'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.' [‎23] (44/448)

Madagafear.
fosminas alebant. Vivehant in fyivisj quod beatim arhitrahantur quam ingerere agris vel ilia-
horare domibus, &c. This Ifle is rich in minerals and marquifate, Gold, Silver, ( and as
Edoard Lopezo) Iron and Copper : The beams or influences of the Heavens, chiefly of
the Sun, operating fo, as not only the furface but the inward bowels of the Earth (as Sir
Fran. Bacon obferves) when turned up appear impregnate with a mafculine fpirit of the
celeftial influences; for which caufe obferving the avarice of the Portugal they prohi
bit the ufe and digging up the earth, contenting themfelves rather with ufeful herbs
and grain (of which they have ftore) than by the Magick of Gold and Pearl to allure
the hearts of greedy men, to afford them difturbance, a quality the Portugal is as liable
to as any other Nation. Againft which one well inveighs, in faying
JSfot Croefus wealth, nor Babels vafl command, Nec Babylonis opes, Lyd* nec pondera gaz*;
India, Arabia, nor the S<eres land Indorumque dapes, s «rumque Arabumque potentcs
Can fpeak me rich or happy *, if with them Divitias, mallem cum paupertate pudica
/ throw away my more price worthy fame. Intemcrata mori, quam £amam impendcre vit*.
But, if you would buy any thing the Ifle affords (p'eradventure the Ifle it felf) you
mull furniih you with Agats, Helitropians, Jafper, and (which they value more than all
the Diamonds and Pearls in India) long red Cornelian-beads, of which they put fo high
a value, that one firing is enough to put them all into a combuflion: Harangua the Na
tives call them *, they hang them in their ears, and in Chains about their necks ^ being then
fo brave as all other Ornaments appear to them needlefs and defpicable: And of no fmali
efteem are Bracelets, Copper-chains, or Manellios, Bells and babies, triangular Glalles
or Fools Paradife ; and for which (or one Cornelion) you have in exchange Sheep, big-
tail'd like thofe in Syria, Buffoles big-bon'd fat and Camel-backt, Antilopes, Red-dear,
Leopards, Pards, Goats, Milk, Hens, Eggs, Wheat, Barley, Rice, and Cufcus*, with
what Fruit you like, Orenges, Lemons, Lymes, Pomcitrons, Plantans, Sugar-canes, Gin
ger, Toddy, Cocoes, &c. Here are alfo Lizards, and Camelions, which Ifidore derives
from a Camel and a Lion, but in the Greek is a little Lion, which it refembles not fo
much in fhape (for it is a very lean deformed beaft) as condition. It is an old and vul
gar opinion, that it feeds upon the air, which cannot be, feeing the air feeds not, for
what we be fed by muft be liibjed to touch, which air is not. Camelions will lick up
Flies, Beetles, and the like, and that very dexteroufly. Neverthqlefs the Camelion (the
Hieroglyphic of a diffembler) take thus from Alciat.
She always gapes, Jhe eats the fender air, Semper hiat, femper tenuem qua vefcitur Auram,
Changing her looks, jhe varies colours rare, Et mutat faciem, varies fumitque colores,
fcnen fo the Flatterer applauding feeds. Sic & adulator popuiari vefcitur Aura,
Clawing his Princes mofi opprobrious deeds, Et fcdwn mores imitatur principls atros.
With which Seneca agrees, Contra morfum Sycophanti mllum efi remedium. Salamanders
here be alfo, a fort of Lizard extreme cold by Nature, whence (like Ice) for fome time
they endure the fire, yea (if little) extinguifh it as Ariftotle affirms, yet by tryal we find
that they will quickly be burnt if the fire be powerful. Howbeit Quintrn Serenm reports
otherwife.
The Salamander endures fire without danger. Seu Salamandra potens nullifque obnoxia flaramis.
Commonly they obfeure themfelves in moift and umbragious places, fo as when they ap
pear they are fure prefages of a ftorm approaching ^ their teeth and tongues are vene-
mous, but the other parts may be eaten without danger. The French have this Proverb,
If e're the Salamander hap to bite thee, Si mordu t'a une Ariflade,
Thy Coffin and thy winding Sheet invite thee. Pren's ton linceul e la flaffadc,
Venenum Salamandri tam grave, ut fi arbor em tetigit, poma omnia veneno teterrimo inficit ;
qui ex eis edant fubito emoriantur. PI in. 1. 29. c . 4. So exceeding venemous, that if they
do but touch an Apple-tree, it infeds the fruit, and poyfons thofe that eat them. My
vale-dittum fhall be this *, The land feems to mourn to fee it felf trod upon by a people fo
much eftranged from God and Vertue: in difcontent, as it were, concealing ufeful Trea-
fures, making unufeful fo many Ports, obfeured ib far beyond her merit j albeit feat-
cd fo advantagioufly for Traffick with all the World, as both the Indies feem poifible