company had a Houfe, 
and at the fame Time, agreed with a Dutchman on the 
North Coaft of Java, to fupply him with Timber, which 
the Dutchman, to prevent being difcovered, defired might 
be fent for by the China Junks, that the Government of . 
Batavia might not fufpeft for what it was defigned. It 
is no inconfiderable Advantage to the Englijh Company, 
that the Dutch Officers and Governors in India have more 
Regard to their private Interefts, than to that of their 
Matters. There are not many of them, provided they 
can be concealed, but will deal with our People for a, 
(mall Profit, otherwife the Traffick of the Englijh to India 
would be much worfe than it is. 

While the Fort was building at Banjar, a Cbinefe Junk 
comipg thither with Timber, happened to be caft away at 
J&ndava, a little Weft of Banjar River, which the Vice- 
roy of that Province underftanding was defigned for Ban- 
jar Fort, feized the Ship, and caufed all tip Cbinefe he 
found on board to be murdered in his Prefence * only one of 

them 



"0 "A New H I S f O R Y 

them efcaped to Barjar, and gave this tragical Account 
of their Voyage. 

The Prefident hereupon complained to the Sukan of this 
barbarous Infult, but he denied he knew any Thing of it, 
declaring it was not done by his Order ; and that if Gooftee 
Gantotij the Governor of Mendavy, could be brought to 
Juftice, he fhould be punilhed for it; but that he was a 
defperate Man, and it would be difficult to apprehend 
him. Not long after Gooftee went to the Court ofCaytongee* 
and the Faftors applied themfelves to the Sultan again 
to do them Juftice ; he anfwered, that Gooftee brought 
fuch Numbers of armed Men with him, that he could not 
be apprehended. The Prefident therefore receiving In- 
telligence, that Gooftee was to go by Water from Fatas to 
[Banjar River, he armed his Pinnace, and feveral dfthe 
Macajfar Praws, and lay in a convenient Part of the River 
to intercept him, and fopn after difcovering Gooftee and 
feveral Veflels belonging to the Sultanefs, which came 
leifurely down the Stream, as if they apprehended no Dan* 
ger, he waited till they came near him ; but then they 
plied their Oars fo well that they foon got out of his Reach, 
neither the Pinnace or Macaffar Praws could come near 
them ; the Captain thereupon firing a Piece or two after 
them, a Ball happened to enter the Praw the Sultanefs was 
in, on board of which Gooftee had put himfelf, as believ- 
ing the Englifh would not have attacked the Sultanefs, and 
it is pretended indeed that they did not know the Sultanefsf 
was upon the River ; however, this Outrage, as the Ban- 
Jareens termed it, the Sultan would never forgive, and from 
this Day 'tis faid the Bandanefe determined to extirpate thtf 
^^jEngliJb the firft Opportunity that prefented itfelf, though 
/ they did not fhew their Refentment till afterwards. The 
Prefident proceeding in fortifying Banjar, had made firm' 
Ground to build the Fort upon, ere&ed fine Barracks for 
th$ Soldiers, and over them -handfome Apartments for the 
l^a&ors; the Baftions for the Fort alfo were marked out 
(being defigned for a Pentagon,) and as the Place was fur- 
rounded with Water, the whole Power of the Banjareens 
could not have taken it, if the brave Captain Barrt had 
lived s but unfortunately for the Englifh Company, he died 
before he had enjoyed the Prefidentftiip a Year, the Com- 

man4 



of the E A 8 T - I N t> I E S. 9* 

ftiand devolving on thcfecond in Council, who took upoix 
him the Command, and purfued the Steps of his Predecefibr 
about four Months, when the unfortunate Cunningham aiv 
rived, who had juft efcaped from, the Maflacre of Pooh 
Condore 9 hzv\ng been appointed by the Company Prefident of 
Bdnjar y and entered on this Command in the Year 1706, 
which he had not enjoyed fix Months, before he received" 
Advice, that all the Banjareens were in Arms, with a De- 
fign to drive the Englijh from their Coafts. 

Two Eaji- India Ships lay at this Time in the River of 
Banjar, viz. the Blenheim and the Carlton. Cunningham^ 
the Prefident, not thinking himfelf fafe in the half-built 
Fort, conftantly lay on board the Blenheim. He feemed 
to have nothing elfe in his View but to i'ave one ; he nei- 
ther took the Macajfar Soldiers into his Pay, or hired any 
Veflels to defend the Fadtory, but left the Care of it to the 
third in Council, who being attacked by the fianjareens, 
bravely repulfed them. The Carlton being boarded at the 
fame Time, the Seamen fhut themfelves up in clofe Quar* 
ters, and cleared the Decks of the Banjareens^ with their 
fmall Arms.. Captain Philips only, who upon a Point of 
Honour, would not quit the Quarter-Deck, was killed* 
arid the Banjareens^ who. had done nothing more than fired 
the Town, and murdered the unarmed Inhabitants, would 
probably have abandoned the Enterprife, if the Ships had 
kept their Stations ; Cunningham imagining it was in vain 
to make any further Refiftanqe, ordered the Englijh to fet 
Fire to the Faftory, and come on board, and then com- 
manded the Ships to cut their Cables and fall down the 
River, which they did with fuch Precipitation, that they 
left their Top-Mafts, great Part of their Rigging, and 
Provifions behind them, abandoning alfo fifty poor unarm- 
ed Slaves, that fervid the Workmen in the Fort, to be 
cut in Pieces. The Chinefe and moft of the other Inha- 
bitants, that imagined they were fafe under the Proteftion 
of the Englifhy alio were murdered in cold Blood. Thus 
the Eaji-India Company loft this important Poft, by mak- 
ing Choice of one to command in it, who was no Military 
Man, and by Profeffion an Apothecary. 

The fecond in Council, who had been for fome Time 
at Tomborneo for the Recovery of his Health, found the 

* two 



94 A New H I S T O R Y 

two Ships lying at the Mouth of the River like Wrecks* 
and ^>ne of them aground, and was informed that Banjar 
tvas loft, which had been fo long fortifying with infinite 
Labour, and a vaft Expence, by the Prefident's Order* 
before the Faftory was in any Danger, and not twenty 
Englijhmen loft in the whole Adtton. 
- The Banjareens being elated with Succefs, grew bold, 
and falling down the River attacked the Blenheim, but of 
three hundred Men that boarded her, very few efcaped ; v 
however, as there was now no Hopes of refettling the 
Faftory, without being reinforced from England, Cun- 
ningham, the Prefident, failed to Batavia, and from thence 
to Bengal, where he embarked on board the Anne Indiaman 
for England, which Ship foundered, or^vas otherwife k>ft 
in her Paffage, Cunningham fharing the Fate of the reft of 
the Crew 5 and I fhould have remembered, that all the 
Chineje, who were making Bricks ztTamborneo, with two 
Englijh Soldiers who remained there with them, were cut 
in Pieces foon after the Banjar Factory was deftroyed. 

About feventeen or eighteen Years after this Mif- 
Fortune, two Indiamen, one of them commanded by Cap- 
tain Beckford, arrived at Borneo, and the Captain was fo 
fortunate as to procure an Audience of the Sultan of Cay- 
tongee, being introduced by the Prince of Negaree. When 
he came to his Audience, he was dire&cd to fit down 
ypon a Carpet, about ten Foot before the Throne, and 
foon after the Sultan came in, dreffed in a Veft and Breeches, 
not unlike a Rope-Dancer's, with fcarlet Stockings and 
Slippers, an Atlice Gown wrqught with Gold and Silver, 
^awjd a riclV'Crice, or Dagger, fet with Diamonds, in hia 
Safh. On the Sultan's Coming into the Hall of Audience, 
the Captain and the reft of the Englijh Gentlemen rofe up 
very unluckily ; for this was the greateft Affront they could 
have been guilty of. The Sultan's great Officers fell down 
on their Faces as they fat. They always approach their 
Prince on their Knees, bowing to the Ground when they 
come near him, and when they retire they creep back as 
they advanced. 

The Sultan having viewed the Englijh Gentlemen, after 
fome Paufe bid them welcome, .and thanked them for 
their Prefent, and enquired if thofe were Company's Ships 

they 



of the E A S T- I NDIES. 95 

they came in, which they flatly denied, apprehending they . 
fhould have been ufed ill if they had been known. The 
Sultan proceeded to (hew his Refentmcnt againft the Com- 
pany's Faftors, who came thither, he faid, under Pretence 
of trafficking with his People, and iriftead of building a 
Warehoufe, erefted a Caftle, mounted Cannon upon it, 
and infulted his Subje&s, which he had borne a great 
while •, but their Infolence was luch, that he was at length 
compelled to demolilh their Caftle and expel them his 
Country. The Audience being over, the Gentlemen 
were entertained in the Sultan's Palace, the Dinner ferved 
up in Gold and Silver Difhes, and feton the Carpet, with- 
out any Linnen. It confifted of Pilau (Rice and Fowls) 
coloured with Turmerick, Curree, or ftro;>gSoup, made 
of Fifh or Flefli, broiled Fowls, Beef and Veniion y but 
they have no other Liquor than Water, the Mahometans 
drinking no ftrong Liquors. The King's Mufick playing " 
during the Entertainment, and the Englijh Trumpets in 
the Intervals, with which the Sultan was extreamly pleafed. 
After Dinner, little Boards were brought in with the Betel 
Leaf and Arek Nut, which they, chew great Part of the 
Day ; and fome of the Sultan's Dancing Girls being, fent 
for, four beautiful Virgins, about fe ven teen Years of Age, 
made their Appearance ; they were cloathed in filk Vetts, 
with gilded Coronets round their Temples, their Hair 
falling gracefully on their Shoulders ; their naked Arm* 
and Legs were painted yellow, and they had Bracelets of 
Gold on their Arms and Legs, Thefe advanced towards 
the Throne, proftrated themfelves on their Faces before 
the Emperor three Times, arid then began what was called^ 
a Dance, throwing themfelves into various Poftures, fome 
of them wanton enough, but fcai ce ever lifted their Feet 
from the Ground. After the Company had been enter- 
tained thus about an Hour, the Girls proftrated themfelves 
again three Times before the Throne, and then retired, 
and the Englijh were foon after difmifled. 

The Eq/i- India Ships that have been fent over iince, 
are forced to conceal that they have any Relation to the 
Company, 'tis faid ; but I am rather inclined to believe, 
that the Natives don't care to be too inquifitive about the 
Matter, receiving for the moft Part Silver for the Produce 

of 



$6 A New H I S T O R Y 

of their Country. Thfcy chufe therefore to wink at what 
they can't well be ignorant of, as fo many other Nations 
trade thither who arc our Rivals, and would not fail to let 
them into the Secret : It is evident to me, that the Banja* 
reens would be glad to traffick with any Europeans where 
their Liberties are not endangered by it. The Portuguefe 
formerly, and the Dutch after them, began to ereft Forts 
in their Country, but the Natives would not bear it. They, 
have feen the Dutch enflave the adjacent Iflands of Celebes* 
Java, &c. and they cannot but apprehend Danger there- 
fore, when they fee Foreigners attempting to fortify their 
Settlements. 

A Traveller who refided fome Years in Borneo, is of 
Opinion, that the Byayo's, or Mountaineers of that Ifland, 
are as favage a People as. they are ufually reprefented to be. 
Their very Conutenances, he thinks, Ihews it, and they,' 
will never have any Friendlhip, or even Converfation with 
Foreigners, though they come down to Banjar often, and 
fell them Hogs, Fowls, and other Provifion ; and if they 
meet with a poor Fifherman, or any defencelefs Peo- 
ple upon the River, they feldom fail to take their Heads ; 
thofe that have killea moft Men, being in the greateft 
Efteem in their Country; but as I underftand him, he 
means thofe of another Religion or Nation : There are 
none but Europeans and Chriftians that look upon the 
taking away the Life of a Friend or Acquaintance in a 
. Duel, to be an heroick Aftion. 

The Englifh, I perceive, afFeft to be very much afraid 
of the Byayo's, though they ufually run away from them 
when they meet in the River, and get into the Woods, 
^ where they will maintain a Tree-Fight fometimes ; that 
is, they Ikulk behind great Trees, and (hoot Darts at their 
Enemies, and then run away; but will feldom meet ari 
Enemy in a fair Field, any more than any other Indians, 
unlefs they have a very great Superiority. 

The Byayo 9 s are all Pagans, whofe Rites differ but little 
from thole of the Pagans on the neighbouring Continent ; 
and the Inhabitants of the Sea-Coafts are for the moft Part 
Mahometans -, they have both of them a great deal of Su-^ 
perdition, pretending to charm away Difeafes, and to 
ioretel future Events, and the like. 

BoTd; 



of ihe E A S T-I N D I E S. 97 

Both Pagans and Mahometans allow of a Plurality of 
Wives aod Concubines in this Country ; but as to their 
Ceremonies of Marriage, and the Solemnity of their Fu- 
nerals, both of the Mahometans and Pagans, thefe have 
been defcribed in Part already • " *r. 'r 



1 ,;, 



CHAP. IV. 

Contains a Defcription of the I/lands of Sumatra and 

Java.. 

SUMJTR A is one of the Sunda Iflands, fituate in the 
Indian Ocean, between ninety-three and one hundred 
and four Degrees of Eaftern Longitude, and between five 
Degrees and a half North Latitude, and five Degrees and 
# half South Latitude, the Equino&ial Line running 
<rofs the Middle of it ; having Malacca on the North, 
Borneo on the Eaft, Java on the South-Eaft, and the Indian 
Ocean on the Weft, and is nine hundred Miles long, and 
about one hundred and fifty broad. The Air is generally 
unhealthful near the Coaft, the Country being very hot, 
and very moift, and changing fuddenly from fultry Heat 
in the Day-Time, to cold chilling Winds in the Night. 

There are no Phyficians in Sumatra, but they rely 
upon the .Skill and Experience of fome good old Women, 
-who are acquainted with the Nature of their Simples. The 
Flux is the Diftemper that ufually carries off"* Foreigners, 
againft which the Fruit Guava and the Pomgranate are 
certain Remedies, if taken before the Diftemper becomes 
violent; but moft other Fruits promote the Dileafe. Bath- 
ing in the cold Water is efteemed another Remedy for 
the Flux, Their Water, unboiled, as well as Sherbet, 
is very unwholefome ; full Meals of Flefti ought to be avoid- 
ed, occafioning a Diftemper called the Mori Ducirin, which 
is attended with a violent Vomiting and Purging, and 
ufually carries off the Patient in.twenty-four Hours. Thofe 
Gentlemen that drink ftrong Liquors to Excefs, ufually 
avoid the Flux, but are carried off by Fevers. The Cho- 
lick and Small-Pox are often fatal to the Natives, as well 

G as 



98 A New H I S TO R Y * * 

as Foreigners; but they Are feldom troubled whh Qropfies, 
Gout, or Stone. - % 

r People that aire careful of their Health, eat and drink 
t&odgrately, and boiji their Water; nor do they avoid 
Wine or Arrack Punch altogether, for thefe drank mo^ 
derately in this moid Air preferve, rather than deftroy 

. A Chain of Mountains runs the whole Length of the 
Ifland, from the North* Weft to the SoUth-Eaft, and here 
the Air is fomething better than on the Coaft; but the 
European Fa&ories are generally fituated at the Mouths of 
Rivers near the Sea, for the Cenveniency of Trade, and 
here three Years ' may be reckoned a long Life, the. fait 
ftinking Oufe fends up fuch an unwholefome Vapour, that 
it perfe&ly poifons Foreigners that are fent thither. 

The Monfons, or periodical Winds, fhift here at the 
Equinoxes, as they do in other Parts of the Indian Seas, 
blowing fix Months in one Dire&ion, and fix Months in 
the oppofite Direftion •, and near the Coaft there are other 
periodical Winds, which blow the greeted Part, of the Day 
from the Sea, 4 and in the Night-Time and Part of the 
Morning from the Land •, but thefe fcarce extend kvtii 
Miles from the Coaft. 

■ There is a Mountain called Single demon A* about forty 
Miles South-Eaft of Bencoolen, which is a Mile in Height 
perpendicular-, thofe near the Weft Coaft are generally 
'barren Rocks, producing little befides Shrubs ; but to^ 
wards the Bottom of them grows fome good Timber. The 
Country has a great many fmall Rivers, but none of them 
navigable much beyond their Mouths, falling from high 
Mountains, and difcharging themfelves precipitately into 
the Sea, either on the Eaft or Weft, alter a very fhort 
Courfe ; the Rains continuing here, as they do in moft 
Places near the Equinoftial, fix Months every Year and 
upwards, and no where with more Violence. The Waters 
of the River Indapcora, during Rains, look red for two 
Miles beyond the Mouth out at Sea, occafioned, 'tis faid, 
\by the great Number of Oaks that grow in .their boggy 
Grounds, and are almoft covered when the Floods afe 
higheft. The Waters of all their Rivers, which overflow 
the Low -Countries, are very omwfoolefome, fouli and 

not 



of tie E A S T-I NDIES, 99 

hot fit to bfc drank till they are fettled* not indeed till they, 
have betn boiled, and Tea or fome other wholefome Herb* 
ififufed in them ; and this* no doubt* is one Reafon of the 
Unwholefomnefs of the Air, it being a very juft Obfer* 
vation, that whfcrevcr the Water is bad* the Air is fo too. 

SUMATRA?*** antiently divided into a great many 
Kingdoms and States, as it is at prefent, of which Ac ben 
was the fnoft conliderable* and had fome Influence over 
the reft \ and the King of Achen is (till the moft powerful 
Prince in the Ifland* and the North Part of it is in a Man- 
lier fubjed: to him. 

ACHEN City is alfo ftill the Capital of this Kingdom,, 
and of the whole Ifland* being fituate in ninety three De- 
grees thirty Minutes Eaft Longitude* and five Degrees 
thirty Minutes North Latitude* about one thoufand Miles 
South-Eift of Fort St. George in the Hither India. The 
City ftands in a Plain, lurrounded by Woods and Bogs, 
fomething more than a Mile diftant from the Sea \ it is an 
open Town, and the King's Palace ftands in the Middle of 
it. < Great Banks of Earth* inftead of a Wall, are caft up 
fourfd about the Palace, and planted with Caftes and Reeds, 
that grow to fuch a Height that they cover the Palace* and 
render it inaeceffibl* : It is about a Mile and & half in Cir- 
cumference j a Rivulet runs through it, lined with, Stone, 
in which they ufually bathe- Though Achen. has no Wall 
for its Defence, the Country round about it is To furround- 
£d by Marfhes and thick Woods of Cane and Bamboo, 
-which are not eafily cut, and little Forts eredted at proper 
Diftances* that an Enemy would find a great deal of Diffi- 
culty to come at it. The King has a great Number of 
ftanding Forces, but his Elephants are what he moft de- 
pends on ; thefe are taught to trample upon Fire, and not 
to dread the Noife of Cannon. 

The City contains feverf thoufand Houfesand upwards, 
which are not contiguous, each Houfe being furroundedi 
by & Palifadoe, which ftands fome Diftance from it, ex- 
cept fome Streets where the Markets are kept, and where 
Foreigners inhabit, who % chufe to live near one another, 
to defend fhemfel ves from Thieves, Robberies being very 
comrrion here. - Moft of their Houfes are eredcd upon 
Pillars' ten Foot high, the Waters overflowing the Streets 
. " ;- ' G z ia 



ico J New H I ST OR T > 

in the Time of the Rains. The Houfes are built offpitf 
Cane or Bamboo, and floored with the fame, and every 
6ne has a Stone Vault to fecure/his Treafure and moft va- 
luable EffeAs ; their Houfes being built of fuch combufti^ 
ble Materials, that it is aim oft impoffible to put a Stop to 
a Fire, if there Happens to be any Wind. Their Mofques, 
or Mahometan Temples,* are built of Stone, and very 
numerous, but fmall Buildings. Faftors both from the 
European and Afiatick Countries refide here, but the Chi- 
ne fe are more numerous than any of the reft. 

P ED IR is fituate about thirty Miles Eaft of Acben* 
Pac'tin and Dely farther to the South-Eaft, once Capitals 
of Kingdoms, but not very considerable at prefent. Jamby 
7 is fituate on a River on the Eaft-Side of the Ifland, about 
fifty Miles from the Sea, in two Degrees South Latitude, 
*nd is the Capital of all the Dutch Settlements on this 
Coaft. Palambam^ another confiderable Town on this 
Coaft, is fituate in four Degrees South Latitude. 

Upon the Weft Coaft of Sumatra, the firft Englifh 
Settlement, coming from the South, is SiUebar^ which 
(lands at the Mouth of a River oh a fine Bay, in four 
Degrees odd Minutes South Latitude. 

BENCOOLEN, the principal EngUjb Settlement on 
this Coaft, is fituate in one hundred and one Degrees of 
j^C^jLarftern Longitude, and four Degrees South Latitude. 
f ; The Seamen know it by a high Mountain, of a piramidal 
form, about twenty Miles within the Land, called the 
> ,r Sugar-Loaf. The Town is two Miles in Circumfererffce, 
^ ^/inhabited chiefly by the Natives, who build their Houfes 
on Pillars, on kccount of the annual Floods. The En* 
■gttjb* Cbinefe^ and Portuguefe have each their feveral Quar- 
ters, and all build with Wood, as the Place is fubje£t to 
Earthquakes. This is a moft unhealthful Place, Multi- 
tudes of Engltfto have perifhed here ; Deaths arefo frequent 
and fo muchexpefted, that they eeafe to be terrible. The 
Soldiers would fit finging over a Bowl of Punch* inciting 
one another to drink upon that Confideration, that To- 
morrow, or in a very fliort Time, they muft die ; and in 
fcther Parts of India, where the Writer of thefe Sheets has 
been, he has leen People taking Leave of their Friends at 
the -Approach of Death, with, as little Concern as if they 
^ • * were 



of |&;-E~A.-S T-INDIES. ioi 

were fettingout of a Journey. An Officer, who was fent 
from Jpi/frt St. George with a Company of eighty Men tq 
Bencooletit in the Prime of their Age, allured me, at his 
Return between two or three Years after, that there was 
not one of the Men lit carried over left alive ; and thefe 
frequent Scenes of Mortality, I prefume, induced the 
jEaji- India. Company to ereft another Fort in a more health- 
ful Place, which w'as named Fort Marlbro, being built 
about the Time of that General's Succeffes in Flanders, 
|n the Reign of Queen Anne. 

• , FORT Marlbro ftands on a dry elevated Situation, 
about three Miles South-Eaft of Bencaolen, and is fo much 
more healthful, that one of their Governors aflured me. 
Chat for the Space of a Year they did not bury one Man. 

There are feveral other Port-Towns on the Weft 
Coaft of Samatra* North of Bencoolen* particularly Bantall, 
another Englijh Settlement j Indrapour and Padang, Dutch 
Settlements ; Team and Patfaman % almoft under the E- 
quino&ial, The King oi % Acbtn feems to have the Domi- 
nion of all the Towns North of the Equinoftial, particu- 
larly of Bataban, Barras and Daga. 
. The Natives are of a moderate Stature, fwarthy Com- 
plexions, feldom corpulent, and have black Hair and 
clack Eyes, flat Faces, and high Cheek Bones, and take 
a great deal of Pains to. dye their Teeth black, arid rub 
themfelves all over with Oil that fmells very ftrong, and,- 
like their. Neighbours, let fome of the Nails of their Left 
I^and grow as long as their Fingers, fcraping them till 
they are tranfparent, and dying them with Vermillion. 
About their Heads they ufually tie a Piece of blue or white 
Linen, or wear a Cap not much unlike the Crown of a 
Hat. The better Sort wear Drawers or Breeches, and a 
Piece of Calico or Silk wrapped about their Loins, ^nd 
.thrown over the Left Shoulder : They wear Sandals on their 
Feet in Towns, but ufually travel bare-foot. 

The Genius of this People is not much admired •, they 
are faid to be a proud, heavy and indolent. Generation, 
who neither endeavour to improve themfelves in Arts and 
Sciences, or in Hufbandry, letting great Part of theCoun-. 
try lie uncultivated, and their Manufactures negle&ed. 

G j Tm 



/ 




io* A New HI S "TO R V 

: ;The Prpduce of Sumatra is Pepper,* Rice, Sugar, 
Camphire, Gold-Duft, Bezoar, Canes and Cotton. The 
Soil is a deep fruitful Mould, well watered with Rivulets $ 
but near the Sea are Abundance of Bogs and Marfhts, 
which produce only Reeds and Bamboo Canes. 
: ^^Their Fruits are Cocoa Nuts, Limes, Oranges, Man- 
goes, Plantains, <juava*s, Jacks, Durions, Pine-apples, 
Mangofteens, and other tropical Fruits^, they have alfo 
Melons, Peas* Beans, Potatoes, Yams, Radilhes, Pot- 
herbs, Sallads, and Plenty of all Manner of Garden-Stuff* 
Bang alfo grows here, which is a Plant much like Hemp, 
and being mfufedin Liquor, makes People very merry, 
end often mad. Their Military Men take it often* wheft 
they are about to engage an Enemy, and throw away ttiei# 
Lives very fpolifhly, when they haVe intoxicated themfelves 
with it, Opium has fometimes the like Effe&s on them. * 
Gold is very plentiful in this Ifland ; but it is brought 
down from the hilly inland Country ; there is none found 
near<he Sea Coatts. The Natives of the mountainous 
Fiart of the Country bring it down in Duft, and fometimes 
little Pieces like the Seeds of an Orange, weighing ixotk 
half a Grain to two or three Penny-weights; and Mr. 
fcbekyer relates, he once faw an entire Lump of an Ountfe 
Weight; and it is fometimes found in the.hardeft Stones : 
He had feen a Stone of a Pound and a half Weight, which 
fee'med to have been beaten off another Stone, to which 
it grew, and that there were Crannies in it, coloured and 
veined like white Marble: That it was very weighty, 
^nd there were feveral Branches of Gold (hooting out of 
the Chinks and "craggy Parts of it; the Rock Gold of A- 
tytn, knowh by its Brightnefs, is very fine. 
. As to Gold Mines there are none wrought in this Ifland, 
and I queftion if there are fuch Mines any where elfe. 
Gold feems to lie near the Surface, fince nine Parts in ten 
of what, we have is walhed down from the Hills, and found 
in the Beds of Rivulets in the dry Seafqp, when the Water 
is gone. That there are fome Stones which contain Gold 
is not to be denied, but it is found in Pieces of Rock^ 
that lie on or near the Surface; and there are Gold Veins 
in the Lapis Lazuli,* but this Stone is fo fcarce, that it is 
as dear, if hot dearer than Gold ; and therefore it would 

rfot be worth while to break the Stow for the fm&H Quan- 
tity 



ofkhe E A S T-I N t> I E S. 103 

tity of Gold it contains : But wherever their Gold is found, 
it is in Pofleflion of the Mountaineers, who live towards 
the North -, for if there had been any Gold in the South, 
the Dutch, who poffefs that Part of the Country, would 
have monopolized that precious Mineral long before now. 
The Mountaineers who bring it down to Acben to feH 
don't make that Advantage of it they might. They ex- 
change it for Rice, Cloathing, Tobacco, and other Pro- 
vifion* at a very moderate Price ; but the Natives of A* 
then and the Malays* who undcrftand the Value of it, afk 
an extravagant Price for what they difpofe of to Foreign- 
ers \ and that other Nations may be ckterred from pene- 
trating further into the Country, and trafficking with the 
Mountaineers direftly, they are reprefented as Savages and 
Cambals, Monftefs of the human Species; and poffibly 
the Natives of Achen reprefent Foreigners to thofe poor 
People in a Light no lefs fhocking than they are defcribed 
to us, that the Acheneers themfelves may enjoy the fote 
Profit of this hch Trade. 

The Pepper Plant is of as great Advantage to this 
Jfland as rheir Gold : No Country has it in fo great Plen- 
ty. Thefe Plantations lie on the Weft Side of the Moun-^ 
tains* but fcarce any of them within twenty Miles of the 
Englifh Settlements ; the Pepper is brought down in Boats 
to their Fa&ories. The Time of gathering the Pepper 
•upon (he Weft Coaft is about Michaelmas , and they have 
another fmair Crop in March. In a dry Seafon they are 
forced to water the Pepper Grounds perpetually. 
: Tj*ey have a fmall Breed of Horfes in Sumatra, Buffa- 
loes, Deer, Goats, Hogs, Tygers, Monkies, Squirrels, 
Guanoes, Porcupines, Alligators, Serpents, Scorpions^ - 
Mufketoes and other Infedts. Here are alfo Hens, Ducks; 
and other Poultry -, Pigeons, Doves, Parrots, Parakeets; 
Maccaws and fmall Birds •, Sea and River Filh alfo are 
very plentiful, and Turtle or Sea-Tortoifir. They have 
Elephants, but I think they are not Natives. 

As to Food, Rice is much the greateft Part in all their 
$4eais> ftrong Soup, made of Flefti or Fifh, and a very 
little Meat- high feafoned, ferves to eat with their Rice. 
As to the Mahometans that inhabit the Coaft, they ab«; 
fltain from Swiae'a Flefti* and from ftrong .Liquors, at id 
>•%• # G 4 all 



■^V fw 



104 ^ iNfew HISTORY 

all Countries of the fame Faith. As to the Mountaineers, 
,they will. eat any Kind of Flefh, but Beef, the Bull being 
one of the Objedts of their Worfhip, and * if we could give 
any Credit to their Neighbours, the People of Acben % they 
eat human Flefh ; but the World is pretty well fatisfied 
by this Time that there are no Nations of Canibals. 
* Learning is not to be expedted here. The common 
Language is the Malayan Tongue, and the Alcbran and 
religious Books of the Mahometans are written in Jrabick^ 
which is now a dead Language. 

They have the Ufe of Letters here, as they have in 
almoft every other Eaftern Nation except China \ thofe 
Gentlemen were fo felf-fufficient, fo much above being 
taught by People they look upon as their Interiors, that 
they have now the leaft Pretence to Learning of any Na* 
tion on the Face of the Earth. 

The Mahometans of Sumatra fpeak and write the Ma* 
\ay an Language. The Pagan Mountaineers have a Lan- 
guage peculiar to themfelves. As the Malayans write 
from the Right Hand to the Left, the Mountaineers 
write as we do, from the Left to the Right \ and inftead 
of Pen, Ink and Paper, they .write, or rather engrave, 
with a Stile on the Outfide of a Bamboo Cane ; the Malays* 
jndeed, ufe Ink and a coarfe brown Paper. Both Nations 
are poor Accomptants, and are forced to make ufe of the 
Banians tfiat refide amongft them as their Clerks, when 
they have any confiderable Accounts to make up, the 
Banians being fome of the (harpeft Traders in the World/ 
- The 1*. Mechanicks and Artificers are very indifferent 
Workmen, except it be their Carpenters, who make their . 
wift-failing Friws, and their Cane Houfcs, . which they 

ild very dextroufly : The Goldfmiths and Blackfmiths 
are bad Workmen as well as their Bricklayers. The GW* 
ne/e who are fettled here are good Mechanicks. Ten or 
twelve Sail of Cbincfe Junks arrive here every Year in 
June^ bringing with them Rice and other Produce of their 
Country, and in this Fleet come over all Manner of 
Artificers, who go to work as foon as they arrive, mak- 
ing Tables, Cabinets, Chefts of Drawers, and all Manner 
pf Houfhould Furniture, Utenfils and Toys, and thefc 
tyzy expofe to Sale w a Street next the Sea, which is called 

the 



of the EAST-IND IE S. io$ 

the GIrineft C&mp ; for three or four Months this Street is 
jcrouded like a Fair, and if they can meet with good 
Chapmen* they will .fell their very Ships, referving only 
as many as will carry them Home. The Fair being over* 
jthe Cbintfc begin to game ; if they are not at work, you 
will always find them with Cards or Di<$ in their Hands, 
The Europeans refort to their Camp to drink Hockfhew, 
with which they t are frequently very merry. It is a Sort 
of ftrong Beer, made of Wheat, and preferred by our 
People to any Liquor the Country affords. % 

As to the foreign Traffick of this Country, I have al- 
ready obierved, that the Europeans bring from thence 
chiefly Gold-Duft, Pepper, ana Oancs j that they' meet 
, with more Pepper here than in any Country in the World. 

The Pepper brought to the Englijh Fa&ory zlBencoo- 
kn grows in the Territories of two Rajas* or Indian Prin- 
ces, one of them called hangar an MmcoRaja* whofe 
[Capital h at Singledemmd* flume on a large Bay, ten 
Miles North of Bencoolen. The other of them has the 
Title of Pangaran Songt > Etatn, or Lord of tht Black River* 
whofe* Capital is called Bufar* fituate ten Miles Eaft of 
Bencoolen ; both thefe have Hdufes at Bencoolen* in that 
Quarter called the Malay Town, and refide there whea 
they have any Affairs to tranfadfc with the Englijh* who 
pay thefe Princes two Sooca's, or half a Dollar Cuftom 
for every Bahar, containing five hundred and fixty Pound 
Weight of Pepper. And the Pangarans* in .Confidera- 
tion thereof,- promife to promote the Planting of Pepper 
among their Tenants and Subjects, and bring their Fruit 
to the Englijh Fa&ories ; and as foon as the Pepper is 
weighed and delivered by the Owners, the Faftors imme- 
diately pay for it, after the Rate of ten Molocos or Spanijh 
Dollars for every Bahar, 

The Coins of the Country are firft Cadi, or Pieces of 
Lead, one thoufand five hundred of which make one 
Mas, valued at fifteen Pence, which is a gold Coin. A 
Pollum or Copang Is a Quarter of a Mas, fixteen Mas is 
one Tael, which is an imaginary Coin, and equivalent 
to twenty Shillings Sterling * Dollars and other Sfanijb 
Coins alfo are current here. 

As 



ie6 :: 3t New HI SfOR.Y* 

•- ^As to tlfflr Weights, five Tacl make a Buncal, twtfe- 
ty. Buncal o*e Catty, and one hundred Catty one Pecut, 
one Pecul being one hundred and thirty-two Pounds 
EngUjh % thrcfc Peculs are a Cbma Bahar of three hundred 
and ninety-ftx Pwn&Ckim Weight ; and ol Malay Wcighr, 
at Achen four hundred and twenty-two Pound fifteen Oun- 
ces, and at fattcookn and the reft of the Weft Coaft a Ba- 
har is five hundred Pound great Weight, or fire hundred 
#p$i fixty Pwod Eftgfyb. 

Th y make, their Payments oftcner in Pieces of Gold at 
Jkbpt than, in Coin ; and therefore the Rase you intend to 
receive and pay Gold* at, and the Catty you buy andfeH 
by myft be expreflfed in the Contract . It would be very 
tedious receiving one ^ thou &nd Pound in Gold Mas ; for 
Brafs, mixed Metals, and Silver gilt are frequently mixed 
.with them : Nor can the Money-changers, who are em- 
ployed to examine them, avoid being deceived fbmetiroes * 
but if they do receive any th^t are bad, they ane obliged 
to make them good to the Perfcn that employs them.. 

I have already obferved, that there are ieveral States 
and Principalities in this Ifland, differently constituted, of 
which that of Achen is. the chief, comprehending the 
^North P*rt of the Ifland. 

, This Kingdom, fome Writers affure us, has been xy 
ver governed by Queens, others affirm, that there ne- 
ver was a Queen Regent here ; I believe we may take the 
middle Way, and allow that it has been fubjeft both to 
JCings and Queens : Certain it is, a King was upon< the 
Throne When we firft yifited this Ifland, becaufe we have 
his Letter which he wrote to Queen Elizabeth, and Kings 
have of late Years filled that Throne : There i& another 
Difference among Writers in relation to the Constitution, 
forae relating it is an abfolute, and others a limited Mo 
parchy : It is generally agreed, that there are feverai O- 
rancayas or - great Lords in this Part of the Ifland, that 
exercise fovereign /Authority in their refpe&ive Territories, 
as the German Princes do *, but thefe acknowledge the 
King of Achen their Superior, and accept of the great Of* 
fices ip his Court ; and as he fometimes displaces and dc* 
pofes thefe, fo there are Inftaoces of their depofing one 
King and advancing another to the Throne* There have 

been 



» . *. 



of the B A ST.INDFE S. 107 

.been great Struggles between the King of 4c ben and thefe 
Princes for fovercign Power; and if the King has been 
abfolutein fome Reigns, he has had a very limited Au- 
thority in others. A6 to a third Difpuce, whether the 
Throne be hereditary or elective, it feeras the King takes 
the Liberty to difpofe of it to which, of bis Children he 
pieafes, whether he be born of a Wife or a Concubine * 
and if the Prince does not difpofe of it in litis Life-Time* 
there are fometimes feveral Competitors for the Crown; 
and that Prince who is mod favoured by the Qrmcayas^ or 
Vaffal Princes* ufually carries bis Point ; and from thence 
the Crown is faid to have been cle&ive. Mr. Lockyet\ 
#e Indian Supercargo, who was at Acbtn about forty Years 
ago, relates that one of the Qrancayas being charged with 
fodomitical Pra&ices, and fummoped to appear at Achen 
toanfacrthe Charge, upon bis refufing to appear, the 
Sabander, or Governor of that City* fent a Detachment 
of the Guards to cut him in Pieces, which was executed 
before the Houfc of an Englifh Merchant, in the Streets of 
4cbiu ; from whence he concludes, that; the Orancayas 
are vefted with an uncontroulable Power ; but this Inftance 
ft ems to me to infer the dined contrary 4 for Achen being 
the Seat of the Government, this Sabander was probaftdv 
die King 1 * Vice-Roy, and a£bed in this Cafe by his Aifc 
thority, Specially as it does appear that one Omncaya ii£f 
not any Authority tacenfure or punifh another. ; »° 

As to the South Part of the lfland, this is divided iotdr 
Abundance of fmall Territories, each of them governed 
by their refp«5live Pangarans or Rajas, with the Advice 
of the chief' Men of the State, called Pr*a}tm\ and.everjfl 
Town has a Governor appointed by the Pangaran % tuc.(di^ 
fen by the Inhabitants, and confirmed by the Fangarmy 
there are alfo fome Towns upon the Coaft veiled withJfo- 
*ereign Power, and governed by their own Magiftrates,: 
called Dato%' of which BenaolenhzA twelve, and. Silkbar 
four, which do not Teem 'to be fubjed: to any of the Pan- 
gar ans ox Rajas. 

The Inhabitants of the Mountains are governed by the 
Chiefs of their refpeftive Tribes, who are under a Necefc; 
fity of maintaining a good Correfpondcnoe among them-' 
felves, in Order to defend their Country, againft their 

powerful 



*o8 r jf.MHrSTORTV 

powerful Neighbours i for as they are ppfiefted of all thd 
Gold the Ifland produces, there is no doubt but the Maho- 
metan Princes that lie round them, would make an Effort 
to fubdue . thole golden Mountains, if their Princes were 
at Variance : Or if they did not, the Dutch would find a 
Way to their Gold, if they fhould find their Chiefs divid- 
ed ; for the Dutch . are poffcflbd of feveral ftrong Place* 
and Countries in the Ifland, which would be fupported in 
fuch an Enterprife by Fleets and Forces' from Batavia 
and. Malacca^ that lie but a very little Diftance from them. 
The Dutch have fubdued innumerable Kingdoms and 
JQands in the Eafh It U amazing that fo iaconfiderablo 
* People have been able to grafp and keep fo much. They 
don't want Avarice to put them upon fubduing this Coun«< 
try as well as the reft; but they have acquired, more al- 
ready than they, will be able to keep long,* now fo many 
European Powers are entered upon the Indian Trade * 
Ihould they attempt more, it would infallibly haften theii% 
Ruin ; though we have been fo very paflive and indoleno 
to let the ungrateful Hollanders enjoy our Spices fo many. 
Years, which they robbed us of, they will foon find other* 
Nations putting in for a Share of them, which wULJbe a 
general Benefit to this Part of the World* for* if thm 
Trade was laid open, we ihould purchafe the fine Spices 
at a much more reafonable Rate than we do, from h 
People who deftroy the Gifts of Heaven, left, other Na« 
tions fhould enjoy, a Share of them, and would deftrqy 
all the Earth produces to enrich themlelves. \ 

The Mahometans of Sumatra, have no written Law 
but the Alcoran, and their Comments by their Priefts, . 
<who are alio the only Judges and Interpreters of thofe 
JLaws. They are governed in their Dccifions very much 
by Cuftom and ancient Precedents, as we are here. Death 
13 the Punifhment of Murder and Adultery, and every 
Man is an Executioner », the Criminal is ftabbed by every 
one of the Aflimbly that can get near him^ with their 
Crices or Daggers. Women are ftrangled with the Bow- m 
String for capital Crimes ; for Theft the Offender 
has fome Joints of his Fingers and Toes cut off, and 
fometimes a Limb, according to the Heinoufnefs of the * 
Grime*, and for .the third Offence he is put to Death by 

Behead" 



5fW:&:AST.INDrES. Yep 

iBc^ading, Impaling, or the like. Some of the Kings 
of Acben are laid to have infli&ed the crueleft Tortures oil 
their greateft Subjedts on mere Sufpicion. The French 
Admiral Beaulitu relates, that while he refided at Achen, the 
King fent for him to be Witnefs of an Execution of fome 
pf his own Women. *They were tortured in the King's 
Prefence for three Hours, which the Admiral could not 
f void being an Eye -Witnefs of, and the King's Rage en- 
creafing with the Torture, he at length ordered their 
Hands and Legs to be cut off, and their Bodies to be 
thrown into the River; and this Barbarity was pretended 
to be exerciied on a fuppofed Confpiracy againft the King'* 
Life, of: which he had no other Proof but this ; one of 
thefe Women, who lay in a Room adjoining to his Ma* 
jefty's, (hrieked out, and the King enquiring the Reafon, 
they all agreed to tell him it was occafioned by a Miftakc ; 
but being threatened to be put to the Torture, if they 
concealed the true Reafon, the Woman that Ihrieked Out 
faid fomebody pufhed a Dagger through the Reeds or 
Partition of the Room, and wounded her in the Thigh, 
which occafionedher crying out, and alarming the reft. 
The other Women did not agree with this, or with one 
another irf their Anfwers ; fome faid they heard a Noife, 
and others faid they heard nothing ; however the Dagger 
was found, and no Body could difcover whofe it was ; and 
the King being able to get no fatisfa&ory Account of the 
Matter, fufpe&ed there was a Defign carrying on againft; 
his Life by his Mother, imagining (he had alarmed the 
Women, and upon their crying out Ihe fuppofed his 
Majefty would have come out to their Affiftance, and 
given the Affaflins ftie employed an Opportunity of mur-* ',. 
deringhimj and in order to make a further Difcovery, 
commanded five of the Women to be tortured by the 
Rack ; but their Conftancy was not to be moved, though 
the King made them repeated Offers of Pardon, if they 
would confefs. One old Woman fwooning from Time to 
Time, the King was fo merciful as to order her to be put 
to Death for which (he thanked him, and wifhed him a 
Jong and happy Reign. Some of the reft, after their Legs 
and Arms were cut off, declared, that they had Ions 

-r wiflied 



«6 T A New' HISTORY 

ixriflied for this happy Hour, which delivered them from 
the Drudgeries of the Palace. 

•The King demanding of Mr. Beauluu what he thought 
fcfthis Execution, the Admiral was fo terrified with the 
Cruelty of the Aftion, that he feemed to approve it by 
anfwering, That without the Execution ofjufticeno Govern* 
merit could fubjift. 

Th £ King has no other (landing Forces than his Guards, 
but depends on his Militia, which are as numerous as the 
People in his Kingdom, able to bear Arms, who are' all 
obliged to appear under Arms whenever they are futft- 
mohed. As to fortified Towns and Caftles, there art 
fcarce any but what are natural ; and the Country feems 
to be fo inacceffible, that the Natives boaft it has never 
been conquered by any foreign Power; but this muft be a 
Miftake, for the prefent Generation, who are Mafters of 
the North Part of the Hland and the Sea-Coaft, are not 
the original Inhabitants, but came from Egypt and Arabia^ 
arid having driven the Pagans up into the Mountains* 
fucceeded thenV on the Sea-Coafts. 

Ths Mahometan Religion is profefied at Achen % arid 
upon all the Coaft of Sumatra \ but they are not fuch 
bigotted Zealots as they are in fome other Mahometan 
Countries. Their Temples or Mofqyes are but meanly 
built, fome ot them no better than Cottages. The chief 
Prieft rcfides at Achen, and has a great Influence on Affairs 
of State. Their Marriage Contra&s are made before fome 
Prieft, and they are Judges in Cafes of Divorce, as well 
as in all civil Caufes. The Prieft alfo affifts at the Cele- 
bration of their Funeral Rites, as in other Mahometan 
States. ' 

This, as well as the reft of the Indian Iflands, was, no 
doubt, firft peopled from the neighbouring Comment. 
The Phoenicians ^Egyptians ', and Arabians afterwards traffick- 
ed with them •, *nxf we find Solomon defiling Hiiram^ King 
of Tyre, to fend him Ikilful Mariners' to pilot his Fleet 
into theft Seas; artd the Ophir mentioned in Scripture, is 
fijppofed to be this very Ifland, from whence he fetched 
Kis Gpld. The Arabians and other Nations bordering on 
the { Red*Sea, afterwards planted Colonies here; and be- 
came fo potent, that they drove the former Inhabitants 

up 



«f f& 'fi AS'T-fNIVlfi & in 

iip into the Mountains, and pofiefled the Coaft. The 
Portuguefe found the Defendants of thofe Nations fixed on ■ 
the Shores of the Indian Continent as well as the Iflands 
when they arrived there. 

The Portuguefe enjoyed the fole Traffick with this and 
the adjacent Iflands for near one hundred Years, viz. from 
the Year 1500 almoft to the Year of our Lord 1600, when 
cither Nations followed then* round the Cape of Good Hope % 
and put in for a Share of the Indian Trade. 

The Englijh Eaff- India Cotnpzny having obtained a Char- 
ter, impowering them to trade to India, in the Year 1600, 
fent Captain Lancajier, (tiled the General, Captain Middle- 
ton y and two Ships more, to traffick with the Natives of 
this Ifland, who arrived ztAcbenon the 5th of June, 1602, 
bringing with him a Letter from Queen Elizabeth to the 
King <A Achen, Captain Middleton being deputed by the 
General to give the King Notice of his Arrival with the 
Queen's Letter, his Majefty invited the General to come 
on Shore, which he did, and the King ordered one of 
his Minifters, with fix Elephants, and a large Retinue, . 
to attend his Excellence, and bring him to Court. The 
largeft Elephant being fourteen Foot high, had a large 
Room upon his Back, fomething rcfembling the Body of . 
a Coach, covered with Crimfon Velvet, in the Middle 
thereof was a Gold Bafon, in which the Queen's Letter 
was laid, *nd covered with a Piece of rich Silk. The 
General being mounted on another Elephant, and his 
Retinue upon the reft, moved forward to the Palace Gate, 
where they were defired to wait till the King was acquaint* 
ed with their Arrival •, foon after which they difmounted, 
and were admitted to an Audience, wherein the General /" 
declarted that he was come from the Mod Mighty Queen 
of England to propofe an Alliance with his Majefty, and 
being about to continue his Speech, the King defired him 
to fit down ^nd reft himfelf after his tedious Voyage, told 
liim he was welcome to his Country, and he might depend 
on his 1 granting whatever he could reafonably demand in 
"behalf ot that noble Princefs from whom he came, whofe 

Eame had already reached to India. Then the Queen's 
etter was prefented to his Majefty, and the Prefent was 
fet befyre the Throne* being a filver Bafon with a Foun* 

win 



* . * 



uz r'4:Nfr HISTORY 

tain in the Middle of it* weighing .two hundred Ounce**- 
a filver Cup, a fine Looking- Glafs, a Head-piece with a 
Flume of Fea;htrs, a Sword with an embroidered Belt and; 
Scabbard, a fine Pair of Piftpls, and a Fan ; the laft feem-. 
ed moil acceptable, for he immediately ordered one of his 
Women to fan him with it. 

The AmbafTador and the Gentlemen who attended ^ him 
being afterwards defired to fit down on the Carpets, after 
the Manner of the Eaft, a grand Dinner was introduced in 
Difhrs of Gold or Tamback, being a Mixture of Gold and 
Brafs, the King being feated on a Floor raifed about fix 
foot above the Hall, in a Kind of Gallery * he frequently, 
drank to the General a Glafs of Arrack, and having pledg- 
ed his Majefty once, he was left at Liberty to drink what 
Liquor he chofe afterwards. The King's Women and the* 
Mufick being called, the Ladies danced, and the General 
being prefented with a Veftof the Country Fafhion, put it 
on immediately, and the Company retired. 

The Queen, in her Letter* to the King of Achen^ ob- 
serves, that God had given different Fruits to different 
Countries, to promote an Intercourfe between the feveral 
Inhabitants ot the Earth, and the Fame of his Majefty *s 
Humanity and Goodnefs to foreign Merchants had induced 
her to licence thefe her Subjects to vifit his Kingdom f not- 
-withftanding the Dangers that muft attend fo long a 
Voyage J and to offer to begin a Trade with his Subjeds f 
which, if his Majefty approved of, he fhould v have no 
Caufe to repent •, he might depend on their Truth and 
fair Dealing, and they fhould carry over fuch Goods a&. 
were moft wanted in that Part of the World, and be better 
ferved than he had been by the Portuguefe and Spaniards t 
her Enemies, who endeavoured to exclude all other Na- 
tions from this Traffick, pretending to have obtained the 
Sovereignty of thefe Kingdoms by Conqueft, Whereas 
her Majefty was well apprifed that the King had not only £ 
defended his Country againft them, but carried the War 
into Malacca ) where he had been viftorious over thofc 
Powers: And if the King pleated to take into his Protec- 
tion- thefe Subjects of hers, they fhould eftablifh an.ifo- 
gli[h Factory in his Kingdom : That the General fhould 
iettle Articles of Trade with hi$ Majefty in her Name, 

which 



of the E A S T-I N D I E S. U% 

^hich {he engaged on her Part fhould be performed, and 
defired he would Jet herMajefty know how he approved of 
this Commerce, in a Letter by the Bearer. 

The King thereupon ordered his Minifters to conclude 
Treaties of Alliance and Commerce, with the General, 
the principal whereof were, that thfe Englijh fhould enjoy 
a free Trade, and pay no Cuftoms, either upori Importa- 
tions or Exportations ; and that all Bargains fhould be 
punftually performed by his Subjefts •, that he would take 
the Faftors into his Prote&ion, and they fhould enjoy the 
Freedom of their Religion. 

The Portuguefe at Acben doing all that lay in their 
Power to hinder the Traffick of the Engiljh ; the General, 
to make himfelf fome Satisfaction for the Mifchief they 
intended him, cruized off the Port of Malacca, where he 
took a Ship of nine hundred Ton, going from the Coaflr 
of Coromandel to Malacca, with fix hundred People on 
board, and found in her nine hundred and fifty Bales of 
Chints and Calicoes, plain and painted, and Abundance of 
other rich Merchandize (fufficient to frieght his Ships J 
Part of which he made a Prefent of to the King of Acben ; 
and having taken in fome Pepper and fettled the Fadtory, 
the General failed to Bantam, carrying with him a Letter 
from the King, in Anfwer to the Queen's. 

This Letter the King begins with glorifying God for 
his Works, who is not, he obferved, to be uttered by 
Words, or conceived by Imagination, that no Bounds can 
contain him, or any Similitude exprefs him. 

He declares himfelf highly pleafed with the Offer of 
Traffick between the two Nations, and tells the Queen fhe 
may fafely fend her Subje&s to trade in his Ports : That 
the Spaniards are his as well as her Enemies, and that he 
will fall upon them wherever he meets them : That he 
had formed her Fadtors into a Society, granted them 
Privileges, and inftrudted them in the beft Methods of 
Trade, and to teftify his Affe&ion for her Majefty, had 
lent her a Ring adorned with a Ruby, and two Habits or 
Vefts of Gold Stuff enclofed in a red China Box. 

Thb King alfo made the General a Prefent of a Ring at 
parting, but before he went on board, the King defired 
his People would fing him fome of David's Pfalms, which 
a Dozen of the Company performed to his Satisfaction. 

H Thb 



ii 4 A Ne» HI STORY 

The General fet Sail foon after for Bantam, where her 
cqmpleated his Cargo of Pepper, and then returned to 
England ; where he arrived, after a very ftormy Paffage, 
on the nth of December, 1603. 

The Englijh having erefted feveral Forts in Sumatra, 
efpecially to the South of the Equino&ial, continued to 
traffick with the People of that Ifland, without any Inter- 
ruption, all the feventeehth Century ; but in the Begin- 
ning of this* fome imprudent Chiefs being fent thither, 
gave the Natives feveral needlefs Provocations, which 
occafioned great Part of the Ifland to enter into a Confe- 
deracy, to extripate the Englijh. Dampier relates, that an 
Engltfh Governor of Bencoolen, when he was there, put in 
the Stocks tvfoRoja's, or fovercign Princes in that Neigh- 
bourhood, becaule their People did not bring down Pep- 
per to the Fort fo faft as he expedted* and in the Year 
1 719 there was a general Infurrt&ion. of the Natives to 
drive the Englijh from their Coaft, which was begun by 
fetting the Company's Sugar Plantations on Fire on the 
25 th of Marc by 1720, when the Bugajfes or Macaffar 
Soldiers in the Company's Service deferted the Englijh, 
and moft of them went over to the Enemy, and there be- 
ing but one hundred and twenty-five Englijh in the Fort, 
moft of them unexperienced or di fabled Men, it was 
thought moft for the Company's Service, to put their 
Treafure on board the Ship Mecllapatan, that then lay in 
the Road, which was done on tjie 27th of March, 1720 ; 

1 and the Town of Benccolcn being fet on Fire by their own 

Bugajfes j with moft of the Houies in the adjacenttDountry, 
together with the Fort itfelf, moft of the Englijh with their 

^ Slaves went on board the Ship Mechlapatan -, all that were 

fo unfurtunate as to be left behind being cut to Pieces by 

theJEnemy. 

From Bcncookn they fet Sail for Batavia, where they 
arrived the 16th of April, and the Enemy in the mean 
Time took PoiTeffion of the Company's Fort at Bencoolen ; 
however, within the Compafs of a Year the Natives 
invited the Englijh to return to their Plantation "on the. 
Weft Coaft again, fuffering them to compleat the Forti- 
fications they had begun at Fort Marlbro •, for though there 
had been fome Governors fent to Bencoolen that behaved 
very imprudently, and often infulted the Natives, this 

they 



of the E AST-IN DIE S. ti$ 

thfey thought a much lefs Grievance than a Dutch Govern- 
ment, which they began to be apprchenfive of on the 
Expulfion of the Englijh. They expected the Dutch 
would have laid hold of this* Opportunity of ieizing the 
Englijh Settlements, and enflave them as they had done 
other Indian Nations. Laying afide therefore their Refent- 
menj againft the Englijh, they thought their wifeft Way ta 
give them all Manner of Encouragement to come and fettle 
among them again, if it were but to keep cut the Dutch. 

The Englijh Eqft-India Company were fo difcouraged 
by the Lofles they had fuftained at Btncoolen, and an Ap- 
prehenfion that the Natives would remain perpetual Ene-^ 
mies, and confequently it would be no Advantage to keep 
up their Forts and Settlements in that Country, that, 'tis 
faid, they left it to the Option offomeof the Comman- 
ders, they fent to India, to abandon or reinforce their 
Settlements on the Weft Coaft of Sumatra, as they judged 
proper ; but fure, when thefe Orders are given, they did 
not refleft, that the giving up thefe Settlements muft be 
the Lofs of the Pepper Trade in a great Meafure, which 
would immediately be monopolized by the Dutch, as the 
fine Spices had been. The Englijh muft in that Cafe buy 
their Pepper at fuch a Price as the Hollanders are pleafed 
to fet upon it ; for the Pepper Trade of Borneo is io pre- 
carious, that the Company fend but few Ships thither ; 
and the. little Fa&ories on the Coaft of Malabar cannot 
fupply fo much Pdpper as this Nation wants. 
. JAVA, one of the Sunda Iflands, is fituate in the In- 
dian Ocean, between one hundred and two and one hun- 
dred and thirteen Degrees of Eaftern Longitude, and be- 
tween five and eight Degrees of South Latitude, being 
feven hundred Miles long and upwards of one hundred 
broad, having the Ifland of Borneo on the North, the . 
Straits of Bally on the Eaft, the Ocean on the South, and 
the Straits of Sunda on the North-Weft- 
* The Air of Java, near the Sea, is generally unhealth- 
,fttl> unlefs where the Bogs have been drained, and the 
Lands cultivated, there it is much better, and in the Mid- 
die rnuch ipore fo. The worft Weather upon, the North 
Cpaft of Java is during the wefterly Monfon, which be- 
gins the firft Week in November, when they have fome 

H2 Rain. 



\ 
\ 



"n6 A New H I iS T O R V 

Rain. In December the Rains increafc, and it blows frcfli, 
and in January it blows (till harder, and the Rains conti- 
nue very heavy till the Middle of February* when both 
the Wind and Rains become more moderate and decreafe, 
till the End of March* Their fair Seafon commences in 
April* the Winds are then variable, and it is fome- 
times calm, only at the Change of the Moon there are 
ftidden Gufts of Wind from the Weft. In the Begin- 
ning of May the Eaftern Monfon becomes conftant, 
*nd in June and July there is a little Rain *, but in 
this Monfon they have generally clear, wholefome 
Weather, until the End of September. In October the 
eafterly Wind blows faintly, and in November the wefterly 
Monfon fets in again : When the wefterly Wind and Cur- 
rents are ftrongeft here, namely, in December, January 
and February, there is no failing againft them. The 
cafterly Winds and Currents are more moderate ; Ships' 
may fail againft this Monfon, and a Ship may come from 
the Weftward through the Straits of Sunda to Batavia al- 
moft at any Time. There is good Anchorage on the 
Java, Side, in twenty or thirty Fathom Water : Near the 
Coaft of Java and Borneo, from April to November, they 
have Land and Sea Breezes from different Points \ the 
Wind blows from the Land between One and Four in the 
Morning, and continues till Noon ; at One or Two in the 
Afternoon it blows frefh from the Sea for five or fix Hours. 
A Chain of Mountains runs through the Middle of the 
Ifland from Eaft to Weft, which are covered with fine 
Woods. The low Lands are flooded in the Time of the 
Rains. Along the North Coaft of Java are fine Groves of 
Cocoa-Nut Trees, and wherever we fee one of thefe 
Groves, we do not fail to meet with aVillageof the Natives. 
The Ifland was anciently divided into Abundance of 
petty Kingdoms and States, and when Admiral Drake 
vifited this Ifland in his Voyage round the Globe, in the 
Year 1579? he relates, there were five Kingdoms in it. We 
may now divide it into two Parts, 1. The North Coaft* 
which is under the Dominion of the Dutch \ and, 2. The 
South Coaft, fubjeft to the Kings of Palambang and Mate- 
ran. Bantam was, till lately, the moft confiderable King* 
dom in Java, but this King is now a Vaffal to the Dutch. 

j&jyrjM, 



■« 



of the EAST-INDIES- 117 

BANTAM* heretofore the chief Town, is fituate in 
a fine Plain, at the Foot of a Mountain, from whence run 
three Rivers, two of which furround the Town, and the 
other paffes through the Middle of it ; and when this City 
was in its Profperity, is was twelve Miles in Compafs* 
and exceeding populous,, being one of the chief Ports ia 
the Indian Seas, to which the European as well as Aftatick 
Merchants referred ; but the Dutch have removed the 
Trade to Batavia % and moft of the Inhabitants have de- 
ferted it ; the Englijb Fa&ory was expelled by the Dutch 
in the Reign of King James II. fince when neither the 
Englifh, nor any other European Nation, have been fuffered 
to trade thither. 

" BAT AVI A y or Jacatra* is fituate in a level Country, 
on a fine Bay of the Sea, forty Miles Eaft of Bantam^ 
feveral Iflands lying before the Bay, cover it from the 
Winds and Waves, fo that one thoufand Sail may ride 
here fecurely -, two large Moles run out half a Mile into the 
Sea, and Veffels may lie clofc to the Keys. In one of thefe 
Iflands, before the Harbour, the Dutch are perpetually 
building or careening of Ships, from whence it has obtain- 
ed the Name of Qn-rqft y or No-rejl. 

The Form of the Town is almofi: fquare, built with 
white Stone, and laid out in fpacious Streets, Canals lined 
with Stone, and planted with Evergreens, running thro* 
the principal Streets; the River which pafies through the 
Middle or the Town fupplying them with Water; and it 
is defended by a Fort which commands the Harbour, and 
the Town is furrounded by a Wall and twenty-two BafU- 
ons. What adds to the Beauty of the Place is their Bridges, 
near fixty of which built with Scone are laid over the 
Canals. Within the port (lands the General's Houfe, and 
the Apartments of the principal Officers. In the Middle 
of the City is a fine Square, on one. Side of which is the 
great Church, and on another the Stadthoufe. The Suburbs 
reach a Mile and halt beyond the City, in which are large 
Gardens and Orchards. Here the Chinefe live, or rather 
did live, and had their Temples and Tombs refembling 
thofe in their Mother-Country, and the free Exercife of 
their Religion, which is denied to the Lutheran Proteftants. 
(iere alfo refide the Javanefe* Malays^ Bandanefe, and a 

H 3 Multitude 



' 



iiB A New H I ST O R Y - 

Multitude of other People, which the Dutch have brought 
hither from Countries they have enflaved. There arc 
iittle Forts erefted on every Side, fix or feven Miles from 
the Town, to defend the Avenues, and for the Security 
ci their Country Seats and Gardens, 

Most of the great Towns in this Ifland, efpecially thofe 
that are under the Dominion of the Dutch* are fituate on 
the North Coaft; thofe Eaft of Batavia are Cbdrabon* 
Samarang* Japan* Roombong, Tub ait* Sidaya* Jortan and 
Surabaya* and at the Eaft End of the Ifland are the Towns 
of Pajfarvan and Panarucan* and on the South Coaft 
Palambang and Materan. 

The native Javanefe wear a Kind of Skull-Cap, but 
their Bodies are naked to the Middle, wrapping a^Piece of 
Silk or Calico about their Loins, which reaches below the 
Middle of their Legs, which are bare. The Women cover 
: their Bodies with a Piece of Silk or Calico, and have ano- 
ther Piece wrapped about their Loins, and drefs in their 
Jiair. The Men are employed in Husbandry and Fifh- 
ing, or in building Country Boats. 

There is a. mixed Breed, called Topajfes or Mardikers* 
confiding of feveral Nations, incorporated with the Dutch* 
and have greater Privileges than the reft. Many of thefe 
are Merchants, and differ but little in their Habits, ox 
Way of Life from the Dutch* only the Men wear large 
Jireeches or Trowferjs, which reach down to their Ancles. 
The Women tie up their Hair in a Roll on their Heads, 
wear a Waiftcoat, and a Piece of Silk or Calico wrapped 
about their Loins. Thefe live bpth in theCity and Suburbs. 

The Macajfars* whofe Anceftors poffeffed the Ifland of 
Celebes* and were enflaved by the Dutch* though they went 
glmoft naked 4n theirMdther-Country, wear Cloathing here,. 

Several of the Timoreans* Inhabitants of an Ifland Eaft. 
of Ci>inp* having been brought* hither by the Dutch* now 
conftitute Part of the People of Batavia, The Habits of 
thefe and of the Macajfars I have not met with any Account 
of * but as many of them profefs Chriftianity, and are con- 
formable to the Dutch in their Religion and Cuftoms, it is 
%o be prefumed they cloath themfel ves as the Hollanders do. 

These and many more Nations the Dutch have fubdued, 
*nc} Qut of them have formed a body of twelve or fifteen 

ti¥Hifaq4 



V 

of the E A ST-I ^ j .-^ ~. ^9 

\thoufand regular Troops, one thonfand of them mounting 
Guard at Batavia every Day. 

The Dutch, by introducing fuch Numbers of the Indian 
Nations, have made Batavia one of the moft populous 
Cities in AJia\ and the chief People of the feveral Natio/is 
being thus in their P6wer, they have not much to fear 
from the meaner Sort, who have been left behind to cul- 
tivate the Ground. 

The Hollanders have done whatever Force or Policy 
could do to eftablifh their Empire in the Eaft," if Juftice 
and Clemency had had fome fmall Share in tfieir Councils. 
The^Want of thefe may probably one Day incline the Na- 
tives to join fome other Powers againft them. I have long 
been of Opinion their Reign would not be lafting, as thdy 
have never endeavoured to gain the Affe&ions of the con- 
quered Nations; but now 1o many Powers are endeavour- 
ing to rival them in the Indian Trade, the Time feems ap- 
proaching when they muft abandon what they fo unjuftly 
acquired: Other Nations will certainly join the Natives to 
drive the barbarous Hollanders from their Shores, as |hey, 
with the affiftance of the injured natives, did the Portuguefe 
about one hundred Years ago. This can only be prevented 

• by doubling their Forces on that Side; and if they fliould 
encreafe their Garifons, and redder their Governors more 
powerful in that Part of the World, fome ambitious Chief 
pofiibly may fet up for himfelf^ and render their Colonies 
independent of their Mother-Country, as the Governor 
of Ceylon lately did. The obtaining the Sovereignty of 
that charming Cinnamon ftla*nd is fo ftrong a Tempta- 
tion to an ambitious Man, as it is not eafy to refill, efpe^- 

• -dally as the poflefling of that muft make great Part of the 
World dependent on him for the Spice it produces. 

Rice is the principal Grain that grows here. They 
have alfo Plantations of Sugar, Tobacco and Coffee : 
• Their J Kitchen Gardens, are well replenifhed with Cab- 
bages, Purflain, Lettice, Parfley, Fennel, Melons, 
Pompions, Potatoes, Cucumbers, and Radifhes. Here 
are alfo all Manner of Indian Fruits, fuch as Plantains* 
Banario's, Coco's, Anano's, Mangoes, Mangofteens,-Du- 
rions, Oranges of feveral forts, Limes,* Lemons, the Betel 
,and Arek Nutj Gums ef'feveral Kinds, particularly 

H 4 Benja* 



i2o A New HISTORY, 

Benjamin*: In March they plant Rice, and their Harveft 
is in July. In OStober they have the greateft Plenty of 
Fruit, and they have' fome all the Year. 

.They have good Timber, Cotton, and other Trees 
proper to the Climate, befides Oak, Cedar, and feveral 
Kinds of red Wood. The Coco Tree is very common, 
which is of univerfal Ufe, affording them Meat, Drink, 
Oil artd Vinegar ; and of the Fibres of the Bark they 
make them Cordage ; the Branches cover their Houfes, 
and the Leaves they write on with a Steel Stile, and with 

. this and the great Bamboo Cane they build their Houfes, 

r Boats, and other Veffels. 

Here are Buffaloes and fome Oxen, and a fmall Breed 
of Horfes. The few Sheep we find here have Hair, ra- 
ther than Wool, and their Flefti is dry. Their Hogs, 

. wild and tame, are the beft Meat we eat here, or in any 
other Countries between the Tropicks ; and their Venifon 
is good : Here are alfo Tygers and other wild Beafts, 

.Crocodiles* Porcupines, Serpents, Scorpions, Locufts, 
an4 a Multitude of Infe&s \ Monkies alio abound here : 
Mr, Leguat, who refided in Java fome Years, relates, 
that he faw a Monkey that was kept in one of the Baftions 
at Batavia, that came very near the human Form * that it 
Was a Female, went upright on its hinder Legs, was 
very tall, and concealed the Pudenda with one of its 
Hands ; that lhe made her Bed neatly every Day in a 
little Houfe her Matter had built for her, and lying^down 
at Night, covered herfelf with a Quilt, and iometimes 
would bind her Head with a Cloth, and feemed to grieve 

. as if {he had the Head-Ach. Mr. Leguat imagined great 
Pains had been taken to teach the Creature to perform 
fuch Adions, as feemed to be the Refult of Reafon, 

- while others were of Opinion it was the IiTue of an Ape and 
a Female Slave \ for when a Slave has coimmi^ted a great 
Fault, or what the Dutch are pleafed to call fuch, they 
frequently run up into the Mountains, and live perfectly . 
wild, and fuppofes that this Creature was begot on her 
Mother by fome Male Ape. 

\ THt Food, Salutations, and Diverfions of the Indians* 

\ in this Ifland Are the lame as in Borneo and Sumatra^ and 

therefore need not to be repeated here, T^ie Dutch travel 

■ : m 



of the EAST-INDIES. i*t 

in Coathfes, and on Horfeback* and fometimes in Palan- 
quins, or covered Couches, carried on Mens Shoulders, 
as the Indians do, with a grand Retinue. 

None of the Nations of Europe are fuffered to trade to 
Java, but from China fourteen or fifteen Junks of two 
hundred or three hundred Tun, ufed to come every Year 
in November or December, and return home in June\ 
which furniflied the Dutch with the Merchandize of China 
upon eafier Terms than they could purchafe it in that 
Country: And this is the Reafon the Dutch fo feldom 
vifit that Kingdom, and permit other Nations to trade 
.thither, which they could prevent if they pleafcd, by 
(batting up the Straits of Sunda and Malacca, whicjh the 
Squadrons of Men of War they always keep in India, ena- 
ble them to do. Betides the Goods imported to Batavia 
.by the Chinefe % the Dutch themfelves import the Produce 
of Japan, the Spice-IJlands, Perfia, Surat, Bengal, the 
. Coaft of Cor oman del and Malabar, and 3II the Merchan- 
dize of £«r^and Afric*. Never were fuch Magazines of 
Goods laid up in any City, as are to be found in Bataviq, 
-except in Amfterdam itfelf ; and as they barter the. Goods 
of one Country for another, the Indian Trade is fo far 
from diminishing their Treat u re, that it brings them in 
more Gold and Silver than any other Trafick. They 
have fuch a Superfluity of Spices, that they employ Peo- 
ple to root them up in the Molucca's, and, it is laid, .burn 
Ship-Loads of Cinnamon in Ceylon ; but I fhould think 
the laft Article unneceflary, becaufe if they did hot jbum 
the Cinnamon, they have fo fortified the Coafts of that 
Ifland, that no other Nation can come at it. The Dittch, 
with great Propriety, affun e the Title of Sovereigns of all 
the Seas, from the Cape of Good Hope, Eaftward, .to Cape 
Horn in America. I don't know any Power, that can it- 
: fid the Fleets they are able to fit out at Batavia*, within 
thefe Limits. .• , \ 

Learning is not to be expefted .among the Natives qf 
Java*, mod of the modern Indian Languages indeed are 
Ipoken here, but none are more generally underftood than 
. the Malayan and Portuguefe, and the Dutch have founded 
Schools in Batavia for teaching the learned Languages 
which are ftudied in Europe, and all Kinds of Mechanick 

Arts 




t.f ♦ ' 






to ^ 2Vi* H I $ T O R Y 

Arts are .brought to great Perfe&ion her*; A Printing 
Houfe, Paper Mills, and Gunpowder Mills, alts efe&ed 
here - 9 there are alfo Sugar-Bakers, Cotton- Weavers* Car- 
penters, Ropemakers* Bricklayers, Shipwrights, Smiths, 
Braziers, Cutlers, &c. 

The Iflandof Java was not known to t\i^ Europeans* 
until, the Pmuguefe puffed the,C^ tf Gosd ^§6^ ihd 
the Year 1500, where they found the ^^l ^fe^ atit 
upon thefe Shores, as they were u^on the as^sSpRlan^; 
whofe Anceftors, very probably, tame hithfci^wfcng ago, •>*? ..^ 
as the Phcemcums^ Egyptians and ^taw, ventured itfto thefe v " 
Seas, in Search of Spices, Gold, and other ricli Merthait- 
xlize, the neighbouring Iflands afford : About in buridre&V: 
Years after the Poniuguefe arrived here, the Englfyb and, 1 
Dutch began to trade with the Javanefe \ Bantam beipg 
the chief Port to Which the Cbinefe and moft of the Indian^ 
People reformed, which made Bahtam one of the greatefe 
Marts in India: But there being a Mifumterftanding be- 
tween the King of Bantmn and the Hollanders^ the latts3F 
v*emoved to Jacatra, now Batavia ; where they isre^ted 
■ Forts, and introduced fo many Troops* that they fdtfh 
rfbund themfelves in a Condition to give Law to moft of 
* the Sovereigns in that IQand ; -the King-of Bftmtam only 
hindered them being Matters of ; it. The Hollanders there- 
fore understanding there was a difference between that 
Kteg and the Prince his Son, /they joiried the Prince a- 
gairtft his Father, and affifted him to ufurp his Throne; 
they afterwards introduced f uch a Number of Forces into 
that Capital as enabled thetri to command both Father 
and Son, fuffering the young King, however, to retain 
the Name of King, buttock the Adrnjni&ration of the 
Government entirely into their own Hands, expelled all 
JLuroptm Fa6hsr$ ami Merchants from the Coifts, and 
^particularly the $&gtijh<> who had a very, great Trade here, 
lo lately 3S the^eign of King James II. And the Dutch 
jnay i^w "^io$feed upon as the only Power in that Ifland, 
except t'l^SShgs of Materan and Palamkoan, whofe Ter- 
ritories ais^uate beyond the Mountains on the South- 
E*ft Par£ t>f the Ifland, from whom they do not appre-> 
•te»d any Difturbapce. 



The 



X 



it** 



i 



of the. EAST-INDIES. tij 

The Princes that are their Vafiais are permitted to 
live in as great State as ever they did when they were really 
Monarchs, and the Orders of the; Hollanders are executed 
an the Name of fuch Kingfc. An Inftanc* of the State 
they appear in, has been given us by a late Traveller ; he 
relates, that when the King of Bantam goes in or out of 
his Palace, the Great Guns are fired, >and four of the 
Natives of Amboyna, Men of prodigious Stature and ter* 
rible Countenances, with their Shields and* Broad Sword s> 
begin the Proceflion, who are followed by a Company of 
Javanefe Soldiers, and another Company that are Native* 
of B&Uy , or Little Java, follow them ; after thefe come 
fix fine Perfian Horfes' richly accoutred, and then the 
Sling's Son on Horfeback, but very young, attended by 
a great Number of Women, carrying golden Vefiels, witA 
Fruits and Flowers; after whom marched a Body of Dutch 
Soldiers^ and then the Xing' mounted on a Perfian Horfe, 
covered almoft with gold Trappings, attended alfo witk 
great Numbers of Women on Foot; and two Companies 
of Soldiers, the one Dutch, and the other Javanefe, clofeii 
the Proceflion. 

The Dutch Governor of Batavia alfo takes great State 
upon him, and has in Reality the Power of a Sovereiga 
Prince. A Troop of Horfe Guards precede his Coach 
when he goes out, Halberdiers furround his Coach, and 
a Company of Foot-Guards march after it, cloathed in 
yellow Sattin, enriched with Silver Lace and Fringe ; 
and the Governor's Lady has her Guards, and is attended 
in all Refpe&s, both within and without Doors, like a 
Queen. 

The Dutch have upwards of twenty thoufand Handing 
Forces in Java, one Part Hollanders, and the other Indians % 
but exce^agjterGuards, their Soldiers make no great Fi- 
gure,. {■|fl^atfcfl^ being very mean, and not uniform-, 
and jfflrmortify the Subaltern Officers pretty much,. 
no(fcggprcrmg them to have an Umbrella carried over their 
though they allow the meaneft Dutch Tradefman 



T As Bafauia is a Place of the greateft Trade in jfefit, 

.the GuAofiis muft be very confiderable : They lay a Poll- 

Tax alfo on the Cbi*tft % who pay a certain Sum for the 

JPrivilegft 



12+ A 'New H IS T O RY > 

Privilege of wearing their Hair, and as much more for 
every Silver and Gold Bodkin in it ; which muft amount 
to a good Sum,, if every Cbinefe in the Ifiand pays this 
Tax ; for there are not lefs than one hundred thoufand 
Cbinefe there ; but J queftion, whether one Half of them 
live in and about Batavia. 

L Beside the Land Forces, the Dutch have not lefs than 
thirty or forty Men of War in India* which are a Force 
Sufficient to engage any European or Indian Fleet they may 
meet with in thofe Seas. As for the Javanefe^ they never 
had any Ships of above fifty Tun, but fome fwift-failing 
Praws, which are aim oft equal co thofe of the Ladrone 
Iflands. 

The Nations the Dutch have enflaved, and the Cru- 
elties they exercifed both on Europeans and Indians in (he 
laft Century, have been taking Notice of already, and 
were almoft forgot, till the Maflacre of the Cbinefe in Ba- 
tavia* in the Year 1 740, revived the Memory of them : 
To juftify which, the Dutch pretended to have difcovered 
a Confpiracy of the Cbinefe* to make themfelves Mailers 
of Batavia, and extirpate the Hollanders : Rut as this was 
the Pretence for murdering our innocent, defencelefs 
JFa&ors, zxAtnboyna* as well as for maflacring the Natives 
of the Spice Iflands, and for the numberlefs Cruelties they 
have exercifed in India* this will be but little regarded i 
.especially, when it appears, that the Cbinefe* who inha- 
bited the Suburbs of Batavia* peaceably delivered up ajl 
their Arms, as foon as required. What Danger could 
then be apprehended from them ? None of them lived 
within the Walls of the City, which was well fortified and 
defended by a Caftle and feveral other Forts, and a Fleet 
of Men of War in the Harbour. If it be confidered fur- 
ther, that the Cbinefe without had no Cannon, or any 
f Preparations made towards forming a Siege, in this de- 
fencelefs Condition, could the Dutch be io terrified, as 
not to admit one of them to a fair Trial* or find any other 
i Evidence againft them, but what they extorted by tl\e 
Rack ? and yet deftroyed upwards of twenty thoufand Qf 
thefe People in cold Blood, having firft difarmed them. 
The Governor, toexcufe his barbarous Cruelty, -affirmed, 
that the Order for the MalTacre was figned by everyone 

of 



tf ibt E A S T * 1 N D I E S. 12$ 

rf his Council, except Baron Imhof, whom he fent to 
Europe in Irons, becaufe he would not tonfent to the 
Order: And, I have fo favourable an Opinion of the 
Dutch, that I can't think, all the reft of the Council would 
have figned the cruel Order, if they had not been induced 
to, do it by the Governor's Threats, who hoped to fcreen 
himfelf from Juftice, by procuring the Hands of mdft of 
the Council. So much he depended upon this, that he 
ventured to fend his moft valuable Effefts to Europe^ 
declaring, that he would go thither himfelf, not doubting 
but he had amafted Treafure endugh by the Plunder of 
the Cbinefe or othfcrwife, to have bribed any Tribunal in 
Europe, in his Favour ; but the States of Holland being 
apprised of his Intention, fent Orders to the Governor of 
iht^Cape of Good Hope, if he came that Way, to flop him* 
and fend him back to Batavia to take his Trial. ThG 
Packet which included thefe Orders arriving at the Cape 
when the Governor of Batavia was there, who having 2 
fuperior Authority to the Governor of the Cape, and all 
other Governors between that Place and Japan, the Packet 
was firft carried to him, and delivered into his own Hands* 
but he never dreaming what it contained, fent it, un- 
opened, to the Governor of the Cape, who no fooner faw 
the Contents, but he fent a Guard to feize on his Bat avian 
Excellency, and put him on board a Ship bound for In- 
dia - 9 and he was probably thrown overboard, to prevent 
any further Enquiries ; And to ftiew the Refentment of 
the States at this barbarous Execution, they alfo difpatch- 
ed Baron Imboff, to take upon him the Government of 
Batavia, whom the former Governor had fent over in. 
Irons, for exprefiing his Abhorrence of the Maffacre. 
And now, when the Dutch themfelves have thus fhewn 
their Deteftation of the Faft, is it not ftrange to fee fome 
of our own Writers juftifying the cruel Order, and relating 
falfe 'Fads, in order to excule the Perfons that perpetrated 
this monftrous Villany ; and even excufing and juftifying 
the Dutch, in torturing and mudering the Englifb Fa&orsr 
at Amboyna, and not only plundering their Effe&s, and 
taking their Ships, but invading and fubduing the Englijb 
Spice Iflands, and keeping Poffeffion of them to this Day T 
notwithstanding we had the heft Title to them that could 

be 



126 A New HISTORY 

be made, namely, the Ceffion of the Princes and States 
of thofe Countries ? 

Whether the Dutch really approved the Maflacre of 
xhe Cbineje, or not, may be a Doubt -^ but feeing the reft 
of Mankind expreffing their Abhorrence of it, they cer- 
tainly hoped to throw the Odium off themfelves upon 
their Governor, by fending him back to be tried at Bata- 
via, where the Crime was committed, affording more 
Mercy to him, than he had (hewn to fo many thoufand 
Men, Women, and Children murdered in cold Blood ; 
but whether the late Governor ever reached Batavia, or 
was put to Death without a Trial, as the Cbinefe were, is 
yet doubtful : All that can be affirmed of Certainty is, 
that he has difappeared ever fince, and we hear of no Pro- 
fecution begun again ft him, or any of the Council that 
iigned the Order with him. Baron Imhoff, who fucceeded 
the cruel Governor, is fince dead •, whether he died fairly 
or not, or was taking off for not complying with the late 
Governor's Orders, will oe difficult to know 5 for My- 
fterks of State, or rather My fteries of Iniquity, are fome-- 
times impenetrable, . and may remain Secrets till the laft 
great Day of Account. To return to the Defcription of 
the JaHianefc. 

As the Women of Java are remarkable for their amo- 
rous Difpofition and Conftancy to the Man they efpoufe, 
and expefl: that the Man Ihould be equally conftant, . if 
her Lover goes affray, fhe makes no Scruple in preparing 
aDofe for him. An old Traveller, who feems much e- 
namoured with the Javanefe Ladies, gives this Defcription 
of them i he obferves that they are much fairer than the 
Men, have good Features, little fwelling Breafts, a foft 
Air, fprightly Eyes, a moft agreeable Laugh, and a be- 
witching Mien, elpecially in Dancing : that they exprefs. 
the greateft Submiflion to their Hulband, proftrating 
themfelves before him when he enters the Houfc. Poly- 
gamy prevails here ; the Javanefe have feveral Wives be- 
sides Female Slaves, of whom they make Concubines 
when they fee fit. 

There being a Scarcity of European Women, the Dutch 
are allowed to marry a Native, provided fhe will profefs 
Chriftianity, which flie is feldom averfe to, as it gratifies. 

her 



t 

I 

k 



of the E A S T-I N DIE S. 127 

her Pride \ a Chriftian and the Wife of a Dutchman taking 
Place of a Native Javanefe^ and being allowed a great 
many Privileges, which the Natives can't enjoy ; and her 
Hufoand is obliged to confine hirafelf to her Bed, and 
bring no Rivals into the Family. . 

Instead of hired fervants at Batavia, every body al- 
moft is ferved by Slaves of all Complexions and all Na- 
tions s the Buyer aflcs no Queftions from whence they 
came, or how the Seller came by them,, which induces 
the Rovers or Free Booters in thefe Seas to land upon any 
Coaft, and carry off the Inhabitants, Meg, .Women, and 
Children, and fell them at Batavia>. or any other Towa 
where there is a Demand fot Slaves. 

I proceed to the Defcription of fome other JavOn 
Princes, who are ftill independent of the Dutch. The two 
Kingdoms of Materan and Palambang are fituate on the 
South Side of the Ifland. Materan^ the Capital of the 
firft Kingdom, is fituate in one hundred and ten Degrees 
of Eaftern Longitude, and in feven Degrees forty-five 
Minutes South Latitude. Palambang, the Capital of the 
Kingdom of that Name, is fituate in one hundred and 
fourteen Degrees of Eaftern Longitude, and in feven De- 
grees thirty 'Minutes South Latitude, on the Straits of 
Batty ^ through which the Eaft-India Ships fometimes pafs^ 
when they are homeward-bound from Borneo ; fuch Ship* 
touch at the Town of Palambang for frefli Water and Pro - 
vifions; but the Surf often beats with fuch Violence on 
the Shore, that makes it difficult Watering there. Cap- 
tain Beckman pafied this Strait in January^ 1 724, and re- 
lates that he was fifteen Days between the Eaft End of the 
Ifland of Madura and the Straits, though it was not above 
thirty Leagues, and fhould have been longer, if he had 
not obferved that once in twenty-four Hours the South 
Wind broke through. the Straits with fuch Violence, that 
it fet him back as much as he had gained the whole Day 
be|brec That this Wind is always attended with heavy 
Rains, and lafts about an Hour, but gives timely Notice* 
of its Approach. He advifes Ships therefore that pais to . 
the Southward to keep the Coaft of Java on board, fleer- 
ing along Shore within a Mile or two with the northerly 
Breeze, which lafts till the other comes from the South- 
ward, 



ia8 A New H I S T OR Y 

ward, in which Time the Ship will have run four or five 
Leagues to the Southward of the North-Eaft End of Java, 
>hen yon will open a black fandy Bay; and when the 
Tbrmado is feen beating up the Straits, which may be 
difcerned an Ktour before it comes, it is advifeable to get 
hear enough into the Bay to anchor before the foutherly 
Wind reaches you-, but there is no fafe Anchoring till the 
Ship gets into the Bay, the Strait between Java and 
Bally not being half a Mile over in the narrowed Part, 
and the Mountains on each Side of a prodigious Height 
hanging ajmoft over the Ship, and affording a difmal 
Proipect, while Gufts of Wind frequently come down from 
the Hills, veering round the Compafs. To prevent being 
whirled round, therefore, by the circling Eddies, he ad- 
vifes to keep the Boat a-head ; but when the Ship is jpt 
to the narroweft Part of the Strait, the Rapidity of the 
Current to the Southward foon forces the Ship through. 
The%Danger of the Paflage is not fo great as is generally 
believed, and after the Strait is pafTed, the Ship may 
anchor in the Bay of Palambang, where it may be fupplied 
with Wood, Water, and other Provifions. 

Thz Natives here are under terrible Apprehenfions 
that the Dutch defign to fend a Colony hither, and thought 
his Ship had belonged to the Hollanders \ but as foon as 
they underftood the Captain was an Englifhman, the King 
invited him on Shore, and the next Day came on board 
his Ship. The Captain and his Officers were after wards 
well entertained on Shore, and the King made them a Pre- 
fent of Rice, Oxen, Deer, and Poultry ; and the Captain 
was informed that the Country produced Gold, Pepper 
and Cotton in Plenty. They had a fmall Breed of Horfes, 
Buffaloes, Goats, and very large Oxen* all Manner of 
Land and Water Fowls, and Fifli. The King and his 
£ubje£ts are molt of them Pagans, though there are fome 
Mahometans, and the Chinefe trade to this Place. 

