'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.' [‎358] (381/448)

^ 58 Siam. The Tallapoi, The Cahri^ftone.
mortifie their flcfh, and that the Tallayoi may be thought meritorious. Now albeit liberty-
be allow'd Chriftisyis, Moors and other fuperftitions, neverthelefs the Natives are tran-
fcendent Idolaters? carving their Deities after the ftiapes of Van and Priapm with other
goatilh fancies; yea in poftures not fit to be remembred. They have Groves and Altars alio
whereon they offer flefh,fruits,flowers v and many times when the Tallapoi tell them their
Demo is melancholy, they warble out harmonious mufick, and do what they canto make
him chearful. Others by break of day run to their Pagods with a basket of Rice,hoping
that day will be happier. The Kings of Arrachan, Tamjfery, Syam, Pegu, Ahva and
Tangu are all Gentiles,' and have their Temples ftuffed with Pagods.
The T'allafoi preach ufually every Monday (their Sabbath)in the Market, andaifemble
their Auditory by the found of a copper Bafon. Thefe feem Mendicants by profeffion:
yet what by awe, for as fome fay the very infernal Spirits obey their incantations ^ and
what by policy, for they contemplate humility externally very much, the People have them
in high eftimation: By their predidion of future events, and marvellous knowledge in
things paft and prefent *, by magick and moral obfervation^refolving, diffwading, applaud
ing, direding and delighting fuch as credit them * 7 and credit them molt of thofe Bthnicb
do, they are in great efteem, as believing them
Interpres Divum, Qui Numina Phosbi, Of gods Interpreters and Phoebus lays.
Qui tripodas Clarii lauros, qui Sydera fentis. The three-legged charming Stool, the Claryan Bays,
Et Volucrura Linguas, & prjepetis omnia penna?. Planets, Birds Language, and all old ajfays*
Such be their Priefts. And for the People, as report goes,, they have been deteftable
Sodomites a lin fo hateful to Nature as not to be named *, for as an unnatural uncleannefs
it abhors it: now to deter thele Catamites, a late Queen Redrix prudently commanded
that all the male-Children fhould have a Bell of gold in which .was an Adders-tongue
dried put through their prepuce^ which by cultom took away*the contempt, and be
came their ornament j fo that at this day fome will exceed, and not unlike the Chori*
hantes of old, have three or four of thofe Bells, pendent. But when they have a mind
to marry, the Mid-wife prefents a fbporiferous potion, during whole operation the
Bell is loofed^om the fielh and faftened to the fore-skin, and the unguent being ap
plied the cur?is quickly perfeded. This pradice and other the uncomely habit and
lafcivious pradices of the Women there, Cafar Frederic obferves in his Travels % as alfo
Mr. Fitch a London Merchant, Antonio Gahano and others: and how incredible foever it
feems to fome, I fuppofe there are both in London and other-parts of Merchants
and Sea-men who have been in thofe parts, and feen what I have here related. Here Sedge
and Palmeto-leaves are ufed for paper.
The ufual place of refidence for the King is at Indy, a Town Icituated within an Ifle
compaifed well-nigh with the Menan: His Palace is large, pretty well built, and held te
nable. Howbeit moil other Houfes are low and mean, the Streets narrow *, but avail
able to keep out the extreme heat which at fome times rages. Thofe of the Coaft of
Chormandel the one way, and the Chynefes the other traffique hither with Sattens, Pored-
lanes and other rich Commodities, which makes the place the more noted. The Boyes
oft-times paint themfelves with a celeftial colour from top to toe, and as an augmenta
tion of beauty cut, gafh and pink their skins, which they apprehend to be a noble and in
genious ornament: but to us rather bred horrour than affedation. The Men affed per
fumes and pradife complement.
The foil, notwithHanding the River Menam, is but indifferent for Grafs ^ but uberous
in rich Stones, as Diamonds, Chryfolites, Onyx, Magnets and Bezoars: it hath plenty
of Lignum Aloes-, Benjamin and Cotton : it hath alfo Mines of Iron and Copper ^ there
is Gold and Silver alfq, which caufes Ptol. to call it aurea regio, and anrea continens, Orteliut.
Silver is plentifully brought thither from Japan, but Viduals and like commodities they
have abundantly from other parts •, which is the realbn that they are bought here cheaper
than in many other places. Amongft Stones, moft memorable is the Cabriz or Blood-
Itone here generated ; the marvellous vertue whereof is fuch as Oforim tells us,That when
the Portuguez. had War with the Sumatrans, onetime they defcried a Junk at Sea, which
alter fome refiilance was boarded by Nahodabeg the Captain : but after a long and fmart
nght, the armed Pormguez, entring among the naked Indians, put to the Sword all that
begg d not quarter. Amongft others Nahodabeg himfelf, who bled not albeit they had
ilalnt and wounded him in fundry places. They were amazed at the fight and thought it
magical ; till having taken from his arm a Bracelet of Gold wherein was fet the Cabriz-
itone, the reafon then appeared; for that was no fooner removed, but blood ilfued abun
dantly