'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.' [‎347] (370/448)

Mefulipatan, Cajla.
with (for the refemblance they had with the Sun which they worfliip) he was little le-fs
than adored; his Court was full of Majefty, and his Guard confifted of a thoufand men.
Polygamy he afFeds, and therefore wrote himfelf Husband of a thoufand Women ^ many
of which have him ail his life in fuch efteem that at his death they voluntarily make his
flaming Grave their Sepulchre. More Northward upon this coaft is
MESULIPATAN, by contradion commorily pronounced Meflqatan: a Town
removed from the iEquinodial 16 degrees and a half, North ^ now under the Gulcundan
King, and in the skirt of the BengalanGulph. The Province admits a mixture of Idola
ters ; the Gentiles are moft in number, but leaft in power, fince the Mogul fubjeded them.
Mahomet was firft blazoned amongft them by a Colony of Perjiam who were conduded
thither in the 28. year of the Hegyra, of our account 648. by Ahdal-ben-Hemyr a man of
no fmall command under Ozjman then Calyph of Babylon fince which Invafion their ofF-
ipring have here continued. The Town it feif neither for bulk nor beauty is confidera-
ble: one reafon may be, for that fifty years ago by a raging mortality and famine it was
almolt unpeopled and made defolate. The ftreets are but few, and thofe narrow; the
houfes low, and the fields parched by the extremity of heat which here rages from March
to July from whence to November wind and rain as inceiTantly diilurbs them: fo as of
twelve months they have but four, that is to fay, from November to falubrious
and moderate. Thefe rains neverthelefs prepare the Earth for feed, and requite the
Labourer fo weil,asof Rice^CaravanceSjand other Grain they ufually annually reap two
Harvefts. Howbeit, the Town byreafon the English refide there, and of late traffique for
Caliicoes, Rice, and the like, begins to revive ; and will increafe, unlefs the deceitful dif-
pofition of the people occafion their remove thence unto Armagun and Poly cat, Towns up
on the fame coaft neighbouring M^atan-, where they may fit down with more eafe,
lefs charge, and have as choice variety of Merchandize. BengaU borders upon Cnlcm~
da^ Arracan upon that part of BengaU which is watered by Chaheris, and well nigh the mid
way 'twixt Bengala and Pegu, which borders upon Arracan, Siam, and Tanajfery upon Pe
gu, and upon Siam Cechyn-Chyna and Chyna ; which fome make the boundure of Bacchus
his Eaftern conquefts. Of thefe, the Siamites and Cochyn-Chyna r s, both from their per-
fbns, mannersj way of worlhip, and identity of ipeech, are thought to be extraded from
thofe of Chyna, ashzthejaponites, and other Iflanders near that great Country, albeit
from the long Wars they have had with them it will not be acknowledged.
Hence remove your chafte Eyes to an unchafte Town, though Cafta by name: a Town
no lefs infamous for Idolatry. The Mofques Ihew Art in Sculpture, but are hateful in the
Itink of their devotion: for here the lhapes the Pagods bear have fome refemblance with
Priapus and Panfis defcribed by Servim in the 2 Eclog. of Virgil, having great eyes, flat
nofe, wide mouth, four great horns, a long beard fhaped like the radiance of the Sun,
claws for hands, and crooked-legg'd •, fo, as it is all over deformed.
Among other their folemn Feftivals, the myftic fopperies dedicated to inthele
parts are not utterly extinguilhed: as may appear by the drefs, mimique frisks, and night
ly paftimes the women pradife. There they cover themfelves with skins^adorn their heads
and trefles with Ivie,in one hand holding a leav'd Javelin,and Cymbals of brafs or Timbrels
in the other, attended by many Boyes and Girls who ramble like diftraded people
up and down,ftriving to rend the air with their continued clamours: Little differing from
that defcription we find in Avienm the Poet.
Hie Chorus ingens
Fceminei coetus pulchri colic Orgya Bacchi,]
ProducitNoftemludus facer. Aera pulfant
yocibus & crebis late fola calcibus urgent.
Non qua celeri ruit agtnina Ganges
Jndorum populi ftata curant Fefta Lyseo,
So that it may well be admired, this licentious Feftivalfhouldfurviveall others celebrated
in memory of thofe Ethnic Deities, which as enumerates were not lefs than thir
ty thoufand. And albeit Bacchus was the firft known Conquerour of the Eaft, the
firft that circled his brows with a Diadem, and in an Ivory Chariot drawn fometimes with
Elephants, at other times with Lynxes rode in triumph, (feconded fome Ages after by
Tarquinim Prifcus at Rome as Plutarch records in the Life of Romulus,) the great diftance
of place and time (for he was^ fome think, contemporary with Mefes) might have
put this with others in oblivion. But the vaft extent thefe Bacchanalia fpread, is no
lefs obfervable ; either proceeding from the pleafure of the Grape, or toleration they
gave to all manner of debauchery: infomuch, as under various names and attributes
Y y 2 alluding