'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎338] (361/448)

Quam male confuefcit, quam fe parat iJlacruori To (hedthe hlood of Man
Impius humano? Vituli qui guttura cultro How wickedly is he prepaid ? whocaa
Rumpit • & immotas pr^bet mugitibus aures j jijurtder cut the throat of Calves, and hears
Aut quiVagi'tus fimilts puerilibus heed urn The bellowing breeder with relentlefs ears,
Edentem jugulare poteft, aut alite vefci Or filly Kids (which like poor Infants cry)
Cui dedit ipfe cjbos; quantum eft quod defit in iftis Stick with his Knife *, or his voracity
Ad plenum facinus, quis tranfitus ifte paratur ? Feed with the Fowl he fed. Oh I to what ill
Are they not prone, who are fo prone to kill?
Faffing from thence, we came afore
C A L LIC U T (ten leagues from that place where our men took the prize foremen-
tioned) thought by fome to be that Town Ptolomy calls CamhapisfiCity in 23 degrees, an
errour broached by Niger and Berlins. Above a thoufand years ago it was called
then of fome note^but not fo well known as now j and had increafed her fame by more trade
had Ihe profpered better againft the continued differences it had with the Portugal : who
when they could not conquer by force (zsSeleuchm did with Babylon) ruined her by policy ►
for they transferred their Mart and Staple to other Towns v by which removal in fmall time
this City became poor and defolate. It declines from the TEquator towards the North-pole
eleven degrees*, and from its Handing in the burning Zone muft needs be at fome time of
the year fulphureous. The earth is but meanly fruitful in grafsneverthelci%her Gardens
by induftry and help of lome Brooks are moll part of the year verdant ana redundant in
variety of fruits and flowers. The City of it felf is large, but of fmall elegancy in building:
for the houfes are low, thick and dark, and the ftreets narrow: The Harbour is a pretty
way diftant from the Town, and but indifferent to anchor in: yet (hews the remains of
two ftrong Forts which were raifed about the year 1515. by the Portuguez,-, in a fort demo-
lilhed fince by the Mallabar. The Samoreen in this place has his ufual abiding : a Prince
of great power and awe; andnotmore black of colour than treacherous in difpofition.
Many deformed Pagotha's are here worfhipped *, having this ordinary evafion, That
they adore not Idols, but the Deumo's they reprefent: moft of which at one time or
other have been defaced and deftroyed by the Portugal. The Chappel where the grand
Caco-Demno ufed to fit, was uncovered, and about three yards high: the wooden entrance
was engraven with hideous fhapes: within, their beloved Priapm was enthroned upon a
mount 't Ocnlis mirabile Monflrum ; for upon his head he wore a Diadem, whence iffued
four great Rams horns fuch as Jupiter Ammon in memory of the Ram that conduced
chm and his female Army through thofe Deferts was reprefented, and being diftreffed for
want of water had it given (upon his prayer to Jupiter] by a ftroke of the Rams Foot up
on a Rock: and if not that, typing out fome other myftery. His eyes were linall and
fquint *, his mouth large and opening like a Port-cullice, from whence branched four great
tusks v but his nofe was flat; his beard Ipread like the rayes of the Sun •, his hands reiem-
bled the claws of a Vulture •, his thighs and legs were ftrong and hairy •, feet and tail moft
like that of a Monkey : which put together, rendered the Devil hot unlike himielf, wick
edly deformed, and the Men beyond meafure grofs Idolaters. Other Temples they had,
ftuffed with other Pagods of like prodigious deformity •, ugly all, yet all differing as to in
vention .• for fome of them were painted black, others red •, forfie devouring fouls *, and
ufually fuch as were in Hell were white ones. Thefe are of the old ftamp •, for they
fecm to threaten or otherwise to exprefs fatisfadion in mens offerings: but what they
could not do, their Chemarims effeded ^ for, each morn the Prieft (ajogue) perfumes
and wafhes them : It feems the Devil ever leaves a filthy fmell behind, being his manner
of benedidion. Every new Moon their cuftom was to facrifice a live Cock, the fymbol
of lull and courage which they found in themfelves predominating. At this ceremony
the Prieft was p'ontifkally attired in Lawn, armed with a fharp lilver Knife, his arms and
legs garnifhed after the Morifco mode with Bells or round filver plates which made a
jingling: and after he had facrificed the yielding Cock, and filled his hands with Rice,
goes retrograde, not daring to look up&n any other objed fave his Idoltill being come
near an Acherontic lake, fuddenly he turns about and embowels his offering: after which,
he advances his hands fome times above his head, and fo returns, fuppofing that his
Holocauft was accepted. The Samoryn ufed not to eat till it were firft offered, and fo
acknowledged as food fent him from hisDeumo : what he leaves, is not given the Poor i
for it is the Crows pittance: good reafontoo, They think them his ferviteurs. The
people to this day (as they fuppofe) retain fone incbmmendable cuftomes: for they
exchange their Wives: nor feem the Women dilpleafed at it, Polygamy is fo tolerable
or