The Ifland of Bally, or the Lejfer Java, is only divided 
from the larger Ifland by the lall mentioned Strait; and 
£aftward of this are the Iflands Lomboy, Combava, Flores % 
Solor, Timor, and feveral more, upon which the Dutch 
have Forts, ind look upon the Natives as their Subjects, 
inany of whom have been tranfported to Batdvia, and 

fcrvc 



of the E A S T - I N D I E S. 129 

fervc in the Dutch Troops. Tifnor is the largeft of thefe 
Iflands, being about two hundred Miles in Length, and 
fifty in Breadth, and divided into feveral petty States, 
.which the Dutch play againft one another, and by that 
Means govern the whole. The Portuguefe had formerly 
Colonies here, whofe Defcendants are . now fo intermixed 
with the original Natives, that, they are fcarce to be di- 
ftinguifhed from them, efpecially as they profefs the fame 
Religion. There are alfo fome Pagans and Mahometans 
ftill remaining here, and the Cbinefe come hither to trade 
once a Year: The Inhabitants are fo very fwarthy, that 
they * are fometimes taken for Blacks, and thofe that are not 
under the Government of the Portuguefe or the Dutch are 
reprefented as Savages; they wear no Cloathing but a 
little Piece of Cloth about their Loins, and the better Sort 
wear a Kind of Coronet about their Temples, adorned 
with little thin Plates of Gold or Silver ; the reft have 
Caps made with Palmetto Leaves. Their Arms are 
Swords, Darts, and Lances or Spears, and with thefe they 
run down and kill their Game. Their Animals are the 
fame as in the Ifland of Java, as well as their Foreft and 
Fruit Trees. The Dutch don't feem to make any great 
Profit of thefe Iflands ; the principal Defign of their build- 
ing Forts here is to defend the Avenues to the Spice Iflands, 
which lie in their Neighbourhood. 

There are Countries which lie South-Eaft of thefe 
Iflands, to which the Dutch have given the Names of New 
Guinea and New Holland, in, which they relate there are 
fome few favage Inhabitants, and that they are not worth 
the planting; and*! can't learn that the Dutch themfelves, 
to whom they muft be of more Value than to any other 
People, as they lie not far from Batavia, have made any 
Settlements there; for which there may be this Reafon, 
that the Hollanders have poffeffed themfelves of more 
Countries in the Faft already than they can pofTibly main- 
tain and defend ; but 'tis ftrange that no other Power vifits 
thofe Coafts, when they lie fo near the Spice Iflands, and 
poflibly may produce the like Fruits. As every Nation 
almoft now puts in for a Share of the Eaft- India Trade; 
furely, fome of them will make the Experiment, and not 
fit down with the Account the Dutch have given ut of 

I them, . 



i 3 o A New HISTORY 

them, whofelntereftit is to prevent other Nations fettling 
fo near the Spice Iflands. The Englijh did make fome 
Effay towards this Difcovery about the Year 1700, being 
at the Charge of fitting out Captain Hamper •, and fent 
him into thefe Seas, where he met with a People not fo 
barbarous as the Dutch reprefented them, and treated with 
them about entering into an Alliance with the Englijh \ and 
if I remember right, he brought home a Crown and Sceptre r 
made of Wood, or fome very mean Materials, which one 
of their Princes prefented him with. Dampier happened to- 
be caft away upon the Ifland of Afcenjion, and though the 
Ship was broke to Pieces, he and his Crew got fafe to 
Shore, and were taken up by Commodore Warren^ on his> 
Return from India, where he had been to fupprefs the 
Pirates in thofe Seas, 

What Report Dampier made to the Council, or the 
Board of Trade,, on his Return to England r I never heard y 
but it feems* the Government never made any further At- 
tempts to inform themfelves of the State of thofe Countries, 
or whether it might be worth while to plant them. I am 
apt to think the.Reafon nothing further was done towards 
the Difcovery, was* becaule we were entering into that 
long War in the Beginning oi the Reign of Queen Anne* 
which engroffed the whole Attentioaof the Court. 

I return now to the Defcription of the Indian Iflands^ 
M>{ which the Chief of thofe that remain to be treated of 
are the Nicobar and Andaman Iflands, - and thofe of thr 
Maldiva y s. 

K The Nieobar Iflands are fituate in the Indian Sea, be- 
tween ninety-two and ninety-four Degrees of Eaftera 
Longitude, and between feven and ten Degrees of North* 
Latitude, near the Entrance of the Bay of Bengal^ a little 
North of the Ifland of Sumatra. The largeft of theft 
Iflands, which lies moft to the Souths is forty Miles long* 
and fifteen broad* the South End is mountainous, and 
there are fome fteep Rocks near the Sea ; the reft of th<* 
Ifland is covered with Woods, but not high Land. It i» 
a rich Soil,, that would produce alraoft any Grain, if u 
was cultivated. The Groves of Coco-Nut Trees, that 
ftaqd m the flat Country near the Sea, are^xceeding plea* 
fentj, but I don't And there are any Towns> only as ^fi 

faii 



c/^BAST-IN DIE S. 131 

fail by, we fee Cluftersof five or fix little Houfes in every 
Creek and Bay, which are built on Bamboo Pillars* eight 
or nine Feet above the Surface of the Ground, the Roof 
.neatly arched with bended .Cane and covered with Plam 
Branches. . ,;. 

These Ifianders are moderately tall, the Complexion a 
deep Olive, and have long black Hair, and black Eyes';; 
their Women might be efteemed handfome, if it was nqt 
the Cuftom to pull the Hair off the , Eye-brows by the 
Roots. 

The Men wear no Cloaths, but a little linen Cloth about 
their Loins*; that of the Women is deeper, reaching be- 
low their Knees. The Country is ftill over-run with "Wood; 
they negleft to clear it, and cultivate the Ground, but 
live chiefly on Fi(h and fuch Fruits as the Country pro- 
duces fpontaneoufly ; they have little Trade or Commerce 
with any other People - 9 but as Ships, fail by in their Way 
to and from the Straits' of Malacca, they bring off Hogs* 
Poultry and fuch Fruits as the Country affords, taking 
Tobacco, Linen, and other Necefiaries in Return. 

The Ayidowan Iflands lie in the Bay of Bengal^ North 
of the Nicobar Ifiands, in cinety-two Degrees of Eaftern 
Longitude, and between ten and fifteen Degrees of North 
Latitude. Theft Ifiands do not feem to differ much from 
thofe of Nicobar, except in producing Rice, which is cul- 
tivated here and eaten by the Natives as well as Fifh and 
fruit j and both thefe People, when the Europeans firft 
vifited theni, were charged with devouring their own 
Species, though it appears, that for the moft Part they 
live upon the Fruits of the Earth, and are fo far from 
eating human Flefli, that they hardly eat any Flefh at all* 
I have examined the Cuftom of moft Countries, which 
had the Reputation of being Canibals, and have not been, 
able to find Evidence, or even a Probability, that there 
was ever a Nation of Canibals. What particular People 
might be induced to do, 'driven to it by Neceffity, is a dif- 
ferent Thing; but I can't readily give Credit to the Stories 
we meet with of whole Nations of Canibals, I have my- 
felf experienced what Hunger is, lived two whole Days 
without taking any Nourishment whatever, and was fo 
fa* from finding my Appetite encreafe, that I grew indif- 

I 2 ferent 



i 3 2 A .New HISTORY 

fcrent whether I eat or not. The Rage of Hunger, as 
fome People call it, will be as violent after twelve Hours 
fafting, as ever it will be. Thirft is much more intole- 
rable than Hunger, efpecially when the Sun is continually 
Shining upon us with perpendicular Rays, of which I re- 
member the following Inllance. Seven or eight Englijb+ 
men (with one of whom I failed in the fame Ship to India) 
being taken Prifoners by the Arabs* efcaped into the fan- 
dy Defarts, where they met with no Water for feveral 
Days, and the Sun all the Day-Time beating over their 
Heads ; whereupon they agreed that one of them fhould 
bleed, and the reft drink his Blood; and having call 
Lots who fhould be the Sacrifice, it fell to my Friends 
Turn ; but fuch was their Thirft, that it was almoft in- 
different to them on whom the Lot fell : My Friend very 
readily let himfelf Blood, and bled to Death, and the reft 
by drinking of it faved their Lives till they came to fome 
Water, and all of them returned alive to India, and gave 
this Relation of the Matter. 

Another Inftance of the intolerable Rage of Thirft I 
knew in India* was this. Our Ship, the Martha* lying 
at an Anchor before Fort St. George* four of the Seamen 
agreed to run away with one of the Boats in the Night- 
Time. Accordingly they got into the Boat, while the 
Man who kept it was afleep, and rowed to Sea after fome- 
thing they took to be a Ship, but happened to be a Cloud, 
and were fo far from Land the next Morning, that they 
could fee neither Land or Ship, and had neither Provifion 
or Compafs with them. It happened to be bright Wea- 
ther at that Time, and the Suri direftly over their Heads, 
which had that Effeft, that one of them on the third Day 
fell mad, and fo died, and was thrown overboard; two 
more of them died in the fame Manner, the fucceeding 
Days, and were thrown into the Sea ; and now two only 
remaining, on the ninth Night they heard the Surff beat- 
ing againft the Shore, and had juft Strength enough to 
turn the Head of the Boat towards the Land, and came 
fafely to it, having received no other Nourifhment in the 
nine Days than the Blood of a Tortoife or Turtle they found 
afleep upon the Water, and hauled into their Boat ; and 
of this, I think, they drank but one Coco-Nut Shell a- 

piece 1 , 



of the fi A S T - I N D I E S. 133 

piece, mixed with the Sea- Water. When the Boat came 
afliore, they found they were two hundred Miles North 
, of Ftrt St Gwrge, from whence they fet out. The Boat- 
Keeper came back afterwards to the Fort, from whofc 
Mouth I had this Relation. The other Man that was left 
alive went into the Mogul's Service, not daring torreturn, 
for Fear of being punifhed for running away with the Boat ; 
but the Boat-Keeper pretending he was afleep when the 
Boat put off, and innocent of the Confpiracy, thought he 
had nothing to apprehend from his Matters. 

The Reader, I prefume, will pardon this Digreffion, 
as I had fp fair an Opportunity to fpeak of the Effe&s of 
Hunger and Thirft of my own Knowledge. 

I come now -to conclude the Defcription of the Indian 
Wands, of which only xht Maldives remain to be treated 
of. " ■ ^ • " ' 

MALD IVAlfl&nds are fituate in the Indian Ocean, 
between fixty-eight and feventy-fix Degrees of Eaftera 
Longitude, and between the Equator and feven Degrees 
of North Latitude, about five hundred Miles South-Weft 
of the Continent of the Hither Indiu y being about one 
thoufand little Iflands, and a Multitude of Rocks jyft a- 
bove Water, ftretching generally North- Weft and South- 
Eaft, generally flat low Land, difficult to be approached, 
but at three or four Inlets. The People defcended from the 
Arabs^ and retain the fame Religion (Mahpmetanifm) an4 
Cuftoms with thofe of their Mother- Country. One King 
commands themalL The Iflands produce the tropicalFruits, 
especially the Coco-Nut, which is both Meat and Drink* 
and the little Sea-Shells, or Cowries, called Blackamoors 
Teeth, are the Produce of thefe Iflands, andferve in India, 
inftead of fmall Money, to purchafe Herbs and Fruits. 
They abound in Fifh, but I don't find they have Rice or 
any other Corn, but import Rice from the neighbouring 
Continent of India. 



I 3 CHAP. 



134 :> 4 .Nevf HISTORY 

> T • < - - I 

. CHAP. V. 

j ... 

Defer iba tfa Kingdoms of Tonquin, and Cochin-* 

China. 

INDIA »' lifually divided into two Parts, viz. India 
beyond Ganges, and India on this Side Ganges : I fhall 
firft enter upon the Defcriptbn of that Divifion which lies 
beyond the River Ganges (becaufe it adjoins to China) which 
comprehends, i. The Kingdom of Tonquin. 2. Cochin- 
China, and Chiampa. 3. Siam, including Malacca, Cam- 
hidia and Laos. 4. Pegu and Mar tab an. 5. Ava, includ- t 

ing Arracan, Tip\i and Acham : The whole lying between 
fiinety-two and one hundred and nine Degrees of Eaftern 
t^ongitude, and between one and twenty-eight Degrees 
of North Latitude.. 

<• TON QUI N> the firft of thefe Divifions, is bounded 
by China on the North and E'aft, by the Bay of Cochin- 
€hina on the South, and by Laos on the Weft* and is 
Htuate between one hundred andoneand One hundred and 
nine Degrees of Eaftern Longitude, and between twenty- 
one and twenty-'even Degrees of North Latitude, being 
about five hundred Miles long, and four hundred broad. 
• :: As we fail up the River Dcmea, we view a fine, level, 
fruitful Country •, in which are no Trees, unlefs about 
the Villages, but a pretty .Mixture of Rice Ground and 
Paftures : Further within Land on the North, it rifesinto 
Hills, the Air generally healthful, efpecially in the dry 
Seafons. 

s The South Divifion of this Country lies in the Form 
of a Crefcent, about a fpacious Bay of the Sea, near, one 
hundred Miles wide ; the Dept in the Middle about forty- 
fix Fathom, and good Anchorage in every Part of it. 
Jtoto this Bay, run the Rivers Rockbo and Domea* which 
rifing in the Mountains on the North -Weft, take their 
Courfe to the South*Eaft, and running almoft parallel, 
difcharge themfelves into the Bottom of the Bay, at about 
twenty Leagues Diftance from each other. The Euro- 
feans trade with the Natives, up the River Domea, -which 
itf near two Miles over at the Mouth \ but there are fo 

■ % many 



gf«5t "EAST-INDIES. 135 

Hjany Sands on each Side, that it is necefiary to wait for 
3, Pilot to carry a Ship over the Bar. 

The Year is here divided into the wet and dry Seafon, 
as in other Countries, which lie between the Tropicks* 
The wet Seafon begins m April ox May % and lafts till the 
Beginning of September* in which Time* however, there 
are confiderable Intervals of fair Weather, efpecially in 
the Mornings. . In September the Rain and Wind are ma- 
derate generally, and yet in that Month and Offober, 
happen the Tufroons {Typhones) which are fuch violent 
Storms, that no Ships venture out of the Harbour, during 
Chat Time. The TufFoons happen ufualiy about the New 
or Full Moon ; it is fine, fair Weather, and little Wind, 
twelve Hours before the Storm begins. The Wind hav- 
ing blown very fiercely for twelve Hours from the North- 
Eaft, and attended with Thunder and Lightning, and 
heavy Rains, it grows calm on a fudden, but in the Space 
of an Hour turns about to the South- Weft, and blows 
with equal Violence from that Quarter : When the Sua 
is at the greateft Diftance frorn them, is their faireft Wea^ 
iher, as it is in moft Countries between the Tropicks* 
The Rains are heavieft when the Sun is vertical, but the 
£eafons are not always alike: Sometimes they have not 
Raifi enough for their Rice, which moft commonly grows 
in Water. 

In Tonquin are eight Provinces. 1 Cacbao or Keccio % tht 
Capital City, is fituate about one hundred Miles up the 
River Dcmea, in one hundred and five Degrees of Eafl: 
longitude, and twenty two Degrees thirty Minutes North 
Latitude, on an elevated Situation, having neither Wall 
or Moat about it. There are about twenty thoufand 
J3oufes in it, moft of them low thatch'd Cottages, and 
fome few built of Brick •, their Streets wide, but ill paved, 
and feveral muddy Ponds, which, in the dry Seafon, are 
very offenfive. 

The King's Palace is in the Middle of the City, and 
with the Parks and Gardens which furround it, eight or 
nine Miles in Circuit. There is another Palace meanly 
built, in which the Cboua or General refides ; before it is 
3 grand Parade, for exercifing the Soldiers, and a Houfe 
where the Train of Artillery, conMing of fifty or fixty 

I 4 Iron 



i 3 6 / A New HISTORY 

Iron Guns are lodged, and fome Mortars: Near the Pa- 
rade alfo is a Stable of War-Elephants, and another of 
the King's Horfes. 

D O M E A is a Town fituate about fixteen or eighteen 
Miles up the fame River, where the Dutch Ships which 
.trade to this Country ufually lie -, but the Englijh ride 
three Miles higher. The Dutch have a Faftory at Domea, 
where they employ their temporary Wives to buy up 
Goods during their Abfence, 

HE AN (lands upon the fame River, about eighty 
Miles from the Sea ; it confifts of about two thoufand 
Houfes^ and has a Garrifon of Soldiers in it. Here the 
Cbinefe have Fa&ors, who trade between*this Place and 
Japan. 

There are Abundance of Villages in the flat Country, 
furrounded with Walls or Banks of Earth, to defend 
them againft the annual Floods. 

The Natives are of a Middle Stature, tawny Com* 
plexion, black long Hair, which falls down on their Shoul- 
ders, and black Eyes, and their Teeth dy'd black; they 
wear the Nail on the liule Finger of the Left Hand as 
Jong as the Finger, as the Chinefe do : They are fairer 
Dealers than the Ckinefe^ fubmiflive to their Superiors, 
and very faithful and diligent. 

Their Habit is a Gown girt about with a Salh : The 
Sexes are fcarce diftingulfhable by their Drefs. People of 
Condition wear Englijh Cloth, red, blue, or green, or 
elfe Silk of their own Manufafture ; their Caps made like 
the Crown of a Hat, of the fame Materials as the Gown \ 
the Common People wear Cotton or Calicoe ; the Soldiers 
the fame, but fhorter; and all of them wear Cotton , 
Breeckes* or Drawers, which reach down below their 
Knees, 

The Peopje of Tonquin are good Mechanicks, but their , 
Lords, who are Owners of the Lands, keep them fo mi- 
ferably poor, that they are frequently forced to remain 
idle, for Want of Materials to work upon. The Dutch % 
who marry temporary Wives in this Country, employ 
them as their Fadtors to buy Materials, and let the poor 
people to work, and have their Goods ready againft the 
Shipping arrives, 

' Their 



•» 

4 



of the EAST-INDI E S. 13 

Thrir Manufaftures are chiefly Silk and Lacquers 
Ware-, the Country produces alfo Turpentine, Lignum 
Aloes, fine Perfumes, and Wood for Dying, much like 
Logwood. 
! Rice is al mod the only Grain that grows here; but they 

h have Coco Nuts, Gnava's, Mangoes, Plantains, Orange/, 

and all other tropical Fruits; and their beloved Betel arid 
Arek Nut are the Produce of the Soil, 5 

In this Kingdom and the reft of the Peninfula, are 
great Numbers of Elephants, fome Hories, Oxen, Buf- 
faloes, and the fame Kind of Hogs we meet with \x\China > 
And Plenty of Fifh and Poultry, but fcarce any Sheep or 
wild Beafts. * 

As to Snakes, Scorpions, and other Reptiles and In-* 
fefts, they are as troublefome here as in other hot Coun- 
tries, but none more ft> than the Ants, which march in 
large Bodies, and devour every Thing they can penetrate i 
they will eat through a Bale of Silk in a few Hours, 

As this was once a Province of China, their Language 
is a Dialed: of that Nation, and their Characters the fame; 

S their Learning confiding chiefly in underftanding thefe 

Chara&ers, they are examined what Progrefs they have 
made in this Study, when they ftand Candidates for any 
Place, as in China. In the Mathertfaticks, Aftronomy, 
I and other Sciences, they equal the Chimefe\ and have been 

I , improved like them, in thefe Sciences, by the Popifli 

Miflionaries, who vifited this Country. 
\ The King or Boua, has barely the Title of King : 

He has no Share in the Government. The General is 
veiled with the Regal Power ; he makes the King a Kind 
of Priforier in his own Palace, but allows him to appear 
I at certain Times, and receive the Homage of his Subjefts, 

\ and the General himfelf feems to adore him before the 

People, declaring, he takes upon him the Adminiftration 
^ of the Government, only to eafe his Sovereign of the 

\ Trouble^ of it, and that he may enjoy his Pleafures with- 

out Interruption. His Majefty's Servants are all appointed 
by the General, and have Orders not to fufFer any of the 
reft of his Subjefts to come near him. The General dif- 
pofes of all Offices, civil and military ; has a Guard of 
two hundred Elephants, befides his Horfe and Foot 

Guards, 



1 



138 ^f Mf HISTORY 

Guards, and ufually has a ftanding Army of thirty thoufand 
Men in and about the Capital City, and fixty or feventy 
thoufand Men in other Parts of the Kingdom, particu- 
larly .on the Frontiers of , China, the Power they ftand 
jrooft in Fear of. . When the Army marches, the Generals 
and great Officers are mounted upon Elephants; aCaftle 
or rather a great Room being fixed upon the Back of this 
nionfffous Beaft, in, which a dozen Men may be accom- 
odated, and discharge their Mufquets, or fhoot their 
Arrows. They have no Naval Force, only fome little 
coafting Veflels, with which they don't pretend to make 
long Voyages. 

The chief Magiftrates and Officers of State are generally 
Eunuchs, an imperious Set of People, difficult of Accefs, 
and exceeding covetous, though they have none but 
fhemfelves to make Provifion for. And indeed, it is a 
common Obfcrvation, that thofe who have lead Occafion 
for Money, covet moft; and whatever an Eunuch has 
fcraped together, at laft falls to the Government, when he 
dies : He has not fo much as the Power of difpofing of 
iany Part of it by WiJU and this is the Reafon their Ex- 
tortions and Oppreffions are generally connived at j but 
to this is imputed, the extreme Poverty and Want of 
Trade in the lower Clafs of People, who have no En- 
couragement to work ; * poffeffing nothing they can call 
their own. There is (till fotmehing more unaccountable 
in thefe Euriuchs than their Covetoufnefe, and that is, 
their keeping, a Parcel of young Wenches to play with 
(the Eunuchs in Turkey do the fame) and though they can't 
oblige the Ladies themfelves, in the Manner they may 
expert, their Matters grow lb fond of them frequently, 
that they fuffer them to make Choice of a Gallant, efpeci- 
aily among the Europeans that arrive here. 

Their Religion differs but little from that of China, 
and Confucius is adored with equal Veneration ; but they 
have fome Images we don't meet with there, particularly 
the Elephant and the Horfe. The Temples or Pagoda's 
are very fmall, fome of them but juft big enough to con* 
tain the Image. Their Pr lefts have their Cells about the 
Temple, where they attend to offer up the Prayers of the 
Devout, who bring them their Petitions in Writing, 

" - which 



gf *k E A S T-I N D I E S. j 39 

^vhich the Prieft reads aloud hefore the Image, while hit 
Pifciple lies proftrate on the Ground in a fupplicating 
Pbffure. 

People of Figure feldom come to the Pagoda, but 
perform their Devotions before an Image placed upon an 
Altar in one of the Courts of their own Houfcs * fome De- 

Eendant reading the Petition inftead of a Prieft, while his 
lafter proftrates himfelf on the Earth. In the Paper, are 
enumerated the feveral Inftances of the Petitioner's good 
Fortune, for which he returns his Thanks to Heaver** 
as for Riches, Honours, Prefervation, &c. concluding 
with a Prayer for the Continuance of them : After which 
the Paper is burnt in a Pan of Incenfe, and then their 
Poor Neighbours and Dependants are called in, and made 
to partake of an Entertainment the Matter has provided for 
them. Whenever they make their Addrefles to Heaven* 
the Poor are fure to be relieved ; the devout Supplicants 
looking upon this, as the readieft Way to obtain a fa- 
vourable Anfwer. 

This People are much addifted ta Superftition as well 
as their Neighbours : They confult the Aftrologer or pre- 
tended Fortune-Teller, whenever they arc about to under- 
take any Thing of Moment, and have their lucky ard un- 
lucky Days: And as every Hour of the Day has the 
Name of fome Animal, viz. the Horfe, the Lion, and 
the like, the Beaft that marks the Hour a Man is bom 
upon, is ever avoided. 

The Jefuits pretend, they have made great Numbers 
of Profely tes to Chriftianity, and caufed feveral Churches 
to be ereded : But Dampier relates, that when he was at 
the Bifhop's Palace at Hean % the Jefuits informed . him, 
that the Court of Tonquin fhewed no Inclination to embrace 
Chriftianity„ but many of the poor People had been induc- 
ed to pfofefs it," he fuppofed chiefly on Account of the 
Rice the Mifiionaries diftributed among them: That the 
Fathers lived as Merchants at Hean y and thought proper 
to « conceal their Million-, apprehending, probably, they 
were not acceptable to the Court, who made no other Uic 
of them, than to learn fome Branch of the Mathematicks 
of them : And whether the poor People made a Profeflion 
of their Religion openly, feems doubtful to me : For if 

the 



I 



14b f Ji New' HISTORY 

the Miflionaries apprehended themfelves in Danger, one 
would think, their Difciples, who were Natives, muft be 
at leaft in equal Danger. 

A Plurality of Women is allowed here, as in moft 
Other Pagan Countries, and very little Difference made be- 
tween a Wife taken iipon Contraband a Concubine. Their. 
Children are equally entitled to inherit, and the Natives 
are fo tar from being difturbed by Jealoufy, that it is faid, 
they will offer their Women to the European Merchants, 
or rather let them out, for they expett fome Confideration 
for the Favour. Here Men are allowed to take temporary 
Wives, as the Dutch dp, to tranfa<5t their Affairs in their 
Abfence. And by this Commerce the Women fometimes 
raife Fortunes, and afterwards become Matches for the 
moft confiderable Men in the Country, 

The Men are at Liberty to divorce their Wives for any 
Trifle almoft, but then they muft reftore the Effeils fhe 
Was poffefled of at the Time of the Marriage, and keep 
the Children •, but the Wife cannot obtain a Divorce un- 
lefs the Hufband is charged with fome very notorious 
Crime. The Punifhment of a Woman convi&ed of A- 
dultery, is to be thrown to an Elephant bred up for fuch 
Executions ; who taking her up with his Trunk, toffes her 
up into the Air, and when (he falls, tramples her under 
his Feet, crufhing her to Pieces with as much eafe as one-* 
might kill a Moth. A Man may fell both Wife and 
Children here, which makes a Divorce very unneceflary 
en the Man's Part* for this amounts to fomething: more 
than a Divorce. In a Scarcity, the poor People fell their 
Children with very little Reluftance; for by this Means,, 
they frequently fa ve their Childrens Lives, as well as their 
own. And in this Part of the World, we fee People very 
ready to part with their Children, to any one that will 
maintain them, without demanding any Confideration for 
them : And why is this more unnatural than the Tcnqifinefe 
felling their Children tp preferve themfelves ? 
. In their Funerals, they differ very little from the Cbi- 
nefe: We fee the like Proceflions and the like Mourning, 
only they burn the Corps, and put the Allies in an Urn : 
They cany Provifions to the Tomb where the Urn is de- 
ported, which are diftributed among the Priefts and poor 

People, 



, 



of the EAST-INDIES. 141 

People, after they have been offered to the Deceas'd, and 
the Idol placed on an Altar before the Corpfe : Over the 
Tombs of People of Condition^ they ere<3: a wooden 
Tower four or five and twenty Feet high, and the Prieffc 
afcending to the Top of it, makes a Funeral Oration, 
enumerating the Virtues and good Qualities of the De- 
ceas*d: After which, he comes down and fets Fire to the 
Tower which is foon confumed to Alhes, being built of 
very flight Materials ; and then the People fit down to 
an Entertainment, which is provided for them. Damper 
relates, that he faw fifty Hogs drefled and distributed at a 
Funeral, with the greateft Quantity of Fruit that ever he 
faw together. 

The King lies in State fixty-five Days after hispeceafe* 
and his Table continues to be ferved every Day as if he 
was alive ; the Meat being diftributed every Evening, a» 
mong the Priefts and poor People. After which a very 
fplendid Proceffion is begun towards the Royal Burying- 
Place, which is about two Days Journey from Cacbao r 
But they feldom reach the Tombs under feventeen Days. 
The Mandarins, Great Officers, and Magiftrates* are 
obliged to mourn three Years for the Prince, the Gentry 
fix Months, and the common People three, and no Diver* 
fions are allowed for three Years after the Funeral. 

COC&IN-CHINA including Cbiampa, is Gtuate be^ 
tween one hundred-four and hundred- ten Degrees of 
Eaftern Longitude, and between ten and feventeen De-» 
grees of North Latitude, bounded by Tonquin on the 
North, by the Indian Ocean on the Eaft and South, and 
by Cambodia on the Weft, being about four-hundred 
Miles long, and one-hundred and fifty broad. 

The Mountains of Kemois run the whole Length of it; 
from North to South, dividing it from Cambodia, but to* 
wards the Sea the Country is generally level. The Air of 
this Country is not fo hot as that of Tonquin, though it lies 
nearer the Equator, for which feveral Reafons may be af- 
figned, as the Advantages of the Sea Breezes, of which 
Tonquin has not fo great a Share •, tonquin lying upon a 
Bay where the Winds have not fo free a Courfe, while this 
Country lies open to the Ocean. It is alfo obferved, that 
the Councries which lie nfcar the Tropicks, ^Tonquin doe« t 

are 



H2 A New H I S T O R Y ;. 

are much hotter than thofe that lie near the Equator ; for 
the Countries which lie under either Tropick have the Sun 
over their Heads near three Months, whereas the Sun pa£ 
fes fwiftly over the Countries near the Equator, and does 
not return thither again for near fix Months j and it may 
add to the Heat near the Tropicks, that the Days are an 
Hour and half longer at the Tropick than they are at the 
Equinodtial, arid the Rains and cloudy Weather continues 
longer there alfo than it does at the Tropick. 

Travellers do not mention any confiderable Towns 
in this Country, but relate that the King refides in the 
moft northern Provinces, which has the Name of Sinuva, 
in which we find a Town called Touran Faifo, fituate in 
fixteen Degrees of North Latitude, and one hundred and 
fix Degrees of Eaftern Longitude. Chiampa is fituate ip 
the Province of Chiampa^ the moft foutherly Province of 
Cochin-China, in one hundred and eight Degrees of Eaftern 
Longitude, and eleven Degrees of North Latitude : They 
build their Houfes chiefly with the Bamboo Cane, one 
Story high-, but the lower Room is of no Ufe in. the 
Time of the Flood, which lafts near half a Year, when 
they are forced to live in their upper Jlooms, and have no 
Communication with one another but by Boats. 

The Perfons and Habits of the Natives differ very little 
from thofe of Tonquin, but their Complexions are fome- 
thing darker. They take a great deal of Pains alfo to get 
ft Set of black Teeth : As the Negroes are femarkable 
for good white Teeth, thefe are as much taken Notice' of 
for having very bad ones ; for they do not only fpoil them 
by that Ingredient which make them black, but the Betel 
and Arek, which they chew perpetually, contributes to 
rot them •, however, it colours their Lips red, which it* 
efteemed a confiderable Addition to their Beauty. 

The Natives have been reprefented as a friendly hof- 
pitable People j but the Englijh Fa&ory at Pub Condore 
had no great Reafon to applaud their Humanity, if their 
Cafe is rightly reprefented. 

PULO CONDORE is an lfland of the Indian Ocean, 
fituate in one hundred and fix Degrees thirty Minutes 
Eaftern Longitude, and in nine Degrees thirty Minutes 
North Latitude, fixty Miles South of Cochin-China, but 

fubjeft 



t 



i 



of the EASMNDIE S. • i*j 

fubjcft to it -, in which is a commodious Harbour and two 
or three (mail Villages. Here the new Eaft-India Com- 
pany fettled a Factory, and built a Fort for the Protec- 
tion of it in the Year 1702, without alking Leave of the 
Inhabitants, who foon began to (hew their Difcontent ac 
this Invafion of their Country, and fent to their* Prince, 
the King of Cochin-China, to apprize him of it 5 howevefr, 
he did not think fit to exprefs his Refcntment of the Proce- 
dure at that Time : And the Fadory lived in tolerable 
Quiet till the Year 1705, when the Macafar Soldiers, whom 
the Company had taken into their Service, being threat- 
ened for letting fome of their Slaves efcape, fet Fire to 
the Port, killed the Deputy-Governor, and nineteen of the 
Fadlors, but feveral of the Fafrors got on board a Sloop, 
and failed to Malacca ; the reft were mafiacred by the Cochin- 
Chinefe, except Mr. Cunningham* who was loaded with 
Irons, and fent over to the Continent. He was charged 
by the Governor of the Province with invading the Ifland 
of Condor e, and defying the King's Authority, when, he 
was required to quit it again : To which he anfwered, that 
when the .Englijh poflefled themfelves of that Ifland, they 
did not know there were any Inhabitants upon it ; and that 
they had fent an Embafly to Cochin-China, and received 
a Licence to remain there \ and the Governor appeared fc> 
well fatisfted with his Anfwer, that he gave him his Li- 

1 berty, but made himfelf Matter of all the Treafure and 

Effe&s which belonged to the Eaji- India Company, and 

f demolished the Fort. Cunningham was afterwards made 

1 Governor of Banjar Majfeen in Borneo, which Faftory wa$ 

alfo deftroyed before he h&d been there ten Days, and he 
himfelf was caft away in his Voyage towards Europe, as 
has been related in treating of Borneo. 

r It mutt be acknowledged, that neither tht Englijh or 

arty Power can bejuftified, in taking Pofleflion of a Coun- 
try already inhabited, by Violence, as it is evident the 
Eaji -India Company did of the Ifland of Pulo Condors ; for 
though Mr. Cunningham pretends the Fa&ory had the 

I Leave of the King of Cochin-China to remain there, which 

is very much doubted, he certainly never gave them Leave 

f to ereift a Fort, and difarm his Subje&s, as they did by 

their own Confeffion. I hope we lhall never imitate the 

• i. " . " Perm- 



144 A N ^ H l S'T'O RY 

Portuguefe or Dutch in ufurping the Dominions of Coun- 
tries we have no Right to. It has been their eonftant 
Pra&ice indeed to get Leave to trade, and to build or pur- 
chafc Warehoufes to lay their Effe&s in, and then build 
Forts and introduce Forces, till in the End they have ac- 
tually fubdued and enflaved the Inhabitants : But how 
unjuft and ungrateful is this Procedure ! The Englijh have 
feldom attempted any Thing of this Nature, and when 
they have, it has not anfwered their Expe&ations : Wit- 
nefe this Affair of Condore, and that of Banjar Maffeen* 
.which happened foon after. 



CHAP. VI. 

Contains a Defcription of Siam, and of the Kingdoms 

$/*Pegu, Ava and Arracan. 

SIAM, in which I comprehend Malacca, Cambodia 
and Laos, is fituate between ninety-feven and one hun- 
dred and feven Degrees of Eaftern Longitude, and be- 
tween one and twenty- five Degrees of North Latitude, 
being bounded by Acham and the Provinces of Tunam in 
China on the North; byTonquin, Cochin-China, and the 
Bay of Siam on the Eaft ; by the Straits of $4alacca and 
Sincapora on the South ; and by the Bay of Bengal, Pegu 
and Ava on the Weft, being one thoufand five hundred 
Miles long, the Breadth very unequal, but no where 
three hundred Miles broad. 

The Vallies in this Country, which lie at a Diftance 
from the Sea, are exceffive hot, the Mountains cool, and 
that Part of the Country which lies near the Coaft is re-» 
frefhed great Part of the Day by the Sea-Breezes. The 
annual Rains alfo contribute to cool the Air, or this Part 
of the World would fcarcely be habitable. 

There are two Ridges of Mountains that run through 
the Country from North to South ; the Air which comes 
from them renders that Part of the Country tolerably cooh 
There are not many Parts of this Country, which have 
not either the Benefit of cool Breezes from the Mountains, 
or from the Sea. 

Th* 



c/A EAST-INDIES. 145 

The two chief Rivers are' the Menan and the Mecon. 
The Menan riles in Tartary, and running from North to 
South, paffes by the City of Siam, falling into the Bay of 
the fame Name, in thirteen Degrees of North Latitude. 
The Mecon alfo rifes in Tartary, and running from North 
to South, through Laos and Cambodia^ discharges itfelf 
into the Indian Ocean, in nine Degrees of North Latitude. 

The Monfons, or periodical Winds and Rains prevail 
There as well as in the Hither India^ and the Rains are hea- 
vieft about Midfummer : The faireft Sealon is in December, 
when the Sun is at the greateft Diftance from them •, the 
jmoft ftormy Weather is at the Shifting of the Monfons, 
which ufually happens about the Equinoxes, or within a 
Month fooner or later, when the Shipping gets into Har- 
bour, or muft run the Hazard of being broke to Pieces. 

The chief Towns ars, 1. Siam, the Capital, by the 
Natives called Siyothya, fituate on the River Menan y in 
one hundred one Degrees of Eaftern Longitude, and in four- 
teen Degrees North Latitude, being encompafled almoft 
on every Side by the Branches of the River Menan. It , 
is furrounded by a Wall and other antique Fortifications, 
being about nine or ten Miles in Circumference; but not 
a fixth Part of the Ground within the Walls is built'upon. 
On the vacant Spaces are near three hundred Temples, 
by the Indians called Pagoda's, from worfhiping their 
Pagods, or Images in them ; and about every Temple 
are the Convents of the Priefts, (tiled Talapcins by the 
Siamefe ; here alio are their Burying- Places with Pyramids 
■erefted oyer them, The Streets are fpacious, and fome 
of them have Canals running through them, over which 
area great Number of Bridges. The Houfes.are built 
with Cane, and ftand upon Pillars of Bamboo (a thick 
knotted Cane) twelve or thirteen Feet above the Surface 
of the Ground, to fecure them againft the annual Flood, 
when they have no Communication with one another but 
by Boats. Where a Family is large, they live in diftind: 
Tenements, but all within their Pale, every Man's 
Ground being feparated from his Neighbour's by a Pa- * 
lifado, and the Cattle are houfed in Barns, which ftand 
upon Pillars during the Rainrf, or they would be carried 
away by the Inundation, 

K The 



146 A New HISTORY 

The royal Palace at Siam is encompaffed by three 
Walls* with large Courts or Spaces between the feverat 
Walls* The King refides in the innermoft Court, which 
is called the Vang, and contains fpacious Gardens, Groves, 
and Pieces of Water •, whofoever paffes in or out of the 
Vang falls down on his Face before the Gate. The Sia- 
mefe never build above one Story high •, but then as you 
pafs from one Room to another in the King's Palace, both 
the Floor and Roof of every Room is raifed * the firft 
Room is the loweft, from whence you afcend by feveral 
Steps to the fecond, and fo on to the third, tsc. 1 here are 
feven fuch Rooms in the Royal Palace, and in the Houfes • 
of Perfons of Diftin&ion there are three Floors, in paffing 
to every one of which we afcend by Steps. The Grand 
Room where Ambaffadors are entertained, is open on all 
Sides, for the Benefit of the Air, and the Roof is fup- 
poned by flender Pillars ; it is i'urroi nded alfo by Water 
and lhady Groves. There are feveral fuch Rooms in the 
Gardens of the Palace, where the Mandarins, or great 
Officers attend, while they are in waiting. 

The Hall of Audience, beyond which Foreigners are 
feldom admitted, is wainicotted, varnifhed, and painted 
red, with Pannels of Looking-Glafs in it, and the Floor 
covered with rich Carpets. The Guards have Orders to 
admit no Man into the Palace who is armed, or has drank 
any Arrack or Spirits : The Officer therefore fmells every 
Man's Breath before he fuffers him to pafs the Gate. The- 
Stables for the King's Elephants and Horfes are within the 
firft Enclofure of the Palace. In .a Gallery at the upper 
End of the Hall of Audience the King ufually Ihews him- 
fclf to the People. * 

The King chufes to be attended only by Women in hi* 
Palace; they drefs him, prepare his Food, and attend 
him ift his Bed-Chamber, and at Table ; but his Cap he 
puts oku him r elf. This is not to be touched by the greateft 
of his Subjs&s. The King's favourite Wife is called 
Queen, who* is generally one of his neareft Relations. 
One of thefe Queens was the King's own Daughter by hi* 
Sifter-, they feem to be of the fame Opinion in this Ar- 
ticle, as the Egyptians were, that none but thofe of the 
Boyal Family are fit to- match: with a King: The famous* 

Cleopatra 



of the E A S T - I N D I E S. 147 

Cleopatra married two "of her Brothers, and poifojied them, 
that fhe might reign fole Monarch of Egypt ; but though 
thefe Kings don't marry out of the royal Family, they 
maintain Abundance of other Women ; they will take the 
fair Daughter of any Subjeft to their Bed, and fometimes 
fend for a Nobleman's Daughter only to extort Money 
from the Father for her Ranfom* 

As to the Furniture of the Siamefe Houfes, they have 
neither Beds, Chairs, or Tables j they lie upon Mattraffes, 
pnCottsor Couches, having one Sheet under them, and^ 
a Qailt, or Piece of Calico, which they draw over them 
in the rainy Seafon •, for it is much cooler during th$ 
Flood, though the Sun be then vertical, than it is in th$ 
dry Seafon, when the Sun Ihines more obliquely upon 
them. As to Servants and poor People, their Lodging 
is no better than a Mat upon the Floor, and the Cloth 
they wear in the Day -Time covers them at Night. 

The Siamefe are neither tall nor corpulent, but well 
proportioned, and very fwarthy 5 their Faces are broad, 
they have^ high Cheek Bones, and both their Foreheads 
and Chins are contracted, and terminate in a Point. They 
have fmall black Eyes, large Mouths, and thick pale 
Lips •, and like the reft of the Indians in their Neighbour- 
hood, take Abundance of Pains to make their Teeth 
black, and nourifh and poiifh the Nails of fome of the 
Fingers of their Left Hands, till they are of the Length 
of their Fingers 5 and this diftinguifhes a Gentleman 
irom the Vulgar. The Fafhions never alter as they do 
with lis ; both Sexes have black Hair, without a Curl in 
it, and they cut it fliort, that it does not come below their 
Ears ; the Women make it ftand upright on their Fore- 
heads. The Men have very thin Beards, which may pro- 
ceed from their pulling them up by the Roots, not leav- 
ing fo much as a Whifkcr on the upper Lip : They gene- 
rally bathe before they go out, or have Water poured 
upon their Heads for an Hour. The latter is more eli- 
gable in this hot Country, for the Water they have in 
Ponds and Refervoirs is luke-warm, but what is drawn 
out of their Wells is exceeding cold, and feems the more 
& a$ our Bodies are much hatter than they are in colder 
Countries, 

K 2 Th« 



t 4 8 A Mm HISTORY 

t r 

. The better Sort of ' People wear a Calido or Muffin 
Shirt, wrapping a Piece of Cotton Linen, called a Pagne* 
kbout their Loins, and in the cool or rainy Seafon they 
tyear * Mantle of Chin t, or painted Calico. The King 
is cloathed in a Veft of brocaded Sattin, and has a Cap 
of a piramidal Form, with a Coronet of precious Stones 
about his Temples ; the great Officers and Nobility alio 
have Coronets, but not fo rich as his Majefty's ; all their 
Cloachs are red in Time of War, and in their hunting 
Expeditions. 

The King frequently prefents his Officers with a Veft 
&nd Cap ; none are fuffered to wear Vefts, except fuch as 
are appointed by the King, and the Caps are never worn 
except in his Majefty's Prefence, or when they prefide in 
Courts of Juftice •, Slippers are worn fometimes, but 
always put off when they enter their Temples or Houfcs. 

The Women wear a Linen Cloth about their Loins, 
which reaches down lower than the Mens, and ferves in- 
ftead of a Petticoat ; they alfo throw a Piece of Linen 
about their Necks, which covers their Breafts, leaving 
the reft of their Bodies bare, as well as their Legs, and 
have no Cap or Covering for their Heads, except their 
Hair, which is cropped as fhort as the Mens. The infe- 
rior People cover no more of their Bodies than Modefty 
requires ; the Women wear Bracelets on their Arms and 
Legs, and as many Rings on three Fingers of each Hand 
as they can put on, 

The Siamefe are. efteemed a very ingenious People, 
they will imitate readily any Thing they fee, but are 
too lazy to ufe much Application, for which Reafon they 
fcarce bring any Thing to Perfection. Chymiftry and 
Aftronomy are the Studies they moft delight in -, but in 
thefe they have made no great Proficiency. They are 
admired for their Chaftity and Temperance -, Drunkennefs 
is detefted by them. In their Quarrels they very feldom 
proceed to Blows, and muft be thoroughly provoked 
before they exprefs any Refentment; hut if they arc 
grofsly injured they will revenge it, not openly by a Duel, 
but by fome fecret Attempt, in which they run as little 
Hazard as poffible themfelves, not being remarkable for 
their Courage. They carry themfelves with too much. 

Info* 



.* 



of the E A S T - I N D I E ,S. 149 

Infolencc towards their Inferiors, but cringe like Frenchmen * 
to thofe above them. They have a great Command of 
their Pafiions, ferene as their Heaven, fays Loubiere % which 
changes but twice a Year, and that infenfibly. They are 
remarkable for living well with their Families. All is 
Peace at Home, their Children are fuch fweet, tra&able 
Tempers, that they are the Delight of their Parents, and 
the King takes Pleafure in nothing more than the Compa* 
ny of Children under feven Years of Age. But then it is 
obferved they grow cunning, and lofe their childifh Inno- 
cence.; therefore at that Age, he changes them for others, 
that ftill retain their native Simplicity. 

As Children grow up, they are taught Modefty and 
Submiffion to their Superiors in the firft Place, not to be 
noify or talkative. In the Houfes of great Men, a pro- 
found Silence is obferved : They are advifed rather to 
liften to their Seniors, than rudely to give their Opinions 
without being afked : Nothing is efteemed more unpolite, 
than to pretend to be wifer than the Company, or to relate 
any Thing, whether true or falfe, which may create any 
Uneafinefs to thofe they converfe with ; and like the Chinefe % 
they always avoid fpeaking in the firft Perfon : They ne- 
ver fay, / did this, or Tou are in the Wrong; never 
aflerting any Thing pofuively, but by Way of Queftion; 
enquiring, if the Perfon they fpeak to, is not of this or 
that Opinion. ' When they fpeak to Ladies, it fs alway$ 
with fome refpedtfuf Epithet ; they infinuate that flie is 
young or fair, whatever her Age or Complexion may be. 
It is not to be fuppofed that any Woman can ever fufpeft 
Old Age is approaching. 

The Way of Salutation here, as in mofl Indian Nations, 
is the Salam, that is, the lifting one or both Hands to thteir 
Heads and bowing their Bodies. If any one addreffes 
another who is much his Superior, he falls down upon his 
Face before him; to ftand upright when we attend a 
preat Man, is the higheft Piece of Infolence : The ufuai 
Pofture is fitting on their Heels, with their Heads a Jittle 
reclined. The Ceremonies ufed at Vifits fo much re- 
femble thofe of the Cbineje, that they need not be again 
enumerated here. I fhall only take Notice of the uncom- 
mon Refpeft they have for their Heads, and even for their 

K 3 Caps, 



f 



150 A Ntw HISTORY 

Caps, when they have been authorized by the Sovereign to 
were them. Thq Cap, as has been bbferved* is a Badge 
of Authority, and feldom worn but on publiek Occafions, 
or wheir 3 Magiftrate fits in a Court of Juftice ; and as it 
js efteemed the rudeft Thing in the World, to ftroke or 
touch a Man's Head, fo his Cap is treated with uncom- 
mon Refpedl : The Servant who carries it, puts it on a 
Cane made for that Purpofe, and carries it above his 
Head. 

The ufual Food in this Country, is Rice and Fifli, 
fometimes frelh, but moft commonly dried or pickled, and 
neither of them very fweet. They follow the Fafhion in 
their eating (linking Fifh, which are as much admired 
there, as (linking Rabbits ufed to be with us; but they 
eat alfo the Fle(h of all Manner of Animals as the Chine fe 
do, not refufing Rats, Mice, Locufts, or any Infefts 
whatever, feafoning every Thing fo very high with Spice, 
.that it is not eafy to diftinguifh one Kind of Flelh from 
another. Their Liauor is River Water, which muft 
fland a great while before it is fettled and fit to drink, 
efpecially in the Time of the Rains, when all their Rivers 
.are Torrents, and carry down fo much of the Soil along 
with them, that they occ^fion the Flux, efpecially among 
Foreigners. The Rain- Water which is preferved in capa- 
cious Refervoirs, is the wholefomeft. They drink Tea in 
thefe Countries univcrfally, and in private, it is faid, they 
drink Arrack and Spirits, though thefe are prohibited. 

Am <3ng their Diverfions are the Mock-Fights- of Ele- 
phants: What they were fond eft of, was Cock-Fighting, 
till their Priefts procured an Order againft it, efteeming the 
killing. thofe Animals almoft as wicked as the killing a 
Man. Comedies alfo are another Part of their Diverfion f 
and a Kind of martial Dances in which they aft a Battle, 
being armed and mafked, and in their Songs repeat 
Part of the Hiftory of their Country. Their grand annual 
Feilival is when the Waters retire ; then they fail down 
the River feveral Evenings fucceflively, their Barges b,e* 
ing illuminated with Painted Paper -Lanthorns. . They" 
have another Feftival or Thankfgiving for the Fruits of 
the Earth after Harvefl, when their Streets as well as their ' 
Boafs are illuminated, and a grand Fire -Work -is play'd 

off 



of the £ A S T - I N D I E S. 151 

•off on the Occafion. Here are Races alfo, not of Horfes 
but Oxen \ and they row Races alfo upon theit Rivers, 
and are fo bewitched by the Games of Chance, that they 
will not only play away their Wives and Children, but fet 
their own Perfons and Liberties on the Caft of a Die, and 
become Slaves if they lofe. The New and Full Moon are 
fo far from being Feftivals, that they keep a ftrift Fall, 
and .will admit no Manner of Diverfions onthefeDaysj 
at this Time it is they make their Offerings to the Priefts 
in their Convents, and give Alms to the Poor. The Offer- 
ings are prefented by the Prieft to the Idol, and fomc 
Time after the Priefts apply them to their own Ufe. 

In this Country, no Man learns any particular Trade; 
but every one has fome Knowledge or all, and they work 
half a Year by Turns for the King; when, if any of them 
fliould be found perfectly ignorant of the Bufinefe he is fet 
about, he would undergo the Baftinado: Nor does any 
Man endeavour to excel, left the King fhould keep him 
in his Service as long as he lives. The tyrannical Govern- 
ment they live under, is another great Difcouragement to 
# Induftry, the King feizing on any Man's Money and 
Effe&s, when he pleafes. 

Their Carpenters Work is fattened together with 
wooden Pins inftead of Nails : They know how to caft 
Metals, and cover the Hilts of Swords, and other Things 
with Gold, Silver, or Copper: They have not the Art of 
tanning Leather, or of making any Stuffs of Silk or Wool, 
and weave only Cotton-Cloth. Their Painting is rather 
worfe than that of China*, being fuch indifferent Work- 
men, therefore, they give great Wag^s to the^European 
Artifts. 

The Siamefe not affe&ing Finery in their, Drefs, 
and defpifing fuperfluous Ornaments, negledt a great 
many mechanick Arts, which the Europeans are cm- 
ployed in. They appear to be the honefteft apd t faireft 
Dealers in the Work}: Their Weights and Meafur^s niay 
be depended on : They are the very Reverie of the Chv^fe. 
The King is the Chief Merchant, in. this Country; no 
Man may traffick with a Foreigner, till the King's Factors 
have had. the Refufal of the Goods ; and thefe Faftors de- 
scend to low, as to fell them by Retail again. The Sub- 

K 4 jeft 



t S z A New HISTORY 

je&s are obliged to buy all their Cloathing of them, which 
is chiefly Cotcon-Cloth. He obliges his Subjefts to fell 
him all their Ivory and Arrack at a certain Price, which 
he fells again to Foreigners. 

In the King's Magazines are Salt-Petre, Lead, Sapan- 
Wood, Gunpowder, Sulphur, and Arms, which his 
Majefty monopolizes, not fuflfering his Subjects to deal in 
thele Articles. Skins and Furs alfo he purchafes at hi§ 
own Price of the People, and difpofes of them to Foreig- 
ners i but by thefe Practices he has ruined the Trade of the 
Country, which was formerly very great. Foreigners as 
well as his own Subjefts are fo ill ufed by the King's Fac- 
tors, that very few care to refort thither. 

MALACCA contains the Southern Provinces ofSiam-, 
its chief Town, is now in Pofleflion of the Dutch, is of the 
fame Name, being fituate in one hundred Degrees of 
Eaftern Longitude, and two Degrees thirty Minutes North 
Latitude, on a flat level Shore, clofe to the Sea, and de- 
fended by a ftrong Caftle ; the Walls of the Caftle are 
founded on a Rock, and carried up to a great Height 
The Town contains about three hundred Families of 
Dutch) Chinefe, Portuguefe, and Moors, and fome con** 
fiderable Armenian Merchants. The. Natives inhabit the 
Suburbs living in poor Cottages, and tyrannized over by 
the Dutch, which they are not yet reconciled to, appear- 
ing greatly difcontented in their Looks. The Chinefe have 
the beft Shops in the Town, of whom may be had any 
Thing their Country or the neighbouring Iilands produce. 
Malacca is efteemed as healthful a Port-Town as is to be 
met with in fo warm a Climate: They have no hot Winds 
there, as in the jlither India, nor the chilling Winds, 
that are fo deftru£tive in the neighbouring Ifland of Suma- 
tra - 9 however, it is not a Place of any great Trade at pre- 
fent. The Dutch drive away all other Europe/in Nation $ 
from this Coaft, and endeavour to monopolize the Trade: 
By a Squadron of Men of War or Cruifers they have here, 
they are Matters of the Straits of Malacca, andean prevent 
other Nations pafling them, or trafficking with the Na- 
tives. But to return to the upper Part of Siam, -which is 
ftill fubjeft to that King. 

The Soil of .the low Lands is enriched by the annual 

JfJoodsj 



*SKli 



of the EAST-INDIE S. i# 

Floods, and is exceeding proper for Rice, which grows 
in Water for the moft Part. It is fometimes fown alfo ia 
the high Grounds, and the Rice which grows there' is 
efteetned the beft ; but then they have poor Crops. They 
fow Wheat alfo fometimes; but unlefs they can turn 
the Water into their Grounds, it comes to nothing, for 
all the high Grounds are burnt up as foon as the Rains 
are over. 

They begin to plant the Rice in the flat Country, 
when the Flood has moiftened the Earth, and as the Wa- 
ter encreafes the Rice grows, and keepsits Head above 
Water till the dry Seafon approaches, and the Sun has 
exhaled all the Water, and then is the Time of Harveft. 
Sometimes it is ripe before the Waters retire, and then 
they go in Boats to reap it. Their Kitchen Gardens af- 
ford them Herbs for Salads, Pulfe and Roots, and the Cu- 
cumbers and Melons which the poor People eat in the 
dry Seafon, are efteemed very innocent Food. The only 
European Fruits almoft they have, are Limes, Oranges, 
and Lemons t, but they abound in Plantains, Banana's, 
Mangoes, Guava's, Jaques, Durion, Tamarinds, Ana- 
nas, Coco Nuts, and Sugar-Canes : Here are fome 
European Flowers, as the Tuberofe, Gilliflower antf fome 
few Rofes, Jaffamine, and Amaranthus, and other Na- 
tives of the Country valuable for their Colours ard Scent : 
But it is obferved, that in the Heat of the Day, they do 
not fmeli near 16 ftrong, as they do in the Morning and 
Evening-, and the European Flowers tranfplanted thither, 
do not afford near fo fweet a Smell there, as they do here. 

Their Hills are covered with good Timber, of which 
the Bamboo is of great Ufe in Building#t is a hollow knot- 
ted Cane, of an enormous Size, very ftrong and hard to 
cut. The Coco Nut, which grows on the low Lands by 
the Sea-Side, affords them Meat, Drink, and Oil ; the 
Body of the Tree is ufeful in building Boats and other 
Veffels, and of the Fibres of the Bark and Nut, they make 
Cordage ; the Leaves ferye tp write on, and the Branches, 
for Covering for their Houfes. The Cotton-Tree is very 
xomm#n here ; it bears a Fruit of the Bignefs of a Walnut, 
which opsns when it is ripe ; within it they find the Cot<- 
ton ; from other Trees they draw Lacque and other Gums : 

Thej 



»54 'if i\ftw H I S T O R T 

They have alfo the Sapan, and other Woods proper for 
dying, and fome Lignum Aloes or Aquila. 

Of their Animals, Elephants are the chief; there is no 
Country where they abound more j the King's Elephants 
have a great Number of Servants to attend them : They 
arc covered with rich Cloths, and adorned with Colours 
and Streamers, when they appear abroad : No Animals 
are fo tra&able and guick of Apprehenfion : As their 
Strength and Bulk are luch, that there is no bridling nor 
governing them by Force, they are managed altogether 
by Signs, Thefe are the longeft-lived Animals we meet 
With any where, it is an hundred Years, probably, before 
they are full grown. The Siamefe are or Opinion, they 
are animated by fome illuftrious Souls. The white Ele- 
phant j which the King of Siam imagines is ,the only one 
t>f that Colour, and has the Soul of fome great Prince 
lbdged in him, he never rides upon •, orders him to be 
ferved in Gold Plate, and treated as Sovereign of the 
Species ; nor has he much lefs Efteem for his white Horfe 
•than he has for his Elephant ; that Bead is honoured in 
the Eaft, as much as the Hanoverian white Pad is in the 
Weft. Next to the white Elephant, the black are mod 
adeemed on Account of their Scarcity. 

There are very few Horfes, Sheep, or Goats in this 
this Country ; nor is their Mutton or Goat's Flefh to be 
admired-, their Hogs, which refemblethofe of Cbina y 
are much the bed Food: the Oxen ana Buffaloes draw 
their Ploughs and Carriages. They have almoft all Man- 
ner of Poultry, Wild-Fowl and Game, which are exceed- 
ing cheap : But the Flefh of their Fowls as well as their 
Mutton is poor dfy Meat. Venifon is fo little admired, 
that they kill the Deer only for their Skins, which the 
Dutch ufually purchafe of them and carry to Japan. 

Here are fome beautiful Birds, fuch as Maccaws, Par- 
rots, &c. but no finging Birds. The Natives will not 
kill a Bird, but on the contrary, feed them out of Cha- 
rity, which makes them fo tame, that they will come into 
their Houfes, and feed on any Thing they find there. 

The King of Siam is not only Sovereign, but Proprietor 
of all the Lands of the Country, and chief Merchant, 

alfa^l^ 



of the E A S T - I N D I E S; 155 

alfq, monopolizing moft of the Trafiick. The Crown is 
laid to be hereditary, buttheir Tyranny occafions frequent 
Revolutions. When one Prince is depofed, another is 
immediately advanced to the Throne, either by Force or 
the Eleftion of the People: And it is a little ftrange, 
that when they have fo often fufFered by bad Princes, they 
have never thought of limiting their Power, when they 
have advanced a new Family to the Throne. As to their 
Laws and Cuftoms, thefe ate hardly worth mentioning, 
where the Will and Pleafure of the Prince is the fupreme 
Law. 

The King fhews himfclf to the People but twice a Year, 
when he diftributes his Alms to the Talapoins or Priefts, 
He is always feen on an elevated Situation, or an Elephant: 
The King's Seat on his Elephant is not covered with a 
Top, and is open before-, the Man who has the Direftfen 
of the Beaft, fits upon his Neck, and. governs him by 
Signs, or pricking him with an Iron he holds in his Hand. 
Tho* the King does but feldom appear in the City, he 
frequently goes to the Louvo to hunt, when his Women at* 
tend him on Foot, a Guard of two hundred Men march- 
ing before them to drive all People from the Roads and 
Towns through which they are to pafs •, and whenever 
the King ftops, all the People about him fall upon their 
Faces on the Ground. 

Here are no hereditary Nobility, or any Diftinftions 
made between one Man and another, unlefs what every 
Man's Office or Poft in the Government occafions. The 
Word Mandarin is a Portuguefe Term, which Writers 
apply to every great Officer and Magiftrate in the Eaft. 
The King gives a Name to every Officer on his Advance- 
ment, which is fome Honourable Epithet. The Portu- 
guefe, 'tis obferved, finding feveral Governments heredi- 
tary here, gave the Governors the Title of Kings,' repre- 
fenting the King of Siam as an Emperor, who had a great 
Number of vafiftl Princes dependent on him. This ap- 
pears to have been the Cafe alfo in the neighbouring 
Kingdoms. 

Instead of an Oath of Allegiance every Perfon who 
•has aElace under the Government, comes before one of the 
principal Talapoins or Priefts, from whom he receives a 

Glafs 



156 A New HISTORY 

Glafs of Water, which the Priefts orders him to drink* 
repeating at the fame Time certain Curfes and Impreca- 
tions, wifliing he may perifh, if he does not ferve his 
Prince faithfully. 

Such is the Tyranny of this Government, that if any 
of the Prince's Council happens to give him any Advice 
that does not fucceed, he is frequently punifhed for it ; 
and the great Officers are not only prohibited coming into 
the King's Prefence without Leave, but are forbid to vifit 
one another ; and every one is obliged, if he hears any 
Thing fpoken to the Prejudice of the Governmenr, to 
declare it on Pain of Death : The great Men are abfolute 
Slaves here as they are in Turkey. People that live at a 
Diftance from Court, and have no BuGnefs with the State 
are much the happieft. Danger and Servitude are the 
Fruits of Ambition in all Arbitrary Governments : Nor 
is the Sovereign much happier, who cannot depend on 
the Fidelity oi his Subjeds, who having no Security in 
their Properties, don't much concern themfelves about 
their Prince's Right or Title. 

The Governors of Provinces, Jud'ges, and Magiftrates 
having no Salaries, or very mean ones, are guilty of 
great Extortion and Opprefiion ; fome Governors having 
revolted, whofe Governments were hereditary, the relt 
are now made temporary, and continue only for three 
Years. The Province of Patan 9 however, eleft their own 
Governor, and generally make Choice of an old Woman 
of fome particular Family, who is called Queen ; but her 
Authority is limited, fhe is obliged to have the Concur- 
rence of the chief Men in every Tranfa£Uon of Moment : 
She fends two fmall Trees of Gold and Silver annually to 
the king of Siam, by way of Tribute, and as an Acknow- 
ledgment that fhe holds that Country of him. 

Submission to Parents and Governors is as ftridtly 
required, by the Laws of Siam> as by thofe of China* and 
the Aged are much reverenced here. Lying is- punifhed, 
and deemed as great a Crime in Siam as Perjury is in this 
Part of the World ; and Theft is fo much detefted, that 
one who is guilty of it, is at once abandoned by all his 
Friends, none will intercede for him, or give him any 

Affiftance » 



i 
? 



of the EAST-INDIES. 157 

Affiftancc • and an unjuft Poffeflbr of Lands is puniihefd 
as a Robber. 

No Man is fuffered to profecute another, either in a 
civil or criminal Caufe, without giving Security to make 
the Charge good •, every Man is allowed to plead, his 
own Caufe, or any of his Relations may fpeak for him $ 
but the Law is not a Profeffion of a particular Set of 
Men. 

The Juftice of a Profecution is tried by yarious Me- 
thods, where the Truth of the Charge is doubtful. Both 
the Profecutor and the Defendant are fometimes com- 
manded to walk over burning Coals, and he that efcapes 
is held to have the Right on his Sjde^ Another Method* 
is by diving into deep Water ; the Man that continues 
longeft under Water is adjudged innocent. 

A third Trial is by Vomits. The Prieft gives each 
of the Parties a Pill, and the Teftimony of the Perfon 
who keeps' the Pill in his Stomach without vomiting* is 
believed. They throw both the Plaintiff, arid Defendant 
fometimes to a Tyger, and he that comes off unhurt is 
held to be in the Right ; and they will frequently offer 
themfelves to undergo this laft Trial* though they appear 
to be extreamly timorous when they are to engage an 
Enemy. 

Criminals are fometimes thrown to an Elephant and 
trampled to Death, but Punifhments are ufually adapted 
to the Nature of tTie Crime. A Perfon convi&ed of Rob- 
bing the Publick has melted Metals poured down his 
Throat ; they few up the Liar's Mouth, and for little 
Crimes they fafteh a fquare Pillory Board about the Of- 
fender's Neck; fbme are fet in the Ground, up to the 
Shoulders, and every one authorifed to buffet him, which 
is the greateft Indignity a Siamefe can fuffer, efpecially to 
have his Head- buffeted by Women; but though their 
greateft Men are fometimes punifhed in this Manner, this 
is faid to be done for their Reformation, they are after- 
wards reftored to their Polls •, Officers are frequently pu- 
nifhed for the Faults of their inferior Officers, and Pa- 
rents and Mailers of Families for the Faults of their Chil- 
dren and Dependents. 

The 






158 A New HISTORY 

The Forces of this Kingdom^ and the Men able to 
bear Arms are the fame Number, for the whole Nation is 
regimented, and ferve the King by Turns, either in his 
Wars or in the publick Buildings, and furnifhing the 
Court with Provifions, Cloathing and Uteniils, building 
Barges, Boats, &V. the Talapoins, or Prieits, Women 
and Children,' only being excufed from thefe Services. 
As the Afiaticks magnify every Thing they fpeak of, either 
as to Numbers, Strength, or Beauty ; they call an Officer 
who has the Command of five hundred, a Commander 
of ten thouland. Figurative and allegorical Expreffions alfo 
are much in ufe j Princes and Men of Eminence are fre- 
quently called Stars of the firft Magnitude ; Ladies are 
called beautiful Flowers, and the like, which ftiould al- 
ways be remembered when we read the Hiftory of any 
Eaftern Country, or we (hall form very odd Ideas of 
tfrem., We are fhocked alfo at the numerous Armies we 
read of in that Part of the World ; but if we conftfer 
that half a Nation, and perhaps fevctral Nations in fome 
cxtenfive Empires, take up Arms It a Time, their Num- 
bers will not appear incredible ; but it muft furely be in 
a Figure Writers fpeak, when they tell us that the King 
of Siam maintains ten thoufand Elephants : Neither his 
Kingdom, nor any other of ten Times the Extent, would 
be able to feed fuch an Army of Monfters ; nor do I 
believe that any People ever had one thoufand in their 
Armies, they would not only be unneceffary, but an In- 
cumbrance They are faid indeed to be the Strength of 
their Armies in the Farther India ; but they were much 
more ferviceable formerly than they can be now, fincc 
Gunpowder and Cannon have been in Ufe. It would be 
a very eafy Matter to put them in Diforder by Fireworks, 
and drive them upon their Mailers, which would infalli- 
bly prove the Lofs: of a Battle. 

Besides the ordinary Militia, the King has a Battalion 
of Guards at his Palace of Lotwoy confifting of eight 
hundred Men, and four hundred more at Bancock. Thefe 
have been inftrufted in Military Difcipline by fome Eh- 
repeans the late King retained in his Service. They have 
fome fmall Artillery, which are carried in Waggons, 
but hpw they fire them does not appear, for they have no 

proper 



of the E A S T - I N D I E S. i 59 

proper Carriages to lay them on ; however, we are told 
they begin the Battle with thefe, and it is very feldoro 
they advance within Mulket-Shot of an Enemy, One 
Side or other retires before they come to a clofe Fight* 
and fecurc themfelves by Intrenchments and Barricadoes 
in the Woods and Mountains ; for this Country is very 
well fecured againft Invafions by their Mountains on one 
Side, and by the Sea on the other. The Floods alfo are 
a good Defence in the rainy Seafon ; the Siamefe very art- 
fully drew the People of Pegu into their Country a littlfe 
before the Rains began, in one of their Incurfions, and 
kept them in Play till the Waters rofe to fuch a Height 
that they could not retreat •, and thus the Pegu Army was 
entirely ruined without fighting. There are fcarce any 
fortified Towns in Siam % or any of the adjacent Countries* 
and very little Occafion for any, the Mountains and 
Waters are a better Defence : It is no Wonder, therefore, 
we hear of no Sieges in the Farther India; this Part of 
the Art of War thevare perfedtly Strangers to. 

As the King is ^Kreprietor of all the Lands in the 
Country, he referves a Rent on every Acre he lets out ; 
a Duty is laid alfo on every Ship, Boat and Veflel, and 
on every Fruit-Tree : And he has fix Months Service of 
his Subjects, who are employed in all Manner of Manu- 
factures for the King's Ufe. Prefents are made by the 
Governors and Officers he advances, and he monopolizes 
almoft every Branch of Trade. The Kingdom to him 
is one great Farm, of which the Sovereign alone receives 
the Profit. It is impoflxblc therefore his Subje<5ts can be 
rich. They are all Slaves, and work only for him ; and 
yet the Tyranny of the Government, and the Reftraint 
he lays upon Trade are fuch that few Foreigners care to 
traffick with him, and with all the Advantages already 
enumerated, he himfelf i& neither rich or powerful. The 
Dutch do * what they pleafe with him, build Forts, and 
poffefs themfelves *of what Part of his Dominions they fee 
fit, and by their Fleets drive all other Foreigners from his 
Coaft, whenever they pleafe. His whole Revenue in 
Money, 'tis computed, does not amount annually to 
three hundred thoufand Pounds Sterling. 

Tw& 



*6o A New HISTORY 

Two Languages are fpoken by the Siamefe, namely* 
the Baly and the Siamefe : In* the Baly they have thirty- 
three Letters, and in the Siamefe thirty-feven, all Con* 
fonants, and there are a great Number of Vowels in both 
Languages, for which they have particular Chara&ers, 
fome , placed before the Confpnant and others after, fome 
above, and others under the Confonant. In thefe Lan- 
guages much depends upon the Accent and Tone of the 
Voice ; they rather ling than fpeak. The Baly is a dead 
language, and fpoke only by the Learned : I take what 
Writers call the Siamefe \ to be .indeed the Malayan Lan- 
guage, which is fpoken commonly upon* the Coafts of 
the Farther India, and the adjacent Iflands.. It is ftrange, 
that when Siam and all the Countries almoft near China* 
have long had the Ufe of Letters, that the Chinefe fhould 
ftill negledt to introduce them, but make ufe only of a 
Kind of Hieroglyphicks, which, in a few Generations, 
are rendered unintelligible. Not only the Aftronomy of 
the Siamefe is very imperfeft, but they were very lately 
ignorant of the Figure of the Earth, as well as its Mo- 
tion, and I believe remain ftill fo: But they are great 
Pretenders to Aftrology as well as the Chinefe. They 
would make us believe they can charm away Difeafes, cal* 
culate Nativities, and foretel future Events - 9 but are very 
cautious when they are confulted by the Prince, who 
fometimes rewards them with a good Baftinado if they 
deceive him. To procure or eftablifh Health, the Sia* 
mefe y and other Indian Nations, after bathing, have their 
Slaves to rub and chafe them, ftretch theiV Limbs, mould 
and fqueeze their Flefh from Head to Foot, which is a 
pleafant, as well as a wholefome Operation. Their Phy» 
licians feldom let Blood or Vomit, they have a great Opi- 
nion of Sweats, and fometimes purge their Patients ; but 
their beft .Receipt feems to be Conge, a Water-gruel made 
of Rice, to which Diet they ufually confine the Patient til 
he recovers. If a Medicine prefcribed fails of producing 
the expe&ed Effeft, the Phyficians impute it to the Ma-, 
lice of fome evil Spirit, and are very dextrov^s in deceiving 
their Patients; and, as one obferves, there will never 
» want Pretenders, as long as there are Fools to be impofed 
upon. 

The 



# 



if the EAST-INDIES. 161 

, The Siamefe Court has a very mean Opinion of Atft- 
bafiadors, looking upon them rather as Fadors than Re- 
presentatives of their Princes! They pay more Refpedb 
to the Letter he brings from his Mafter, than to his Per- 
ibn, and feldom fend Ambaffadors to other Courts, but; 
upon Bufinefs relating to Trade* When he is admitted 
to an Audience, he is direfted h6t to addrefs himfelf to 
the King, till his Majefty fpeaks to him firft •, nor are 
they pleafed with a long Speech, the lefs Time it takes 
tip, the greater is the Refpett paid him ; they efteem a 
tedious Harangue a Kind of Infult. When the Ambaf- 
fador has concluded his Speech, he is prefented with a 
Veft, which he immediately puts on in the King's Pre* 
fence, and is ordered afterwards to confer with the Prime 
Minifter, or Barcalon. This People, 'tis obferved, are 
not hafty in their Refolutions, and will never omit Mat- 
ters of Form. The Women only feem to have the Li- 
berty of addrefling this Prince with Freedom, and they 
know very well how to adapt their Flattery to his Hu- 
mour : A$ he has a great Paffion to be thought a wife and 
politick Prince, they dwell chiefly on his Wifdom, which 
they declare furpafles that of all other Princes, and touch 
but lightly on his Courage, Wealth and Grandeur* which 
he afFe&s to defpife. It is not out of Inclination that he 
governs his People with a ftrift Hand, he declares, but; 
becaufe he apprehends it neceflary : For his Subje&s, he 
obferves, are like his Monkies, who are very obedient, 
while he holds their Chain* but difregard him as foon as 
they are at Liberty. 

The Portuguefe y who firft vifited this Country, called 
their Temples Pagoda's, from the Perfian Poutgheda* 
which in that Language fignifies a Temple ; but the Sia~ 
mefe Name is Piban ; Some call the Idol, as well as the 
Temple, a Pagoda y but I apprehend the Idol is the Pa- 
god, and the Temple it is worihipped in the Pagodas. 
Thefe Temples, and the Area about them, arefurround~ 
edby a Wall, and beyond the Wall are Convents of 3V 
lapoins and Talapoinejfes (or the Cells of their Priefts and 
Priefteffes) who live in feparate Houfes. The Females* 
or Nuns, are not forced into thefe Convents, neither are 
they obliged to remain there any longer than they fee fit ;, 

L but 



5TJ 



i 
i 

h 
i 



i6r A New HISTORY 

but none are admitted till the Decline of Life. The E- 
ducation of Youth is committed to the Talapoins, and 
they are ferved by their Scholars. Thefe Talapoms are a 
Sort of begging Friars, which live upon the Alms of the 
People, and every one eats what he begs, or is given 
him, by himfeli, and not in a common Room. They 
are very hofpitable to all Strangers, Chriftians as well as 
others, and have Lodgings for them on each Side their 
Gate. 

These Priefts vow Celibacy, and lead very auftere 
Lives ; the Penalty of deviating from their Rules is no 
lefs than Burning, which the King takes care fhall be 
rigoroufly executed, to prevent too many of his Subje&s. 
turning Talapoins y fince they pay no Duties, and contri- 
bute nothing to the Defence or Support of the State. 

They preach every New and Full Moon, and during, 
the foundation, every Day, from Morning till Evening* 
the Preacher fitting crofs- legged on a raifed Floor, and 
is relieved when he is weary by one of his Brethren •, the 
People expreffing their Affent to the Reafonablenefs of the 
Doaxine, and bringing their Alms to the Preacher, by 
which many of them grow rich. The Time of the Rains 
is their annual Faft, when they eat nothing but a little 
Fruit in the Evening. The Talapoins are obliged to watch 
as well as pray, efpecially after Harveft, when they go 
out into the Fields in the Night- Time, and return into* 
the Towns in the Morning -> and though others are apt to 
think themfelves in Danger of wild Beafts when they are 
abroad in the Night-Time, the People are made to be- 
lieVe, that a Tyger will not touch a Talapoin y they are fo* 
fanftified a Generation % and if any one happens to be 
killed by a wild Beaft, they either deny it, or fay he 
did not live up to the Rules of his Order. Thefe Priefts 
jfhave their jieads, Beards, and Eyebrows* and carry a 
Talapot, or broad Leaf, in their Hands, which ferves 
them for an Umbrella. The Superior fhaves himfelf, 
becaufe no Man is worthy to touch his Head, and the 
Elder always (have the Younger; but when he is grown 
too old, a young Talapoin is permitted t<5 (have him, who 
afks Pardon firft, and declares himfelf unworthy of that 

Honour* 



of the E A S T-I N D I E S, 163 

Honour. They wear a yellow Cloth about their Loins, 
and another abo.ut their Shoulders. 

They wafh in the Morning as foon as they can fee, 
and not fooner, for fear they fhould deftroy fome Infedt. 
After wafhing, they perform their Devotions in the Tem- 
ple, which they fing as in Choirs, their Books are Coco- Nut 
Leaves, on which they write, or rather engrave •, for they 
have not yet the Art of Printing : They fing their De- 
votions fitting upon -their Heels ; but both Priefts and 
People, at their going in and out of the Temple, proftrate 
themfelves three Trmes before their Idols. After the 
Morning Devotion, they go into the City, and Handing 
at the Doors of the Houfes they expeft any Thing from, 
their Food is brought them, but they never afk for it, 
though there does not feem to be much Occafion for thefe 
Alms ; for they have Lands and Gardens appropriated tp 
their Convents, and Slaves to cultivate them, and they are 
exempt from Taxes. The Talapoins have Servants as weU 
as Slaves, who wear a white Habir, and receive the Mo- 
ney given their Matters, it being a Sin for the Talapoin to 
touch Money himfelf : The Talapoinejfes wear White, and 
if they are taken with a Man, are delivered to their Re- 
lations to chaftife ; for it is againft their Rules for a Tala- 
poin to ftrike any one.* Moft of the Indians believe a pre- 
exiftent State, and that they are puniflied here for Offences 
they have committed in another ; and they believe, that 
if they are not reformed in this Life, they fliall pafs into 
other Bodies, till they are fuffkiently purified to be re- 
ceived into Paradife •, fome of the Talapoins will take upon 
them to relate what has happened to tbcm in a former 
State. They believe the Soul to be material,- and yet not 
fubjed: to the Touch ; that it retains the human Figure 
after Death, and appears to its Acquaintance ; and the 
Wounds of one that has been • murdered, will then be 
vifible. 

The Things chiefly required of the Talapoins are, that 
they neither kill or Ileal, or commit Uncleannefs, drink, 
ftrong Liquor, -or tell Lies : By the firft they understand 
they are not only forbidden to kill Animals but Vegeta- 
bles, and therefore do not deftroy any Plant or the Seed 
of it, bin eat, however, ' of the Fruit, which don not 

L 2 affea; 



164 A New HISTORY 

cfifeft the Life. They have various Ways of evading thefe 
Precepts, for though they do not boil Rice, which is a 
Seed, themfelves, becaufe that would kill it, yet if others 
boil and kill it, they efteem the eating of it innocent : 
And though they think the making Water ujion the Earth 
to be a Sin, becaufe it corrupts it; yet if they make ufe 
of a Veflfcl, and their Servant pours it on the Earth, they 
do not think themfelvqs anfwerable for the Confequences, 
Musick, Plays, and Dancing, or the being prefent at 
fuch Entertainments is held finful in a Prieft, or Takpoin ; 
sflfo the ufing Perfumes, and even the Touch of Gold or 
Silver: The intermeddling in Trade, or any Thing elfey 
which does not relate to Religion, is held finful in them; 
they may not judge or cenfure any Man, or look upon a 
Woman, fo as to take any Delight in the Object The 
Meat they beg they mult not lay up any Part of it till the 
next Day, but give it to fome Animal : It is with them 
a Sin to ride upon any Beaft, or be carried in any Kind of 
Vehicle ; to wear Shoes or fine Cloaths ; to eat out of 
Plate; to boaft of their Parts, Learning, or Pedigree, 
laugh aloud, or vifit any but their own Relations; to look 
impudently in any Man's Face; to be angry, wrangle, 
or threaten any one : All thefe are efteemed Sins in a Ta~ 
lapoin, but are not required of Laymen ; nor do they ima- 
gine that a Layman can arrive at thofe Degrees of Per- 
refton as the Priefts may, who, by their great Piety, in 
their own Opinion, make Satisfaction for the Sins of the 
People : They are, however, efteemed very proud, from 
their taking Place of the Laity, and refufmg to falute any 
Man, except a Brother Talapoin. They never mourn for 
the Death of the neareft Relation : In their Confeffion to 
their Superiors, as it is called, they never acknowledge 
themfelves guilty of any Sin, only declare they have obey- 
ed all God's Commands : That they neither fteal, or lye, 
or drink ftrong Liquor, proceeding to juftify themfelves 
like the Phariiee in every Article, though there is very 
little Truth in all this ; they have only been bufying them- 
felves in finding out Stratagems to evade their Laws, 
They hold that no Man will be eternally punifhed ; that the 
Good after feveral Transmigrations, will enjoy eternal 
Felicity, and thofe that are not to be reformed, wi&Jrc 
doomed to a perpetual Tranfmigration. ~ ^ H ^ 



of the E A S T - I N D I E S. 165 

The chief Obje& of their Adoration is a departed Saint, 
whom they have named Samrnona Codom: Samrnona is a2*- 
lapoin of the Woods, whom they efteem the holieft of 
their Se£t, and Cedent was the proper Name of the Saint 
who was removed to Heaven, as a Reward of his. inimi- 
table Piety ; and what is very odd, they relate, that the 
Mother of this Saint was MabaMaria y or the Great Mary* 
from whence the Miffionaries infer, that by Sommona Codom 
is meant Jefus Cbrijt % St. Thomas the Apoftfe having preach* 
ed in India ; but I am afraid we cannot rely entirely on 
Miffionaries in relation to this Matter. They relate far- 
ther, that the Father of Sommona Codom was King of the 
Ifhnd of Ceylon ; that he diftributed his Eftate and Efic&s 
among the Poor, killed his Wife and Children, and gave 
their Plefh for Food to the Talapoirrs. 

Their Legends add, that Scmmena Cidom* before he left 
t'le World, worked many Miracles, and among others altered 
the Dimenfions of his own Body, fometimes appeared a 
Giant, and at others lefs than a Dwarf, and fbmetimes was 
invifible : That he had two favourite Difciples, whofe. 
Images they place on the fame Alta.'i one of them called 
Pra Mogla> they relate, overturned the Earth, and took 
Hell- Fire into the Hollow of his Hand, with an Intent to 
exttoguifh it, but was prevented by Samrnona Codom* who 
obferved that Men would be ftill more wicked, if thcTer- 
ror of that Puniftiment was withdrawn. The Siamtfi ima- 
gine this Sommona Codom is the Protestor or Guardian- An- 
gel of their Nation only, and that every People have their 
particular Prote&or or Demon that prefides over them ; 
nor do they look upon Sommona Codom as the Author of 
their Religion, but that he reftored it, after Men were 
become abandoned to Vice, and no longer influenced by. 
its Precepts. 

They have no Prejudices to Men of other Religions; . 
every Nation may worfhip God as they ate taught : There 
is no Reafon to hate and make War upon any People, be- 
caufe they have been differently educated : All Men feem 
to agree in the Worfhip ot the Supreme God. The Saints 
arid great Men, to whofe Honour they cre& Temples and 
Images, they look upon as Mediators and Interceflbr > for 
them ; and thefe can no more be efteemed Gods in the 
firft Senfe of the Word, than the Popifh Saints. 

L 3 The 



166 A New HIS TO R Y 

The. Indians not being prejudiced againft any Religion, 
the Reafonablenefs of the Chrifiian Dodtrines would cer- 
tainly have induced them to have embraced them, in thp 
Opinion of Loubiere y if the Ambition, Avarice, Injuftice, 
and Tyranny of the European Nations, who have had 
Settlements there, had not contradicted the Do&rines they 
taught, and raifed in the Indians an Abhorrence of their 
Peribns and Pra&ices. 

There are a great many Preliminaries to be adjufted in 
Siam, before a Contraft of Marriage is made : An Aftro- 
Joger is to be confulted and the Nativities of the young 
Couple are to be calculated. From this cunning Man 
alfo, they are to learn, whether it is likely, to prove a 
happy Match, and whether the Family they are about to 
marry into be rich j it not being eafy for any Man, who 
is not a Conjurer, to know this; all People that have 
Wealth endeavouring to conceal it, left the Government 
lhould borrow it. When the Parties hav* gained the bed 
Information they can in thefe Particulars, and are fatisfied 
with them, the Lover is permitted to vifit his Miftrefs 
three Times, and the Relations being prefent at the Third, 
the Portion is paid, and then the Marriage is efteemed 
compieat, without any religious Ceremony perform'd, 
and it is foon after confummated. The Talapoin is pro- 
hibited to be prefent on thofe Occafions > however, he 
vifits the married Couple in a few Days, fprinkles them 
with Water, and repeats a Prayer for their Profpe- 
rity. The Siamefe are allowed more Wives than one, 
but feldom make ufe of this Privilege, except their 
great Men, who take thefe Liberties in moft Countries, 
whether their Religion or Laws prohibit it or not. 

There is but one Wife however in Reality, who is fo 
by Contract •, the reft are Concubines purchafed with their 
Money, and may be fold again ; nor can their Children 
inherit. The Fidelity of the Siamefe Wives is much ap- 
plauded, they feldom give their Hufbands Occafion to be 
jealous, and are exceeding diligent. They work and 
maintain the Family, when the Hulband is in the King's 
Service, as he is obliged to be one Halt of the Year. Di- 
vorces are allowed, but thofe happen very feldom, and wbea 



vf the EAST- INDIES. 167 

they do, the Man returns the Wife's Fortune, and the 
Children are divided between them. As the Women 
carry on all the Trade, there is a Neceflity of allowing 
them greater Liberties than they do in other hot Countries, 
and they are fo far from abufmg their Liberty, that they 
avoid every Thing that may give any Occafion for Scant 
dal. There have been lnltances of Tranfgreffions, how-* 
ever, among the Royal Concubines ; One ©f thefe Offen- 
ders, the King ordered to be covered by a Horfe, and 
then put to Death. And Loubiere relates, that another 
Offender being thrown to the Tygers which refufed to 
Jeize her, the King offered her a Pardon, but fhe would 
not accept it, chufing rather to be torn in Pieces, than 
return to the Drudgeries of the Palace, the King being 
prefent at this terrible Executicn. * 

The Siamefe both burn and bury their Dead 5 fl)$y Jay 
the Corpie upon the Funeral- Pile, and let it burn, till 
good Part of it is confumed : Then they take up the Re* 
mainder, and interr it in a Burying-Place which furrounds 
fome Temple. The Reafon they do not burn it entirely 
to Afhes, 'tis faid, is becaufe they fuppofe the Deceafed 
is happy, where any confidcrable Part of his Remakis 
•efcape the Fire : Inftead of a Tomb-Stone, they ered; a 
Pyramid over the Grave ; and though they ufed formerly 
to bury Treafure with the Corpfe, thefe Places being 
deemed fo facred, that none durft attempt to rob their 
Graves; yet Thieves are not deterred from making free 
with fuch Treafures at prefent, and therefore they now 
bury only painted Papers, and other Trifles, inftead of 
j*eal Treafure : And here, as in Chma y great Men ereft 
Temples near the Place where theydefign to be buried : 
And thofe who cannot build a Temple, prefent an Idol 
to fome Temple already erected. 

