'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.' [‎40] (61/448)

Cjoa. Easl
of the Sea-, and it is well worth our obfervation, that during the Night feafon here we
faw a perfed Rainbow, which was extraordinary for albeit Rainbows be formed of
a dewy Cloud in the Air above and ufually appear in a beautiful Arch while the Sun is
above the Horizon •, the Moon we feldom fee to have that operation: but when they do
appear, the Moon is ever at or near the full. Nam nift flenilmio, arcus fieri non pot eft, id,
que Lima oriente vel occidente, faith Ariftotle in his Meteors, who reports that in the fpace
of 60 years he faw two lunar Rainbows 5 and VicomercatHs (who comments upon him; re
ports the like in Germany m his time*, howbeit the colours were not fo frelh as the fo-
lar Rainbows, Hos tamen colore s Piflores non pojfnnt irnit ari 5 quia in materia t ant urn terreftri
■pi/ijrunt coloresj non in aere-, cjnalis dTcut eft materia^ Olympiodoras ^ yet more lively than in
Oyl or Water colours can be painted.
The 17. of November we defcryed (that terra ter exoptatd) the coaft of India *, land in
15 degrees latitude, and 32 of longitude (ill weather having formerly driven us to Lee
ward many leagues:) That very place where Goa (Bariga^a of old) is feated', the
braveft and belt defended City in the Orientthe Magazeen, Refuge, and Seat of Ju-
ftice of the vid;orious PortHgal. The City is not vilible to fuch as fail along the Coaft,
being three hours journey within land *, of old the Seat of the Canarins, in an lOe called
Tilfoar 30 miles in circuit: afweet place furrounded by a frelh River ftreaming from
the mighty Mountain Bellaguate encompaft with a ftrong and beautiful Wall, which
glories in her afpiring Turrets, and is not a little dreadful in many forts of roaring Can
non. Her ftrength and beauty took rife from the Decan Kings, Zabaym and Idalean,
from whom Anno 1509. Albuquerque the yidorious Portugal conquered, and after that
defended againft 70000 foot^ and 3500 horfe which Idul-cann brou^it to reduce it
with but it was aggrandiz'd and'beautified by the Lufitanian i the great Buzzar,or Mar
ket, being in center of the Town is gallantly and regularly built ^ many other Streets
there are which, after the Indian mode, are narrow, if not fufficiently nafty; the Buil
dings generally are fpacious, and not uncomly thick and dark within, tarraifed above,
and madefutable to that hot Climate : watred it is with a delicious llream, which (by
benevolence of the Air ) refreihes the Fields, forcing Flora to difmantle i the Gardens
are alfo filPd with variety of fweet and eye-pleafing Flowers: the whole We fo abound
ing with Grafs, Groves, Corn, Cattel, Fruits and fuch fenfe-ravilhing delights as a
reafonable Man can well require: above 20 little Towns (all planted with Portugds)
are feen in this 30 miles compafs *, as alfo the ruins of 200 Idol Temples which the Vice-
Roy Antonio Norogna totally demoliiht, that no memory might remain, or monuments con
tinue, of fuchgrols Idolatry. For not only there, but at Salfette alfo were two Temples
or places of prophane Worlhip *, one of them (by incredible toil cut out of the hard
Rock) was divided into three iles or Galleries, in which were figured many of their
deformed Pagotha's, and of which an Indian (if to be credited} reports that there
were in that Temple 300 of thofe narrow Galleries, and the Idols fo exceeding ug
ly as would affright an European Spedator ^ neverthelefs this was a celebrated place,
and fo abundantly frequented by Idolaters, as induced the in zeal with acon-
fiderable force to mailer the Town and to demolilh the Temples, breaking in pieces all
that monitrous brood of mifhapen Pagods. In Goa nothing is more obfervable now
than the fortifications, the Vice-Roy and Arch-bifhops Palaces, and the Churches.
% The Palaces are very ftrong,. built of good Stone, furnifht and adorned within with
rich Arras and Painting: the Churches are large and neat, of belt rank are thofe dedi
cated to the blefled Virgin Mother of God: (in which is kept the Bones and Skull of Saint
Thomas the Apoftle, whofe Reliques were brought 50 years ago from Meliapore hyEma-
melFrias at the command of Don John fucceffour to Emanuel Kings of Portugal) Saint
Pauly, Saint Dominic, Saint Katherine, and Saint Saviour , in which laft are laid the Bones
of that great Albuquerque, Qui cum fummis Imperatoribm (quorum Nomen eft immortalitati
commendatum) merit 0 comparandm, Oforius lib. 11. Vita Emanuel. R. P or tug. which fa
mous Captain died at Goa in the year 15 16. and agreeable to his quality and worth was
here buried; where alfo are interred X)' Acugna, Don Francifco, and that late Canoni
zed China Saint Francis Shyvier the Navarrean Jefuit, who died 4. Decemb. 1552. aged
55. and rubricated by Pope G'r^ry the 15. the 12. March 1622. when many more w T ere
Sainted. The City is compaffed with a thick Stone Wall, flanker'd and moated' about,
having withal a Counterfcarp, and 300 pieces of Brafs Cannon mounted upon the Bul
warks and Ravelins, which renders it impregnable.
Hence we halted towards Swalley Road judging the worft paft, the Indian fhore all the
waybeinginviewof us, and the Sea every where 20 leagues from lahd anchorable : But
upon afudden the Scene was changed, for the Elements grew dreadful, the Wind roar-
ins