'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.' [‎43] (64/448)

Surrat. EaHAndia
there his ufuai refidence. At that time one Matter WyU was in that Office; an ingeni.
ous and civil Merchant, to whofe kind refpeft I owe acknowledgment; andin whofe
Houfe (tis called the Emlijh-houfe) we had tidings at that time of Coro-
nation st Agra as I lhalilpeak at large of> after we have viewed the Town which chal
lengesa defcnption.
SURRAT is that old Mauris in if my judgment deceive me not: nor am I
ignorant that Choul and Onor are imagined it by Molelim and Ramufim: It is a Gitv at this
day no lefs great and rich, than populous and famous', albeit neither the air nor foil
agree well with ftrangers: the one being inflamed through the torridnefs of the Zore
the other being fandy and fulphureous. The Artick Pole is here elevated 21 dee * min >
fubjedt in June to become Nadir to the Sun, thence to September the Clowds ftower
there continually an infalubnous moifture ^ whether occafioned from the Afelli and Free
fefe two Stars m Cancer, who have their influence here (as noted by 16 cap ^ ^
or from fome other occult caufe, others may inquire into. Yet obferved it is that
Wind and Thunder fo commix as no place in the World during thofe Months feems
more unhealthy, the other eight Months either parching or freezing. Now this excefs
of Rain is doubtlefs caufed by the extream heat of the Sun, which when vertical ufuallv
raiies Vapors in abundance, and being attra<^ted into the middle Region condenles and
dillills in Ihowers*, fo as this diftemperature by ftorms of Wind and Rain turns Summer
into Winter,cauling inundations at fuch leafbns efpecially as with us in the temperate Zone
we have our weather ferene and feafonable. Sarrat is accounted the third beft Town in
the Gtifarat Kingdom, Amadavad and Camhaya having the precedency; from the firft
Ihe is removed four*, from the other, two days journey all now add'ing luftre to the
Moguls Diadem. Whether Gufurat take name from the Sura, whom Pliny places here
or that it comply with the GV^Idiom rfo- or be denominate from Gez .Hr at, which
in the ^r^Vifignifies an Ifle, Iqueftion not^ but this without doubt, that a Province
itisfo ufeful to the Mogul as that his annual Tribute here amounts (as Merchants fav)
to 150 Tun of Gold at this day. 'Tis a Town ofthe greateft note and trade 'Klndia %
which it has acquired but of late-, for'tis fcarce 100 years ago when Antonio Sylverio a
Tortugmje with. 200 Men entred and burnt it, fince which the Town is fo increaled, both
with Building and Inhabitants, that afar greater force, would now find it a hard enter-
pnze. After that Anno Dom. 1566. which is of the Hegira 946. by valour of
who defeated the confederacy of Mir^a chan, Hujfan, Mir m Mahomet, Chan Go-
ga and other confpirators, it was made fubjed to Ecbar the great Mogul. Now 'tis un
der a quiet government: watered with a fweet River named T a$ee (or Tindy) (as broad
as the Thames at Windfor ) which arifing out of the Decan Mountains glides through
Bramfore (220 miles diftant thence) and in.Menders runs by.the' Walls of Snrrat, and
after 20 little miles circumgyring or playing to and fro, a league from Swa/ley Road dif-
cnarges it felf into the Ocean. 'Tis circled with a mud-wall, and hath a large Cattle of
Stone .built at the SOuth-weft-fide, the River waihing it *, planted with great Ordnance,
and awed by a Garrifon who make dainty to admit ftrangers to fee their fortifications:
The Weft opens into the Bttzxar through a fait Gate of Stone, where Toll-gatherers are*
every day ready to fearch and exad: a cuftomary Tribute for the Mogul their Mafter :
The Medon is of no great beauty, nor do the Shops give more than common fplendor -
the Bannyandefiring rather to be rich indeed, than fo accounted. The Houfes are indif-
lerent beautiful} fome (as to the outfide) are of carved Wood, others of Bricks dryed
in the Sun : the Englijh and Dutch Houfes at the North-end excell the other for Ipace and
lurniture. The Suburbs have three Pofterns pointing out three feveral ways ^ one. to
Fariaw and Camhaya, a fecond to Br amp ore, the third to Nanfary ten courfes thence ,
whence is the Road to Gundavee, Balfac, and Daman upon the Ocean. The Town affords
no Monuments, no Molques worth taking notice of. The jEnglijh Garden without the
Town has pretty Walks, and is adorned with variety of fweet Flowers ^ but inferiour to
another I faw there, which befides the Trees and Flowers that beautified it, had a delight-
lul Profped. Adjoining Nancery-gate I fa w a Tanck or Magazen of Water, a very ftate-
ly work indeed, and worthy noting; It is of good Free-ftone, circling in above 100
Jides and angles; 28 Ells 'twixt every angle, in compafs very near 1000 ordinary paces.
It dnninilhes its largenefs gradatim by 16 degrees or fteps towards the bottome; capa
ble to receive a very great quantity of Rain-water, wMch many times is of ufe to
quench the flagrant thirft of thefe Sun-burnt Indians', the River by this leems fomewhat
unwholfome : if good neither for Drink nor Navigation, what ferves it for fave to
inundifie the idolatrous, Bannyan, who we could obferve in great numbers to the Waft
«i Water, and with lifted up hands and eyes to attend the Sun-rifing. Plures ador ant