I proceed, in the next Place, to defcribe the Situation 
of fuch other great Towns as are comprehended in Siam^ 
and its Dependencies. As Menangfang y fituate on the 
River Menan^ in twenty-two Degrees of North Latitude. 
Lacontai) fituate on the fame River, in twenty-one De- 
grees North Latitude. Porfelucl on the fame River, in 
twenty Degrees four Minutes North Latitude. Camftng- 
ftt^ in eighteen Degrees North Latitude. Prelate in fi#- 

L 4. teen 



i68 A New HISTORY 

teen Degrees. Louvo, in fifteen Degrees thirty Minute^ 
North Latitude, which is the King's Hunting-Seat. Ban- 
cock, fifty Miles South of Siam. This may properly be 
called the Port-Town to Siam\ for here Ships receive their 
Licence to trade, and their Difcharges. Martaban, fituate 
in fixteen Degrees North Latitude, on the Bay of Bengal. 
Tenajfarim, in thirteen Degrees North Latitude, at the 
Mouth of a River of the fame Name, near the Bay of 
Bengal. Ligor, in eight Degrees North Latitude. Liam 
<or Chantebon, in twelve Degrees North Latitude. Patan, 
in fix Degrees North Latitude. Queda, in feven Degrees 
North Latitude. Sincapora, in one Degree North Lati- 
tude, being the moft Southerly Promontory of this Coun- 
try. Jobr, in one Degree thirty Minutes North Latitude, 
which;, Vith the adjacent Territory, have rendered them* 
felves independent of the King of Siam> 
* There is no Hiftory of Siam, that can*be depended on, 
before the Year 1500. It is only fuppojed to be the Golden 
Cherfcnefe of the Antients : And this there feems to be 
but little Foundation for, becaufe Gold is not the Produce 
of this Country. It is faid alfo, this and the neighbouring 
Countries of the Farther India were formerly tributary to 
China : And this is pure Conjefture •, for the Siamefe have 
no fuch Tradition, much lefs Hiftory. They have had 
the Uie of Letters fome Time, but they don't fo much as 
pretend to have any antient Records. When the Portu- 
guefe took the City of Malacca in the Year 151 1, Mahomet 
an Arabian was Sovereign of that City, and the Territory 
about it independent of -the King of Siam. For the Ara- 
bians, and Egyptians had certainly driven the original Inha- 
bitants, the Malays, from this Coaft, as they had the Na- 
tives of Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Macajfar, the Molucca's, 
Banda, &c. from the Coaft of the Indian Iflands, and 
poffefifed themfelves of the rich Produce of thofe Countries, 
viz. of the Cloves of the Mplutca's, the Nutmegs and 
Mace of Banda^ the Camphire of Borneo, the Gold of 
Luconia and Sumatra, and the Gums, Perfumes and fweet 
Woods that were to be found in moft of thefe Countries ; 
and the City of Malacca^ was the great Mart, where this 
Merchandize was to be me: with, when the Pcrtuguefe 
made themfelves- Matters of it. We cannot doubt of the 
' : * Egyptian^ 



tf the E A S T - I N D I E S. 169 

Egyptians and Arabians being pofiefied of this Trade, till 
the Portuguefe found the Way to India by the Cape of Good 
Hope ; for we find jthe Grand Seignior, who was then So- 
vereign of Egyft 9 the Coaft of Arabia, and the Red Sea, 
fitting out Fleets, and engaging the Portuguefe in feveral 
Battles in the Indian Seas, to prevent their fettling them- 
feves in India, which, he was fenfible, would deprive his 
Subjedts of the rich Trade they had enjoyed for many 
Years : And very probably, the Arabians traded in thefe 
Spices j before the Ifraelites went down into Egypt •, inaf- 
much as we find them carried through Arabia into Egypt, 
when Jofepb who was fold to the IJhmaelite Merchants* 
who were trading thither with their Camels in a Caravan : 
And though the People of Siam and the adjacent Couj> 
tries, have no Hiftories or Records, that give any Ac- 
fount of this antient Traffick, yet, 'tis ftrapgf* that the 
Phoenicians and Arabians have no Hiftories relating, to their 
Indian Expeditions \ or, if fuch Hiftories have been de- 
ftroyed, that there are no Copies or Extrafts from them 
now remaining, unlefs what we meet with in the Scrip- 
tures. I have often wondered how Siam and the Indian 
Ifiands c&me to have the Ufe of Letters, when the Cbinefe 
have no Letters to this Day. But the Wonder ceafes, if 
weconfider, how foon the Indians might learn the Ufe of 
Letters from the Phoenicians and Arabs : Whereas there 
does not feem to have been any Correfpondence between 
the Arabs and the Cbinefe. I (hall conclude with an Ob- 
fervation or two on their modern Hiftory : And I find, 
that the Kingdom of Siam and that of Pegu, have frequent- 
ly been engaged in Wars, and at fome Times, Siam has 
been tributary jto Pegu; and at others, Pegu have been 
conquered by Siam: <But at prefent, they are independant 
of each other. The Portuguefe were, in a Manner, So- 
vereigns of Malacca and the Coafts of Siam both North and 
South, from the Year 151 1, to the Year 1640, when the 
Dutch took that City, and now remain Sovereigns of it 
and of the Sea : Coaft, and particularly of the Straits of 
Malacca ; and by their Men of War ftationed here, and 
at Batavia, can prevent all other Nations trading to China 
through the Straits of Malacca and Sunda. 

Thbse 



lyo A New HISTORY 

These Kingdoms are fituate between ninety- two and 
one hundred Degrees of Eaft Longitude, and between 
fixteen and twenty-two Degrees of North Latitude, 
bounded by Tipra and Acbam on the North, by Laos oa 
the Eaft, by Siam on the South, and by the Bay of Ben* 
gal on the Weft. A Ridge of Mountains runs through 
the Middle of this Country from North to South, and 
another Chain of Mountains divides it from Laos. That 
Part of the Country which lies on the Bay of Bengal^ is 
low Land, and flooded annually, like the Sea Coaft of 
Siant. The chief Rivers are, i. The Menan^ which runs 
from North to South, and falls into the Bay of Siam. 2. 
The Pegu and Ava, whofe Streams being united, fall 
Into the Bay of Bengal* And, 3. The Arracan, which 
falls into the- fame Bay, Thefe Countries lying between the 
Tropk:ks, the Air in the Vallies are exceffive hot; but 
the Wind blowing from the Sea great Part of the Day, 
refrefhes the parched Inhabitants in the dry Seafon, and 
their Mountains, as in other Countries, are always cool. 

Of the three Divifions, I have thrown this Country 
into, that of Ava lies towards the North, the chief Town 
whereof is Laftora, fituate in ninety-fix Degrees of Eaft 
longitude, and twenty one Degrees twenty Minutes 
JQorth Latitude. The fecond Divifion, Arracan, lies 
"Weft of Ava> on the Bay of Bengal, the Capital of the 
fame Name, fituate near the Mouth of the River Arracan* 
The third Divifion is Pegu y fituate South of Ava and Ar- 
racan, the Capital City whereof is Pegu, fituate on a Ri- 
ver of the fame Name. 

The Produce of thefe Countries is Rice, Sugar-Canes* 
Furs, Skins, Salt-Petre, Rubies, Sapphires, Plantains, 
Mangoes, Tamarinds, Coco-Nut, and other Tropical 
Fruits •, and they have the fame Animals as in Siam, ef- 
pecially Elephants. 

Here, if we may credit the concurrent Teftimony of 
Cur Seamen that vififr this Coaft, the Ladies are very free 
of their Favours, and their Parents and Hufbands are fo 
for from being jealous of them, that they will offer their 
*Wive3 and Daughters to the Europeans. As to the Per- 
forts, Habits, Religion and Cuftoms of the Natives in 
other Refpe&s, I can't learn that they are different 

from 



of the EAST-INDIES, 171 

from thofe of Siam. There are a great many mon- 
ftrous and ridiculous Stories, indeed, related of thefe 
People, as, that they worfhip the Devil, and their Priefts 
*un about with a Torch in one Hand* and Rice in the 
other, every Morning, to give the Devil his Breakfaft 5 
that they quit their Houfes three Months every Year, 
and leave the Devils to inhabit them ; that the Kings of 
Pegu and Ava> have each of them above five thoufand 
Elephants brought up for War -, that they are fed in filver 
Veflels, and cloathed in gold and filver Stuffs, and Cano* 
pies of the fame held over their Heads -, that they are 
wafhed in the River every Day, and the Mufick played 
before them when they march'd. But I fhall not trefpafs 
upon the Reader's Patience, to relate any more of thU 
idle Stuff, with which Books of Travels are frequently 
filled. 

These three Kingdoms of Pegu, Ava and Artacan y 
have fometimes been under the Dominions of one Sove*- 
reign, and at others, each of them have had their KingJ 
And if we might credit fome of ou* Voyage-Writers, one 
of thefe Kings had a Million and half of Men in his Army, 
befides five thoufand Elephants, which is impofllble to be 
true •, but that they are all abfolute Princes, is probable 
enough, becaufe moft of the Eaftern Monarchs are fuch. 
As for the Inland Countries of Brama y Tipra, Acham, 
and Boutan^ which lie between the Hither India and China, 
and adjoin to the Tartarian Thibet ; 1 take them to confift 
of Tartarian Hords or Tribes, and that their Cuftortis do 
not differ much from thofe of Thibet^ and therefore refer 
the Reader to the Defcription of that Country already 
treated of ; only obferve here, that this Country is fo 
mountainous, that it is almoft inaccefiible, which is the 
Reafon it has no Correfpondence either with the Hitbet 
India or China. 



CHAP. 



iyz A New HISTORY 



CHAP. VII. 

Gives ^ ajhort Defer iption of the Iflands in the Ethio- 
pian Seas* withfome remarkable Pajfages bijtorical 
and accidental. 

MADAGASCAR, is one of the largeft Iflands in 
the known World, and affords moft Part of the 
Requifites of human Life : It produces very large Cattle, 
whofe Flefh is excellent. They have alfo Goats and Deer 
plenty enough, and when the Portuguefe firft failed along 
theCoafts of this Ifland, they left a Brood ofiiogs, that 
has mightily encreafed. The French made a Settlement 
on the Eaft Side of it, and called it Port Dauphin f but 
finding that the Commerce there would not bear the Ex- 
pence of the Colony, they left it again. 

The Engli/h formerly drove a Trade for Slaves on the 
Weft Side of the Ifland, particularly at St. Aug ujiine's 
Bay, and at new and old Mefalige, but now they are a- 
fraid of the Pirates, tho' fome venture their Necks in 
going to trade, with them. There have been feveral Squa- 
drons of Britijh Men of War fent to cruize on the Pirates, 
but have had very ill Succefs in finding thrm out, but 
one Scots Ship commanded by one Millar, did the Pub- 
lick more Service in deftroying them, thaa all the charge- 
able Squadrons that have been fent in Queft of them ; 
for, with a Cargo of ftrorig Ale and Brandy, which he 
carried to fell them, in the Year 1704. he killed above 
five hundred of them by caroufing, tho\they took his 
Ship and Cargo as a Prefent from him, and his Men en- 
tered, molt of them, into the Society of the Pirates. ' 

Madagafcar is invironed with Iflands and dangerous 
Shofes, both of Rocks and Sand. St. Mary's, on the 
Eaft Side, is the Place where the Pirates firlt chofe for 
their Afylum, having a good Harbour to fecure them from 
the Weather, tho* in going in there are fome Difficulties, 
but hearing that Squadrons of Englijh Ships were come in 
Queft of them, they removed to the main Ifland for more 
Security, and there they have made themfclves free De- 
nizons by Marriage : And I am of Opinion^ that it will 

be 



of tht EAST-INDIES. 173 

be no eafy Matter to difpofiefs them. In the Year 1722, 
Mr. Matthews went in Queft of them , but found they 
had deferted the Ifland of St. Mary's, leaving behind them 
fome Marks of. their Robberies, for in fome Places they 
found Pepper a Foot thick, lying on the Ground in the 
open Air. The Commodore aforefaid went with his 
Squadron over to the main Ifland,. but the Pirates had 
carried their Ships into Rivers or Creeks, out of Danger 
of the Men of War, and to offer to burn them with their 
Boats, would have been impracticable, fince they could 
have eaGly diftreffed the Boats Crews out of the Woods. 
The Commodore had fome Difcourfe with fome of them, 
but they flood on their Guard, ready to defend them- 
ielves, if any Violence had been offered them. 

There are giany Iflands and Sholes lying to the Eaft- 
ward of Malaga/car, St. Afolloni is uninhabited ; Do- 
wafcartnbas is inhabited by the French, but formerly by 
the Englijh % and was called by them, The Englifti Foreft. 
Maritius was formerly inhabited by the Dutch, but in the 
Year 1703. they had Orders to leave it, and repair to 
Batavia, and the Dutch Company fent Shipping for their 
Tranfportation. Diego RHs, which is the next Ifland to 
Maritius, was made a French Settlement, but finding it 
barren, they left it in three Years, all the reft were always 
uninhabited, as well to the Eaftward as the Northward, 
and but three or four to the Weft ward, who lie in the 
Channel between ^uiloa and Madagafcar. 

Comorais the Weftmoft of the inhabited Iflands, and 
affords nothing but a fcrimp Maintenance for a parcel of 
poor miferable Creatures. Johanna is within Sight of 
Comora, and is a plentiful Ifland, in Cattle, Goats, Fowls 
ajid Filh, with good Lemons and Oranges, fo th^t moft 
Part of the EngHJh Shipping bound to Mocha, Perjia and 
Surat, ufually called there for Refrelhments, till the Pi- 
rates began to frequent it. There are two memorable Ac- 
cidents fell out at that Ifland, to the Englifh Eajl- India 
Company's Shipping. One was in the Year 1690 or 91. 
to Captain Burton in the Herbert, a Ship of eighty Tons, 
mounted fifty-fix Guns. He was attacked by three French 
Ships, each gunn'd and mann'd as well as he. On their 
Approach, he cut his Cables, and put tQ .Sea, about jewo 

in 



174 ^ Ab; HISTORY 

in the Afternoon they began an hot Engagement, which 
lafted till eight in the Night, that the Herbert blew up, 
and all her Men loft, but fix or feven that were in the 
Pinnace, fome whereof I faw afterwards at Mujkat. The 
other was lately, in the Year 1720, when two of our Eqft- 
Jniia Ships were watering there, with an OJlend Ship in 
their Company ; they agreed to ftand by one another in 
cafe of Aflauits, or engaging with the common Enemy, 
but when two Pirates drew near, the Greenwich and Of- 
fender weighed, and flood to Sea, and left the Cajfandra 
to Ihift for herfelf, who was obliged to engage the fmalleft 
Pirate (being a Ship of twenty-four Guns, Dutch-buWt) 
in the Bay, and foon after they began, the Cajfandra went 
aground on fome Rocks, and the Pirate ftriving to board 
her, was aMb taken up by fome Rocks, not above twenty 
Yards from the Cajfandra. The Pirate's Head lay towards 
the Cajfandra's Broadfide, and they pelted one another 
furioufly, many falling oh both Sides, but the Pirates, 
finding too hot Work on their Decks, were forced to 
quit them, and run down into the Hold for Shelter. Cap- 
tain Mackraw, who commanded the Cajfandra', feeing 
the other Pirate approach near him, and manning all his 
Boats to reinforce his Comrade, thought it a good Time 
for him, and who elfe could get afhore, to embrace the 
Opportunity, and accordingly they got info their Boats, 
and faved their Lives. The Inhabitants fhewed much 
Humanity to the DiftrefTed, and carried them above a 
Dozen of Miles up in the Country, for Fear the Pirates* 
in their mad Fury, fhould have murthered the poor Men 
that efcaped from their Ship. The Pirates, foon after 
they had Pofleffion of the Caffandra* got her afloat again, 
lhe having received little or no Damage ; they alfo got 
their own Ship off, but fhe was very much fluttered, and 
difabled in her Mafts. 

Captain Mackraw, being a Gentleman that was well 
verfed in Converfation with Men of any Temper, ventur- 
ed on board the Pirates, and they were fo much taken with 
- his Addrefs, that they made him a Prefent of that Ship 
which he had fo bravely battered, to carry him and his 
Crew to India •, in the mean while, the Greenwich came ta 
Bombay in September r who brought the Account of the 

" " " " JLolk 



*/jfc. EAST-INDIES. 175 

Lofs of the Cajfandra, and in November •, Captain Mackraw 
arrived himfelf with his new Ship, and his Ship's Com- 
pany all in Rags, but were foon equipp'd by the Benevo- 
knce and Generality of the Govenor Mr. Boom* who was 
a Gentleman of as much Honour and good Senfe, as any 
that ever fat in that Chair. 

Mobilla is but a little diftant fmm Johanna, pretty well 
inhabited, but the People not fo well civilized as Jo- 
hanna ; and the Kings of thefe neighbouring Iflands have 
continual War. The Johanna Men, by the Affiftance of 
Commodore Littleton, landed on Mohilla, arid made great 
Slaughter and Devaftatioris •, but what his Policy was in 
breaking the Neutrality that the Englifh held among" thofe 
Wanders, I know not. Mayetta lies about tfeiity-five 
Leagues from Johanna, and is the largefl: of the inhabited 
Iftands, but being furrounded with dangerous Rocks un* 
der Water, it is not much frequented, and fo the Man- 
ners of the Inhabitants not fo well known. The Religion 
of thofe Iflands v is Mahometan, but there arc very few 
Zealots among them $ and fo I leave them, and return to 
Cape Gkardafoy, and travel up the Red- Sea. 

The Navigation of the Ethiopian Seas is very dange- 
rous, and their Maps very deficient ; for I few a Dutch 
Skipper at M6cha % who had Orders to fail from Bufcivia 
towards Mocha, in the Month of January, and tt> navi- 
gate to the North End of Madagascar, and from thence 
to the Red-Sea, he affirmed to me, that he faw feveral 
large Iflands, and many Rocks and Sands in thofe Seas 
that were not placed in his Maps, for which Reafon he 
was obliged to anchor in the Nights, when he could have 
Anchor Ground •, and that the Currents run very ftrong 
to the Southward, among thofe Banks and Rocks. 



CHAP, 



176 . A New HISTORY 



CHAP. VIII. 

Gives a Defcription ofZcyWs Sea-coaft, and of a Pari 
of Ethiopia, Zuakin and Upper Egypt* . 

• 

BU T to return again to Cape Guardafoy* from thence 
up to Zeyla is about one hundred ai>d twenty Leagues. 
The Coaft is inhofpitable as well as the People. There are 
only two Places in all that Trad that affords frefti Water, 
one is a little to the fc'aftward of Mount,/**//*, but in Ara~ 
hick it is called Baba-fileck* or, The Mountain of Camels* 
whew there is a fmall frelh Water River •, the other is 
called Kb4g i ten Leagues more Wefterly ; it may be eafily 
known by the Side of a Hill clofe to the Sea, whofe North 
Afpeft is of white Sand, that fliews at a Diftance like a 
Sail, but may be feen in that Figure ten Leagues off. . Se- 
veral Ships from India* that have been neceffitated to. call 
at thofe Places for Water, have been cut off; and one 

}X)or Man they furprized with his own Boat that he fent 
or Water. The Boat's Crew were furprized whilft filling 
Water, them they killed, except two Boys whom they^ 
faved ; they then came off in the Night, and thofe in the 
Ship, not examining them in Time, they boarded the 
Ship, and took them all unarmed, and killed every Man, 
and carrying the Ship clofe to the Shore, they unladed 
her, and then funk her. The two Youths who gave the 
Account of that tragical Accident, were brought to A- 
den* which lies oppofite to that Place, and were fold for 
Slaves. A Surat Ship being there, bought the Youths, 
and brought them to Surat. 

There is no anchoring on that Coaft above a Mile off 
Shore the Sea is fo deep-, and about Zeyla, is a deep Bay 
oppofite to Babelmandel, which makes the Entry into the 
Red Sea* there is a large River that difimbogues into the , 
Sea, but tho* the Mouth be large, yet it is fo deep, and 
full of Banks and Rocks, with fuch Whirl- pools, that no 
Ship dare go near it. At that River begins the .Ethiopian 
Shore, (hewing many high Mountains, which are eafily 
feen from jhe Arabian Shore ; And all the Coaft from this 

River* 



of the EASt^INDIES, 177 

feiver, as far North as Zuakini which is near two hundred . 
Leagues, is called the Ethiopian Coaft. 

And tho* I never was on that South-weft Coaft of thd 
Red Sea, and know but few that traffick there, except 
Romi/h Priefts, yet Pll venture to relate what I learned * 
from them. There are two or three fmall Ports between Zeyla 
and MoJJava, but an inconflderable Trade, being moft in 
Slaves of both Sexes, which the Ethiopians bring to Mo- 
cha for a Market, where I have feen a Drove of tholV un- 
fortunate Creatures carried like a Flock of Sheep, moft 
Part of them infenfible of their own Mifery, and the high- 
eft Bidder carries the Bargain. They alfo bring fome £- 
lephants Teeth, the beft that ever I faw, and fome O- 
ftriches Feathers. 

Moffava is fituated on the North-weft End of a largd 
Ifland, and affords a very good Harbour for Shipping of 
any Size ; it has a Garrifon of about two hundred and fifty 
Turks in a Caftle built formerly by the Portuguefe, who, 
according to their impplite Cuftom, opprefs Strangers as 
well as Natives, that come there to trade* 

The Country produceth low Gold, Elephants Teeth* 
Slaves, and fome Coffee, but of a larger Grain than what 
grows on the Land oppofite to it in Arabia, at Betlefacket. 
The current fmall Money of Ethiopia is Salt, which is dug 
out of the Mountains as we do Stones from our Quarries, 
which they break in Pieces of feveral Sizes, the largeft 
weighing about eighty Pounds, the others in forty, twen- 
ty, ten, or five Pounds, and are fo expert in dividing it, 
that they err not above five per Cent, more or lefs in their 
Calculation of Weight * twenty Pounds is in Value about 
'one Shilling SterL and thofe Pieces of Salt is the current 
Money in their Markets for Provifions, and likewifc far 
Cloth, when they buy a Yard or two at a Time ; and 
When a Merchant has got any confiderable Quantity by 
him, there are Bankers to give Gold for it. 

The Religion on the Sea-coaft is Mah$metan, but with- 
in Land Copbties, who are circumciled Cbrijiians. The 
Males they circumcife fometimes at eight Days old, v but 
that Ceremony is often delayed till forty Days, #nd 
fometimes not till the feventh or eighth Year of their Age, 
They circumcife Females as well as Males. The Circum- 

M cifio/ij 



J78 A Nev> HI3TO R Y 

cifion, they think, is rieceflkry in Memory of Jefus Cbrift* 
and on a certain Day yearly, they immerfe themfelves in 
Rivers or Lakes, in Remembrance of Cbrifl's Immerfioi* 
or Baptifm. They forbear eating fomc Beads FJelh T ac- 
cording to the Mofaical Law. They hold from Saturday's 
Noon to Sunday 9 * Noon their Sabbath. They receive the 
Sacrament (landing, and only in the Church, and the Wine 
only from the Deacon's Hand in a Spoon. Their Priefts 
eat no idle Bread, but maintain themfelves by Labour. 
They have many Bilhops, but one they call Abunah above 
the reft, he is held in great Veneration* and when he goes 
abroad, he has great Attendance, and rides on a Mule*, 
with a Crofs in his right Hand. 

They enter their Churches bare-footed, beeaufe God 
coriimanded Mofes to put off bis Shoes* for the Ground hi 
flood on was holy. They allow but one Wife, but as many 
Concubines as they pleafe. They allow of Repudiation,, 
but neither Party can marry again, till the Term of three 
Years be expired, and if the Parties are not reconciled ia 
that Term, they think the- Breach too big ever to be clofed 
.up again. 

The v have all the canonical Books of oup^criptures^ 
.and feveral more. They reckon the Prophet Iddo one of 
the greater Prophets, and put him in the Clafs with. 
Ifaiab* Ezekiel* Elifha, Elijah and Daniel* and that he wrote 
fourteen thoufand Prophecies, many of which they have 
at this Day; that his Prophecies of Jefus Chrijl* were 
.clearer, or more diftinft than any the other Prophets left be- 
hind them * but the Subftance of their pra&ical Religion 
confifts in their Fafts and F^afts, for they do not much, 
trouble themfelves about the Dodrine of Faith, Repen- 
tance and good Works, which makes them very diflblute 
in their Lives. 

• We Europeans generally call the King of Ethiopia* Pre- 
Jler John* but his Subjefls know no fuch Appellation ; 'tis 
true, he is Supreme in ecclefiaftick as well as civil Affairs, 
His Dominions are vety large, and he has many Tribu- 
taries,, who ftile themfelves Kings, and aft defpotically. 
The Royal Family are all kept at Amara* which is a plea- 
fant round Hill, fituated in twelve Degrees North from the 
Equator* tho' I faw an old Portuguefe geographical Dc- 

fcriptioiv 



of the BAST -I NP I E S. 179 

fcription of Ethiyph^ place if under the Equinofml. The 
Hill is walled round with a high Wall, at leaft twelve 
Leagues in Circumference % which cuts off all Communis 
cation with Strangers or Malcontents. Within tl>e Wall* 
are Palaces, Gardens, Orchards, Woods for wild Gapie t 
Rivulets and Ponds for Filh, and all that the Clime cam 
afford to make it pleafant ; 'there the Youths of the Royal 
Family ftudy what Arts and Sciences are proper fp their 
Quality, or according to the Knowledge of their Teachers, 

Their Empif£ is hereditary, feut not in a. direct Line, 
the Succeffion being kept in the. ancient Family* which 
they reckon up as high as Solomon* but on the Demife of 
one Emperor, they make Choice of a RoyaJ Youth out 
of the Paradife of Amara % fo he that behaves befl; in that 
State of Probation, or has the bed Friends to recommend 
iiim, fucceeds without Contention, which political Cuftpm 
makes their Youths very tradable and ftudious. Therp 
are none reckoned Princes of the Blood after fecond Cou- 
fin-gjermans, and it feems they have fomething like the 
Salick Law in Force amongft them^ for their Hiftories 
mention no Female Reign fince Candace's Time, if Ethir 
cpia^ as \ now is, was her Country, 

They are very nafty in their Apparel and Diet, for 
,tho* their Country is well ftored with Fire-wood, yet 
they do not take Pains to drefs their Meat by Fire, but 
having killed their animal Food, before it be well cold, 
they mince it, and mix Salt and aiharp hot Bark of a 
Tree well powdered, and make the Morfel up in fmall 
Balls about the Bignefs of a Wall-nut, and greedily eat it: 
But the Princes eat in State, for they being fcated on a 
Mat fpread on the Grqund, his favourite female Slav£ 
or Concubine makes up thofe Balls of Flefli or Fifh fea- 
fone4 with the afore.faid Sauce of Salt and Bark, and 
Jqueezes them into fa&ionable Morfels, his Highnefs gapes 
like a young Crpw, and fee throws it cleverly in, which 
he presently devour^. The Commons eat of the fame 
Sort of Viands with the Grandees, but many of both Sexes 
die by Excoriations of the Guts and the right Inteftine; 
but whether their Diet be the Caufe of their Diftjempcr, I 
leave to Phyftoians to determine, who generally are the 
beft Judges, They have a good pleafant Liquor made of 

M 2 Honey 



i8o r A ^HISTORY 

Honey and Potatoes, which they caroufe in plentifully^ 
and often get drunk by it* and then they are rather mad 
than inebriated, which renders them very quarrelfom and 
furious 5 their Honey, as it is very plentiful in their Coun- 
try, fo it is the whiteft, hardeft and beft tafted that ever 
I met with. 

I had the above Relation of' Abafina from fouf Romijh 
Priefts, who had their Miffion there for eight Years to- 
gether, but made but few Profelytes : They had been 
meddling in State Affairs, and, for Fear of lofing their 
Heads, they fled, and left two of their Brethern, being 
old, and not fit for Travel j what became of theni they 
know not •, but thofe four tranfgrefTed their Superior's 
Orders, and left their Stations, and travelled three or four 
hundred Miles to the Sea-Coaft, and got a Paffage over 
the Red Sea to Mocha, where I. entertained them about 
four Months : They alfo told me, that fevcn tributary 
Kings had loft their Heads in fix Months Time* for Mai-* 
adminiftration or Treafon, and if my Guefts had not . 
removed their Quarters when they did, they had been 
honoured with the Name of Roman Martyrs, in the. Year 
17 14. The Country abounds plentifully in Wheat, Ricer, 
Barley, Legumens or Pulfe of feveral Sorts, notwith- 
ftanding they eat their raw Meat without Bread. Their. 
Woods abound in Elephants (reckoned the largeft in the 
World J alfo fotrle Lions and Tygers, and innumerable 
Troops of Wolves, Monkies and Oftriches, all much 
larger than in other Countries. The aforefaid Priefte alfo 
told me,- that the Head of Nilus 9 which the Ancients fo 
much fought for, is in this Country, about the Latitude 
of fix Degrees North, and about four hundred Miles from 
the lower End of the Red Sea. How far the Ethiopian 
Coaft ftretches to the North -ward", I know not, but it 
has no Seaports to the North-ward of Mojfava, and the 
next Country to it is the barbarous Zuakin\ whofe Inha- 
bitants are very different both in Complexion and Cuftoms 
from the Abafines, whofe Colour is only as black as Soot, 
but the Zuakins are as black as Jet, and their Skins as 

foft as Velvet. 

There are no Sea-ports from Zuakin on the South- 
weft Side of the Red* Sea± till we come to Scues, which 

lies 



of the E A S T - I N D I E S. i8i 

Jies near the Head of the Bay of that Sea, which fends his 
oppofite Shores down to the South- eaft ward, as far as Ba- 
belmandel. 

Sues, or Seues feems to be the Ezion-geber, or Eloth, 
from whence Solomon fent his Ships to Ophir, for I have 
converted with feveral Pilots of that Navigation, who 
aflured me, there is no clean Bottom for Anchoring, but 
Seues, on that Part of the Coaft, for moft Part of the Red- 
Sea is incumbered with Coral Rocks under Water, and 
peftered with Banks, which make the Navigation very** 
dangerous. At prefent, Seues is the only Sea-port for 
Grand Cairo, from whence it is three Days Journey by 
Land, with a Caffilla or Caravan, but on Horfe-back but 
two fhort Days. In Cairo the Englijh and French keep 
their Confute, for the Support of the Trade of their re- # 
ipe&ive Countries. 

In the Year 17 14. Mr. Farringtm was Conful for the 
Englijh, he had a very fair Chara<5ter from all People, as 
well Merchants as the Religious that came from Cairo to 
Mocha, which made me prefume to trouble him -with a 
Letter, giving him the bed Account I could of the State 
of Merchandize in India, and to have his Advice, whe* 
ther it might be pra&icable to cultivate a Trade from 
India to Seues, which Letter he very civilly anfwered, 
and next Year it came to my Hand, but ht difluaded me 
from any Attempt that Way ; becaufe of the intolerable 
Avarice and Infults of the Turkijh Bajhaws, and other 
Officers of Note, with the Contempt they have for Mer- 
chants, efpecially Chriftians, he aflured me, that it is, im*- 
poffible to be a Gainer by fuch Commerce. 



CHAP. IX. 

Gives a little Defcripiion of the . Coaft of A rabia the 
- Happy, from Mount Sinai to Mocha, with fome 

Obfervations on the Religion, Cuftotns and Laws, as 

they are now ejlablijhed. 



o 



VER againft Seues, on the Arabian Shore, ftartds 
Mount Sinai, about five or fix Leagues from the 

M 3 Sea; 



i8* A New HISTORY 

Sea j and on its Soutluweft Side, near the Bottom, is the 
Moftaftety of St* Katharina. The Mount is much revered 
by the Jews, and the Monaftery by the Chriftians ; it is 
v£ry antient, and held in fome Veneration by the Mahome- 
tans, ivhofe Pilgrims to Mecca, from Egypt, Turkey and 
>PaleJtine s pafs clofe by, both in their going and returning, 
as dcf likewife their Caffillas; and other Paflengers, that 
go on Traffick to Judda, a City four Days Journey from 
Mecca, where Mahomet lies interred : And the great Con- 
tourfe of Pilgrims (from all Parts where his Religion is 
fpread) brings a great Trade thither. 

There is a Tradition, that, as Mahomet was going on 
an Expedition to Paleftine, he called at that Monaftery 
fot Refrelhments, and the Monks generoufly aflifted him ; 
and in Acknowledgement of their Civility, he gave them 
a Charter, which they ftill keep, wherein he gave them 
many Immunities, and laid hi* heavy Curfe on All, who 
fhould, after that Time, dafe to moleft that Monaftery, 

The Building is ftrong and high* and no Gate or Door 
Co enter in to it, bat one, which ftands about ten Yards 
(in the Wall) from the Ground, It has a large Inclofure 
adjoining to it, with an high Wall, to keep the wild Arabs 
from robbing them of their animal Provifions ; for 
they are fuch vile Thieves, that they had rather ven- 
ture to lie under the Anathema of their Prophet, than to 
keep their Hands from Robbery. 

iTS^efent Pofleflbrs are Neftorian and Jacobin Monks, 
who are maintained by the Charity of Paflengers, and a 
little Revenue that belongs to the Monaftery. The Chrifti- 
ans, in that Part of Arabia, ate Ntftorians and Jacobins, 
whofe Priefts may marry, and they allow of no Images 
but the Cfofs, and many other Things repugnant to the 
Romijh Tenets. 

Judda h the next Place of Note below St. Katharina. 
It is a ftnall, but well fortified City, belonging to the 
Turk. It (lands clofe to the Sea, and is governed by a 
Baffiaw, who keeps a Garrifon in it, with four or five 
Gallics to cruize on the Red-Sea, to hinder the Pafling of 
all Ships or Veflels up the Sea, without firft calling at 
Judda, 

The 



of the EAST-INDIES, 183 

The inland Country about it, belongs to a Sheek, who 
pretends to be a Descendant of Mahomet. He has the 
Title of Xtriff given him, to diftinguilh his Eminen- 
cy from other Sheeks. And, altho' he be fo near akin 
to the Prophet, yet he fqueczes above one hundred thou- 
fand Pounds Sterl. yearly out of the Pilgrims, who go to 
worfhip at his Anceftor's Tomb. And fo much Gain he 
can make of their Folly. 

It is between this Country and Sinai 9 that the famous 
Balm of Gilead grows. It is reported to proceed from a 
Shrub, the Bark of which is flit, and Vefiels fet under 
the Wouod to receive it, as it drains from that Wound* 
The wild Arabs about Sinai, have a Tradition, that Abra- 
ham was their Countryman, and are not a little proud of 
that Honour *, but if it was fo, that lie was their 
Sheek, as they alledge, they neither follow him in Morals 
or Religion. 

Thb Sea-coafts ot Arabia Felix > fr om Judda to the South- 
ward, as far as the Latitude of fifteen Degrees, are go- 
verned by feveral Sheeks, who are fo avaritious, that no 
Pilgrims can pafs through their Dominions but Beggars j 
for if Strangers carry any Thing of Value about them, 
or if they have good Clothes, they are ftript of all, and 
about a Yard of coarfe Cloth given them to cover their 
Nakednefe; and Le<5tures of Humility and Devotion are 
preached to them, that whoever goes on fo folemn an Er- 
rand, ought to fhew, by their outward Appearance, that 
the inward Man is humble, and that thofe who love Riches, 
ought to fequefter themfelves from the World, before tbey. 
approach that holy Place, where, after the Muftee (or his 
Deputy, the Facker) had beftowed a Benediction on them, 
if they had any Grace, they would never covet Riches 
again. 

Betkfackee is the firft Town of Note (nc^r the Sea-ooaft) 
of the Immaum's dominions. It (lands about twenty- five 
Englijh Miles from the Sea, and it is the greateft Market 
for Coffee in the World. It fupplies India % Per/ia> Tur- 
key in Afia 9 Africa and Eurepe, befides England, France 
and Holland* with Coffee-beans. Other Goods and Mer- 
chandize may be bought and fold on Credit, for a certain 
Time j but Coffee is always bought for ready Money. The 

M 4 Europ 



\ 



184 ^ J«w HISTORY 

Europe Shipping lades yearly at Mocha, (from whgjice 
fietlefackee is about one hundred Englijh Miles) about t^g) 
thoufand Tuns, rather more than lels, and the other Na- 
tions above twenty thousand Tuns more. The whole 
Province of Betlefackee is planted with Coffee Tr&s, which 
are never fuffered to grow above four or five Yards high; 
and the Bean or Berry grows on the Branches and Twigs, 
firft green, then red, and at laft a dark brown Colour, 
The Berries cling to the Branches like fo many Infefts, 
gnd when they are ripe they ihake off. ' 

Zibet is the next Town, and ferves for a Sea-port for 
JBetlefackee. It was large and famous in ancient Times for 
Trade, but in the fourteenth Century, the Turks over-ran 
all the Cpafts of the Red-Sea, and made them Tributaries 
to them. They ruined all the Trade from India to Zibet 9 
and fettled their Emporium at Aden, about thirty-five 
Leagues without Babelmandel, to the Eaftward : And the 
Jmmaum holds his Kingdom in Feoff from the Turk at 
this Time ; and when the Turks come to Betlefackee, none 
dare break the Price of the Market, nor buy before they 
;*re firi^: ferved. 

The Immaum or King keeps his Court generally at a 
Town called Mohaib, about two hundred Englijh Miles 
to the E,alt, North-eaftward of Mocha. He has little 
Splendor about it, and he that reigned in the Year 1714. 
was about eighty Years of Age. His Government has 
been of a long Time very ill managed. His Lull having 
the Afcendant over his Reafon, he had feldom lefs than 
three hundred Wives married to him, of the moft beau- 
tiful young Women in his Dominions. He often mar- 
ries one, at one New-moon, and, on the next New-moon, 
Remarries her to one of his Minions, and beftows a good 
Patrimony on her to help her off; lb that with his own 
frequent Marriages, and thofe of his Minions, he exhaufts 
all his Revenues, and is always neceffitous, which forces 
him on many unjuft and mean Ways to exatt Money from 
his miferable Subje&s. And in the Year 1720, their heavy 
Burdens made them rebel, and involved the whole Country 
in a civil War. One Part was for depoling him, and a- 
nother for keeping him on the Throne ; but what the 
•pveqt was I never heard. 

This 



of the E A S T-IN DIES. 185 

The Turks being baffled in feveral Projects and Expedi- 
tions bom Aden* and that they could not well maintain their 
Ground in that Part of Arabia* (being fo very far from their 
own Dominions) without much Charge and diftant Trou- 
ble, they, in the latter End of the fixteenth Century,, with- 
drew their Garifonfrom Aden* and left it, with all its For- 
tifications and Buildings, to the Immaum* who finding Aden 
to lie inconvenient for the Trade of the Red-Sea* becaufe 
of the freflv Winds ufually blowing at its Mouth, in both 
Eafterly and Wefterly Monfoons, made him remove the 
Trade about fifteen Leagues within its Mouth, in a Bay, 
not very commodious for Shipping, ' to a Fifhing Town 
called Mocha. 

Mocha is a Place of good Tradfe, notwithftanding its 
bad Situation ; for, befides the Commerce with Sues and 
Judda* the Englifh and Dutch Companies have their Fac- 
tories there, befides a Trade from India* carried on by 
Englijh free Merchants, Portuguefe* Banyans and Moors, 
and by Veflels from Bojforab* Perfia and Mujkat in Arabia 
Petrea. The Country, of itfelf, affords or produces very few 
valuable Commodities, befides Coffee, and fome Drugs, 
fuch as Myrrh, Olibanum or Fr&nkincenfe from Coffin* and 
Aloes Soccatrina from Soccotra* liquid Storax, white and 
yellow Arfenick, fome Gum Arabick and Mummy ; with 
fome Balm of Gilead* that comes down the Red Sea. The 
Coffee Trade brings in a continual Supply of Silver and 
Gold from Europe* Spanijh Money, German Crowns, and 
other European Coins of Silver ; alfo Zequins, German and 
Hungarian Ducats of European Gold ; and from Turkey, 
Ebramies and Mograbies, Gold of low Mart. 

The Town is large, but meanly fortified ; and, from 
the Sea, it has a fine Afpedt The Buildings are lofty, 
and make a much better Appearance without than within. 
The Steeples of five or fix Mofques raife their Heads pretty 
high above the reft of the Buildings. Their Markets are 
well ftored with animal Provifions, fuch as Beef, Mutton 
of Sheep and Goats, Lamb and Kid, Camel and Ante- 
lopes Flefh, Dunghill Fowls, Guinea Hens, Partridge 
and Pigeon. The Sea affords Variety of Fifh, but not 
fevoury. 1 believe their Unfavourinefs proceeds from the 

Extreme 



186 A New HISTORY 

extreme Saltnefs of the Sea- water, and tbc Nature of their 
Aliment. The Town is well furnilhed, all the Year 
round, with good Fruits, fuch as Grapes, Peach, Apri- 
cocks and Quinces, of which they make Store of Marma- 
lade, both for their prefent Ufe and Exportation, tbo' 
near the Town, there is not a Tree or Shrub to be feen, 
but a few Date Trees. And tHey feldom have more than 
two or three Showers of Rain in a Year, and often no Rain 
in two or three Years \ but amongft the Mountains, about 
twenty Miles off, feldom a Morning pafles without a mo- 
derate Shower, which makes the Vallies very prolifickin 
Fruit and Corn, fuch as the Soil will bear ; but they have 
' no Rice, tho* Plenty of Barley and Wheat. 

The Governor of Mocka, and the Officers of the Town, 
are Merchants, when they think to get good Bargains, 
and are very ready to break their Contracts, both in Pay- 
ment of their Debts, and in the Time of Payment. Some 
Inftances whereof I faw. And, in the Year 1716, I had 
an experimental one ; for the Deputy-governor having 
bought a Part of my Cargo, agreed to pay me the firft 
Day of Juti€) according to our Mra and Computation. 
At the appointed Time I demanded my Money ; but he 
told me, that notwithftaJldiag he had agreed at that Time 
to pay me, yet the Cuftom was not to pay before the mid- 
dle of July, and Cuftom muft be obferved before Contract ; 
befides, the King having much Need of Money, fent 
prefling Demands on the Town for Money, as faft as it 
came in by Cuftoms and other Subfidies ; therefore he 
oould not, nor would not pay me before the cuftomary 
Time, not would he clear my Account Cuftom* (which is 
• a Part of his Office^ before that Time. I often folicited 
him to clear my Account, and pay the Balance ; but to 
no Purpofe. I then fell on a Project to frighten him into 
Compliarice. I went very calmly go him, and told him, 
that I had fome Goods left, which would.be proper for 
the inland Markets, and thirl would let him have a Peoy- 
worth of them. He knew the Goods were proper enough, 
as I had told him, and fo came to my Houfe, which was 
four Stories high. I carried him up to the higheft, and, 
feated him in a fmall Balcony, and I ihewed him the Muf- 
ters of my Goods, and alk'd Prices which he thought too 

high 5 



I • 



«/ffe-EAST*INDIES. 187 

« 

high ; and, bccaufe we could not agree; he was for going 
abruptly away, and fo got on his Feet : But I being much 
too ftrong for him, took him by the Shoulders, and forced 
him to lit down again, and ordered my Linguift to tell 
him* that, before we parted, he muft clear my Account 
Cuftoms f and give me Bills, on the King's Banker, for 
the Balance, otherwife I would teach him to fly from the 
Balcony to the Ground, be the Confequence what it would. 
He had never been fo treated before, and Fear feizcd him 
fo, that he could not fpeak for a little Time, but, re- 
covering a little, ordered his Clerk, who was in the Room 
•with us, to make Up my Account, and draw Bills im- 
mediately, who readily obeyed Orders ; and in Half an 
Hour we became good Friends again. The Noife of this 
Aftion run like a Squib thro* the Town, and, before I 
came to the Banker with the Bill, (which was for about 
one thoufand two hundred Pound Sterl.) he was apprifed 
how I had ferved the Deputy-governor, and, upon pre- 
fenting it, accepted it to be paid in feven Days ; but with- 
al defired, that 1 would conftantly keep two European Sea- 
men at his Door, with Arms, and, as Money came in, 
they were to receive one Bag, and the King's People ano- 
ther, till the Sum fhould be completed : And accordingly 
in feven Days I got every Penny, and fent the Governor 
word, that I wanted to wait on him, in order to take my 
Leave. He returned me Anfwer, that I fliould be very 
welcome ; and accordingly I went, and he received me 
very civilly ; and, all the while I ftaid, he paffed Jokes 
on his Deputy about the Fright I had put him into. 

The King's Cuftoms are very eafy, being but three per 
Cent, from Europeans, and five on Gentiles ; and the Cuf- 
itonvhoufe as ealy, for they only defiFe to fee the Mufters 
of Goods, r and the Quantity of Goods in each Parcel or 
Bale, and fo cauFe fome, that they choofe, to be opened ; 
and if they find the Quantity and Quality agree with the 
Invoice given in, the Remainder of the Cargo is carried 
dire'ftly from the Landing-place, to the Warehoufes, with- 
out more Trouble ; and, after Sale, they receive an Ac- 
count from the Seller, and rate the Cuftoms accordingly. 

They are very ignorant in Hiftory and natural Philo* 
fophy \ for they tell, 'that Alexander the Great- was Maho- 
met* 



2*8 A New H IS TORY 

met's General, tho* they lived about nine hundred Ytzrs 
diftant from one another; and that* having a Mind to 
tranfport his Army over the Mouth of the Red-Sea, from 
Babelmandel to Zeyla, in order to conquer Ethiopia, he 
went about building a Bridge there •, and, there being fe- 
ven Iflands in thefe Streights, called the Seven Stones, he 
placed them there for a Foundation to build on ; And they 
are of Opinion, that the World is fupported on the Horns 
of a great Bull, who fometimes (hakes his Head, which 
they affign.to be the Caufe of Earthquakes, which fre- 
quently are felt there." 

Theiie are Abundance of Beggars in Mocha, andm 
mod Towns in Arabia, who brag of the Sanftity and Ver 
rity of their Religion;, and, when they pais in the Streets, 
they are always bawling out, that there is but one God, 
and Mahomet his Prophet and beft beloved Servant ; and, 
carrying a Piece of Iron like the Tooth of an Arrow, intheir 
right hand, they ftrike it with great Force into the Cavity, 
of the Eye, and yet the Eye is not blemilhed, nor the 
Eyelids, or Skin about the Eye, feem to be hurt ; and 
they often let the Iron hang down, as if the Point was 
fattened to the Corner of the Eye next the Nofe. As for 
mad People of either Sex, they venerate them, believing 
them to be infpired, or a&uated by a prophetick Spirit. 

Their Religion is Mahometifm, and are fuperftitioufly 
rigid in their Way, but abominable Hypocrites ; for, in 
their Promifes, which they feldom keep, with lifted up 
Eyes, they call on God to be Witnefs to their Sincerity; 
Bur in no Part of the World is Juftice bought and fold 
more publickly than here ; and the Judge, who generally 
Is the Governor of the Place, whilft he is pafling unjuft 
Sentences, looks as grave as an old Cat, declaiming againft 
Partiality. 

In the Year 1716, I faw Juftice executed on a noto- 
rious Criminal, guilty of no lefs than Robbery and Mur- 
der. A poor Peafant had raifed a Stock of five hundred 
Dollars, amongft his Friends and Neighbours, and was 
-on his Way to Mocha, to lay it out in Merchandize pro- 
per for the Parts he lived in. A Villain, > who knew of 
his Journey, and the Stock he carried, way-laid him, and 

cut his Throat from Ear to Ear, and then ftabbed him 

»■ - .. • 
* * m 



of the t AS f-INfilES. 189 

in the ftreaft with his Dagger, and fo pofleffed the Money, 
and went off with it. Some Paflengcrs, coming that 
Way foon after, found the mangled Corpfe, not quite 
cold, went and informed the Neighbourhood of the Tra- 
gedy. On Information, they went arid viewed the Car- 
cafe, and knew it. They gave the Account to the mur- 
dered Perfon's Relations, who lived but a little Way off^ 
and they buried the Corpfe. 

Some Months after, one of the Relations being at Mo- 
cha, chanced to fee his dead Kinfman's Ring on the Mur- 
derer's Finger, and challenged it ; for it is the Cuftom of 
all the eaftern Countries, both the Mahometans and Gen- 
tiles, to wear Rings. They wear no Gold Rings, but 
Silver among the Mahometans, and the Gentiles commonly 
wear Gold. The Perfon who knew the Ring, informed 
the Cadjee or Judge what had paft, and the Cadjee ordered 
the-Murdercr to be apprehended, and brought before him; 
and ordering him to be fearched, to fee it farther Proof 
could be found about him, the very Purfe that the Money 
was in, was found in his Bofom. However the Murderer 
denied all, but was fent to Prifon, and fettered, till other 
PerfonS were fent for that were particularly well acquainted 
with the Defunft. Five or fix Evidences who were fent 
for, appeared, and the Ring and Purfe being produced, 
they fwore, that they knew them to'be with the unfortu- 
nate Defunft when he fet out on his Journey for Mochas 
and he at length confeft the Fa2t himfelf. The Judge, 
and the reft of his Court, defired him to return the Mo- 
ney, and they would folicit the murder'd Perfons Rela- 
tions to fpare his Life, it being in their Power to take 
away or fave his Life ; but he abfolutely denied the re- 
turning back any Part of it, and impudently afked the 
Judge, how he thought his Wife and Children (hould be 
Supported, if he fhould return the Money. 

Three Months had paffed in unfruitful Perfuafions, 
but finding him obftinate, they bid him prepare to die 
next Day about Noon. And accordingly, with a Guard 
of about five hundred Horfe and Foot Soldiers, he was 
carried without the City, with his Hands tied behind him ; 
and, he was delivered to the Defunft's Relations, who 
firft gave him a d$ep Stab under the left Pap, and one of 

the 



190 if ifet; HISTaRY 

the Relations landing behind, pulled back his Head, while 
another cut his Throat from Ear to Ear, and fo left him 
with all their Speed. For as fooo as the Mob faw him 
killed, they affauited the Executioners with Stones and 
Brickbats fo furioufly, that the Guards had much ado to 
fave them from being murdered ; for there is a Paflage in 
the Alcoran, importing, that whoever fpilt a Believer's 
Blood, is accurfed, and ought to be ftoned to Death. 

The Soldiery of Mocbavxt very infolent and licentious; 
for, in the Months of May, June and July, the Air being 
fired with Heat, aijd the greateft Concourfe of Strangers 
come to Town, either about Traffick, pr getting Paffage 
by Sea to foreign Countries, and about that Tixpe Cafb is 
plentieft in Town, then thofe wndifciplined Cowards fel- 
dom fail to fee Fire to fome Hqts that the labouring 
People live in, and they being built of a few Spars, cor 
vered with the Branches and Leaves of Date Trees, which 
are very combuftible Materials, the Flame foon grows 
fierce and violent, and very often penetrates thro* the 
Doors and Windows of Merchants Houfes, tho* built of 
Brick. And, in the Confirmation, when People are in- 
tent on faving what they can, by removing their Goods 
from their burning Houfes to the Streets, thofe Varlets 
plunder publickly there with Impunity ; and, altho* thofe 
Villains are dete&ed in fetting Fire to Houfes and 
plundering, and Complaints made of them to the Gover- 
nor, thofe Grievances are fo far from being red re fled, that 
J have known a Complainer well baftonaded for dete&ing 
the Rogues. 

The largeft City in thefe Dominions, • is Sounan. It is 
fifteen Days Journey North-eaft from Mocha. It drives 
a great inland Trade, and is the Mart for many of the 
Indian Goods that are brought to Mocha. The Mecha- 
nicks of different Trades have each their peculiar different 
Street ; fo that whatever Commodities Strangers may 
want, they readily know where to find them. And in all 
the Streets there are Brokers for Wives, fo that a Stran- 
ger, who has not the Conveniency of an Houfe in the City 
to lodge in, may marry, and be made a free Burgher for 
a fmall Sum. When the Man fees his Spoufe, and likes 
her, they agree on the Price and Term of Weeks, Months 

or 



of the ■£ A S T-I N D I E S. 191 

or Years, and then appear before the Cadjee or Judge, of 
the Place, and enter their Names and Terms in his Book, 
which coils but a Shilling, or thereabout : And joining 
Hands before him, the Marriage is valid, for better or for 
worfc, 4:ill the Expiration of the Term agreed on. And 
if they have a mind to part, or renew the Contract, they 
are at Liberty to chooie for themf^lves what they judge 
moft proper j but if either want to be feparated during 
the Term limited, there muft be a Commutation of Mo- 
ney paid by the feparating Party to the other, according 
as they can agree ; and fo they become free to make a new 
Marriage eifewherc?. 



CHAP. X. 

Contains a Dejcripfion of Aden, with Jbme hijlorical 
Remarks about the Turkifh Expedition from thence 
into India : Alfo an Account of the Sea-coajl of A- 
rabia Petrea, as far as Mufkat and Baflbra ; with 
a particular Account of an English Ship h/l on the 
Jjland pf Maceira. 

TH E eaftmoft Town of Note in the Immaum of Ma- 
cha 9 % Dominions on the Sea-coaft, is Aden* built by 
the Turks, on the Eaft Side of a barren Ifland, and has no- 
freih Water but what the Rains afford them, which they 
keep in Cifterns. The Turks had great Defigns when they 
-built it, for they thought of driving the Portuguefe out of 
their Settlements in India* and to have poffefl: chem them- 
f^lves. Accordingly about the Middle of the fixteenth 
Century, they made an Expedition into India* again ft the 
Portuguefe* but were unfuccefsfuJ, and fo have never at- 
tempted (ince to fettle in India. It continued many Years 
after the StappJe Port for tKc Red Sea Commerce, but the 
Charges of keeping it, fo far from the Turkifh Dominions, 
made them leave it to the Immaun* as was already obferved, 
and he removed the Trade to Mocha. 

It has a gqod Road for Shipping in the Wefterly 
JMonfoons, and a pretty good Mould, or Bafon, for the 

Eafterly, 



192 A frew ti I S T O R r 

Eafterly, clofe to the Town, and the Road is not Half 
Gun-lhot from it. It has been well fortified, being natural- 
ly ftrong in its Situation •, but the Badows, or wild Arabs, 
( who inhabit about the Sea-Coaft of Arabia Petrea, have 
feveral Times taken, and plundered it, fince it fell into the 
lmmaunfs Hands. The Country adjacent produces Barley, 
Wheat and Legumen, and Store of Fruits and Roots, 
Camels, Afies, Mules and Horfcs, all very finely fhaped 
and mettlefom ; but Money being pretty Plenty in that 
Part of the Country, their Horfes are very dear, for go 
or 60 /. Sterl. is reckoned but a fmall Price for one. They 
have alfo Plenty of Sheep, with large broad Tails, that 
reach almoft to the Ground, and their Goats are the fineft, 
both for Beauty and Tafte. And they have Poultry and 
Guinea Hens in Abundance. And the Sea affords Variety 
of good Filh. The Immaum's Dominions reach about 
twenty Leagues to the Eaft ward of Aden* along the Sea- 
Coaft •, but there are no Places of Trade till we come to 

Cajjin^ that lies almoft under the Meridian of Cape 
Gaurdafoy> and under the prodigious high Mountains of 
Megiddo, on the Coaft of Arabia. 

The Religion of Coffin is Mahomet an y and the civil 
Government Democracy. Death is capital, and is punifhed 
with Death, but not by the civil Magiftrate ; for the Tribe 
or Clan of the Defunft purfues the Murderer or Homi- 
cide, and when they have found him, he j& immediately 
beheaded, and his Head put upon the Point of a Lance, 
and brought to his Relations in Triumph, with Mufick 
and Dancing. 

The Produtt of the Country (befides the common 
Roots, and Fruits and Animals) is Myrrh and Olibanum 
or Frankincenfe, which they barter for coarfe Calicoes 
from India \ but they have no great Commerce with 
Strangers. Nor has Doffar any better Trade, but is more 
noted for Barbarity to thofe they can circumvene, I knew 
an Englijh Ship in the Tear 1 705, that called there for frefh 
Water, and the Natives came flocking on board with 
animal Provifions to fell or barter. They found the 
Englijh fupinely negligent, and, being but fix or feven in 
Number, they mixt with them, and fuddenly ftabbed them 
all; but did no Harm to the Indian Seamen and Mer- 
chants* 



"•S 



of the. UST.-INDIES. i 9 j 

chariis, who were about forty in Number. They took 
tvery Thing out of the Ship, and then, burnt her. 

Curia Muria is another Port on that Shore, but of fmall 
Account. It is in the Middle of feven Iflands, each hav- 
ing a very high Mountain, which makes them confpicu- 
ous from the Sea. There are none that frequent it but 
Trankies, that navigate from the Gulf of Perjia to the Red 
Sea, who call there for frefli Water and Recruits of Pro- 
vifion. The Inhabitants,, along all that Cbaft* are Ba- 
daws, who wear no Clothes above the Navel. . Their Hair 
grows long, which they plat, and wreathe about their 
Heads. The next remarkable Place is Maceira, a ba/rcn 
uninhabited Ifland, lying about five Leagues from the 
Continent* and within twenty Leagues of .Cape Rajjelgat* 
It, has dangerous Sholes lying on its Weft End, which 
reach above thirty Leagues along the Shore to the Weft- 
ward, and fo far in the Sea, that the Land ftho' pretty 
high) cannot be feen, t before the unskilful or unwary 
Pilot feels the Rocks with his Ship's Keel. The In- 
habitants on the main Continent, feem to be Sorcerers j 
for about the Year 1684, a Ship from London, called the 
Merchants Delight, Captain Edward Say Supercargo, this 
Ship unfortunately run ajhore on the Ifland in the Night> 
being very dark* notwithftanding they kept their deep 
Sea Lead going every Half Hour; yet they were fo luckly 
afc to run her faft a-ground between two Rocks very clofe to 
the Shore. In a few Minutes the Ship was full of Water, 
but, being dry on the upper Decks, the People kept on 
them till Day-light, and then they difcovered about four 
or five hundred wild Arabs* with fome Tents pitched at 
a little Diftance from them. 

The Arabs, by Signs, fhewed themfelves ready to affift 
the diftrefled Englijh, ancjl being excellent Swimmers, 
fwacn to the Ship, and brought the End of a Rope aftibre. 
There was one onboard, whom I was afterwards well ac- 
quainted with, who, before that, had failed fome Years 
in India, and had learned the Induftan Language, and 
fome Arabick ; he ferved for an Interpreter. They bid 
the Engiifh hoift their Boats out, and come afhore With* 
out Fear, which they accordingly did, with their Anns. 
They told the Englijh, that they were not come there to rob 

N than. 



i 9 4 A New H I S T O R Y 

them, but to affift them for reafonable Rewards, and that 
they would take no Advantage of the ill Circumftances 
they were \n Jf but would make a fair Contract with them, 
and perform their Part, as fhould' be ftipulated in tteir. 
Agreement. The Engtifb, tho* very diffident of me 
treacherous Arabs, were obliged to covenant, and agree* 
that whatever was faved of the Treafure, Cargo, or the 
Ship's Furniture, fhould be equally divided, and the £*- 
gtijh to have the Choice which Part they might have & 
Mind to ; and that the Arabs fhould tranfport the £»- 
gjiftto Part to Muskat, about fixty Leagues off, Freight 
Tree, 

As foon as the Contradt was made, the Arabs went 
couragioufly to work, and, in a Week or ten Days, got 
every Thing afhore that was portable, and they, accord- 
ing to Agreement, divided the whole into two equal Parts, 
and gave the Engilfh their Choice, and then got Trankies, 
(or Barks without Decks) and fhipt what belonged to the 
EngUJh for Muskat. All the while they were getting the 
Goods afhore, they treated the Englijb with excellent 
Mutton, both of Sheep and Goat, and laid in Provifion for 
their Paflage to Muskat, free of Charge to the Super- 
cargo. 

After the Interpreter aforefaid was grown familiar 
with thofe Arabs, that were fo kind and benevolent, he 
afk'd them why fo many of them had aflembled on that 
barren Ifland. They anfwered, that about eight Day* 
before the Ship was loft, a Fakee, who is an ecclefiaftick 
Officer in their Church, prophefied, that near fuch a Time * 
a Ship would be loft there, and prefled them to go to 
the Afliftance of the fhip-wreck'd People, who would 
be glad to come under Contraft with them, to have one 
Half of what was gotten out of the Wreck ; and conjured 
his Auditory to perform their Part faithfully, which ac* 
cordingly they did ; tho* at other Tirpes the Badows are 
perfidious, treacherous and cruel. 

Cape Rajfelgat lies about fixteen Leagues to the East- 
ward of Maceira, and the Sea-fhore is clear of Danger * 
and juft within the Cape, to the Northward, is a Village 
called Teywee, which ftands on the Side of a fmall River, 
near the Sea j but is beft known by a little Mountain 

(clofc; 



of the EAST-INDIES. 195 

(clofc by it) fhaped like an high-crown'd Hat. And a- 
bout fixteen Leagues farther to the Northweftward, is 
Curia t, a large Village in a Valley clofe to the Sea. Ta 
'tbjJ»Iorthward of it is a very high large Mountain, whofe 
Foofc is waftit by the Sea, and there are forty Fathoms with- 
in two Hundred Paces of it. It may be feen above forty 
Leagues from the Sea. 'There are neither Trees nor Grafs 
to be feen along the Sea-coaft, but at Curiat ; and yet the 
Country has Plenty of Cattle, great and fmall, with Va- 
riety of Fruits and Roots from the Vallies, and Filh from 
the Sea. Their Wells are dug in the Vallies very deep 
before they come to Springs, but the Water is very good. 



CHAP, XL 

Treats of the Kingdom and City of Mufkat, and of 
their religions and civil Cujloms ; with fome hijlo- 
rical Account of their Wars and Oeconomy. And a 
little Account of the Sea-coa/l 0/* Arabia Deferta, alfo 
g/'Baflora, with the famous River of Euphrates. 

MUSKAT lies about twenty-two Leagues to the 
North-weftward of Curiat, and is the Mart Town 
of Arabia Pctrea. It is built on the Bottom of a fmall 
Bay, that almoft has the Shape, of an Horfe-fhoe. It was 
built and fortified by the PortHguefe, in the fifteenth Cen* 
tury, but taken from them about the Year 1650. The 
King of that Province (for tho' there be many Kings in 
Arabia, yet none affumes the Title of King of Arabia) 
haying War at that Time with the Perjians, had raifed an 
Army of forty thoufand Men to infult the Sea-coaft of 
Perfia ; and had provided a fufficient Number of fmall 
Veffels, called Trankies, for. their Tranfports. His Army 
lay at a Diftance from Mufkat, and his Fleet at Muttera, 
a fmall Bay about a Mile from the Entrance of Mufkat 
Harbour. The King fent a civil Mefiage to the Portuguefe 
Governor, defiring the Liberty of his Markets to . buy 
Provifions. 

Th e infolent Governor, thinking himfelffafe, within a 
walled Tow/i, with many fmall Forts to* annoy any Ene- 

N z my 




i 9 6 A New H I S T O R Y 

my that could cortie to attack the Walls of the Town* 
inftead of returning a civil Anfwer to the King's Requeft, 
fent a Piece of Pork wrapt up in Paper, as a Prefent ta 
King, and bid the Meffenger tell him, that if he wj 
fuch Provifions, he coultf furnifh him. The Meffeftj 
not knowing what was in the Paper, carried it to his 
Mafter, with the rude Anfwer. Now Pork being forbiden 
the Mahometans as well as Jews, they hold it in Abo- 
mination, and cohfequently it aggravated the defigned 
Affront. The King was much furprized at the Gover- 
nor's ill Manners, but diffembled his Refentment, in Ex- 
pe&ation to find a proper Time at his Return from his 
Per/tan Expedition, to correft the Governor's Infolence, 
or revenge the Affront put on him : But the whole Army 
being enraged at the Affront, breathed nothing but pre- 
fent Revenge. And the* Queen, who was of the Seid 
Extradtion, .who are a Tribe or Family defcended from 
ittabometj by Fatima his Daughter, and Alii his Apoftle, 
being of a mafculine fiery Temper, reproached the King 
for not refenting fo grofs an Affront, fwore by her Ancef- 
tor the Prophet, that fhe wou\d never ftir out of the Tent 
fhethan fat in, till Mujkat was taken from the PcrtUguefe, 
All the Army applauded the Queen, and threatened to 
mutiny, if they were not forthwith led by their Officers 
to the Scalade of the City Walls. And at laft the King 
finding that no Perfuafions could cool their Fury, tho* 
the Day was far fpent, ordered them \o be led on. The 
Portuguefe flanked them, from their Forts on the Moun- 
tains, with Plenty of great and fmall Shot •, but the jirabs 
never looked back, nor minded the great Numbers of 
their dead Companions, but mounted the Walls over the 
Carcafes of their Slain. About Sun-fet they drove the 
Portuguefe from two of their City Gates, and .purfued 
their Enemy fo hard, that not one efcaped, tho 9 they fled 
in great Hafte towards the great Fort, where the Gover- 
nor flaid. That Fort is built on a Rock almoft furrounded 
by the Sea, and has no Way to get pp to it, but by a 
' Stair-cafe hewn out of the "Rock, above fifty Yards high> 
and not above two or three Perfons can afcend a-brealt. 
Tht vlrabs thought it. impracticable to attack it, fo made 
a Blockade of it. . In the Attack of the Town, the Arabs 
•■"*'. : ' loft 



of the E A S T - 1 N D 1 E S. igf 

Toft between four and five thoufand of the beft of their 
Forces ; and the PortugueJe y in their Forts, were reduced 
to fixty orfeventy. Thofein the I'mall Forts were obliged 
foon tofurrender for Want of Ammunition and Provifions, 
ami all were put to the Sword, except thofe, who, to fave 
their Lives, promifed to be circumcifed, and abjure the 
Cbriftian Religion. Thofe in the great Fort held out a- 
bout fix Months, under great Want and Fatigues ; and all 
Hopes of Relief being cut off, they refolved on a Surren*- 
der ; on which Motion, the imprudent Governor, who 
was the fole Caufe of their Calamity, leapt down a Pre- 
cipice into the Sea, where the Water being very fhallow, 
he was dafh'd to Pieces on the Rocks. 

The little Garifon would fain have come to a Capitu- 
lation, but the Arabs would grant them no Terms, but 
that they muft yield, or be ftarved ; and tho* the Terms 
were hard, yet they thought beft to furrender, and all 
were put to the Sword, except a few who embraced Ma- 
bometifm^ which in all were eighteen Perfons. And this 
Relation I had from a very old Renagado, who was at 
the Tragedy, being then a Soldier, who reckoned himfelf 
then about one hundred Years old, and, by his Afped:,' 
could not be much lefs. 

The City of Mujkat is very ftrong, both by Nature and 
Art ; but the Buildings very mean, as moft Fabricks are 
under the Oeconomy of a People who abominate Luxury 
and Pride, as the Mujkat Arabs do. The Cathedral built 
by the Portuguefe^ ftill retains fome Marks of its Grandeur, 
and is now converted into a Palace for the King, when he 
refides there, which is generally a Month or two yearly. 
The Wall of the Town that faces the Harbour, has a Bat- 
tery of large Cannon, about fixty in Number, and there 
are eight or ten fmall Forts built on the adjacent Rocks 
or Mountains, which guard all the Avenues to the Town, 
both by Sea and Land ; and there are none permitted to 
come in or go out of the Harbour between Sun-fet and 
Rifing. 

The Pirates that infefted the Indian Seas, at the latt^* 
End of the fifteenth Century, made a Breach between the 
Englijh and them. The Pirates having made Prize of one 
of their Ships, they retaliated on the Englijh private Ship- 

N 3 ping: 



198 A New HISTORY 

ping : They feized Captain Morrice*& little Ship, and de- 
tain him and all his Crew as Slaves, and would never 
ranfom them: In the Year 1705, they took Captain 
Marvel in a rich Ship from Bengal, bound to Perfta ; but 
that might be attributed to Pufillanimity, in not offering 
to \y\dkc a Defence. 

. Th: v put their Slaves to no Manner of Labour, and 
allow, them a Soldier's Pay for Subfiftence ; and what 
they can earn otherwife by Induftry, is wholly their own. 

There are neither Trees, Shrubs nor Grafs to be feen 
on the Sea-coaft from Curiat to Mujkat % and but a few 
Pate Trees in a Valley at the Back of the Town, and yet 
there is not the leaft Want of them felt in the City ; and 
it has as good Markets for Wheat, Barley and Legumen, 
and for excellent Fruits, Roots and Herbage, and good 
Cattle, both great and fmall, as any where in India* 
where the Soil is moft luxurious. And the Sea furnifhes 
them with Plenty and Variety of excellent 'Fi£h. Their 
Cattle look to be very lean, but when killed, they are . 
very fat and good, affording a great Deal of Tallow. 
They are not well (locked with Fowl, but thofe they 
'have, are very good. 

From May to September the Heats are exceflive in the 
Town, fo that none appear on the Streets, from ten in 
the Morning, till three or four in the Afternoon. Their 
Bazaars or Markets are all covered with Date Tree Leaves, 
fpread on Beams of the fame Tree, that reach from Houfe 
to Houfe-top •, and the Houfes being ail flat on their 
.Tops, terrafled with Clay and Straw mixt, in the afore- 
faid Months every Body lodges on them in the Nights •, 
for below Stairs they cannot fleep for Heat, and the Nights 
afford plentiful Dews, that fometimes wet them through 
their thick Cotton Quilts \ and thefe Dews are reckoned 
very falubrious. 

The Reafon of (b intenfe Heats proceeds from the Near- 
nefs of the Sun in thofe Months, who fends his Beams 
almoft perpendicularly, down on the Sides of the Moun- 
tains, which being all naked, and nothing but an hard 
black Rock appearing, the Sun heats them to fuch a 
• Degree, that between ten and eleven in the Forenoon, I 
have feen the Slaves roaft Fifh on them. And the Horfes 

* and 






rf the EAST-INDIES. igg 

and Cattle, who are accuftomcd to that Food, come dai- 
ly, of their own Accord, to be ferved their Allowance, 
and when they have breakfafted, retire again to Shades 
built for them ; and yet their Beef and Mutton that are 
partly nourifhed by that Sort of Food, have not the leaft 
Savour of FiQi. And the Reafon why Fifties are fo plen- 
tiful and cheap in the Markets, is by the eafy and odd 
Way they have in catching them, or rather conjuring of 
them •, for I have feen a Man and two Boys catch a Tun 
Weight in an Hour or two. The Man ftands on a Rock, 
where the Sea is pretty deep near it, and calls Tally tally 
for a Minute or two, and the Filh come fwarming about 
the Rock. The two Boys, in a« little Boat, (hut them ill 
witlv a Net about twenty or thirty Yards loug, and three 
or four deep, and, drawing the Net near the Rock, keep 
all in ; and, when People come for Filh, he alks them 
what Sorts they want, and puts in an Hoop-net, fixed 
to the End of a Pool, into the Water, and ferves every 
Body with what Kind they afk for ; and when he has 
done, he hawls out his Net, and gives the reft their Li* 
berty. 

Their eftablifhed Religion is Mahometan^ of the Se6t 
of Allu They hinder no Body-, of what Perfuafion fo- 
ever, to go into their Mofques, even in Time of divine 
Service. And their Molahs or Priefts oftep preach them- 
felves into violent Paffions, efpecially if the Subjeft of 
their Sermon be about the Verity of their Religion ; and 
then they'll challenge the Priefts of any other Religion 
whatever, to confirm theirs with as good Ev,idences v as 
they can ; for, being well verfed in Legerdemain Tricks, 
they'll take live Coals out of the Fire, and feem to eat them, 
which Trick the poor deluded Auditory takes for * Mi- 
racle, to confirm the San&ity of their Religion. 

The King keeps his Court generally zx.Nazawa or Rey- 
ftocky two Towns four or five Days Journey from Mufkat 
within Land. He has no fplendid Equipage, and his 
Garb very plain, and no finer than an ordinary Soldier's 
is. He has about one hundred of his own Slaves armed 
with Matchlocks and fhort broad Swords, for his Guard, 
who always attend on him. He, nor his Subje&s ufe no 
Tables, but plain Mats fpreadon the Ground, fervc for 

N 4 Table 



i m »■ ■ 



aoo A New HISTORY 

Table and Chairs. Their Viands are a Difh of Rice i 
either plain, or made in Pillaw, and a Difh or two more 
of ftew'd or fried Flefti, Fifh or Fowl, placed near the Difh 
of Rice : And he, with his Table Companions, fit on the 
fame Mat, with their Buttocks on their Heels, and, in that 
Pofture they feed very- plentifully. Their right Hand 
fcrvcs them for Spoon, Knife and Fork, except when 
they eat Broth or Milk, and then they have large wooden 
Spoons. Their ufual Drink is Water, or four Milk a 
and in hot Wheather Sherbets. 

They make no great Difference about Table Guefts ; . 
for the King and a common Soldier, the Matter and Slave, 
fit promifcuoufly, and dip in the fame Difh : But Women 
never eat in Company with Men. The Mens Apparel is 
a Pair of Breeches down to their Ancles, with a loofe Veft 
on their Backs, with very large Sleeves, and the Body of 
the Veft girded about their Bodies with a Safh, and a large 
Turband carelefly wreathed about their Heads, and a 
Poniard, or a fhort broad Sword ftuck into their Girdle 
perpendicularly; their Shoe* clumfily made, and very low 
and ftiff at the Quarter- heels; and thus a Gentleman U 
equipped ; but in cold Weather they ufe Camelins, a fort 
or loofe Coat, without Sleeves, made of Camels Wool), 
Their Women wear Breeches to their Heels,* of finer Stuffs, 
a^.d better Colours than the Men. The Body of the Veft 
made for their Ufe, is ltrait, but fhort waifted, and ga- 
thered above the Navel in Plats, which makes the lower 
Part look like a Petticoat. Their Shoes are fhap'd like 
the Mens, flat and broad. 

The Reafon why their Shoes are made fo, is for their 
eafier flipping off or on, when they enter, or come out of 
a Room, that they may not dirty the Carpets or Mats 
wherewith the Rooms &r,e fpread, which ferve them for 
Beds in cold Weather. And, except fome large round 
pillows of broad Cloth or Velvet, ftuft with Cotton, for 
the b.afe of thofe who fit on the Carpets or fylats, to lean 
vpon as they fit crofs-legg'd, there is no other Furniture 
in a Room. 

Over all the three Aralias y their Cuftom in treating 
Strangers or Friends, is the famej for as foon as every one 
is feat^d, a Servant brings a Pot of Coffee, and ferves it 
about in fmall Cups, that contain not a Quarter of a Gill \ 

but 



.» ■ ■ 






o/^ EAST-INDIES, 201 

t>ut as foon as one Cup is out, they fill again, and perhaps 
a*third Time: Then a Pipe of Tobacco is prefen ted, their 
Pipes differing much from ours in Europe, in Shape and 
Magnitude; which Service lafts till near the Time of 
breaking up Company, when comes in a little Pot of hot 
burning Coals, on which they throw fome Chips of Agala- 
wood, or fome Powder of Benjoin, Myrrh ,or Frankin- 
cenfe, which produce a thick Smoke, that incenfes or per- 
fumes the whole Room. And, as I dbferved before, it is 
the Cuftom of wearing very great Sleeves to their Gar-; 
ments. They open their Sleeves as wide as they cab, and 
hold them over the Smoke, which perfumes their Arms* 
Shoulders, Neck and Beard- And the laft Courfe is fome 
Rqfe-water to befprinkle the Company, which is the Signal 
to be gone every one about their Bufu>efs; £0, without 
any Forms of Ceremony, every one walks off.. 

The Products of Arabia Petrea for Exportation, are 
but few, as Horfes, Dates, fine Brimftone, fome Coffee* 
but not fo good as at Mocha, fome Ruinofs, which is the 
Root of a fmall Shrub, that die? Crimfon, and fome Pearl. 
Their Manufacture is fome coarfe Cotton, Linen and 
Camelins, which they confume moft in their own Coun- 
try; but the Badows need none, fince they wear none. 
The Arabs wear no Pearl or Gold •, but the Women of 
Diftin&ion wear Pearl of a fmall Price, tho* I faw one 
there as big as a large Hazel-nut, exadtly round, and of a 
fine Water. It was valued at one thoufand Tomans, 
which is above three thoufand Pounds Sterl. I have fome- 
times gone in a Boat to fee them dive for Pearl, and h^ve 
bought fome Pearl Oyfters of them; but the Divers are 
Cheats, putting the Oyfters in the Sun, which makes 
them gape, and then the Rogues rummage them, and 
fhake out die Pearl •, and, after they are robbed of their 
Treafure, they put them into Water again, and they clofe. 
I bought at Times above one hundred Oyfters, and got 
nothing; they coft me but feven Pence half Penny a Piece. 
At laft I found one that had an Excrefcence growing to 
the Shell on the Infide, which I carefully took off; and, 
at Carwar in India, I fold it for nine Pounds Sterl. 

The Women in this Country have fome peculiar Pri- 
vileges beyond the Men ; for if one complain that a Man 
has offered Violence to her Perfon, withot further Proof 

than 



JL 



so* A ^HISTORY 

than her Word of Honour, he is punifhed with one hundred* 
Baftinadoes on the Soles of the Feet, or put into a Dun-* 
geon under Ground, which has only an Hole at the Top, 
big enough to receive a Man; and when he is in, there is a 
Scone put over the Hole, Coo big to be removed by a fingle 
Perfon, and there he muft ftay three Days, and as many 
Nights, without Meat or Water, or Room to lie at his 
Length. And if a Wife complain of her Hufband for 
Unkindnefs in any Kind, particularly of due Benevolence* 
as by Law eftablilhed in the Jewijb and Mahometan 
Churches, the Hufband muft undergo the Puniftimentof 
the Dungeon. But if a Lady trefpafies, and her Spoufe 
detedt her Crime, he has the Law in his own Hand, and 
may chaftife her with the Whip feverely ; but muft not 
touch her Life, on Pain of Death. 

The Muskat Arabs are remarkable for their Humility 
and Urbanity, I had one Inftance of their Civility. As 
X was one Morning walking the Streets, I met accidentally 
the Governor of the City, by them called the Waaly, and, 
according to my Duty, I went into the Door of a Shop, 
to let him and his Guards have the Street, which general- 
ly are narrow ; but he obferving, by my Complexion and 
Garb, that I jaras a Stranger, made his Guard go on one 
Side, and beckoned me to come forward, and ftood till I 
paft by him. And for an Inftance of their cool Temper, 
in hearing Debates and re&ifying Miftakes between Parties 
difagreeing about Commerce: The before mentioned In- 
terpreter at Maceira* was Commander of a Ship from 
India, and had freighted her to Muskat. The Freighter, 
who was a Mahometan, delayed paying the Freight, long 
after it was due by the Tenor of the Charter-party ; upon 
which he being in a Paffion with the Freighter for his con- 
tinued Delays, went to the Waaly to complain. He obferx- 
ing by the Gentleman's Countenance, that his Mind was 
difcompofed, anfwered him, that being at that Time very 
bufy about fome of the King's Affairs, he had not Time 
to fend for his Freighter, but defired that he would come 
fome other Time, and he would hear him, and order the 
Payment. The JJelays ftill continuing, the Captain went 
again in an angry Mood to make his Complaint, but was 
ftill put off with gentle Excufes : But at laft addreffing the 

Waal} 



* •« 



4 



efthe EAST-INDIES. 203 

Waaly with Coolnefs, he was defired to fit down, and he 
would fend for the Freighter, which, accordingly he did ; 
and, on his Appearance, the Waaly ask'd him why he did 

not comply with his Contract, as was ftipulated by Char- 
ter-party j sjnd his Excufes being thought infufiicient, he 
was ordered to make Payment forthwith, or go to Prifon ; 
but the Freighter chofe rather to bring the Money, and 
end the Difpute. The Captain ask'd the Waaly why he did 
not do hirp Juftice fooner, who. received for Anfwer, that 
it was his own Fault, for coming drunk to make Com- 
plaint. The Captain protefted that he had not been drunk 
in many Years •, but the Waaly replied, that he faw him 
drunk with Paffion, which was the moil dangerous Sort 
of Drunkennefs. ' 

The Countries to the Southward of Mujkat y as far as 
Curia Maria j are under the Dominions of Mujkat y and the 
Sbeeks or Princes are their Tributaries. The Land is 
mountainous ; but the Plains and Vallies very fertil and 
well watered, and confequenily well peopled. And, to 
the Northward of Mujkat* the lime Chain of rocky Moun- 
tains continue as high as Zear, above Cape Mufenden, 
which Cape and Cape Jaquts begin the Gulf of Perfia on 
the Arabian Side. About Zoar begins the Defart, that 

v runs as far northerly as Aleppo. The Mountains near the 
Sea, are Tandy, and the Vallies and Plains fteril, and ill 
inhabited, and as ill watered. 

About the Year i6ao> Pcrjia was in a flourifhing Con- 
dition, and was a Terror to all its Neighbours. Shaw 
TamaSy Son to the famous Shaw Abafs, was then King, 
and being of a martial Difpofition, had a Defign to annex 
all the Arabian Coaft oppofite to Perfia^ to his own Do- 
minions, and accordingly tranfported from Cong^ 3 City 
of his own that lies on the Sea-fhore, an Army of thirty 
five or forty thoufand Men to conquer it. The Army 
met with no Oppofition in landing, and they foon over-ran 
the Country wherever they went ; but they had riot been 
long in Purfuit of their Conqueft, till Provifions began to 
be fcarce in the Army, which, with the Scarcity of frefh 
Water, and the intolerable Heats, both of Sun and Winds, 
brought a Contagion on the Per/tans^ that killed the better 

Half 



io4 A New H I S T Rr 

Half of them, and obliged what was left to return bacK 
to Perjia by Shipping, as they had come from it. 

Those barren Coafts are needlefly fecured by fandy 
s Banks, that run ten or twelve Leagues off from the Shores 
which would make Navigation impra&icable, if it fhould 
meet with Encouragement ; but the two Iflands of Bareen % 
lying in the Latitude of twenty nine Degrees thirty Mi- 
nutes, almoft in the Bottom of the Gulf, and belonging 
to the Crbwn of Perfia y have the beft Pearl Fifhing .in 
the World. 

About the Beginning of this Century, »the Mujkat 
Arabs took Poffeflion of Bareen Iflands ; but the honeft 
Pearl Fifhers deferted it whilft the Arabs kept Poffeflion, 
who finding that their new Settlement could not defray the 
Charge of keeping, without the Pearl Filhers, they left 
it ; and the Filhers who are moftly Arabs , returned to 
their Induftry, and continue the Fifhery. ' < x 
\. The great Turk gives Laws to all the Countries that 
lie between the River Euphrates and Ethiopia \ but there 
-are many Sheeks who inhabit thofe Defarts, that make 
but fmall Account of him or his Orders, becaufe the 
Sterility of their Country makes them fecure from great 
Armies coming amongft them, and a fmall one dares not 
•venture amongft them as Enemies. They being naturally 
Thieves, rob Friend or Foe, or one another ; fo that few 
People of Subftance have any Commerce with them. 

There are no Towns of Note between Mujkat and 
BaJJora^ but Zoar, and but very few inconfiderable Vil- 
lages ; but there are two or three convenient Harbours 
for Shipping. The fouthermoft is about fix Leagues to 
the Southward of Cape Mofenden^ called Courf cream. It is 
almoft like Mujkat Harbour, but fomewhat bigger, and 
has excellent frelh Water in deep. Wells, about a Quar- 
ter of a Mils from the Landing- Place. The Village con- 
tains about twenty little Houfes j yet there are pretty 
good J*efrefhments to be had there. Cape Mojenden is of 
itfelf but a good Number of fmall high Iflands lying near 
one another, but they appear like a Promontory on Terra 
firma. And up to the Weft ward of the. Cape there is 
another Harbour, whofe Name I have forgot j but there 

are 



J 



of the E A S T - 1 N D IE S. io s , 

ere good frefh Water and animal Provifions to be hacj 
there. 

BASSORA is the eaftmoft City or Town in the Turkijb 
Dominions, (landing, about two Miles from the famous 
Euphrates and has a fmall Rivulet that wafhes its Walls 
on the Weft Side, and difcharges its Waters into the 
Euphrates. This City (lands about thirty Leagues from 
the Sea, and it is alledged, was built by the Emperor 
Trajan, and had the Honour to be the Birth- Place of a- 
nother Roman Emperor, Philip firnamed the Arabian: 
But at firft it was built along the Side of the River, and 
the Veftigia of its ancient Walls are (till to be feen from 
the aforefaid Rivulet, a League down the Banks of Eu- 
phrates* which difembogues her Waters, by four or five. 
Mouths, into the Gulf of Perfia; but none navigable for 
for Ships of Burden, but that Chanel that leads to Bajfora* 
At the City it is a fhort Mile over at high Water, and, 
is keeps about the fame Breadth to the very Mouth of it. 
Bajfora exports yearly for foreign Countries, abpve tea 
thoufand Tuns of Dates, which employ Abundance of 
Seamen for their Exportation, befides many more Poor 
in gathering and packing them in Mats made of the 
Leaves of the Date Tree, and likewife in drying them. 

The Ruins of the famous Babylon lie about two hundred 
Englijh Miles up the River from Bajfora ; and at Bagdat, 
which is twelve Miles below it, the Ruins appear to be a 
Mountain, and are the Habitation of wild Beads and 
Serpents. Whether Bagdat was built out of its Ruins, or 
no, I know not \ but 'tis reported, and generally believed 
that it was. It is now a prodigious large City, and the 
Seat of a Beglerbeg, who governs a very great Province. * 
The Bafhaws of Bajfora, Comera and Mufol (the ancient 
Nineveh) are fubordinate to him, and are able to bring 
one hundred and fifty thoufand Men into the Field. 

COMERA (lands on the Banks of Euphrates, about eighty 
Miles above Bajfora, and, by common Tradition, is the 
Place where holy' Job dwelt. There is a Garifonof ten 
thoufand Janifaries c6ntinually kept there, aud eight or ten 
River Gallies, well furnifhed, to awe the circumjacent 
Countries, who are apt to rebel. And Bajfora has three 
•thoufand Janifaries and five Gallies for the iame Account. 



