'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.' [‎233] (254/448)

The AuthorsJlcknefs 2, ^
Land of Havilah we muft not imagine it to be that Havilah which is in India ; but that ra- •
ther in Siijiana where Havilah Son of Chm planted before he removed into South Afnc
Or if that will not content, make Mount Tmrm a Wall unto it Eaft and North-, and
Euphrates, Tigris-, Araxis (or Goz.an if you pleafe,) and Indm the four Rivers to - water
it, will be a fufficient extendure and in the adolefcency of the World (as the name imports)
moft delicious and till Flood (moft think) un-defaced.
Can I choofe a better place to feat your patience than here ? After the Death of fome The
Gentlemen, my courfe came next, though not to die, yet to put my feet into the Grave. Authors
Whether through cold I got on Mount Taurm (where I wantonly fuck'd in too much foknefs*
cool air 0 or that I played the Epicure too largely upon fruit, or that diverfity ofMeri-
dians, or fo long quaffing variety of water s might be the caufe, Icannotfay: butfomeor
all of thefe (by Gods Appointment) upon our defcent into Media put me into a violent
dyfentery ; fo as by continuance in that difeafe I waslike a Skeleton,and reduced to fuch
weaknefs that I may be bold to fay fcarce could any man be more infeebled. I wanted not
the advice and help of the Archi-ater,the Kings Dodor •, who albeit he was doubtlefs a ve
ry skilful Phyfician, yet did me little good, fo malignant was my diftemper albeit I took
what he prefcribed, (part of which I well remember were Pomgranad pills,Barberries,Sloes
in broth, rice and fundry other things) and returned what he expeded: fo that it was hard
to judge whether my fpirits or Gold decayed falter. In this fad condition and mifery I
was forced to travel three hundred miles hanging upon the fide of a Camel in a cage r efem-
bling a cradle.
Morod the tAEfcdapm ofFerfia feeing I would rather dye than part with more fees,
(for when it was gone 1 knew not where to borrow. Merchants were grangers to me,
and I had above thirteen thoufand miles home by the South-weft of Afric,) limited my life
to five days exiftence : But he that fits on high, in comparifon of whofe wifdom all humane
knowledge is meer folly, in four and twenty hours after (as it were by miracle) prov'd
this Oraculizer miftaken in his crifis. For I had then attending me an Armenian called
MagarTixA a Tartarian woman who (fore againit my will) would for my recovery be of
ten invocating her heathenifh Deities *, but finding they had no power, whether to ac
celerate Morods fentence or to poifefs my linnen and apparel (of which I had good ftore)
I know not but no doubt well knowing that Wine was by the Dodor forbidden me, Ihe
neverthelefs in an agony of thirft prefents me with a Viol full of intoxicating Wine,
which both looked and relilhedcurioufly, and I poured down no lefs infenfibly without'
wit or meafure: but (as if Opium had been fteeped in it) it quickly banilhed my fenfes
and put me for four and twenty hours into a trance •, fo as in that time (had not a- friend
andfervant refitted) I had been buried alive, they thinking I was dead, Nam nec calor,
mc fanguhy nec fenfus, nec -vox fuperejfet, as was faid of another in like condition. But
through Gods mercy, this defperate Potion recovered me: For after I had dilgorged
abundantly I fell into a dead fleep, (Natures nurfe, and as one aptly terms it the paren-
thefis of ail our cares) not having done fo for a month before, the people admiring
the operation*, fo that by the benefit of that little reft, and binding quality of the Wine,
but chiefly through Gods mercy towards me, that body which was reduced to fuch weaknefs 1
and like a crazy rotten veffel leaky on all fides, was through mercy as it were new careened,
launched out into the World again, and in few months become ftrong and perfedly re
covered. Howbeit, my defperate Dodrefs (whiles my other fervants wept) when
fhe thought me dead, opened my trunks and robbed me of my Linen and Moneys:
For all which I would not purfue her, the Law is fo Itrid there againft Felony, elpe-
cially in behalf of ftrangers. I will therefore fay with David, Plalm 71. Ol what
troubles and adverfities hafi thou jhewed me ? and yet didB thou tarn and refrejh me , yea
and hroughtefl me from the deeps of the Earth again ! For which I render Praifes unto
thee. And feeing thou haft delivered my Soul from death, wilt thou not alfo de
liver my Feet from falling Oh! that / might walk^before thee in the light of the living.
Pfal.56. 13.
Hh
Now