‘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’ [‎49] (70/508)

Into the E A S T-I N D I E S. 4^
dav and becomes bigger hourly; affirming, that many years
(ince he was no higher thenafpan, or little more, and now be
is above two, and perhaps three ; and thus he continues increa--
fins every day : a folly not to be behev d but by fuch fools as
theml'elves. Having feen this Temple, we overtook our
at a Town call'd Saimh, three miles diftant from where
we all lodg'd that night. The next Morning be.ng Smday,
the Cafila A train of travellers; a caravan; or any large party of travellers. which confifted of above a hundred Coaches, be-
fides foot-men and horfe-men, and great loadenWagons, fet
forth three hours before day ; and flaying not to reft any where,
according to the cuftom of the Eaft, ( wh.ch is to make but one
bout of a days journey; having travel! d fifteen^ by noon, or
little later we lodg'd at a Town call'd Muter, where we faw an
infinite number of Squirrels leaping amongft the trees every
where; they werefmall, white, and with a taillefs, and not 10
fair as thofe of our Countiies. On Monday, about two hours
before day, we rcfum'd our Voyage. When it wa.s day, we law
upon the way every where abundance of wild Monkies, of which
almoft all the Trees were full. They put me in mind of that
Army of Monkies, which the Souldiersof the Great,
beholding upon certain Hills a far off, and taking to be Metr
intended to have charg'd, had not Taxilus inform d them what
they were, 25 relates. We found abundance of people Lib.i*
too upon the way begging alms with the found of a Frumpet^
which almoft every one had and founded, and or them
were arm'd with Bows and Arrows, two things fiifficiently un- n,
couth for beggars, and indeed, not be fufTer'd by Governours,
fince thefe Ruffians under pretext of begging, rob frequently
upon the way when they meet perions alone and unarm 0 3
which having weapons themfelves, they may eafily do. Th ls
County was almofl: all woody, the ground unmeafuiabl} u y,
to the great trouble of Travellers 5 the High-ways were al
enclosed on the fides with high hedges of a plant always green and //, /t
unfruitful, not known in Europe 5 and having no leaves, but in- /
ftead thereof cover'd with certain long and (lender branches, al- ^
moft Jike our Sparagus but bigger, harder and thicker, ot a
very lively green ^ being broken, they fend forth Milk like
that of immature Figgs, which is very pernicious to the neih
wherever it touches. The Fields were full of Olive-trees, Ta
marind -trees, and other fuch which in India are familiar. About
noon, having travell'd twelve, or, as others faid, fourteen Cos^
we arriv'd at Ahmedab^ and our journey from Cambata hither
was always with our Faces towards the North Eait. Being
entred into the City, which is competently large 3 with great
Suburbs, we went diredtly to alight at the houfe of theEnghlft
Merchants, till other lodging were prepar'd tor us, where alio
we dind with them. After which we retir'd to one ot the ^
houfes which ftand in the ftreet, which they call Ter^ Carvanje-
rat. that is, the laalm Inn. For youmuft know that the
7 3 ^ vanjerat*.