2off A Neav H I 8 T O R *! 

the Baflttws of the Gallies are not fubordinatc to the 
Bafhaws of the Cities ; but he of the Gallies has the Com- 
mand of the circumjacent Countries, laying on of Taxes, 
and railing Subfidies at his Plcafure, as he of the Cities 
has Power to oppfeft the Citizens: And their Avarice and 
Severity often caufe Mutinies and Blood-flied. One of 
thofe Mutinies happened at Baffora, in the Year 1721, for 
the Bafhaw of the City having married a Lady out of the 
Grand Seignior's Seraglio, and that Monarch .having fome 
Deference^fof her on Account of Confanguinity, her 
Hufband was put into the Balhaw's Ship to get Money to 
fupport his Lady's Extravagancy; and finding that, fair 
honeft Ways would be a long while in railing fuch Sums 
as he thought wotftd be fufficient for that End, oppreft 
both City and Country to fill his Coffers. The poor op- 
preft Merchants, Mechanicks and Peafants plied him with 
Complaints on his Soldiery, who, they thought, robbed 
them, fince the Exactions were new. They gave in Re- 
ihonftrances of their Grievances, and petitioned for Re- 
drefs; but the Perfons fent with thofe Addreffes, had the 
Baftinado for their Impertinence. Upon this the diftrefled 
City and Country made their Addrefs to the Balhaw of the 
Gallies, who knew they had juft Caufe of Complaint. 
tie wrote to .the Begkrbeg, and informed him of their 
x Cafe and Condition, and obtained a fevere Reprimand ; 
for he of the City, inftead of Amendment, added Cruelties 
to Oppreflion, and murdered many who would not, or 
£0uld not pay what they were fefied at, which un- 
heard-of Barbarities made above fifty thoufand of the City 
ind Country betake themfelves to Arms, and march out, 
ifrith the Mufti or high Prteft at their Head •, arid he had 
a green Flag, which, is Mahomet's Banner, before him, 
carried by a Prieft; and he and his Army encamped near 
the Balhaw of the Gallies his Houfe, which Hands about 
two Miles below the City, by the River Side j and the 
Balhaw of the Gallies joined them with one thoufand 
Janiferies. The Mufti^ according to Cuftom, plied his 
Spiritual Artillery, and excommunicated the Balhaw of thft 
City, and all that adhered to him. This Mutiny con- 
tinued fome Days-, but I heard of no Blopdfhed, and only 
opprobrious Language paft. But the Tciwn began to feel 

Want, 



of the E A S T - I N D I E S. <t6f. 

Want, for the Peafants would bring no Eatables to thts 
City, but the Mufti's Hoft were plentifully fupplied. All 
Shops, being fliut up, and all the Markets unprovided, 
jjiade the Bafhaw of the City begin to think what the End 
would be, if the Mutiny continued any longer > fo he got 
fome Country Gentlemen, who were of neither Fa&ion, tq> 
go to the Mufti and the Bafhaw of the Gallies, as Me- 
diators*, and accordingly they went, and were hand- 
fomly received, &nd, in their Oration on the prefent 
Pofture of Affairs, made the Mufti and his Party incline 
to Peace, providing that about a Dozen of Incendia- 
ries might be delivered to them, to receive condign 
Punifhment for their Faults. All the profcribed, but one, 
by the Interceffion of Friends, were pardbned •, but > they 
would hear of no Peace till the other was made a Sacrifice- 
to their juft Refentment; tor this Villain would accoft & 
Merchant in the Street, and, after common Compliments 
ended, he would ask them what became of the Diamonds, 
or other Jewels, that they had fhewn him fuch a Time. 
The innocent Merchant, who perhaps never had any 
Jewels, being furprifed at his Queftion, would deny that 
' «ver they had any fuch as he fpake of. Then the impu- 
dent Fellow would tell them plainly, that without they 
would bribe him with a round Sum, he would inform the 
Bafhaw, that he had feen fuch Quantities of rough Dia- 
monds, or other valuable Stones, in their Pofleffiori, and 
if they could not be found entred in the Cuftom-honfe 
Books, they muft expeft to fuffer what Punifhment the 
Bafhaw would pleafe to inflift for defrauding the King of 
his Cuftoms. Some out of Ijear would comply, and give 
a Sum, others again ftood on their Innocence, and would 
nOt give him Money j and they were fure to be informed, 
againft, and brought before the Bafhaw, and, upon that 
Villain's Evidence, were generally fined about double of 
what he ask'd of them-, fo that befides the great Sums that 
came into the Baftiaw's Coffers by that Rafcal's Ingenuity, 
he had accumulated twenty five Bags to himfelf , each Bag 
containing five hundred Crowns, and all this in the Space 
of three Years that he had been in Bdjfora •, for he came 
from Cgnftantinople one of the Bafhaw's Retinue, hardly 
worth an Afper^ and at his Death fo much ready Cafh was 
.found in his Houfe, which fell into his Mafter the Bafhaw's 

Hands : 



*T~ 



*o8, A Nets) HISTORY 

Hands! For after this Villain was culled out to be facrf^ 
ficed to the juft Refentment of the People, and found thaC 
they would not be appeafed without having his Life, he 
fell at his Mailer's Feet for Prote&ion. The cunning 
covetous Balhaw bid him convey what Money he had to 
his Houfe, and he would tajce Care of it for the Ufe of his 
Wife and Children, and would fend him fecretly out of 
the Town, and get him fafely conducted to Comera. He 
fwallowed that Bait, and delivered his ill-gotten Money 
to his Matter, who prote&ed him but one fingle Day, and 
then told him, that the People's Clamours were fo great, 
that he . could proteft him no longer; 'and accordingly he 
was delivered to the enraged Mob, who forthwith ftrangled 
him, and threw his Body on a Dung-hill by the Side of 
an High-way, where I faw it two Days after. . And the 
Mufti and Bafhaw made Matters up for the Eafc and 
Satisfaction of the People, who grew quite tired of their 
Divifions. 

BASSORA was many Years in the Hands of thcPer/iam y 
who gave great Encouragement to Trade, which drew 
many Merchants from foreign Parts to fettle there, and 
particularly from Surat in India. But in the Year 1691, 
a Peftilencc raged fo violently, that above eighty 
thoufand People were carried off by it, and thofe that re- 
mained fled from it, fo that for three Years following it 
was a Defart, inhabited only by wild Beafts, who were at 
laft driven out of the Town by the circumjacent wild 
Arabs^ who pofleft it about twelve Months, and were in 
their Turn driven out >by the Turk, who keeps it till this 
Day. , 

There are mznyjewsin Baffora who live by Brokerage 
and exchanging Money ; but the Turks keep that Set of 
People very low, for Reafons of State. There are alfo a- 
bout two hundred Chrifiians of the Greek Church, but no 
Priefts of that Communion, wherefore fome Roman Mif* 
fionaries officiate there. The Greek Clergy are very in- 
different about gaining Profelytes, and, to nourilh their 
Flocks, will not run the Rifque of Martyrdom*, fo they 
keep none of their Priefthood at Baffora. But when I was 
there, three Romijh Priefts of the Carmelite Order hfcd the 
Superiatendeney of that Church. Thefe fanttified Rafcals 

were 



of the EAST-I^DIES; log 

Were a Scandal to Chriflianity, by making a ' Tavern of 
their Church ; for having more Indulgence from the Go- 
vernment than the Mahometans^ in moral Matters, they 
abufe it to the vileft Ufes* in felling Arrack, which they 
diftil from Dates, and procuring Birds of Paradife for the 
Ufe of their Cuftomers. The Mahometans again are for- 
bidden ftridtly the Drinking of Wine or diftilled Liquors* 
both by their ecclefiaftick and civil Laws ; for the Heat 
of the Sun, and the dry fandy Soil create much aduft 
Choler in their Brains, that when they are heated by 
drinking ftrong Liquors, they become furious and mif- 
chievous to one another, and, in thofe mad Fits, wound 
and kill their Fellows. Thofe fcandalous Priefts had 
been often Reprimanded by 1 the Government, for abufing 
the- Indulgence they had, but to little Purpofe, for their 
Trade was very gainful. 

The Horfesin thiis Part of Arabia are very well fhap'd* 
and mettlefom, and the Men the moft dextrous in manag- 
ing them that ever I faw. They fhoot with Bow and Ar- 
row, and throw their.Lance at full Speedy and very feldoni 
mifs the Mark. They will ftoop at full Speed, and take 
up an Hare as flie runs, with their Hands* or throw a 
Lance in the Air, 'and cajxh it before it comes to the 
Ground : And indeed the moft of their Exercife* whilft 
young, is in managing their Horfes. 

They have many Boats on the River, of feveral Shapes 
and Dimenfions; fome are made of Wood, with high 
broad Boughs, and very long, others very Ihort : • Their 
Rudders are in Breadth a Quarter Part of their Keel's 
Length, but not intire of one Piece as ours are, and they 
daub them over Outfide and Infide with Bitumen* without 
caulking them \ others are Baskets made of Reeds, per- 
fectly round with two Sticks laid athwart crofs-ways their 
Bottoms to keep them open. They are alfo daub'd on 
the Outfide and Bottom with Bitumen. And this Sort, 
they make ufe of to tranfport Goods from Place to Place. 
Bitumen is a thick fulphurous and unftious Matter, gene* 
rated in the Earth there^ and boils up of its own Accord 
to the Surface-, and fometimes it is fo hot, that it fcalds 
the Hands or Feet of. them that go to gather /it And 
there are fome hot Pits in the Ground, that putting a Pot 

O ( over 



2io " A j&faw HISTORY 

over them, . they'll boil Meat. There is alfo Oyl of Petef 
in thofe Grounds, which is very good in healing rheuma- 
tick Fains. 



V 



CHAP. XII. 

f 

Obfervations on the Empire of Perfia, giving an Ac- 
count of its Magnitude ', the Rcdu&ion of Ormufe to 
the Obedience of Perfia by the AJjifiance of the En- 
glifh: .Alfo of the late Revolution by Meriweys. 

TH E Empire of Perfia is of a large Extent, being 
limited by Euphrates and the Perfian Gulf to the 
Weft ward, the India Ocean, from Cape Guaddel, to the 
Southward, on the Eaft Side by the River Indus, that runs 
one thoufand two hundred Miles to the Northward from • 
its Mouth, and on the North by UJbeck, Tartaria, CoU 
chis\ Mangrelia, the Cafpian Sea and Georgia. Erivan in 
Armenia is a Province in the North r weft of it, as Cabul 
andCandaha are on the North-eaft Side. Towards Turkey 
they fometimes lofe and get whole Provinces in U Year. 
About the Beginning of the feventeenth Century, Shaw 
Abafs was King of Perfia, a King worthy of Empire, and . l 
made himfelf famous by his Valour and Juftice; but hav- ? 
ing no Fleet at Sea, the Poriuguefe intuited his Sea-Coafts, 
and fettled themfelves on the Ifland of Otfnufe, and built 
a good ftrong Fort, as is already oblerved, with a pretty ' 
large Town, and magnificent Churches. Some Porches J 
and broken Pillars I have feen, that fpeak their ancient \ 
Grandeur; and the Caftle is ftill good, and well kept. \ 
The Portuguefe, with their light Frigats and Gal-lies, infulted A 
the Sea-Coafts of Perfia, and all the Shipping, that had 
Commerce in the Gulf, for above a whole Century. 
Shaw Jbafsbcmg tired with the Complaints of his Subje&s, ' 
.and others that had been robbed and infulted by the im- 
perious Poriuguefe, made him very uneafy, and found no 
Remedy but by encouraging the Englifh, who then had a 
fmall Factory on the Sea-lhore, about feven Leagues from 
the Mouth of the Gulf, to the Eaft* ward, called Jafques^' 

but 



V" 



THE JOCKO. 



1 






«•» 



f 



■1 



<:•. 






J 



•i 



i 



» r 
« V 



p/A EAST-INDIES. 211 

tut were continually difturbecftn their Commerce* by the 
domineering Portuguefe from Ormufe. 

Sir Thomas Row being then Ambaffador at the Court 
cfPerfia for King James the Firft of England, to cultivate % 
a Correfpondence between the two Kingdoms, Shaw Abafi 
broke his Mind to Sir Thomas, and proferred any reafona- 
ble Indulgence to the Englijh that traded into Perfia, pro- 
viding they would joyn his Land Forces with theirs ac 
Sea, in India, to drive the troublefom Portuguefe out of 
the Perfian Gulf. Sir Thomas agreed, that,, if Shaw 
Abafs would defray the Charges of the Ships that fhould 
come to his Afliftance, give the Englifh a free Trade all 
over the Perfian Dominions, Cuftom free, and grant them 
one Moiety of the Cuftoms railed by Merchandize in the 
Gulf, they would not only help, to drive the , Portuguefe 
out of Ormufe, but keep two Ships in the Gulf, to pro- 
te£t Trade. All which was agreed to by both Parties, and 
fealed and figried by the King of Perfia. 

The Englijh Forces confided of five Ships, about forty 
Guns one with another, and were well mann'd. The 
King of Perfia fent an Army of forty or fifty thoufand, 
with Trankies for Tranfports, to land them on Ormufe. 
The Englifh foon dcftroyed the Portuguefe Armado of light 
Frigats and G allies, which werehawl'd dry on the Land near 
the Caftle. The Cattle firing briskly on them, funk one 
of the Englifh Ships, whofe Artillery was carried a(hore > 
and put in Batteries to annoy the Caftle, which the Ship- 
ping and Batteries did fo efleftualiy, that, in lefs than two 
Months, the Portuguefe capitulated to leave Ormufe, with 
all the Fortifications intire, and to carry nothing away 
but their noble felves. The Plunder, which was very • 
great, was equally divided between the Englijh and Per- 
Jians; and Tradition reports, that there was fo much 
ready Bullion found in the Caftle, that it was meaiured by 
Long-boats-full i and one Boat being pretty deep, and an 
Officer ftill throwing in more, put the Boatfwain of the 
Ship, who was in the Boat, into a Paffion, and made 
him fwear, that for every Shovel-full that they threw 
more in, he would throw two out into the Sea; for he 
could not tell what would fatisfy them, if a Long-boat 
Load of Money would not. On the RedudicJn*^if the 
v O 2 Ifland 



212 if i«w HISTORY 

Ifland and Fort of Ormufe, the Portuguefe withdrew their 
Men from the Forts of Laraeka> another Ifland four or 
five Leagues from Ormufe, and from Kifmifh Fort, that 
. lies on the Eaft End of that Ifland, and retired to Mujkat. 
Shaw Abafs was punctual in obferving the Agreement with 
the Engltfh ; and it was pundlually kept by the fucceed- 
ing Kings, till about the Year 1680. the Engltfh Com- 
pany failed on their Part of keeping the Gulf clear of In- 
fults 5 and the Berfians* finding the Engltfh Company'* 
Forces were now too fmall for the increasing Power of 
the Arabs their Neighbours, took away the half Cuftoms* 
and allow them one thoufand one hundred Tomaans, which 
is about three thoufand three hundred Pounds Sterling a 
Year*, but I am afraid that is alfo loft by the late Revo- 
lution in Perjia. 

When Shaw Abafs demifed, his Son Shaw Tomas fuc- 
ceeded him, who was a Son worthy of. fuch a Father. 
He died about the Year 1630. He was a very valiant 
and fortunate Prince in his Wars with Turk and Mogul, 
and a great Lover of Juftice; for whoever broke the 
cftablifhed Laws, were fure to fufFer the Penalty annext 
to them.' One Inftance of that he ftiewed on a Baker j for, 
being once dete&ed in making his Bread lighter than the 
Standard, he was feverely fined ; but, on his being de- 
te&ed, and convifted a fecond Time, he was condemned 
to be bak'd in his own Oven, for a Terror to others, who 
might flatter themfelves with breaking the Lfws with Im- 
punity. 

After Shaw Tomas, the fucceeding Kings have been* 
debauch'd with Ignorance of their own Affairs, Volup- 
tuoufnefs and Indolence, leaving the Reins of Government 
in the Hands of Parafites, or Eunuchs and Concubines* 
who never fail to bring their Matter into Contempt, and 
the People into Murmurings and Rebellions. A very 
flagrant Inftance is to be feen in Meriweys's Revolution. 

The whole Reign of the laft Sophia or King, was manag- 
ed by fuch Vermin, that the Ballowcbes and Mackrans* 
who inhabit the Sea-coaft from Cape Jafques to Indus, ob- 
ferving the Weaknels of the Government thre\v off the 
Yoke of Obedience firft, and, in full Bodies* fell in upoa 
their Neighbours in Carmania y who were thriftier and 

richer 



of the E A S T - I N D I E S. 213 

richer than the maritime Freebooters, and plundered their 
Fellow Subje&s of what they had got by their painful In- 
duftry. There was no Want of Remonftrances and Peti- 
tions put into the Court to put a Stop to thofe Enormities^ 
butr no Redrefs could be had. The Usbecks came alfo on 
their neighbouring Province of Mufcbe^ and committed 
many Depredations ; and when Letters came from the Go- 
vernor of that Province, to acquaint the King of the 
Usbecks Incurfions, he happened then to be at Play with 
a young Cat, that hunted a Feather that he kept in Motion 
with a Thread. One of the Pages acquainted him* that a 
Meflenger was come in great Hafte from Mufdbet % with 
Letters to the Vizier, who was at the Chamber Door, ta 
know what hisMajefty would pleafe to order in that Junc- 
ture. He anfwered, that as foon as he had done playing 
with his Cat, he would fend for the Vizier, and confult 
of that Matter ; but he never thought more of it. This 
Indolence made many Thefts, Robberies and Murders to 
be committed throughout the Country : Nay> his own 
Guards went out in Troops, and way-laid Merchants go- 
ing or coming to or from Ifpabam, robbed them, and of- 
ten murdered them; and when Complaints were made, 
and Proof offered, yet no Redrefs c6uld be had, which 
made moft People believe, that fome Court Favourites 
were Encouragers of the publick Calamities. In the Year, 
1716, I carried fome Armenian Merchants from Perjiaxo 
Surat^ who allured me, that there was a Defign to depofe 
the King, and fet up his Son, or invite the Mufcovite in- 
to the Province of Casbin^ whofe- Shores are on the 
Cafpian Sea, and where a foreign Army may eafily be 
brought into their Ports by Sea: And certainly there 
was fuch a Defign; for in the Year 1719, the Plot of 
depofing the King Was. found out, arid the Attamadbulet 
or Vizier was deeply concerned in it. He was Meriweyf% 
or Meir Mahcumud Shaw's Father, the Son being then 
ChawHj or Prince of Candahaar. * The King was folacing 
himfelf in a Garden hear" the City pf Ifyahan, when he 
was apprifed of the Plot, which Was fcTbe executed the 
fame Night it was difcovered. He immediately fehtfor 
the Ahamqdbulety pretending Bufinefs of Importance a- 
bout fome Frontier Provinces ; and the old Gentleman 

O 3 not 



214 A New HISTORY 

not -dreaming of the Difcovery made, came to the King, 
who taxing him with the Plot, made no Difficulty to 
confefs that it was of. his own Contrivance, to fave the 
Country from Ruin, which was inevitable, if he con- 
tinued in Supinenefs, which had affeded him near forty 
Years, and there was no Sign of Amendment, notwith- 
standing his Remonftrances and Admonitions all that 
while, and now that he was detected, he knew the worft 
that could befal him, was to be facrificed for the Good of 
his Country, which he took to be rather glorious than 
dillionourable. ' The King ordered fome Bars of Iron to 
b'e heated, and his Eyes kept open till the Irons were 
gently .moved np^r' the Eyes . to dry up the Moifture* 
which is the royaF Punilhment in Per/ia, for difobedient 
or rebellious*. PrinCes \ fo the old Man being' made blind, 
his Treafure was feized, but his Palace and Gardens al- 
lowed him, and' an Allowance fuitable to his Dignity. He 
had in Gold Diamonds, fo the ValQe of eight hundred 
thoufand TomadnSj pi* two millions four hundred thoufand 
Pounds Sterling \ and fome faid he had more in his Son's 
Cuftody : But how true thefe Reports are, I am no pro- 
per 'judge, either to believe or rejeft - 9 but fome Bars' of 
his Gold I faw at Gombroon. ; * 

Befc/re this Confpiracy of the Attymadoulet happened^' 
the Muskat Arabs came with a Fleer, and landed hye or 
fix thoufand Men on Qmutfe, and befieged the Cattle ^ 
but could not take it in three Months, 'and being tired 
with Fatigue, they left it. But in the Year 1720, Meri- 
weys hearing how the King had ufed his Father, made the 
whole Province of Candahaar rebel, and wrote Letters to 
the Cbawn of Samacbie to come into Alliance with him 
and his Confederates the Ballowcbes and Usbecks y who 
jeadily embraced his Propofitions in Hope of Plunder. 
In 1 72 1 Meriweys bejgan his March towards IJpaban, with 
an Army of forty five thoufand, and paid honeftly for what 
hisArmy had Occafion for in his March, declaring, that 
he did not take Arms for their Hurt or Deftru&ion, but 
to free Perjia frprp ,tlie Folly and Tyranny of a doting 
Fool, who was. incorrigible by fair Means. The Usbecks 
entered the Provinces of Mujcbet and Tefd, with forty 
thoufand, and adted like Robbers. Another Army of 

f otty 



gf/fe EAST-INDIE' S. 215 

Forty thoufand went out of Samacbie, and ravaged Erivan ; 
and the Ballowches entered the Province of Carmania and 
plundered the Country, and at laft took the City. Then 
they marched towards Laar y and took the Town, but not 
the Fort : And there twelve Hollanders^ who were fenc 
from Gombroofiy to convey d<?wn fame Treafure belonging 
to their Company, behaved themfelves to Admiration, 
They were . lodged in a Caravanferay^ where the Ballow- 
ches came with about three hundred to attack them; but 
they had a brave warm Reception, and left about four Score 
of their Number dead on the Spot, without the Lofs of 
one Dutch Man : But not thinking themfelves and their 
Treafure fafe where they were, they defired Admittance 
into the Fort, which was readily granted, and there they 
alfo behaved themfelves fo well, that the Ballowches 
marched away without the Booty they came fo far for. 
The Dutch (laid there above a Month, and in that Time 
came a Detachment of four thoufand Horfe to- plunder 
Gombroon. We heard of their Defign about ten Days be- 
fore they came, and fo we and the Dutch fortified our 
Fa&ories as well as poflibly we could, planting little- 
Falconets on the Top of our Walls in Swivels, and beating 
out Ports in our Walls, to ply great Guns, to fcour the 
Avenues to our Faftbries. Mean while the Perftan Go- 
vernor fired Guns every -Night, to let the Enemy know 
he was a brave Fellow : However they had a Mind to fee, 
and, on the 15th of 'December *, they appeared near the Town, 
on a fwift March towards it, which feared the Governor 
fo much, that, tho' tflere was an high Mud Wall be- 
tween him and them, he got on Horfe-back, and ( fledto 
a Fort on the Sea-fhore, leaving a few Guns, loaded aiv' 
they were, to the Enemy. '$ 

The Ballowches came firft on the Weft Quarter of the 
Town, where our Faftory ftands, and foonmade Paflages- 
through the Mud Walls. They hewed down all that' 
came in their Way, particularly old People and Children, 
and came in a confufed Halle to attack our Fadtory, 
down fome Lanes; but we gave them a warm Welcome 
with our great Guns and fmall Shot. They foon found 
their Miftake,. and retired in as great Hafte as they came. 
Some of their Musketeers got into fome ruined Houfes, 

O 4 and 






t 



ai6 A New HISTORY 

and fired on us; but we being barricadoed, they did us 
little Damage, and had our Men obferved their Orders, 
better, we had come off with lefs. Our Firing lafted a- 
bout three Hours, in which Time we loft three or four, 
killed by their own Rafhnefs in (landing open to the Ene- 
my, when they might have done better Service under Co- 
ver of our Barricadoes. We. had alfo feven wounded, 
but none mortally, but one who was a Factor, who receiv- 
ed a Shot in his right Hand, which threw him into a 
Fever, of which he* died in feven or eight Days. The 
Agent being gone to Ifpaban fome Weeks before we had 
any Advice of the Ballowcbes coming, had carried twenty 
Soldiers along with him for a Guard, and left but fix is\ 
the Fadlory , befides Cooks, and a few Servants. I faw 
the Fadtory in Danger if they fhould be attacked, fo \ 
reinforced it with thirty fix of my beft Men, and another 
imall Englijh Ship from Bombay ', affifted with eight or 
nine of his, fo that when the Enemy came, we were ar 
fcout fifty ftrong. The Seafon being very cold, made 
pur Duty hard, for we lay in our Arms every Night, for 
ten or twelve Nights that the Enemy lay in the Town. 
They had a Cpnfultation next Day after their Repulfe, 
Jiqw they might make another Attack; but none would 
undertake to lead their Men on, and fo the Day after 
Confutation, they went to attack the Dutcby who were 
three Times ftronger than we, and they met with the; 
fame kind Reception we gave them -, but they had a Ware- 
house within Piftol-fhot of their Faftory, with Goods ta 
{he Value of twenty thoufand Pounds Sterling in it, which 
the Ballowcbes broke into, and plundered. The Dutch loft 
twelve Men, and had eight or ten wounded : So finding 
pur Fadtorics were not to' be taken without the Danger of 
• much Blood-fhed, they w^nt a plundering the Town for 
eight or nine Days, and carried away, in Money an<j* 
Gopds, abovp . two hundred thoufand Pounds, befides 
fourteen thoufand Captives, and as .many Beafts of Car- 
riage, and fo went off about five or fix Miles from thfc 
Town which they laid in Aflies before they left it. They; 
continued in our Neighbourhood, with their Plunder^ a- - 
bout a Month, I fuppofe till they received new Orders 
how t$ difpofe of themfelves. 

Not- 



of the EAST-INDIES, 217 

Notwithstanding fuch numerous rebellious Armies 
were a Foot, threatening Deftru&ion to the State, the in- 
dolent King being lulled aflcep in Security, did not offer 
to raife any Forces for the Defence of himfelf and Country, 
but faid to his Cabinet Counfellors, that be was Jure his 
Enemies would leave bim Ifpahan, and that one City would be 
enough to maintain bim and tbem his Counfellors : But when 
Meriweys came within three Days Journey of the City, 
he raifed about fifty thou fa nd of the Citizens, and fent to 
the Englijh and Dutch Agents, to join their little Forces 
to his, to manage the Artillery, and to lend him fome 
Money to fupport and pay his new raifed Army. The 
latter defired to be excufed in both •, but the Englijh com- 
plied, and were very a&ive in defending the City, when 
Meriweys came to befiege it: And when he approached 
within a Mile or two of the City, the King fent his raw 
Army out to fight Meriweys \. but in their March Meri- 
weys's Men having made a long Trench a pretty Way 
from their Front, and hid a large Quantity of Gun-pow- 
der in it, and then filled it up again, which Ambufcade 
the King's Army ' fell into, and, after a a good Number 
of them had paft it, Fire was fet to it, and blew up and 
fcorched many of the King's Men, which fo frightened the 
l*eft, that they turned Tail, and fled without ftriking one 
Stroke, fo Meriweys made an eafy Conqueft of the City, 
and found the King weeping, and deferted by hifrbafe 
and treacherous Courtiers. But Meriweys foon put an End 
to his Melancholy, by ordering his Head to be ftruck off, 
which was forthwith executed, and put on the Point of a 
J^ance, and carried thro' the City three Days fucceffively, 
as a s$pe<Sacle. The Prince royaU or the young Sopbi* 
feeing his Father's Affairs in fo wretched a Condition, had 
left the City, and went to Taurus or Teverize before Meri- 
weys. came. Meriweys carried himfelf mighty civiiy to 
the Citizens, -but made the Englijh Prifoners, and feized 
what Money and Goods could be found of theirs, and al- 
fo the Dutch Company's EfFe&s, but not their Servants 
Perfons. It was reported, that the Englijh loft about* 
fixty thoufahd Pounds, and the Dutch two hundred and 
ten thoufand. But theTruth of thefe Reports are beft known 
$0 thentfelves. 

When 



*i8 A New HISTORY 

When the old King had a Mind to 'honour the Englijh 
Faftory with a Vifit, as I faw in a Letter from Mr. Bruce 
the Company's Agent,, that he fometimes did, and one 
particularly in his Agency, he magnifies the Honour 
done to his Mailers, above what the Dutch could ever ob- 
tain. He relates how he and all the Fa&ory, great and 
fmall, ware ordered to Ifcave their Houfe, and Chamber 
Doors and Ware-houfes all open, for his Majefty and his 
Seraglio Companions to ramble thro', and take fuch Things 
as belt plealed him and his Minions ; and there was a 
Table left in the Dining-room, fpread and furnifhed wirh 
the richeft Sweet-meats and Fruits. 

I believe the Company was not very ambitious of hav- 
ing many fuch Honours conferred on them, fince they 
were obliged to pay for them. And when the King has a 
Mind for fome new Concubines, he iffues out Orders for 
all Men and Youths to depart out from their Houfes in the 
Street, that he is plcafed to vifit, and to leave all the 
Ladies in Pofleffion till his Majefty furveys them ; and 
thd Penalty of Difobedience is Death. He generally makes 
his Progrefs thro* the Armenian Quarters, becaufe the 
faireft and moft beautiful are amongft their Children. 

The Religion, by Law eftablilhed for near eleven 
Ages, is Mahometan* of the Sect of Alii •, but the ancient 
Religion was Parfi, or Worfhippers of the Sun and Fire. 
The Founder of it was Zoroajler, whom they ftill venerate. 
About the ninth Century of the Chriftian ALra* the Ma- 
hometan Zealots, according to the laudable Way of fome 
ChriftianSi railed a Perfection againft the Par/is, whofe 
wholefom Severities made many Profetytes ; but fome ob- 
stinate Rogues, who would not change for a worfe, were: 
lawfully murdered, or obliged to run their Country, fo 
that at prefent there are but few left in Perjia, and thofe 
that are left, are prote<fted by their Poverty and Habita- 
tions, which are in Deferts or Hills little frequented. 

There are vaft Numbers of Armenian Chrijlians in Per~ 
fta h whofe Religion is tolerated. Their former Country 
eft Armenia is now the Province of Erivan. There are ma- 
ny fubftantial Merchants of Armenians, who inhabit Julfar, 
a Town near jfpaban> and they fend Faftors all over India 

td 



cf the EAST-INDIES. zig 

to carry on Trade; and fome come to Europe on that 
fame Account. 

The Mahomet am in Perjia, to encourage Profelytes to 
their Religion, have a Law, that if a Son of an Armenian 
turns Mahometan* all the Fathers's Eftate. becomes his, 
and all who continue Cbrijiians are excluded, which fome- 
times makes great Divifions and Alterations in a Family* 

In Baptifm they unmerfe, but do not fprinkle. The 
Prieft muft officiate in his facerdotal Garb, with a Crown 
on his Head, and muft have two Affiftants in holy Veil* 
ments alfo, but without Crowns. Their titulary Saint is 
St. Gregory > of whom they tell many ftrange Stories * but 
whether true or falfe I know not : But I am fure he haa 
plagued them with Faft-days, for they faft one Half of the 
Year at leaft. 

Having made what Obfervations I could of the Em- 
pire of Perfia, I'll travel along the Sea-coaft towards In- 
dujl an, .or the Great Mogufs Empire. All thfct Shore, 
from Jafques to Sindy 9 is inhabited by uncivilized People, 
who admit of no Cbmmerce with Strangers, tho* Guaddel 
and Diul, two Sea-ports, did, about a Century ago, af- 
ford a good Trade. * 



«k 



CHAP. XIII. 

Treats of the Mogul's Dominions on the River Indus, 

particularly of the ancient Kingdom of Sindy ; its 

Produtt and Commerce \ Religion and Cujloms of the 

. Inhabitants ; with a Defcription of the River Indus. 

SI NDT is the weftmoft Province of the Mogul's Do- 
minions, on the Se&-coaft, and has Larribundar to its 
Sea Mart, which- Hands about five or fix Leagues from 
the Sea, on a Branch of the River Indus ^ capable to re- 
ceive Ships of two hundred Tuns. It is but a Village of a- 
bout one hundred Houfes, built of crooked Sticks and 
Mud ; but it has a large Stone Fort, with four or five 
great Guns mounted in it* to protedt the Merchandize 
brought thither, from the Robberies of the B allow ches 

and 



220 A New HISTORY 

and Mackrans that lie near them, to the Weft ward, and 
the Jams to the Eaftward, who being Borderers, are 
much given to Thieving, and they rob all whom they are 
able to mafter. The former are revolted Subjefts of Per- 
Jta> and the other are Subjefts of the Moguls but being 
fecured from the Aw£ of an Army's coming to chaftife 
their Infolency, by tne moorifti Grounds they live in, and 
the rapid Tides of Indus, they make but little Account of 
their Sovereign's Power or Orders, and fo they commit 
Depredations on the Caffillas that pafs to and fro between 
Tatta and Larribundar^ notwithftanding a Guard of one 
or two hundred Horfe are fent along with them, by the 
ffabob or Vice-roy of Tatta, for Protection ; but often 
thofe Proteftors fuffer the Caffillas to be robbed, pretend- 
ing the Robbers are too numerous to be reftrained by their * 
fmall Force*, and afterwards come in Sharers with the 
Robbers. 

Tatta is the Emporium of the Province, a very large and 
rich Cky. It is about threje Miles long, and one and an 
half broad, and is about forty ^liles Diftance from Lar- 
ribundar^ and has a large Citadel on its Weft End, capa- 
ble to lodge five thousand Men and Horfe, and has Bar- 
racks and Stables convenient for them, with a Palace 
built in it for the Nabob. All Goods and Merchandize 
imported or exported between "Tatta and Larribundar, are 
tranfparted on Carriage Beafts, fuch as Camels, Oxen and 
Hofles. The Country is almoft level, and overgrown 
with Shrubs and Bulhes, very fit to cover an Ambufcade, 
Which the aforeiaid Robbers-often make ufeof, and fud- 
denly rufh out on a Caffilla, and whilft the Guards and 
Carriers are fighting in one Place, either of Front, Flank 
of Rear, the Robbers drive away the Beafts with their 
Packs. 

It was my Fortune, about four Months after, to come 
to harribimdar \ with a Cargo from Mallabar, worth a- 
bove ten thoufand Pounds. I could find no Tatta Mer- 
chants that would meddle with my Cargo before it was 
carried to- Tatta •, but agreed on the Prices of moft of the 
Species of my Goods : And finding no other Remedy but 
travelling fcy Land, in a Caffilla of. one thoufand five hun- 
dred Beatts, and as many, or moire Men and Women, be- 

fides 



of the EAST-INDIES iii 

fides two hundred Horfe for our Guard, about the Middles 
of January we fet out •, and after we had riiarched about 
fixteen Miles, our Scouts brought in News of the Ballow- 
ches and Mackrans being juft before us* in great Numbers* 
I had thirteen of my beft Firemen with me in the Front, 
where my Beafts were. We being all mounted on little 
Horfes, alighted, and fet eur Beafts on our Flanks and 
Front, to ferve us for a Barricadoe, to defend us from 
Sword and Target* men, which were the principal Strength 
of the Robbers, and we, at the fame Time, had Room, 
enough to fire over our Barricadoe. We were not long 
in that Pofture, till the Enemy fent an Herald on Horfe-* 
back, with his Sword brandiftiing, and when he came 
within Call of us, he threatened, that if we did not inftant- 
ly furrender at Difcretion, wc fliould have no Quarters. 
• I had two of my Seamen that fhot as well with a Fuzee as 
any ever I faw, for I have feen them at Sea, for Diverfion* 
knock down .a fingle Sea-fowl with a fingle Bullet, as they 
were flying near our Ship. I ordered one to knock down 
the Herald, which he inftantly did, by a Bullet through 
his Head. Another came prefently after, with thefamcf 
Threatenings, and met with the fame Trdfteent, The 
next that came, I ordered his Horfe to be (hot in the Head, 
to try if we could take his Rider, that we might learn 
fomewhat of the Enemy's Strength. The Horfe was kill- 
ed as foon as he appeared, and fome of our Horfe got the 
Rider, and hewed him down, inftead of bringing him. to 
us. Our Guard of Horfe continually kept in the Rear, 
but feeing what we had done in the Front, took Courage, 
and getting in amongft the Bulhes, met with fpme that 
had a Defign to attack our Flank, and foon defeated them, 
' which put the Robbers in fuch Fear, that they betook 
themfelves to Flight, and our Horfe purfuing, put many 
to the Sword 5 fo when they returned fronv the Purfuit, 
we went on in our Journey, and travelling four Miles* 
came to a Mud-wall Fort, called Dungbam, a proper En~ 
glilh Name for fuch a Fortification. It ifc built mid-way 
between Tatta and Larribundar> to fecure the Caffilla from 
being fet upon in the Night, who all lodge within it, Men 
and Beafts promifcuoufly, which makes it fo nafty, that 
the Englijh Appellation is rightly bellowed on it. There 

are 



ft22 r A New HISTORY 

are about twenty little Cottages built clofe to it, who breed 
Fowls, Goats and Sheep, to fell to Pafiengers. And 
thefe are all the Houfes to be feen in the Way between 
Tatta and Larribundar. 

The Nqws of a Viftory that I had over three Sanganian 
Pirates at Sea, on my ,Voyage from Malabar to Larribun- 
dar y had reached ¥atta> before the fecond Skirjnifh by 
Land, fo that when I came to Tatta y we were received 
with Acclamations from the Populace, and the better Sort 
vifited us with Prefents of Sweet- meats and Fruits, af- 
cribing the fafe Arrival of the Caffilla wholly to our Cou- 
rage and Conduft. 

We were lodged in a large convenient Houfe of fifteen^ 
Rooms, and had good Warehoufes. The Stairs from 
the Street, were intire Porphyry, often Foot long, of a 
bright yellow Colour, and as fmooth as Glafs. They were 
about ten in Number, and led up to a Stjuare of fifteen 
Yards long, and about ten broad. Next Day we had a 
Compliment from the Nabob y of an Ox, five Sheep, as 
many Goats, twenty Fowls and fifty Pigeons, with Sweet- 
meats and Fruit in Abundance. He, at that Time, lay 
encamped about fix Miles from the Town, with an Army 
of eight or ten thoufand Men, with a Defign to punifh 
the Ballowches and Mackrans for robbing the Caffilla, and 
killing his Men, as is before mentioned. Hedefired me 
to let him know when we defigned to drink a l^ifti of Coffee 
with him, and he would fend Horfes to bring us to the 
Camp. I returned Thanks for his Civility, and fent him 
Word, that I defigned to kifs his Hand the very next Day ; 
and he accordingly fent twenty fine Perjian Horfes, well 
equipp'd, for my Uie, ten of which I accepted for myfelf 
and Guard to mount, and the other ten were mounted, 
with fome of the moft confiderable Merchants in Tatta^ 
who went to accompany me out of Refpeft; and, to make 
our Cavalcade appear with the greater Grace, as foon as 
we came to the Camp Gate, we would have alighted, 
but an Officer on Horfe-back told us, that it was the 
Nabob's Pleafure, that we fhould be brought to his Tent 
on Horfe back, 2nd he riding before us, condufted us to 
the Tent Door, and, as foon as we got from our Horfes, 
I was conducted into his own Pavilion Chamber, where 

he 



of the EA8T-INDIE8. 22$ 

he was fitting alone. The reft that came with me, were 
not admitted for an Hour after. It would take a great 
Deal of Time and Ropm to relate the Compliments and 
other Difcourfes that paft; but I knew the Cuftom, not 
to appear before great Men with an empty Hand. I de- 
fired Leave to lay a little Prefent at his Feet, which he 
permitted. It confided of a Looking-glafs of about five 
Pounds in Value, a Gun, and a pair of Piftols welj gilded, 
a Sabre Blade and Dagger-blade gilded, and aGlafs Pipe 
for his Tobacco, and an embroider'd Standifh for it to 
ftand in. He then fent for all who had accompanied me 
into the Room, and ftiewed the Prefent I had made hiii), 
magnifying every Piece of it; and after fome Encomiijms 
on my Valour and Generofity, told me, that I was a free 
Denifon of Tatta, with the Addition of an Indulgence of 
being free of all Cuftom and Tax on all Goods that I had 
brought or fhould export, and that whoever bought any 
Part of my Cargo, and did not pay according to the A- 
greement made for Payment, I fhould not be liable to feek 
Juftice at the Cadjee's Court, but to imprifon my Debtors, 
and if that would not perfuade them to give Satisfa&ion, 
he would fell their Wives, Children or neareft Relations 
to make good their Debt. This Privilege did me lingular 
Service when the Term of Payments came, and was 
obliged to try the Experiment of imprifoning. After three 
Hours Converfation, we took Leave to go, and he difmifled 
us with much Civility, and told me, that when he returned 
from that Expedition, he would repay my Vifit at my 
Lodgings-, but # in three Months that I ftaid, he did not 
return, but often fent to enquire after my Welfare, and 
how my Affairs ftood. 

In travelling from Dungbam towards tfattd* about four 
Miles fhort of the City, on fmooth rifing Ground, there 
are forty two fine large Tombs, which, from the Plain, 
appeared to be a fmall Town. They are the Butying- 
places of fome'of the Kings of Sindy y when that Country 
was governed by its own Kings. 1 went into the largeft, 
which is built in the Form of a Cupola, and in the Middle 
of it, ftood a Coffin-tomb, about three Foot high, and 
feven Foot long, with fome others of a leffer Size. The 
Materials of the Cupola were yellow, green and red Por- 
phyry 



a* 4 A New HISTORY 

J&yry, finely poliihed, and the Stones fet in regular Or- 
der, Chequer-ways, which Variegation ftrikes the Eye 
>with wonderful Pleafure. The Tomb is about ten Yardsi 
high, and feven in'Diameter. I was told, that it was the 
Burying-place of the laft King of that Country, who was 
robbed ot his Sovereignty by Jehan Guire, Gand -father to 
the famous Aurenzeb^ in the Beginning of the feventeenth 
Century, who, after he had him Prifoner, bid him aik 
\vhat Favours he would defire for himfelf and Children* 
and they fhould be granted. He nobly replied, That all 
the Favour he begg'd, was, that himfelf, his Queen, and 
their Children; might be buried in that Tomb, which, in 
Times of Prosperity, he had built for that Purpofe, and 
hdfl coft him two Lack of Rupees* or twenty-five thou* 
land Pound Sterl. which Requeft his Conqueror could not 
well refufe. 

TATTA City (lands about two Miles from the River 
Indus, in a fpacious Plain, and they have Canals cut from 
the River, that bring Water to the City, and fome for 
the Ufe of their Gardens. The King's Gardens were in 
pretty good Condition in the Year 1699, and were well 
ftored with excellent Fruits and Flowers, particularly the 
moft delicious Pomegranates that ever I tatted. 

For three Years before I came there, no Rain had 
fallen, which caufed a feverc Plague to affedt the Town 
and circumjacent Country, to fuch a Degree, that* in the 
City only, above eighty thoufand died of it, that manu- 
factured Cotton and Silk* and above one Half of the City 
was deferted and left empty. And that was one Reafon 
why the Nabob had placed his Carfip in that Place that I 
Went to vifit him at. The Figure of the Camp was a re- 
gular Tetragon, and ditched about with a Trench about 
three Yards broad, and two deep. The Ground taken 
out of the Ditch, was thrown upon the Infide, about four 
Foot high, and regularly built like a Parapet. It had 
four Gates, one in the Middle of each Curtain, and a 
ftraight Street from the oppofite Gates, which made an 
exa£fc crofs in Figure, and the Nabob's Tent was pitch'd 
in the Middle of the Crofs. Each Side of the Tetragon 
was about fix or feven hundred Paces in Length, and th6 
Ditches could be filled with Water from the Indus, and 

let 



of the EAST-INDIES. 2*$ ^ 

let out at Fleafure, into a large Marifll about two Miles 
off the Camp. J ' . 

The River Indus is navigable for their Veflils, as high 
as Cafmtre y and one Branch runs up to Cabul to the Weft- 
ward, and others to Penjeb, Lahore^ Multiin, Buiiw, and 
other large Provinces and Cities to the Eaftward, and all 
fhare the Benefits of the inland Navigation. 

This Country abounds richly in Wheat, Rice and 
Legumen, and Provender for Horfes and Cattle; and 
they never know the Mifery of Famine, for the Indus 
overflows all the low Grounds in the Months of Aprils 
May and June, and when the Floods go off, they leave a 
fat Slime on the Face of the Ground, which they till eafily 
before it dries* and being fown and harrow'd, never fails 
of bringing forth a plentiful Crop. 

The other Productions of this and the inland Country, 
are Saltpeter, Sai-armoniack, Borax, Opoponax, Afla- 
fcetida, Goat Bezoar, Lapis tutia and Lapis lafuli^ and 
raw Silk, but not fine. 

They manufa&ure in wrought Silks, which they call 
JemawaarSy in Cotton and Silk, ! caHed Cuttenees^ and in 
Silk mixt with Car mania Wooll, called Culhuleys, in Ca- 
licoes coarfe and fine, flieer and clofe wrought. Their 
Cloth called Jurries^ is very fine andfoft, and lafts beyond 
any other Cotton Cloth that J have ufed. They make 
Chints very fine and cheap, and Coverlets for Beds -very 
beautiful. They make fine Cabinets, both lack'd "and 
inlaid with Ivory. And the^beft Bows and Arrows in the 
World, arc made at Muitan, of> Buffalos Horns. They 
lack wooden Diflies and Tables, but 'ndt fo well as in 
China.' The Lack is clear enough, but always clammy, 
they export great Quantities of Butter, which they 
gently melt, and put up in Jars, called Duppas^ 4jYade 
of the Hides of Cattle, aknoft in the Figure of a Globe, 
with a Neck and Mouth on one Side* * They are made 
of all Sizes, from thofe that contain three hundred^nd 
twenty Pounds, to thofe of Five; and that Butter keeps, 
without Salt, the whole Y*v round, ibut, as it grows 
eld, it becoipcs rank. < 

The Wood Ligna dulcis grows only in- this Country. 
It is rather a Weed than a Wood, and nothing of it is 

P uieful 



.T'** rr 



r 

} #26 'A Neiv H I S TO R Y 

t ufefol but the Root, called Putchock % or, Radix dutch. 
I never, heard it is ufed in Phyfick, but is a good Ingre- 
dient in the Corhpofition 0f Perfumes. There are great 
. Quantities exported for Surat, and from thence to China, 
'where it generally bears a good Price 5 for being all Ido- 
. laters, and burning Incenfe before their . Images, this 
Root beaten into fine Powder, and an Incenfe* pot laid 
ioyer fmoothly with Afhes, and a Furrow made in the 
, Afhes, about a- Quarter of arc Inch broad, and as much 
. in Depth, done very artificially into a greafi Length, the 
.Powder is put. into that Furrow,.. and fired, and it will 
.burn a long Time like. a Match, fending forth a fine 
Smoke, whofe Smell is very grateful-, .the: Powder having 
, the good. Qualities j&f maintaining: and delaying the Fire. 
The Religion, by Law eftabliflied, is: Mahometan ; 
r but there are. ten I Gentows or Pagans for one Muffulman. 
. But the, City oiTatta is famous for Learning in Theology, 
; Philology and Politicks, ag4 they have above four hun- 
dred Colleges for training up Youth in. thofe Parts of 
iLearnihg/ '' < . ■ 

v The Genpowshwe full Toleration for their Religion* 
and keep their Falls and Feafts as in former Times, whfcta 
the Sovereignty was in Pagan Princes Hands. They burn 
their dead, but the Wives are restrained from burning 
with the Corpfe of their Hulbands. There is a very great 
Confumption of; .Elephants Teeth, for 'tis the Fafbion 
for Ladies to wear Rings of Ivory from their Arm-pits to 
their Elbows, and from their Elbows to their Wrifts, of 
> both Arms ; and when they die, all thofe Ornaments are 
burnt alqng with them. 

The River, of Sindy wouldbe hard to be found, were 
afJiot for the Tomb of a Mahometan Saint, who has an 
high Tower built' over him, called Sihdy Tower. It is 
always kept white to ferve as a Land-mark. The Bar, 
gok>g into the River, is narrow, and has not above two 
Fathoms and an Half, on Spring-tides : But this is only 
a fmail Branch of Indus * which Appellation is now loft 
in this Country that it fo plentifully waters, and is called 
Divellee, or feven Mouths ; but it difembogues itfelf into 
the Sea-thro' many more. 

chap: 



■\ 



t/^ EAST-INDIES, aajj 

» • 

C H A P. XIV. 

Gives an Account of the ancient Kingdom ofGuztrii* 
now a Province annext to the Moguls Dominions* 
its Situations, ProduSi, Manners and Religion > % 
ubithfome Account of the Pi fates that inhabit Part 
of it, and fome Obfervations on DIu, a Portuguese 
City on an Ifland appertaining to Guzerat. , 

rip H E next maritime Country to Sindy, WGuzeraf* 
X. The Indus makes it an Wand, by a Branch that 
funs into the Sea at the City oiCambayja. This Province, 
tho* Vaffals to the Mogul, yet continue in their old Re- 
ligion of Paganifm, and* for the moft Part , drive the old 
Trade of thieving and pirating, for they plunder all whom 
they can overcome, on both Elements : Nor can the 
Mogul rcftrain them, for their Country is fecure from the 
Marches of Armies into it, by reafon of the many Inlets 
of the Sea that overflow the low Grounds, and make it 
fo foft and muddy, that there is no travelling but by 
little Boats, in many Places. 

The firft Town on the South Side of Indus* is Cutch^ 
naggen. It admits of fome Trade, and produces Cotton, 
Corn, coarfe Cloth and Chonk, a Shell-fifh in Shape of a 
Perriwinkle, but as large about as a Man*s Arm above 
the Elbow. In Bengal they are faw'd into Rings for Or- 
naments to Womens Arms, as thofe of Sindy wear Ivory. 
Rings. They are in Fafhion in many Countries in India. 
The Province and Town of Cutchnaggen are governed by'a 
Queen, who is very formidable to her neighbouring States, 
The Reafons they give for choofing Governefles, are, that 
they'll be better advifed by their Council than Men> who, 
by too larg£ a Share of Power and Honour placed on 
them, become obftinate in their Opinions, and infolent 
in their Behaviour ; But Ladies are efteemed complaifant 
and gentle. ; ' ' 

The next Province in Cutchnaggen, is Sangania, which 
is alfo gpverned by a Pirincefs, for the above Reafons.' 
Their Sea-port is called Baet, very commodious and fe- 
cure. They admit of no Trade, but. pra&ife Piracy. 

P 2 They 



i 



222 A New M I g T O R Y 

They giye Prote&ion to all Criminals, who deferve Puk 
niftiment from the Hand of Juftice. All Villains in the 
Countries about flock thither, and become honeft Rob- 
bers, fo that they are a Medley of Criminals, who flee 
their Country for Fear of condign Punifhment due to their 
Crimes. This Province produces Cotton and Corn, as 
all the Kingdom of Guzerat does ; but they admit -of no . 
Trade in their Country, as I obferved before, for Fear of 
l>eing civilized by Example. I had feveral Skirmifbes 
with them. s . 

In the Year i68.5, a fmall Ship of theirs, that mount- 
ed eight Guns, and well manned, was cruising on the 
Coaft of India , between Surat and Bombay, and the Phenix % 
an Englijb Man of War of forty -two Guns, was bound for 
Surat. The Sanganian made towards her, and engaged 
her, but would fain have been gone again when they 
found their Miftake •, but that was impoflible. The Pbe- 
nixUnt her Boats, well mann*d, to try if they could make 
them yield, in order to fave their Lives ; but they fcorn- 
ed Quarter, and killed and wounded many of the Englijb i 
fo that Captain Tyrrel^ who commanded the Pbenix, was 
forced to run his lower Teer out, and fink them: And, 
after their Ship was funk, and the Mifcreants fet a fwim- 
ming, yet rnoft of them refufed Quarter; l and only about 
fcventy were taken alive. 

In the Year 1 7 1 7, they attackt a Ship called the Moan- 
ing Star iri her Paffage between Gombvcon and Surat. She 
was richly laden, which they were ap£rifed of, and two* 
Squadrons were fitted out from two different Ports, to 
. { way-lay her, and accordingly fhe fell in with eight Sail of 
thofe Pirates. One was a large Ship of near five hundred 
Tuns, and three others were Ships between two and three 
hundrefl Tuns, and the other four were Grabs, or Gallies* 
and Sbeybarsy or half Gallies. They reckoned in all there 
were above two thoufand Men in their Fleet, and the Morn- 
ing Star but feventeen, fighting Men, who were refolved 
to truft Providence, and fight for . their Lives, Liberty 
and Eftate* The finft Attack Was "by the greateft Ship 
atone, but wa?s foon obliged to fheer off again, with the 
Lofs of fome Men, and the Captain of the Morning Star 
was wounded in the Thigh> by a Lance darted at him* 

that 



of the E A S T - I N D I E S. 229 

that pierced his Thigh through and through. The 
Pirates were not difcouraged by this fir ft Repuife, but 
joined their Forces and Counfels together, and, after ?, 
Day's Refpite and Confutation, they attacked the Morning 
Star a fecond Time, the two largeft Ships boarding, on^ 
on her Bow, and another on her Quarter, and three more 
boarded them two, and entred their Men over them. This 
Combat was warm for above four Hours, and the Morn- 
ing Star had feven killed, and as many wounded ; but 
kind Providence affifted her. Whilft (he was on Fire in 
three Places, and had burnt through her Poop and half 
Deck, (he was . difengaged of them, and left fi*e of the 
largeft fo entangled with one another, that they could nor 
purfiie her. So fhc purfued her Voyage to Surat % but 
having no Surgeon on board, ihe called at Bombay ', {o gee 
her wounded Men dreft and cured. In the Time of the 
Combat, while the Pirates were on board of the Morning 
Star y twenty one Indian Seamen went on board of them, 
and twenty fix Merchants had gone to them, to try if they 
could perfuade them to take a Sum, and not put it on the 
,Hazard of a Battle. All thofe they detained, and carried 
along with them, and made them pay above fax thoufand 
Pounds for their Ranfom, who gave an Account after- 
wards of great Slaughter done on the Pirates. And the 
Commodore loft his Head as foon as he landed, for letting 
fb rich a Prize go out of his Hands. 

In the Year"i698, one Captain Lavender^ in the Ship 
VbomaSi bound from Surat to Mocha* encountered foity* 
5ail of thofe Freebooters, and fought them bravely \ but 
they burnt the Ship and all her Crew, becaufe he would 
<not yield. They are very cruel to thofe they can raaftef, 
if they make Refiftance*, but to thofe that yield without 
iighting, they are pretty civil. t 

The next Sea-pott Town to Baet, is Jigat. It ftancts 
on a Point of low i,and, called Cape Jigat. The City 
•makes a good Figure from the Sea, (hewing four or five 
-high Steeples. It is the Seat of a Fouzdaar or Governor, for 
the Mogul. It is a Place of no Trade, and confequently 
little known to Strangers. 

The next maritime Town is Afangarou!. It admits of 
Trade, . and*affbrds goarfr Calicoes white and died, Wheat, 

P 3 Pulie 



/ 



• / 



230 A New HISTORY 

Pulfe and Butter for Export, and has a Market for Pep- 
per, Sugar and Betlenut. It is inhabited by Banyans ; 
and wild Deer, Antelopes, and Peacocks are fo familiar, 
that they come into the very Houfes without Fear. 

The next Place is Poremain^ a pretty large Town on 
the Sea-fhore, and admits of Trade, producing the fame 
Commodities as Mangaroul* and its Inhabitants are of 
the fame Religion; but both Towns are obliged to keep 
' Raffpuis to protect them from the Infults of the Sanga* 
mans. 

Those Rajfpouts are Natives of Guzerat, and are all 
Gentlemen of the Sword, and are well trained in the Art 
of killing. They, like the Switz, employ their Swords 
in the Service of thofe who give them beft Pay. They 
feldom give or- take Quarter, and when they go on an 
Expedition, they carry their Wives and Children in Carts 
dnd Wagons along with them, and if they meet with a Re- 
pulfe, their Wives will never fuffer Cohabitation till they 
can regain their loft Honour by fome noble Exploit. 

Diu is the next Port, and is the fouthermoft Land on 
Guzerat. It is a fmali Ifland of three Miles long, and two 
broad, belonging to the Crown of Portugal. The City is 
pretty large, and fortified by an high Stone Wall, with 
Baftiofts at convenient Diftances, well furnifhed with Can- 
non to flank it, and a deep Mote hewn out of an hard 
Rock, to defend it on the Land Side, which is about one 
third Part of the City. The other Parts are fortified by 
Nature, having tlje Ocean thick fet with dangerous Rocks 
and high Cliffs, -who forbid any Approaches on that Side, 
•and a rapid deep River, that affords a good Harbour, on 
the ■ North-eaft Side. The Harbour, is fecured by two 
Caftles, one large, that can bring above one hundred large 
Cann6n to bear on the Mouth of the Harbour, to forbid 
Shipping Entrance without- Leave. The other is but 
fmall, and is built irregularly on a Rock in the Middle of 
the River, and Chanels for Shipping to pafe by it, . with- 
in ten Yards of its Wall. It is made ufe of for a Maga- 
zine for Pov/der and other warlike Stores. 

It is one of the beft built Cities, and beft fortified by 
'Nature and Art, that ever Ifaw xnlndia^ and its ftately 
-Buildings of free Stone and Marble, arc fuificient Wit- 

neflea 



of the EAST-IND-IES, 231 

ncfiesof its ancient Grandeur and OpuFency; but at pre* 
lent not above one fourth of the City is inhabited. It con- 
tains five or fix fine Churches, which are great Ornament* 
to the City, which ftands on a rififtg Ground of an eafy - 
Afcent from the great Caftle •, and the Churches,- being 
built wide from one another^ and Handing gradually 
higher than cine another, make the Vijio from the Sea ad- " 
mirably pleafant, by fhewing all their beautiful Fronts 
that Way. And within they are well decorated with 
Images and Paintings. 

There is a Tradition, that the Portugufe circum- 
vented the King of Guzerat, as Dido did the Africans, when 
they gave her Leave to build Carthage^ by defiring no : 
more Ground to build their Cities than could be circum-. 
fenbed in an Ox's Hide, which having obtained, they cut 
it into a fine Thong of a great Length, and over-reacti'd* 
their Donors in the Meafure of the Ground. 

After the City w&s built and fortified, it drew all the' 
Trade from the King's Towns of Commerce thither, which 
made him .heartily, repent his Generofity ; and he made 
Propofals to the Pcriugucfe to reimburse all. the Charge- 
and. Expence they had been at, if they would reftore that' 
Ifland again, but he could never perfuade them to that* 
Bargain, and fince fair Means would not do, he defigned 
to try what might be obtained by Force, wherefore he 
railed a great Army, and befieged it, but was loon forced 
to draw oflf again with Lois, for the Pvrtuguefe large Can- 
non from their Walls difturbed and diftrefs'd hii Camp for 
that he found but little Safety for himfelf, and much lefs 
for his Hoft. * 

This City came to fuch arc Height of Trade and Riche$ 
in the fixteenth Century, * that it drew a very -potent Enw 
my from the Red Sea% for, about the Year 1540,. the 
Titttb, designing tG have a Footing in- 2#^*,caft their 
Eyes QsxDJatyM being conveniently fituaced, and well for* 
tified for, their Purpofe, ,ib they-earne in a Fleet of Gallies 
and. Trarri potts twenty five thoufand ilrong, from Aden] 
and landed on the Weft .End of the Ifland, and laid Siege 
to the City ; but the Portuguese fent a Reinforcement frorri 
Goa, of twenty Sail, fome of which were large Ships of 
Galleons, ...who carried heavy Metal, with which they 

P 4 battered 



232 . if Mw HISTORY ' 

battered the' Turkijb Fleet, being fmall Veflels, that many 
Turks were funk, and the Bafhaw was forced to make off 
with great Lofs and Shame* and leave their battering Ar- 
tillery to the Portuguefe y - for which Misfortune and Difr 
grace, he loft his Head when he returned to Aden. 

But about the Year 1670, the Musket Arabs had better 
Fortune, for they came with a Fleet of Trankies* and 
took an Opportunity to land in the Night, on the Weft 
End of the Ifland, without being difcovered, and march'd 
filently clofe up to the Town, and, at Break of Day, 
when the Gates were opened, they entered without Re- 
fiftance. The Alarm was foori fpread over the Town, 
and happy was he who got firft to the Caftle Gates, but 
thofe who had heavy Heels were facrifited to the Enemies 
Fury, who fpared none, fo in a Moment that fair rich 
City and Churches were left to the Mercy of the Arabs, 
who, for three Days, loaded their Veflels with rich Plun- 
der. 

But ,the Arabs, like a Parcel of unfanftified Rogues, 
made fad Havock on the Churches Trumpery, for, befides 
robbing them of* all the fan&ified Plate and Caih, they 
did not leave one Gold or Silver Image behind them, but 
carried allinto Captivity, from whence they never returned". 
. Howjever, before the Arabs had done plundering, they, 
becamefecureand negligent* which the Governor having 
Notice of, proclaimed Freedom to all Slaves who would 
venture to fally out on the Enemy, . Accordingly about 
four thoufahd Soldiers and Slaves made a Sally with Sue- 
cefs, killing above one thoufand. -4raM and made the reft 
flee from the Town, the Aflailants lofing but very few v 
and by that one Sally the; Town was regained.. The City 
ffall feels the difmal Effe&aof the Lofs it. then received. 
At prefent there are not above two hundred: Pwtujrucft 
both in the Caftle and City. The reft of -its Iniiabitants 
are Batgans of all Starts. There may. be^afabut forty 
thoufand, but few*>f them- of .Fortune or Figure, becaufe 
the Infolence.ofthe Portuguefe makes it unfote fqnmoney*d 
Strangers to dwell among them. The King (A Portugal 
has about twelve thoufand Pounds per Akmni> of Poll 
Money paid into. his Treafury, dnd the Cuftoms and 
Land-tax may come to about fix t&oufand Pounds more t 

But 



of the E A S T - I N D I E S. X$f 

But if that Ifland were in the Hands of fome induftrious 
European Nation, it would be the bed Mart Towfi on the 
Coaft of India, for the River Indus being near Neighbours, 
both by Sindy and Cambay, thofe Commodities might b$ 
imported and exported to Advantage. And that Com- 
merce has raifed Sural. 

All the Country between Diu and Band Point, which 
is about thirty Leagues along Shore, admits of no Traffick, 
being inhabited by Freebooters, called JVarrels, and often -. 
aflbciate with the Sanganians, in exercifing Piracies and 
Depredations. They have no Cities, and their Villages 
are fmalk The beft of them ftands about fixty Miles to 
the E aft ward of £>/#, and is called Chance. \t is built a- 
bout a League within the Mouth of a River, which has a 
fmall Ifland lying athwart it, about two Miles into the Sea. 
The Ifland has good Springs of frefli Water, but no In- 
habitants. In the Year 1716, the Englijh went to burn 
that Village, and their pirating Veffels, but were un- 
fuccefsful in their Undertaking. The Warrcls occupy 
all the Sea-coaft as high as Goga 9 which lies about twelve 
Leagues within the Gulf of Cambay. And the Coaft, 
from Dand Point to Goga f is very dangerous, being thick 
fet with Rocks and Sand Banks ; and a rapid Tide runs 
amongft them of fix or eight Miles in an Hour, in a 
Chanel that is twenty Fathoms Deep in fome Places, 
vhich caufes Anchoring to be dangerous alfo. 

Goga is a pretty large Town, and has had fome Mud 
Wall Fortifications, which ftill defend them from the In^ 
fults of their Neighbours the Coulter who inhabit the 
North-eaft Side of Guzerat, and are as great Thieves by 
Land as their Brethren the Warrels and Sanganians arc by 
Sea : Nor is there any Land Army that can come into, 
their Country to chaftife them, for there are fo many Ri- 
vulets made by Indus and the Sea, that are fo foft and 
muddy at the Bottom, that there is neither Paflage for 
Men nor Horfe to penetrate their Country, and their 
Town* are invironed with fuch thick Hedges of green 
Bamboos, which are not to be burned in a ihort Time, and 
die People fo numerous and valiant, that it would be an 
hard Tafk to civilize them. 

- » < 

Goga 



234 4 New HISTORY 

Goga has fome Trade, admitting Strangers to a free 
Commeroe in fuch Merchandize as are fit to be imported 
or exported to or from Guzerat. It has the Conveniency 
of an Harbour for the largeft Ships, tho f they lie dry on 
foft Mud, at Ipw Water j but the Tides riling four or five 
Fathoms perpendicular, afford Water enough at high 
Water. The Town is governed by an Officer from the 
Mogul, who commands about two hundred Men, who 
are kept there for a Guard to it. 



. i ■ ■■■ <»»«jm»^i »m»«— aiw»*— — mm* 



CHAP. XV. 

tjives an Account of the Cities of Cambay, Baroach 
and Surat ; with fever al Occurrences that happened to 
them ; and of the Sea-coajl from Damaan to Bom- 
bay. 

CAMBAT, or, as the Natives call it, Cambaut, about 
twelve Leagues from Goga, in the Bottom of the 
Gulf of Cambay, on a fmall River, that is fent by the 
Overflowing of the Indus into that Gulf or Bay, is a large 
City, with high Walls, and was formerly the Metropolis 
of a Kingdom* that bore the City's Name; but Eckbar,* 
great Grandfather to Aurengzeb, fent his Son, Jeban 
Guire, with a great Army in the fixteenth Century, and' 
conquered it, and annex'd it to the Empire of the Great 
Mogul. 

It is ftill a Place of good Trade, tho* not half inhabited, 
and it contributes very much to the Wealth and Grandeur 
of Surat, to which it is fubordinate ; and its Vicinity to 
Amadabant, from whence it is about one hundred and 
fifty Miles diftant, makes it (hare the Advantages of that 
great City, which, in Magnitude and Wealth, is little 
inferior to the beft Towns in Europe. What it exports 
by Sea, comes moft to Cambay, and carried by the Surat 
Shipping all oyer India, except what European Ships car^ 
ry for Europe. 

The Product and Manufa&ories of Cambay are inferior 
to few Towns in India. It abounds in Grain and Cattle, 
Cottgn and Silk. The porhelian and Agate Stones are 

found 



of the. EAST-INDIES. 235 

found in its Rivers, and no whcrfe elfe in the World. Of 
Cornelian they make Rings, and Stones for Signets, and 
of the Agate, Cabinets, intire Stone except the Lids. I 
have feen fome of fourteen or fifteen Inches long, and 
eight or nine deep, valued at thirty or forty Pounds Sterl. 
.They alfo make Bowls of feveral Sizes of Agate, and 
Spoons, and Handles of Swords, Daggers and Knives, 
and Buttons, and Stones to fet in Snuff-boxes, of great 
Value. 

They embroider the beftof any People in India, and 
perhaps in the World. Their fine Quilts were formerly 
carried to Europe. I have feen fome worth forty Pound 
Sterl. and fome Cornelian Rings, above double their 
■Weight in Gold. The Patanners are their near Neigh- 
bours. They are moftly Horfcmen, and bold. Fellows, 
who borrow round Sums from the City, by Way of Com- 
pulfion, and the Rajfpouts and Coulies make Inroads into 
this Province, and plunder even to the Gates of the City, 
and fometimes have furprifed, and plundered the City it* 
felf, for which Negleft the Governors Heads anfwered. 

In the Year 17 16, they were very bold and prefump- 
tuous, fo that there was a Stop put to all the Commerce 
of Amadabant and Cambay. The Governor of Sural got 
an Army of twenty thoufand to chaftife and reftrain them ; 
but they laid fo many Ambufcades, that, in two Months, 
the Army was reduced to lefs than half of the Number,- 
and the reft were obliged to get Home, with forrowful 
Hearts, to Surat* 

-. Th e next Town of Note for Commerce, is Baroacb y 
a, walled Town, ftanding on a riling Ground, on the 
Banks . of the River Nerdaba. Formerly it was a Place 
of great Trade, but in Aurengzeb*% Wars with his Bro- 
thers, about the Year rG6o, this Town held out a great 
while againft his Army. That Seafon proving a dry one, 
Aurengzebh Folks fuffered much for Want of frefh Water 
and Provifions, but at laft he took it, and put all to the 
Sword that had borne Arms againft him, and raifed Part 
of the Walls, and pronounced a Curfe on them that fhould 
repair them again, . But.the Sevajees Incurfions made him 
order the Rebuilding them himielf, and he chriftened it 
Suckabant* Or the dry City j but that new Name could not 
: . efface 



t& A New HISTORY 

efface the old one* which it yet retains. It is now inha- 
bited by Weavers, and fuch Mechanicks as manufadure 
Cotton Cloth. And the Baraacb Baftas are famous through* 
cut all IndiUi the Country producing the bell Cotton in 
the World. This Town is alfo fubordinate to Surat •, and 
formerly the Engiijb and Dutch had Fa&ories fettled there^ 
but of late have withdrawn them. 

Surat i$ the next Sea- part. Ic was built about the Year 
1 660, on the Banks of the River Tapta or Tappce, which 
being difconoimbded with Banks of Sand at Ranter^ the 
then Mart Town on this River, tht.Engiifh removed about 
two Miles farther down the River, on the oppofite Side 
near a Caftk which had been built many Years before, to 
iecure the Trade from the Infults of the Malabar Pirates, 
who ufed to lord it over all the Sea-coaft between Cape 
Comerin and Cambay. In a little Time after the Englifb had 
fettled there, others followed their Example, fo that in a 
few Years it became a large Town, but without Walls, and 
fo it continued till about the aforefaid Year, that Rajah 
Sevajee^ who had never fubmitted to the Mogul's Do* 
ruination, came with an Army, and plundered it, except 
the European Factories, who flood on their Guard. Them 
he complimented with the Proffer of hisFriendlhip, be* 
caufe perhaps he apprehended, that he could not plunder 
them without Bloodfhed and Lofs of Time. However he 
carried away a very great Booty, which made the Inhabi- 
tants petition Aurengzeb to fecure them for the future, by 
a Wall round their Town, which Favour he granted, en* 
clofing about four Miles to build their City in ; but Trade 
increafing, the Town was too fmall within the Walls to 
contain the People that came about Commerce, wherefore 
ieveral large Suburbs were added to the City for. the Con- 
veniency of Mechanicks. The Wall was built of Brick, 
about eight Yards high, with round Baftions, two hun- 
dred Paces diftant from one another, and each had live of 
fix Cannon mounted on them. And the rich Men of the 
Town built many Summer-houfes in the Fields, and plan* 
ted-Gardens about them, to folace themfelves and Families 
in the Heats, which are pretty violent in April* May and 
June. 

Tm 



, jT/fe EAST-IN t> I E S. 237 

The City flonriffied in Trade till the Year 16&9, that 
the Englifh Company difturbed its Tranquillity by an unjuft 
War they made on Surat, but pretended it was not with 
the Mogul, who had given them many Indulgences, which 
War I'll remark when I treat of Bombay but that War 
was ended in the Year 1689, neither to the Profit nor 
Honour of that Eaft- India Company. In the Year 1695, 
Captain Every a Pirate difturbed the Trade and Tranquil- 
lity of the Town with four fmall Ships, taking one of the 
Mogul's Ships, with a great fcooty in Silver and Gold, 
and a Mahometan Lady, as I obferved before on the Com- 
merce of the Red-Sea and the Iftend of Madagafcar. And 
flnce that Time this City has felt many Convulfions in its 
Trade. ' 

% In the Year 1705, when Aurengzeb began ta be crazy 
with old Age, the circumjacent Rajahs, with an united 
Force of fouricore Thoufand Horle, came and befieged 
Surat, and plundered all the Villages in the plain Country; 
but having no Artillery, they could do but little Harm 
to the City itfelf, befides ftraithtng it a little for Provifions, 
but the City having their River and Sea open, that Diffi- 
culty was removed by plentiful Supplies brought them from 
Guzerat. > 

#These Freebooters go under the general Appellation of 
Gemims, but they are compofed of the aforementioned 
Warrels, Coulies, Rnffpouts, Pdtann&rs and Gracias. Thefe 
Cracks wera formerly the landed Men of this Country, 
and "upon their SubmHfioh to Ecbar, the then Emperor of 
Mogul, articled to have the Ground Rents paid to them and 
their Pofterity \ but the Nabobs often defraud them, and 
they, to put tne Governors of Towns and Villages in Mind 
of the Contract, come in great Numbers, and plunder- 
er lay them under Contribution. ' 
$ut whtHt this rabble Army lay before the Town, the 
Citizens built Sconces in convenient Places, about half- a 
Mile without the Wall, to proteft the Suburbs, and all 
thofe Sconces had Cannon motfnted oh them, which kept 
the Gennims at a Diftance •, and, after the Sconces were? 
finiftied, they built a good high Wall bfetwecn each Sconce 
that encompafled the whole Suburbs, ,which Wall is abouii 
five Miles in Length from the Bank of the River abovr 

the 



*3$ A [JSTew H 1 S TO R Y 

the Town, to that Part that terminates below, the Townj 
and all the Inclofure is well inhabited. The Inhabitants* 
are computed at two hundred thoufand Souls, and amongft 
them are many very rich, both Mahometans and Gentiles* 
Abdul Gafour 9 a Mabometatuthat I was acquainted with, 
drove a Trade equal to the Englijh E'aft-India Company, 
for I have known him fit out in a Year, above twenty 
Sail of Ships, between three hundred and eight hundred 
Tuns, and none of them had lefs of his own Stock than 
ten thoufand Pounds, and fome of them had twenty-five 
thoufand ; and, after that foreign Stock was fent away, 
he behoved to have as much more of an inland Stock for 
the following Year's Market. When he died* he left 
his Eftate to two Grandfons, his own Son, who was his 
Child, dying before him. But the Court had a Fling at 
them, and got above a Million Sterl. of their Eftate. 
i The Trade of Surat was, anjl ftill is very confiderable, 
For, from the Year 1690,^0^605) the Revenues arifing /*^0^ 
from the Cuftom-houfe, LancMKents and Poll Money, * 
communibus annis y came to one Million three hundred thou- 
fand Rupees, which is Sterl. one hundred fixty two thou- 
k fend five hundred Pound. And the Revenue of Amada- 
bant is generally reckoned ten Timfes as much as Surat. 
The Cuftoms in the King's Books, are but two per Qtti* 
for Mahometans, and five per Cent, for Gentiles r Tn& 
Land pays three. Quarters of its Produ6t in Corn, and 
the Poll about a Crown an Head ; but the Rich generally 
afiift the Poor, fome paying for ten, fome for a hundred, 
and fome for a thoufand. This Account I had from an 
Officer^ called the Faccanaviece, who is obliged yearly 
to take in the Accounts of the Collc&ions, and fend them 
to Court.. Befides the current News that monthly oc- 
cur in his Diftrift, he fends to the Vizier by Poft. * 

The Poft in the Mogul's Dominions goes, very fwiff, 
for at every Caravanfery, which are built on the high- 
roads, about ten Miles diftant from one another, Men, 
very fwift of Foot, are kept ready. The Letters arc in- 
clofedjn a gilded Box, which he that carries holds over 
his Head when he comes near the Seray, and giving No- 
tice of his Arrival, another takes it, and runs to the next, 
and So on, Night and Day, at five or fix Miles in an Hour, 

till 



A 



of the EAST-INDIES. '239 

till it is carried where direfted to, fo that in eight Days, 
Advices are brought from the fartheft Parts of that largfc 
Empire, to Court, And thofe Couriers arc called Dog 
Cbouckies. 

In the City ofSurat there<are as many different Religi- 
ons as in Amfterdam. That by Law eftalifhed, is Maha+ 
metan, of Halt's Se£t, and they are palled Moors. Then 
there are Perjians and Turks, and fome called Mufty, who 
obferve Mofes's Law as well as the Alcoran, and another 
Seft called Molacks who obferve fome ancient Heatbenifk 
Cuftoms and Feafts ; but all the others, reckon them 
Hereticks. They have a yearly Feaft, but the Time of 
its Celebration is only known to themfelves, wherein, af- 
ter much Mirth and Jollity, each Sex withdraw to a 
Room. The Women take each an Handkerchief, (or 
fome fuch Sign that may be again knownj and go in the 
Dark promifcaoufly among the Men, and, without fpeakrf 
ing, lie down together on Mats or Carpets fpVead foA 
that Purpofe, and enjoy one another's Company fome 
Hours, then withdraw to their own Room, leaving their 
Signals with their Bedfellows who know whom they have 
been carefied by ; but very often they find inceftuous Em-^ 
braces, which at that Feaft are only lawful. Aurengzeb 

8ade it Death to be found at thofe Meetings, yet that 
:ecrable Rite is ftill continued and praftiled. And Abdul 
Gafour, the rich Merchant aforementioned, was a Difciple 
of that Seft. 

The Banyans are moft numerous in this City, and are 
either Merchants, Bankers, Brokers or Pen-men, as Ac- 
countants, Collectors and Surveyors, but few or none 
Handy-crafts, except. Taylors and Barbers. They have 
eighty five different Se£b athong them* that do not eat 
*with one another. The greateft Part or • the eaftem Re- 
ligion is in Forms of Worlhip, and abftaining from certain 
Meats ; and their Priefts differ as much in thofe Points,' 
and fome others of Doftrine, as Papifts and Proteftants do, 
for the Brahamans or Bramanies are the Rriefts of the majof 
Part of thofe Se&s, who gull the People whert an/ are 
dangeroufly fick, by perfuading them to leave Ligaciei 
to their Church/ as fome pious Cbriftians do among* u% 
'arid ■ when they obtfcin a Legacy, they gratefully acknow* 
: w£ % ledge 

«• ... • 1* 



£40 A New HISTORY 

lege the Receipt of it f by putting a Scrpll of Paper into the 
dead Perlbn's Hand, containing an Account ot the Lega- 
cy, with a Bill at the Bottom, to receive ten Times the 
Value in the other World, from fome eminent Saint that 
deals in fuch Bills of Exchange in Paradife. They have 
Patriarchs and Bifhops to fuperintcnd the inferior Clergy, 
who, by Virtue of a divine Right, live fptendidly and 
luxuriously on the Oblations of the People. 

The other Se&s are taught by the Talapoins, who de- 
fclaim againft that papiftical Polity, and preach up Morality 
to be the be ft Guide to human Life, and affirrq, that, a 
good Life in this World, can only recommend us in the 
pext, to have our Souls tranfmigrated into the Body of 
Jorne innocent Beaft, or to reft in Paradife. 

. Their Priefts indeed Ihew much Self-denial, for they 
live on Alms, and their Pontificalia is a white Sheet that 

-covers their Bodies, from the Shoulders downwards, a 

- fclack Staff about five Foot long in their Hand, and a 
fmall earthen Pot, with fome. powdered Saffron and Oil, 
to mark thofe on the Forehead that have received their 
Benedi&ion that Day. When they go abroad, the oJd 

-carries a. Novice in his Company, to teach him Divinity 

9 $md Morality by Example. They feldom ipeak in .the 

Streets, but look gravely and demurely, and they extend 

* their Charity even to Beafts and Birds. They fuffer th«r * 
Hair to grow as low as their Shoulders, and have no o- 
ther Covering on their Heads, and keep their Beards 
ihaved. ■ ; 

. Another Sort of them are Do&ors of Phyfick* who 
pretend to do great Cures by Amulet^ Philtres and Pray- 
ers. They have, fome Skill in Simples apd Minerals, 
which make them in great Efteem t but when their Skill 
in Phyfick produces not the promifed Effe&s, then thev 
pcrfuade the Patient, that they lie jmder the DifpleafUte 
of fome angry Deity, who mull be appeafed by Oblations 
and Penances, which they turn to good Account, by or- 
dering die Offerings and Penance to be light ; and whe& 
thatpTric^ fails,*they leave their Patients tp work out 
their 4mn Salvation 'the bed Way they can. 

There is another Sort called Jougies, who praftife groat 
Jtailcuues and Mortifications. They contejpa worldly 

Riches 



of the E A S T - I N D I E S. 241 

.Riches, andgo naked,, except ^a Bit of Cloth about their 
Loins; and fome deny themfeives even that, delighting in 
Naftinefs and an holy Obfcenity, with a great Shew of 
Sandtity. They never cut nor comb their Hair, and be- 
fmear their Bodies and Faces with Afhes, which makes 
them look more like Devils than Men. I have feen a 
fan&ified Rafcal of feven Foot high, and his Limbs well 
proportioned, with a large Turband of his own Hair 
wreathed about his Head, and his Body bedawb'd with 
Afhes and Water* fitting quite naked under the Shade 
of a Tree, with a Pudenda like an Afs, and an Hole bored 
through his Prepuce, with a large Gold Riag fixed in the 
Hole. This Fellow was much revefed* by Numbers of 
young married Women, who, proftrating themfeives be- 
iore the living Priapus^ and taking him devoutly in their 
Hands, kifs'ahim, whilft his bawdy Owner ftroak'd their 
filly Heads, muttering fome filthy Prayers for their Pro- 
dification. . 

The Aufterities of the Jougies are beyond Belief to thofe 
who have not been Eye-witnefles of them. Some ftand 
on one Foot fome Years, with their Arms tied to fome 
Beam of an Houfe, or Branch of a Tree over their Heads, 
and continue in that Pofture, except when Nature calls for 
Exoneration, foi 4 others feed them whilft they ftand. 
* Theff Arms in Time fettle in that Pofture, that ever af- 
ter they become ulelefs, and are not to be brought again 
into their natural Pofition. Some fit in the Sun-fhine, 
with their Faces looking upwards, till they are incapable 
of altering the Pofture of their Necks, their Gullet fwel- 
ling almoit as thick as their Heads ; and they alfo take 
no Suftenance with their own Hands. Others clinch 
their Fifts, and tie them in that Pofture, till their Finger 
Nails come through the Back of their Hands.- And their „ 
Faftij^ are as incredible. I faw a Woman of about thir- ' 
ty Years of Age, who made a Vow of falling three 
Months, to avert fome impending Calamity threatened by 
Heaven, that (he pretended to forefee. The Governor of 
Surat being a zealous Mahometan^ (who generally diflou-* 
rage Gentilifm* and ftrive to deteft their Leger de main 
Miracles) ordered the faid Woman to be put into a Pri- 
fon without Windows, without any other Suftenance 

Q^ than 



^2 A New H I S T O R Y 

than fair Water, and to be well guarded by Mahomktar&i 
to avoid Impofture. About eighty Days after (he was 
imprifoned, I and feveral other Europeans paid her a Vifit, 
and got the Door opened to obferve her Afpeft. We 
found her in Health, but very weak, and her Pulfe beat 
very low. Her Keepers declared, that (he had taken no 
Suftenance, but a very fmall Quantity of Water, all the 
. while they had the Overfceing of her, nor did (he ever 
defire any Food, She told us, that three or four Year be- 
fore (he had fafted fixty Days on the fame Account. 

Yet in the Year 172 1, the Governor detefted a great 
Piece oi Impofture of the Jougies y who paid pretty dear 
for their Impudence. One of thofe filly Zealots, who pre- 
tended to more San&ity than his Neighbours, gave out, 
that he would be buried (in a- Grave ten Foot deep) alive, 
and that he would appear at Am a dab ant, which is diftant 
from Sural about two hundred Miles, within the Space of 
fifteen Days. The Grave was dug, and he went in, and 
had fome Reeds placed about a Foot or two over his Head, 
to keep the Mould off that was to be thrown over him. 
There was a large Jar of Water (landing under the Shade 
of a great Tree, about ten or twelve T^ards from the Grave, 
where a good Number of Jougus had for fome Time taken 
up their Quarters, they were Accomplices in the Im- 
pofture, and, by their pretended Sanctity, and gre'St In- 
tend with Heaven, had gull'd many poor People into a 
Belief of their Story, and many brought Prefents to them* 
But the Governor of Sural ordered a Party of Soldiers to 
fee the Jougy interred, and to fee that no Impofture fhould 
be uied about his pretended Refurredtion, and tofearch 
well, that'there lhould be no fubterraneous Com manic a * 
tion between the Grave and any Place that might be 
iufpe&ed above Ground, and accordingly fearching nar- 
rowly, they fufpe&ed fome Place about the Rocdjf the 
Tree might afford a. Paflage, ordered, the Jougies to re- 
move a little out of their Way, which they did willingly, 
and, finding no Vifto that might be fufpe&ed* they or- 
* dered the Jdugies to remove their great Water Jar, which 
was near full of Water ; but the Jougies clamoured loud 
againft that Breach of their Privilege, in touching their 
Water : But their Noife made the Mahometans SufpicioD. 

grow 



*/ //* E A S T - I N D I £ S. 243 

grow ftronger, and the Jar was either removed or broken; 
and behold, where the Jar ftood, they difcovered a Mine 
that reach'd within ttto Foot of the Grave, which Cheat 
being thus dete&ed, the angry Soldiers fell to Work with 
their broad Swords, to tfy if their Sanftity was Proof a- 
gainftfliarp Steel, but found, by an Experiment ©flay- 
ing a Dozen or more dead on the Ground, and twice as 
many maim'd with Wounds, that they were asealily killed 
or wounded as other honeft Folks. The poor Miracle- 
monger loft his Head in the Ffay. That fpoiled his 
Journey to Amadabant^ and, which was worfe, brought 
great Scandal on the whole Order. 

I was one Day walking by the Side of a great Tank of 
Pond near Surat, in Company with an Engtijh Lady, and 
feeing a young JoUgy fitting by the Tomb* of a celebrated 
Cutteree^ who are a Seft that bury their Dead, the Youth 
feemed to be very devout in Prayers ; but, by the Lady's 
Order, I interrupted him, and, asking him why he pray- 
ed there, and to whom did he direft his Prayer, he anfwer- 
ed that he prayed to God to make him as good a Man as 
he was who lay interred there. I askM him where God 
was, at which he feemed to fmile, and ask*d me* where is 
he not? and fo continued a little Space in Prayer, and, 
when he had done, he took fome Flowers and Grain, with 
a little Water, and befprinkled the Tomb* and* making 
fome decent Cringings towards the Tomb* took a formal 
Leave ro go this Way. 

The great God, whom all adore* they call Quedaa% 
but they have many inferior Deities, and of them Mahn- 
dow, or, as they exprefs it, Maadow, is the fecond in 
Place and Dignity.. Rapim is the third, and Brahma the 
fourth. And Parvette is a Goddefs much venerated, and 
is fuppofed to be the Wife of Maadow. The inferior 
De£ts or Saints are very numerous % but the lavages of 
Qunies^ Jagarenat> Rudum^ and Gopalfami are moft worfhip- 
ped in their Temples, as reckoned to have mod Intereft 
with the fuperior Deities. 

The Marriages of the Gentiles in India are celebrated 
with much Pomp. They begin in the Forenoon to fend a long 
Train of People with covered Dirties or gaskets on their 
Heads* with Prcfents from the JBridegrooiri to the Bride* 

Q^2 and, 



244 A ¥^ H JS T p.p. Y 

and. before the Prefcnt march Hautboy 4, Drums an«f 
Trumpets. After, the, Prefects march fome female Slaves' 
for the Bride and Qridegrqoxn's Ufe* . Aft^r the Slave* 
comes an empty Pallankeen to tranfport the Bride from her 
Houfe to her Jrlufband's. £t Night the Bride and Bride- • 
groopi jire carried in §tate thro* the Town, with Torch-* 
light andMufick before them, and Fireworks played. oS\ 
as they pals in the Streets, and the Parents of the married. 
Couple fend- Preienfs* to their Friends, They have no, 
Choice in tHjeir Marriages, for that is Jeft to the P^nts or . 
neareft Relations ; and they are married before they can be 
capable either to choofe or refufe, being oit^n married at* 
fix., or feven .Years of # Age ; but they do not cohabit be- 
fore tW Br jife be about twelve r and the Bridegroom fixteen. : 
Ai'to their Burials, fomeburn and fomeinterrv but Chil- 
dren under iour Years of Age are buried. And the Wives 
are not permitted to burn with their Hufbands •, but* 
wnen once fhe is a Widow, fbe never can marry again, 
but lives to bewail her Widowhood, and perhaps her , 
Virginity, all her Days. 

