'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.' [‎337] (360/448)

ti Deutroa.J\(a}roes ;
Art and Diet they invent towards provocation. Amongft others, they have the Demroa
in fpecial requeft; both for that it contributes towards the accomplifhing their corrupt
ends, and with that fecurity and mode as heightens their recreation. An Herb or Drug it
is which being infufed or otherwife prepared and taken, has a marvellous force; For it
is not fo much of a foporiferous quality to procure fleep, as to ftupifie and kifatuate the
Intelled •, fince the patient or rather abufed party fometimes appears merry as if a T aran-
tufa had infeded him, and hath his eyes open, but fees no otherwife than if &gutta ferena
or heated Steel had deprived the optique*^ fo as during the operation the Nayro many
times makes that his opportunity to vifit and ad his Amours, whiles the good man by that
delufive fpell is rendred a ridiculous ipedator, and feeminglyanalfentortotheir mefchan-
teries. I confefs I never faw it pradifed, but is related by Lynfchoten and other fuch as
may be credited. .
JMajfatii in his belief That thefe Nayroes are ofthecaftof tfa'Cmteries one of thede-
fcendants of Vourom and Parcouty in the foregoing difcourfe more fully mentioned, is not
amifs^ or in the report That they are generally proud andlazie, ufually go armed, and
will not abate one jot of the common ornament of thofe Oriental parts, which is to beau-
tifie or rather load their arms and necks with Silver bracelets, ropes of Pearl and other
effeminate pieces of bravery: and fo ftately, that they exped more than ordinary refped ^
as appears in palfing through a Crowd, only by ftriking his Sword upon his Target
iriakes that voice ferve both to exprefs his Dignity and to obtain a fpeedy and clear paf-
fage.« Thevet Vertoman and Vaulm Venem go further, faying That an inferiour perfon
dare not look them in the fact or appear within fifty paces. But this is more certain^
That as the Sword awes the indefenfive Villager, fo cuftom has enflaved them in fuch fort,
that in Peace the common people feem daftardly, but in War are found fpirited. Nor
would one think otherwife, when he takes the profped of their vifage and limbs, which
exprefs both ingenuity and ftrength fufficient.
Of colour, they are rather black than olivafter: their hair crifps, but grows longer
than the Africans. And albeit they wear their hair^ yet conform they to the mode of
Shalhes: for, about their Temples they wreath a curious fort of linnen fometimes wrought
with Silk aiidGold. Their wafte is circled with a piece of Callico , but fromthe thigh
downward, and from the middle upwards are naked. The vulgar wear about their wafte
a party-coloured Plad, and pink their skin. The V^omen vail themlelves like other Indi
ans. Their greatefl: pride is exprefTed in the adorning their ears and nofes; fuppoiing
them molt courtly who dilacerate their ears wideft (which they effed by many ponderous
baubles they hang there,) and ring their fnouts with Jewels of Silver, Brafs, or ivory •, their
arms and legs alfo are richly chained.
Concerning their Marriages, formerly it was the cuftom That the Bracman had the firft
nights company with the Bride, fuppofing the ground of better vklue by that holy feed,
as they call it: a pradife*now wholly abrogated. And which was no lefs rare, theSamo-
reen to make fure work ufed to confer his Command upon his Sifters ilfue *, allured it feems
that fhe was of his blood and they of his by confequence.
The men are more addided to Arms than Arts. The PortHgals at their firft intrenching
on their ihore thought them a very fimple fort of people becaufe unlearned •, and eafie to
be overcome becaufe moft were naked; but both deceived them*, for Nature inftruded
them in their o wn defence, and long eonteft with the Tortugals taught them experience, fo
as in ihort time they learned how to ufe their bow and arrow, darts and targets •, and of
late years have attained the Art of making Hand-granadoes and other Fi re-works •, where
in they are pregnant, and of which they have fuch ftore that they proffered us as much and
of what fofts we would for money. Their Country abounds with Minerals and Stones of
price, and no part is without plenty of fruit and other provifion: Howbeit, the Land (efpe-
cially near the Sea-fhore) we could perceive was woody and mountainous. And in thofe
which divide Mdllahar from the Kingdom of Narjinga are many wild Beafts that make the
way perillou^ •, efpecially Serpents which have wings and feet, if report fpeak truth.
Mtns dividens regnum Narfmga a Mallahar nutrit multas feras, pracifue alatos Dracones, qd
in arhoribm verfant, & pedes habent, &c* Olbr.
Moft of the people in their diet abftain from Flefh,Wine,yea Wine-Vinegar,and Strong-
Water *, not allowing themfelves the liberty of Radifh-roots,Onyons,Garlick,or other roots
and herbs thathaveatindure of red, a refemblance of blood*, fo very ft rid they be to
rules deduced from the Shafter and the example of their precife Anceftors ; contenting
themfelves with Milk, Rice, Sugar, Herbs and Fruits of feveral forts and Spices : for they
are of the Bannyan perfwalion, who have a deteftation againft any that for prefervation of
their own will cake away the life of another. Ovid 1 5 Mctamorph. has this in their ApPr
logy. X x W