'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.' [‎27] (48/448)

Adobe Ha 4
M O H E L1A elevates the Pole Antartick vi degrees 15 minutes ^ has longitude from
,the Meridian of the Cape of good Hoye 24deg. variation of the Co mpafs i6deg. lomin.
and is about 60 miles in circuit : tne Maritirii parts of the lile rife gently, the inland
parts mount high and appear woody. A little Village here and there we faw fcattered *, the
Houfes are of Reeds and Straw, fuch as are made in Infant Plantations and fitted to
fach a torrid climate. MoelU fome pronounce this Ifle, MolaU others, and Mal-Jlha or
Bad-JJle, as a Countryman of ours fancied, an incongruity, that from a SjtamJh refem-
blance fo fweet a place fhould be difparaged.
From Madagascar Mohelia is removed about 50 leagues towards the South Eaft, from
Quiloa in the continent under 10 degrees, 60. from Cumro S. E. ^leagues, and 10
£. and by S. from Johanna, the Inhabitants are a mixture of Mahometans and Gentiles,
to whom the Sun is a principal Deity *, the Sun (faith Solomon, Bed. 11 .7.) is a pleafant
thing to behold,but not to worfhip. Howbeit the Portugal hasoflatepreacht Chrifthere,
but have few Profelytes •, fome fragments of their Language I took fo well as I could from
their own Idiom. A King is Sultan, Bracelets Aremho, a Hen Coquo, an Oxe Gumhey,
Coco-nuts Sejauoye, Plantains Figo, a Goat Buze, an Orange Tudah, a Lemon Demon,
Water Mage, Paper Cartajfa, a Needle Sinzjtno&Q. amifh-mafh of Arabtck&nd Portugmfe.
The People are perfeft black, the Sun drawing the Blood to the outward parts, where
as we obierve the extreamheat of Fire makes pale only by licking the Spirits up; not-
withftanding the Negros may aptly be reputed fanguine and ruddy, if fo be their jetty
skins would but luffer the difcovery. To our Eyes we may, with the Spaniard, fay, Son
todos mos Negros, como Cueros, they are all as black as Ravens* This extream blackneis
fome lay proceeds not fo much from the foil or heat of the Sun, as it does from the Seed
extracted from accurfed Cham, which fome fondly imagin to be blackothers afcribe the
caufe to external heat and internal cold,his concomitant, for by how much heat any re
ceives externally from the ardency of the Sun, his internal heat is proportionably abated,
the Sun attrading that heat and moifture makes him inwardly cold and dry, both colour
and complexion ufually proceeding out of the variety of heat and cold *, but whether any of
thefe be the efficient caufe of their blacknefs,and how properly to be argued from thephi-
liognomy,accidents of the body,and different operations and temperature of feveral climes,
is more fitforNaturaliftsin.their fpeculationsto deter mine,than a Traveller,who only re
lates his obfervations. To return, Thefe Mohelians have big Lips, flat Noles,fharp Chins,
large Limbs, and in mode affeding Adam's garb, for a few Plantain-leaves circling their
Waites, vails their modellparts •, neverthelefs they are cut and pinkt in feveral works
upon their duretto Skins, Face, Arms, and Thighs, ftriving to exceed each other in va
riety. Now this difference from us in colour and garb was to either, a derormity ^ our
habit and white complexion being as ftrange and unpleafant to thefe Negros, as their
blacknefs was to us. In every colour, that being only fair, that pleafes. The Meccan
Zealifh have here a few poor Mofques, and of courle materials, no better than
Straw and Bambo's without, but matted neatly within, admitting no entrance with Shoos
On. Some of the Natives are doubtlefs magical, and this reafon I give for itAnother
Gentleman and my felf one evening fitting under a Tree to avoid a ftorm (for at that
time it thundred and rained excelfively ) a Negro ftood by us trembling, whom we could
fee now and then lift up his Hands and Eyes, muttering his black Art as we apprehended,
to fome Hobgoblin; but ( when we leaft fufpeded ) skipt out, and as in a lymphatick
0 v E 2 rapture
September 11. we rode in 25 fathoms, the enfuing morn wafting nearer fhore we
dropt itagainin 17, and fo came to an Anchor at the Weft-fide of Mohelia, a Bow-lhot
from a fmall Village of Straw unworthy the notice, though by the Inhabitants called
Meriangwy 9 governed by a Sha~hander, Alicufury by name, a black big-bon'd Man, a Ma
hometan by profeffion, fly and crafty in bartring his Viduals and Fruit for Commodities.