They marry but one Wife, except in Cafes of {Jarren* 
nefs cr Adultery, tho* there are no Laws againft Polyea- . 
my. They abhor Buggety and Sodomy, and the Maho- 
metans for that Account, becaufe they ufe them. They - 
eat twice a Day, but the Huiband and Wife eat feparate j 
and they walh before and after Meat. And the Europeans 
there follow that cleanly Cuftom. 

Tfl[£ Purfm are numerous about Surat and the adjacent 
Countries. 'They are a Remnant of the ancient Perjtans y , 
who rathercboofe to be banifh'd their Country than change 
their Religion $ fpr in the feventh Century of the Chriftiaq 
JEra y when* Mflhornetifm over-ran Perjta> * the Spirit of * 
Perfecution ca me there, and fome. four or five hundred 
Families were put on board of Shipping, and fent to tep,- ; 
without Compafe or Pilot -, and they, fteerinj* their ! 
Courfe Eaftward (in the South weft Monfoons) from 
Jafques, in about twenty Days, fell io with the Coiffc of . 
liidia in the Night, and thefirft Thing they faw was a Fire 
afhore, which the Exiles fteered towards, arid accidentally , 
fteered into the River of Nunfaree* v about feypv Leagues 
to the Southward of Sural, aiid were welcomed to Land 



of Ihe .EASTpINDIES. US 

by the Crowing of a Cock. Zoroafter was their Founder, 
and taught them to adore the Sun and Fire, that produced 
and maintained all fublunary Beings. Their feeing thd 
Fire on their approaching the Land, confirmed their Be- 
lief* in .the Opinion that Adoration was doe to it, for 
which Reafon they never extinguiih Fire by its oppofite 
Element Water ; and even if their Houfes are a burning, 
they'll ufe no Water to quench the Flames, But throw* 
Earth orDuft to put it out. And becaufe the Cock fjdut- 
«d them firA, after they had paft through a- dangerous? 
Sei, and were fecure in a River, they will neither kill, 
nor eat the Flefh of Cock. 

- When they cameafhore, the charitable Indians flock'd 
about them, and there bfciftg fome among them that could 
fpeak fome Indian Languages, related what hard Ufage. 
they had met with in their own Country, and that Provi- 
dence having directed them to the Indian Country, they 
begged Leave to fettle among them, and by their Behavi-' 
durxhey would fhew their Gratitude for relieving diftreft 
Str^agers, who were then become their Supplicants. The* 
generous Indians granted their Requeft, and allowed them 
Land to manure, and Seed to fow the Ground, upon the 
feme Conditions and Tenure they enjoyed their own Farms : 
And there they fettled firft, and remain in and about that 
•Country to this Day. They never marry into foreign 
Families, which makes them retain their native fair Com- 
plexion, little inferior to us Europeans* only their often 
Wafhing and Anointing, which is a Part of the ExerCifea 
of Religion, takes away the beautiful frefli Ruddinefs that 
adorns ours. Their Rites of Marriage' are performed like' 
, the other Gentiles, in Oftentation and Expence •, but their 
Burials are quite different, for they enclofe afmall Piece of 
Groj^d with a Wall about four Yards high, and place 
feveral Benches for the Corps to fit on, that the foui* 
Elements may fach have a Share of the Matter their Bodies 
are compofed of..; The Sun or Fire exhales tb£ putrid 
Ejflttvias. The Water or Rain carries the piitrified Fleflt 
and the Bones to the Earth, that gives Burial to them, 
ind the voracious Fowls carry wh^t they can pick into the? 
Air in their Maws* They watch the Corps all Day, till 
«fte of the Eyes is pick'd out. If the Bird begins with the 
*... 0^3 'right 



246 A New HISTORY 

light Eye, they rejoice and feaft, but if witji the left 
Eye, they mourn and lament for the ill Fortune of the De- 
f unft's Soul, for they attribute future Happinefs to the 
right Eye, and Mii'ery to the left. They build thefe 
Charnei Places far from any Town ot Village, left the 
Stink fhould annoy them. 

They* are very ihduftrious and diligent in their Voca- 
tion, and are bred to Trades and manuring Ground. 
They are good Carpenters or Ship-builders, exquifite in 
the Weaver's Trade and Embroidery^ which may be feen 
in the rich Atlafles, Bottadaars and Jemewaars made by 
them, as well, as fine Baroacb and Nunfaree Baftas that 
corrie from their Manufactories, They work well in Ivo- 
ry and Agate, and are excellent Cabinet-makers. They 
diftil ftrong Waters, but that they do clandeftinely, be- 
caufe that Trade is prohibited by the Government they 
live under ; yet fome of them get a good Livelihood by 

it. 

The Fields about Sural are jll plain, and the Ground 

yeiry fertil towards the Country, but, towards the Sea, it 

is fcindy and fteril. They have excellent Beef, Mutton 

and Fowl daily expofed to Sale in the City, reafonably, 

cheap. Beef is about three Farthings a Pound, when 

the Bones are kept with the Flefh, and about a Penny 

with the Bones out. Mutton is about three half Pence, 

and good large Fowls at feven Pence half Penny apiece. 

They have fome good Fifh, not dear, and Pigeons at a 

Penny apiece, and live Hares at four Pence apiece. 

They have Plenty of Wheat, as good as any in Eu~ 

ropey and fome Peafe, and French Beans; but neither Oats 

nor Barley. They have feveral Species of Legumen * but 

thofe of T>oll are moft in Ufe, for fome Doll and Rice 

being mingled together and boiled, make Kitcherety the 

common Food ot the Country. They eat it with Butter 

and Atcba#-ox Salt- fifh. 'Tis a pleafant nourifhing Food, 

and that which the famous Aurengzeb moft delighted to 

eat. They have alfo Store of wild Fowl j but who have 

a Mind to eat of them, mijft fhoot them. Flamingoes 

are large, and good Meat. The Paddy- bird is alfo good 

%t\ their Seafon, and the Corn -bird is excellent in theirs. 

They have good Partridge, but had pheaf^nts. Their 

wild 



f n- 



of the E A S T - I N D J E S. 247 

wild Geele, Duck and Teal are plenty and good ; and 
feveral Sorts of Turtledoves, both beautiful and well 
tufted. They have few Deer, but great Plenty of Ante- 
lopes in their Forefts. There are no fine Buildings in the 
City, but many large Houfes, and fome Caravanferays 
and Mufcheits, and fome finelTtf»&r, or large Cifterns to 
keep Rain Water, near the Town, particularly one a 
little without Brampore Gate. The French have a little 
Church near the old Englifh Factory, which maintains a 
few Capuchins, who praftife Surgery grafts to the poor 
Natives* of what Perfuafion foever. They make fome 
Converts ; but they are generally of the toofeft Morals 
of any Set in the Town. There ^e above an hundred 
different Sefts in this City,, but they never have any hot 
Difputes about their Do&rine or Way of Woi-Ihip. E- 
very one is free to ferve and worfliip God their own Way. 
And Perfections for Religion's Sake are not known among 
them. The Mahometans have the Law in their Hands, 
and deftribute Juftice beft to thofe that pay beft for it. 
The Judge's Fees are twenty-five per Cent, on all Sums 
that he pronounces due to the Party whofe Plea is belt 
fupported with Bribes or Intereft, for the Juftice of a 
taufe feldom prevails. Many Examples I have feen be- 
tween honeft Men of low Fortunes and Villains clothed 
with publick Chara&ers and good Fortunes \ yet in fome 
Cafes' I have- feen Juftice take Place. The Englijh and 
Dutch Directors or Agents there make good Figures, be- 
caufe the Officers of State and Juftice get yearly Prefents 
or Penfions from them. The Governor of the Caftle is 
npt fubordinate to him of the Town, and he dares not 
come out of his Neft but once in a Year, that he is per- 
mitted to go to Church, and then he muft return before 
Sun iet. None are fuffered to pafs the River whllft the 
Sun. is down below the Horizon, nor dares any one that 
comes in Boats put their Foot alhore without a /pecial 
Permififion j and all Boats or Veffels muft land at the Cu- 
ftomhoufe, and the Boat and Men are narrowly fearch'd. 
The Cuftoms on Mahometans Goods are two in the hun- 
idred, on Chriftians three and three Quarters ; ,but the 
^ Chriftians are exempt from paying Poll-money, but the 
Mahometans are not, nor Gentows y who pay five per Cent.. 

Q^ 4 • Cuftoms 



N. 



248 A New HISTORY 

Cuftoms on tneir Goods. The Banyans are Brokers even 
to Mahometans, who cannot well make Bargains without 
their Brokers. 

The Mahometan Women go always veil'd when they 
appear abroad. Their Garments differ but little from 
the Man's. Their Coats, which alfo ferve both Sexes 
for Shirts, are clofe- bodied. The Mens are gathered in 
Plates below the Navel, to make them feem long waifted, 
and the Womens are gathered a pretty Way above, to 
make their Waift feem fhort. They both wear Breeches 
to the Ancle. The Men wear only Silver Rings on their 
Fingers, and generally but one for a Signet. The Wo- 
men wear Gold Rings on their Fingers, and fometimes 
one on their Thumbs, with a fmall Looking-glafs fet in 
it, and often they wear Gold Rings in their Nofes and 
Ears. The Gentiles again permit their Women to appear 
bare-faced, and their Legs bare to the Knee. They wear 
Gold or Silver Rings, according to their Ability, one in 
their Nofe, and feveral fmall ones in Holes bored rountt 
the Rim of the Ear, with one large and heavy in each 
Lappet. They wear alfo Rings on their Toes, and Shekels 
on their Legs, of the aforefaid Metals, made hollow, 
and fome Glufs Beads loofe in them, that when they move 
the Leg they make a Noife like a Rattle-Snake. The 
Men wear Gold Rings in their Ears, and often three or 
four in a Clufter, hanging at the Lappet. Some have a 
Pearl fet in them. The Mahometan Men are known by 
their Garb, tho'.the Gentcws and theirs are of one Make, 
iave only as they all overlap on the Breaft. The Maho- 
metans are tied on the Side, which, among them, is the 
Side of Honour, and the Gentiles tie theirs on the right 
Side. The Mahometan Turbands are likewife of another 
Drefs or Make than the Heathens \ and the different Se&s 
of the Heathens are known by the Figure of their Tur- 
bands. 

When the Englijh firft fettled a Commerce in this 
Country, which was about the Beginning of the fixteenth 
Century, they were held in great 1; fteem ; but the Por- 
tuguefe pretending a Right to that Trade folely, difturbed 
the Englijh in theirs, murdering their People, and making 
Prize of ail Ships and Teifels they could overcome. One 

Seafonf 



of the E* A S T - I N D I. E S. 249 

Seafon the Englifh had eight good large Ships riding at 
Swally, which is about ten Miles from Ranter, where the 
Prefident and his Council then refided ; and Swally was 
the Place where all Goods were unladed from the Ship- 
ping, and all Goods for Exportation were there fhipp'd 
off. The Portuguefe, thinking it a fit Time to give a 
deadly Blow to the Englifh Commerce, came with a Fleet 
of fix large Ships, ten fmall, and ten or twelve half Gal- 
lies, and anchored to the Northward of the Englifh, in a 
narrow Chanel, not Mufket-fhot wide, and a Tide gene- 
rally of fix or feven Miles an Hour. The Portuguefe 
landed near three thoufand Men, and feized fome Carts 
laden with the Company's Goods. The Englifh, who could 
not bear the Infults they daily received, held a Council, 
wherein it was refolved to land eight hundred Men out 
of the Ships, and attack the Portuguefe, while they were 
lulled in Security of their own Strength and Numbers, 
and if they were overpowered, that thofe left on board the 
Englifh (hould try if they could cut a Portuguefe Ship's 
Cables that lay near them, and her driving on board of 
another, ' might, with the Force of the Tide, put them 
all a-ground on the Shore, or a Sand Bank that they lay 
very near to. Accordingly, by Break of Day, the En- 
glifh were all landed, and every Ship's Crew led by their 
own Commander. As they had conje&ured, fo it fell 
out, the Englifh were among the Portuguefe before they 
could get in a Pofture of Defence, and put them in Con- 
fufion. Thofe on board had done as they were ordered, 
one being cut loofe, foon made all the reft run a-ground, 
and moft of them loft, efpecially the great Ships. The 
little Englifh Army purfued the Portuguefe, and killed 
many in their Flight; but at a Point of Land, about 
three Miles from the Ships, the Portuguefe made a Stand,, 
and rallied •, but the little victorious Army foon made 
them take a fecond Time to their Heels, and fo the En- 
glifh got an intire Viftory, with fmall Lofs, for there were 
not twenty killed on the Englifh Side, but above one thou- 
fand five hundred of the Portugueje. In the Year 1690, 
I was on the Field of Battle, and faw many human Sculls 
and Bones lying above Ground. And the Story of the 
Battle I had from an old Parfee, who was born at a Village 






called 



250 'A New HISTORY 

called Tamkin, within two Miles of the Field, and could 
perfectly remember the Aftion. 

DAMAAN was, in former Times, a Place of good 
Trade, but at prefent reduced to Poverty. It ftands at 
the Mouth of a River on the Sea-lhore, and is naturally 
very ftrong, by a deep Marfh that almoft furrounds it. 
The Town is about half a Mile long, and near as broad, 
walled with a good Stone Wall, as the reft of the Build- 
ings of the City are built of; and it has a large Cathedral 
to adorn it, that is confpicuous a long Way at Sea. There 
are two" or three other Churches, and a Convent, a Mo- 
naftery, a Nunnery, and an Hofpital, and there is a 
Caftle ftands on the oppofite Side of the River, chriftened 
by the Name of St. Salvadore, and it is well fecured by 
the Morafs, as well as the Town. It has been for a long 
Time a great Eye-fore to the Governors of Surai^ who 
have often pick'd Quarrels With the Portuguefe, and laid 
Siege to Damaan^ but without Succefs. 

From Damaan to Baffaim is about eighteen Leagues 
along the Sea-fhore. There are feveral Rivers and Vil- 
lages by the Way, viz. Danaw y Tarrapore, Mabim, Kellem y 
and the Ifland Vaccas % but they are all of fmall Account in 
the Table of Trade. 

BASS AIM is a fortified City belonging to the Crown of 
Portugal. It ftands on a little Ifland, feparated from the 
Continent by a fmall Rivulet. Its Walls are pretty high, 
and about two Miles in Circumference around the City, 
which has a little Citadel in the Middle of it. It contains 
three or four Churches, and fome Convents and Mo- 
nafteries, with a College and Hofpital. 

It is a Place of fmall Trade, becaufe moft of its Riches 
lie dead and buried in their Churches, or in the Hands of 
indolent lazy Country Gentlemen, who loiter away their 
Days in Eafe, Luxury and Pride, without having the 
leait Senfe of the Poverty and Calamity of their Country. 
The Town is about half a League diftant from the Ifland 
of Salfttj which Inlet ferves it for an Harbour for fmall 
Shipping, but there is not Water enough to accommodate 
great Ships. The Governor is ftiled, by the Portuguefe y 
General of the North % having Diu % Damaan and Chaul s 
with all their Territories, fubordinate to him, but the 

Church 



r 



-gf/fe EAST-INDIES. 2 ji 

Church fuperintends, which makes his Government both 
uneafy and precarious, 

SALSET is an Ifland about twenty five Miles long, and, 
in fome Places, ten Miles broad. It is fruitful in Roots 
and Fruits, but not in Corn. It is ftock'd with Villages 
and Churches, but has no City on it, but an old one, 
called Canra, hewn out of the Side of a Rock, but by 
whom I never could learn. It is near a Mile in Length, 
and many antique Figures and Columns curioufly carved in 
the Rock, and has feveral good Springs of Water to ac- 
commodate it. At prefent it is inhabited only with wild 
Beads, and Birds of Prey. The Ifland is almoft cut in 
two by a narrow River that bife&s it at a Town called 
Verfua* which lies on the Sea-fhore, and has a little har- 
row Harbour, deep enough to receive Ships of the greatcft 
Burden, and is fecured by a fmall Fort ftanding on the 
North Side, but the Town is on the South Side of the 
River. It drives a fmall Trade in dry Fifli, made here, ' 
and tranfported to the inland Countries and Villages, that 
want the Benefit of Fifhing. The Filhers here catch their 
Fifh in long Nets, fattened to Stakes placed in the Sea 9 
the outward moft of which are driven in the Bottom on nine 
Fathoms Water; and they appear to Strangers like a 
Wood irt the Sea. There are feveral Villages ftanding 
between Verfua and Bombay y on the Sea-fliore, but Bandara 
is the moft confpicuous, which fronts Mahitn on Bombay* 
about a Mile diftant. The Portuguefe have Tome great 
Guns planted at Bandara > but they have no Trade, be- 
caufe the River belongs to the Englifh\ and all Cuftoms 
of Goods, either imported or exported, are paid to the 
Cuftom-houfe of Mahim. The Mouth of the River is 
pefter'd with Rocks, that forbid Entrance to any Vefiels 
of Burden. 

In the Year 1694, the Muskat Arabs made a Defcent 
on Salfet, and committed great Depredations in plundering 
and burning Villages and Churches, killing the Priefts, 
and carried about one thoufand four hundred Captives in- 
to irredeemable Slavery, And about the Year j 720, the 
Priefts of Salfet difturbed the Engtijh at Mabim y animating 
the People to Arms ; but a Bomb or two thrown into the 
Church at Bandara^ had no Refpeft to the Priefthood, 

but 



• * i 



1 



2£2 r A New HISTORY 

but facrilegipufly kiHcd one or two, befides fome Lay 
Brothers, which made them know that War was not their 
Trade. They were alfo troublefome to the Englijh in the 
Year 1722, but fhe: Englijh furprifed a Parcel that were 
about repairing an old Fort, contrary to Articles of A- 
greeipent, and. killed a Score or twp, which made the reft 
t^ke to their Hedsi and be quiet. 



^ C HA P. XVL 

* • 

* . * * • «, . 

Chives a Defcription of Bombay, with fome htftorical Re- 
marks on; its War *i Government and Trade, till the 
Tear 1687, wken the .Foundation of a War was 
: hid, which proved the Ruin of the tberi Englifli Eafl> : 

ladia Cotnpa&y: '!*.... 

• • • 

BO MB AT c6tat% next in Courfc,* an Jflaind belonging 
. to the.Croivn of England. It was a Part of Katharine 
of Portugal *s Portion,, when fhe was tiiarried to Chafles II. 
c\f Greet : Britain^ in. thcYeat 1662; Jts Ground is fteril, 
aadnotto improved; It has but.litde good Water on it, 
aad t&eAir is fomewhat unhealthful, which is chiefly 
imputed to their. Sunging their Cocoa-nut Trees 
with Buck/hot, a Sort . of fmall Fifhes which their 
Sea abounds in. They being laipl to the Roots of the 
Trec9, putrify, and caufe a mqft unfavoury SmeJJ ; .and; 
it\ the Mornings there is generally feen a thick Fog: among' 
thofk Trees, that affe&s both the Brains and .Lungs of 
Europeans, and breed Confumptions, Fevers, and Fluxes. 
< Ajtbr ,tbe Marriage, King Charles .fcnt my Lord 
Malberry^ with four or five Ships of ^[ar*. to take Pofief- 
fion of it, and the King of Portugal fent a Vice-roy to de-j 
liver it, and ail its Royalties/, to (he, faid Lord, and Sir 
Abraham. Shifman was ordered to ibe Governor for King* 
Charles*. They arrived at Bombay in Septembtr, 1663,, but. 
the Church withftood the Crown, and diiobeyed the Or- 
der: Nor would they acknowledge the Vicfc-roy, unlefst 
he wouldxome into their Meafures, . which, rather than 
lofe his new Dignity, he did. And the 2s#g7$> Fleet was 
forced to. go . to Swally to land their; Men, and get Re- 
< frefhmentsj 



of the £ A.STJN DIE S. 25$ 

freftiments * but th* Governor of Surety in whofe X)fftri£fc r 
Sw*Z?y is, grew je%lqu$ of the Numbers and Bravery isf*th& 
Englijhy and threatened, the Faftory eftablifhed in Stirafy it 
they did not fpeedily re-imbark, which, to avbid Sufpicidn,' 
they did, and the Governor allowed them the free Ufe of 
the Markets* fo that they had no Want of Provifions And 
Merchandize whilft they ftayed there. In ydntcary 1664, 
my Lord went back to England,, carrying two. Ships w<eh : 
hijn, g&tf . left Sir . Abraham with the reftj, / to paft ihe 
wefterly Monioqns, i& Come Port on the Cdaft,' but being 
unacquainted, cjlole a. desolate Ifland, called Aujadiva, to 
winter at> It is ia far. from an Harbour, that it is even 
hut ? bad Road for. Shipping in thofe boifterous South- 
veft Winds and tviriujent Sea;< however He landed all 
the "X^and : iforc^s„ • and built Huts to defend them from 
the Wfaffypj" . The Iftafid is barren, but has fome Springs' 
*4 .g9°4 W^te*** It. i$ about a Mile Ion**, and three 
hundjefi f^ces . brpad. Here they (Uyed Irortr^jtf to 
Oiloper^ in 'which Tiroe they buried above two hundred aP 
their Men. • * .'--';•':: r- •-.!. 

When the Monfoops were over, the Squadron put to" 
Sea, and put ip to Bom fray, to try if the Church had Con-' 
fidered on the Obedience due to the King of Portugal? '3 
Orders, or if they had a Mind to draw the Arms of Eng- 
land* as well as their Sovereign's, upon them. Some of 
them having not forgot what Damages Spain and Portugal' 
had fiiftained by the Engtijh. Fleet in CromwtlPs Time* 
advife4 the Church to obey the King, fetting forth the . 
Mifcries thqy.fhould be brought into in cafe of Noncom- 
pliance.. At length their holy Zeal abated, and they* 
were content jq. admit of a Treaty - y but, before the Treaty, 
was concluded* Sir Abraham died, and one Mr. Humphrey 
Cpokj\ wh# wfrs ( n&t in Coromiffipn, continued the Treaty, 
and articl$di itljafc tbe Inhabitants (hould enjoy their Lands \ 
and Religioa . .x^dcr the King of England^ but forgat to j 
iijfert the Rockies appending on Bombay* whidrreachMi 
as fajr a? Ferfmvn Sa}fit y /which Omiflion has bdav& Bqne< : 
of Contention for both parties evef fince. . < • ■■ ■< ' 

. Mr,. Cook; according to the Treaty,? took Boffeffion of 
the Ifiand, in the King's Name, and forthwith . began to- 
"^V0& regularly, and, to fave Charges of building an 

Houfe 



»54 5* M*> HISTO R>Y 

Houfe for the Governor, built a Fort round an old fquaftf 
Houfe, which ferved the Pprtuguefe for a Place of Retreat, 
when thev were difturbed by their Enemies* till Forces 
could be lent from other Places to relieve them. 

After the Fort was lined out, and! the Foundations 
laid, Sir Gervas Lucas arrived from England with two 
Ships, but Affairs being fettled before he came, did not 
ftay at Bombay longer than January 1666, and left the 
Government of the Ifland in the Hands of Mr. Cook and 
his Council, the Prefidency for the then Company, refid- 
ing at Sural. Their Trade flourifhed, and increafed 
wonderfully -, but, after the Fort was finifhed, the King 
finding, that the Charge of keeping Bombay in his 'own 
Hands would not turn to Account, the Revenues being fo 
very inconfidcrable, he made it .over to the Eaft-fndia 
Company in Fee Tail, which continues fo till this Time. 
In building the Fort where it is, Mr 4 . Cook fhewed his 
Want of Skill in Archite&ure, where a proper and con- 
venient Situation ought to be well confidcred, for it is 
built on a Point of Rocks that jets into the Sea, where 
there are no Springs of frelh Water, and it ftands within 
. eight hundred Paces of an Hill, called Dungeree, that 
overlooks it, and an Enemy might much incommode it 
from that Hill, as we found by Experience in the Year 
1689, when the Mogul fent an Army on Bombay. As for 
the Magnitude, Figure and Materials of the Fort, there 
is no Fault to be found in them, for it is a regular Tetra- 
gon, whofe outward Polygon is about five hundred Paces, 
and it is built of a good hard Stone, and it can mount 
above one hundred Pieces of Cannon -, and that is all that 
is commendable in it : But had it been built about five 
hundred Paces more to the Southward, on a more acute 
Point of Rocks, called Mendbam's Point, it had been 
much better on ieveral Accounts. Firft, it had been 
much nearer the Road for protecting the Shipping there, 
it had been farther off Dunger ee ¥ix\\j it would have had 
a Spring of pretty good Water, which ferved the Hofpi- 
tal that was afterwards built there, and the Shipping had 
been better fecured that lay in the little Bay between the 
Point where the Fort now ftands, and MenJ barn's Point. 

Thby 



of the E A S T - 1 N D I E S. *$$ 

. They went about building feveral other little Forts 
*nd Sconces in convenient Places, to hinder an Invafion, 
if any of their Neighbours fhould have attempted one. 
At Mazagun there was one, at Souree one, at Sian one, at 
Mahim one, and JVorlee had* one, and fome great Guns 
mounted on each of them* Notwithftanding the Company 
was at fo much Charge in building of Forts, they had no 
Thoughts of building a Church, for many Years after Sir 
George Oxendon began to build one, and charitable Col- 
ledlions were gathered for that Ufe -, but when Sir George 
died, Pictv grew fick, and the Building of Churches was 
grown uftfafhionable. Indeed it was a long while be- 
fore the Ifland had People enough to fill a Chapel that was 
in the Fort, for as faft as Recruits came from Britain, they 
died in Bombay >, which got the lQand a bad Name. 

There were reckoned above five choufand Pound had 
been gathered towards building the Church,, but Sir John 
Child* when he came to reign in Bombay^ converted the 
Money to his own Ufe, and never more was heard of it. 
The Walls were built by his Predeceflbrs to five Yards 
high, and fo it continued till the Year 171 5, that Mr. 
Boone came to the Chair, who fet about building it, and,, 
in five Years Time, finished it by his own Benevolence, 
and other Gentlemen, who, by his Perfuafions,, were 
brought in to contribute. The Company alfo contributed 
fomething towards that pious End. 

About the Year 1674, Prefident Aungier, a Gentle- 
man well qualified for Governing* came to the Chair, 
and, leaving Sural to the Management of Deputies, came 
to Bombay, and re&ified many Things that were amifs* 
and brought the Face of Juftice to be unveiled, which 
before lay hid in a fingle Perfon's Breaft, who distributed 
her Favours according to the Governor's Direction. He 
erected a formal Court, where Pleas were brought in and 
debated ; but that Method lafted but a few Years, when 
Sir John Child came to the Chair the Court was done. Mr* 
Aungier advifed the Company to enclofe the Town from 
Dungeree to Mendbam's Point, for fecuring the trading 
People from the Infults of their troublefome beggarly 
Neighbours on the Continent ; but his Propofals were 
rejected, and tha^ neceflary Piece of Work was refer ved 

•'*•""" ' * • far 



&s6 ' 'A New H 1 ST OR Y 

for Mr. Boone alfo. And happy it was for the Inhabi- 
tants that the Town was fecured by a Wall, otherwiffe 
Connajee Augarie would have harafled them with continual 
Infults fince his War with the Englijh began. 

The Name of Mr. Aungier is much revered by the an- 
tient People of Surat and Bombay to this Day. His Juf* 
tice and Dexterity in managing Affairs, got him ibch 
Efteem, that the Natives of thofe Places made him the 
common Arbitrator of their Differences in Point of Traf* 
fick : Nor was it ever known that any Party receded ever 
from his Award. 

There are no Dangers in going into Bombay Road, 
but one funk Rock that lies about half a League from the 
Caftle. It is dry at low Water, and has a Chanel within 
it deep enough for the greateft Ships to pafs. I never 
heard of any Damage done by that Rock, but to a fmaH 
Ship called the Baden, which, by CarelefTnefs, run on it 
at Noon-day, aud was loft. 

In the Year 1673, the Dutch Eaji-India Company ha- 
ving an Eye on Bombay, fent a Squadron of Ships, with 
a little Army, to try if they could take it in amongft their 
other Conquefts of India, but, on their landing, met with 
fo warm a Reception, that they were glad to get off with 
the Lofs of two or three hundred of their Men, and fo 
left the Englijh to the quiet Poffeffidh of it. 

The Governors proved tolerable good, till 1682, that 
Sir John Child fpoilt it. The India Company knowing 
how to make ufe of King Charles's Neceffities, made hina 
ibme Ptefents of Money, and he, in grateful Acknow- 
ledgments granted them Power to rob their fellow Subje&s 
in India ; but they ufed that Power to their own Deftruc- 
tion, for Mr. Child's Pride and Oppreffions grew fo into- 
lerable," that even the Gentlemen in the Company's Ser- 
vice had not the free Exercife of Trade, and much lels 
private Merchants. And he, trampling on the eftablilhed 
Laws of England, by Advice of his Name-fake who go- 
verned the Company in Europe, by imprifoning and mur- 
dering their fellow Subjedls, g/ew hateful to all. 

In the Year 1684, he made his Brother-in-Law Mr. 
Ward his Deputy of Bombay, who defigned to fifh in trou- 
bled Waters. Mr. Child being honoured with the Title 

of 



of "tie ir-A: s?tr -*i n. & i $ 8; 2^ 

of Baranejyby 'the powcrftfl Motive of the Company's 
Money tfe. the Kmgl ~he*' at the fame Time, got the Com* 
miffion »of--Genei»U;jwhtck pefthimtup fo, ,that he con** 
temned all Laws human and divine. The, military.GerK 
dement who. hadF mide Gontta&s in England for their 
Salaries, -ttib'rpaid at twenty per Cent, Lafs* yet to fhew 
hi'mfelfa good Oeconomift for his M after YInterefts, fent; 
his DeputyvOrdens to reduce their Pay to. thirty* -p*r Cent. 
leis. tham ft was before, ;tbio* it was <&<fiwlU that they 
could, hardly bring, bojth :Ends to beat -£t the Month Y 
End. > That hard Pill'tho Sons of Mtr; coiil&not fwallow, 
and fo hem.Jfcheir .Minds on a Jtarpltltioft : And haying 
come. to fome Ktiowltedge. of « :Mr. %r4Yi\mpering with 
th&Sevajet to- land on the Ifland, they detected fome Let- 
ters o£ b&$ to that Purpofe, which gave thQfli a Ground 
for a Revolt. TfaSevajte indeed fent. a Fleet of eighty, 
Sail of fmallVeflels taland on, the bacjc Bay which faces. 
t^e.;Qpeaa; but, on their trying ,to land fome Forces, 
they were warmly reputed* and loft many of their Meti* 
which made them dc<aw off again in Co^fufion, and Mr. 
Ward* beittg ebnfroated .with his Own Letters, and having 
little to fay in his own Defertce, was made a Prifoner y 
and. General Cbildls Faftiori wag fent to Surat to him* 
The Wanders* taking, thj Government of the Ifland into 
-their .owp, Hands* chofe Captain Kegwine Major of the 
Military, to ftiperintend military ^Aflfoirs, and cine Captain 
TherbuYn to: overfee thfe civih 

- General G&/W foon difp*tch*d. Letters to England, and 
gave 4n Account. qf thgrRebdBotu and- King Charles dif- 
patched* .Frigat called the Phenioc^ for India, to demand 
the Restitution of thejlflaftd, and put it again into the 
Cornpiny's Hands. They arrived at Bombay, in September" 
^685, aiid flawed ,the King's Orders, wjjth a full Pardon 
to all wh6 yielded Obedience* which unanimoufly the 
Iflariders did,* but, for their own Security* drew up fome 
Articles *to be figned by General Child and Captain Tyrrel, 
who commanded the Phenix, one of which Articles was, 
That any Perfon that had a. Mind to go for England, JhouLl 
bav6 free> Liberty, and a Parage on board the Company 9 s 
Shipping, which being agreed to and figned, Captain 
Kegwink .took his Paffage on board the firifc Ship ; but 

R Thorburn 



4$% ^:?fe» HISTORY 

cpBorburn being- a married Man, and having a ftnaff 
Eftate, as well as a Family on the Ifland, could not fo 
eafily remove, but trailed to die A6t of Grace, and the 
Treaty they had made; 

"- After General Child had gotten the Reins of Govern- 
ifient again into his Hands, he became more ihfupportable 
than ever. He fcredted a Court 4>f inquififion, and made 
an old Gfeeki one Caprain Garey, Judge, wha had con- 
demned a'Man tb<be hanged on a Tuefdny^ and the ManJ 
fuffered accord fhg to Sentence ; &K, on- Friday after, the> 
p6tft dead Fellow' was ordered to Be calfed before the 
Court, but he would not cofiiply with the Orders. 

Capta :? n tfhorktrn* was xht firfHhat feltther Weight 
of Mr. Child VDft^teafare. * H<£ got foftie Fellows to fwear 
him ouc ofhis'litde Eftate, w<ho brought in Gorged Bondsi 
for Sums botrowsd-frotrt one King, ' whom he never-had 
any Dealings .with, ai\d foOftd^Witn^fles to atteft thdm. 
All that Tbtrbiirn had, wa$ tbo little to pay the Sums, 
for which his Eftate -Was taken from him, and himfelf 
put in Prifon; without the-Pfcrrnffllonof one Slave to at- 
tend or ferve him in Prifon. His own Wife was not per- 
mitted to vlfit him, * which hard Ufage brought him into a 
violent Fever* that foorr ptit an End to his Life. About 
two Days' before he died the Gqpler acquaiated his Lady 
of his Danger, and (he, with. two lmall Children, went to 
<he General, and, on theif Knees, begged that a ;Do6tbr 
might be permitted to vifit'her Hufband, but he was 
inexorable, and would allow' no fuch Favour, only grant- 
ed her Leave to be in Prifon with him till he died, and 
fhe ftayed but one Day and a Part of a Night till he ex- 
pired. When the Tragedy was over, (he was going Home 
to her diftreft Family, but found her Slaves and Children 
removed into a little Out-houfe of hers, and the Doors of 
her D welling- houfe (hut againft her. The Lady had two 
Sifters married on the Ifland, and fhe, hoping to find Re- 
lief from them, went to vifit the eldeft, but (he met her 
at the Door, and told her fhe could have no Admittance, 
her Hufband being liable to Profcription, if he admitted 
her into his Houfe ; and (he believed the other Sifter's 
Hufband durft not entertain her in his Houfe. The poor 
Lady, full of Sorrow and Grief* _ being abandoned of all 

her 



rf the. E^&T-I NDIES. iz 59 

hxk~ Friends aad Relations, wehtback, to her diftreffed 
Family and, having no vifibie Way of Support, bad 
tirfde fame Tfcou&hts of patting an End to her Miferies ; 
but her Sifters, unknown to their Hufbands, fent her 
fame fceiifcf by a trufty female Slave in the Night, and a 
Lfctte*, (that they defired her to burn as fotm as fhe had 
Yeadj wherein they pro'mifed to beaffifting in the Main- 
tenance of her and her Children, till the Almighty fhould 
tiliwk: porper torddlverher out of the Perfecumon. : 

The ptfdr Lady had both Beauty and Difcretion enough 
too recommend Jier to the virtuoui Part of Mankind ; but 
hone of the Gentlemen that wifli'd her weM, durftmakte 

* AddrSflfes td her, only one, who had the Command of a 
<Shij> in the Indian Merchants Service, as he had no De- 
f>eridencfe tfn the General, nor his Matters in England* 
thought he could rt&L well come :within the Reach of their 
f*e*fe6utioh, fo he courted her, and married her, -but that 
•was thbtfght a capital Crime, and the General acquainted 
4fifc Indian Owhers* that without they difcharged him their 
Service,' they fhould alfo find the Weight of his Difplea- 
fiire* and accordingly, to avoid Gontefts with his Excel- 
lency, he was difcharged : But Grief put an End to his 
Troubles, for he died within a Year after his Marriage, 
and left the poor Lady another Child to take Care o£ but 
left iier- above one thoufand Pounds SterL of Stock for her 
6nd hef family's Support. 

• &s the Pbenix w&s in her Way to India, (he called at 
the' Ifland of Johanna^ and there found *an Englijh Ship, 
: eaHed the Sriftcl^ (topping fome Leaks in her Bottom. 
Captain Tyrret, by a difpfcnfmg Power from the King of 
England, feized her, and defigned to have .carried her to 

''Bombay^ m Company of a fmall Veflel that he had feized 
on thfe Coaft of Madagafcar. The Briftol funk the third 
Day after they put to Sea* but the other camo fafe. The 
Brift&Ps Men were looked on as Pirates, and one Mr. 

*Mw a Supercargo was arraigned before the General's 

''Tribunal, where he himfelf fat Lord Chief Juftice, and, 
after his ufual Manner of beftowing opprpbrious Names, 
he condemned Mr. Mews to lofe all that he had in the 
World, and one thoufand Pounds befide, and to lie in 

-Prifon, at his own Charges, till the Fine, was paid ; but? 

R 2 Mr. 



a6o A New HIS TO R Y 

Mr. Vam, who was Judge of the Ifland in petty Affair** 
{hewed him the Weaknefs of his Sentence, .and perfuaded 
him to fet the poor Man at Liberty, and order him a Paf- 
fage for England-. - 

When Mr. Child firft got his Commiffion to plunder* 
there were two of his own -Council at Surat that were great 
Eye-fores to him, viz. Meflieurs Petit and Boucher. They 
were Gentlemen of good lntereft in England, and had 
great Remittances of Monies on the Company's Shipping 
coming yearly to them, to buy up Diamonds and fend 
Home. General Child let them know,* that he expend 
half of their Commiffioias as aPerquifite to his Poft, but 
they could not be brought tQ think fo : However they 
condefcended, that if he would join his Cpmffliflijons to 
theirs, which are much greater thaahisj they would btf 
content .to make an equal JDividend in the Commiffions ; 
but that Propofitiorr he . rejected, andwas.r^folved - tQ-fiftny 
his Point by Fraud, and wrote to the Company in Eng- 
land, of thofc two Genrfemensill Services. relating to the 
Company's Affairs, tho* none knew' of' any, but Mr. 
Child himfelf. Thofe GentJemens. Friends in the Com- 
mittee of the Company -in<England 9 acquainted them, by 
Letters over Land, of the Danger they were in, arid gave 
them Warning to be on their Guard ; and they according^ 
ly took an Houfe contiguous to .the Fa&ory, ap<& by 
Degrees,* conveyed what they thought, fit into their new 
Lodgings, but retained - their old ones in the Factory. 
When the Shipping arrived, and fhe. Co/npanyV Packet 
was opened, and read at the Council Tabled Mr. Petit fat 
in his Place .as fecond, and Mr. Boucher in his as fourth. 
When fome few Paragraphs were read, one was to difmifs 
thofe Gentlemen from the Company's Service, and were 
forthwith ordered to withdraw, which accordingly they 
did, and went to theiiMuiw Lodgings without the Fa&ory. 
As foon as the Council broke up, Mr. CJbild fent Orders 
to confine them in their Factory Rooms \ but Word be- 
ing brought that they- were not in the Factory, but their 
Doors were lock'd, he ga>ve Orders to break them open, 
and fecure all that was found in tfcem for him, especially 
their Papers and Books ; but they found nothing but a 
1 Bed furniihed, and fome empty Trunks. When Mr. 

Child 



cf the E AS T - IN DIES. 261 

Child underftood that their Effe&s and Papers were re- 
moved, he raved like a mad Man, but to no Purpofe> 
fo he perpetrated their Dcftru&ion by Fraud 5 but the 
Profcribed being well beloved by the Brokers, who were 
always of Mr. Child's Cabinet Council,, were timely ad- 
vertifed of his Plots, and prepared to counterplot him. 
He was the firft that bribed the MoguY% Governors to join 
in Villany with a Prefident ; but 'tis now a very common 
Piece of Policy at Surat, and has been often made ufe of 
' againft the Engiijh Company, fince Mr, Child's Time : 
However, for'dSutfi of about 'four thoufand Pound Sterl. 
he got the Governor of the Town to ftretch his Commif- 
fion, in pretending^ to diftribute Juftice, which is only the 6 
Gadjee*$ Place to do. He got the Governor to command 
the two Vi&ims to meet at a Garden near the Town, and 
to deliver them up to the General,- who was there With a 
Dozen of Gfenacteers to' receive them, and carry them on* 
board of a Ship that lay ready to tranfport them to Bom- 
bay, and there to fe^d on the Bread of Affli&ion as long- 
as: they lived. He had fubofrn*d a Gentleman to draw up* 
an Account, wherein the Delinquents were brought in* 
Debtors -to the Company one hundred and fourteen 
thoufand Rupees, or, fourteen thpufand two hun- 
dred and fifty Pound SterL and that Gentleman fwone 
to the Account. The ^two Defendants- being forewarned 
of the Plot, had given- Bonds to their Mahometan and 
Heathen Friends, for above double the Sum that, the 
honeft General demanded > and it is againft their Law to 
force any Perfon out of ths Moguls Dominions, who is 
indebted to his Subjects i but When Mr. Harris had fworn 
to the Account, (for that was the Gentleman's Name) the 
Governor ordered the' two Gentlemen Defendants to be* 
pur in Irons, and to be delivered to Mr. Child; but their 
Friends protefted againft their going, till they had fatis* 
fied their Creditors, and declared the Governor liable to 
make good all the Sums contained in their Bonds, if by- 
Violence they were fent away." That Proteft ftartled the 
General and Governor both ; fo the- Gentlemen were de- 
livered to their Friends, and the Governor was no Lqfer 
by the General's Honefty : However they could not live 
in Quiet j.foA Mr. Petit -bought a. Ship: to go a trading, 
:. . R 3 whil.ft 



r 



26i A New HISTORY 

whiUVMc. Bouchqr w.ent tp the A%Mps Court, ©r rather 
hisGft^p, t4f ,try if he could procure a Pkirn{at{nd or 
Chtytgr ta bp undtf: . rh£ ,M<^VPriot£&ipn j but the : 
Company's Money, had crept in.to tlte, Secretary of Stag's. 
Pttffe, t,i.iat retarded Mr. Bother? s c Aft zvc fome Time : 
But the (Jenefal, being afraid of his Success, fen t,a Banyan- 
frptof Bpvfay to poifon Mj. Souther.,. This Banyan being 
often .about his Tent, got .acquainted, with his Cook, 
thinking him to be thje propereft Period to t^ake ufc of. 
that Aiiiiir v andb after, for*te Djfcaurfes about General 
CkiU apd Mr, B(tycbtr\ Quarrel, he told the Cook, that 
he.hfid a_Cpjpi»ii5i» ffQftt the General to fettje. a. Salary 
oq him during Life, and the. Sum of 500 Rupees in H^nd, 
if be would poifon his JVlafter. The Cppfc, feemed to 
l{ke the Proposals* a^d.bid the Banyw bring him. the Poifon 
$nd the 50P, Rupees, ar?d accordingly, the nje*t Day he, 
did, a#d, o^the Delivery, of the«]V$Qoey, h$ gave binx 
a Paper? with fome Powdej* of white Arftniek to. noix/with 
his Mafter's Rice, which is a commPQ Dtfh thfers.. Thz> 
Cook gave him largo Promifes of performing what he* 
would* and fo left him, and weo£ CQ.hfcMaiJsr wiib the, 
Bag of Money and. the. Paper of Arfenick,. and told hint,, 
that : he, had made a Bargain with General ChildW.akedj 
or, Attorney, to poifpnjhim* aod told:. him the Teem* he* 
fold agreed on,, and. ihewed. the Money and . Poifon. 
Mr-iBmcber coimttifended • the CwJtV Fidelity, and told) 
&!$,... that he would give him 600 Ruppes to behoncft* 
anjd%a Maintenance during Life. And Mr. Bencher being 
bred 'a Druggift in his' Youth* prefcntJy .knew thePoifoa, 
3Pid carried, it to .the CavJ-wal or Sheriff, aniitftiewed ir. 
The CeMvoal ". : ufed.'his umioft Endeavour? to catch the 
Banyan* but he^cpuld.nfiver.berfound there. 

Mr. Boucher had been fourteen Moflxhs foliciting tp 
procure his Pblnmux4\/ but. his repeated. Petitions to the 
Secretai-y had no Effect ; But he had an Englijh Man, one 
Swan^ for his Interpreter, who often took a large Dole-off 
Arrack. Aurengzeb one Day had ordered his Camp to 
remove to another Place, and had got on Horfe-back. 
Swan cook hold of that Opportunity, and got pretty near 
the King> holding his Petition or Roca above, his Head, 
and cried with a loud Voice in the Ptrjian I^angu^ge* 

' that 



of the EAST- I*N DA E S. 263 

that his Maffer wanted Juftice done him. The Mogul 
feeing him in an European Garb, ordered him to be brought 
to him, and ask'd the Caufe of his Complaint. Hean- 
fwered, that his Mafter had been fo long at Court aboyt 
procuring a Phirmaund to become a Subjeft of his Ma- 
jefty's, to be freed from the Oppreflions of the Engtifh 
Company, who were grown intolerable by the Connivance 
of his Majefty's Governors of Surat, and therefore con- 
jured his Majefty, as he fhowld an(wer before God at the 
great Day, to do his Mafter Juftice, and grant .him a 
Phirmaund. The King was ftartled at the bold Expr^f- 

,fions, ordered his Secretary to get one ready for the Seala- 

.gainft the next Day, which vyas accordingly done, wd 
Mr. Boucher had it delivered to him as fcjon as it was figfi- 
ed, ancithen took his Leave of the Court. , . _ 

t WtfiLE Mr. Boucher was at Court, Mr. Petit m4de 
ibme Voyages into the Gulf of Pefjia y %and going thitber 

. once, met with fome Sanganian lirates, who attacked hitp. 
He defended himfelf bravely, and beat therp off; but. his 
Gunner firing a Blunderbufs out of one of the Gun-roOrn 

. Ports, blew the Ship up, and the SangAnians took up thqie 
that were faved by Swimming, among whom was 'Mr. 

" Petit himfelf. v " 

The^ Sanganians carried their Prifoners to Baet: on 

' Guzerat* and laid a Ranfom on th^m, which Mr, Petit. 

. agreed on, and fent Letters to his Friends at Surqt to p%y 
the Money: But General Chili hearing .of Mr, Petit's 
Misfortune, and where he. was, difpatch'd a Banyan to 
Baet} to perfuade the Pirates not. to part with their Prifoner 
under twenty-five thoufand Pounds, SterL and fo thejr, 

, hearkening to the Banyan^, would not Hand to the ftipu- 
lated Ranibm of five thoufand Pounds. .,Mr. Petit ft&y id 
about fix Months their Prifoner, and then, died through 
Grief, and the ill Treatment he. had received by. 'Mr. 
Child's Perfuafion •, but the Pirates getting no Ranfom, 

curft the General for his Counfel 

In the Year 1683, f he D«/^ difpofiefled the Englifh 
Company of their Fadtqry of Bantaix y qn the Weft End 
of Java •, and the Englijh having a. Mind to regain it by 
Force ©f Arms, built fcvcral Ships betweeii fixty and 
feventy Guns, fo that in the Year 168.5,, r ^ e y -had a Fleet 

R 4 reai q y 



1- 



264 A New HISTORY 

ready victualled, and manned with feven or eight fchou- 
fand Men, to the Number of twenty three Sail of Line of 
Battle Ships, which Expence, and the continual Craving 
of the Court, brought their Stock very low ; yet fince the 
Maw of the Court was not enough crammed, the King 
laid Embargoes on the Fleet from Time to Time, for nine 
Months, and then the Dutch Ambaflador had Orders to 
prefent his Majefty with one hundred thoufand Pounds, 
if he would command the Company not to ufe Violence. 
J4e fnapp'd at the Bait, and defeated the Defign to all In- 
tents and Purpofes. 

The Company having fuch a Number of great Ships 
on their Hands, were obliged to fend them abroad ; but 
having no Stock td employ them, ordered the General and 
Chiefs of their Factories in India to borrow what Sums 
' they could on the Company's Credit, from the Indian 
"■ Merchants, to lade their Ships Home, which accordingly 
they did, and what they could not lade Home, they were 
to -employ by Freights iri India. And I faw a Letter from 
the Governor- of- the Company in England, intimating, 
that when they had got -as much Credit of the Mogul's 

• •Subjects as they, could, .then they would pick Quarrels 
with the Creditors, and put a general Stop to their Trade* 

.'which' 1 wfcs accordingly doneY^or* in 1686 and 87, the 

• Surat* Merchants traded briskly by Sea to Mocha Perfia^nd 
Bpjbra, to the- WefttoaWl, 'and to Bengal, Aicbeen y Ma- 

•^lacca and- Siam, -to the Ealtward. The General grapting 
Pafles to all S#ha required them, then, about the latter 
End of the Year 1 ¥687,' lie laid down a Complaint and 

.grievance before the Governor of Sural, and demanded 
Kedrefs and Satisfaction. The* Article's of his Grievances 

tj faw in a printed Copy, and' were as follows, in thirty- 

■ 'live lArticlcs.r.'* *'-' 

•I. ** Last Yeata Shipof A&/^ Jtdel Gafoar's coming 

-*Mnom Juddab, in her Kefiirri • met with two Danijb 
" Pirates, who made a Prizeof her. The News coming 
to Sural, thefaid'M/W> Abdei Gafoar,by Pcr'fuafions of 
Mcir Nazam>i and oth^r Merchants, made their Com- 
«' plaints to SalabatGauu (then Governor) and other. Of- 

." ficer* of Sural, fay ng, ^the Englijb belonging to' Surdt y 

^\ h*4 wken his Ship, *t the lame Time feuding .Kb" At- 

; - • ** torney 






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of the EAST-INDIES. '265 

** torncy to Court, to complain to <tht King, who or- 
u dered the Governor, &c. Officers of Surat, to enquire 
into it, and do Juftice accordingly. In this Affair, 
by Bribery, and difgracing me to the King and his. 
Subje&s, as alfo the Dutch, French, and other 'Nations, 
making them believe it to be true, for which Difgrace I 
am not able to trade in thefe Parts; but I hope the 
Difgrace will light on him, that hereafter no fuch Scan- 
dal may be put on me, or any. other, we having traded 
here thefe eighty or ninety Years, but never before ac- 
cufed as Robbers, but daily enriched the Port of Surat. 

II. " The Complaints of Mulab Abdel Gafoar have been 
much to my Prejudice, by reafon I could not clear my 
Money but of the Cuftom-houfe, nor fhip my Goods 
for Europe, which were fetzed and hindred, which 

" hath made me leave the Port and Trading, and retire 
44 to Bombay. I have by me thirty or forty Lack of 
Rupees in Money and Goods in aReadinefs; if you 
pleafe to fend any Body, you may be certified of the 
Truth. Confider the Lofs I am at in the Ufe of my 
Money, Damage of my Goods, and detaining my 
Ships a Year. I defire your Anfwer. 

III. " Mulab Abdel Gaf oar's difgracing me, makes Peo- 
ple afraid to truft me, my Credit being loft by his 
talfe Reports, having twelve Ships laden with Goods, 
which I defigned to have fent to Surat, there to have 
provided Goods, and reladte for Europe ; but his dit 

4< gracing me is the Occafion of the great Charges I am 
" at, my Ships wintering in thefe Parts, and my Godds 
44 lying on my Hands, we Merchants trading for Profit* 
which Hindrance hath not only been a great Lofs to 
the King in his Cuftoms, but to me, which I muft 
anfwer to my Matter*. 

IV. 4 * Mr. Petit and Mr. Boucher being indebted to the 
Company fe vera! Sums of Money, I would have called 
them to Account for the fame •, but they, like Traitors', 

u went to the Governor Cortalab Caun for Protection. 

** As for Mr. Petit he is dead, and gone to the Devil. 

Mr. Boucher ftill remains at Surat: I demand him, his 

Wife, Child, or Children, Family, and all Englifh Men 

M belonging to him, with their Effefts, that they be 

- ' " delivered 



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a66 A Nem HISTORY 

" delivered to me ? aod chat he m^y not make his Efcape 
** .from Surat . 

V. " Formerly fach Goods as* we .brought from the 
<c Malabar Coaft, Mocba> and other Parts, which were 
«' for Europe* and not to fell here, we had Liberty to 
ic bring them afhore at Swally, to clean them, and ihip 
again,, wiihout paying Cuftom; but the Governor 
Cortalab Cau,n y in his Time, forced us to pay Cuftom 
for thofe Goods* fyly Demand is, that what he took 
** more than the former Cuftoms, may be reftored, and 
.** he do not the like again. 

VL Of late Years we bring more Money than for- 
" merly, which hath much enrich'd the Port, of which 
the Governor did acquaint . the King, who was pleafed 
to take no more than two per Cent, we paying no more 
for many Years. Of late the Governor of Surat did 
write to the King, to make us pay three, and one half 
per Cent, for Money as well as Goods, which has beea 
c4 * %J*& Prejudice to our Trade. My pefire is, that 
cc we may pay no more than formerly, that the former 
* Overplus may be repaid. Which Exadtings made Sal** 
** bat Caun over- rate our Goods in the Cuftom-houfe, to 
our great Damage. 

VJL " Formerly we never paid Cuftom for Appard 
or Provifions, but of late Salabat Caun forced us to pay 
cc Cuftom for them. My Delire is that may be repaid, 
<c and, for the future, no - more Trouble on that Ac- 
V count. 

•Vlli. u When our Goods came out of the Country, if 
c< robbed by Thieves or otherwife on the Road, it is. the 
* c King's Order, that the Governors and Officers make 
4C good all Damages, or elfe the King to latisfy us himfelf. 
<c Few Years Cnce our Goods coming from Amadcbant 
i4 and Durrimgum y were robbed in the Way to Surat. 
•* We have petitioned the Governor of Surat tor Satisfac- 
f< tion, but never obtained any. My Defire is, that the 
" .JCing order Satisfaction to be m.ade for the Lois we 
" fuftained, being great and, confiderabie. 

IX. " Several of the Natives are indebted to us, of 
**' whom we can get no Satisfaction, having feveral Times 
46 made Complaints to the Governors, where they refide, 

"for 



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of the E A S T.IN&rE S. *6? 

<c for their Affiftance, but$ as yet, could hav$ poRejdrefa 
44 from, them. Our Defire is, .than ?11 Goyer fftr-? »nd 
44 their Officers nukj-be affiftaat \o ij& in recovering our 
44 Debts. 

X." We bring more Treafure iqtQ tfje Country than 
44 any other Nation, whkih is fiarrie^ *9 tfre Cuftom-houfe, 
^ when cleared from thepce, we fend if tQ the Mint to 
44 be coined; but the Officers, for their own Intereft, de* 
44 lay the Coining, to the Hindrance qi the Dtfpatctung 
44 our B>ufine(i ; loir, if our Cafhwas* coined in Time, we 
44 could have our hiveftments ou* qf ths Country, and 
" lade our Ships, according to the Montooi>3 or Seafon of 
44 the Year. Our Reqifeft is, that, f$r the future, the 
44 Coiners may not delay the Coining, and that our Trea- 
44 fure may be cqined apart, for it$ more fpeedy Perfor- 



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u carry our Goods to the Cuftom-hQitfe* whece tbey are 
thrown vp and down very carelefly, where they are brok* 
en, damaged and ftolen. Our Requeft is^ that we 
n^ay have a W^r^ houfe apart by. that of the Dutch** to 
put our Goods in, that we may he no further Sufferers, 
*' that, when we dil'pofe of our Goods,, or fend them to 
44 om? Faftory, that the Cuftomer take Account of the 
King's Cuftoms, clearing them, without farther Mo*- 
leftat,ion. ' • 

XII, 44 Formbrlv . when we cleared our Treafure, 
44 &V. Goods from the Cuftomrhoufe, we ufed to make 
*< vp the Account of our Cuftooas at the latter End of the 
44 Year, and then paid; it. Of late Years the Officers of 
44 the Cuftom-houie daily and monthly, fend to our Bro- 
ker, demanding the Cuftom, for which Reafon we are 
forced to fee the Officers not to affront our Broker, 
which has been much to our Prejudice. Our Requeft 
44 is, that .they demand not the Cuftoms til) the End of 
?* the Year, as, formerly accuftomary. . 
._. XUL " Wb»n Gajfadean Caufl was Governor of SuraU 
by Order of the King, the City was walled, at which 
Time we had a Garden near Brampcre Gate, about 
** whidi we built thirty-four Shops, Stables for Horfes, 
'">>:* Summer -houfe, and feveraj other convenient Place s, 

44 a 11 



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ft6S 5f'Ai» HISTORY 

u all firm; Buildings, which coft to the Amount of twenty* 
44 five .thoufand Rupees ; when the Wall came near our 
«- Garden, our Buildings were broke down, and our 
* 4 Garden fpoiled. We petitioned the Governor for Satik 
44 fa&ion, he promifed to allow us the Charges out of 
44 the King's Treafury ; but we have not received any 
44 Satisfaction, We demand Satisfaction for the fjiii 
44 Charges. ; 

XIV. 44 Formerly, when our Goods came from, 
44 other Pans to Surdt> we paid no more than 'due Cuftotn, ; 
44 and fhipped them for Europe^ or other Places, without 
44 any farther Trouble. Of late Years the Officers of 
*S thofe Places, from whence our Goods come, put Us to, 
M much Trouble in demanding the Governor's and Offi- 
44 cers of, Sura?* 'Receipts of us* and marly times detain 

our Goods on that Account, by which their Proceedings' 
oar Ships fometimes return empey, and fometimes are.- 
44 forced to remain in the Country, which is a great Lofs 
44 to the King in his Cuftoms, as well as to u$. Our 
44 Requeft is, that,' for the future, fuch Receipts may 
* 4 not be demanded of us, but that we may have the fame 
44 Liberty as formerly. • • 

XV. 44 When our Goods are in a Readinefs, we fend 
44 them to the accuftomed- Place to be fhopp'd,; with a 
44 true Invoice of the Contents of the Bales. Formerly 
44 they ufed (to make Choice of one or two Bales, aft& if 
" they found them according to Invdice;.thert to fhop and 
44 clear the reft, without any farther Trouble. Of late 
44 the Cuftortier, &c* Officers, for their Intereft, and ta 
44 delay Time, open moft of our Goods, which* is ndt 
44 only a great Charge to us in repacking our Goods, but 
44 ,a!fo ourGood^are damaged. Our Defire is, that they 
44 may befliopp'd and fhipp'd according to*inVoice,' wittu 
44 out any farther Trouble, asaccuftomary^ - ^' 

XVI.. 44 Our Sloops and Boats coming from SwaUy to 

44 the Cuftom-houfe, -the Meerbar ufed to fearch thenv if 

, 44 empty, cleared- them, without any. farther Trouble* 

44 Of late Years the Meerbar ■, &c> Officers w*ft nbttdeal: 

44 them in* three or four Days, which 'is agreat Hindrantfe 

,* 4 .to- us in. the Difpaech of our Bufinds. Our Defire is, 

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of the E A t S T-I N.l> LE S. z6g 

u they may be fearch'd and cleared as formerly, without 
Delay. # ...... 

XVII. " Soemetimes Merchants that buy jourGoodsv 
break, plead Poverty, that. they have-not wherewithal 
to. pay us-, applying ourfelvcs tostbe Governor, £s?r. 

? 4 Officers for Juftice, and their Afliftance, ^e. can hive 
" no Redrefs. Our Defire is* either that the Governor, 
fcfr. Officers order Payment to be made, or torfetisfy 
Vis tfut of the King's Cuftoma> that we may be no 
','., longer Sufferers by his Subjects.. . 

XVIII. " Sometimes we lend. oufj Brokers or Senian« ' 
44 . to the Governor, .&V. Officers, as our Affairs require; 
46 who cannot be admitted without- bribing the Servants? 
44 of faid Governor, &V. Officers. We defire it iiay.be 
4 t remedied for the future. ...... 

XIX. " Our Horfes that come from Ptrfia^ Bqffhrd- 
44 Jkc, at their Arrival we ufed to lend them to>our Stables; 
44 withput farther Delay. Of UtejWs at their Land- 
44 . ing are carried to the Governor, his Ssal pOt about tbefr 
44 Neck§, and ourfeiyes % not trufted to uie or difpofe^ erf 
J 4 -'them,. Our Defire is, that we m*y either* ride them; 
44 or difpofe of them as formerly. - \ • 
-.; XX. " The Governor* &c. Officer* often fend to us 
* 4 for broad Cloth, Sword-blades,. &c. in Civility we 

cannot deny them, but when we fend for the Money, 
they deny the Payment, and abtffe our Servants* by 
* 4 . which we are SMflferers. Our Defire is,- that, for the 
44 future* if the Governor, &c. Officers defire any Goods; 
•" they may pay for. thejn before they cajry them away. 

XXI. " Goods provided at Agra* \ Amadabant, &e.~~ 
"coming to Baro/ich % - the Gpyernor . forces us to pay 
, 44 eighteen per Mill'. Cuftom, whvh is contrary . to the 
*f. King's Order, for we ought to pay but in one Place; 
44 as the Mows and Banyans. Our, LWitfe -is* t;o be cleared 
** c of that Cuftom, that at the Arrival. of our Goods at 
44 Surati they may b^fentfor out abr9^d 1L withoviVfarther 
44 Trouble, paying the King his duq Cyftom.] # We ddire 
44 the fame Goods Aripp'd at Baroaeb^ Cambay y &c. that 
44 our Ships may not iofe their Paffage to Europe. . - ; 

XXII. 44 At the Arrival of our European ahips$ we 
44 fend our Goods to the Cuftom-houfe, when cleared, 

44 carry 



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27a ^ 2few HISTORY 

* c carry them to the Faftory -, fometimes we hate prefertfc 
cc Vend, and fomctimes we fend them to other Places* & 
** we think convenient, and far our Intereft -, in cafe we 
fend our Goods to any other Plate, within the Tcrtfi of 
fix Months, then' to pay half Cuftom for the fdid 

V Goods, but* if kept a full Year, then to pay full 

V Cuftom. Sometimes we fend to Swally more Goods 
"than wril lade our Ships, the Remainder we dare not 

keep there, for Fear of Fire or Thieves. Our Reqtieft 
is, that for all fuch Goods as have paid Cuftoni, W6 
may freely bring them to Snrat, keep thetfi thfere for 

V our next Shipping, and fhip them off without farther 
u Trouble or Demands. 
• XXIII. " Our Servants, Englijh, Gentows, and others, 

many times we fend up the Countny, for the ipeediel* 
difpatching of our Affair*. When • we feild to them 
c ,* fop our Accounts, being at a JPiftance, and otit df oil*- 
Reach, Kke to Mr. Pttit and Mr. Boucher* they go 
to the Governors forProte&ion,* by which Means* we 
* c cannot call them to an Account, to our great Lofi, 
" and farther Proceeding againft them. * Our Requeft i$, 
ci that whatever Englijh Man, employed in your Service; 
" without our Leavfc and Difcharge, that they, with their 
" Effe&s and Eftates, be delivered to us, that they may 
" not "be pfotefted, but that we may proceed againft 
"them, as we think convenient. 

XXIV. " It is near ninety Years that we have traded 
herd. At our firft Coming, the King granted us A 

" Piece of Ground for a Bunder to repair our Ships arid 
!« Veffcls. Of late Years Meer Nv$im hath' forced it 
cc from us, and made k a Garden* We are.deftitute of 4 
* c Place for repairing ouf VefTels* and other Convenigftdies. 
" Ottr Reqyeft is, that we may have the fame Ground a& 
♦ c formerly, or fome other, near the Water Side, fitting 
•* our Occafions. 

XXV. c * Formerly we ufed to pay for each Bale 6f 
Indigo, two and an half Rupees per Bale, Without 
dpeftirig it. Of late Years the Officers open it* valuing 
it at their Plealbre, damaging the Goods, whi£h is a 
great Lofs arid Charge to" us* in repacking it. Our 

« Defirt 



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if }he ^ A ST- I NDIE S. 2 7 t 

** Dcfirc is,* thav-for the future, it may not bt opened, 
" paying the Cuftom as formerly* . 

XXVI. * c The Governor, &?r. Officers buy of us, for 
" the King's 1 Account, Iron, Guns, Lead* giving us fome 
V. -Money in Hand. When- they are turned out, ando 
4< .thers coma, when we demand thd-Remaindery they de- 
" lay the Payment of the Money, faying the King did not 
** "want our Goods, tha* rtc may £ take thenl again, fome- 
c * rimes after they have kept then? one or two Years. 
* c Our R-^queft is, t chat whatever they buy of us for the 
?b.King*fe Axxuunt; we. may be pafcfc before they take them 
^.ikiotn us,. and whatever Gtiod*<*?e hav* that 1 die .King 
" has no Gecafeon for r we Aiay* difpofe of them at our 
!*::Pleafare./:/ ; : ' - .;.l^.-v. ' ;-.A '' . ' ■ 

XXVlL-^-.Attd thd Mlandof Rornhfy ft prfotoceth no 
tc Corn. The MsgnV% Fteet oftffn winters there, ' which 
^/jcoakes Pf ot:ifions fcarce and dearJ We are' in Want of 
"• Supplies from Skr&t y anfd -other the MoguFi Ports. 
cc When we ftnd to theie Piaoes^ the faid Gtdvtrnor and 
Officers. will not lee us ha>«e any Without giving them 
one and on« Fourth per Qtnt. Our Requeft »,* to be 
free of thisiTax^.thatwe rnayihave Liberty of fending 
"whajis neceffary for Supply o£the King's People arid 
" faid IflandJ • . 
XXV11L «* A Ship, with.her Cargo, to the Amount of. 
two hundred fifty- four themfartd Rupee J, came out 
of England without our King's Licence, which came 
to Sura**. Our/King's Orders came to us to feize Ship 
and Cargo, which accordingly we did ;' but Salabat Caun 
thdi being Governor, forced her from us, and deliver- 
" ed her to-Mr, Boucbfr; Out Defire is, the faid Ship 
may. be . re^cteitvered us, chat Mr. Boucher and his 
Broker ghnerfcs a *juffc and true ACcdutito* the Re- 
mainder, of the Cargo, and that the Governor take Care 
it be not fejuandred^away by them. t - 
XXIX." Tii> the' King's Grarft, that Merchants pay 
" but one Guftonvfor their Goods, without farther Mo- 
" leftation, and, when they pay it, to take : * Difcharge. 
" Of late Yeatf s v the Officers have forced us to pay double 
*' Cuftom, befides their Perquifites which they have de- 
*' manded, wWch has be$n a great Hindrance *to the 

" timely 



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\ 7 2 A New H I S t 6 tt V 

" timely Arrival of .our Goods. We defire we may hot 
u be forced to pay more then accuftornary. 

XXX*. " We formerly rented a Piece of Ground for 
iC Stables* on which we were at cpnfiderahle Charges id' 

building and Reparations. Meer Naffdm y by buying' 

it, deprived us of it. We defire he may fatisfy us the 

faid Charges. 

. XXXL ." Some Ifears fince we loft an Anchor at the 
"River's Mouth, which Mirza Mojfum's People took: 
" up.. ; We have often demanded it, offering to defray 
" the Charge? ,he was at,- but cannot get it. Our Re- 
" que ft is, that his Son Mirza Mabomud draff 'deliver 
" the fame, we paying the Charges they were at* . 

XXXII. " At the Arrival of our Ships,, they fend 
the Boat up with News. At the Cuftom-houfe they 
flop her a whole Day before they will let our People 
come afhore with Letters* which is a great Impediment 
to pur Affairs* - Our Requeft is, that they may not be 
hindered for the future, but fuffered to land as foon ai 

" they come to the Cufton^houfe. . .\ 

XXXIII. " As concerning my Bengal* we hfear feveraj 
u Ships h^ve been taken and burnt, in. which Affair we 
tc are not concerned, neither do we know whether Peace 
u be concluded there or not. Our Requeft is, that the 
" King iffue out his Ofcders, that no Perfon queftion us, 

** c or majte liemandson uson that Account* 

XXXIV* " Some Years ago the Sedee, with the King'i 
" Fleet, wintered at Bombay \ in which ;Time fome of-his 
" People murdered two. of our Englijb Men, itfhich made 
" our Men refolutely refolve .to revenge their Death, but; 
with great Perfuafions were pacified, being promifed 
Satisfaction. We acquainted the Griyernor of it* who 
ordered the Murderers . to be imprifonedi but, three 
Days after, they were cleared by the Sedee. Our Re- 
queft is, they may be delivered, . that we may profe- 
cutq them, and that Juftice may be done. 
XXXV. " When we are minded to take our Pleafurte 
*' out of the City, altho* we return beforfe the ufual Time 
of (hutting the Gates, the Porters flint, them againft us* 
demanding Money before they will let us enter the 
It City.. Our Requeft is, that Order be given by the 

" Governor, 



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of the E A S T - I N D I E S. 273 
•*' Governor, that we be no more affronted by thofe Peo- 

These Grievances were the Foundation on which Ge- 
neral Child bui]t a War with the Mogul, without ever fend- 
ing them to Court to know the King's Pleafure, but, 
without declaring War, feized his Subje&s Ships whefe- 
ever they were found, altho' they had the San&ion of 
his own Paffes. If the fourth Article be Chrifiiqns, the 
Mahometans and Heathens abhor it* The feventeenth and 
twenty third are unjuft, as well as the twenty eighth ; and 
the thirty and thirty firft were but weak Arguments to 
help to fupport his Complaints and raife a War, that coft 
his Mafters above four hundred thoufand Pounds before 
they could lay it, befides the Lofs of their Credit with the 
Mogul and hisSubje&s, which, to this Time* is not quite 
recovered. Or by what Rule in Policy could Sir Jqfiah or 
Sir John Child think to rob, murder and deftroy the MoguF* 
Subjeds in one Part of his Dominions, and the Company 
to enjoy a free Trade in the other Parts ? or how they 
could expeft that he would (land netner, let Politicians 
anfwer them, and I'll proceed. 

The General having fuch a Number of great Ships on 
his Hands, and little Employment for them, lent them 
to Mocha, Perfia and Bengal, where the Suratcrs had fent 
theirs under the Protedtion of his Pafles. Captain An* 
drews in the Charles II.. went to Mocha, and fet up the King 
x>f England's Flag on his Faftory, and there he feized two 
Engltjh Ships, one from England, called the Streights Mer- 
chant, commanded by Captain Bear, and another belong- 
ing to Mr. Samuel White at Siam. She was commanded 
by one Captain Wren, whom they killed in his Cabbin^ 
becaufe he would not deliver his Ship up voluntarily. 
There was but little of their Cargoes on board of the Ships, 
fo they might as well have let them alone : However fuch, 
Doings difpleafed the Governor and Merchants of Mocha^ 
and they had a Defign to force Captain Andrews to reftore 
the Ships, but he fufpedting as much, fled on board, and 
left his Colours flying on his Fa&ory. 
x He foon after left Mocha, and carried his two Prizes 
with him, and Mr. Clive, Supercargo of the Streights. 
Merchant, got Bills for his Stock, payable at Grand Cairo, 

S «.' 



274 i ^ HISTORY 

except about fixty Bales of Coffee that he carried with, 
him to England, where it fold very well, and the Com- 
pany we're obliged by the Law to m&ke good all the Ship's 
Cargo fro rata, as thofe fixty Bales fold for, which a- * 
mounted to thirty two thoufahd Pounds. The Brijiol 9 * 
Cargo was alfo made good co her Owners, with the Ship 
that was taken at Johafina by the Ph&iix, whidi came to 
fixty thoufand Pounds. And the ■Little Betty , that wa* 
alfo t£kten by the Phenrx in her Way to India, coft them 
twelve thoiifand Pounds, tho* (he and her- Cargo were 
fbH at Bombay for lefs than fix hundred Pounds. The 
Owner of that Veflel was one Mr. Hafiewell a Quaker^ 
arid a fubftantial Merchant in London, who arretted Cap- 
tain Tyrrel going off the Exchange. The Captain pre- 
ferred King James for Bail, but the Quaker would not 
accept of hrrfr, but was content to accept of Sir ^Jofefh* 
Heme, who became Bail. 

T!h e Charles, Cefar, and Rfyal Jabtes and Mary wiay-< 
laid the Surat Shipping, and brought - in fourteen Sail to* 
Bombay, where ifaw them lyfog ifl the Year 1688, and 
yet no. War with the Mogul, only witfe the Inhabitants o£ 
Surat, whom Tie threatened to humble. > . . 

* In Oftobev r688, he Vent to Surat Road, in the Royal 
James and Mary, with three or four btfcer Ships of Court- _ 
tenan.ee/ to try if he could bulfy the Governor* and fright- 
en the Merchants into a Compliance of lofing their Eft&tesy 
but was difappointed in both. He ftaid there till the 
Beginning t)f January 1,689,,. am * t ^ cn ^ £> urai in an - 
Huff, and brought all the Englijh Ships aldng wiriithim, 
except the Ship Adventure, whom the Phenix had forced 
over the Bar, when (he was lying at the Rivert Motfth* 
taking in a Cargo for England, under the Prote&ion of 
Mr. Boucher** Phirmaund, which *was the Grievance com- 
jllainedof in the 28th Article : However, her Supercargo^ 
dying, the Ship's Bottom was e^ttn up with Worms in. ' 
the River, and Part of the Cargo remained many Years 
in Mr. Boucher's Pofleflion. 

On the General's Paffage to* Bombay* he met with a. 
Fleet oF Veflels that were carrying Corn to an Army of 
the MoguFs that lay at Dunder -rajah -fore, about fouritesr* 
Leagues to the Seut-inv ard <>f Botokay.. That fleet he ait* 

feized^ 



of the % A S T - I N D I E S* 27$ 

•feized, and carried to Bombay \ tho* againft the Opinion 
of moft of his Council. Before this Seizure he aijt'd the 
Opinion of fome Sea-ofRcers, and one Captain HUder* 
being the eldeft, advifed him not to meddle with the Corn 
Fleet, becaufe it would ftraiten the Army* and force them 
to look s abroad for Provifions, where it might beft be 
procured, and perhaps might affeft Bombay, which was 
in a great Meafure beholden to their Neighbours for Sus- 
tenance and Fire-wood. The General took him up with 
fcurrilous Language, called him Coward and Fool, and, 
bragg'd, that if Sedee Tacoup (which was the Mogul's Ge- 
neral's Name,) Qiould dare to come with his Forces on 
Bombay, he would blow him off again with the Wind of 
.his Bum. 

Cowards are generally ftout when Dangers are at a 
Diftance, and fo was our General, who had never feen a 
Sworcl drawn in Anger, and confequently very ill ac- 
quainted with War ; and when it came to his Door, none 
was ever fo confounded and dejefted as he was, as appear- 
ed by his Conduct in that War that he fo fooliflily brought 
on hirafeif and his Country. 

When the News came to Sedee Tacoup, that his Fleet,' 
with his Provifions of Corn and Cloth, were feized and 
carried to Bombay -, he fcnt a civil Letter to our General to 
difcharge his Fleet, protefting, that as he had not med- 
dled in the Affairs between him and the Suraters, he 
would cpntinue neuter, unlefs he was forced to do other- 
wife : But our General gave him an infolent Anfwer, and 
the Fleet was unladed at Bombay. 

SEDEE TACOUP fent again to defire the Delivery of 
his Fleet in fair Terms, otherwife he would be obliged to 
come with his Army, and quarter on Bombay, where his 
Provifions were detained, and that if his Fleet was not 
fet at Liberty before the nth of February, which was 
near at hand, he would certainly be on Bombay the 14th, 
but ftijll received uncivil Anfwers, he performed his Pro- 
mise to a Tittle, for that very Night he landed at a Place 
called SourBe (about four Miles diftant from the main 
Fprt) with twenty thouland Men at his Back. 

Our General's Security had made him negle£t provide 
' log fqr .receiving fuch Guefts, trufting to the Reputation 

*S 2 of 






V" 



276 A New HISTORY 

of his Forces, who were greater then than ever they had 
been before, or ever were fince that Time, and he* had 
i'mall Ships enow, had they been plated in proper Places,) 
it might certainly have hindred his Landing, and forced 
Home again ; but all thofe neceflary Preparations 
ere negle&ed, and the Sedee landed at Mid-night, and 
the Redoubt where he landed, fired a great Gun to give 
the Alarm, and fo deferted their Poft, and the Sedee rook 
Vofieffion of it. At One in the Morning the Caftle fired 
three Guns to give the general Alarm, which brought 
dfuch Fear on thofe that lived fecurely in their Houfes with- 
out the Caftle, that the poor Ladies, both white and black, 
ran half-naked to the Fort, and only carried their Chil- 
dren with them •, but they were all obliged to wait without 
the Wall, till Day-lighc relieved them. 

Next Morning the Sedee marched to Mazagun, a fmall 
Fort of fourteen Guns, and about a random Shot diftarrt 
from the Caftle. On the Enemy's Approach, that Fort, 
thv fituated on a Point of Rocks, where the Sea defended 
three Quarters of it, was alfo deferted in fuch Precipi- 
tancy, that eight or ten Chefts of Treafure, which gene*- 
nlly contain one thoufand Pounds each, and four Chefts 
or new Arms, were left behind, tho* the Seamen that 
v-ere fent in Boats to bring them off, proffered to carry 
.:em along with them-, but the commanding Officer 
Thought them not fir to be trufted with Money and Arms, 
:nd lo they were left for a Prefent to Sedee Tacoup, with 
fourteen Cannon, two Mortars, with fome Powder, Shoe 
and Shells : But why that Treafure, and thofe Arms and 
Ammunition were depofited in Mazagun, few could ac- 
count for, and the Reafons why they were left to the E- 
nemy were as wonderful ; but it was plain, that the oft! 
Way of Fifhing in troubled Waters was known at Bombay ^ 
arid the Officer was never called to account for his Over- 
fight. 

SEDEE TACOUP finding no Oppofition, fent a Party 
of Men towards Mahim^ to plunder the poor Peafants, 
and to take that Fort, which, he thought, might be de- 
ferted as the reft had been, and was not in the Icaft out 
in his Conjedture, for the Garrifon had embark'd in Boats, 
and came by Sea to Bombay ^ before they faw ah Enemy. 

Tho 



^& EAST-INDIES. 277 

The tiedee taking Pofieflion of Mazagun, hoifted his Flag 
there, and made it his head Quarters. 

The following Day fome of the Enemy appeared on 
Mazagun Hills, which grieved our General's righteous 
Soul toiee Infidels come fo near him in an hoftile Manner. 
He called a Minion of his own, one Captain Pean> who 
was no better Soldier than himfelf, and ordered him to 
take two Companies, each containing about feventy Men, 
and march to thofe Hills, and drive the. Enemy out of 
his Sight. He ordered one Monro % who had been a Sol- 
dier at Tangier^ to be his Lieutenant. In Tangier he had 
received a Wound «in :his Heel, that fpoiled his Running, 
and accordingly they marched in good Order within Shot 
of the Enemy, who Ihewed their Heads above the Surface 
of the Hill, but did not offer to advance or expofe their 
Bodies. Several Gentlemen Volunteers took their Arms, 
and accompanied the little Army. 

Th e Lieutenaat advifed the Captain to march up the 
Hill in Platoons, to feparate the Enemy's Forces. The 
Captain took it as an Affront to be advifed, tqld his 
Lieutenant, that, when he had the Command in his own 
Hands, he might ufe it as he thought fit, but, as it was 
intrufted to him, he. would ufe it according jto his own 
Mind, and fo ordered his Men to fpread as much as they 
could, and when they faw the Enemy open in the Plain, 
to difcharge all at once amongft them, which, he faid, 
would terrify them. Monro y oppofed his Scheme, and 
told him of the Danger he would bring himfelf and them 
into* if the Enemy ihould attack them whilft their Arms 
were reloading ; but nothing could difluade him from his 
Projeft, and fo commanded his Men to fire as he had di- 
rected. The Sedee's being ten to one in Number, and 
better Runners than our Men* and better acquainted with 
clofe Fighting with Sword and Target, took hold of 
the Opportunity, and advanced with all their Speed, 
which the Captain perceiving, betook himfelf to his 
Heels, and was the foremoft Man to the Portuguefe 
Church, where he took Courage to look behind him, to 
fee what was become of his Men* Poor Monro thinking 
to flop the Enemy's Carreer by a Part of the Wing that 
- he commanded, found himfelf defefted by all, but thir- 

S 3 teen 



278 '^ Mw HISTORY 

teen or fourteen flout Fellows, who were foon furrounded 
by the Enemy, and cut to Pieces. 

PEAN had not ftopt at the Portuguese Church, had he 
not found a Party of one hundred Men that lay there 
ready to fupport or receive him, as his Cafe fhould re- 
quire. He was a Feilow as well made for running as any 
I ever faw, and was fo much in the General's Favour, 
that he had not fo much as a Reprimand for his Cowardice 
and Misbehaviour. This Relation 1 had from a Gentle- 
man Volunteer, who kept always near the Captain while 
he could keep Pace with him. 

When the General left Surat^ there were feveral Gen- 
tlemen in it, fome in the Company's Service, and fome 
private Perfons, who were all imprifoned, and put in • 
Irons, except Mr. Boucher and his Dependants, who were 
protefted by his Pbirtnaund, Thofe imprifoned were fcur-p 
vily ufed, being obliged to pafs thro the Streets with- 
Irons about jheir Necks, for Spe&acles to pleafe the Mob, 
Captain John/on and Captain Teaman, tho* particular Mer- 
chants, were obliged to aft their Parts in the Tragi-co- 
fliedy, and continue Prifoners, where Captain Jobnfon 
died, but Captain Teaman got his Liberty at the End of 
the War, which was about the Beginning of June 1690. 

I will now return back to the Year 1686, when Sir 
John Weyburn was fent from England^ with a Commiflion 
of Judge Admiral from the King, and he had likewife 
another Commiflion from the Governor of the Company 
(which they made him believe was alfo from the King) 
to condemn and hang thirteen of the Inhabitants of St, 
Helena^ where, in a Tumult canfed by the Oppreffions of 
the Governor of that Ifland, one John/on the Second was 
lulled. Sir John V/eyburn took his Paffage to India on 
board the Ship London^ and, in his Way, called at St. 
Helena^ and hanged up the thirteen profcribed Perfons, . 
without Form of Procefs, for which the Company paid 
dear afterwards, and fd had Sir John, had he lived ; but 
he finding the illegal Proceedings of Mr. Child to be in- 
fupportable, and meeting with many Affronts (from that 
Man without fylannerS) died at Bombay about two Months 
before the Sedee came on it. He was much lamented by 
sll honeft Mep that knew him. He was Captain of the 

Happy. 



« 



of the E-A S T - I NIX I E Sr 279 

Happy Return who accompanied the Gloucefter when (he was 
bringing' the Duke of York to Scotland^ and loft by the 
Way. It was Captain Weyburn that fent his Barge to' 
wait on the Duke, and brought him fafe on board of the 
Happy Return^ who carried him forward to Scotland* for 
which good Service he was knighted. % He was ever after 
.a great Favourite of King James* who feeing he could not; 
be brought into his Meafures; put that Employ on him, 
to difmifs him with Honour. 

And now the Sedee being Mafter of the whole Ifland, 
except the Cattle and about half a Mile to the Southwar4 , 
of the Caftle, he raifed Batteries on Dungeree Hill, which 
overlook'd the Fort Wall, and difturbed the Garifon very 
much ; then he put four great puns in the Cuftom-houfe, 
commonly called the hdia-houfe, and raifed a Battery at 
the Moody's Hbufe, witfrin two hundred Paces of the 
Fort, and another in the Lady's Houfe that he had been 
fo unkind to, fo that it was dangerous to go out or in at 
the Caftle Gate, till we got up an half Moon before it. 
-All Men were then preft into the Company's Service, and 
I amongft the reft. We paft the Months from April to 
September very ill, for Provifions grew fcarce by the Ad- 
dition of three thoufand Sevajees that were employed a$ 
Auxiliaries in the military Service of the Company. When 
the Winter Months were over, at September we went to 
Sea with our fmall Ships, to cruize on the Mogul's Sub- 
jefts, and had pretty good Succefs. I was employed in 
that Service, and had the Command of a fmall Privateer of 
feven or eight 'Tuns, with twenty fighting Men, and fix- 
teen Rowers. In three or four Months I brought nine 
Prizes into Bombay, laden moft with Provifions and Clothes 
for the Enemy's Army, which was now increafed to forty 
thoufand, but we were not allowed any Plunder, but 
were rather plundered ourfelves, for when we brought our 
Prizes in, our Chefts were feverely fearch'd, and if we had 
faved any of our Pay, it was feized for the Company's 
Ufe, as Money we had found in the Prizes, which made 
us carelefs in purfuing the Enemy at Sea. Except when 
Hunger pinch'dwe never look'd out for Prizes, by which 
Indifference of ours many of the Enemy efcaped that we 
could have taken. 

S 4 The 



^80 A New H I S T O R Y 

The ill Succcfs we had afhore with the Enemy, made 
our General fick, and, in December* he difpatch'd two 
Fa&ors to the Mogul's Court, with a Surat Merchant* 
(ailed Mecr Mezamie. He was our Friend, and had fome 
Intereft at Court. They went under the Name of the 
JLngliJb Ambaffadors. Mr, George Weldon was firft in 
Commiffion, and Abraham Navaar a Jew was fecond. In 
fifteen Days they arrived at Court, being then at Jebana-* 
bant. They were received but coldly •, but, about the 
Middle of Aprils by the fpecial Affiftance of Prefents to 
the Officers at Court, they were admitted to Audience, 
but were brought to AurengzeV* Prefence after a new 
Mode for Ambaffadors, their Hands being tied by a Safh 
before them, and were obliged to proftratc. The King 
gave them a fevere Reprimand, and then ssk'd their 
Uemands, They firft made a Confeffion of their Faults, 
and defired Pardon, then that their Phirmaund which, wa$ 
forfeited, fhould be renewed, and that the Sedee and his 
Army fhould be ordered off Bombay. Their Submiffion 
Jie accepted of, and pardoned their Faults, on Condition 
that Mr. Child fhould leave India in nine Months, ancjf 
liever come back again, the Phirmaund to be renewed, oa 
Condition that Satisfaction fhould be given his Subjects oa 
account of Debts contra&ed, Robberies committed, and 
Loffes and Damages made good, and, on Security given 
for the due Performances of thefe Premiffes, the $ed$e 
-and his Army fhould be ordered off the Ifland. In Janu- 
ary General Child died, which much facilitated their Affairs, 
but it was kept fecret at Court, till they knew how the 
King would order the Affair about him. In March Meer 
jMJezamte died alfo, and, it was fuppofed, was poifoned 
by fome Enemies, contradted by his good Services to the 
Englijh. "When he was given over by Phyficians, our 
Ambaffadors, fent to know what he had done with fifty 
thoufand Rupees, he had received for fecret Service^. 
He anfwered, that he was forry that ever he had rpeddlect 
in their Affairs, for he had ferved tj?em even with his Life, 
3nd yet they were not contented, tor what Ufe that Sum 
yras put to, he durft not divulge. 

