‘The travels of Sig. Pietro della Valle, a noble Roman, into East-India and Arabia Deserta. In which, the several countries, together with the customs, manners, traffique, and rites both religious and civil, of those Oriental princes and nations, are faithfully described: In familiar letters to his friend Signior Mario Schipano. Whereunto is added a relation of Sir Thomas Roe’s voyage into the East-Indies’ [‎364] (385/508)

nwK.'— im i u wwmmammmmr
'
be afcribed in part to the fatnefs of that Soil. Some of their
Trees have leavs upon them as broad as BucklerSjOthers are part- -
like our Fern or Brakes, as the Tamerine Tree, which
.bears Cods foraewhat like our Beans, in which when the Fruit is
ripe, there is a very well tafted pulp, though it be fowr, moft
wholfom to open the body, and to cool and cleanfe the blood.
There is one very great and fair Tree growing in that Soil, of
fpecial obfervation, out of whofe Branches or great Arms grow
little Sprigs downward till they take Root (as they will cer
tainly do if they be let alone) and taking Root, at length
prove ftrong fupporters unto thofe large Branches that yield
them. Whence it comes to pafi, that thofe Trees in time (their
ftrong and far-extended Arms being in many places thus (upport-
cd) grow to a very great height, and extend themfelves to (iich
an incredible breadth, they growing round every way, as that
hundreds of men may lhade themfelves under one of them at
any time 5 the rather, becaufe thefe, as all other Trees in thofe
Southern parts of Eaji lndia (as particularly lobferved before)
ftill keep on their green Coats.
for their Flowers, they are for the generality like unto
painted Weeds^ which, though their colour be excellent, they
rather delight the eye than affeft the fmell^for not many of them,
except Rores,and (bme few kinds more, are any whit fragrant:
Amongftthemthat arc 3 there' is one white Flower, like to Spa-
nifli Jeffamin (if it be not the fame) which is exceedingly well
fen ted jof which they make a moft excellent pure fweet Oil, with
which they anoint their heads, and other parts of their bodies 5
which makes the company of thofe that do (b very iavoury
and fweet.
This Empire is watered with many goodly Rivers (as they arc
exprefled in the Map J the two principal are Imlusznd Ganges^
where this thing is very obfervable (for they fay there, that it is
very truej that one pint of the water of Ganges weigheth left
by one ounce than any other water in that whole great Monar
chy. And therefore (they fay J that the Mogol^ vvherefoever he
is, hath water brought him from that River, that he may drink
thereof, by fome appointed for that fervice, who are continual
ly cither going to it, or coming from it: The water is brought
unto the King in fine Copper Jars, excellently well tin'd on the
infide, andfealed up when they are delivered to the Water*
bearers for the Ring's ufe 5 two of which Jars every one carries,
hanging upon Slings fitted for the Porter's (houlders.
Befidcs their Rivers,they have ftore of Wells fed with Springs^
and to thefe, they have many Ponds, which they call Tanques,
fome of them exceeding large, fill'd with water when that abun
dance of Rain falls (of which more hereafter. J
That mort ancient and innocent Drink of the World, Water,
is the common drink of Eaji-India , it is far more pleafant
and fweet than our water 5 and muft needs be fo, becaufe in all
/ ■ hot
lif'l ■
iil ,1