'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.' [‎373] (396/448)

part of the City was fired •, and not onely this, but many other Towns in that Province.
Meacco is as big as Florence-, but not fo beautiful and watered by a River of fweet wa
ter, the Buildings are but ordinary: of belt note are the Fotiquees which are filled with
Manadas, to which the Japnians are exceedingly addided: The Jefnites induftrie though
great, produces little advantage, the ^People are fo miferably drawn away by the exam
ple of their idolatrous Neighbours the Chynefes, whom in nothing, elfe they feem to agree
with, and albeit at firft there was a feeming converfion to Chrifliamty both in Xavicrh time
and frnce, yet have they oft apoftatized, and the greateft number of Inhabitants being GVw-
tiles have made many maiTacres and deftroy'd fuch as were real Profefibrs; infomuch as at
this day there is little of Chrtfi there own'd *, thefe Wretches rather inclining to the Alcoran
which has of late years crept very near them, and beft agrees with their fenfual appetite
for it gives a large toleration to carnal Men,and has nothing of aufterity mixt with it,which
beft pleafes.
The Government is Monarchical; above threefcore petty Princes do homage and pro-
ftrate their Coronets afore the Supreme Diadem. The Countrey is moil part mountai
nous but full of Pavolets, which makes it abound with Corn, Grafs and Minerals: the
North and Eaft parts are lefs peopled than the South and Weft. The old Roman execra
tion Ahi in malam Crucem and manner of execution is here in uie; a punilhment not more
full of torture than ignominy: The People are valiant and reafonable civil, .affedlors of
novelties, and beyond meafure jealous if occafioned, revengeful if injur'd, and devilifh
if exafperated: They pretend much to Learning and,efpecially ttf skill in Geography, how-
beit are ignorant of the European and African in the greateft part, and totally concerning
the American ; neverthelefs have no fmall opinion of their Art in the divifion'of the World,
wherein they think themlelves fuperlative iaiid. all others miftaken ^ for they divide the
World into three parts, that is to fay into Chyna^ Jayan and Syam, which fufficiently ex-
prefles their ability in that Science: ]3Ut in Entertainments they are better skilled, for
they fit long and fare well, and in eating ufe fticks,or forks, and Ihift the Table as new
Courfes are ferved: In riding they mount upon the right fide-, their Alphabet ex
ceeds not twenty Letters, whereas the Malayan has 26. they as the Chynefes have alfo
many Characters, of which every one ftand§/pr an entire word as we ufe in fhort Writ
ing. At Funerals they wear white. They would but cannot deny themfejves to be de-
fcended from ; for certain it is they were taniiht about fix hundred years ago up
on fome infurredion*, in confideration whereof they continue an implacable animofity
to each other; the Iflanders rob and prey upon the Chynefes abroad on all advantages ^ yea,
at home in their prayers abominate, and in all Complements and Ceremonies are oppo-
fite to one another as much as may be-, no lefs than the and Spaniard. 'Upon any
trivial accufation the Children are fo fenfible of their Reputation that without any paufe
to evince the truth, they will whip off a joint Ififom their finger with this imprecation. If
true, I wilh my hand may never heal again: Murder, theft j treafon, and adultery are pu-
nifht feverely, either by crucifying or beheading with a Cuttan. Ozacca is 80 leagues
from .* a Port of good note, and in nothing more obfervable than the Caftle, which
heretofore as reported was varnifhed, tyled and burnifht in fome places with thin plates
of gold a regular fortification and of excellent ftone; the walls whereof were every
where twenty foot thick, and the whole work circled with a large deep trench full of
water : the Caftle was entred by a doz-en iron Gates and fome draw-Bridges: Of late
years it was made the prifon of Coja-zamwaVniice of Tanzey eldeft Son of Tiqua^amma
the late Emperour *, whole Father Faxiba-z.amma' fubjeded all the other Princes of Japan
and made them by oath and pledge acknowledge him their Sovereign : Coja-zamma upon
his Father's fudden death was upexpededly feized by Ogojho-z,amma who compelled him to
marry his Daughter; aft^er which, he was requited by confinement to that hateful Prifon.
Over againft Oaacca on the other fide the River, Sacay a Town traded to by Chriflians is
fcituate', Edoo not far thence is a Town ftrongly walled and well peopled: Fifteen
leagues thence is Oringoo) a Tpwn that affords good Anchorage: Fyrando is not lefs than
500 leagues thence if you coaft thither; It is 2. Cherfonefe and elevates the Ardick Pole
5 1 degrees 30 minutes: var. Eaft 2 degrees-50 minutes: where and at Fnccateth.Q Englijh
had for fome time a noted Fadory.
Fucate or Falcate as fome write, it is a pretty Town, watered with a fweet River,
and made defenlive by a Caftle y a Forreft of lofty Pines and fpreading Sycamores for
three miles fpace well-nigh compaile^the Town;, of force againft the fcorching Sun,
delightful to the eye, yea more grateful than any other objed, did not Idolatry render
it ingrate', for under thofe green Trees where are many fmall but richly tyled Fotiques,
they adore Fagothas in lhape not unlike Fan and Friapm, yea, Satan himfelf in his uglieft
refem-