Wh$n our Affairs were in io bad Circumftances at the 
Mp$hF$ Cpurt, the Dutfh Company had one Mr. Baroon, 

their 



of the EAST-INDIES. 281 

their Ambaffador there, who defigned to impofe on Au- 
rengzeb, who, he thought, was ignorant of European Af- 
fairs. The News of the Revolution in Britain being ar- 
rived in India, when he had an Audience of Aurengzeb* 
he began to magnify the Power and Grandeur of his Coun- 
try, and villify the Englijh. The Mogul feemed to be 
pleafed with his Difcourfe, to encourage him to go on. 
He told, that the Englijh were but contemptible in Com- 
parifon of his Sovereigns, for they were forced to fend the 
Englijh a King to rule over them, and that if his Majefty 
would exclude the Englifb from the Trade of his Domini- 
ons, the Hollanders would carry it to a much greater. 
Height, and enrich his Treafury, and the Englijh would 
not know where to get Bread. The Mogul gravely an- 
fwered, That if his Matters were fo much fuperior to the 
Englijh in Power and Riches, they might eafily drive 
them out of India, and engrofs all the Trade of his 
Countries to themfelves, and commanded him to tell his 
Mailers, that he expe&ed it from them. Then the Am- 
baffador excufed himfelf, and told, that he could aft no* 
thing in that Affair till he received Orders from Holland. 
Aurengzeb then reprimanded him, and fhewed him wherein 
he had lied, for, fays he, about feventecn Years ago, the 
King of France conquered moft of your Country in a few 
Days, and that it was the Englijh^ and not the Power of 
Holland, that repelled him, and that if England did not 
hold the Balance of Power, either the Emperor or the 
JCing of France could conquer it in one Campaign. 

The AmbafTador knew not how to anfwer to thole 
Truths: But, being fent to folicit fome Indulgence in 
their Trade, he could obtain none, and fo left the CoujX 
diffatisfied. 

. After our Ambafladors had obtained Pardon, they 
began to be refpe&ed, and. had Liberty to take their Di- 
yerfion abroad, till 3 new Phirmauni was drawing up, 
which, according to the Method of the eaftern Courts, 
took up fome Time : However Qrders were fent to the 
Sedee to forbear Hoftilities, and the Englijh had the fame 
Orders, fo that frequent Vifits paft between the Scdee's 
people and ours. And, during the War "about fixty 
l&ropeans of feveral Nations, had deferted from us, and 

took 



2%z A New H I S T O R Y 

took Pay of the Sedee. . The Reafon they gave for their 
Defection, was ill Ufage they had received from fome 
Irlfh Officers ; yet mod of them returned after the War, " 
on Promife of Pardon, 

The Pbirmaund being ready, and the required Security 
given, Sedee Tacoup left Bombay the 8 th of June* 1690, but 
he alfo left a Peftilence behind him, which, in four 
Months Time, deftroyed more Men than the War had 
<ione, and, for Joy, made a malicious Bonfire of his head 
Quarters Mazagun Fort. 

Now we may fee the Mogul's Stile in his new Pbirmaund 
to be fent to Surat, as it (lands tranflated by the Com- 
pany's Interpteters, which runs thus in the printed Copy 
dnnext to Sir John Child's thirty-five Articles of Grievances." 

*T*HE Occafion of your writing to me, was your being in 
Fault of atlthefe Troubles ', that you have repented of what 
you have done, that you made fever al Complaints againfi for- 
mer Governors* all which I have here from fever al of my 
Umbras, and the fever al Abufes received from them* and their 
Officers, all which you fhould have acquainted me withy before 
you proceeded fd violently. Having acknowledged your Err or * 
and deftred Pardon, I do not only grant your Requeft, pardon- 
ing what ispafi, hut granting you a PHirmaund according to 
yourDeftre, and have ordered Aflit Caun to forward it to the 
Governor cf Surat, with fuch Particulars as he will acquaint 
you with. 

At the Arrival of my Phirmaund, receive it with great 
Bjefpeft, acknowledging the great Glory you have got in ob- 
taining the fame ', that you may trade as formerly at your Plea* 
Jure, and as accujlomary. That you deliver the Merchants, 
that have complained againfi you, their Ships with their 
EffeSs. That, for the future, you do net commit the like 
Error, in doing as you have done, and proceed according to 
my Will and Pleafure, and be not forgetful of the fame. 

If you receive any Affronts from my Governors, or their 
Officers, or any of my Subjects, be not negligent in acquainting 
$ne of the fame I have ordered Aflit Caun to write accordingly. 

What you write concerning former Governors, protesting 
Mr. Boucher, that you have fever al Demands of him, that yon 
cannot call him to an Account \ dejiring that he may be de- 
livered 



of the E A S f -I-N DIES. 283 

Uvired to you. My Order is, that you prove your Demands 
according tej^w^ that Jujike may be done accordingly. 

Dated the 3 1 ft Year of Aureng%eb*% Reigfu 

It fcems the King was nbt ignorant of the hard Ufage. 
his Subjedts had met with, nor was he defirous to life 
Severity in punifhing Offences and Affronts -, but, like an 
indulgent Prince, only told them of their Faults, and 
prudently admqnifhed them not to be guilty of fallinj 
into fuch like Errors, and, in a majeftick Stile, advife< 
them to receive his Favours and Graces with great Re- 
fpect, and that they ought to make the Law the Standard 
of Juftice, and, in all his Words and Actions, ufed a. 
Cbrifiian Moderation. 

General Child being dead, Mr. John Vaux fucceeded 
him in the Government of Bombay \ but Mr. Bartholomew 
Harris, who had been Prifoner at Surat (all the Time of 
the Rupture) had the Seigniority in the Company's Ser- 
vice ; but it being not the Cuftom, for one that had beea 
the Mogul's Prifoner f for any Crimes judged to be capital) 
to receive publick Marks of Efteem from the State, with- 
out a Angular Amnefty from the King, Mr. Vaux was 
obliged to go to Surat and receive the Pbirmaund and the 
King's Serpawor Prefent, which, on fuch Occafions, is 
generally a fine Horfe, and a Suit of Cloaths from Head 
to Foot, made of rich Atlafles or Zeerba/las. Thofe are 
Sattins or Taffataes full of Gold or Silver Flowers wrought 
in them. The Horfe muft never after be fold, on no 
Account whatfoever. They have alfo a fine Turband* 
embroidered Shoes, and a Dagger of Value, ftuck into 
* fine Cummerband or Safh ; and, being equipp'd in that 
Habit, the Pbirmaund is prefented (by the Goojberdaar or 
Hojhalbouckain, or, in Englifh, the King's Meffenger,) 
and the Governor of the Province or City v makes a lnort 
Speech adapted to the Occafiqn, fetting forth the great 
Honour conferred upon him by the greateft King in the 
World, with an Admonition to make future Aftions de*- 
ferve the Merit of fuch Favours, 

After the aforefaid Manner Mr. Vaux received the 
Pbirmaund in a gilded Box, and, according to Cuftom, 

put 



**4 «<* New- HISTORY 

put it on his Turband for a little while, and, by an In- 
terpreter, returned the Governor's Compliment, acknow- 
ledging the King's Favours and the Governor's Civilities ; 
and then the Governor conducted him from the Garden 
/where the Ceremony was performed) into the City, 
through a great Concourfe of People, who welcomed him 
with Shouts of Joy as he paft thro* the Streets to the £»- 
glifh Faftory. 

After Mr. Vaux had ftaid in the City about a Week, 
he .fent to acquaint the Governor of the Neceffity he lay 
under to return back to his Government of Bombay, but 
the Governor fent him Word, that none but he could be 
trufted by the King to fee the Performance of the Con- 
trait accomplifhed, and begged, that he would not think 
of leaving the City, left the King fhould ,take it amifs, 
and repent him of the Favours he had (hewed to the Eaft- 
India Company ; and fo Mr. Vaux was detained an Hoftage 
for his Mafter s future good Behaviour. 

Mr. Harris, according to that Company's ordinary 
Cuftom, demanded the Prefidency from Mr. Vaux, who, 
to fave Contention, gave it to him, tho* his Mind was fo 
debilitated, that he was but few Degrees wifer than an 
Idebt, and, in two Years Time, Mr. Vaux was fufpend- 
«l the Company's Service, and to remain their Hoftage 
at his own Charges, and fo he continuedtill the Year 1697, 
that he, by Accident, was drowned in Sural River, by a 
Pinnace's overfetting, in which he and his Lady had been 
taking a Pleafure ort the Water. 

This Mr. Vaux had been Book-keeper to Sir Jojiab 
Child 'in England, and, for his good Services and Behaviour, 
was preferred by his Mafter to a Supercargo^ Poft in a 
Ship to China, tf hich Trade, in thofe Times, was the moft 
profitable of any within the Limits of the Company's 
Charter. In the Year 1684 he was fent thither on board 
a Ship called the Carolina, commanded by one Captain 
Harding -, but, Mr Vaux and Harding difagreeing in their 
Paflage to China, Mr. Vaux laded the Ship, and fent her 
fcack to England, while he himfelf went Pafienger on 
board a Surat Ship for Bombay, where he was entertained 
in the Company's Service as a Faftor, and wrote to Sir 
Jofiab GW/i*hc Rcafor* he Jiad for leaving the Carolina^ 

and 



of tit E A S T - I N E> I E S. 2% 

and his Refolution of (laying in India. Sir Jo/tab con- 
tinued his Efteem for Mr. ^*ftx, and procured him feveral 
profitable Pofts at one and the fame Time in the Com* 
pany's Service, and, amongft the reft, constituted him 
Judge in civil Affairs, which brought him both a good 
Salary and Perquifites. After he was inftalled in that 
Office, Sir Jofiab wrote him a Letter of Admonition and 
Reminifcence, wherein, after many Poftulates, put him in 
Mind of the many Favours he had done him, and that now$ 
having the Power of condemning the Company's Ene- 
mies, or fuch as fhould be deemed fo, particularly thofe 
who Ihould dare to queftion the Company's Power over 
all the Britifh Subjects in India, and that he expelled his 
Orders, from Time to Time, ihould be obferved and 
obeyed as Statute Laws. 

Mr. Faux gratefully acknowledged Sir J*fiab*s Fa- 
vourfc in his Anfwer to that Letter, and prornifed, that* 
as he had put him into that Poft of Honour and Profit, 
he would ftrive to acquit himfelf with all the Integrity and 
Jufttce he was capable of, and that the Laws of his Coun- 
try fhoud be the Rule he defigned to walk by. 

In Anfwer to that Letter, Sir Jo/tab feemed to be angry, 
and wrote roundly to Mr. Faux, that he expefted his Or- 
ders were to be his Rules, and not the Laws of England* 
which were an Heap of Nonfenfe, compiled by a few 
ignorant Country Gentlemen, who hardly knew how to 
make Laws for the good Government of their own private 
Families* much lefs for the Regulating of Companies 
and foreign Commerce, 

I am the more particular in this Account, becaufe I faw 
and copied both thofe Letters in the Year 1696* while Mr. 
Faux and I were Prifoners at Surat, on Account of Captain 
Evory*% robbing the Mogul's great Ship, called the Gunfway. 
Having given an Account of fome Part of Sir John 
Child's Reign, I mult alfo remark a few Slips in the 
Government of fome of his Succeflbrs, and of the Ways 
that they took to get into the Chair of Bombay. 

I remarked before, that Mr. Harris was a very weak 
and indolent Perfon, very unfit to govern a Colony and 
the Fa&ortes fubdrdinate to Bombay, and, by that Means, 
a cunning dsfigning Fellow, one Mr, Samtl Atm*ftey y had 

the 



n 



*86 A Neto U 1 S T O R y 

the iteinc of the Government wholly in his Manage- 
ment, whb (hewed, that he had malicious Wit and Av^ 
rice enough to embroil both his Matters and thp privstf 
Merchants Affairs in Surat in Harrit's Time, arid, 09 
Harris's Death, got into the Prcfijkncy, qr rather Ty* 
fenny. 

Ths Mogul'* Subje^haye a good many fiae large Ships 
that trade aU over Tii&z. The Owners of thofe Ships had 
• very great Regard for die Courage, Condud, ajad Art 
of Navigation of the Engltfb, above any other European 
Katiio* in /«&* ; and, far tiofe Qua^ficatioms, the Iftdiex 
Owners procured Englifh Officers to go in their Ships, and 
attowed (hem • very handfome Salaries a&d Indulgences, 
Hie Captains had from ten to fifteen Poynds per Months 
Mates from fix to nine Pounds, and the Gunners and 
Soatfwains had alfo good Salaries, befides the Privilege 
of carrying feme Goods* and Merchandizes, Freight free. 
Mr. Amiejley thought thofe Salaries and Indulgence* 
mere top great for Seamen, fo he went about to reduce 
them to about one Half, and xhp other Moiety he look'fi 
on as his own Due by virtue of bis Poft. 

Some through Fear or Neceflity complied, others again, 
who defpifed both his Power and Tyranny, would, by 
no Means, come into his Meafures, and thofe he iook'a 
on as Rebels, and persecuted them to the utmoft of &* 
Pbwer, bribing the Mogul's Governor to plague its ; {$ 
fctne were ruined by his Villainy, whilft»othprs bade hiflj 
open Defiance : And we were not wincing on oijr Side tp 
expofe him and his Mafters to the Mogufe Subjefts* which 
in the End was the Lofs of both their Eiftepm ^4 Credit 
amongft the trading People of that Country. The ppcffr 
er Sort, whofe Maintenance depended 00. their labour 
and Jnduftry, lofmg their Employs jo $he Moorijh M$i~ 
chants Service, were obliged, to fall on new Schemes to 
ftipport theirifelves, not veuy well fuited tp phe Company's 
Ifltereft, for fbme went and joined thsmfelves with the 
Pirates. 

* The Company in England received Accounts from 
everyone that came from india y of Harris and Apm$ef+ 
Maleadminiftration, fent out Sir John Gayer to take Carf 
of their Afiairs. He arrived ia the Year 1694,. with %\# 

iofty 



of the £ A S T - I N D I E S. 287 

lofty Title of General of all India. He continued Amtfi- 
ley iji the Company's Service till the Year 1700, but di* 
tefted him of all Power of doing more Mifchref ; but, in 
the End, he difmifled him the Company's Service. 

Sir John Gayer was a Man not vicious in his Tempwy 
yet he had fome Slips in his Government that proved pre- 
judicial to his Chara&cr, tho f , m Matters of commoit 
Commerce, he afted pretty regularly, till a young Laft 
of three thoufand Pounds Portion made him difpenfe with 
the common Methods of Matrimony. This young Gen- 
tlewoman* was a Daughter of Mr. fVardh before meptionedl 
She had no Relations alive* arid unadvifedly.married'Ond 
Mr. Solomon Lloyd a Fa&or* and the Marriage was clari* 
deftine, which was positively againft the Statute Law of 
Bombay^ where no Marriage is binding but when the Go^ 
vernor's Content is tack'd to it. This Law Sir Jirtm had 
got by Heart, and unmarried the poor Faftor after Con- 
fororoatioft, and married her to his own Son; but the? 
fecond Marriage w*s attended with ill Confequence, for* 
whilft her Hulband was at 'China one Coleman was ordered 
to teach her to write good EngUJh^ but, neglefting thofe 
Orders, iie taught feer fomething elfe, and was diibover* 
ed in the Pra&ifing, >by a watchful Mother-m-Law^ 
The poor School-mafter was fent, in Irons, on board of '% 
Ship for England. And the poor Hufbancfs Head aeked 
as long as he lived. 

. Another Piece of ill Conduit was in forcing the 
Mocha Frigate's Men on board, againft their Wills, to» 
proceed on a Voyage to China, notwithftanding their juft 
Complaints againft Edgeoomb their Captain, whom thet 
Mutineers fhert in his Cabbin,. and then turned Pirates* 
and infefted the Streights of Malacca, robbirfgand plun* 
dering all Ships that they could overcome. Captain Hide* 
in* the Dorrtly met her there in her Faflage to- China x and 
had a fharp Engagement with her, but got clear with the 
Lofs of iaxty Men killed* and fome wounded, whidi 
difabled the Borrel fo, that (he proceeded no farther than 
Malacca. 

: And another Fauk of Sir Jdim's was in fuffering him- 
felf and his Lady to be taken Pwfoners at Swalfyj by thd 
Governor pf Surafs Qrder> when- he might-either have 
c . « . ~ " "~ avoided 



288 A New H I S T O R Y 

avoided that Difgrace by Force or Flight; but k wa^ 
generally believed, that wa* only a Piece of Policy to get 
to Suraty in order to employ his Money, which he could 
do much better there than at Bombay. 

Sir Nicholas IVaite fupplanted Sir John in the Govern- 
ment of Bombay i and in the Prefidency. He was a Man 
of very loofe Morals; and his bare-fae'd Injustices and 
Prevarications irritated the Inhabitants and Soldiery of 
Bombay, that they feized him, and fent him Prifoner for 
England* Tho* his Reign was ihort, it was very per- 
nicious to his Matters, as well as to particular Merchants 
under his Jurifdi&ion. But, to return from this Di- 
greffion. 

BOMBAY was governed by a Deputy, fince the Prefi* 
dent was obliged to ftay at Surat. And of feven or eight 
hundred Englijb that inhabited before the War, there were 
not above fixty left by the Sword and Plague, and Bom- 
lay y that was one of the pleafanteft Places in India % was 
brought to be one of the mod: difmal Dcferts ; but the 
Spirit of Injuftice ftill refided in it, for thofe who had 
ventured thro* the War and Plague in Defence of the I- 
fland, had not the Liberty of returning Home to their 
own Country, nor to raife their Fortune by private Trade, 
but all were continued preft Men in the Right Honoura- 
ble Company's Service, without the Hope of Preferment* 
which made fome Difcontents. 

And, even in the Time of War, when Strangers fhould 
have been encouraged to bring Provifions on the Ifland* 
the Company's Taxes of five per Cent, were exafted with 

great Severity, for I have feen the Portuguefe Subjefts 
ring twenty or thirty Poultry to the Market, and have 
had five of the bell taken for the Cuftom of the reft. 

Two Leagues from the Caftle is a fmall Ifland belong- 
ing to the Company, Called Butcher's Ifland, but of no 
Ufe, befides hauling Ships afhore to clean, and graze a 
few Cattle. And, a League from thence, is another 
larger, called Elephanto 9 belonging to the Portuguefe^ and 
ferves only to feed fome Cattle. 

There is a pretty high Mountain ftaods in the Middle 
of the Ifland, fhaped like, a blunt Pyramid, and, about the 
Half of the Way to th$ Top, is a large Cave, that has 

two 



tf the E\ A ST-INDIE S. «g$ 

two l&fgjb Inlets, which ferve both for Paflage into it ancf 
Lights. The Mountain above it refts on large Pillars, 
hewn out of a folid Rock, and the Pillars curioufly car* 
yed. Some have the figures of Men, about eight Foo{ 
high, in feveral Poftures, but exceedingly . well propor* 
tioned aqdxut. There is one that has a Giant with four 
Heads joined, and their Faces looking from each other* 
He is in a fitting Pofture, with his Legs and Feet Qfider 
his Body. His right Hand is above twenty Inches long. 
There -are feveral dark Rooms hewn out of the itock* 
and a fine Spring* of fweet Water comes out *gf on6 
Room, and runs thro* the Cave out at one of the : §hlets* 
I fired a Fuzee into one of the Rooms, but I never heatfd 
Cannon nor Thunder make fuch a dreadful Noife, which 
continued about half a Minute ; . and the Mountain feemed 
to fhake. As foon as the Noife was over, a large Serpent 
appeared, which made us take to our Heels, and got out 
.of the Cave at one Door, and he, in . great Hafte, went 
out at the other. I judged him about fifteen Foot long, 
and two about. And thefe were all that I faw worth Ob- 
servation on that Ifland. I afk'd the Inhabitants of the 
Ifland, who were all Gentows^ or Gentiles, about twenty 
in Number, if they had any Account, by Hiftory or Tra- 
dition* who made the Cave, or the Quadruped* carved in 
Stone ; but they could give no Account. About a Lea- 
gue from Elephant o, is an Ifland called Sahageo. It affords 
nothing but Fire- wood, with which it fupplies Bombay* 
And, about half* a League from it, is the Ifland of Car* 
ronjaa y belonging to the Portugmfe* It affords no Trade, 
but Eatables for Bombay, from whence it lies Eaft about 
two Leagues. Between it and the main Lan$j is the 
Mouth of Ben Riven And four Leagues South of Bom* 
J>ay 9 are two fmall Iflands, Undra and Cundra. Thefirft 
has a Fortrefs belonging to the Sedei* and the other is 
fortified by the Sevajee, and is now in the Hands of Connd* 
jee Angarie* The Englijb have made feveral Attempts to 
take it, but never could, tho' in the Year 1719* it had 
certainly been taken, had not a Portuguefe Traitor, who 
lay on one Quarter of it with fome- Veflels of War to hin- 
der.Relief coming to it, betrayed his Truft, and let fome 
Boats pafs by in the Night with Provifions and Arnmurii* 

T tion, 



*9d A 'tin*' kl SfO^Rt 

tiort, which thelQarKlwksmgreatWAntof. ThtEhgtyB faftdt 
cd, and were obliged to Retire by feme Lofs they received* 

About four Mites to the South~eaft : of Cundra, is Cu- 
Ubee* a Fort built on a Rock a Htrie Way from the main 
Land; and, at high Water, it is fcrV IfUnd, belonging to 
the Sevajee. And, two Leagues to the South &i<Cttiabee> 
is Cba /tf, a Town belonging totkePcrtuguefe* whofe River 
affords an Harbour for fmall Vcflfels. The Town is for* 
tified, and fo is an* Ifland on the South Side of the Har~ 
hour, called Cbaul Moar y which may be known five -or (he 
Leagues off at Sea, by a white Church built on it. Cbaul, 
in former Times, was a noted Place for Trade, particularly 
for fine embroidered Quilts; bur now it is rtiiferably poor. 
DANDE RAJAPORE lies feveni Leagues to the South- 
ward of Gbaul, a Town belonging to the Sedee y who ge«* 
» herally lies there wWva- Fleet of the Mogul's Veflfels and 
Ships of War, arid an Army of thirty or forty thoufand 
Men. There is * Rock fortified by the Seyajee, efeat lies- 
within a League of the Mouth of Dander Rajapwe River,, 
to- the Northward, and another as far to the Southward- 
tailed the fVhale^ that (hews his Back at low Water; 

Coasting to the Southward from Dande Rajapore, are 
fe veral ' ftnall Rivers and filhing Towns. Zeferdon is the 
beft, -and- two , little Iflands called Horney Cbat> • fortified 
and kept by the Sevajee. It lies five Leagues to the. 
Northward of Dabul f which ftandfc at the Mouth of a> 
large River, and^ of old, was a Place of Trade, and 
where the Engiijh -once had a Fa&ory. 

T»ere is an exceHent Harbour for Shipping eight 
Leagues to the Southward of Dubai % called Sangufeer ; but 
the Country about being inhabited by Rapdrees, it is not 
frequented ; nor is Rdjapbre, about feven Leagues Southward 
of Sangufeer* tho' it has the Conveniency of one of the beft . 
Harbours in the World, and had formerly, both an Englijb and 
French Faftory fettled there ; and the Place where General 
Child had his Education, from ten Years old to eighteen, 
under his Uncle Mr. Gvodjhaw* who was Chief thete •, and 
having betrayed fome of his Uncle's Secrets, in .making, 
ufe of the Company's Cafti in his own private Trade, his 
Uncle was calhier'd, and, before the Nephew was com* 
to four and twenty, he had the Honour to fill his Chafrv 



of Ihe E AS * vX N D I?E S. s 9 * 

. When the Englijh Bad a Factory zk'Rjjabpbre, that 
Country produced the fineft Bettecllas and MufliA&.ia 
India ; but now all Arts and Sciences are difcooragedi 
and the Port not frequented. There are fine artificial 
Cifteras for Water there, and a natural hot fiath r withiri 
three Yards of a very cold one; And^both are reckoned 
very medicinal. • . - . i 

. About twelve Leagues to the Southward of Gbiriai 
Is dn Ifiand 4 about two Miles' in Circumference, andforti^ 
fied with ^' Stone Wail round it, called Malwafi. k lies 
about a Mile from the mam Land, and is governed by an 
independent Rajab y who k alfo a Freebooter, and keeps 
three or four Grabs at Sea to rob all whom they can mafter. 
- VINCURLA lies about four Leagues to the Southward 
of Maiwan>> and was formerly a Place of Trade ; and th£ 
Dutch Company had a Fa&ory there for Cloth, both fine 
.fcudcoarfe. 

Two Leagues to the Northward of Vingurla Rive* 
there is a ; Parcel of Rdcks that ftrfctches about two 
Leagues into the Sea. The ©utermoft lies in . feventeerc 
Fathoms of Depth. Ttey feem to have, been Vukanoes. » 

Thc Religion of all the Countries, from Dande Raj** 
pore, to tke Dominions of Goa, is Paganifm j but thej* 
are not tied. tip to divine of moral Rults. 

ch'ap. xvn. 

Qives an fAicdunt of r ltbe Sundah RajahV Dominions, 
the ProduBy Retighn and Cufioms of his Country , 

, <u#th Obfetnsatums on his War nvith the Englifri 

Eaft-India Company y in the Year 1718 j <toitlj d 

ffort Def caption of 6inara. N . . ; . 

» * 

G^£0 DERAJHA^6t, as the &*|*> call • |t, r CSprt 
RantHSi -begins the Limits of the Sunda Rajah^i 
Count* y , tb the Northward^ and has a Caftle on the Capp 
to fecure his Frontier ; but there is no River or Harbour 
for Shipping, till <we CQftte to' Sevafeer, and that iabuts* 
bad one, tho* it has the Cover of a large Caftle with few 
Guns in it. But, 

"~ Ta CARWAR, 



e?2 r 'A' New HISTORY 

- €ABJVAR y which lies feven Leagues to the South- 
ward of Cape Ramus > has the Advantages of a good Hai* 
hour, on the South Side of a Bay, and alliver capabte 
to receive Ships of three hundred Tuns. The Englijh 
have a Fa&ory here, fortified with two Baftions, and fomi 
fittall Cannon for its Defence. The Rajah is tributary to 
the Mogul at prefent, hut formerly was a Part of Vifapvrft 
^Dominions, before Aurengzeb conquered that Country. 
This Rajah's Dominions reach from Cape Ramus to Mer* 
zee* about fifteen Leagues along the Sea-coaft, and fixty 
cor. feventy Leagues within Land. 
: This Country is fo famous for hunting, that two Gen-* 
tlemen of Diftin&ion, vizt Mr. Lzmbourg of the Houfe 
of Lemhurg in Germany* and Mr. Goring* a Son of my 
Lord Goring'* in England* went incognito in one of the 
Eaft- India Company's Ships, for India. They left Let* 
ters direded for their Relations, in the Hands of a Friend 
of theirs, to be delivered two or three Months after their 
Departure, fo that Letters of Credit followed, them by 
the next Year's Shipping, with Orders from the Eajk- India 
Company to the Chiefs of the Fa&ories, where-ever they 
(ho aid happen to come* to treat them according to their 
Quality. They (pent three Years at Carwar* then* being 
tired with that Sort of Pleafure, they both took Paffage 
on board a Company's Ship for England. 
. "The Chief of the Englijh Faftory is held in very great 
Efteem in this Cqpntry, and when. he goes a hunting, is 
generally accoanpajpied with moft Part of the People of 
Piftin&on in :thc Vicinage, who bring their Vaffals and 
Servants with ttem, armed with fixe Arms and other 
Weapons, both miffive and defenfive, with Trumpets, 
Hautboys and Drums. . 

A The Woods produce great Quantities of good Teak 
Timber, ufeful in building both Ships and Houfes. It is 
more durable than Oak. And there is good Poon Mafts> 
Wronger, but heavier than Fir. There is a Shrub grow* 
in the Woods, that has a Leaf bigger than that of the 
Fig-tree * and the Dew that falls on that Leaf being care* 
fully gathered, and fet in the Sun a Day or two, becomes 
%he plca&nteft and ftrongeft Acid that ever I tafted. 

~ '• Before* 



*< ~ 



V "* 



[^ 



of We EAST-INB TE S. 293- 

/ Before Aurengzeb conquered Vifafore^ this Country > 
produced the fineft Betteelias or Muflins in India. The 
Englijb Company had a great Cloth Trade here, and ejn- I 
ployed about fifty thoufand People in that Manufa&ory j 
out the Mogul's licentious Soldiers fell into this Province, 
and ruined all Manner of Trade, plundring the induftri- 
ous Inhabitants of all they could lay. Hands on, and cut: 
the Company's Cloth from the Loom, andufed the Wea^. 
vers fo rudely, that they left their own Country, to look, 
for Prote&ion in Countries farther to the Southward, 
where War had not fee up her bloody Banners. 

When the Mogul's General had taken Pofleflion dt> 
that Province in the Mafter's^arae, he invited the Gen- 
tlemen of the Englijh Ea&ory to an Entertainment ih his. 
Tent, under Pretence of fettling the Company's Com- 
merce, and, while they were at Dinner, he icne a JParty < 
of Men, who pJundrod and burnt their Houfe, which 
made the Company build and fortify what they now have^ 
but he who built it where it is, had i\o great Forefioht in 
choofing his Ground, for it ought xo have been bum: ia m 
Plac&of free Communication with the Sea, but now it 
ftands a League from it. And, in the Year 1 7 1 8, the* 
Rajah £hcwed them their Error, and built Batteries at the' 
Mouth of the River, fo that the Factory is nothing at 
prefent but a genteel Prifon, which by dear bought Ex-: 
perience, we found in a War we had with him, -by the 
Indifcretion of one Taylor \ who was Chief, who pretended* 
to be Lord of the Mannor, in appropriating a Wreck to' 
his own Ufe, that was caft away above four Miles from, 
the Fa&ory. The Rajah could not bear to be fo bare- 
facedly affronted in his own Dominions, by Tenants that 
would hear no Reafon. He befieged the Fattory for two 
Mouths before the Scafon .would admit of Forces coming 
60 affift them by Sea j and when they arrived, the Seat 
run fo high on the Shore, that there \yas great Difficulty 
of landing in the Teeth of an Enemy, who had tea 
Time* our Numbers, fo that the firft Attempt of landing 
was urifuccefsful, by our Mens Negleft and Difobedience 
to the Orders they had received, and about fourfcqre of 
our braveft Felfows were cut off, and fome uken Prifo-. 
ners. But, about fix Weeks after we had fome Revenge 
;.-...; T3 on 



*9* '# New H 1STO R Y 

on the Enemy in an Engagement on the Side of an Hi J! 
among thick Bufhes. The Enemy being above our Men* 
began their Fire at Break of Day, to beat our Men from a 
Spring of frefli Water dofe to the Sea ; but ourfrnall Veflels 
lying near the Shore to cover about four hundred Men, that 
lay to guard the Water, fired with fo good Succefs, that, 
ia an Hour's Time, they were obliged to run, and leave 
near two hundred dead in the Woods; and our Men pur- ' 
fifing them in their Flight, did feme Execution on them. 
, We wtre in daily Expectation of more Forces, and did 
not offer the Enemy Battle, becaufe of their Numbers and 
our Want of Experience •, but we harrafled the Enemies in 
the Nights } in burning Villages, for there was little to. 
plunder ; and at Sea we took tome Veflels laden with 
Sattgoing to the Enemy, and three Ships of the Rajah\ 
coming from At obi a with Horfos, to the Number of one 
hundred and forty, which created us much Trouble to find' 
Engender and Waiter for them : However, when our. 
Reinforcement came, we could mufter, in our Fleet, of 
Seatim and Soldiers, twenty two hundred and fifty Men. 
ThoEnemy raifed fame Batteries on the Strand to hinder 
our landing \ and we took two of the Frizes* and made 
them Shot-proof above Water, and laid them, afhore at. 
high Water to batter their Batteries, <and keep the Enemy 
at 2u Diftance with their great Shot, till out: Mea were 
landed arvd drawn up. Each of our floating Batteries were 
ctoveied with a Fngat of twenty or twenty four Guns* 
When-all was ready, we landed twelve hundred and fifty 
Men, without the lead: Hindrance from the .Enemy, for 
thoy were preparing to flee to the Woods* but our irdbi 
Water land Officers were fo long a drawing up their Mea 
m a confounded hollow Square, that the Enemy took 
Courage, and, with Horfe and Foot, came running to* 
wards Our Men, firing, and wounding iome as, they 
qiarched in their R?nks, which our Commandant feeing* 
pulled off his red Coat,- and vahiflied. Som<? other as 
y^iant Captains as he, took Example, and left their Pafts, 
and then thd Soldiers followed, and threw down their 
Arms, We toft in- this Skirmiflt about two hundred and 
fifty * but our floating Batteries would not permit the Enemy 
W purfue far, ri&T durft they ftay to gather up our fcatr- 

tered 



oftfc & A S T -J N D I E S. s 295 

*e fed Arms, fo about eighty Sailers. went on the Field of 
Battite, and brought on board of the Commodore about 
two hundred Stand of Arms, moft of tfatm loaded : 
However the Enemy had foroe Lfifc too, for we found 
ctevwa Horfos dead, and law many Fires along the Foot 
•of ihe Hills to buriPtheir dead Men Jxu 

Tn & Rajah had, by this Time, feven thoufand Men 
-engaged in this War, which Expence be began to be tired 
of, and the Lofsof his Ships and. Horfes was fame Mor- 
tification to him, bolides the Saw Rajab had made an 
Inroad into his Northern Borders, which made him 
incline very much towards a Peace, and accordingly 
he feat a Brahman on board the Commodore of the Fleet, 
to negotiate about a? Peace. The Commodore heard him, 
and aklvifed him tfc make his Overtures to Mr. Taylor; 
but he faid, that the Rapab would by no Means oonfenc to 
treat with him, complaining, that he was not only the 
Occafion pf that War, but even, ^before the War* had 
done feme Detriment to him and his Subje&s, for receiv- 
ing the Company's Pfcpper above one hundred Miles from 
the Fa&ory. He triage the Servants that went to receive 
the Pepper, take certain Quantites to fell out by Retail 
in his Villages, to the Utter Ruin of. many poor InhabU 
tattts, that had no other Way to get. their Livelihood, 
hot by huckftering, and becaufe the Company's Agreed 
meat with his Forefathers and himfettv gave them: a free 
Track in all his Dominions, he paft all over, but was 
ibrcedto relieve the poor Boticfaersj&x Shop- keepers, who 
befbrt could pay him Taxes; howew we being tired pf 
War as *veil its he, by the Mediation of a Seid, who was a 
Frfcntf to both Parties, in ten Days after the firft Overture 
wag made, Peace was proclaimed on eafy Terms for both 
Parties- 

Tm*nt is one Trick that the Priefts yearly put upon th$ 
People in this Country i that would puzzle the beft Merry- 
andrewsta Eur eft to imitate, and that is, about the latter • 
End of May, or the Beginning of June, there is a Feaft 
cetebrajed to the infernal Gods, with a Divination or Con* 
jonttidta to know the Fate of the enfiaing Crop of Corn. 
The Ceremony 1 faw here, and at other Places on the 
Coaft *i Canum* The Prieft having perfuaded fom& 
' * T 4 FooJf 



296 A N<*6 -HISTORY 

Fools 'to beara Part in the Farce, proclaim the F^ft to 
be on fuch a Day, at a certain Grove, where feveral thou- 
sands of People -affemble, and in the Middle of the Grove 
is placed a black Stone of three or four hundred Weight, 
without any defigned Shape, but fome Places bedaubed 
with red Lead mixt in Oil, to ferve for a Mouth, Eyes 
and Ears, and a little earthen Pot of Fire placed before 
the Stone, and a Girl about ten Years of Age to attend it,* 

Some Priefts, all naked; except a Bit of Cloth to hide 
their Privities, run and dance round the Stone and Fire 
for half an Hour, like mad Men, making ftrange Distor- 
tions in their Phizes, and now and then bellowing like 
Calves, And this was the firft Scene. Thofe Priefts had 
eredted a Scaffold on twa Axle-trees, that had Trucks 
fitted for them like the Carriage of Ship Guns. In the 
Middle of the Scaffold (which might be about fifteen Foot 
long, and as broad) was ere&ed a Piece of Wood about 
fifteen Foot high, with a Notch cut in the upper End, 
like the Cheeks of a Ship's Pump, with Holes bored for 
a Bolt to pafs through, as Pump Cheeks have. A Tree 
hewn for their Purpofe, about forty Foot long, was laid 
about the Middle in the Notch, and a Bolt pafling through 
(he Cheeks and that Tree, like a Pump-brake. . At one 
End of the Tree were placed two crofs Pieces, one $t the 
very End, and the other about four Foot within it* Each 
of thole crofs Pieces were about four Foot long, and, a* 
the other End, had a Rope fattened to it. And this was 
the Vehicle for the A&ors to hang on for a Mile or two*. 

The A&ors prefenting themfeives to the Priefts, being 
Four in Number, dreft as the Priefts were ; only on^ their 
Heads, Crowns were made round their Temples, of Su- 
garcane Leaves, open at the Top, like ducal Crowns* 
The Priefts brought two Tenterhooks, fuch as the Butch* 
ers in Britain hang their Meat on, for each A&or, and, 
after fome ridiculous Ceremony, hook'd them on each 
Side of the Back-Bone, a little above the Ktdnies. Thofe 
Hooks had Cords faft to them, fo they went dancing 1 
round the Stone, and the Prieft holding their Strings faft, 
and, after two Minutes Dancing, they came tamely to tAe 
End of the Tree, where the crofs Pieces were fattened, an4 

one W3S tied up to each End of the ?rof§ Fto&i» aM dw 



of tte E A S T-I N D I E S. I97 

Afob was ready to hawl down the other End* and fattened 
It to the End of the Scaffold* and the foolifh Fellows were 
hung up by the Back, above ten Yards from the Ground. 
The Populace broke fome old Cocoa-nuts on the Scaffold* 
and fome hundreds of them got hold of the Ropes fattened 
to. the Scaffold, and hawled it over plowed Ground, above 
a Mile, to another Grove ; and the Girl with the Pot of; 
Fire on her Head, walking all the Way before* When* 
they came to the End of their Journey, they where let 
down, and going into the Grove, where was placed a~ 
nother black Stone Pagod, the Girl fet her Fire before it, 
and run ftark mad for a Minute or two, and then fell in a 
Swoon, and in that (he lay fweating and foaming at the 
Mouth prodigioufly. When Che grew mad, the Men fell 
flat on the Ground before the Image, and then arofe after 
ihe fell in her Trance. She continued immoveable about 
? Quarter of an Hour, and then awoke, and feemed to bo> 
very fick. The Pricfts interrogated her about what fte : 
had f^cn and beard from the tcrreftrial Gods, and Jhc 
gave them a fatisfa&ory Anfwer, on which they all 
bowed to the Image, and put their Hand on a Cow that 
was there ready, dedicated to the Image* and fo all de- 
parted fatisfied, 

Qn fight o(the new Moon in Augufi they have another 
Piece of Superftition, in a Feaft dedicated to the Sea, foe. 
the profperous Navigation of the enfuing Seafon. They 
have the Effigies of the God Gunnies > which is a Man's 
Qody, with an Elephant's Head, clapt cleverly on his- 
Shoulders, and carried in Proceffion to a River's Side, and 
thrown into the River, upon which, all Rivers who have 
Bars are opened for Navigation* 

Thlre are a Set of Brabmans in this Country called 
Buts^ they ftudy Aftrology, and are in great Repute for 
their exemplary innocent Lives, and Skill in prophefying* 
In the Year 1684, one Moam But told fome Things very 
lurprifing, when Mr. Walfel was Chief for the Englijh at 

In the Space of three Years no Englifh Ship from Eu- 
rope had called there, and the Gentlemen longing for one, 
arid Msam But coming to vifit the Chief, Mr. IValjel afk'd 
hint if he could teU when a Ship from Europe would call 

there. 



ifcfcre.- J*£ tlMWened, he ' tddd tci>, arid 1 ! W!ttfiftg< a itfcftr 
While, told, that oft thefattu* Day hktf Dafys, Wfcic* 
Wppened to fell out on a Jt^, oac W6dK) arrive* aadi 
that (he wa*, at that Time, at Anchor at an-' Wand on this 
Side of the Cape of Good-hope^ taking in Refrtfftvmenfc*. 
The Chief fold htm, \i he prophefied ttftfe,- he wou<M 

Eiefcnt hiri with as much fcartet Cloth a* would 1 make 
im a Coat. The 5*/ anfwered, that he *th&ftk'd hinv, 
but that neither of them would live to fee her arrive, and 
therefore advifed Mr. Wdfcl to fet his Ho&fe -in Order* 
and that, to prove fome Fart of the Prophecy true, the 
3ttt himfelf flioiird die ten Days after the Day he prophe* 
fied, and that Mr. Walfri IhouW die to many Days after: 
Accordingly the But diedv which put the. otter's- Mind 
out of Order, till the Ddy^of his Death came, and tha« 
Morning Mr.JFa#*/'faid, he believed the Conjurer wad 
Out in bis Reckoning, for he aever was in better Heakh 
ih his Days; but, after Dinner, he had an apople&fck 
Fit, that carried him off. And the Ship's Pktaace came 
aftiore at the Fa&ory Gate that Noon that the- But toM 
lfceftiould arrive. The Ship was the Jfcfir*/V» Merchant k , ! 
towimanded by Captain Roger P&xton. x «■ : 

The pretty nimble female Dancers at Garwar am not* 
iofcy Choice ; but all Trades and Occupations being lifted 
into Tribes, none can marry out of their own Tribe j 
and, as it fortuned, the Originals of this Tribe .were' 
JLadies that could* not be confined to one Huiband, and 
To would not marry. Their Pofterity are n<* fuffered to 
rfiafry, becaufe there are fio-Mtfn in their Tribe allowed. 
When the Laffes bring forth Children,' the Males are 
brought up Soldiers, and the >Fe«iale8 are learned to* 
cranec, and what they earn by daacing goes to the Raj ah * 
except a fmall Share for the Girl's Maintenance. What- 
they get by their Kindnefs to Strangers is all their own \ 
and I have feen fome have very fine Clothes and Jewels 
acquired by their Trade. 

The Portuguefi have an Ifland called Anjediva (before^ 
^mentioned) about two Miles from Batcoal. They forti- 
fied' it, for fear that the Majkat Arabs br the Sevajeef 
fhoxxld have fettled on its if they "had, they might ha^" 
ihcommoded the Goa Fkeithaf goes yetfly to Canara 1o*i 
Corn. At 



of tie E AS T-IN D'-I E S. 4$# 

At the Mouth of Carwor Riven are two fortified* 
Iflands, called 5i/^ and G«r. One is fortified by Walts* 
built round it, and feme Guns mounted on it. The 
other is fterit and dry, and not worth walling, they 
both belong to the Rajab of Sundab. There am. 
fome Iflands lie athwart the Mouth - of the Bay, that* 
make the Harbour of Carxvafj but none inhabited. • Tb# 
Bay has two large Entrances for Shipping* That to -the 
North is clear from Danger ; but the South Chanel has cP 
fharp Rock like a Pyramid ia the Middle of it, that fe-> 
ral large Ships have ftruck on, for there is too muthi 
Water on it tor fmall Ships to be frightened by it, having 
at leaft fifteen Foot Water on its Top. . ; » 

In Canara there are feveral Cuftoms peculiar to k&fy 
and many of t htm are fpread abroad to remote Countries* 
Here it was, that the Cuftom of Wives burning or> ttirf 
fame Pile with their deceafed Hufbands had its Beginning*' 
k is reported, that before the Brahmans invented this Law* 
Poifon was fo well known and pra&ifed, that the leafl? 
Quarrel that happened between a married Couple, 4oft> 
the Hufband his Life, and this Law put a great Stopt$ k 9 
and now Cuftom fo far prevails, that if any faint* hearted 
Lady has not Courage enough to accompany her Spottft 
to the other World, (he is forthwith ftiaved and degrade^ 
and obliged to ferve all her Hufband' s Family in all Kindt 

of Drudgery. " ' . J 

. I havi fcen feveral burned. In this Country they &ii 
a Pit about ten Foot long, and fix broad, and fill it wit] 
Logs of Wood. One great Piece is fet at the Brim of th£ 
Pit, ready to fall down on pulling a bit of String. Wherf 
all is ready, there is good Store of Oil or Butter throwri 
on the Wood, and then the Hufband's Corps is placed 
about the Middle of a the Pile, and Fire fet to it, whicft 
blazes in an Inftant. Then the Spoufe* took her Leftrtf 
of all Friends and Acquaintances, arid Drums, Trum* 
pets and Hautboys being playing cheerfully, fhp walked 
three or four Times round the Pile, which, by this T? imerf 
was all in a great Blaze, and then leaps in on the Corps* 
As foorv as ever fhe leapt in, a Prieft drew the String, and 
down fell the great Log of Wood, at leaft- five hundted 

-\ Pound 



3oo A . ~New H I S T O R Y * 

Jfowid Weighty «v$r her Body, and all confumed toge- 
ther. 

• This Country of Canara is generally governed by a Lady, 
wh6 keeps her Court at a Town called Bay dour y two Days ■ 
Journey from the Sea. She may marry whom ihc pleafes * 
but her Huiband never gets the Title of Raj ah % tho' if 
file has Sons, the eldeft of them does ; but neither Huf-* 
band. nor Son have any Thing to do with the Management 
pf the Government, while fee lives : Nor are the Queens 
obliged co burn with their Hufbands. The Subje&s of 
this Country obfervc the Laws fo well, that Robbery or 
Murder are hardly heard of among them. And a Stran- 
ger may pafs through the Country without being afk'd: 
fkert he is going, or what Bufinefs he has. 

No Man is permitted in this Country to ride on Horfes* 
Mules or Elephants, but Officers of State, or Troopers, 
tho 9 we are allowed to ride on Oxen or Buffaloes : Nor 
■one are permitted to have Umbrellas carried over them 
fey Servants, but mud carry them themfelves if the Sua 
er Rain offend them ; but in all Things elfe there is Li- 
JjWrty and Property. 

The next Sea-port, tp the Southward of Onoar* is 
Matacola t which has the Vefiigia of a very large City* 
feeding on a littk River, about four Miles from the Sea. 
There is nothing of it left now worth noticing, but ten 
~W eleven fmall Pagods or Temples covered with Copper 
and Stone. The Country produces good Quantities of 
Pepper ; and die Englijh Company had a Factory there i 
But, about the Year 1670, an Englijh Ship coming there. 
to lade, had a fine Englijh Bull-dog, which the Chief of 
the Faftory begged of the Captain. 

After the Ship was gone, the Factory, which confifted 
<>f eighteen Perfons, were going a hunting, and carried 
the Bull-dog with them ; and paffing through the Town, 
the. Dog feized a Cow devoted to a Pagod, and killed 
hsr. Upon which the Priefts raifed a Mob, who mur- 
{tared the who^e Faftory ; but fome Natives, that were 
Friends to the Englijh^ made a large Grave, and buried 
them all in it. The Chief of Cqrwar lent a StOne to be 
pufron the Grave, with an Infcription, Tfai tbit h the 
JRuwl-flace of John Beft, with frvtnteeri ether Englilh 

Jdtn % 



of the BAST-INDIES. 301 

•ftktis who wefe facrijiced to the Fury of a mad Prieftbood* 
*nd an enraged Mob. The Englijb never refettled there 
fince ; but often buy Pepper there. 

The next Town, to the Southward of Batacola % i% 
Barceloar* (landing on the Banks of a broad River, about 
four Miles frdm the Sea. The Country abounds, in Rice* 
having in many Places two Crops in a Year, by the Ad* 
vantage they have of fome Lakes at the Feet of the Moun- 
tains of Gatti, whofe Waters being confined by Sluices 
are let out at convenient Times to water their Rice Fields. 
The Dutch have a Faftory here, only to buy up Rice for 
their Garrifons on the Malabar Coaft. It ftands about \ 
Mile from the River's Mouth, that has a Bar of thirteen 
Or fourteen Foot Water on it at Spring Tides, and has a 
Caftle on its North Side for its Guard, that none may go 
in or out without Leave. 

MANGULORE is the greateft Mart for Trade in all 
v die Canara Dominions. It has the Conveniency of one 
k v River produced by three that come into it by different 
Ways, viz. from the North, South and Eaft, all proceed- 
ing from the great Rains and Dews that fall from the 
Mountains of Gatii 9 which- lie twenty five pr thirty 
Leagues up in the Country, and are the inland Bounds 
of the Canara Dominions. Thofe three Rivers join about 
a Mile from the Sea, and, at Mdngulore, difembogue at 
one Mouth into the common Receptory of Rivers. 



CHAP. XVIIL 

Objervaiions on the Samorin and his Country y and of 
. Couchin , their Religion, Laws and Cuftoms, ProduSf 

• of the Country and its Commerce ; an Account of their 

• War with the Dutch, begun in the Tear 1708, and 
: the Conferences of it. 

THE Samorin 's Country reaches along the Sea-coafl 
from Ticori to Cbitwa, about twenty two Leagues* 
The Product of the Samorin'* Country is Pepper in 
Abundance, 2te///Miut and Cocoa-nut, and that Tree pro* 

4uceth 



%oz A tow HISTORY,, 

duccth Jaggery* a K* nc * °f Sugar, and Operator the 
Kernels of the Nut dried, and out of thofe Kernels there 
is a very clear Oil expreftj alfo Sandel-wood, Iron, Qqfita* 
tenum and Timber for Building, all which Commodities 
they export to the great Benefit of the Inhabitants* 

Mjan.y ftrange Cuftoms were obferved in this Country 
{a former Times, and fome very odd ones are ftili con* 
tuxusch It was an ancient Cuftom for the SatHarin to 
reigq iut twelve Years, and no longer. If he died be* 
fore , has Term was expired, it faved him a troublefomc 
Ceremony of cutting his own Throat, on a pubiick Scaf- 
fold ere&ed for that Purpofe. He firft made a Feaft for 
^U his Nobility and Gentry, who are very numerous* 
After the Feaft, he faluted his Guefts, and went on the 
Scaffold, and very decently cut his own Throat in the 
View of the Afiembly, and his Body was, a little while 
after, burned with" great Pomp and Ceremony, and the 
Grandees ele&ed a new Samarin. Whether that Cuftom 
was a religious or a civil Ceremony I know not, but it is 
X>pw laid afide. 

, And a new Cuftom is followed by the modern Same- 
ritv> that a Jubilee is proclaimed throughout hi? Do* 
jninioas, at the End of twelve Years, and a Tent U pitch* 
«d for him in a fpapous Plain, and a great Feaft is celt* 
brated for ten or twelve Days with Mirth and JolHty § 
Guns firing Night and Day, fo at the End of the Feaft 
any four of the Guefts that have a Mind to gain a Crown 
b y « d ef pgnus. Aftion , in fighting their Way, through 
thirty or forty thoufand of his Guards, and kill the< Sa- 
morin in his Tent, he that kills him, fucceeds him in his 
Empire. 

In the Year 1695, one of thofe Jubilees happened, and 
the Tent pitched near Pennany y a Sea-port of his, abbut 
fifteen Leagues to the Southward of CalecuS. There wtre 
tat three Men that would venture on that defpeaatc 
Albion, who fell in, with Sword and Target, among The 
Guards, and, after they had killed and wounded many, 
were themfelvte killed. One ot the Uefpifadsis* had ? £ 
Nephew of fifteen or fixteen Years of Age, that kept clife 
fcy ms Uncle Jo the Attack on the Guards, ands* wired, he 

£m him fall, the Youth got through the Guards kit* the 

Tentj 



^W^Ara-TTJI N DIES. $<g 

/fent, and made a Stroke #;bis<MajeftyV Heatl, tod. had 
certainly difpatched him, if a large Brafs^Lamp wfafah 
was burning over his Head, had not marred: the Blow-* 
fcut, before he could make another, he was killed by rim 
Guards - f and, I believe, the time Somen* reigns yet. I 
chanced to come that Time along the Coaft, and heard . 
the Guns- for two or three Dfcys and Nights rfucceffively^ 
When the Samorin marries, he muft not cohabit widi 
Jus Bride tiU the Nambourie or chief Prieft :has enjoyed 
iter, and, if he pleafes, may have three Nights of her 
Company, becaufe the firft Fruits of her Nuptials muft 
he an holy Oblation to the God (he worfblps. ■ And fome 
uf the Nobles 'are fo complaifant as to allow the Clergy the 
iame Tribute § but the common People cannot have that 
Compliment paid to them, but arc forced ''to., fupply the 
<Priefts Places' thcmfelves. Any Women,, except the fir?" 
Quality, may "marry twelve Hufbands if they plcafe, bat 
*annot f have mere at one .Time, and they muft all be of 
iier own Cafi op Tribe, under Pain of Excommunication 
and Degradation of Honour, if fhe maiaies into a lower 
/Tribe* and the Men are under the fame Penalty if the. 
Sranfgrefs that- Law, but they are not confined to a fet 
Number of Wives, as the Women are to Hufbands. 
' Wh b k a Woman is married to the firft of her Hufbands* 
jhe has an Houfe built for her own Conveniency, and that fc 
Hufband tohabits with her tiH fhe takeaia iecond* or To •■ ... 
many as fhe is prefcribed by Law, and the Hufbands a- 
igree very well, for they cohabit with hd? in their Turns, 
.according to their Priority of Marriage, ten Days, more 
or k($ } according as they can fix a Term among them* 
ielves!, and he' that cohabits with her, maintains her in ail 
Things neceflany, for his Time, fo that Jheds* plentifully 
^provided; fc* by a conftant Circulation, -> • v 

Wfltstf the Man that -cohabits, with her goes into her 
Houfe, he feitfres his Atimrs-at the Door, and none dart 
Remove them, or enter thelioufe, oh Pain of Death j bac, 
tf tliere are no Arms to guard cheiDoor, any Acquaintance 
imay .freely v>ifie her; And all the Tim* of Cohabitation, 
*id fcrves her Hufband a$ Purveyor *nd ^ook, and keep* 
tite Ctothes**Ki Arms ctaw* 



V*. 



Wkek 



3H jf A^ HIStO RY 

4 When flie proves with Child* (he nominates its Fathcf* 
who takes Care of its Education, after ihe has fucklcd it, 
aad brought it to walk or fpeak ; but the Children are 
neper Heirs to their Fathers Eftates, but the Father's 
Sifter's Children are, and if there are node, then to the 
Jieareftin Confanguinity from his Grandmother. And 
.this Cuftom is alfo pra&ifed among the Mahometan Mala* 
tars. 

There are many Degrees Or Dignities in the Church as 
well as in the State* The Nambouries are the firft in both 
Capacities of Church and State, and fome of them are 
Popes, being fovereign Princes in both. The Brabmam 
«r Bramanies are the fecond in the Church only. The 
JButs or Magicians are next to them, and are in great 
Veneration. The Nayrees or Gentlemen are next, and are 
Tery numerous. The Teyvees are the Farmers of Cocoa* 
nut Trees, and are next to the Gentry. Merchants are of 
all Orders, except Nambouries* and are in fome Efteem. 
.The Poulias produce the Labourers and Mechanicks. 
They may marry into lower Tribes without Danger of 
Excommunication, and fomay the Muckwas or Fiihers, 
who, I think, are an higher Tribe than the Poulias, but 
the Poulicbees are the lowcft Order of human Creatures, 
and are excluded from the Benefit of human and divine 

F Ir a Pculia or Teyvti meet a Nayer on the Road, he 

tnuft go afide to let his Worfhip pafs by, left the Air 

jihould be tainted, oh Pain of a fevere Chaftifement, if not 

of Death; but the Poulicbees are in a much worfe State, 

fof, by the Law, they are not permitted to converfe with 

any other Tribe, nor can they wear any Sort of Cloth, 

but only a little Straw made faft before their Privities, 

with a Line round their Middle. They are not permitted 

to build Houfes or Huts on the Ground, nor to inhabit 

the Plains where there is Corn Grofcnd, but muft dwell 

in Woods, and build on the Boughs of Trees, like Birds* 

with Grafs and Straw. If accidentally they fee any Body 

coming towards them, they will howl like Dogs, ana 

aim away, left thofe of Quality Ihould take Offence at 

their breathing in the fame Air that they do. They ait 

Qot permitted to till and fow the Grouod, only in obfcure 

Placei 



of the EAST-1N D I E S. 305 

Plafc6sof the Woods they plant Fruits and Roots, wfarfk. 
Seeds they fteal from the neighbouring QaVdens in the 
Plains, in the Night, and if th^y' aire caught ftealing, 
Death is their Punifhment, on the Spot where they are 
taken, without any Form or Procefe of Law. When 
they want Food, they come to the Skirts of their Woods* 
and howl like Foxes, and the* charitable Paulias and Teyvces* 
relieve them with Rice bdiled or raw, dnd fome Cocoa-' 
nuts and other Fruits, which they lay down in a conve- 
nient Place-; and whfiri their Benefactors come within 
twenty Paces of them with their Alms; they walk ofl£ 
and let the iPoulichees come to their Food," which 'they 
forthwith carry into the Woods. They are very fwift in, 
running, and cunning in catching wild Beafh and Fowl ; 
bntthey have few or no Fifh among the Mountains. 

The inferior Tribes have Liberty of Confciqhce in 
fancying their Deities, and worfhipping them. I have 
feen, at many Mttckwas Houfes, a St&ke of Woodj with 
a few Notches cut about it, and that Stake drove into the 
Ground, about two Foot of it being left above, and that; 
is covered with fome Cadjans or Cocoa-nut Tree Leaves*. 
and is a Temple and a Gpd to that Family. Some Wor- 
ftiip the firft Animal they fee in the Morning, let it be Cat, 
Dog or Serpent, and they pay their Adorations to it the 
whole Day. Others choofe a Tree of their Father's or 
fome dear Friend's planting, and that He gets* confecratfed, 
and it then becomes his God •, but they all believe the 
Immortality of the Soul and Tranfmigration, and the A-' 
doration of the great God, of whom they have many wild 
Opinions. * 

The great God's Image they can neither fancy nor 
make, but believe, tfiat he fent an huge large Fowl from. 
Heaven, that laid a fwinging Egg in. the Sea, and, in 
Procefs of Time, it was hatch'd by the Sun, and forth; 
came the World, with all Animals, Vegetables, &c. .that, 
inhabit it now, and that poor Adam Was' fet alone on the! 
Top of : an high Mountain in Zealoan^ which is called io>, 
this Day, Baba Adam^ from that Tradition, Jbut,; being 
tired.of fo lonefome a Life, he defended into thfe 'Plain, 
and theref he' met with IJevah^ whom he prefently* knew; 
" . v'-U"" '•■ * ""'" "' ' r ' * : to 



3q6 A New HISTORY 

to be his Kinfwoman, and they (truck Hands, and were 
there married. 

The great Men of the Clergy build Temples, But they 
Ve neither large nor beautiful . Their Image* are all 
black, and deformed, according 35 they fancy the infernal 
Gods to* be ftiaped*. who,, they bgiieye, have fpme Hand 
ih governing, the Worlds particularly about benign or ma- 
lignant Seafons, that happen* in the Produ&ions or Steri^ 
licy of the Earth, for which- Rsafon they pay a lateral A- 
doration to them. Their Irriagp are all placed in dark 
Temples, and are never ken but by Lamp- light, Tthat 
ljurj\s continually before them. 

' When criminal Cafes are brought before the Magiftrate 
that; want the Evidence of Witneffes to fupport them, the- 
Trial of Truth is by Ordeal. The accuied Perfon is ob- 
lige^} to put hi3 b4 re Hand into a Pot of boiling Oil,, and: 
if any Blifter appears, the Parry is found .guilty ; and I* 
tiaye bqen credibly ipfotmed, both by Enghjh. and Dutch 
Gentlemen, as well' as Natives, that had fecn the Trial* 
tjhat the innocent Perfon has. not been in th? kaft affeU€($ 
with the fcaiding Oil, and then the Punifbment due to the 
Crime* is infli&ed on, the Accufer. 

, The Samerin entered into a War with the Butch Eaflt- 
Infta. Company in the Year 1714, and the Chief of tfoer 
EngUJh Ja&pry, who was. a privy CounfeUpjr to the S&mo~ 
rih x had a great Hand in. promoting it. The Quarrel 
began about a fmall Fort that, the ^)ui£h were building at 
Chftwa, The Ground whereon it ftood was a defart Mo^ 
r-afs by the River's Side, and was claimed both by the 
King of Couchin and the Samorin. The King of Couchm 
made, over hi5 Claim to the Dutcb f who made fmall Ac- 
count who h^d the beft Title; but carried on their Work, 
With Diligence a the Samorin* with, ajid by the Advice 0$ 
his.Caunci] v got. fdms of his Soldiers to be entered i^a 
tjie. JDutcb Service, under the Difgujfe of daily labourers; 
to cjarry $tpoe*, Mortar,, &c for -Building the Fort* aipicfe 
to t^lie their Opportunity to lie in Ambuic^de in a Mo* 
rafs overgrown with Reeds ne>aj: ;h e Fort, 

Two Dutch Lieutenants, whothad the Overfqejrjg qfe 
the Work, were one Evening diverting; themfelves witk 
a Game at Tables, in a Guard Jtpom about half a Mile- 

fr-on* 



of the £ A S T - 1 N D I E S, 307 

from the Fort, They had let fotne of their Dutch Sol- 
diers g& draggling abroad, and the Sentinels were care- 
iefs under the Security of Friendlhip* which gave the dif- 
guifed Workmen an Opportunity to kill the Sentinels f 
and make their Signal for the Ambufcade, who, in a few 
Minutes, took the half built Fort. The Lieutenants came 
presently after, with wfrat Forces they had, to retake it, 
but one being killed dead in advancing, the other thought 
it impracticable to attack greater Forces within than he had 
without, and fo embarked, with his Men, on board fmall 
Boats for Coucbin, about ten Leagues from Chitwa. 
. I tortuned to be at Coucbin when he and his Men ar- 
rived, and by a Court Martial, he was fentenced to be 
Ihot to Death, which Sentence I faw executed. The Sa- 
morin's People erefted a Flag-ftaff, and hoifted the Englifb 
Flag, which the EngHJb Chief had fent by the Ambufcade, 
and immediately after fet about demolifhing the Walls, 
that were built of, (he 'Fort, and 'carried off fome great 
Guns belonging to the Dutch. And this was the Prelude 
of the War. 

; I knew pretty well the Strength of [the Antagoniftr* 
what Power the Samorin had, and what Powers the Kings 
of CoucJbin> Paaru and Porcat could aflift the Dutch with, 
and 1 wrote to the Chief the Refolutions of the Dutch, and 
ndvifed him not to embark him.felf or his Matters in that 
Affair, becaufe War was a different Province from his.- 
He took my Advice fo ill, that he wrote to Bombay, that 
I was in the Dutch Intereft, oppofite to the Right Honour- 
able Company, and alfo to his Matters in England, as if 
the Dutch Company could need rny Intereft, Advice or 
Afliftance ; but, as I had forewarned him, he found the 
Samorin was forced, after three Years War, to conclude 
? dishonourable and difadvantageous Peace, wherein he 
was obliged to build up the Fort he had demoliftied, to 
pay the Dutch. Company feven^xrr Cent, on all the Pepper 
exported out of his Dominions for ever, and to pay a large 
Sym towards the Charges of the War. Some Part of the 
Moiiey, . I believe, ; he borrowed. 

, Wither our Eaft -India Company got or loft by that 
War, I know not 5 nor will I pretend to pafs Judgment on 
tb^ir Affairs, . bu« thie I know, : that*the Chief loft a good 
_<.~ , " '*" *" ~ U2 Milcfr 



3 o8 A New HISTORY 

Milch Cow, for the Chiefs of Cakatf* for many Years had 
vended between Eve hundred and a thoufand Chefts of 
Bengal Opbium yearly up in the inland Countries, where 
it is very much ufed. The Water Carriage up the River 
being cheap and fecure, the Price of Ophium high, and 
the Price of Pepper low, fo that their Profits were great . 
both Ways - 9 for, if I miftake not, the Company paid the 
higheft Prices for their Pepper, and the Naym in the 
Company's Pay, were employed about the Chiefs Affairs^ 
and by the unexpe&ed Turn of Affairs caufedby the War, 
that Trade is fallen intirely into the Dutch Company's 
Hands, and it will he a very difficult Tafk to getac out 

again. 

Th& Englijb Company were formerly fo much refpe&cd 
at Calecui* that if any Debtor went into their Fa&ory for 
Prote&ion, none durft prefume to go there to difturb , 
them ) but that Indulgence has been fometimes made an 
ill Ufe of, to the Detriment of Englijh private Traders. 
. They have a good Way of arrefting People for Debt, 
viz. There is a proper Perfon fent with a fmall Stick from 
the Judge, who* is generally a Brahman* and when that 
Perfon hnds the Debtor, lie draws a Circle round him with 
that Stick and charges him, in the King and Judge's 
Name, not to ftir out of it till .the Creditor is fatisfied 
either by Payment or Surety j and it is no lefs than Death, 
for the'Dehtor to break Prifonby going out. of the Circle/ 

They make ufe of no Pens, Ink and Paper, but write 
ori leaves of Flags or Reeds that grow in Moraffes by the 
Sides of Xivers. They are generally about eighteen Inches 
long, and one and an half broad, tapering at both Ends, 
and a fmall Jlole at one End for a String to pafs through. 
It is thicker than our Royal Paper, and very tough. They 
write with the Point of a Bodkin made for. that Purjjofc, 
holding the Leaf athwart their left Thumb End over the 
foremoft Finger, and what they have to write is indented,. , 
or rather engraven into the Leaf, but it does not pierce 
the Leaf above half Way through. . Aiidon two or three 
of thefe Leaves they'll write as much as we can on a; Sheet 
of fmall Paper. All their Records are writen fo on Liftaves, 
and they are ftrunoj and rolled up in a Scroll, and hung 
&nfa 'time in Smoke, and tbw Igck'd up. in their Cabi- 

netsw 



;• 



of the E A S T - I N D I E S v ^ y 

gets. And I have fecn fame fuch Leaves Smoke-dried* 
that; they told me, were above a thoufand Years old.. 

In the.Yqar 1703, about the Middle diFebuary y I cal- 
led zt^Cakcut in my Way to Sural y and (landing into the 
Road, I chanced to ftrike on fome of the Ruins of the fun- 
ken Town built by t\\zPortuguefe in former Times. Whe- 
ther that Town was fwallowed up by an Earthquake, as 
fome affirm, or whether it was undermined by the Sea, I 
will not determine; but fo it was, that in fix Fathoms at 
the main Maft, my Ship, which drew twenty one Foot 
Water, fat faft afore the Chefs-tree. The Sea was fmooth, 
. and in a fhort Time,' we got off without Damage. 

The unfortunate Captain Green> who was afterwards 
hanged in Scotland^ came on board of my Ship at Sun-fet, 
very much overtaken with Drink, and feveral of his Men 
came in the fame Condition. He told me, that he had 
fome fmall Arms, Powder, Shot, and Glafs-ware to dif- 
pofe of, and a/ked me if I would take them off his Hands 
at a very reafonable Rate. I told him, that next Morn- 
ing I would fee them, and perhaps be a Merchant, for 
them. He told me that the Arms and Ammunition w?re 
what was left of a large Quantity that he had brought from 
England^ but had been at Don Mafcherenas, and 'Mc{£a- 
gafcar % and had difpofed of the reft to good Advantage 
among the Pirates, and had carried fome Pirates from 
Don Majcherenas to St. Mary's. 

About two Leagues to the Southward of Calecut, is a 
fine River called Baypore> capable to receive Ships of three 
or four hundred Tuns. It has a fmall Ifland off its Mouth 
about half a Mile from the Shore, that keeps it fafe from 
the great Seas brought on that Coaft by the South-weft 
Monfoons. Four Leagues more foutherly is Tannore y a 
Town of fmall Trade, inhabited by Mahometans. They 
are a little free State, but pay an Acknowledgment to the' 
Samorin. Five Leagues to the Southward of Tannore, is 
Pennany y mentioned before. It has the Benefit of a River, 
and was formerly a Place of Trade. The French and 
Englifh had their Faftories there, but were removed about 
the Year 1670. And about four Leagues more to the 
Southward is Chitwa River, which bounds the Samorin y % 
Dominions to the South. 

* .Uj Thi 



3 io A New HISTORY , 

The King of Coucbin'% Dominions are next ia Courfe 
along the Searcoaft, and reach from Chitwa about twenty 
four Leagues to the Southward. There are fo rdany 
Rivulets that run off the Mountains of Gattu that they- 
r ckon above one thoufand Iflands made by their Streams* ' 
Cranganore is about five Leagues to the South of Ckitwa. 
The Dutch have here a final 1 Fort, which retains the Name 
of Cranganore. In Times" of old it bore, the Name 
of a Kingdom, and was a Republic k of Jews* who were 
ofice fo numerous, that they could reckon about eighty 
thoufand Families, but, at prefent, are reduced to four 
thoufand. They have a Synagogue at Coucbin* not far 
from the King's Palace, about two Miles from the City, 
in which are carefully kept their Records, engraven on 
Copper-plates in florae? Chara£fcers; and when any of the 
Charafters decay, they are new cut, fo that they can (hew 
their own Hiftory from the Reign of Nebuchadnezzar to 
this prefent Time. , 

The firft Europeans that fettled in Coucbin f were the Por- 
tuguefe, and there they built a fine City on the River's Side, 
about three Leagues from the Sea; but the Sea gaining on 
the Land yearly, it is not now, above an hundred Faces 
from it. It ftands fo pleafantly, that the Portuguefe had 
^common Saying, that China was a Country to get Money 
jn 9 and Couchin was a Place to fpend it in ; for the great 
Numbers of Canals made by the Rivers and Iflands, make 
Fiihing and Fowling- very diverting. And the Moun- 
tains are well ftored with wild Game. 

* On the Infide of Baypin Ifland, there is an old Fort 
built by the Portuguefe* called Palliapore y to infpeft all 
Boats that go between Cranganore and Coucbin. And five 
Leagijes up the Rivulets is a Romijh Church called Ve r 
fapoli 9 ferved by French and Italian Priefts; and when a 
Bifhop comes into thofe Parts, it is the Place of hi& Re- 
fidence. The Padre Superior oiVerapoli can raife, upon 
Occafion, four thoufand Men, all Chriftiani of the Church 
of Romc\ but there are many more Si, Tbomafk Cbri/tianf 
that do not communicate with thole of Rome*, and feme 
Portuguefe* called Topafes* that communicate with neither^ 
for they will be ferved by none but Portuguefe Priefts, be-? 
ciufethey indulge th?m niQre in their Villainy, and At* 

" ' " TolwtiQns 



of the EASt-jNDlES. $n 

foliitions from Crimes are caller pur chafed frorti the Per- 
tuguefe *han from the Fttncb or Italians^ who are generally 
much more polite and learned than the Ptrtugnfe, who 
arc permitted to take the Habit of fome Order without be* 
ing examined whether the Novice has the common Qua* 
lifications of School-learning. 

About two Leagues farther up towards the Mountains, 
•on the Side of a fmall, but deep River, is a Place calPd 
FirdalgOy where the Inhabitants of Couchin generally af- 
femble to refrefli themfelves in the troublefotae hot Months 
of April and May. The Banks and Bottom of the River 
is clean Sand, and the Water fo clear, that a fmall Pee- 
.ble Stone may be feetr at the Bottom in three Fathoms 
Water. Every Company makes Choice of a Place by the 
River's Side, and pitch their Tents, and drive fome lmall 
Stakes before their Tents, in the River, on which they 
hang up Clothes for Blinds, to hide the Ladies when they 
fcath; but moft of them fwim dextroufly, and fwim. un- 
der Water through the Stakes, into the open River, where 
the Men are diverting themfelves, and there they dive, 
and play many comical mad Tricks, till Breakfeft or 
Suppercall them afhore, for it is in Mornings and Even- 
ings that they bath and fwim; for in the Heat of the Day 
the Sun fcorches. Very often the Ladies lay Wagers of 
Treats with the Gentlemen, about their Swiftnefs and 
Dexterity in fwimming, but generally the Ladies win the 
Wagers, tho*, I believe, if the Men would ufe their Arc 
and Strength, they might win the Prize. The Heat of 
the Day they pafs with a Game at Cards or Tables for 
Treats, by which Means they fare fumptuoufly every 
Day, fometimes in one Tent, arid fometimes in another % 
\ and, at Night, every Family deeps jn their own Tent, oft 
the foft clean Sand, Males and Females promifcuoufly. 

The Water of this Country, near the Sea-coaft, from 
CraHganort to St. Andreas, which is about twelve Leagues, 
has a bad Quality of making the conftant Drinkers of it 
have fwelPd Legs. Some it affefts in one Leg, and fome 
in both. I have feen Legs above a Yard about at the 
Ancle. It caufes no Pain, but itching; nor does the 
thick Leg feem havier than the fmall one to thofe who 
have them: But the Dutch at Ccucbin^ to prevent that 

U 4 Malady, 



gj* . A New/ H I-S TORY 

Malady, fend Boats daily to Verafoli^ to lade with final! 
fjortable Casks qf ten or twelve Englijh Gallons, to ferye 
the- City. The Company's Servants have their Water 
iree . oP Charges*, but private Perfons pay Sixpence per 
Cask, : if it is brought to their Houfes ; and yet, for all 
that Precaution, I have feen botl* Dutch Men and Worney 
troubled with that Malad/. And no Cure has been yet 
found to heal or prevent it. 

. Couchin is wafh'd by the greateft Outlet on this Coaft, 
and being fo near the Sea, makes it ftrong by Nature \ 
but Art has. not been wanting to ftrengthen it. The City 
.built by the Portuguefe was about; a Mile and an half long, 
and a Mile broad. The Dutch took it from the Portuguefe 
*bout the Year 1660, when UeitloffVan Gbonz was Gene-' 
ral of the Dutch Forces by Land, and Commodore of 9. 
vpleet.by Sea. The Infplence of the Portuguefe had made 
fever^l neighbouring Princes become their Enemies, who 
joined with the Dutch to drive them put of their Neighf 
.bourjiood, and the King of Couchin particularly affifted 
with twenty thoufantf Men. The Dufch had not invefted 
the Town long before Van Ghqnz received Advice of «, 
Peace concluded between Portugal and Holland -, but that 
he kept a Secret to himfelf, He therefore made a Breach 
in the weakeft Part of the .Wall, and made a furious Afc 
/ault for. three Days and Nights, without Interrniffion, and 
.Relieved his Aflailants every three Hours ; but the Por- 
tuguefe keeping their Men continually fatigued in Duty all 
the while, and finding Papger of being taken by Storm, 
capitulated, and delivered up their City. In the Town 
*here were four hundred Topafes, who had done the Por- 
1 tuguefe good Service in defending the City, but were not 
.Comprehended in the Treaty, As foon as they knew of 
that Omiffion, and the Cruelty and Licentipufnefs of th? 
J)ufch w Soldiery in India> they drew up in a Parade, within 
the Port that xhe.Portugutfe were to go out at, and the 
Dutch to enter in, and fwore, that if they had nqt the 
fame Favours and .Indulgence that were granted to the 
Portuguefe^ they vrqvld maflacre them all, and fet Fire tp 
the Town, The Dutch General knew his own Intereft too 
.well to deny fo juft a Demand, fo he granted what they 
^efired, and moreover to Jake thofe., who had a Mind tp 

ifervc 



of the E A S T - I N D I E S. 31$ 

£rve in the Dutch Service* into Pay, which many of them 
did. 

The very n$xt Day after the Dutch had Poffeflion, came 
ft Frigat from : Goa, witt* the Articles of the Peace made 
with Holland, and the Portuguefe complained loudly of the 
General's unfair Dealings, but were anfwered, that the 
Portuguefe had afted the fame. Farce on the Dutch, at their 
taking of Pbarnabuke in Brqfil, a few Years before. The 
JLttgliJh h^d then a Fa&ory in the City of Coucbin^ but the 
Dutch ordered them to remove with their Effefts, which 
accordingly they did to their Faftory at Pennany. 

As foon as the Dutch became Matters of the City, they 
thought it was too large, and fo contracted it to what it 
jiow is, being hardly one Tenth of what it was in the 
Portuguefe Time. It is about fix hundred Paces longj 
and two hundred broad, fortified with feven large Ba- 
ftions, and Curtains fo thick, that two Rows of large 
Trees are planted on them, for Shades in the hot Times. 
Some Streets built by the Portuguefe are ftill (landing, 
with a Church for the Dutch Service, and a Cathedral for 
a Ware-houfe* The , Commodore or Governor's Houfe, 
which is a (lately Struftqre, is the only Houfe built after 
the Dutch Mode, and the River wafhes fome Part of its 
Walls, and a Canal cut from the River up to the Middle 
of the City* that pafles clofe by the Governor's Houfe. 

Their Flag-ftaff is placed on the Steeple of the old 
Cathedral, on a Maft of feventy five Foot high, and a 
Staff a- top of it about fixty Foot, which is the highefl I 
ever faw ; and the Flag may be feen above feven Leagues 
off. The Garrifon generally confifls of three hundred 
$ffe£tive Men : And from Cape Comerin upwards they are 
allowed, in all their Forts and Factories, five hundred 
Soldiers, and one hundred Seamen, all Europeans, befidei 
fome TopafeSy and the Militia. They have their Stores of 
Rice from Barfalore, becaufe the Malabar Rice will not 
keep above three Months out of the Husk, but in the 
Husk it will keep a Year. 

The Country produces great Quantities of Pepper, 
but lighter than that which grows more northerly. Their 
"JVoods afford good Teak for Building* and Angelique and 
P'awbect for making large Chefts and Cabinets, which arc 

carried 



314 A Km HISTORY 

carried all over the Weft Coafts of India, 'they h&ve *lf6 
Iron and Steel in Plenty, and Bees Wax for exporting; 
Their Seas afibrd them Abundance of goodFifli 6f fereral 
Kinds, which, with thole that Art caught in their Rivers, 
jmake them very cheap. 

The King ot Couclrin, who at beft ft but a VafTal to the 
Dutch, has a Palace built of Stone about half a League 
from the Dutch City ; and there is a ftraggling Village 
jiot far from the Pal_.ce, that bears the Name of Old Cou* 
thin. It has a Bazaar ot Market in it* where all Com* 
modifies of the Country's Produft are fold ; bus there are 
no Curiofkiea to be found in it. The King** Ordinary 
Refidence is at another Palace, fix Leagues to the South- 
ward of Couvhin, and two from St. Andrea ; but he keeps 
but a very fmail Court, 

JMUDBAT is a Place, that> I believe, few can parallel 
in the World. It lies on the Shore of St. Andrea, about 1 
half a League out in the Sea, and is open-to the wide 
Ocean, and has neither Ifland nor Bank to break off the 
Force of the Billows, which come rolling with great Vio- 
lence on all other Parts of the Cofcft, in the South- weft 
Monfoons, but, on this Bank of Mud* k>fe themfelves 
ii a Moment, and Ships lie on k, as fecure as in the beft 
Harbour, without Motion or Diftufbance. It reaches 
about a Mile along Shore, and has Jhifted from the North- 
ward, in thirty Years, about three Miles. St. Andrea is 
only a Village, with a Church in it dedicated to St. An^ 
4rtw, and is ferved by St. Thomas' 's Priefts, who generally 
are both poor and illiterate* About two Leagues to the 
Southward of St. Andrea begin the Dominions to Potent, or 

PORKAH. It is of fmall Extent, reaching not above 
four Leagues along the Sta-cfcaft. The Prince is poor,- 
having but little Trade in his Country, tho' it was a free 
Port tor Pirates when Evory and Kid robbed on the Coaft 
«f India', but, fioce that Time, the Pirates infeft the 
northern Coafis* finding the richeft Prizes amongft the 
Mocha and Perfia Traders. The Dutch keep a Fa&ory at 
Bwkaky but ef final! CoftfequertceV 
■ CQILCQILOAN is another little Principality conti- 
guous to Porkab, where the Dutch keep alfo a Faftory. 
And next to it is, » 

COILOAN 



*/«fe BAST-INDIES. 315 

C01LQAN another fmall Principality. It has the 
Benefit of a River, which is the fouthermoft Outlet of 
thtCoucbin ftlands; and the Dutch have a fmall Fort 
within a Mile of it, on the Sea-ihofe, which they took 
from the Portugueze when they took Coucbin. It keeps a 
Garrifon of thirty Men, and its Trade is inconfiderabJe. 

ERJVA lies two Leagues to the Southward of Cmlcan > 
where the Danes have a fmall Fadtory (landing on the Sea 
Side. It is a thatch'd Houfe of a very mean Afped, and 
their Trade anfwers every Way to the Figure their Fadlory 
makes. 

AUJENGO lies two Leagues to the Southward of 
Erwa y a Fort belonging to the Englijh > built at the Com* 
pany's Charge in the I ear 1695. It (lands on a fandy 
Foundation* and is naturally fortified by the Sea on one 
Side, and a little River on the other. It is in the Domi- 
nions of the Queen of 4ttinga y to whom it pays Ground* 
rent. Before it was built, the Englijh had two fmall 
Faftories in her Country to the South of Aujengo. One 
was called Brinjan, the other Ruttera -, but, being naked 
Places, were fubjeft to the Infults of Courtiers, whofe 
Avarice is feldom or never fatisfied : But I wonder why 
the Englijh built their Fort in that Place, for there is not 
a Drop of good Water for drinking within a League of 
it ; and the Road has a foul Bottom for anchoring, and 
continually a great Surf on the Shore, when they might 
as well have built it near the Red Cliffs to the Northward* 
from whence they have their Water for drinking, and 
where there is good Anchor -ground, and a tolerable good 
Landing-place for Boats in the North-eaft Monfoons. The 
Country produces good Quantities . of Pepper and long 
Cloth, as fine as any made in India. 

When our Factories were at Ruttera and Brinjan^ they 
fent a yearly Prefent to the Queen of Attinga y whole 
* Court is about four Leagues within Land from Aujenga* 
In the Year 1685, when ^he Prefent was fent, a young 
beautiful Englijh Gentleman had the Honour to prefent it 
to her black Majefly - 9 and as foon as' the Queen faw him* 
Jhe fell in Love. with him, and next Day* made Propofals 
of Marriage to him, but he modeftly refuied fo great an 
Honour ; However, to pleafc her Majefly, he ftayed at 

Court 



316 "A : New HISTORY 

Court a Month or two, and. it is reported, treated her 
with the fame Civility, as Solomon did the Queen of £- 
thiopia^ or Alexander the Great did the Amazonian Queen, 
and fatisfied her fo well, that when he left her Court (he 
made him fome Prefents. 

About the Year 1720, there were fome civil Broils in 
this Country, and the annuaf Prefenf being demanded, 
the Englijh Chief refufed to pay it to any but to the Queen 
lierfelf, tho* thole that demanded it allured him, that 
they came to demand it by the Queen's Order, and of- 
fered their Receipt of it in her Name ; but he, being 
more pofitive than wife, continued obftinate in his Refu- 
fal, upon which the Queen gave him an Invitation to 
Court 5 and he, to appear great there, carried two of his 
Council, and fome others of the Faftory, with moft Part 
of the Military belonging to the Garrifon, and, bf 
Stratagem, they were all cut off, except a few black Ser- 
vants, whofe Heels and Language faved them from the 
Mafiacre, and they brought die fad News of the Tragedy. 

TEGNAPATAM, where the Dutch have a Faftory, 
lies about twelve Leagues to the Southward of Aujengo. 
That Country produces Pepper, and coarfe Cloth called 
Catchas : But Caticha, which lies between the Middle and 
Weft Point of the Cape Comerin, affords the beft Cloth 
of that Sort, befides Tamarinds in Abundance ; but the' 
Road is foul. It alfo produces Salt ; but neither the 
Ungltfh nor Dutch have any Commerce or Traffick there. 
And clofe by Colicha^ at the faid middle Point, there is a 
Imail Cave or Harbour that can fecure fmall Veflels from 
all Winds and Weather, k has a clean Sandy Bottom, 
and three Fathoms in it at low Water. Four Leagues off 
the Cape, ia the Sea, there is a fmall fmooth Rock, bare 
at low Water, and (hews itfelf like the Back of a Whale. 
About one hundred Paces from it, on all Sides, there is 
twinty-eight Fathom Water •, and the Sea feldom breaks 
iwt it, which makes, it the more dangerous. I knew a 
Ship that rubbed her Side on* it, before thofe on board 
could difcover it, tho* they look'd out for it. 

MANAPAAR lies to the North-eaftward of Cape Co- 
tfterin^ about eight Leagues diftant, and the Dutch have 
a Faftory there* ftanding on an high Ground about a 

Mile 



gf/fe EAST-INDIES. 317 

Mile from the Sea. And about ten Leagues more 
northerly is Tutecareen, a Dutch Colony, tho* but fmall. 

TUTECAREEN has a good fafe Harbour, by the 
Benefit of fome fmall Iflands that lie off it. That Coun- 
try produces much Cotton-cloth, tho' none fine -, but tfcy 
both ftain and dye it for Exportation. This Colony fii- 
perintends a Pearl Filhery, that lies a little to the North- 
ward of them, which brings the Dutch Company twenty 
tjioufand Pounds yearly Tribute, according to common 
Report. There are feveral Villages on the Sea-fhore be- 
tween Tutecareen and Coil, but none in any Account for 
Traffick. This Coil is a Promontory that fends over a 
Reef of Rocks to the Ifland of Zeloan, called commonly 
4dam'$ Bridge* . 

- That Reef of Rocks has fo little Water on them, that 
tj*e fmalleft Boats cannot pafs but at an Ifland called M»- 
m<kt+ which lies almoit Midway between Zehan and Coil* 
and that Pafiage . has not above fix Foot Water on it, fa 
that none but fmall Veflels can pafs that Way j and they 
maft unlade, and pay Cuftoms to. the Dutch who refide at 
Manaar, and, after the Veflel is hailed over the Bridge, 
they take in their Cargo again. 

: T at Dutch have fortified Manaar, and make ufe of it 
Jj>r a Priibn for Indian Princes, whom they can over- 
power or circumvene, when they are fufpefted of making 
Treaties contrary to their Intereft, or to fuch as would 
willingly re-afiurae their loft Freedom^ by breaking the 
unrjuft Yoke of the Company^ Tyranny, perhaps drawn 
on themfelves.by too. much Faith or Incredulity; for that 
honed Company has always bad a Maxim, firft to foment 
Quarrels between Indian King* and Princes, and then pi-, 
oufty pretend to be Mediators, or Arbitrators of their 
Differences, and always caft'in fomething into the Scale 
of Juftice to thofe whofe Countries prodyce the beft Com-, 
modifies for the Company's Ufe, and len$ the Affiftance 
of their Arms to him who is 4b qualified by the Produdt : 
above mentipned, aipd, iat jthe. .Ccmclufiqa of the War». 
nukje the poor conquered Prince pay their Charges for af-.; 
lifting the Conqueror j and, when all is made up, and . 
Treaties of Peace ready to.be figaed,. then the Conqueror* 
their dear Ally and "Friend," muft* fuller them to poflefs 
r . - the 



5 i8 A New HISTORY 

the bcft Sea-ports, and fortify the moft proper artel conve- 
nient Places of his Country, and muft forbid all Nations 
Traffick but their dear Dutch Friends, under Pain of hav- 
ing the Company's Arms turned againft them, in Con* 
junction wuh fome other potent Enemy to the deluded 
Conqueror, 

. The King of Cbarta Souri* on the Ifland of Java, is * 
frefti Inftance of the Truth of what I relate. In the Year 
3704, 1 law hinuat Samarang, a Sea- port on the faid Ifland, 
in great Splendor, and in high Eftcera with the Dutch 
Commodore; but in the Year 1707, he fell under the 
Pifpleafure of the General and Council of Batavia, and 
in 1708^ falling into their Hands, he was brought their 
Prifoner to Manaar, and cooped up on that fmall Ifland, 
there to fpend the Remainder of his Days in Contempla- 
tion or Comments on the Deceit of worldly Grandeur, 
and of the Power and Pleafure of Sovereignty, or in hum- 
ble Thoughts on Confinement, Exile and Poverty. 



CH A P. XIX. 

Gives a jhort Defcription of Fort St. George, itsjirft 

Settlement and Rife, its Situation and Sterility, and 

fome Remarks on its Government, and the A&icns 

of fome of its Governors, with fome Occurrences that 

happened to the Englilh FaElory at Vizagapatam. 

FORT St. George or Madera/*; or, as tHe Natives cafl 
it, China Patam y is a Colony and City belonging to 
the Englijh Eaft-India Company, fituated in one of the 
moft incommodious Places 1 ever faw. It fronts the Sea* 
which continually rolte itrfpetuoufly on its Shore, more 
here than m any other Place on the Coaft of Cbormondel. 
The Foundation is in Sand, with a Salt-water River on 
its back Side, Which obftruAs all Springs of Frefh-Water 
from coming near the Town, fo that they have no drink- 
able Water within a Mile of them, the Sea often threaten- 
ing Deftru&ion on one Side, and the River in the rainy 
Seafon Inundations on the v other, the Sun from April to 
- , : September^ 



ef tie EAST-INDIES. ,jjy 

Stplewbtr fcorching hot \ and if the Sea- breezes did noc 
moiften and cool tbe Air when they blow, the Place could 
not poffibly be inhabited. The Reafdn why * Fort was 
built in that Place is not well accounted fo* * but Tradi- 
tion fry*, that the Gentleman, *ho received his Orders 
to build a Fort on that Coaft, about the Beginning of King 
QbtrUs IPs Reign after his Restoration, for prote&ing the 
Company's Trade, chofe that Place to ruio the Portugucf* 
Trade at St. Thima*. Others again alledge 9 and with 
more Probability, that the Gentleman aforefaid* which I 
take u> be Sir Wi&um TLangh&n^ had a Miftrefs at St. 
Tlwms he was fo enamoured of* that made him build 
there, tfeat iheir Interview* might be. the . more frequent 
and uninterrupted v but whatever hi3 Reafons were, it is 
ve*y illfmaated. The Soil about the City is fo dry and fan- 
dy, that it; bears no .Cow* and what Fruits* Roots and 
H**l>agMhey have, ate brought to Maturity by great 
Pains and much Trouble. If k be true, that the Com- 
pany gffver hj*n Power to fettle a Colony in any Part of 
that Coafc that pleated him belt, I wonder that he chofo 
notCahsjpq) about fix tongues to the Southward, where 
the (j^qqnd « fertile, and the Water good, with the Con- 
venieicggf a Point of Rocks to facilitate Boats hading, 
or why he did not go nine Leagues farther northerly,, and 
fettl^ 3t Pqliwt on the Banks of a good River, as the Dutch 
have dqng ftnee, where the Road for Shipping is made 
eaiy by forge Sand. Banks that reach three Leagues oflr 
Shore, and ,fl*ake th* high turbulent Billows that come 
toUiqg from lh# Sw fpund their Force oo thofe Banks be- 
fore Stay i cm read* the Share. The Soil. is good and the 
River r cftR*ttftdi$ust awi convenient in allSeafons. 
> tiow^v.^R > the Way earned on & Bengal and Botnkay± 
bytfje . ^/v£^&.«g»mft t^e. JVft^w^a Sufejo&s,, fraro 1685 to 
*£8^ffl#<b fiart St. Gewge put on a better Dreft than he* 
wore before; for the peaceable Indian Merchants, wha 
bate CoMUtttog a$ul Waf, came flocking thither becaufe 
H.hyf&t fyem thofe. Iftcurobertfls of Trade, and' near the 
Diair^id! Mm** of G&mfab* where there are, many 
Times* good Bargains, to be made, and Money got by 
W* <3aY3rna»*. Thfc Week. Merchants refor ting to our 
Ci&Q^/ift faaire th»r JEcwtugcs* and toing.. their Qoodii 

10 



320 A New ti IS TOR V 

to a 'fafe JMarket, made it populous and rich, notwitn- 
ftanding its natural Inconveniencies. The Town is divid- 
ed into two Parts. One where the Europeans dwell is 
called the' White Town. It is walled quite round, and 
has feveral Baftions and Bulwarks- to defend its Walls, 
which can only be attacked at its Ends, the Sea and 
River fortifying its Sides. It is about four hundred Paces 
long, and one hundred and fifty Paces broad, divided in* 
to Streets pretty regular, and Fort St. George flood near 
its Center. There are two Churches in it, one for the 
Englijhj and another for the Romifh Service. The Gover- 
nor fupreintends both, and, -in-filling up Vacan&cs in the 
Romifh Church, he is the Pope's Legate a latefe in Spiri- 
tualities. There is a very good Hofpital in the Town, 
and the Company's Horfe-ftables are neat ; but the old 
College, where a great many Gentlemen Faftors are oblig- 
ed to lodge, is ill kept in Repair. It is a Town Cor- 
porate, governed by Mayor and Aldermen. - - 

The Black Town is inhabited* by Gentows* Mahometans 
and. Indian Cbrijlians, viz. Armenians* and : Portugueje^ 
"where there are Temples and Churches for each Religion,- 
everyone being-tolerated; and every one follows his pro- 
per Employment. It was walled in towards the Land, 
when Governor Pit ruled it. 

The Company has their Mint her for coining Bullion 
that comes from Europe and other Countries, int© Rupees, 
which brings them in good Revenues. They alfo coin 
Gold into Pagodats of feveral Deriominations and Value. 
There are alfo Schools for the- Education of Children, the 
EngUJbiov Reading and Writing EngUfh, the -Pvrtuguefe 
for their Language and Latin, and the Mahometans, Gen- 
tow's*, and Armenians tor their particular Languages. And 
the Englijh Church i& well endowed, and maintains- poor 
Gentlewomen in good Houfewifery, - gdod Cloths and 
Palankines. .1 

The Diamond Mines being but a Week's Journey from 
St. George* make thefn pretty plentiful *thetfe-, but\few 
great Stones are now brought to Market there, fince that 
great Diamond which Governor Pit feflt to England. : 

The current Trade of Fort Si. George runs gradually 
flower, the Trader meeting with Difappointitifcrtts, and 

fomc- 



of the- EAST-IND IE S. 321 

fometimes the Liberty of buying and felling is denied them* 
and I havefeen, when the Governor's Servants have bid for 
Goods at a publick Sale, fome who had a Mind to bid 
more, durft not, others who had more Courage and dusft 
bid, were brow-beaten and threatened* And I Was Wit- 
nefs to a Bargain of Surat Wheat taken out of a Gentle- 
man's Hands, after he had fairly bought it by Au£Hon,. fo 
that many trading People are removed to other Parts, 
where there is greater Liberty and lefs Oppreffiori* 

The Colony produces very little of its own Growth or 
Manufafture for foreign Markets* They had formerly a 
Trade to Pegu, where many private Traders got pretty 
good Bread by their Traffick and Induftry ; but the Trade 
is now removed into the Armenians, Moors and Gentews 
Hands, and the Englijh are employed in building and re- 
pairing of Shipping. The Trade they have to China, is 
divided between them" and Surat, for the Gold, and fome 
Copper, are for their own Markets, and the Grofs of 
their Cargo, which confifts in Sugar, Sugar-candy, Alum, 
China Ware and fome Drugs, as China Root, Galling- 
gal, &c. are all for the Surat Market. 

Their Trade to Perfia muft firft come down the 
famous Ganges, before it can come into Fort St. Georges 
Chanels to be conveyed to Perfia. They nevet had any 
Trade to Mocha in the Produft and Manufadories of 
Chormondel before the Year 17 13, and Fort St. David fup- 
plies the Goods for that Port, lb that Fort St. George is 
an Emblem of Holland in fupplying foreign Markets with 
foreign Goods. 

The Colony is well peopled, for there is computed to 
be eighty thoufand Inhabitants in the Towns and Villages 3 
and there are generally about four or five hundred Europe* 
ans refiding there, reckoning the Gentlemen, Merchants, 
Seamen, and Soldiery. Their Rice i9 brought by Sea, 
from Ganjam and Orixa,. their Wheat from Surat and Ben- 
gat, and their Fire-wobd from the Iflands of Diu, a lotf 
Point of Land that lies near Matchulipatam, fo that any 
Enemy that is fuperior to them in Sea Forces, may eafily 
diftrefsthem. 

x MATCHULIPATAM, in the latter Part of 
the laft; Century, was one of. the moft flQurilhing 
in all India, and the Englijh Company found it to 

"X . " be 



322 A New HISTORY 

- be the moft profitable Fa&ory tfiat they had. They had 
a large Fa&ory built of Teak Timber \ but now there are 
no Ehglifh there, tho* the Dutch continue their Faftory 
Hill, and keep above a Dozen' of Hollanders there to carry 
en the Chint Trade, for that Commodity is not, as yet,. 
forbid to-appear in Holland. 

Next to Mhtibulipatam is Narfipore, where the EngUfif 
had a-Fa<5tory for long Cloth, for the Ufe of their Fadlory 
. of Matchulipatant, when they manufactured Ghtnts there. 

VIZAGAPAftAMi is regularly fortified with four 
little Baftions, arrtd has about eighteen Guns mounted in it. 
It has the Advantage of a River, but a dangerous Bar to- 
pafs over before we get into it.. The Country about af- 
fords Cotton Cloths, both coarfe and fine, and the beft 
Dureass or ftrip'd Muflins, in lndia\ but the Fa&ory is- 
generally heatt-fick for want of Money to refrefh it* 

In the Year 1709, the Faftory drew a War on themfelve* 
from the Nabob of Cbickacul, for one Mr. Simeon Holcomb, 
who had been Chief at Vizagapatam, had borrowed con- 
filterable Sums of the Nabobs and affix'd the Company's* 
Seal to the Bonds he gave for them. Mr. Holcomb dying,, 
the Nabob demarnded his Money from the fucceeding Chief r 
who would not pay him, alledging, that Holcomb had bor- 
rowed it fcr his own private Ufe, and not for the Com- 
pany's, and that he muft get Payment out of Hokcmb\ 
private Eftate, if there was enough found to pay the Debt,, 
©therwife he might get his Money from fome inland Ra- 
jahs, Who flood indebted to Holcomb, by his Books of Ac- 
counts, in a greater Sum than would pay his Principal and 
Intereft; arid that he being the Mogul's General, could, 
compel thofe Rajahs to pay their jutt Debts, whfch they 
would make over to him : But the Nabob, not caring to- 
enter into a War with his Country-men on fuch a Founda- 
tion* lent Agents to acquaint the Governor, and Council 
of Fort St. George, with his Affairs at Vizagapatam*. 
They proved deaf to all the Agent's Propofitions and Ar^ 
guments, and hardly treated him civilly, fo he went. back, 
to his Matter, with the Account of his ill Succefe. Upon 
which the Nabob came to a Garden about half a League- 
from Vizagapatam, accompanied with five hundred Horie, 
and three thousand five hundred Foot,, to demand his Mo~ 



of the E A S T - I N D I E S. 333 

ney. I being accidentally there in a fmall Dutch -built 
Ship, that I had bought from the French, on my Credit, 
at Fort St. George, and the Fa&ory being but ill mann'd* 
Mr. Hajlings, who was then Chief, and my Friend, de- 
fired the Affiftance of my Arms and Counfel in that Junc- 
ture of Affairs, which I very freely gave him; and my 
Opinion being ask'd in Council, what I thought about the 
Affair, I advifed him and his Council to compound the 
Matter as well as they could, and fpin out Time that we 
might better fortify the Avenues to the Fa&ory. My Ad- 
vice of compounding the Matter was reje&ed, but the 0- 
ther Part we followed, fo, with feven Europeans that be- 
longed to the Fadtory, and twelve that were with me, and 
$wenty Topafes, and two hundred and eighty Natives, 
moft of them Fifliers, that lived under the Company's 
Protection, we fortified fome Rocks that the Enemy was 
obliged to pafs within Piftol-ftiot of, if they had a Minji 
. to attack us. We threw up Breaft-works between the 
Rocks, and moored my Ship within Piftol-fhot of the 
Shore, and had eight minion Guns to fcour the Sands, if 
" they had attempted to come that Way, and, for fix Weeks 
we continued on our Guard, and were often' alarmed in 
the Night, but finding us always ready to receive them, 
they did not think it proper to force an Enljy into the 
Town. 

I had the Honour to command all the Outguards, and, 
v ,the Chief, with eight Europeans and twenty Blacks, kept 
the Fort. Thus we continued in perpetual Watchings and 
Alarms, till Reinforcements arrived from Fort St. George, 
and then I left them, and proceeded on a Voyage to Pegu. 
Both Parties being very bufy, one ftriving to get his Mo- 
ney by Compulfion, and the other, to fave the Company^ 
Money on any Terms, right or wrong. The War being 
drawn to a greater Length than was imagined at firft» 
and Charges rifing higher than was expe&ed, inclined 
. them to make all up amicably, which was at laft effected 
by the Company's paying near the Sum that was at firifc 
demanded. 

The Nabob, whole Name was Fakir ly Cawn, would 
hear of no Peace, witl^out the Company's Merchant 
who was a Gentow called Agapa^ and a Subject of the Mo- 

X 2 guP% 9 



324 A New H I S T O R Y 

guFs 9 who was very a6five in the War, in encouraging 
the Town's People to defend themfelves and the Compa- 
ny's Intereft, and who alfohad wrote to fome neighbour- 
ing Rajahs, to embroil the Nabob's Affairs in his Abfence, 
in order to divert him from purfuing his Demands on Vi- 
zagapatam, ftiould be delivered up to him, which, at laft, 
he was, and was put to a very cruel Death. He was let 
in the hot fcorching Sun three Days, with his Hands fas- 
tened toa Stake over his Head, and one of his Legs tied 
up till his Heel touched his Buttock, and, in the Night, 
* put into a Dungeon, with fome venomous Snakes to bear 
him Company, and this was repeated till the third Day 
he ended his miferable Life •, but the Company's Merchants, 
for the future, will be cautious how they efpoufe the Com- 
pany's Intereft again. 

There was one Baify 9 a Recruit from Fort St. Gecrge 9 . 
on fome Difcontent, deferred the Company's Service, and 
entered into the Nabob's -, but falling into an Ambufh, was 
taken Prifoner by our Men, and was fent to Fort St. George, 
where, for his Defertion, he was defervedly whipt out 
of this World into the next, and there I leave him. 

After the War was ended, and all quiet, the Nabob 
returned to ChickacuU but could neither forget nor forgive 
his Treatment at Fott St. George and Vizogapatam, but 
jfrnding by Force he could not get the Faftory into his 
Hands, without great Lofs of Men and Money, he had 
Recourfe to Stratagem, by furprifing it. He came into 
the Town one Day with a hundred Horfe, and fome Foot, 
without advertifing his coming, as was ufual at the Town- 
gate, and before the Chief could have Notice^ he was got 
into the Fa&ory, with twenty or thirty of his Attendants. 
The Alarm being given, arefolute bold young Gentleman, 
a Fa&or in the Company's Service, called Mr. Richard 
Horden, came running down Stairs, with his Fuzee in his 
Hand, and his Bayonet fcrewed on its Muzzle, and, pre-, 
fenting it to the Nabob's Breaft, told him in the Gentow 
Language, (which he was Mafter of) that the Nabob was 
welcome, but if any of his Attendants offered the lead 
Incivility, his Life fhould pay for it. The Nabob was 
furprifingly aftonifhed at the Refolution and Bravery of 
the- young Gentleman* and fat down to confider a littte, 

Mr. 



of the EAST-INDIE S. 325 

Mr. Harden keeping the Muzzle of his Piece ftill at his 
Breaft, and one of the Nabob's Servants Handing all the 
while behind Mr. Horden y with a Dagger's Point clofe to 
his Back, fo they had a Conference of half an Hour long, 
in thofe above mentioned Poftures, and then the Nabob 
thought fit to be gone again, full of Wonder and Admi- 
ration at fo daring a Courage. 

There are many ancient Pagods or Temples in this 
Country, but there is one very particular that Hands upon 
a little Mountain' near Vizagapatam^ where they worlhip 
living Monkies ; and, "by Report, many Hundreds breed 
there, which are nourifhed by the zealous Priefts, whofe 
Devotion confifts moftly in boiling Rice and other Food 
for their comical little Gods, which, at Meal-times, af- 
femble at the Pagod, and eat what is prepared for them, 
and retire again in good Orde^ ; but it is lefs dangerous to 
kill a Man near that Temple than a Monkey. 



mm 



C H AP; XX. 

Gives an Account of the famous Kingdom of Pegu, its 
Situation and ProduB> with its Laivs, Cuftpms y and 
Religion, &c. % 

• ^TH H E Sea-coaft from Negrais to Syrian Bar, is in the 
X Dominions of Pegu* there are fome of the Mouths 
of Pegu River open on that Coaft into the Sea. 

If by Accident a Ship bound to Syrian^ be driven a 
League or two to the Eaftward of that River's Mouth, a 
ftrong Tide carries her on hard Sands till fhe fits fail on 
them, for Anchors are of no Ufe to ftop them, becaufe 
of the Rapidity of the Current ; at low Water the Ships 
are dty when on thofe Sands, and the Sea -leaves them, 
and retires five or fix Leagues, at which Time the fliip- 
wreck'd Men walk on the Sands toward the Shore for 
their Safety, for the Sea comes back with fo much Noife, 
that the roaring of the Billows may be heard ten Miles off, 
for a Body of Waters comes rolling in on the Sand, whofe 
Front is above two Fathoms high, and whatever Body lies 

X 3 in 



320 A New HISTORY 

in its Way it overturns, and no Ship can evade its Force, 
but in a Moment is overturned. 

About fix Leagues from the Bar of Pegu River is the 
City of Syrian, it is built near the River's Side on a rifing 
Ground, and walled round with a Stone-wall without 
Mortar. The Governor, who is generally of the Blood- 
royal, has his Lodgings in it, but the Suburbs are four 
Times bigger than the City. It was many Years in Pof- 
fefiion of the Portuguefe, till by their Infolence and Pride 
they were obliged to quit it. 

The ancient City of Pegu ftands about forty Miles to 
the Eaftward of Syrian, the Ditches that furrounded the 
City, wfcich are now dry, and bear good Corn, teftify 
that few Cities in the World exceeded it in Magnitude, 
for they are reckoned file or feven Leagues round their 
Outward Polygon. 

It was the Seat of many great arid puiflant Kings, who 
made as great a Figure a$ any in the Eaft, but now its 
Glory is in the Duft, for not one twentieth Part of it is 
inhabited, and thofe are but the lower Clafs of People who 
inhabit it. The Caufe of the Ruin of the Kingdoms of 
Pegu, and Martavan was thus. 

There was great Love and Friendfhip between the 
Kings and Subjefts of Pegu and Siam, being next Neigh- 
bours to one another, and they kad a good Intercourfe of 
Trade, both by Land and Sea, tnl in the fifteenth Century, 
a Pegu Veffel being at Odia the chief City of Siam 9 and 
when ready to depart for Pegu, anchored one -Evening near 
a little Temple a few Miles below the City, arid the Ma- 
iler of the Veffel, with fome of his Crew, going to wor- 
ihlp in that Temple, feeing a pretty well carv'd Image df 
, the God Sam/ay, about a Covet high, fell in Love with 
'it, and finding his Priefts negligent in watching, ftolehim 
away, and carried him on board Prifoner for Pegu. When 
the negligent Priefts miffed their little God they were in 
a deplorable Condition, lamenting their Lcrfs to all their 
neighbouring Priefts, who advifed them to complain to 
the King of Siam pf the Theft, which accordingly they 
did, imploring his good Offices with the King of Pegu, 
to have their God fent back; and it happened that by the 
unfeafonable Floods in the River that Year, there came to 

be 



vf the EAST-INDIES. 3 ?7 

•be. a great Scarcity of Cop, jyfacb Calamity was jmpyted 
by the Pri.efts to the LqjTs of Samfay y upon which the pioii^ 
. Prince tent an Embafly xo his Brother of Pegu, defiring tKc 
Reftitutior> of the Image,' whofe Abfence had caufed" lb 
gr^at Lofs and Clamour in his Country. 

The King of Pegu being as great a Bigot as his Brother 
of Siam 9 would by no Means deliver back a God who had 
iled from the Impieties of his native Land to bin) for Pro- 
tection, and with that Anfwer fent bacjk the Siam Ambaf- 
fador, who was JK)t a little mortified with the Difappointr 
*ment. 

Since fair Means could not perfuade the Peguer to 
fend back $he little God, the Siamer was refolved to try 
what Force would do, <tnd accQr^iogly r^ifed an Army 
*of two or three hundred thoufand Men to invade the King 
of Pegu's Dominions, afld the firflrFury of the War felji 
•on the Province of Martavan^ being contiguous to the 
Territories of Siam> and with Fire and Sword deftroyed 
the open Country almoft to the <Jates of the City of mar- 
tavan^ where often the King of Pegu kept his Court. 

After the Siamer had latiated his ^Cruelty and Rage, 
fyr the Definition of many poor Innocents, he ret i red 
back to his own Country very much elevated with Pride 
and Vain-glory for his great Atchieyements, but next 
Year he was pretty well Jaumbled, for the Peguer raifcd 
% much greater Army., and embarking them in fmall Boats 
on the River Memnon* on which the City of Odia (lands 
in one of its Iflands, his Army was brought with fo much 
Celerity and Secrecy, that the Peguer brought the firft 
News of his^Invafion, and pitching his Tents round the 
City, foon brought it into great Straits, by flopping ,the 
daily Provifions that fupported it, but unexpectedly the 
River bringing 'dtfwn great Floods of Waters, foQner tlian 
their ordinary Time, the Country about the City overflow- 
ed, and fpoilt all the- Peguer 's Provifions .of Corn, #nd 
drowned near half of his Army, which obliged him to 
jaife the Siege, and retire to his own Dominions. 

Next Year, the Siamer^ to be revenged, levied anotl^r 
.great Army, with which he over-ran all the inland Counr 
tries of Pegu that lay near him, and annexed them to hij 
own Dominions. The Peguer finding that he could not 

X 4 recover 



^28 'A -New HISTORY 

recover his Land, without foreign Aid and Affiftance, in* 
vited the Portuguefe, whofe Name began to be dreadful 
in India, and by the great Encouragement he gave them, 
got about athoufand Volunteers into his Service. Neither 
the Siamers nor the Peguers at that Time underftood the 
Ufe of Fire Arms, and their Noife and Execution at fo 
;reat a Diftance terrified them. With the Portuguefe Af- 
iftance, the Peguer went with his Army, which was very 
numerous to find out the Siamer, and having found him, 
gave him Battle, the Portuguefe being in the Front with 
their Fire Arms, foon put the Siamer to Flight, before 
they could come to Handy-blows, on which he left the 
Peguer's Country in greater Hafte than he came into it. 

The King of Pegu was fo fenfible of the Portuguefe Ser- 
vice in gaining the Battle, and driving the Siamers out of 
his conquered Country, that he made one Senbor Tboma 
Pereyra (who commanded the Portuguefe in the War, 
Generaliffimo of all his Forces, which Preferment made 
the Portuguefe fo infolent, that in a few Years they became 
intolerable to all Ranks and Degrees of Perfons in Pqgu. 

Both Kings grew tired of "War, but both too proud to 
make Advances toward Peace, fo that for many Years 
they had fkirmifhing with fmall Parties tho' no fet Battles, 
^nd where-ever the Portuguefe Arms went, they had Vic- 
tory to accompany them. 

The King of Pegu, to have his Forces nearer the Bor- 
ders of Siam> fettled his Court at Martavan, and kept the 
Portuguefe near him, to be ready on all Occafions, either % 
to repel or affaujt the Siam Forces, as Opportunity ferved, 
and 'Tboma Pereyra was the darling Favourite at Court, 
he had his Elephants of State, and a Guard of his own Coun- 
trymen to attend him. One Day as he was going from 
Court in State, on a large Elephant, towards his own Pa- 
lace, he chanced to hear Mufick in a Burgher's Houfe, 
whofe Daughter being a very beautiful Virgin, had been 
ifiiarried that Morning to a young Man of the Neighbour- 
hood- The General went to the Houfe arid wifhed them 
Joy, and defired to fee the Bride. The Parents took the 
General's Vifit for a great Honour done them, and brought 
their Daughter to his Elephant's Side i he being fmitten 

with 



ef the E A S T - I N D I E S. 329 

with her Beauty, ordered his Guard to feize her and carry 
her to his Houfe. 

His Orders were but too readily obeyed, and the poor 
Bridegroom not being able to bear his Lois, cut his own 
Throat, and the difconfolate Parents of their injured Chil- ' 
dren, rent their Clothes, and went crying and complain'-- 
ing through the Streets towards the King's Palace, implor- 
ing their Gods and Cpuntrymen to avenge them on the 
infolent Portuguefe ^ the common Oppreflbrs of their Coun- 
try. Crowds of People came from all Parts of the City,* 
to hear and fee the Tragedy, their Numbers grew fo great 
that the Streets were hardly big enough for them, and 
their Noife fo loud thatit reached the King's Ears, who" 
fent to know the Caufe of their .Uproar. The, Meflenger 
returning, acquainted the King what had been tranfafted, 
and he, to appeafe the Tumult, fent them Word that he 
Tlvould punifh the Criminal, and accordingly fent for his 
General, but he being much taken up with the Enjoyment 
of his new Purchafe, made an Excuie that he was lo much 
out of Order, that he could not then wait on his Majefty 
till he was better, which Anfwer fo provoked the King, 
that he ordered the whole City to take Arms, and to make 
a general Maflacre on all the Portuguefe wherefoever they 
could be found in City or Country. The King's Orders 
were put in Execution fo fpeedily, that in a few Hours all 
the Portuguefe were flaughtered, and the guilty Criminal 
was taken alive, and made faft by the Heels to an Ele- 
phant's Foot, who dragged him through the Streets till 
there was no Skin nor Flefli left to cover his Bones, which 
Speftacle appeafed the enraged Populace. There were 
only three Portuguefe faved, who were accidentally in the 
Suburbs next the River, who hid themfelves till Night 
favoured their Efcape in a fmall Boat in which they coafted 
along the Shore, feeding on what the Woods and Rocks 
afforded them, and at length arrived at Malacca^ to givq 
an Account of the melancholy Scene. 

Both Kingdoms being much weakened with bloody 
Wars, took Reft for many Years, but never entered on 
Treaties of Peace. So about the Middle of the feventeentfi 
Century, the Siamer invaded, the Dominions of Pegu 9 and 
Conquered all to the Southward of Martavan, taking in the 

Provinces 



330 A New H I 5 T O R Y 

Provinces of Tanacerin and Ligsre, who were Tributaries 
to PegUj and retains them dill in his Poflefiiom. 

The Dominions of Barma are at prefent very large* 
reaching from Moravi near Tanacerin, to the Province of 
Tunan in China, about eight hundred Miles from North 
to South, and two hundred and fifty Miles broad from 
Weft to Eaft. It has no Sea-port but Syrian, and that 
River is capable to receive a Snip of fix hundred Tuns, 
The Town drives a good Trade with Armenians, Par- 
iuguefe, Moors and Gentows, and fome Englijh; their Im- 
port is fcveral Sorts of Indian Goods, fuch as Beteellas, 
Mulmuls, Cojfas, Sannis? Orangfhays^ T.angeis^ European 
Hats coarfe and fine, and Silver. 

The Country is very fruitful in Corn, Fruits, and 
Roots, and excellent Leguxnen of feveral Species, A- 
guidance of wild Game either quardrujaeds or winged. 
In the Months of September and O&ober, wild Deer are fo 
plentiful that I have bought one for three or four Pence* 
they are very flefhy, but no Fat about them. They have 
many Sorts of good Fifh, and S wines Flefh and Poultry 
are both plentiful and good. 

They wear none of our European Commodities but 
Hats and Ribbons, and the Gfentry will give extravagant 
Prices for fine Beaver Hats, and rich Ribbons flgwer'd 
with Silver and Gold, and if it be never fo broad it is 
ftretch'd up the Crown of the Hat as far as it can go, and 
they ufe no Sort of Cock to their Hats. Cotton Cloth* 
from Bengal and Cbormondel, with fome ftriped Silks, are 
beft for their Market, and Silver of any Sort is welcome 
to them. It pays the King eight and an half per Cent. 
Cuftpm, but in lieu of that high Duty, he indulges the 
Merchants to melt it down, and put what Alloy they 
pleafe in it, and then to pais it off in Payments a$ high as 
chey can. 

The King generally adds ten per Cent, on all Silver that 
comes into his Treafury, befides what was put on at firft, 
and tho' it be not flower'd, it muft go off in all his Pay- 
ments, but from any Body elfe it may y be refufed if it is 
hot flower'd. 

His Government is arbitrary. All his Commands are 
Laws, but the Reins of Government are kept fteady and 

gently 



<l 



^//fc EAST-INDIES. 331 

gpntly in the King's own Hand. He feverely punUhes 
his Governors of Provinces or Towns, if Oppreffions or 
other illegal Practices are proved upon them - 9 and to know 
how Affairs pafs in the State, every Province or City has 
• a Mandereen or Deputy refiding at Court, which is ge- 
nerally in the City of Ava^ the prefent Metropolis. 

Every Morning thefe Mandereens are obliged to at- 
tend at Court, and after his Majefty has dreft and break- 
fafted, which is generally" on a Di(h of Rice boiled in fair ' 
Water, and his Sauce is fome Shrimps dried and powdered, 
and fome Salt and Cod-pepper mixt with thofe two Im- 
gredients, and that Mixture makes a very pungent Sauce, 
which they call Prock^ and is in great Efteem and Ufc 
among the Peguers. 

When his Breaktaft is over, he retires into a Room fb 
contrived that he can fee all the Attendants, but none-can 
iee him, and a Page ftands without to call whom the King 
would have give Account of the current News of his Pro- 
vince or City, which is performed with profound Reve- 
rence toward the Room where the King (lays, and with a 
diftinft audible Voice; and if any particular Matters of 
Confequence is forgot or omitted, and the King comes to 
hear of it by another Hand, fevere Punifhments follow, 
and fo he pafles his Mornings in hearing the neceffary 
Cafes of his own Affairs as well as thofe of his Subje&s. 

If he is informed of Treafon, Murder, or fuch like 
heinous Crimes, he orders the Matter to be judicially tried 
before Judges of his own chooftng, for that Time and Af- 
fair, and on Conviftion he figns the dead Warrant, where? : ' 
in he orders,, that the Wretch convidted fhall trade n&l 
more on his Ground, and Execution prefently follows* 
cither by beheading, or ordering them to be Sport for his 
Elephants, which is the crueleft Death. Sometimes he 
banifhes them for a certain Time to the Woods, and if 
they are not devoured by Tigers, or killed by wild Ele- 1 
phants, they may return when their Term is expired, and 
pafs the Remainder of their Days in ferving a tame Ele- 
phant; and for fmaller Crimes they are only condemned 
•to clean his Elephants Stables for Life. 

His Subjects, if they may be fo called, treat him with 
fulfome Adulation. When they fpeak or write to him 

they 



332 A New H IS T O R Y 

they call him their God (or in their Language Kiack) and 
rn his Letters to foreign Princes, he affumes the Title of 
King of Kirigs, to whom all other Kings ought to be fub- 
je£t, as being near Kinfman and Friend to all the Gods, 
in Heaven and on Earth, and by their Friendfhip to him 
all Animals are fed and preferved, and the Seafons of the 
Year are regularly kept: The Sun is his Brother, and the 
Moon and Stars are his near Relations, Lord over the 
Floods and Ebbing of the Sea. 

The King's Palace at Ava is very large, built of Stone, 
and has four Gates for its Conveniencies ; Ambaffadors 
enter at the Eaft Gate, which is called the golden Gate, 
becaufe all Ambaffadors make their Way to him by Pre- 
fents. The South Gate is called the Gate of Juftice, 
where all People that bring Petitions, Accufations or 
Complaints, enter. The Weft is the Gate of Grace, 
where all that have received Favours, or have been ac- 
quitted of Crimes, pafs out in State, and all condemned 
Perfons carried out in Fetters; and the North Gate front- 
ing the River, is the Gate of State where his Majefty 
paffes through, when he thinks fit to blefs his People 
with his Preiencc, and all his Provifions and Water are 
carried in at that Gate. * 

Whenjui Ambaffador rs admitted to Audience in the 
Palace, he is attended with a large Troop of Guards, 
with Trumpets founding, and Heralds proclaiming the 
Honour the Ambaffador is about to receive, in going to 
fee the Glory of the Earth, his Majefty, and between the. 
Gate and the Head of the Stairs that lead to the Chamber 
of Audience, the Ambaffador is attended with the Maftcr 
of the Ceremonies, who inftrudts him to kneel three Times 
in his Way thither, and continue fo with his Hands over 
his Head, till a Proclamation is read before he dare rife. 

His Sword Officers have no Salary, nor his Soldiers for 
therr Support, but there is a Province or a City given to 
fome Minion, who is to give Suftenance to fuch a Number 
of Soldiers, and find the Palace at Ava with fuch a Quota 
of Provifions as the Providore thinks fit to appoint. 

When there is a War, and Parties are fenton Expedi- 
tions, then the King allows them Pay, Clothes, Arms., 
and provides Magazines of Provifions for them -, but as 

foon 



?f^ EAST-INDIES. 333 

foon as the War is at an End, then the Clothes and Arms 
are returned. 

All Cities and Towns under this King's Dominions, 
are like arijiocratical Commonwealths.* The Prince or 
Governor feldom fits in Council, but appoints his Deputy 
and twelve Counfellors or Judges, and they fit once in ten 
Days at leaft, but oftner when Bufinefs calls them. They 
convene in a large Hall, mounted about three Foot high, 
and double Benches round the Floor for People to fit or 
kneel on, and to hear the free Debates of Council. The 
tHall being built on Pillars of Wood, is open on all Sides, 
and the Judges fit in the Middle on Matts., and fitting in 
a Ring there is no Place of Precedence ; there are no 
Advocates to plead at the Bar, but every one has the Pri- 
vilege to plead his own Caufe, or fend it in Writing to be 
read publickly, and it is determined judicially within the 
Term of three Sittings of Council, but if any one queftions 
his own Eloquence, or Knowledge of the Laws of Equi- 
ty, he may impower a Friend to plead for him,, but there 
•are no Fees but what the Town contributes for the Main- 
tenance of that Court, which in their Language is calJed 
the Rounday^ and thofe Contributions are very fmall : 
There are Clerks fet at the Backs of the Judges, ready to 
write down whatever the Complainant and Defendant has to 
fay, and the Cafe is determined by the Prince and that Coun- 
cil, very equitably ; for if the leaft Partiality is found award- 
ed to either Party, and the King is made acquainted with, it 
by the Deputies at Court, the whole Sentence is revoked, 
and the whole Board are correfted for it, fo that very few 
have Occafion to appeal to Cofcrt* which they may do if 
they are aggrieved, and if an Appeal is made upon ill 
Grounds, the Appellant is chaftifed, which juft Rigour hin- 
ders many tedious Suits that arife where there are no Pe- 
nalties annexed to fuch Faults. 

Th£ Judges have a particular Gaib of their own. Their 
Hair being permitted to grow long, is tied on the Top of 
their Heads with Cotton Ribbon wrapt about it, and it 
ftands upright in the Form of a (harp Pyramid. Their Coat 
is of a thin Betella> fo that their Skin is eafily feen through 
it. About their Loins they have a large Lungee or Scaif, 
as all other Peguers have,, that reaches to their Ancles, and 

againft 



334 A- New HISTORY 

againft the Nave) a round Bundle made of their Lungee* as 
big as a Child's Head, but Stockings and Shoes are nQt 
•tifed in Pegu. ; / 

The Barmaes wear the fame Habit, and imprint fever^I 
Devices in their Skins* prick'd with a Bodkin, and pow- 
der of Charcoal rubbed over the little Wognds while the 
Blood continues wet in them, and the black Marks remain 
cvfer after. The Peguers dare not paint their Skins, fo that the 
Natives of each Nation are eafily known by the diftinguiflj- 
■ing Mark of Painting or Plainnefs. There are few ot their 
Men fat, but plump, well fhap'd, of an Olive Colour, 
and well featured. 

The Women are much whiter than the Men, and l\av£ 
-generally pretty plump Faces, but of fmaU Stature, yet 
very well ftiap*d, their Hands and Feet fmall, and their 
Arms and Legs well proportioned. Their Head-drefs is 
their own black Hair tied up behind, and when they go a- 
broad, they wear a Sbaul folded up, or a Piece pf tyhioe 
Cotton Cloth lying loofe on the Top of their He^dg. 
-"Their bodily Garb is a Frock of Cotton Cloth or Silk;, 
made meet fortfeeir Bodies, and the Arms of their Frock 
ftretch'd clofe on the Arm, the lower P^rt of the Frock 
reaching Half-thigh down. Under the Frock they h^ve 
a Scarf or Lungee doubled fourfold, made faft about their 
Middle, which reaches almoft to the Ancle, fo contrived, 
that at every Step they makta* as they walk, it opens b^fgre, 
and fhews the right Leg and Part of the Thigh » 

This Fa(hion of Petticoats, they fay, is very ancient* . 
and was firft contrived by a certain Queen of (hat Coun- 
try, who was grieved to fee the Men fo much addidted-to 
Sodomy, that they negle&ed the pretty Ladies. She 
thought that by the Sight of a pretty Leg ^nd Plump 
Thigh, the Men might be allured from that abominabip . 
Cuftom, and place their Affedtions on proper Obje&s, an^ ■ 
according to the ingenious Queen's Conjecture, that Drefs 
of the Lungee had its defircd End* and now the Name qf 
Sodomy is hardly known in that Country. 

The Women are courteous and kind to Strangers, an<J 
are very fond of marrying with Ew-ope&fo, and moft pax* 
*>f the Strangers who trade thither, marry a Wife for the 
Term they ftay. The Ceremony .is, (%fter the Parties ar$ 

■■■;■*• * agreed) 



of the E A S T - I N D I E S. $3$ 

agreed) for the Bride's Parents or neareft Friends or Re- 
lations, to make a Feaft, and invite her Friends and the 
Bridegroom's, and at the End of the Feaft, the Parent or 
Bride-man* afketh them both before the Company, if 
they are content to cohabit together as Man and Wife; 
and both declaring their Confent, they are declared by 
the Parent or Friend to be lawfully married, and if the 
Bridegroom has an Houfe, he carries her thither, but if 
not, they have a Bed provided in the Houfe where they 
are married, and are left to their own Difcretion how to 
pafs away the Night. 

They prove obedient and obliging Wives, and take 
the Management of Affairs within Doors wholly in their 
own Hands. She goes to Market for Food,, and a As the 
Cook in dreffing his Vi&uals, takes Care of his Clothes, 
in waihing and mending them ; if their Hufbands have 
pny Goods to fell,, they fet up a Shop and fell them by 
* Retail, to a much better Account than they could be fold 
for by Wholefale, and fome of them carry a Cargo of 
Goods to the inland Towns, and barter for Goods proper 
for the foreign Markets that their Hufbands are bound to,, 
and generally bring fair Accounts of their Negotiations!. 
If fhe proves falfe to her Hufband's Bed, and on fair 
Proof convi&ed, her Hufband may carry her to the 
Rounday r and have her Hair cut, and fold for a Slave* 
and he may have the Money* but if the Hufband goes a* 
fbay, fhe'll be apt to give him a gpntle Dofe, to fend him 
into the ©ther World a Sacrifice ta her Refentment. 

If fhe proves prolifick, the Children cannot be carried 
out of the Kingdom without the King's Permiflron, but 
that may be purchafed for forty or fifty Pounds SterL and 
if an irreconcileable Quarrel happen where there are Chil- 
dren, the Father is obliged to take Care of the Boys,, and 
the Mother of the Girls. , If a Hufband is content to con* 
tinue the Marriage, whilft he goes to foreign Countries a- 
febut his Affairs, he muft leave fome Fund to pay her a- 
bout fix Shillings eight Pence per Month, otherwife at the 
Year's End lhe may marry again, but. if that Sum is paid 
her on his Account, fhe is obliged to ftay the Term of 
three Years, and fhe is never the worfe, but rather the 

better 



■ 1 



336 A New HISTORY 

better look'd on, thatfhe has been married to feveral Eu- 
ropean Hufbands. 

The Pegu Clergy are the bed Obfervers of the Rules of 
Morality and Charity, that I have met with in my Tra- 
vels, and the People are pious and hofpitable. There are 
vaft Numbers of Temples built in this Country, but mpft 
of Wood; every one has free Liberty to build a Temple, 
and when it is finifhed, purchafes or beftows a few Acres 
of Ground to maintain a certain Number of Priefts and 
Novices, who manure and cultivate the Ground for their 
own'Si'ftenance, and in the Garden the Priefts and No- 
vices have a Convent built for their Conveniency of Lodg- 
ings and Study, and thofe are their fettled Benefices, for 
they are no Charge to the Laity, but by their induftrious 
Labour in managing their Garden, they have enough for 
thcmfelves, and fome thing to fpare to the poor Indigent 
of the Laity > but if their Garden is too fmall or fteril for 
the Subfiftence ot their Family, then they fend fome 
Novices abroad with a large Orange-cojoured Mantle, a- 
bout their Bodies, with a Basket hanging on their left ' 
Arm, a little Drum in' the left Hand, and a little Stick 
in the right, and when they come to the People's Doors 
they beat three Strokes with the Stick on the Drum, # and 
if none come to anfwqr, they beat again, and fo on to the 
third Time, and then if none anfwer, they proceed to the 
next Houfe without fpeakiag a Word, but they are fel- 
dom fent away without an Alms of Rice, Pulfe, Fruits, 
or Roots, which is their only Food, and what they receive 
more than they have prefent Occafion for, they diftribute * 
to the Poor, . for they never take Care for to Morrow, liv- 
ing all their Days in Celibacy, they have none of the 
Anxiety of thinking about Provifion for a Widow and 
Children. Their innocent exemplary Lives procure them 
maiiy Free-will-offerings from ihe well difpofed Laity, 
and what is faved after providing their Convents, of Ea- 
tables and Clothing, returns to the Maintenance of the 
diftrefs'd Laity, who, through Age, Sickaefs, or other 
Accidents, cannot maintain themfelves by Labour, but 
none who are able to work, partake of their Charity. 

They preach frequently, and have a numerous Au- 
ditory. Their Religion is Paganifm y and their Syftem of 

Dmm- 



of the EA6T-INDIE8. 337. 

Divinity Polytheism. Th^ teach, that Charity is the moft 
Sublime Virtue, and therefore ought to be extenfiye c- 
nough to, reach not only to human Species, but even to 
Animals, wherefore they neither kill nor eat any, and 
they are fo benevolent to Mankind, that they cherifh all 
alike without Diftin&ion, for the fake of Religion, They 
hold all Religions to be good that teach Men to be good, 
and that the Deities are pleafed with Variety of Worlhip, 
but with none that is hurtful to Men, becaufe Cruelty 
muft be difagreeable to the Nature of a Deity : $0 being, 
all agreed in that Fundamental, they have but few Pole- 
tnickst and. no Perfecutions, for they fay that our Minds 
are free Agents, and ought neither to be forc'd not: 
fetter'd. 

There ate two large Temples near Syrian* fo like one 
another in Structure, that they feem to be built by one 
Model. One Hands about fix Miles to the Southward, 
called Kiakiack, or, the God of Gods Temple. In it is an 
Image of twenty Yards long, lying in a lleeping Ppfture, 
and, by their Tradition, has lain in that Pofture fix 
thoufand Years. His Doors and Windows are always o- 
pen, and every one has the Liberty to fee him; and, 
when he awakes, this World is to be annihilated. The 
Temple ftands on an high champain Ground, and may 
eafily be fecn, in a clear Day, eight Leagues off. The 
other ftands in a low Plain, North of Syrian, about the 
fame Diftance, called Dagun. His Doors and Windows 
are always fhut, and none enters his Temple but his Priefts, 
and they won't tell what Shape he is of, only he is nQt of 
human Shape. Asfoon as Kiakiack diflblves the' Being 
and Frame of the World, Dagon or Dag un will gather up 
the Fragments, and make a new one. There are yearly 
Fairs held near thofe Temples, and the Free-will Offer- 
ings arifing at thofe Fairs, are for the Ufe of the 
Temples. 

The Country is fruitful and healthful, and the Air fo 
good, that when Strangers come hither in a bad State of 
Health, they feldom fail of a fpeedy Recovery ; but the 
Small Pox is dreaded as peftiferous, and in the Province of 
Kirian that Diftemper is moft dangerous and moft infec- 
tious, fo that if any one is feized by that Difeafe, all the 

X . Neigh. 



3$£ A New H I S TO R Y 

Neighbourhood, removes two or : tfyee Miles pittance*- 
and Duilds new Ffoijfes, which arfc.eafily done with Bam- 
bjtkdi ah& Reeds, : iffWcJi they hive lji great Plenty. They 
fcaye With the drfeafed Perfon a Jar of Water, a Baflcec of 
faw-feicfc,' and'forine eathern Pbfcs t<J bbtf it ify thert they 
&d : hiril r farewe|r for, twenty one Days. If tfie Patient has 
Strength enough t6 riftj and boil Rice; - he may then reco* 
tfer, If^ibt, hejntrftVtren die alone. 7 And it is obfervaMe r 
that; 1 ^|iile a ^ effoH has that 'Dfftemper, the ' Ty^er, 
fex 1 atf'tyis Voracioufi\efs,, will nbt touch him. If the 
Patifeitf dies withtt^ tKe Term of twenty one Days, then 
the Smell certifies them oh their approaching the Houfe^ 
and if he live, they tarry him to their new built City ^. 
and make him. a free Burgefs. , • 

I SAtf the? Ceremony of an high Prieft's Funeraf, and wa* 
i\ot a little plea^ftd With.tHe Solemnity. After the Corps hatf 
been kept three/ or ffttir Mojnbsf* by Spirits or Gums from 
Pmr£fa£t?on, theiewWa great Maftfix'd in the Ground,- fo 
faft, thtt it coula fee^moved rxa Way from its perpendicular 
Petition., Then, 'abotrr fifty or fixty Yards on each Side 
of that Maft, four ftaalfer Maft* We placed, and* ffifed 
tperpehdjcularly { iA tti$ - Ground. Around the great Maft, 
in the Middle, were -ete&ed three Spafiblds above one ano- i 
thai, the lowefmpft 'bteger than the fecond, and the third 
frpaller than thir, ifrthat it looked like * Pyramid four 
Stooes higji. The .Scaffolds were railed in on each Side 
except an. open Place of three or four Foot wide on each 
Side:* All tl^e Scaffolds, and the Ground below them, 
wererfil^d tfith Cbmbuftibles. -Frpm the Maft rn the 
Middle four Ropes were carried t;o the other four MaftSt 
and Kawl'd tight, .and 4 Fire-rocket on each Rope was plac- 
ed, at t^e refpedfivcfmall Mafts, Then the Corps was: 
c^rridB 1 to the upper Story of the Pyramid, and laid 
flat on } the Scaffold, and, after a great Shew of Sorrow 
among the People t;here prefent» a Trumpet was;founded, 
whfch\was a Signal* to fet Fire to the Rockets, which, in 
ar> Inffant, fiew with a quick Motion along the Ropes,. 
4nd fet Fire to the Combuftibles, and in a Moment they A 
were all in a Flame*, fo tftat in an Hour or two all was 
eonfamed^ 



Tms* 



1 



I 

1 



of tt>e[E.A$ T^IND I E S. 339 

This hi§h Prieft was held in fo great Veneration, that 
he was reckoned a Saint among the People. He was' in 
great Eftcem with the King, and when . any Nobleman 
fell into Difgrace, he i)fed his Intereft with the King t$ 
have him reftored again to Favour, unlefs they were guilty 
of atrocious Crimes, and, in that Cafe, he ufed his endea- 
vour* to have the Rigour of the Puniihment extenuated. 

All the Pegu Clergy are*Mediators in making up Cafes 
of Debate and Contention that happen among Neighbours. 
They never leave mediating till there be a Reconciliation.; 
and, in Token of Friendfhip, according to an ancient 
Cuftom there they eat Champock from one another's 
Hand, and that feak the Friendfhip. This Champock is 
Tea of a very unfavoury Tafte, it grows, as other Tea 
does, on Buflies, and is in Ufe'on fuch Occafions all over 
Pegu. 

And now,, fince I muft leave Pegu r 1 muft not omit 
giving the Clergy thek due Praifes in another particular 
Practice of their Charity. If a Stranger has the Misfor- 
tune to bfc ihip-wreck'd on their Coaft, by the Laws of 
tfcte Country, the Men are the King's Slaves, but, by the 
Mediation of the Church, the Governors .overlook that. 
Law; and when the unfortunate Strangers come tso their 
itaeu, they find a great deal of Hofpitallty, both in 
Food and Raiment, and have Letters of Recommendation 
from the Priefts of one Convent to thofe c£ another oa the 
Road they defign to travel, where they may expett Veffek 
to transport them to Syrian \ and if any be fick or matm'd* 
the Priefts, who are the Peguers chief Phyficians, keep 
them ifli their Convent,, till they are cured, and then 
furnifli them with Letcers* as is above obferved , for they 
never enquire which Way a Stranger worfhips, God, but 
if he is hum^n, he is the Objeft of their Charity. • 

There are fome Chilians in Syrian of the Poriugudfe 
Offspring, and fome Armenians. 

Thr Wands off the Coaft of Pegu arethe Cacots> uninha- 
bited, bus full of Cocoa-nut Trees. They lie dbdut twenty 
Leagues Weft- fouth- weft from Cape Negroes : And the I* 
flands Perperies lie thirty.. fix Leagues South of the faid 
Cape. : They are high Iflands uninhabited, and fo en* 
viron$d wiflfc Rocks under W#cr, that there i& Danger in 

Y 2 landing 



340 A New H 1 S tf O R Y, 

landing on them. They fcem to be overgrown Witfr 
Woods, and that is all that I could obferveof them. 
There is another fmail Ifland called Comtnoda, that lies a> 
bout ten Leagues off the Coaft of Pegu, but is not in- 
habited. 






CHAP. XXI. 

« 

Treats of 'Merjee ^^Tanacerin, and of the Sea-coajt in 
the King of Sums Dominions, of the Majfacre there 
of the Englifh in the Tear 1687. 

TTp H E next Place on the Continent, to the Southward, 
JL is Merjee, a Town belonging to the King of Siam i 
fituated on the Banks of the River of Tanacerin, lying 
within a great Number of fmall uninhabited Iflands. The 
Harbour is fafe, and the Country produces Rice, Tim- 
ber for building, Tin, Elephants, Elephants Teeth and 
Agala Wood. In former Times a good Number of J?»- 
gtijh free Merchants were fettled at Merjte, and drove a 
good Trade, living under a mild indulgent Government* 
but the old Eaft- India Company envying their Happinefs, 
by an arbitrary Command, ordered them to leave their 
Induftry, and repair to Fort St. George^ to ferve them, 
and threatened the King of Siam with a Sea War, if he did 
not deliver thofe Englijb up, or force them out of his Coun- 
try, and, in the Year 1687, fent one Captain Weldon in a 
fmall Ship called the Curtany, to Merjee with that Meffage. 
He behaved himfelf very infolently to the Government* 
and killed fome Siamers, without any joft Caufe. One 
Night when Weldon was afhore, the Siamers, thinking to 
do themfelves Juftice on him, got a Company together, 
defigning to feize or kill the Aggreflbr, but Weldon hav- 
ing Notice of their Defign, made his Efcape on board his 
Ship, and the Siamers miffing him, tho' very narrowly, 
vented their Rage and Revenge on all the Englijb they 
could find. The poor Vi&ims being only guarded by. 
their Innocence, did not (6 much as arm themfelves, to 
withftand the Fury of the enraged Mob, fo tfogt fcventy 

fix 



*-] 



of the E'AST«INDIES. 34* 

fix were ma0acred, end hardly twenty efcaped on board 
of the Curtany \ fo there was the tragical Confequcnce of 
one Man's Infolence. 

Before that dreadful Time, the Englifh were fo belov- 
fed and favoured at the Court of Siam y that they had Places 
pf Truft conferred upon them, both in the civil and mi- 
litary Branches of the Government. Mr. Samuel Wbitt 
was made Sbswbandaar or Cuftom-mafter at Merjee and 
Tenactri*, and Captai* Willfam was Adfflj?al of the King's 
Navy i but the troublefome Company, and a great Revo- 
lution that happened in the State of Siam 9 made fome re- 
pair to Fori: St. Gewge* others to Bengal, and fome to 
Atckten. 

The Iflands oppofite to the Coaft of $enacerin r are the 
Andemans. They lie about eighty Leagues off, and are 
furrou tided with many dangerous Banks and Rocks ; they 
ate all inhabited with Canibals y who are fofearlefs, that 
they will fwim off to a Boat; if (he approach near the 
Shore, and attack her with their wooden Weapons, not* 
withftanding the Superiority of Numbers in the IJoat, and 
the Advantage of mifljve and defenfive Arms of Iron, Steel 
and Fire. 

I knew one Fergttfbn, who commanded a Ship from 
Fort St. George^ bound from Malacca to Bengal^ iq Com- 
pany with another Ship, going too near one of the Andc- 
man Jflaads, was driven, by the Force of a ftrong Current, 
on fame Rocks, and theSbip was loft. The other Ship was 
driven thro' a Channel between two of the fame IQands, 
and was not able to ailift the (hipwrcck'd Men, but nei- 
ther Ferguffon nor any of his People were ever more heard 
of, which gave Ground to conje&ure that they were all 
devoured by thofe favage Canibals. 

The next Place of any Commerce on this Coaft, is the 
Ifland of Jonkceyloany it lies in the Dominions of the King 
of Siam. Between Merjee and Jonkceyloan there are feve- 
ral good Harbours for Shipping, but the Sea -coaft is very 
thin of Inhabitants, becaufe there are gjeat Numbers of 
Freebooters, called Salleiters, who inhabit IQands along the 
Ser. -coaft; and they both rob, and take People for Slaves* 
and tranfport them for Attbun % and there make Sale of , 

y 3 thcr * 



34a A ttew HISTORY \ 

them, and Jonkceyhti* often fecit khe Weight;©* tlttir De~ 

prfcdatkms. 

The North End of Jonkceyloan lies within a Mile of the 
Continent, but the South End is above three - Leagues „ 
from -it. Between the Ifland and the Continent is a good 
Harbour for Shipping in the South weft Monfooas* and on 
the Weft Side of the Ifland Putoh Bay is a fafe Harbour 
in the North-eaft Winds. The Iflands afford good Mafts 
for Shipping, and Abundance of Tin, but % few People 
to dig for it, by reafon of the afore-mentiofced Outlaws* 
and the Governors being generally Chinefe, who buy their 
Places at the Court of Slam, and, to reimburfe themfelves 
opprefs theiPeople, in fo much that Riches would be but 
a Plague to them, and their Poverty makes them live an 
fckfy indolent Life. 

Ybt the Villages on the Ccmtineot drive a finall Trade 
with Shipping that come from the Ckcrrmndel Coaft, and 
Btngaiy but both the Buyer and Selter trade by Retail, fo 
that a Ship's Cai<go is a long Timer irt felling, and the Pro- 
duct of the Country is as long in purchafing. 
- The- Iflands ^flf-this Part of the Coaft ar^ the Nte^bar^ 
and are about ninety Leagues diftant from the Continent, 
The North moft Clufter is low, arid are called the Carnicu- 
bats, and by their Vicinity to the Andemans, are but thin- 
ly inhabited. The middle Clutters ia fine champain 
Ground, and all but one, well inhabited. They are called 
the Somcrera Ifland v becaufe on the South End of the 
largeft Ifland, is : ah Hill that refembles the Top of an 
Umbrella or Sotherera. About fix Leagues to the South- 
ward of Somerera Ifland, lies Tallang-jang the uninhabited 
Ifland, where one Captain Oiven loft his Ship in the Year 
1708,. but the Men were all faved, and finding no In- 
habitants, they made Fires in the Night, and next Day 
there came* five or fix Canoes from Ning and Gouty, two 
fine Iflands that lie about four Leagues to the Weft ward of 
the defert Ifland, and very covwteottfly carried the fhip- 
wreck'd Men to their Iflands of Ning and Goury Y with 
what little Things they had faved of their Apparel and o- 
jther Neceffaries. 

4 NING and Goury are twofifie fmfcoth Iflaftds, well in- 
habited, and plentifully furnifhed with fcveral Sorts of 

good 



of the "Br-AJ^T.-I ND. I £ S. ^43 

<godd Fife, Hogs ihdlto*!*^, bvt *b*y have no Horfcs, 

: Cows, Sheep, nor Goats, nor wild Beafts of any Spri;, - 

but Monkies. They have no Rice nor Pulfe, fo that the 
• Kernel of Cocoa- nuts, Tarns ^ and Potatoes fervefrthea* for 
Bread. - ... 

Along the North End of the Eafemoft of the two I- 
"flantls, are good Soundings frorti ten to eight Fathonvs 
Sand, about tWo Miles; off the Shore. The People come 
thronging on board in thfcir Canoes, and bring Hogs, 
ftad; .' Chirks* \FIfl, frefhi faltad'.anfl <Jried Jftznu, the 
btritl ever tafted, Potatoft, Parol* and Monkies. to bir- 
•cer for. old Hatchets, S*^d.J)lades,_a«d thick -.Pieces <af 
Jron-Wtps, to maketkf«five W^ap§«$ agaiijft their com* 
moh Difturbef s and itojilacable lifte^ks the An$emaners\ 
and Tobacco they arfe very greedy $f, for a Leaf of Tq- 
bacco, if pretty large, theyiwill gtw a, Cock, for three 
Foot of an Iron Hoop, a Urge H«>g, a^d.for ocre-Foot in 
<Le0gtht * P'g- They all fpeak , a little broken $>w- 
tttgtqj/b, but .what I'eKgions WcfrflHp tfcey ufe, I could not 
iearn* 

The Ifland Somertra lies about eight Leagues to the 
Northward of Nmg and G**>y, and re well inhabited by 
tht Number of Villages that fhew themfeves as we fail 
albng its Shotes. Thfe People* like.thofe of Ning and 
Goury^ are very courteous* arid bring the Product pf their 
iftand aboard of Ships to-exchangc; for. tfre aforementioned 
.Commodities. Silver nor Gold, they neither have nor 
care for, fo the Root of all 'Evil can never fend out 
Branches of Mifery, or bear FriflC tp poifon their Happi^ 
nefs. The Mens Clothing is a Bit of String round their 
Middle, and about a Foot and anflajf of Cloth fix In- 
; ches broad, tuck'd before and behind within that Line. 
The Women have a Petticoat from the Navel to the Knee, 
and their Hair clofe lhaved, but the Men have the Hair 
left on the upper Part of the. Head, and below the 
Crown, but cuf &> Ihart that it tifrtfly comes to their 
Ears. 

The Southward Cluffer of the Nltobars^ is mountainous, 
and the People partake of id urtpolifhed Nature, being 
more uncivil and furly than thofe to the Northward. - 

Y 4 Their 



344 .4 Ab HISTORT 

Their Iflands produce the fame Ncceffaries as die others 
do. 



T*"*** 



CHAP. XXII. 

Gives an Account of the IJlands and trading Ports on 
the Coaji ^Sumatra, and of the Ijland ofjwz, &c. 

LABO N is the firft Place noted for Gold Duft and 
Camp hire, but has no Commerce with Strangers. 
Hog Ifland lies oppofite to it, about ten Leagues off. This- 
Ifland takes its Name from the great Numbers of wild 
Hogs on it, who are the only Inhabitants, as Cocoa Ifland 
clofe to it, takes its Name from the great Numbers of 
Cocoa-nut Trees growing on it. 

BAROS is the next Place that abounds in Gold, Cam- 
phirc, and Benzoin^ but admits of no foreign Commerce. 
It lies within the South End of Hog's Ifland, about the 
fame Diftance from it that Labon is. This Place fets a 
Boundary to the Kingdom of Atchcen. 

ATERBANGT \* the next Place of Note. It pro- 
duces Gold and Pepper, it lies about one Degree to the 
Northward of the JEquator, and has the Advantage of a 
good fafe Harbour, but it is little frequented, becaufe of 
the Treachery of the Natives, who make fmall Account 
of murdering Strangers, if they can but get the lead Ad- 
vantage by it. The Harbour lies in a fmall but deep 
Bay, and three fmall Iffends lying before it, make it a 
molt excellent Harbour ; and the Channels between the 
Iflands, and between the Shore and the Iflands, are clear 
irom Danger. 

PA DANG is about twenty Leagues to the Southward 
of the /Equator, where the Dutch have a Colony, and a 
ftrong Fort to defend it from the Infults of the Natives. 
The Ifland of Good Fortune lies about twenty Leagues 
without it. 

JNDRAPURAis the next, and lies about fifty Leagues 
to the Southward of the JEquator. It was formerly an 
EngUJh Fa&ory, but the Dutch infulted it in King Wiltiotf% 
War with France^ and it has made but a forry Figure m 

Trado 



of the E A S T - I N D I E S. 345 

\ Trade fince. Its Commodity is only Pepper, but it af- 

! fords great Plenty of it, and very cheap. The Ifland of 

Najaw lies about fifteen Leagues without it. 

BENCOLON is an Englijh Colony, but the European 
Inhabitants not very numerous. About the Year 1690, 
the Eaft- India Company built a Fort there, and called ic 
Tori Fort, but Brick or Stooe Walls in that Country can- 
not long continue firm, becaufe Concuffions of the Earth 
are fo frequent by Earthquakes, that folid Walls are rent 
by the fhaking of their Foundations. It has the Conve- 
jiiency of a River to bring their Pepper out of the inland 
Countries, but great Inconveniencies in (hipping it off on 
board the Ships, for there is a dangerous Bar at the River's 
Mouth, which has proved fatal to many poor Englijh 
Men. The Road for Shipping is alfo inconvenient ; for 
in the Southwell Monfoons, there being nothing to keep 
the great Swell of rolling Seas off them, but a fmall Ifland 
called Rat Ifland, the Ships are ever in a violent Motion 
while that Monfoon lafts, 

Ths inland Princes are often at Variance among them- 
felves, and fome times are troublefome to the Trade of our 
Colony, but as their Wars are fhort, the Englijh are in 
litde Danger by them. In the Year 1693, there was a 
great Mortality in the Colony, the Governor and his 
Council all died in a fhort Time after one apothcr ; $md 
one Mr. Sowdon being the eldeft Factor, had his Refi- 
dence at Prayman, or Priaman* a fubordinate Fa&ory to 
Bencolon, being called to the Government of the Colony, 
but not very fit for that Charge, becaufe of his intempe- 
rate drinking, it fortuned in his fhort Reign, that four 
Princes differed, and rather than run into Ads of Hofti- 
lity, referred their Differences to the Arbitriment of the 
Englijh Governor, and came to the Fort with their Plea. 
Mr. Sowdon foon determined their Differences in Favour 
of the two that complained \ and becaufe the others feemed 
diflatisfied with his Determination, ordered both their 
Heads to be ftruck off, which ended their Difputes effec- 
tually, and made them afterwards to make up Differen- 
ces among themfelves, without troubling the Englijh with 
their Contentions and impertinent Quarrels, but Gover- 
nor 



34* Irf Jfew H I 8 T O RY 

nor Sowdw was fent for 10 Fort St. tfcftg*, and another 

fent in his Pkce J«fs fanguirto. 

And ever fince that Time th*re has been a Succeftk** 
tof moderate Governors, arid fwwte have feeen guilty of as 
much Temerity the other Way. For mi the Year 1 y i^ 
the then Governor, having fbme Difputes with fome of 
the Natives, was fomewbat fearful <h them. On a fefti- 
Val Day, in firing Guns, a Wad from one of them fat 
Fire to an Houfe tfaatch'd with Reeds, and feveral othem 
contiguous to it took Fire from it, fo that it fpread through 
*he Market Plate. The Governor believing it to be done 
tnalicioufly by the Natives, left the Fort precipitantJy* 
And got oh board of a Ship in the Road, leaving (ami 
Chefts of Money, and all the Artillery, Arms, Ammu- 
nition, and other Effe&s of his Matters, behind him, and 
his Garrifon, following their Leader, left their Pofts, and 
got aboard alfo. 

The Natives being furprifed with the fuddfcn Depart 
ture of the Englijh, went into the Fort, and took what 
they had moft Occafion for; but fome Gbmfe Merchants, 
*#ht> had fettled at Btwokfkbei&gdfo frightened* embark^ 
^d on their Vdfels, and difpetled themfelves in Place* 
, Where they thought they might be moft fecure. 

The chief Merchant of the Cbinefe, who h generally 
called the China Captain, in the Places where the Cbinzji 
have Trade, Went to Batavia to fome Relations he had 
there ; but the Dtticby according to their wonted Hofpi- 
tality in India, pum(hed him as a Criminal, and taught 
him to make Lime and carry Stones th^ Remnant of his 
Days, for daring to fettle aittong the EngHfb. Some of 
*he Gbinefe I faw the fame Year at Trangano in Jobfire* 
who gave me this Account. Wherever thefe poor Cbintfe 
came, in Places where the Dutch had Power, they were 
as heartily perfecuted as a Poor Protojtont is that takes 
San&uary in a Country where the holy, charitable, zea* 
lous Romijh Clergy bave Power. 

The Natives were almoft ruined by the Exglifb Defer* 
tion. For as their Trade lay all on their Pepper, none 
tame to buy it, and their Regret being known at Fort St; 
George, there was a new Governor fent back with a new 
Garrifon, to take PolTeffion again of their own Fort. What 

the 



of (be KAS'T'INXI IE S. 34? 

the Company loft by that unaccountable Pfcce of T*UHe* 
rityv Hafcw jigt, but they gained very little Credit by it* 

The Country above Bencoion is mountanieus and WC^dy^ 
and I have heard that there at* many Vtdctnots in thU 
Ifland 5 but whatever may be the Caufd, the Aif* it full of 
malignant Vapours, and the Mountains are coritkutelly 
clothed with; thick heavy Clouds, that break out in Light- 
ening, Thunder, Rain, and fhort-liv'd Storm*. *Th6fr 
Food is not fit for every Stomach. Tame j&uffah riaay 
be had, but no Cow-beef. Poultry ai% fcaree and deftf* 
and fo is Fifh, but fome Sorts of Fruit art pretty ptatti*- 
ful; however, the Gentlemen there live as merrily,* thoT 
not fo long, as in other- Places bleft with P4enty, And fo 
ibciable, that they leave their Eftates to the loftgcft Liter* 

SILLEBAR lies about four Leagues to the South- eift^ 
ward of BeHcokn, and has a fine convenient Hirbota* 16 
flicker Shipping from all Dangers caufed by StOffAs, bift 
the frefh Water is bad, and if drank any cftftfidetabl* 
Time, caufes Gripings and Fluxes, but it wants a Ri- 
ver to bring Pepper from the inland Countries. Therfe 
is no Place of Commerce* or Note bew*&n SilUbaf tool 
Lampoun Point, which is the Southwardmoft Point on 
Sumatra, nor any Thing remarkable on the Sea-fhore, but 
a fmail Village, called Fijfimgen^ which has a frtull low 
Ifland lying a little Way off it, and there is abov* forty 
Fathoms deep within an Englifh Mile of the Sh6re* An4 
the Ifland of Engano lies in the Offing, about twenty 
Leagues from it. It is an Ifland about three L&Agues 
long, uninhabited, very fmooth, without Mountains, and 
may be feen nine or ten Leagues off. 

LAMPOUN lies twenty Leagues from the Point within 
the Streights of Sunda^ at the Bottom of a deep Bay. The 
Englifh had a good Pepper Fadfcory there, but it being fc 
Part of the King of Bantam** Dominions, that Factory 
was loft when the Dutch compelled the^EngliJb to leave 
Bantam, in the Year 1683, anc ^ w ^ at Lampoun produces 
is carried to them at Bantam. 

PULLAMBAM is a Dutch Fadlory that brings them 
great Quantities of Pepper, being under Contract with the 
King of Pullambam^ and other inland Princes, to take odf 
all their Pepper at a certain Price, I think it is for ten 

Pieces 



34* , r 4 1»» HISTORY ■ 

Pieces of Eight, or fifty Shillings Ster. a Babaar* of 
four hundred Pounds Englijb futtle Weight, one Half to be 

?aid in Money, and the other Half in Cloth. The Cloth 
art the Company pays at feventy per Cent, on the prime 
Coft ; but all other Nations are debarred Commerce there, 
except the Ckinefe, and by their Means the Englijb come 
in for a Share of their Pepper, as our Ships pafs through 
the Streights of Banka. 

PULhAMBAM lies about eight Leagues from the Sea, 
on the Banks of a large River, which divides itfelf into fe~ 
veral Branches, and they difembogue at four Mouths in- 
to the Sea. The Dutch keep two fmall Sloops cruifing a* 
bout thofe Mouths of the River, to prevent Smuggling, 
but I and many others have found Ways and Means to 
Jade our Ships full with Pepper, notwithftanding the 
fbidt Guard, An hundred Pounds to the King, and as 
much to the Dutch Chief, make a Cargo of a thoufand 
B&baars eafily procur'd. 

. Thb Pullambam Pepper is very foul, in fo much that 
we feldom find leis than ten or twelve per Cent. Garblage-, 
but then we buy it for nine Pieces of Eight a Babaar. 
The Dutch lade off about three thoufand Tuns per Annum] 
from this Place, and the Cbinefe and Natives lade off as 
much more. The Natives are obliged to carry theirs to 
Batavia, and fell to the Dutch Company, hut if they 
meet with a Market by the Way, they'll embrace it; for 
the Company's Payment being moft in Cloth at high 
Kates, they are not fond of trading with them. 

The Dutch Company formerly drove a good Trade in 
Opbium, at Pullambam > which (like French Claret and 
Brandy) drew much ready Cafli out of his Country, as 
thofe do out of ours, hut in the Year 1 708, the King or- 
dered only the Importation of three Chefts, each contain- 
ing about 1 60 Pound Weight, and if Smugglers were de- 
tected, they paid their Goods and Lives for their Di (obe- 
dience, , 

The firft Place of Commerce is the famous Bantam, 
where the Englijb and Danes had their Factories flourifhing 
till the Year 1682, at which Time the neighbourly Dutch 
fomented a War between the old King of Bantam and his 
Son, and becaufe the Father would not come into their 

Mea- 



of the E A S T - I N t> I £ S. 34$ 

Meafures, and be their humble Slave, they (truck in 
with the Son, who was more covetous of a Crown than 
of Wifdorfi. They, with the Affiftance of other Rebels, 
put the Son on the Throne, and took the old King Pri- 
foner, and fent him tor Batavia; and, in 1683, they pre- 
tended a Power from the new King to fend the Engtijb and 
Danes a packing, which they did with a great deal of In- 
folence, according to Cuftom. They next fortified, by 
building a ftrong Fort within a Piftol-ftiot of one that the 
old King had built before to bridle their Infolence. 

The only Produdt of Bantam is Pepper, wherein it a~ 
bounds fo much, that they can export ten thoufand Tuns 
per Annum. The Road is good, and fecure for the Safety 
of Shipping. It is in a pleafant Bay, wherein are feveral 
fmall Iflands, which retain their Englijh Names ftill \ and 
the Natives ftill lament the Lofs of the Englijh Trade a- 
mong them, but the King has much more Reafon than 
his Subjedts to regret the Lofs of their Commerce. The 
Good- will the Natives bear to the Dutch may be conjectur- 
ed from their Treatment, when they find an Opportunity, 
for if an Hollander goes but a Musket-fhot from their 
Fort, it is five to one if ever he returns, for they are dex- 
trous in throwing a Lance, or (hooting of poifoned Darts 
thro' a wooden Pipe or Trunk ; and the King never re- 
drefles them, pretending the Criminal cannot be found. 

BAT AVI A is about twenty Leagues to the Eaftward 
of Bantam^ and a great Number of fmall Iflands lie feat- 
tered in the Way, too tedious to mention. Pulla-panjang 
off Bantam, and Edam offBatavia are the moft confpicuous, 
and the Road of Batavia is almoft Unrounded with I* 
(lands, fome of them inhabited, and fome not. 

JAPARA r which formerly had an Englijh Fa&ory* 
but now is altogether m the Dutch Hands, is defend- 
ed by two Forts, one on an Hill, and the other in a 
Plain, where the Town (lands, and has a fmall River to 
wa(h its Walls, The Road is fecured by two Iflands that 
Ee about a League off the Town. I bought good white 
Sugar in Cakes here for two Dutch Dollars per Pead> be- 
ing one hundred and forty Pounds Englijh futtle Weight. 

The Religion of Java is partly Mahometan and partly 

Pagan. The Pagans chooic Women to be Prieftcffes, 

- ■ •• ~ " and 



350 A New HIS TOR Y 

^nd'thcy ate jgpncjally old, and well ikiHed in Witchcraft. 
And it is reported, that they have frequent Converfatioi* 
with the Devil, who appears to them, in an horrid inonftrous 
Shape, and the Pricfteffes facrifice an Hog to him. 

t&e Ifland of Madura Y that produces nothing for a 
foreign Market, but Deer Skins, They may be had in 

j^at Abundance, and very cheap. This Ifland confronts 

tyvat to it$ very eaftermoft Point. 

The Ifland Timr lies within twenty Leagues to thq 
Sbuth of thpfe four Iflands ahovementioned. It is a large 
IQajKl about ninety Leagues long, and eighteen broad. 
The Natives acknowledge thq King of Portugal their So- 
vqr^igp. and have embraced the Romijh Religion, They 
permitted the Porfuguefe Colony of Maccao in China, to 
piiild a Fort on it, which they called Leifaw> and the 
Dutch a Fa&ory called Coupang % but would never fuffe* 
' either to interfere with the Government of their Country. 
The Portuguese of Maccao drove a very advantageous Trad* 
to Titrior iqi many Years, and finding the Natives in- 
clined, to be pafiive Catbolicks^ tried by fair Means to get 
the \vhole Government of the Country into the Churches 
Hands*, but could not beguile theta that Way, therefor* 
they tried Forcqs, and commenced a War, but to thei* 
Cofttbey found* that the Timoreans would not lofe tbei* 
Liberty for fear of the Lofs of Blood. They chofe one 
Qonfalcs Gomez their General. He was a Native of TV- 
ntor 9 and had travelled to Maccao and Goa. He allowed 
the King of Portugal to be the Sovereign and Protestor of 
their Country, and they would be his loyal Subje<Sts, pro- 
viding their Laws and Liberties might be fccured to 
them. 

That War with the City.ofil&raztflafted about fifteen 
Years. It began about the Year 1688, and was not quite 
finifhed in the Year 1703, and Maccao in the End waa 
ruined by it, for it exhaufted both their Stock of Men and 
Money to fuch a, Degree, that of one thoufand Citizen* 
the Town had before the War* there was hardly fifty left; 
at the End of it, and of forty Sail of trading Ships* not a-» 
bove five left. 

The Vice-roy of Goa fent an Embafiy to Gonfaki Go- 
mzzy in the Year 1658,, toperfuade him to Peaje, and vo 

accept 



of the EAST-INDIES. 35:1 

accept of a Governor General and an Archhiihop from 
Gm, bqt to no Purpofe, for they declared, that they 
would admit, of no foreign Governors in their Country* 
either in Church or State. 

The Native* report, that at a certain Seafon of the Year* 
after the S<Mitb»w€ft Monfoons are fet in, they can diA 
cern an high mountainous Land to the Southward Q& 
them) and continues m Sight from December tor the latte* 
End of February r or the Beginning of March, and then 
difappears. If the Report he true, it muft be Tome floating 
Ifland, that comes from and goes to New Holland* which- 
is the next Traft of J-and to the South of Timor*. Theft 
Accounts I had from a Porfuguefe Gentleman called Alex* 
ander Pint$ s who vras a Captain at Leifaw four Years, and 
was bound from Batavia to Goa in the Year 1 704. He 
went Paffenger with me, and feem'd to be a Man of 
Probity. 

The Iflands of Band*, where Cloves, Nutmegs, and 
Mace grow, are now all engrofied by the Dutch y who 
allow one of theno called Pullo-wey> to belong to the Eng+ 
lift, after they had' been at forty Years Pains to cut down 
all the Clove and Nutmeg Trees that grew on it, and 
have made it Death tor the Natives ever to plant any ott 
fe. 

The Englijh had alfo a Fa&ory on Pulloron, but were 
glad to leave it about the Year 161 8, The Butch have 
that Ifland ft ill, with Lout ore and Noro> where they reap 
plentiful Crops of Spice. 

1 mvst now fteer Weft north-weft about thirty 
Leagues, to the famous Ifland of Atnboina r where as real 
a Tragedy was a&ed on the Engli/h y as ever happened a* 
mong Friends and Allies. The Story is to well knowA 
to need a Place here. However, at prefent it has altered 
its Scene, and turned prodigioufly religious, having no 
kfs thaft fifty Dutch Proteftant Churches on that holy Ifland* 
and the Natives are very fond and forward to turn Con- 
verts, efpecially fince fome Atoboinefe Youths have been 
lent to Holland^ and trained up in their Univerfities, and 
honoured with Church Orders. They coming back to 
their own native Land, loaded with fuch fine Qualifier 

tioitf* 



36o A New H I S T O R Y 

ttons, and receiving great Refped from their Matters the 
Dutch ^ make the Converfion of the Populace very eafy. , 

The Dutch have fo fortified Amboina^ by their own 
Report, that they think it impregnable. It is true Vic- 
toria Bay is fathomlefs till Shipping come within a Mile 
of their Forts, and there is no other Place for anchoring 
on that Side of the Ifland, but I have heard fome Dutch 
Officers, in difputing their Knowledge of Ambcina y fay, 
chat on that Side that fronts the Coaft of Ceram, there 
are fcveral Places of anchoring at a Mile of two diftant 
from the Shore, and never a Fort built to impede an Ene- 
my's landing, and that if an Army fuperior in .Force to 
what the Dutch have at ViBoria, would march but fix or 
(even Leagues by Land, they might come on the Back 
of the Town, and lodge on Hills fo near it, that none 
could not pafs the Streets in the Town, nor appear on their 
Bulwarks or Batteries; but this was a Secret that the 
Englijh or French ought not to know. 

One Captain Etbrington, in a Ship called the Rtfolutum^ 
made a Trip to Gilo lo about the Year 1692, and got forty 
Tuns of Spice. He called at Batavia in his Way to Eng- 
landy and the Dutch being very felicitous to know where 
lie had been, he freely told them, to let them fee the En- 
glijh were not quite ignorant of that Navigation, if they 
had a Mind to follow it. 

I now continue my Courfe Weftward along the iEqua- 
tor, to the Ifland Celebes^ the Eaft-Side of which Ifland, 
and a great Number of fmaller ones, are little frequented 
by Strangers, but on the South-weft Corner of it is Mac- 
cafar, where the Dutch have a Fa&ory, but its chief Pro- 
duct is Corn, which indeed all thofe eaftern Iflands a- 
bound in, and confequently in Poultry. The Natives are 
of a light Olive Colour, and the Women well fhaped, 
and pretty beautiful, for which Reafon they are in great 
Esteem among the Dutch and Chinefe, who buy them for 
Bed-fellows, and often marry them. The Men and Wo- 
men are both fhort in Stature, but well featured, and 
well limb'd. They are very loving and faithful if well 
*ifed, but exceeding revengeful if ill ufed. The Country 
is populous and very large, being almoft- two hundred 
leagues long, but the Breadth unequal. At the broad- 

^ eft 



of ^'.'EvA^S^T-'I N D IE S. 353 

eft it is about fevcnty -Leagues. About -thirty Leagues 
Weftw#f<J Mas Borneoi ■. 



CHAP. XXIII. 

- Gw ## Account of Boppeo. . , r 

r TP H £ great Ifland of Bornew, "or Borneo, th$ laigcfl: 
X txct^t. California^ in the known World. The Weft 
.Side of it, is for the moft Part defart, .On. the South End 
• lies Pullo4aut, a moft, excellent Harbour for Shipping. 
The Ifland is but thinly peopled its Fr.oduft being nothing 
but Rice,., but the North End of it ljes,aear many Rivers 
that come out of the Pepper Countries. \ The Ifland is 
about twenty Leagues long, but of an unequal Breadth, 
tho* in fodfl? Parts it is twelve League^ brpad. 

Thejr.e is aChanneltuns bttwttnPulld : lout and thelftancl 
,of Borwo* \about two Miles fyrqad, iQipe Places narrower, 
and foqie broader, and from feVen to five Fathoms deep, 
airthe' ; Wajr through, and there arefeveral rifing Grounds 
along thpt Shore, fit to build Ho'ufes on, which is a Ra- 
.rity on the ,Sea Coafl: of JBorneo, feldom.to be met with. 
1 heard Mr. Sylvanus Landen, who had been Chiefof Bor~ 
neo f fay, .that, he much wondered why. the Company of 
England fliould have fettled a Faftory "at Banfar-majfeeK 9 
where they were forced for feveral Years to keep their 
Factory 'on F]otes of great Trees tied together, and made 
faft to 'frees growing in the Water, on the Side of a River, 
with Cables m^de of Rottans, and when they built a Fac- 
+ .tory, they, were forced firlt to drive Poles in the Grqund, 
to make a .Foundation^, as the Dutch do.at Amfterdam, and 
raifc Earth on them to .build upon, •' .' , . 

Captain Barry, a v$ry ingenious Gentleman, dfew 
the. Plan, .but. died before ,the Work, was brought to any 
great Forwardnefs, and" Mr. Cutimngbbm, who came thi- 
.ther from Pullo-condor'e, when- that Factory was cut off by 
their Maccajger Soldiers,- eame to the. Head of the Com- 
pany's Affairs. H$ 'was bred a Sufgqpn[, and had turn'd 
Virtuofoy would fpend whole Days In "contemplating on 
the Nature, Shape, and Qualities of a Butterfly or a Shell- 

Z fifh, 



354 * #** H IS T ° R Y 

fifh, and left the Management of the Company's Bufi- 
nefs to others as little capable as himfelf, fo etrry one 
but he was Matter. _ 

Their Fo&ory was not half finished before they~began 
to domineer over .Che Natives, who paft in their Boats up 
and down the River, and very imprudently would needs 
fcarch one of the Ktftg's Boats, who was carrying a Lady 
of Quality down the River, which fo provoked the King, 
thatne fware Revenge, and accordingly gathered an Ar- 
my, and fliipp'd it on large Praws, to execute his Rage on 
the Fa&ory and Shipping that lay on the River. The 
Company had two Ships, and there were two others that 
'belonged to private Merchants, and I was pretty deeply 
concerned in one of them. The Faftory receiving Advice 
of the King's Defign, and the Preparations he "had made, 
lefttheir Fa&ory, and went on board the Shipping, think- 
ing. themfelVcs more fecure on boafd than afliorc. When 
all Thirigs were in a Readineft, the Army came in the 
'Night, with above one hundred Prows, and no lefs than 
three thoufand defoerate Fellows. Some landed and burnt 
the Fa&ory and Fortifications, while others attack'd the 
Ships, which were prepared to receive thpm. The Eng- 
UJh had m^de faft ^Nettings from the Mifcon to the fore 
Shrouds, ibout two Fathoms high above the Gunnel, that 
they might not be too fuddenlv boarded by the Enemy, 
and to have the Opportunity of ufing their Blunderbufics 
and Lances, before the Enemy could get on their Decks. 
As foon as they in the Ships faw the Fleet approaching 
near them, they plied their Guns with double Round and 
Partridge, and made a great Carnage, but all did not 
deter the Aflailadts from boarding, who when they got as 
high as the Gun- wall or Gunnel, were at a Lofs how to 

fet over the Netting, and fo were killed with great Eafe. 
ome got in at the head Door of one of the Ships, and 
' killed fome Engtijh in the Fore-caftle, but they were foon 
deftroyed. The two great Ships, tho* in Danger, beat 
off the Enemy with fmall Lois, but the little Ships were 
both burnt, with* moft of their Men, and one Dutch Gen- 
tleman who was obliged to fly from Batavia on one of the 
fmall Veflels, was alfo burnt in her. His Name was 

Hoogb 



of the £ A S t ~ I N D I E S* 355 

tioogb Camber, and had been Ambaflador to the King of 
Perja> 

I heard fome C&jmt Men fay, who were there at the 
Time of the Engagement, that the Englijh killed, (in two 
Hours that the A<ftton was hot,) above one thoufaftd 
five hundred Men> befidea many wounded and niaim*d* 
but the Englijh were forced to be gone from their Settle-* 
. ment. The King thought his Revenge had gone far 
enough in driving them from their Settlement, and find- 
ing the Lofs of the Englijh Trade affe&ed his Revenue, 
he let all Englifij who traded to Johore and other ^circum- 
jacent Countries, know, that he would ftill continue a 
free Trade with the Engtifh on the old Footing, but would 
never fuffer them, or any other Nation to build Forts in his 
Country. Several Englijh have been there fince, and load- 
ed Pepper, and have been civilly treated ; and the Butch 
fent a Ship from Batavia in the Year 171 i y to trade with 
them, but the Natives refufed Commerce with them. 

The inland Country is very mountainous, but towards 
the Sea very low and marfhy, occafioned by the great 
Rains that continue about eight Months in the Yeah It 
produces Rice, and many Sorts of Fruits in great Abun* 
Oance. Pepper is peculiar to the Countries about Ban- 
jaar\ and to the weft ward about Succadaana, they Have 
fmall Diamonds, but their Waters being inclined to be 
yellow, are not fo much in Efteem as thofe of GolcoHdab. 

The Englijh had formerly a Faftory at Succadaana, but 
why they left it I know not, unlefs it was for the Un- 
wholefomncfs of the Country; yet in the Year 1694,1 
met with a Ship from Fort St. George, bound to Succa- 
daana, commanded by one Captain Gullock, who had, been 
there the Year before, and praifed it for a wholfome Coun- 
try, and the Inhabitants very civil and, obliging. He 
bought fome Surat Bajlaes of me, at forty five per Cent* 
on Invoyce, and expedted to make as much himfelf. 

It is reported, that on the Coaft of Borneo, between 
Lao and Sobar, there are many Canibals, but I never 
heard it confirmed by any but Chinefe. And from Sobar 
to Succadaana, the People are civil enough to Strangers. 

SAMBAS is the next Country of Commerce to the North- 
ward of Succadaana, It produces but very little' Pepper, 

Z 2 but 




* i; A • &eu> H 1 S Tf ORY 

t fome Gold, Pearls, and Bees«»wax, which makes it 
well frequented by the Chinefe* who carry Surat Piece- 
gpods from Malacca- and Johort* and barter to very good 
^ufpofe for the aforefaid Commodities. Bees-yraf, is the 
current Cafti in that Country. It is melted but not refin* 
ed, ,ahd call in Moulds of an oblong Square, the Breadth 
about two Thirds' of the Length* aftd the Thickneis Half 
of tlie Breadth, arid a Rattan iV.ithy to lift them by, call 
in the Wax. A Pipce weighs "a Quarter of a Pecul* which 
comes to in Englijk Weight, thirty four Pounds, and a 
Pecul i^ valued inpayments at ten Majfcies* or forty Shil- 
lings \Sterl. ' They have alfo for fmaller Payments Pieces 
of Eight to a Peculand Sixteenths, and for fmaller' Money 
thpy have Ccuries. The Prince and People are very ho- 
spitable and civil, fo that Strangers trade there with Se- 
curity. I knew & French Armenian* who coming from. 
Manilla* had the Misfortune to lofe his Ship on that Part 
of the,Coaft that belongs to the King of Sambas.. They 
had but little Groods, for generally tyanijh Dollars are the 
Common .Return for Gpods fold at Manilla. When the 
People that were Ihipwreck'd c^me afhbre,. they were car- 
ried to the King, who examined what they were, from. 
whence they came, and whither bound, with what they 
yrere loaded, and feveral other Interrogatories, and then 
prd^rpd them Provifions, and Men and Boats to aflift 
them' in faving their Treafure, for there was but very little 
loft befides the Ship. and Stores that were not worth the 
Trouble of faving. The King gave him Pearls and Bees- 
wax for his Silver, at fuch reafonable Rates, that the Ar- 
menian gained forty per Cent, at Batavia* (whither he^ 
went on a China Veflels) for the Goods he difpofed of there. 
At *J2atavia he took Paflage on board a French Ship fos 

* China* *arid in their Way called at Trangano* where I met 
witlvhfm in the Year 1719. I had the whole Account from 
hlmlelf, an4 fay/ fome beautiful Pearls that he was carry- 
ing to the China Market, and among them a Pair of Pears 
tvorth fifty Pounds Sterl. 

The Chinefe drive a fmall Trade from Siam and. Cam* 
hodia* to the T<>wn * called Borneo* that lies about eighty 
Leagues to the Northward of Sambas* and thefe are all the 
trading Places that lie about the North End of this Iiland, 

that 



of the E^A^X-I N.D I E S. ,357 

that I could hear of. The Religion m Borneo is Pagan^cxr 
cept in fome Places on. the Sea Coaft there are fome Maho- 
metans^ and fo I muft. leave Borneo, and fleer my Courft 
towards the Coaft oi.Johore on the. Continent, but in my 
Way there are two Clufters of Iflands that lie half-way. 
One is called Anamba^ and;th$ other Natuna, butty the 
Natives Sciantan, is the commoa Appellation for both 
Clufters. Their Inhabitants are called Bougies, a fierce 
"defperate People, and the only Produft. of thofe Iflinds is 
Bedernut, and the Religion Mahometan. The Iflands 
are very high, and may be eafily feen in a clear Day abovfc 
fifteen Leagues. ' ■ ■■ 7 

The Johore Iflands to the North-eaftward of the Pro- 
jnontory of Romano, (from wheace I took my Departures 
when I fteered among the Iflands) arefirft Pullo-tingi, then 
Pullp-^aure, then Pullo~pifang y and then* Pullo-timouft, the 
higheft and largeft among them. They are all inhabited 
,and produce Poultry* apd fmall Goats, and fome Fruits* 
but no Commodities for Export, Their Religion is Ma- 
hometan. 

PAH AUNG lies North -weft of Pullo-timouny about 
twenty Leagues diftant. Pullo-varella lies in the Way, 
but it is rather a Rock than an Ifland, therefore hardly 
worth noticing. Pahaung River has a pretty large Ifland 
lying in its Mouth, which makes two Channels into it. 
The North Entry has no lefs than four Fathoms and an 
Half at High-water, and the Channel is about an hundred 
and fifty Yards broad. Juft within the Bar is goodfe- 4 
.cure Anchoring in fix Fathoms, and there are good 
frefh Water Springs within two hundred Paces of the Sea- 
ihore. .The River is a Mile broad, but fo full of Banks, 
that it is wkh Trouble a fmall Veflel of thirty Tuns can 
go to the Town, which lies about twelve Miles up the 
River, where I left Rajah Bowncea, before I took my Ram- 
ble among the Iflands. He was there in the Year 1719, 
with five or fix hundred Men to keep that Country firm 
:to his Father. 

1 PAHAUNG River runs far into the Country, and 
wafhes the Foot of Malacca Hilh There is abundance 
.of Gold Duft found in it, and I have feen fome Lumps 
#f five or fix Ounces each. They do not dive for the Duft 

Z 3 above 



»• 



358 . A New HI ST'OR Y 

above three Fathoms, tho' there ' are fome Places in the 
River above ten deep, and generally where the deepeft 
Water is, moft Goid-duft is found. It has exported fotne 
Years above eight hundred Weight. Along the Sides of 
the River Pepper is planted for Export, but not above 
three hvindred Tuns in a Year, becaufe they want Vend 
for more, . tho', if they had a Market to carry it off, in 
five Years Time they could make a Produft of three thou- . 
fand Tuns, Befides Pepper and Gold, there are Tin and* 
Elephants Teeth, but in no great Plenty, and the beft 
Canes in the World grow hereabout. The Country is 
woody, and is ftor'd with wild Game and Fruits, their 
Rivers and Sea with great Plenty and Variety of excellent 
Fifl*» but the Country is not reckoned very healthful, 
becaufe of the Abundance of Rains. Trangano is the next 
Place of Note for Commerce, and in the Year 1720, the 
Place of Refidence of a poor diftrefs'd King, who by a 
fenfelefs Devotion to Supcrftition, ruin'd his Country and 
his own Family. 

I gav? an Account before of his Brother's tragical End, 
and the daring boldnefs of a Youth that ftiewed him the 
Way to die by his own Hand. In 17 19, I faw the Youth 
waiting on the King, and fanning him with a Peacocks 
Tail. In my Way to Siam^ I called at Trangano^ and 
went to wait' on him, and he remembered that he had 
been acquainted with me five and twenty Years before. 
I ftaid about a Week, and every Day he wanted to fee 
me. He often repented his taking the Weight of Sove- 
reignty on his Shoulders, and feared that his End would 
prove as tragical as his Brothers. 

TRANGANO ftands pleafantly near the Sea, on the 
Side of a River that has a fhallow Bar, and many Rocks 
fcattered to and again within the River, but Room enough 
ip many Places to moor fmall Ships very fccurely, to 
keep them fafe from the Dangers of the Winds or Floods, 
There may be about one thoufand Houfes in it> tiot built 
in regular Streets, but fcattered in tfen or twenty ki a Place 
diftant a little Way from another's/^ of the fame Mag- 
nitude. The Town is above half-peopled with Cbinefr^ 
who have a good Trade for three or four fsnis yearly <> 
befides ibmc that trad? to Siam> Camlwdia* Tmquem and 

Sambas. 



of the E, A ST -INPIE S. 359 

Sm&as* When I .otmn.bvsk from Sim with my Cargo 
unfold, as I mentioned before, I came to Trangano to. 
difpofe of what I could of my Goods and to procure a 
new Cargo, for SuraA, thtt kind King affifted me in doing 
bothi w«h all the Readme!* and Cheerfulnefs imagina- 
ble. 

Wm lb my Ship lay in the Road, the Bougies came with 
» Fleet of two hundred Sail of Praws, defigning to plunder 
the Town, of Trangano \ but they were afraid to pafs fo near 
our Guns, as they muft have been neceffitated to do before 
they could get into the River. When they came to a 
.Place about five Leagues off, they fent a Praw to. my 
Ship, and the Officer told me, that he had a Com mi IE on 
to prater «nd pay me three thoufand Spantjh Dollars, if I 
would let them pafs quietly into the- River. I ordered 
him away, and threatened, chat, if they came, they fhould 
feel the Force of my Powder and Shot, When I came 
aihore, the King afk'd me if I would prote& him. I told 
him I would with all the Force I had. He wept, as if he 
had been diffident, tad defired that I would take him on 
board of *ny Ship, and carry him whitherfoever I went, 
for hi* jLife was burdenfome to him, and he could truft 
none of his own People* I perfcaded him that I was fin* 
<ere in my Refoiution to protect him, and that k would 
look loo mean to run away from his Kingdom, while 
{here was a Fallibility to regain it. 

He told me, that be hadfent Ambai&dors to the Dutch 
at Afylaeca for Affiftance, according M the ancient League 
ijctweeft his Anceftors and them, when {hey joined their 
Forces to expel the Portugucfe from Malacca* but inftead 
of finding Relief (here, his Enemies were affifted with 
Powder and Shot, and his rebellions Subjects had a lafe 
Retreat at Malacca. 

I ad vj s£ d him to take Protection from the Dutch* and 
allow them the Monopolization of the Trade of his Coun- 
try, and to part the .Revenues between him and them. 
He feenaed to be offended with the Propofal, but he faid 
he would be glad if the. Englijb would fettle in his Domi- 
nions*. <ind fortify what Places they pleafed, and that he 
would willingly come under their Protection, and that 
She*e were none that ever entertained the Dutch in their 

Z 4 Countries 



3 6o A' New' H I S X O R Y : 

Countries as Goeft* but would willingly be quit of thefti 
again, if they could. :■...:.' » 

. There happened to come a French Ship thither at that 
Time, being bound to China. The King gave the Cap- 
tain and me an Invitation to Dinner, and, after we had 
regaled ourfelves, we entered on a Difcourfe of the mife- 
rable State of a Country. under the Malignancy of a civil 
War. He afked us, if fuch Calamities had • happened to 
England or France, i •< We affuted him there had- been often 
fuch Diftempers among. us, but that when the Difeafe 
was cured, our State 'became as* ftrong and vigorous as 
ever. v ■::" .- .' •- <•, u " ' ' 

He had feveral Times afk'd me, if I thought the Eng - 
Ulb might be perfuadfed to fettle a Colony in his Country* 
that Pabaung might be made a Place of great Trade, if 
there were Shipping and Stock to carry off the Pepper 
and Tin which that Country alono could produce. " I told 
him, I could give him no Encouragement to brfteve they 
would, ... I 

He then defpairing of getting an Englijh Colony fet- 
tled, propofed to Mr. Pedro-villamount Garden^ who com- 
manded the Freftih Ship, if he thought the Fwkcb Natioh 
might < be induced to fettlft in his . Dominions, and the 
French Gentleman gave him Hopes that the Kinjgdf Ffdnte 
might be induced to- accept of his Friendfhip, '• and fettle 
a Colony, providing he would certify his Rec|ue:ft by a 
Letter; which the King of Jobore readily agreed to. It 
was writtei) in the Malayan Language, and tranflated by 
a Clnnefe into Pdrtttguefe y and I tranflated it from that Lan- 
guage into Englijk Thd Original and the Englijh Tran- 
slation were delivered to the French Captain, but I n^ypr 
heard of it fince. ; ^V 

He told me, that when I came to Bombay, I fhould ao* 
quaint the Governor of the Defire he had to live under the 
-Prote&ion of the Englijh r and that wich one hundred and 
fifty Men they might bridle the infolence <qf hisoWn re- 
bellious Subje&s, and their Allies the Boitgie* too. 

TRANGANO is k very pleafant and healthful Country? 
and affords a fine Landfkip from the Sea. The Hills are 
low, and covered with ever- green Trees,; that 'actommo— 
date the Inhabitants with Variety of dfcliciotte Wruits, focK * 

a$ 



of the E AST-3 N V TJE S. 361 

OS Lemons,* Oranges, times, Mangoes, Mdngoftans, Ram- 
fo flans, Leubee& and Duuans * , And in the Vallies, Corn, 
Pulfe and Sugar-canes. The Ground is cultivated by the 
Cbinefe, for the lazy Malagas cannot take that Trouble. 

The Produtt of the Country is Pepper and. Gold, 
which are moftly exported by the Cbinefe. . About three 
hundred Tuns are the common Export of Pepper, and 
we have it aknoft for* one half of the Price that we pay 
for Malabar Pepper. From the Month of Oftober tiH 
March, their River is (hut up by the Bar, jvhich fills up 
by the Impetuofity of the great Seas fent on that Shore 
by the North-eaft Monfoons; but in the Months of Jtilp 
and Augufi their Seas produce the fineflt Fifh that ever I 
faw or tailed. There is One Sort exadtly like a Salmon, 
.both in Shape and Tafte, but the Fifli is white, as tte 
Salmon is red. Their Poultry are large, plump and fweet, 
but Beef is fcarce, except* Buffalo Beef, and that is plen- 
tiful enough. 

In the Year 1720, the Bougies came to Pullo-capafi, 
which is but five Leagues from Trangano 4 but there ait 
other Iflands that lie twelve Leagues more foutherly, 
called, in the Maps, by the Name of PuUo-capafs^ but 
their right Name, which the Natives call them by, is 
Pullo-tetang. 

However, from Pullo-capafs the Bougies fent an Em- 
bafly to Trangano j pretending an Accommodation with 
the King, to fee if he would allow them to enjoy the, Con- 
tinent and Iflands beyond the Promontory of Romano, 
and they would leave him the quiej Pofieifion of the reft; 
and, while they were in, a large Hall conferring, fome ui> 
ufual fudden Noife happened to be heard from without, 
which the guilty Bougies taking to be fome Defign in Exe- 
cution againft them, one of them runs to the King, and 
creft him to the Heart, which made a very great Diibrder, 
and many were killed on both Sides; and vt\izt Bougies 
remained, got on board of their Gallies, and . pofted to 
their Fleet at Pullo-capafs, with the News of what had 
happened at Trangano, and next Day the Bougies went 
into the River, and plundered the Town, except certain 
Houfes which belonged to the Dattabandaar, or firft Mi- 
nifter, whom the King in -his Life- time, ever miftrufted, 

but, 



# 



;62 A Km H-ILS T O R V 

bat, by the ill Situation of his Affairs, was^oWiged to 
hide his Thoughts, and defer his Refefttmcnca. till a pn>r 
per lime. ... 

SI AM. The City ftandson an Ifland in the River 
Mtmnony which, by Turnings and Windings, makes the 
Difbnce from the Bar about fifty Leagues. The Coun- 
try is low, and as fruitful a* any Spot of Ground in the 
World, in Rice, Legumen, Fruits and Roots, Cattle 
•wild and tame. And the River abounds in many Species 
of excellent Fifh* which plentifully indulge the Inhabi- 
tants, and make them indolent and lazy, and confequent- 
ly proud, fuperftitious and wantob. 
: There are reckoned no lefs than fifty thotifand Clergy- 
men or Taliapcys belonging to the Temples in and about 
the City of Siam ; but they are eafy to the State, having 
no* ftated Benefices or other Revenues, and yet they are 
plentifully fupplied with all the Necefiaries of Life by the 
Charity and Benevolence of the Laity. 
\ There is one Temple about three Miles below the 
City, on the oppofite Side of the River, called the Fijhts 
Temple, becaufe annually in the Month of September y 
when the Floods overflow the low Ground* (,as in Egypt) 
there are good Numbers of Filhes, almoft Jike fmall Sal- 
mon, that frequent a Pond clofe to that Temple, and are 
to be found in no other Place in the Siam. Dominions, and 
they are fo tame, that they will come clofe to our Boats, 
and frifk and play on the Surface of the Water, if any 
Body has a Mind to feed them with Bread, Cocoa-nut 
Meat, or other Food that does not eafily, ieparate, 'Tis 
only to hold feme near the Surface of the Water, and 
they will take it familiarly from the Hand. I have often 
taken Pieafure to feed them, and fee them play, but as 
foon as we leave off feeding them, they will withdraw, fo 
that hardly one is to be feen till a new Supply of Victuals 
is offered to them. 

The Frtmb have a Bifliop at Siam, with a Church and 
a Seminary for the Education of Converts, They ftand 
a little above the City, on the oppofite Side of the Rivet. 
.They make but few Converts, except when Corn is dear, 
and then fome of the poorer Sort receive Bfcptifm, which 
intitles them to a Maintenance from the Church, but, 

when 



if the E A T S-IN D I B S. $6$ 

#hen Plenty returns, they throw away their Beads and 1 
Saint, arid bid fercwel K& Christianity. In the Year 1^20* 
tihere were hot above feventy Chrtfiians in and about 5fon», 
and they the moft diffolute, lazy, thievrfli Rafcals that 
were to hi foutid in the Country. 

The Dutch have a Factory there, about a Mile below 
the Town, on the feme Side of the River. Their greateftr 
Inveftments are in Tin, Sapan-wood and Deers Skins, 
which they buy up for the Japon Market. The Siam 
Market taxes off but little European Goods; however 
the Dutch Chief makes a pretty good Figure there. 

The Englifoi for many Years, had alio a Faftory there, 
till about the Year 1686, the Eaft- India Company feeking 
Occafions to pick a Quarrel with the Siamers, in order to 
withdraw, they took hold of fuch as they could firft find, 
tho* never fo frivolous. The firft was about the Year 
1684. The Carolina bound from England to China, had 
the Misfortune to lofc her Paffage, andeomingto Siam 
to pafs away the North-eaft Monfoons, and the King of 
Siam having Occafion for fome Stores for Shipping out of 
the Carolina's Cargo, to equip fome Ships that he had built 
in order to humble the Cambodians and the Couchm-chinefe, 
who difturbed the Navigation of his Country, he civilly 
requefted the Engltjh Chief to fupply him at the Prices the 
fame Commodities ufed to be fold at to Merchants, but 
he could not find that Favour, which he refented, and 
threatened to difturb their Commerce. At length they 
fupplied him with fome Part of what he demanded, to a- 
vert the ill Gonfequences that might happen by a total 
Refufal. This was reprefented to the Company in the 
darkeft Colours, and they thought that iufficient to 
ground a War on* but they had, at that Time, a Fleet 
of large Ships, which they had equipp'd to regain their 
Trade of Bantam and other Places, which the Dutch had 
jnfolently robbed them of; but they were difappointed 
by the deep Politicks of King Charles II. as is before ob- 
Obferved. 

However, the King of Siam continued his Indulgence 
to the Company and their Servants, in ' much Affluence 
and Luxury, continually caroufing in Debaucheries with 
Wine and Women, till their common Salaries and Gams 

by 



\ 



'364 .' r 4 }Nri» H JhSrT o r y 

by Trade, 4wer? in no Prqpqrtiw to .thrif e*tr*vaga*t 
Expepces, -however that being a free Country,; they had 
Liberty to fpend their own and their Matter Eftatfs, as 
they pleafed. , . . ;..:*;•• : 

The King of Si am having formed the Defign of a War, 
as alcove mentioned, with Cambodia and C<?ucbirt-cbina, 
employed a good Number of Englijb who had refortqd t<> 
Siam 9 to partake of the King's Indulgence apd Bounty^ 
and to help the Company's Servants to fpend their Money.* 
All the Englijb who had a Mind to, lift, theriafelves on 
board of his Fleet, had great Encouragement of honour- 
able Pods and good Salaries well paid, and they did per- 
form A&*>n s in the War worthy of the Brayeryjand Cou-r 
lage of the Englijb Nation, by which the King's Favour to* 
the Englijb y incrcafed more than> before the War. 

About the. Year. 1680, there was one Conjlantine Falcon* 
a Greek by Birth, that fome Years, before had fhipp'd him- 
felf Steward >pf an Englijb Ship at London, bound to India y 
and being ordered for Siam 9t and finding fome ill Treat- 
ment on board, he deferted from the Ship, and fled to a 
fmall Village fome Diftance from the City, where he a- 
rnufed himfelf in learning the Siam Language. He being 
a. fober, ingenious, and induftrious Peribn, foon made 
himfelf Mailer of the Language, and ferved as an Inter- 
preter for the Englijb at Court, where he was remarkably 
taken Notice of, and got a Poft there. His Behaviour 
recommended him to greater Preferments, Jo that in a 
very few Years he became ,prime Minifter of State, and 
behaved hirpfelf (6 well in that, high Station, that every 
Thing belonging to the State of the Country profpered, fo 
that Siam became the richeft and pbwerfulleft Kingdom in 
that Part of the World. . - .. * 

Thr Jejuifs hearing that one of the Romijb Communion 
fat at the Helm . of the Siam* Affairs, and it being a rich 
Country, brought whole Troops of them into Siam, who ; 
cot the whole Management of Affairs into their Hands t 
through the Tntereft of the Barkalong, that being the Ap-. 
peliation of firft Minifter. They tickled thenifelves with 
the Fancy of bringing the \yhole Kingdom of Siam under* 
the Pope's Jurifdi&ion, and in the Year 1683, the firfl^ 
Year of his Miniftry, they, got the King to fend an Em*-- 

bafly 



of «fe:.B A: ST -i N D IE S. |6| 

baffay to .the King of France* which Ambaflador came aU 
fo tq Londpn, and fettled a Treaty of Commerce for the 
EngUjh ttatflaculd frade .in&ofli. •• :: '. :i v 
k The JefjLiits impofedpatjhe.KingofTr^^, and made 
him jbelieye*. tijat if he . wqukV "fend au fef»bafly fo Sip^ 
fhat KingwouW leaYe ; h}s.0iYASuperftitiqn, and embrace . 
t^us. AccQr^i^gly ai> Ani^affador wjis" fcat, with raa- 
ny yaluabfe French Curi#ficies, and among them a very 
fifie Mafs-book, with beautiful Cuts of all the fuft Raje 
Saints in, \fc%RpnqJh Kal^njda?. ..... 

On the Ambaffador's Arriyai, he was received with the 
Refpeft due. to his Chara^r,, and when the Prefects were 
laid before the King, according to Cuftom, he feem'd 
much pleafed with their Curiofity, buf when he viewed 
the pictures in the Mafs book* hcafk'd a jefuit who w^s 
Interpreter, what they were, whq anfwered, that' they 
were the Piftures of holy Men now in Heaven, and fuch 
as his Brother the King of France adored, and as he de- 
signed an eternal Friendship with his Majefty, he hoped 
that he would alfo adore thofe Pi&ures, and worfhip the 
Images of thofe Saints, rather than thofe Idols that wer$ 
worshipped all over his Dominions. The King returned 
A.nfwer v that the Gods of his Country had been aufpici- 
bus to then) who lived in it for Time out of Mind, and as 
it would be unjuft and ungrateful to banifh thofe Gods 
that had been fo long very kind to his Predeceflbrs and 
himfelf, fo he could not turn his old Gocis off and take 
new ones in their Places that he did not fo well know, and 
that he would oblige his Brother of France in any Thing 
lut that. , ^ , : > . 

The Ki^gpf France complimented Mr. Falcon with the 
'Order of Knighthood, and in his Letter to htm, wherein 
he recommended the French Affairs to his Care, particu- 
larly that of Religion, he ftil'd him Loving Coufin and 
"Cdunfellor. 

After the EmbafTy was gone from Siam tq France* the 
yefuits though* -of nothing but bringing the Trade of Siam 
undqr the rower of the French, and in order to that, got 
the King to order the building of a Fort on the River's 
Side, oppofite . to the . Fort of Bencock^ a Town about 
jtwenty League* Wow the City of Siam. and to have it 

mann d 



$66 if i^e HISTORY 

marmM wi th a Garrifon of French \ to be paid by the Exche- 
quer of Siam i and all this was granted according to their 
Mind. When the French got Pofleflion they grew into- 
lerably arrogant, which made the Siamers uneafy, and 
murmured at the King's Weakriefs, but that was in pri* 
, irate, for certain Deftru&ion is the fare Reward of talk* 
big publickly of any Mifmanagement of the State, for ft 
King of 5fa» can no more-err in Pdliticks, than a Pope 
tan in -Matters of Faith. 

Yet about the Year i6S9 9 by feme malevolent Planet 
that over-ruled hts Adtions, he made a War with hi* 
Neighbours the Kings of Cambodia ^ and Coucbin-Cbina. 
He fent an Army by Land, and a Fleet by Sea, to carry 
On the War,* but was not fucdefsful by Land. However 
in the Land-army there was a mean Perfon, a Citizen of 
Siam, who kept a Fruit- (hop, he had a bold daring Spirit, 
and behaved himfelf fo well on all Occafions, in the Land 
War, that he came to Preferment, and at laft was made 
Generaliffimo, and then ended the War to the Satisfaftion 
ef the whole Army abroad, and his Prince at home * but 
when he brought back the Army to Si am y feeing the King 
wrapt up in the Opinion he had of the Jijidts Counfels, 
and the Management they had in the Affairs of State, by 
the Countenance of the King and his firft Minifter my 
Lord Falcon* he pick'd a Quarrel with the King, and 
having moft of the Army at his Devotion, fcized his 
Mafter and put him to Death, after the Manner of royal 
Criminals, or as Princes of the Blood are treated when 
convi&ed of capital Crimes, which is, by putting then* 
into a large Iron Caldron, and pounding. them to Pieces 
with wooden Peftles, becaufe none of their royal Blood 
xnuft be fpilt on the Ground, it being by their Religion, 
thought great Impiety to contaminate the divine Blood, 
by mixing k with Earth. And after he had murdered 
his Mafter, he fummoned all the Mender ems in the City, 
to hold a Council in the Palace. 

My Lord Falcon* for that was generally his Defigna- 
tion, had, by his civil Deportment towards People of ajtt 
Ranks and Degrees, fo ingratiated himfelf, that he ha4 
a ftronger Party by far, both in the City and Country, 
than the General > and befides, had all theJHeet at his 

Devotion. 



c//& EAST-INDIES. 367 

Devotion Many of my Lord's Friend g difiuaded him 
from obeying the Summons, but to raife the Forces of 
the City, and revenge the Death of the King, and many 
Officers of the Army that detefted the Regicide would 
have come over to his Party, which at lead was above 
fifty thoufoftd ftrong, but being infatuate, he was deaf 
to all good Advice, and went to the Palace, were as footi 
as he had fet his Foot, he was feized by the General*! 
Guards, and beheaded, fo the Ufurper took the Sove* 
reignty into his own Hands, and at that Inftant was by 
jure divino made an infallible Favourite of Heaven, ^ajftd 
the Sun, Moon, and Stars, had the Honour to be his 
near Relations. 

Had my Lord Falcon followed his Friends Advice, or 
had Courage anfwerabie to his other good Qualities, he 
had certainly been honoured with the Diadem in Siam, and 
if hd had introduced Papery in the Place of Paganifm, he 
had been honoured with a Place in the Pope's Almanack, 
but his Pufilhmimity made him unworthy of both. 

1 saw my Lady Falcon in the Year 17 19, and fhe was 
then honoured with the Superintendency of his Majefty*s 
ConfcdHonary. She was born in Siam or honourable Pa- 
rents, arid at that Time much refpe&cd both in the Court 
and City, for her Prudence and Humanity to Natives 
and Strangers, when they came into Difficulties, or under* 
the Weight of Oppreffions from the Officers of the Court . 
or City. 

When the Siam Ambaffador returned from Francs and 
England* in the murdered King's Time, his Matter, a- 
mong many other Queftions, afk'd him, if the King of 
France had any Palaces like his at Siam, for Beauty and 
Magnitude, and the poor Man unadvifedly told him 
Truth, that in France were many finer, nay, that the 
King of Frances Horfc Stables in Paris, exceeded any 
Buildings in India, which his Majefty took fo ill, that h€ 
dilgrae'd him, and was very near lofing his Head for his 
telling Truth. 

The. King bettows his armiverfary Blefling on his Peo- 
ple in the Month of September, when he paffes through 
the City attended with a numerous Train oT Elephants, 
tmong whom is the white Elephant, but he is only of a 
* : - Cream 



368 A* New HI STORY 

Cfeafn Colour, and 1 have fccn feveral at Bangary y 4 
Yillage near Jonceyloan> as white as him. -All the Ele- 
phants that Day are drafted in their fineft Trappings, with 
Drums, Trumpets, Hautboys, and other mufical In* 
ftruments. 

In the Month of November he dlfo fhews hitnfelf on the 
River*, in a Ballang or Barge of- thirty or forty Yards long 
about two Yards.broad, and two Foot deep, with a Throne 
placed near the Middle of her Length, about feven Foot 
high and a rich Canopy over. his Head, and being feated 
*n, the Throne, his greateft Lords or Minions fit under 
the Throne, and about fifty or fixty Rowers a-fore and 
be-aft the Throne, (clothed in Carnation coloured Waift- 
*oats,* with fine Caps 6r Turbands on their , Headsj to 
row. or paddle his Majefty wherever he orders them, and 
there are ordinarily above a thoufand other Barges to wait 
on his Majefty, befides feveral thoufands of other common 
BallongSy infomuch, that for five or fix Miles, the River 
is covered with Boats, except near his Majefty's Barge, 
and there is half a Mile of the River clear for his Barge 
to move in. * 

■ 

About four or five in the Evening, he goes in his 
Barge to a Temple about three Miles above the City, on 
Mie oppofite Side of the River, where the Priefts pray for 
him, and prefent him with two Yards and . an Half of 
.Cotton Cloth, that muft be fpun and woven the fame 
Day that the King comes to receive it. After Sun fets, 
he embarks again, and is attended in State to his Palace. 

IJjs Reafon for honouring the River and his People that 
Time of the Year, is to forbid the River formally to flow 
higher or longer than fuch a Number of Inches in Height^ 
or of Days in Time, as he fet$ it-, yet fometimes it dif- 
obeys his royal Commands. ... 

All the Manderines belonging to the Government, 
whofe Affairs require their Refidfcnce in the^City, whofe 
Numbers generally amount to three thoufand, .muft daily 
attend in the Palace, except they have Leave to be abfent, 
and if any oi^e trangreffes, he is {everely whipt; with fplit 
Rottans^ which cut pretty deep into the Flem, and leave 
confpicuous Marks behind them. The greater- the Marks 
appear, the greater the HQaoyr they take thco» to be. 

* And 



of 'the EAST -1 NBIES. 369 

And the pretty Ladies are not exempted irom- the Flagel- 
lation, for very fmall Faults. And I have feen iome 
pretty agrfeeable young Gentlewomen with Rattan Marks 
On their Backs* which they are fo far from covering, that 
as theypafs the Streets, they expofc their Backs, thof 
'their Breafts* Bellies, and Necks are covered with a Scarf, 
feemfng to glory in being fomuch taken* Notice of by the 
greateft King on Earth. 

The Women in Start are the only Merchants in buying 
Goods, and fome of them trade very confiderably. The 
Hufbands in general are maintained by the Induftry of 
their Wives. And the Europeans that trade to Smm 9 ac* 
commodate themfelves as they do in Pegu+ with temporary 
Wives, almoft on the fame Conditions too, and it is 
thought no Difgrace to have had many temporary Huf- 
bands, but rather an Honour that they have been beloved 
by fo many different Men. The Cbriftian Priefts cry down 
that Way of Marrying, and want every Heretick, as, 
well as Cbriftian Catbolick, to be tied to fome young Laf* 
fes of their bringing up, but the Hefeticks, according to 
their innate Principles, generally continue deaf and obfti* 
nate to the grave Advice and found Do&rine of the holy 
Fathers, and marry according to the Siam Way. . t 

After the Ufurper had fettled himfelf on the Throng 
of Siam, he ordered the French to deliver their Fort at 
Bencocky to an Officer that he fent to take Poffeffiori 
of it, but they' refufed, without firft making Terms for 
themfelves, on which he fent a Part of his Army to ati 
tack it, and threatened every Man's Life that returned 
before it was taken. His Orders were punftually put in 
Execution, and all the French got, was the 'Honour of 
dying bravely in Defence of their Liberty. " The Fore 
ftands ftill undemolifhed, but no Artillery is in it. > 

■ In the Year 17 19, I went thither with a Cargo to difr 
pofe on, expe&ing to trade on the Footing <tf the old Trea>> 
ty concluded at London with the King of England^ and the 
King of Siam's Ambaflador, in the Year 1684 ; but. on, my 
-Arrival, I -found that Mr. Collet^ Governor of Fort St. 
George^ had cancelled that Agreement by his Ambafiadof 
Powny'j and the new Conditions being too hard for me to 
ftandto, I folicited for Liberty to depart again Mftth ipy 

A a • Ship 



3?o A Neib HISTORY 

-Ship ind Cargo, which I could not obtain in lefs than 
•four Months. . . . 

Collet % Attofiiey at the Court of Siam> was a Perfian by 
Birth, but had come to Stem with his Father when very 
young, and had remained about forty Years at Siaw. He 
;*ras as Compete a Rafcal as Colkt could have found for 
Iris villainous Purpofes, for by falfe Informations to the 
King, he had brought many honeft Men into Trouble* 
and fohw TreaTure into the King's Coffers. 

Whin I understood that he was the Remora that had 
put a Stop to my Commerce, I tried if I could remove 
him by large Prefents, but* all ;o no Purpofe, for if I 
traded, it muft be on the Scheme laid down by Collet, by 
the Negotiation of Powny, who kept one Coilifon as hie 
Rtfident at Siam, to.confult and inform the Perfian of the 
beft [Methods to ruin the Engifh Traders that had not 
Collefs Letters of Protc&ion. 

This Perfian .(whofe Name was Oia Sennerat) and 1, 
were difcourfwg one Day of my Affairs in the Induftan 
Language, which is the eftablifhtd Language fpoken in 
the MoguTx large Dominions, and, among other Things, 
I w^s laying down to him the Difficulties that might attend 
the King of Siam's Trade, carried, on from Merjeeto Fort 
St* George, becaufe if the reft of the Englijb Colonies were 
forbid. tradihgTOth Siam, they had jutt Caufe to forbid 
his SubjtajfU to trade to Fort St. George, or any where elie, 
mud that other Troubles might arife to the King's Affairs, 
bf. thu*. impofing on the King, who was ignorant of the 
Eonfeqaences that might follow in breaking the Agree- 
ment ;mide in England* without fo much as once giving 
Warning tx> the Englifh Colonies of other Parts of India . 
: ' He anfwered -me, that the King of Fort St. George 
could heft give me an Anfwer* who was able to prote<5fc 
tfab King of Sicmh. Trade thither* and that his Majefty 
tad nd other .foreign Trade but Japan that he valued, 
srtudbthe Engtifh. had no Trade that Way to difturb hu 
•Waiter's Commerce, and that if I did not comply with 
the Agreement made by Powny in Collet's Name, I might 
■go a?r*y:when J could. 
. &IAM Bar is only a large Bank of foft Mud, and, at 
Spriqg*tides t not above ten or eleven Foot Water on it}. 
.; ■ m ' ' It 



c/^f EAST-INDIES. 371 

It i$ eafy getting into it in the South-weft Monfoons*, be- 
caufe, in <t#o or' three Tides, wkii the' Marion the '(Ship 
receives from the fmall Waves and the Afififtanoe *>£ die 
Wind, fhe Aides thro* the Mud. My Ship drew thirteen 
Foot, and we had not above nine on the Bar when* "We 
went into the River, but coming out >yith the North-eaft 
Monfoons, the Sea being fmootn, we "are obliged to warp 
out with Anchors and Halfers, and, if the Ship draws £- 
ny cpnfiderable Draught of Water, we *re fon^etiitie^ two 
Springs in warping over, but, at twelve Foot Draught, 
I got over in four Tides. 
BANK A SO T River lies but four or five digues to 
1 the Eaftward of Siam Bar, and Jthatje are twp Iflands, 
called* the Dutch Iflands, where great Ships are obliged to 
ftay in the South* weft Monfoon$, when they capAot get 
Water over the Bar that bears off it Sowth-e^ft gnd by 
South, about nine Leagues diftant 

I observed before, that the Company fen t the flerbgrt 
and another Ship from England in the Year 1 685, gp4 jin 
1686, as the Herbert lay at thofe Iflands, one Captgjn Ud#l y 
who commanded her, died, and the iucceeding C^pt^in 
carried his Corps aflaore, and buried it in a pretty de^p 
Grave. Two Days after, fome of the Ship's People gp- 
ing afhore, had the Curiofity to go and fee the Grave. 
When they came near, to their great Wonder, they faw 
the Corps ftripp'd of its winding Sheet, and fet upright a- 
gainft a Tree. It was afterwards put aggin into the Cof- 
fin, and buried in the fajne Grave, mtk £ Quantity of 
heavy Stones on it, and nefct Day they came to the jGrave, 
and found it opened a. fecond Time, with the Corps 
(landing upright againft another Tree, fb they m$p fpft 
fome Stones to it, and carried ic a pretty Way into t^ie 
Sea, and buried it in the Water, where it remained i$n- 
difturbed. This ftrange Refurreflion. left Rpom (or vari- 
ous Conje£fcures, but the rnqft probable fepflijed to be, that 
fome Sorcerers took it up, and putat^n thatt Pofture, 
whilft they, by their $oixeries or Incarnations, jnterrp- 
gate it #bout -ifuture Events, and received Arjfwers thfo* 
human drgfins. The 'Matter of Fa£fc I . have heard often 
affirmed^by^fewral whciwece theixat.jtbeTime pnd faw 
it, which made me enquire, if any People in $?flf}iffd to 

A a 2 enquire 



Zp A New H I & T R V 

enquire about future Events after that Manner, and I was 
told that they did. 



CHAP. XXIV. 

Gives an Account ^Cambodia, its Trade > alfo of a late 
War brought into their Country by the Siamer, and 
the ill Succefs they had. 

m I 

TH E firft Sea-port to be met with is Cupangfoafc a 
Town in the Dominions of Cambodia. It afford* 
Elephants Teeth, Sticklack, and the Gum Cawbwge or 
Qambcdia\ but there is no free Commerce allowed there, 
without a Licence from the Court of Cambodia. 

The next Place is Ponteamafs, a Place of pretty good 
Trade for many Years, having the Conveniency of a 

■ pretty deep but narrow River, which, in the rainy Sex- 
tons of the South-weft Monfoons, has Communication 
with Banfack or Cambodia River, which Conveniency 
made it draw foreign Commerce from the City of Cambodia 
hither •, for the City lying near one hundred Leagues up 
the River, and moft Part of the Way v a continual Stream 
running downward, made the Navigation to the City fo 
long and troublefome, that few cared to trade to it, for 
which Reafons foreign Commerce chofe to come to Pontea- 
mafs, and it flouriihed pretty well till the Year 1717, 
rhat the Start Fleet deftroyed it. 

The City of Cambodia ftands on the Side of the great 
River, about fifty or fixty Leagues from Ponteamafs by 
Land, or by Water in the South-weft Monfoons. The 
Country produces Gold of twenty one Carafts fine, raw 
Silk at one hundred and twenty Dollars per Pecul, Ele r 

: pfcants Teeth at fifty to fifty-five Dollars for the largeft. 
The fmall ard of different Prices. They have alfo much 
Sapan-wood, Sandal-wood, Agala-wood, Sticklack, and 
many Sorts of phyfical Drugs, and Lack for Japaning. 
They are very defirous of having a Trade with the Eng- 
lifh \ but they will not fuffcr the Dutch to fettle Fa&ories 
in jbeir Country, 

-•'*••* Pro- 



r~~%- 



of the E A S T INDIES. 373 

- Provisions of Flelh and Fifh are plentiful and cheap, 
and are the pnly Things that may be bought without a 
Permit from the King. I have bought a Bullock, that 
weighed between four and five, hundred Weight, for a 
Spanijh Dollar; and Rice is bought at Eight- pence per 
Peaily which is about one hundred. and forty lb. but Poul- 
try are fcarce, becaufe the Country being for the moft 
Part woody, when the Chickens grow big, they go to the 
Woods, and Ihifc for themfelves. Tigers and wild Ele- 
phants are numerous in the Woods, and there are alfp 
wild Cattle and Buffaloes, and Plenty of Deer, all which 
Animals every Body is free to catch or* kill. 

Thi.re are about two hundred Tepaffes y or Indian Tor- 
tyguefe fettled and married in Cambodia, and fome of them 
l^ave pretty good Polls in the Government, and live great 
after the Fafhion of that Country •, but they have no Priefts, 
nor will any venture to go among them ; for in the Year 
1 7 10, a poor Capuchin went there to officiate, and find* 
ing one of the toppingeft of his Congregation to have two 
Wives, ordered him, by virtue of his facerdotal Power, 
to put one of them away, but his Parilhioner would not 
obey in that Point, which made the. Prieft ufe* the Wea- 
pon of Excommunication againft him, which the other 
took in fych Dudgeon, that he ktxock'd his fpiritual 
Guide's Brains out. Since that Time they wrote to Siarn 
and Mqcao in China for fome more ghoftly Fathers, but 
not one will go. 

Thjv all of them have fmall Penfions from the King v 
but too narrow to maintain them, fo they go to the Woods 
with Fire- Arms, and kill wild Elephants for their Teeth,, 
which they fell to Foreigners; and their Way of killing 
them is very Angular, for they form a Piece of Iron like 
a Slug, and the foremoft End is made (harp. In the 
Woods grow certain Trees with a thick Bark of a violent 
poifonous Quality. They driiie the Iharp End of the 
Slug into the Bark, and let it flay a fhorc Time in it, 
then put the Slug into their Gun charged with Powder, 
and coming near the Bead, fire the Slug into its Body. 
The Elephant being thus wounded, flees from the Man, 
but the Man keeps Sight of it for a fmall Space of Time, 
and then it drops down dead. 

A a 3 Anp 



37V . ' 4 ^ HISt-Gkf "\: 

' And with the fame poifoned Slugs they kill G&ttl* and 
buffaloes, for their Tongues, This Aibcil F&fbfc has 
alfo ariothef ftrafig^ (Quality, that if Men befc6t^ hungry 
or thirfty, (as they often do in the Woods,) they fqueeze 
a few Drops of it On a Leaf of a Tfee, and "rh^* linking 
the w Lpaf, it gives immediate Refrefhment ; but if the 
Skin be br6ken, and the Juice touch the Part, it proves 
mortal without Remedy. 

« The Cambodians are of a light-brown Complexion, and 
Very well fliapM, their Hair long, and Beards thin. Their 
"VWtthen are Very handfome, but not very tnodeftv The 
Men wear a Veltttiferit like our Night-gowns, but nothing 
on their Heads or Feet. The Women wear a Petticoat 
leaching below the Ancle, and on their* Bodies a Frock 
made clofe and "meet for their Bodies and Arms, and both 
Sexes drefs their Wair. 

I ^ aw hone of their Prtefts, but underftood from my 
Interpreter, that thVy 'worfhip the fafae Gods that are a- 
dored ;n Siarh. They worfhip the great God under the 
Name of Ttpddb, and Praw Prumfi, and Prow Pront^ 
zit his Sons. The Church fubfifts by Free-will-&ffcirogs, 
and their Priefts are not much refpe&ed, being generally 
chofeh from amongthe lower Sdrt of the Laity. 

'The Kingdom ;of Laos bdrders on Start, 'Catobodia* 
toucbin-china* and Tottqain. It produces Gold, raw Silk, 
«frid' Elephants -'Teeth are fo plentiful, that they ftake 
their Tields and Gardens about with them, to keep out 
tfild Hogs and Cattle from dcftrbying their Fruit and 
Corn. They aire all Pagans in Religion. 

' The Natives of Laos are whiter in Complexion than 
their circumjacent Neighbours. I faw fome of them at 
Stain, of both Sexes. Their Women were little inferior 
to Pdrtuguefe or Spanifh Ladies. 

There are feVefal Illahds thtft lie off theCoaft of Cam- 
bodia, but norie are inhabited, beeaufe the Shleefers, or 
Pirates that infeft'th'at Coaft, : rob them of what they get 
Ky Pains and Induflxy, the**' theft: is one about .three 
Leagues Weft, of Ponttamafs,' called Quddrol^ that has 
good. Qualifications 'for a Sfettlferiient. It is 'abdirt: three 
Leagues* longr *iid* Otfe broad; \ : \Vbod : .and fr€fh Water 
are plentiful, the Ground of '& 'moderate Height?; thfeSoil- 

- ' ~ — black 



of tie E A S T - I N $ I*E S. 475 

-.blatfc and fat, except along the jE$ S$e which faces 
PwHamafs* and thatJi^f feyeral fine fandy Bays, and th«y 
are gppd iafe fjarbqurj in the rainy and* windy Seafons. 

PyLW'CONDORE is fhe largeft and higheft compi- 
led of fo^r or five Ifland*. It lies about fifteen Leagues 
South .pf -the Weft Channel of Cambodia River. PullQ-con- 
dore had, once the Honour of an Englifb. polony fettled oh 
it, by Mr. Allan Ketcbpo/a, in the Year 170a, when ttje 
Fattory of Clpufun^ <?n the Coaft of C&Vra, was bro|i£ up% 
he being then Dire&or for the Affairs of the EngUJb Eaji- 
India Company in thofe Parts. 

. FjU piade a bad Choice oi a Place for a Colony, th*t 
IQand producing nothing but Wood, Water, and Fiflfi 
for/:atching. He got fome MacaJJars to ferye for Soldiers, 
and help to build a Fortification, and m?de a firm Con- 
traft with. them to di (charge them at the End of three 
Years, if they were minded to quit his Service, but did 
not perform what was contracted, which was the Caute 
of his own Ruin, and the Lofs of the Colony, for thofe 
Eaftern Defperadoes are very faithful where Contracts and 
Covenants are duly obferved when made with them, but 
jn Defailiance, they are revengeful and cruel. Mr. Ketch ^ 
pole having detained the Macajars beyond their Time of 
Agreement, ftill entrufted them with the Guard of his 
owjrPeribn and the Garrifon, and they taking the Oppor- 
tunity .of the Night, when all frhe Jtpgbjh wsre in rhejr 
Beds, who lodged in the Fort, they inhumanly murder- 
wed them all. There wgs fome Npife nwdehy thpie who 
were ^w^ke, which a few whp lodged without the Fort, 
hearing, took the Alarjn, and ran to the Sea Side, where 
kind Providence direded them to a Boat ready fitted with 
Oars and Sails, which they imbarked in, and put off 
from the Shore, and were not a Stone's-throw off, till 
the bloody Villains on the Shore were in Queft of them. 
So thofe in the Boat, with much Fatigue, Hunger, and 
Third in failing, and rpwing above one hundred Leagues, 
got to Tome Place of the King of Jobore's Domini- 
ons, where they were treated with Humanity. The re- 
verend 93d ingenious Do&or Pound) was one of thofe that 
j^fcaped* apd Mr. Solomon Lloyd (,an old Acquaintance of 
1 moe) y as another. 

A a 4 There 



376 * Rem HI8f ORY 

There were two Harbours, or anchoring Places, at 
Pullot-Condore, but neither of them good. One at the 
North-eaft End,' they were forced to ufe in the South- weft 
Monfoons, the other on the Weft-fide for the North-eaft 
1 Windsj the Bottom of which is rocky and therefore dan- 
gerous for lofing Anchors and Cables, yet that was the 
* Place chofen to build their Fort on, but fince a Fadtory 
was thought neceffary to be fettled on that Coaft, I won- 
der why they chofe thefe Iflands, rather than Quadrole 
which I mentioned before. 

The City of Cambodian reckoned to lie one hundred 
^Leagues up from the Bar, and the. River filled with low 
Iflands and Sand Banks. The Country of Laos is about 
•forty Leagues farther up, but what Navigation is ufed a-» 
bove the City of Cambodia, is done by fmall rowing Vef- 
fels, and the River being one of the longeft in the Worlds 
'employs- great Numbers of thofe rowing Boats. 

'lll l ' . *' ' »■■»... I . , t . f ■ ■ .. ■ »«!■«». ..I -I I I | I II | 111. 



4. 



CHAP. XXV. 



^Treats tf Couchln-china, and Tonquin, their Reli^ 

gito) Law5 y and Cujloms. 

COUCH IN-CHINA is only divided from Cambodia* 
by the River, which in fome Places is . three 
Leagues broad. It is a Country far larger than Cambodia, 
and much richer, and the Inhabitants more couragious 
and hardier for enduring Fatigues in Labour or War, than 
the Cambodians, but are not fo converfabk and civil tq 
Strangers. The Couchin- chine ft draw one Half of the 
Cuftoms and Taxes raifed in Cambodia by Commerce dnd 
Merchandizing; but they give little Encouragement for 
Strangers to trade with them. Their Country abounding 
in Gold, raw Silk* and Drugs, they bring them to Cam- 
bodia, to difpofe of there, except what they fend yearly to 
'Canton va China. 

COUCHIN -CHIN A, about three or four Centuries ago, 
was but a Province of Tonquin, at lead they were both 
under the Dominion of one King, who dying -without 
IlTue, divided the Government of his Dominions betwcei^ 



of the E A.T S<- INDIES. 377 

a Brother and a Sifter of his, whom he very much efteem'd 
for their good Qualities* He ordered his Brother to re- 
fide in Ccucbtn- china,- and take Care of- Affairs there, 
while the Sifter took Care of the Government of Tonquin^ 
but to have a Meeting once a Year to confider and confult 
of Matters for the Good of the State. 
. ' The Lady being young, thought fit to marry, and the 
Harmony of State foon ended by the Marriage. The 
Hufband grew ambitious, and wanted the Government 
wholly in his own Hands, but carried fair with his Bro- 
ther4n-Low, and one-Time talking with the Queen of 
the Neceflity of uniting both Kingdoms into one, as for- 
merly, and that of Right both belonged to her, as being 
poljfefs'd of the moft ancient and noble Kingdom, and 
that in order to get both Kingdoms into her Hands, l\e 
would find a Way to cut off her Brother, without Sufpi^ 
cion of their being acceffary to it. The Queen feeming to 
approve of the Defign, privately let her Brother know his 
Danger -, being then at the Court of Tonquin, (he advifed 
him to pretend to go a hunting for a few Days, but to 
iriake what Hafte he, could unto his own Government,- 
where he might be fecure from Confpiracies on his Life, 
which Advice he followed, and gotfafe \xi\oCvuebin-cbina,, 
and calling a Council of his Nobles, related the whole 

Affair to them. 

. . The Coucbin-cbinefe took the defigned Injury %o their 
Prince fo ill, that trom that Time they renqwiheed all 
Friendfhip and Commerce- with the Tonquiners* and the 
River Quambin being made the Bounds oiTonquin Do- 
minions to the Southward, and of Couchtn-cbina to the 
Northward, they both raifed Armies of forty or fifty 
thoufand Men each, and they continue (till facing one 
another, the River lying between them, and nothing of 
A&ion has happened all this while. If any Coucbin-chinefe 
happens to flee from the Juftice of his own Country, to 
the Tonquiners, they receive him kindly, and treat 'him 
'civilly i but M a Tonquiner fall under the fame Circum- 
ftances, and go for San&uary to the Coucbin-cbineft, 
<hc is condemned to Slavery, and fo muft continue till 
1%e gets a PafrdoA from fris own Court, and pay his Ran- 



378 . A New H I ST O R Y , 

TONKIN n the r*xt Kingjibm where th& Eng&jb aft* 
t)utch both had their Fa&oricB, but the Engltfk Company '3 
Affairs b<?ing a JittJe out of Order, they withdrew their* 
in January 1698 k *pd the. J3^& finding but littkAdvaity 
tage by their Trade in Tonqui/t, withdrew theirs about fix 
Years after. However, the EngUJh had a private Trad$ 
pretty good till the Year 17x9, that an English Ship from 
Bengal ruin'd it by an Aft of Violence, 

Thb Ship bring laden and ready to fail, fell down the 
River from Catefot the capital City oiTaxqwn, and io De- 
fiance to the known Laws of the Country, the Supercar- 
gp got a Topquip Girl on board* iq order to cany her'widj. 
him, but her Friends miffing her, informed the civiJ 
Magiftrate> who jent to demand her, but the Supercargo 
would not refign his Miftre/s, whereupon Afts of HoftUky 
enfued, and forne were killed on both Sides, and Captaun 
Wallace who commanded .the Ship, had the Fortune to b 
yne of the (lain, however, the Efglijh bravely carried off 
their Prize, but I never heard any more of Jthe Tenqwv 
Trade fince, 

tQNgJIW is bounded with Cvtiebin-cbm* on the 
South, Latum the Weft, Jfyaiffi..* Pro vince of Chin* on 
the North, and the Ocean on the Eafi The Country i* 
prodigiously fc,uitftd in all Things ncccflary for the Convex 
niency and Support of Life. 

, It produce^ Kjfpld and Copper, but neither of them 6ne. 
They have ^Abundance of raw Silks, aod, tna»ufa&ure 
Paart of it in wrought Silks* but ©one fine. . Their Baaz 
is the beft, /^hich they generally dye black. Jt wears 
verx *°ijg, bpcaufe it is foft and well fpun, and the oftner 
itis waflied, the Colour looks brighter, if .blacker may be 
jjb called. They .make fewl$t Cups, and Tables, of 
iflattansi #nd cover them very neatly with L#ck of diver$ 
Colours, anid giJd them. They have alfo fafioe ,P>omltiw 9 
ppt very cogrfe <uid ill pointed. And -thofe are the Com- 
^(^odities.for Exportation frpm Tfinquin.. . . 
. ,' Th;e Chriflim Religion is ftri&ly forbidden to-be presacfc'd 
ip l TfaqMn> ytt there ztefamB.Chriflianscf the .Jltmjfb 
Church there. Their own Jleiigiw is- Pfigap according -tt> 
ihe &Q&rv& qi Qbim. And they bave a Tradition, that 

ma» jr 



»/^ EAST-INDIES. 379 

fttimy Ag*s ago, Tcnqmn and Coutbm-thim were both Pro-* 
vinces of China* . , ; 

- Tnfe Twquiwers ufed (6 be very defirous of having a 
Btodd of Europeans in t^ek Country, for which Realm 
rite greateft Nables thought it no Shame of Diigrace cq 
marry their Daughters to Englifb and Datafr Seamen, fo* 
the Time they were to ftay id Txmqttitiy and often prefented 
their Sonsnn-Law pretty handfomely at their Departures 
dpeciaily if they left their Wives with Child, but Adulte- 
ry was dangerous to the Hufband, for they are well y&U 
ed in the Art of poifoning. 

The Men and Womea are both well flup'4 and toks 
rebly beautiful, but of a low Stature. The Maids ke^p 
their Teeth very white, till they have loft the blue <& 
their Plumb, and then they dye them as black as Je^ 
with the Juice of a certain Herb which they hold in their 
Mouths for three Days- fucceflively* and thfc black Tmc- 
ture continues ever after > but while that Juice is in chsj* 
Mouths, they dare not fwallow their Spittle, it being, of 
a potfonous Quality/ 

...CHAP. XXVI. 

^ 

Gives fome Account of the Religion, Laws, Cujloms* 
• . Commerce, Riches, Cities, Temples,. Gods, and God- 

dejfes, Priejls, Military Forces, Produce, and Ma- 

nufa&ttries, &c. of China* 

FT"! H £ Ifland of Aynam lies in the Bay pi Twquin, and 
JL not above twelve Leagues diftaot from its Northern 
Confines. The Ifland is large* being about one hundred 
and eighty Miles in Length, and one hundred and twenty 
m Breadth. ^ It was formerly, under Tonquin, but at pre^ 
fent a Part of the Dominions of China.- Its.greatoeft Pro- 
(Ju& is Salt, and is not frequented on account of Trade.. 
There is no Paffage for Veflels of Burden, between it and. 
thb Gontinerit* . being ft) full of dangerous Banks and rapid 
CorrehfcL The mid Lands fecm vecy mountainous. Tht; 
Eaftttral Southr.Swteffare.io^.but cfearof Danger. A- 

bout 



$3o A New HISTORY 

bout two Leagues from its Shores, is from twenty to 
twenty-five Fathoms Water. 

* The next Courfel ftcer is intd §fuanfi % the Souther - 
moil Province of China* and as yet has not been brought 
to acknowledge the Tartar Domination. It admits of no 
Commerce either with Foreigners or Cbinefe* that are un- 
der the Tartar Government, but on all Occafions commit 
A&s of Hoftility on them, and are fo bold and courggi- 
ods, -that one of their little Galiies will attack four of the 
Emperor's, and make them flee before them, for they 
give Quarter to none that bear Arms under the Tartar 
Prince, as they call the Emperor, The Country is fruit- 
ful and populous, and produces much raw Silk and Drugs, 
foch as China Root, Galhngal, &c. It has eighty Leagues 
of a Sea-coaft, and is bounded by the Limpacao Iflands, . 
and Canton River. Canton is the next maritime Pro- 
vince; and Maecaw* a City built by the Portuguefe* was 
the firft Place of Commerce. This City ftands on a fmall 
fihftd, and is almoft furrounded by the Sea. 

The City contains five Churches, but the Jefuits is the 
beft, and is dedicated to St. Paul. It has two Convents 
fdr married Women to retire to, when their Htafbands are 
abfent, and orphan Maidens are educated in them till they 
can catch an Hulband. They have alfo a Nunnery for 
devout Ladies, young or old, that are out of Conceit with 
tfoe Troubles and Cares of the World. And they have a' 
SanRa Cafa, or the holy Houle of the Inquifition, that 
frightens every Catholick into the Belief , of every Thing 
that holy Mother Church tells them is Truth, whether it 
be really fo or no. 

The Forts are governed by a Captain-general, and the 
City by a Burgher, called the Procuration* but, in Reali- 
ty, both are governed by a Cbineft Mandereen* who refides 
about a League out of the City, at a Place called Cafa 
Branca. The Portuguefe Shipping that come .there, arc 
admitted into their Harbour, and are under the Protecti- 
on of the Town ; but the Cbimfe keep tlie Cuftom-houfe, 
arid receive Cuftoms for all Goods imported, 
' I m a d e a Calculation of the 'Number of Inhabitants with- 
in the Walls of Canton* by thfe Quantity of Rice daily ex- 
pended in it; for they reckon ten thoufend .Pcctds is the 

daily 



m pf the £ASf-lNdI E S. 38* 

daily Import of that Grain. It is alfo reckoned, that eve- 
ry Perfon confumes ohe Pecul in three Months, fo that by 
that Calculation, there mirft be above nine hundred thou- 
fand People iri it, and the Suburbs one Third of the Num- 
ber; there is no Day in the Year but fhews five thoufand 
Sails of trading Jonks^ befides fmall Boats for other Ser- 
vices, lying before the City. 1 

The Produft of the Country, befides Corn and Fruits, 
is Gold, Quick-filver, Copper, Steel, Iron, raw and 
wrought Silks, and befides the Silk M anufa&ories, there 
. are lack'd or japann'd Ware ; and at Sachow there are 
much Porcelline or China Ware made. We have the fame 
Sort of Clay in feveral Parts of Great Britain^ that Por- 
celline is made of, but we want the warm Sun to prepare 
it. 

The v reckon .that the Province of Canton or Quantungi 
pays yearly to the Emperor twelve hundred thoufand 
Peculs of Rice, and twenty thoufand Peculs of Salt, out <rf 
which is ferved out to the Military (who are reckoned 
eighty thoufand continually kept in the Emperor's Pay) 
thirty two hundred thoufand Peculs of Rice, and eight 
thoufand Peculs of Salt. The reft is fold in Markets, at 
the common Price of five Macies a Pecul, which may a- 
mount to four hundred forty fix thoufand Tayels, which is 
appropriated towards the Payment of the military En- 
pence, which may amount to ten hundred thoufand of 
Tayels yearly. The Cuftoms on Merchandize and Poll- 
money amounts to prodigious great Sums, all which are 
gathered according to the Book of Rates, and fent to the 
Treafury of the Province, tor the Ufe of the Empire, 
which makes the Emperor's Treafury always full. 

FOKIEN is the next maritime Province to the East- 
ward of Canton, a very mountainous Country, and has a* 
bout ninety Leagues of a Sea-coaft. 

The next Place of Safety for Shipping is the Ifland of 
Amoy^ where the Englijh once had a Fadtory, and a good 
. Trade, but now it is fliut up from foreign Trade, by the 
Emperor's Order. There' are feveral fmall Ifiands lies off 
it, particularly the Ifland Tangfi^ by the Englifh calif d 
. Chapel Ifland, and by fome the Hole in the JVall^ becaufe 
there is a large Hole that paffes quite through it, being 

undermined 



%Zz A . New HISTORY 

undermined by the Sea below, but above all is fad with- 
out Fra&ure. If appears like the Arch of a large Bridge. 
About fevco leagues within it* is the inner jf arbour of 
Amvy* where Ships lie very fcture ip twelve Fathoms 
toazy Ground* within two hundred Yv4s of the Shore;. 
-The. Town i$ built ciofe to the Sea t and forpe Houfes in 
it at high Water are walhed by the Sea. : 



CHAP. XXVIL 

t£me Occurrences that happened among the Englifli at 

Amoy in the Tear 1700. 

I* Being then bound to Amoy in a Ship from Surat, em- 
ployed by Sir Nicholas Waite the new Eaft- India Com- 
pany's Prefident there, and Commodore Littleton being 
then at Sur*t with a Squadron of four Men of War, by 
fome confider^ble Reafons was perfuaded by Sir Nicholas 
tp Jet Qne of hi$ Squadron go as far as Amoy, to look after 
Uhe UngUjh Pirates that then infefted the Streights of 

The B&rwkh was the Ship pitched on, a fifty Gun 
Ship, .cqmmajicted by Captain Cock, and when we arrived 
tdhtre, wje .fomjd three European Ships, and a Country 
Ship from &ra/, employed by Sir John Gayer Prefident 
for the pld Eaft- India Company. The Supercargoes of 
thofe Ships, pn Sight of a Man of War, fent a CompK- 

~a*nt /of five hundred Xay.cls to the Teytock, tp diffuade 

, Wip.ftpm givjpg the Harwich Permiffion to cortieinto the 
Harbour, for fear, of lofing.a Feather that they had put in 
JthfefrtPlYn Caps, ,pf wearing a Pendant at their Top-maft 

• -Head? ; /o that .when I went to jp,ay my Complitpqnt .to the 
Teytock, and give him an A^cpunt of our yargo, and to 
JftBwe J4berjty &r r the Map 0/ War and mjr own Ship to 
oocne infip ?hc {^aibou^ foe fold me, that' my own Ship 
rWa? JwplcQp£, but.he pould r npt, wjth Safety ? ad^it of .tfce 

iKiegls Ship nqx.o t the Harbour,* but that Ihejjiightbe fup- 

jftfksi with \jhar ihe iwanted in r the Road. 

C.JJji* :LU^wiA yery ifrAnjcly tqld me, that it T v(as none 
; tof;the:r(y^^:f jFau^t, but xfeEnglifh Captain and Supcr- 

^ '--'■• cargoes. 



t>f the EAST-INDIES., 

cargoes* who had fent him with a Meflage to the Teytock, 
to acquaint him, that if t{ie Man of War was permitted to 
"come into the Harbour, their Men would be rude to the 
Merchants, and would be tied up to no Rules or Lavte 
which the Merchant Ships obferved, that the Women 
.would be debauch'd, and many other aggravating Crimes, 
they alledged, the Man of War's Men would commie, 
and withal had fent the Teytock a Prefent of five hundred 
'Xqyels to keep her out of the Harbour. 
, I carried the Linguift into a Merchant's Houfeth^t 
was my Acquaintance, to confult with that Merchant i- 
bout removing that Remora that ftopp'd the Man of War 
From entering into the Harbour, which could be done no 
other Way than by my being bound for the good Beha- 
viour of the People belonging 'to the Man of War ? and to 
give a Prefent fuperior to theirs, which I confented to. ' 

Then we confulted how the Captain of the King's Ship 
lhould be received by the Teytock, when he fliould rnalge 
his Vifit, and we agreed, that all the Captains and Super- 
cargoes fhould be called to the Ttytock 9 ^ in Company 
. with Captain Cock, and that he fhould enter before us, 
and have an high Chair placed a little before the Teytock's 
Chair, on the left Hand, which, among them, is the 
Place of Honour, and we Captains and Supercargoes to be 
fct on Felt Cuftiions on the Floor, and on the right Side 
of the Tqytock's Chair, which was raHed on a Platform 
of Deals, with three Steps of Afcent. 

We had no fooner done with our Confutation than'I 
difpatch'd my Friend Sbawban* for that was the Mef- 
'.chant's Name, with the Lioguift, to acquaint the TeytoCk 
with whflt . we had refolyed on, and he approved of all, 
!and two Days after fent a Summons for the Captains and 
Supercargoes to accompany Captain Cock> and all obeyed 
but one* who pretended Indiipofkion j however he fent his 
fecorid Supercargo to ftipply his Place. I 

As foon as we were in tlie Citadel, we Were condu#£d 
to the tptock'% 'Palace, and entered the Chamber of Au- 
dience, and w*rc fi?ated according to the Method before 
agreed on., The %eyt<ick % being feated befpVe, he madeia 
Speech pretty Joi)g, w Herein he told how he had beep 
informed^, the loofe Behaviour of Men of War's Men, 
••'■•-'-•■• - * which 




3*4 J New HISTORY 

which had 'armed him with Caution, but that he knew 
of a more convenient Place on an Ifland within three 
Leagues of the Town, for the Man of War to hawl afhore, 
if we would be ruled by his Advice. The Captain made 
a Bow, and acceded to that Motion. » 

He then wanted to know who would be Surety for the 
Captain and Men belonging to the Man of War, that they 
Should obferve the Laws and Cuftomsofthe Place, with- 
out being Moleftation to the Natives. I found none cared 
to enter on fo hazardous an Affair, fo I flood up, and 
proffered myfelf, Ship and Cargo for Security. The reft 
not expe&ihg that the Captain could have found fuch 
Security, one, who made a good Figure among us, told 
ipe, I was too forward in my Proffer. I anfwered him, 
1 that I only engaged what I had the Command of, but 
meddled with no Body's Affairs elk. 

The Teytock feemed well fatisfied, and gave us a very 
handfome Entertainment, and then difmifs'd us. The Man 
of War went to the Ifland, and landed fome of her great- 
eft Guns, but found To much Difficulty in carrying Things 
afhore, that we got an Order from the Teytock to bring > 
her into the Harbour, and accordingly (he came in. 

Their Temples are built all after one Form, but, as 
in other Countries, very different in Beauty and Magni- 
tude. Their Jojfes or Demi- gods are, fome of human 
Shape, fome of monftrous Figures, but in the Province 
of Fokietti they are more devoted to the Worlhip of God- 
defles than Gods. §>uanbiem has the moft Votaries. She 
is placed in State, fitting on a Cufhion with rich Robes, 
and her little Son ftanding before her, with a charged 
Trident in his right Hand, ready to throw at Offenders 
of the Laws of Humanity arid Nature, and alfo at thofe 
who make no Free-will-offerings to his Mother. The 
Cbinefe who have feen the Roman Catbolick Churches and 
'Worfhip, fay that Ihe is~ the Cbinefe Virgin Mary. 

There is another Goddefs called Matfoa y who fwim- 

,med from a far Country, through many Seas, and came 

ia one Night to China* and took up her Refidence thert., 

'/She fits on a Platform, with a Cufhion laid on it, and 

her Head is covered with blue Wooll inftead of Hair. 

£he is the Prote&refs of Navigation, for ^which Reafon 

none 



'7-i" 



of tie 2 AS ^-INDIES. 385 

none go a Voyage but they firft make a Sacrifice of boiled 
Hogs Heads, and Bread baked in the Steam of boilihg 
Water. It is fet before the Image when recking-hot, and 
kept before her till it is cold, fhe feeding on the Smoke, 
and the Devotees on the Subftance, when it is cold. On 
their Return from a Voyage, they compliment her with a 
Play, either adled on board of the Ship, or before one of 
her Temples. 

They have another Goddefe in Form of a Virgin* 
called f^uonin, who has many Votaries, but is moftly wor- 
fhipp'd in the Provinces of Peking and Nanking, but being 
a Virgin, Ihe has many Lovers all over China. 

The God Fo has an human Shape, except his Head, 
which has the Figure of an Eagle*s. Gan has a broad Face* 
and a prodigious great Belly. Fo is a very majeftick 
God, and is always placed with a great Number of little 
Gods to attend him, Minifo in Fokien, I take to be the 
God Migleff at Canton* being alike in Shape and Coun- 
tenance. He is called the God of Pleafure. Pujfa is fet 
crofs-legged on a Cufhion, befpangled with Flowers and 
Stars, and fhe has eight or nine Arms and Hands on each 
Side, and two before that (he holds in a praying Pofture. 
In every one of her Hands (except the two that are dedi- 
cated to Prayer) Ihe bears fome Thing emblematical, as 
an Ax, a Sword, a Flower, &JV. The great God that 
made the Heavens and Earth, they beftow an human 
Shape on him, like a young Man in Strength and Vigour, 
quite oppofite to the Church of Rome, who make his 
Pifture like S ah adore Winter, old, cold, and hoary. I 
have feen many more whpfe Names I have forgot, fome 
with human Bodies, and Dragons, Lions, Tigers, and 
'Dogs Heads, and one I faw like S tour Tonker in Finland^ 
with a Man's Body and Clothes, and with Eagle's Feet, 
and Talons in the Stead of Hands. 

CONFUCIUS, was the Prince of their Philofophers. 
He was hear contemporary with Artaxerxes, Nebemiab, 
and Malacbi, about 450 Years before our Saviour Jefus 
Cbrijl. He both taught and praftifed moral Philofophy 
to Perfedtion, and acquired fo great a Veneration among 
his Countrymen, that his Sentences are taken for Pojlu- 
lata to this Day, not one fince having offered to con- 

Bb tradi& 



38* A A&w HlSTOkt 

tradid any Thing that he has left behind in Writing; 
Ttey haye another Doftor of Philofophy called TanJtWy. 
who was almoft as ancient as Confucius > and wrote many 
excellent- Tradts of a virtuous Life, and the Methods to 
$tt?in to it, but his Charadter is inferior to Cqnfucius's. 

Their Preachers take fome Apophthegm out of thofe 
great Mens Writings, for Texts to comment and exfpa* 
tiate on. They live very abftemioufly* and rife early 
before Day to pray. Every Temple has a Cloifter or 
Convent annext to it, and has. a certain Stipend allowed 
by the Emperor to fupport the Priefts and Noviees, but 
they get much more by letting of Lodgings to Travellers* 
who generally lodge in their Cells, than the Emperor's 
Allowance. Befides, they have a genteel Way of beg- 
ging from Strangers, by bringing Tea and Sweet- meats to 
regale them. 

The Fifhers and Carriers by Water* who are born and 
bred in their Boats, and on the Water, mull alfo be buried 
in it, unlefs they have Money enough to purchafe a Bury- 
ing- Place afhore* 

They have many Se&s among them, but all agree m 
the Tranfanimation of Souls, yet not one Se& perfecutes 
another, but allow free Liberty to believe what they think 
belt, and it is very natural for Men to embrace what they 
think is beft, whether it is the beft or not. 

The Chrijtian Miffionaries have converted many by 
the Indulgence of feveral Emperors, particularly of Chun* 
tofca?, and thofe Apoftles indulge their Profelytes in many 
Things oppofite to the Syftem and Canons of the Weften* 
Christianity? a$ Polygamy, ConCybinage, and the Invo« 
cation and Adoration of Pagan Saints, as well as Chriftb*^ 
an> in their Apotheofis, which lias caufed no finall Diffruw 
bance at Rome. 

v The Emperor of China's Revenues, by Report, amqua£ 
to. one hundred and eight thpufand Millions of iayeh* out 
of which he maintains fifty Cakes or Privy-ccmrifellbrs ac 
one hundred thoufa,nd Toy els yearly. The Princes of the 
Blood are honoured with the Government of Provinces* 
and are allowed, out of the royal Treafury v from fiyc 
hundred thoufand to ten hundred thoufand ¥ayeli yeaclyr. 
Hsh^. fourteen Provinces, wherein, he maintains eight* 
*'."'' . .^ . hundred 



of the EAST INDIES. 387 

hundred Soldiers in each, and each Soldier is allowed ten 
Tayets per Annum in Silver, and a Catty of Rice, and an 
Ounce of Salt per Day, which are delivered monthly out 
of the Emperor's Granaries. In a Word, I look on China 
to be the richeft and fyeft governed Empire in the World. 
The next Ifland of Note is Formofa, but there are fe- 
veral fmall Iflands between it and Luconia, which belong 
to China, tho* of no great Account, and becaufe they are 
flat and low, they are called the Bajhee Iflands. 

FORMOSA is a noble Ifland, and affords Pfenty of 
Gold, raw Silk, fine white Sugar, Sugar-candy, and 
Copper finer than in China. Before the Tartars fubdued 
it, it had Kings of its own^ but tributary to China. The 
Natives differ much from the .neighbouring People of 
. China and Lu<conia 9 both in Phifiognomy and Make. The 
JLngliJhwd Dutch had their Factories there, but. about the 
Year 1678, when "all Fokienhzd fubmitted to the Tartars, 
they were ordered to withdraw their Fadtories from Tey- 
won^ a fmall Ifland clafe tp the great one, on which their 
Fattorips, ftood. The JEngliJh obeyed, and removed over 
to Amoy 9 but the JQutch received Supplies from Batavia, 
<and endured a long Siege, but were at laft forced to fub~ 
itiit, tho* they fold their Faftory, s*nd many of their 
Mens Laves pretty dear, for the Tartars loft above five 
thoufand Men in reducing it. It is now wholly under the 
Tartars, and the Chungtock of Fokim has the Superintend 
dency of it. ' 

When it was tributary to Gbin* $ about the Year 1650. 
•there was a ftrange Diftcmper raged on the Ifland for three 
Years together, lor moftof the Virgins between twelve and 
.eighteen Years of Age, had a Trick of hanging themfelves, 
in fo much that very few Maidens were left on the Ifland, 
nor could any Remedy.be found to prevent it,- before an old 
China Man found one out, and addrefled himfelf to the 
King, defiring him to make a Trial of hanging (all thofe 
that hanged themfelves privately) by one Leg on the Sides 
of High-ways, for Paffengers to gaze on. The King 
£qok his Counfel, and hanged up fome fo, and in one 
Month's Time the Maidens refrained from hanging, and 
have continued good Girls ever fince. 

B b 2 The 



3 88 A New. HISTORY 

The Religion of Formofa is purely Pagan. They all . 
worfliip the Sun, Moon, and the Stars their Children. 
Some worfhip the firft living Thing they fee in the Morn- 
ing, except a Lizard. . 

Between Teywon and the Coaft* of Fokieh, lie the 

Pifcadore Iflands, fo called from the great Quantities of 

Fifh caught about them. There are many Shallows lie a 

good DiftanceoYthem, on which an Englifh Ship from S«- 

rat, called the Jofiah, was fhipwreck'd in the Year 1697, 

hut all the Men were faved ; and on the Report of a Jefuit y 

Miflionary who was Paflettger, that he had fome Things 

op board for the Emperor, on which Mr. Reynolds thef firft 

Supercargo, was forced to take a Journey to Peking, who 

cleared himfelf, but brought Scandal on holy Mother 

Church, for forging Things fo palpably falfe, for the good 

Father's Trunk was faved, and opened by proper Officers, 

and not one Thing that he had reported to be in it, was 

found. 

In the Year J700, the new Eajl-Iridia .Company of Eng- 
land, fettled a Faftory on Chufan by Mr. Allen Catchpote y 
but by the Opprdfion of thp Tartar Qfftcers, and the Com- 
pany's Negleft of fending" Mortejf fuffirient to carry on 
their Trade, Mr. Catcbpole removed the Faftory again in 
the Beginning of the Year 1 703, and carried it to Pullo* 

cendore. 



y 



m r m ~ ^y - ^ •*•■" ^ m±«»- 



C.HA P., XXVJIJ, 

A port Account of the taking of the Manila Ship, in 
the Eaft Indies, fiy Mr. Anfori in the Ship' the Cen- 
turion, in the Tear 1 7 43; :: ' 

.... » ' • 

» r 

IN the latter End of the Year 1739, it was forefeen 
. that a War with Spurn was inevitable ; it was, the Opi- 
nion of ieveral confid^ible Perfohs 4hen entrufted with 
the Adrftifriftration of .Affairs ;* that' the moft prudent 
Step the Nation- could take, on the* breaking out of the 
Waf, *Waij the 'attackihgihat Crown in her diftant Settle- 
ments; for by this Means (as at th^t Time there was the 
greaceft Probability of-Siicccft) it -was fuppofed we fhould l 

. * cut; 



of the ,E,AS T r I N DIE S. 389 

cut off the principal Refources of the Enemy, and reduce 
them fincerely to defire a Peace; as they would hereby 
be deprived of the Returns of that Treafure, by which 
alone they could be enabled 10 carry on a War. Had this 
Scheme been then executed with the utmoft Expeditio^,, 
the City of Manila would with Eafe have fallen into our 
Hands, and we might have made ourfelves Matters of tjie 
Ifland of Cuba. But as Mr. An/on* through the many Dis- 
appointments he met with in fitting out his Squadron, and 
the Delays of his failing Orders did not arrive in the Indier 
till after the Departure of the Manila Ships, he miffed 
an Opportunity which might not only have humbled the 
Pride of Spain* t but might alfo have furnifhed this Nation; 
with a fufficient Sum to have paid off the National Debt, 
At length Mr. An/on as Commodore failed from St,- 
Helen's in the Centurion* having under his Command fevea 
other Ships, the Pearl* the Gloucefter* the. Severn* the 
Wager* the Tryal, and two Pinks, Victuallers •, on the 
eightheenth of September* in the Year 1 740, and in forty 
Days we arrived off the Ifland of Madera* where Mr. 
An/on received Intelligence of the Squadron commanded 
by Pon Jofepb Pizarro* the Spanijh Admiral, confifting 
Qf fix Men pf War ; not one of which returned to Europe 
except the AJia* the other five were loft in Confequence 
of the Precautions they took to avoid the Enterprize of 
the Eriglifh. From hence Mr. Anfon failed to St. Catha- 
rine's* and .then to Port Julian* and on the ninth of June 
15741, at Break of Day, arrived at the Ifland of Juan 
pirnande^ But duririg thefe Yranfadions, the Wager was 
loft with many of her Men, and the Remainder, which . 
were about one hundred became diforderly, drunken and 
JDjatinous, and returned towards England in the Long . 
Boat. Mr. Anfon lying in - the Bay at the Ifland o(Juan\ 
Fjrnandes fpied a Spanijh Merchantman, took her, which 
was the firft Prize he had taken, hjer Burthen was about t 
four hundred and fifty Tuns^ with fifty three Sailors on . 
board whjte and black, and twenty- five Paffengers. With- 
this Prize he left; .the Ifland of Juan Fernandes* and fteered 
tp the Eaft ward. "From hence he v^nton a Cruize to- . 
wards Paita* and., the fttryal fell in with a Spanijh Mer- 
chantman of fix hundred Tuns,., of which, ihe foon made 

a Prize 5 



590 A New HISTORY 

* Prize ; feu* the Ttyal being in a bad Condition we de- 
ferred her, and put on Bpard the'SpaniJh Ship every Thing 
tfeat was vahiable, we funk her, calling our Frigate by 
the Name of the 7rjwf s Prize. Soon after which we faw 
another Sail; which' we cfyaced, and firing fourteen Shot 
at- her fhe (truck, fhe was a Bif coyer ; of three hundred 
Tuns, and named the Santa Terefa de Jefus. Approach- 
ing Pnita^ the Nueflra Senora hi Carmin v whofe worth 
was four hundred thou&nd Dollars, fell into our Hands- 
This Merchantman had but juft left the Harbour: where 
we entered with all the Celerity poffible, befieged the 
Town of Paita; and took it Without any confiderable Lofs, 
The Sailors entered* the Hbufes in Search of Pillage, and 
what chiefly occurred to tham were the. laoed and em- 
broidered Glothts, with the Tye or Bag- wig and laced Hat y 
attd the Womens fine Gowns and Petticoats of the Spa* 
jtfards. Thefe glittering Habits our Tars put on over their- 
own dirty greafy Trowfers and jackets * fo that when a Par- 
ty of them ffrft appeared thus fidiculoufly metamorphofed 
one could not be eafily fatisfied ttyey were our own People, 
leaving removed every Thing that was valuable in the- 
Town into the Centurion^ and fecured the Treafure of the 
whole. Fort, and taken on board' eighty Pfifbners we burnt 
down the Town, whofe Buildings were but ofone Story,. 
built of Wood, a^dcoverfed with Leaves, we left it, and]! 
6tled>for Quibct. In this Paflkge we found, that the Glo- 
£(/hrlh&d picked -up two SpRtiJh Snows, one whofe Cargo, 
cbnfiflted' of Wine, Brandy, Olives, wijth Spices to the 
• Amount of* feVer* thou f ana Pound, and the othfer had a 
gfeat Quantity or Double Doubloons and ' Dollars to the. 
Amount of near twelve thoufand Pound. After this we 
took a Spanijb Bark caHed the Jefu NazarpiQ, of inconfi- 
derable Value, r 

From Shibo we failed for the \Coaft of MexicoAn hopes. 
«>f 4 fucceeding in ;the great Purpofe we had in View, that 
of ; intercepting the^ Manila Gafeon. We cruized off the 
Pbrt of Acapuko for fome Trmp without Succefs, but^at, 
length to our inexprcffible Joy, on the twentieth of June 
we difcovered a Sail to the, Sputh' Eaft f The Commodore . 
with the Centurion Rood immediately towards her, and in 
a^fhort Time-came fo near'as to fee her from the Deck. 
• " • The . 



tf the EATS.INfl) 1 E S. 39* 

The Galeon did not change her Courfe* but bore down 
upon us, and fired a Gun, and took in her top-gallant 
Sails, and an Engagement enfued, which was maintained 
on both Sides with great Refolutron and Brifknefe; But 
at length overpowered with the fuperior Bravery and Gou^ 
rage of our Men the Noftra Seigniora de Cabadonga (for 
that -was the Manila Ship's Name) was tak$n» a Prizes 
amounting in Value to near a Million and half in Dollars* 
The Galeon was much larger than the Centurion) had five. 
hundred and fifty Men, and thirty-fix Guns mounted for 
Adlion, befides twenty-eight Pidreroes in her Gunwale* 
Quarters and Tops, each of which carried a four Pound 
Ball, and Ihe was well provided with fmall Arms. She 
had fixty-feven killed in the A&ion, . and eighty-four 
bounded ; while the Centurion had only two killed and * 
Lieutenant, and fixteen wounded *, all of whom but oiic 
fecovercd. 

The Particulars of the Cargo of tfte Gakon being afcern 
tained it was found, that he had on board one ft( illion; 
three hundred and thirteen thoufend eight hundred v and 
forty-three Pieces of Eighty and thirty five thoufaad fix 
Hundred eighty two Ounces of Virgin Silver, befides foi^e 
Cochineal, and a> few other Commodities, which,, how- 
ever, were of but frriall Account, in Cpmparifon of the- 
Specie. And this being the Commodore's laft Prize, if 
hence appears, that all the Treafure taken by the Centu* 
rion was not much ftiort of four hundred thoufand Pound, 
independent of the Ships and Merchandize, which fhe 
either burnt or deftroyed, and which by the moft reafon- 
able Eftimation could not amount to a lefs Sum than fix 
hundred thoufand Pound more •, fo that the Lofs of the 
Enemy by our Squadron did greatly exceed a Million. To 
which, fuppofe we add, the Charge of the Court of Spain 
in fitting out Pizarro^ with tfie Lofs of his Men of . War, 
the Total of all thefe Sums will be moft exorbitant, and 
lhews, that notwithftanding the numerous Difadvanta- 
ges the Englijh Commodore and his Men laboured under, 
did yet prove exceeding prejudicial to the Spaniards. 

Mr. Anfon with his Prize failed for the River of Canton* 
where he arrived on the fourteenth of July following, and 
anchored fomewhat Ihort of the Bocca Tigris. Here he 

ftayed 



.« i 



& p 



392 • A New HISTORY, &c/ ; 

ftayed feveral Months, and having took in Provifions on 
the feventh of. December the Centurion ahd her Prizp ufc 
moored, and ftood down the River on her Return to Eng- 
land ; but fome Cbinefe Merchantmen in his Pafiage down 
the River offered the Commodore a certain Sum for the 
Galeon, which on fome Confideration he accepted and 
delivered her to the Merchants on the fifteenth of Decent- 
her, and the fame Day got tinder Sail. And on the third 
df January' 1713-4., the Cehtkrion came to an Anchor at 
Prince's Ifland in the Streights of Sunda 9 and continued 
there wooding and watering till the eighth ; when fhe weigh- 
ted, and ftood for the Cape of Qcod Hope, where on the 
eleventh of March fhe anchored in Table- Bay. 

During his Stay here he entered about forty new Men 5 

• and having, by the third of April 1744, compleated his 

• Water and Provifioni he, on that Day weighed, and put 
to Sea ; and the nineteenth of the fame Month faw the 
Hland of St. Helena, which he did hot touch at, but 
ftood- »h his Way-, and on the tenth of June fpoke with 
ail Engltfh Ship from Amfterdam bound for Philadelphia^ 
from whom Mr. An/on received the firft Intelligence of a 
French War ; on the twelfth he got Sight of the Lizard 1 
and on the fifteenth in the Evening, to the infinite Joy 
Of all concerned, they came fafe to an Anchor at Spithead. 
*Thus was this Expedition finiftied, when it had lafted 

, three Years and nine Months. 






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