'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.' [‎359] (382/448)

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dantly from every wound he had. Doubtiefs this is the beft Blood-ftone in the World •
and could it prevent wounding as well as ftaunch blood,might worthily bp ranked amon^fb
Stones moft precious. The Beaft out of which this Cabriz-ftone is taken is called Gaball.
The Chinefes refiding at Bantam are beft acquainted with him : albeit fome fay that in Syam
and the Java he is feen the oftneft. Adjoining this is
PEGU, Left arum Kegio in Ptolomy * ? confined by Syam, Ganges, and the Ocean •, a Mo
narchy of greater extent fifty years ago, and till the Syamite plucked forceably from that '
Crown feveral great and wealthy Seigniories: Howbeit, fhe is yet Commandrefs of
many large Territories and Iflands, as Monym, Baron'go, Nogomallo, BHradura, Cocos,
and others.
By Caflaldm it is fuppofed. to be that old Trigliyton or Trigliyhon which is mentioned
in ptolomy, and by him placed under 18 degrees : the Braman Metropolis, and has Artie
elevation 16 degrees 40 minutes. The City is walled with Stone, beautified with Tur
rets, and to iffiie out and in fhews four fair Gates, and thrice that number of Pofterns:
but made molt defenfiveby a deep Graff that compaffes her: fo large and deep, and has
fuch entercourfe with the Sea that Crocodiles are many times feen to fwim there. The
llreets are not many; but thofe that be are large and broad (which is rare in hot Coun
try s) and feldome crooking. Afore moft Doors grow Trees, whofe fruit and fhade make
them ufeful and acceptable. It is divided into the new and old : the old is greateft, and
beft inhabited. The Country is now very bare in Wood, albeit in old times it abounded
with Timber of great height, of which, Virgil in his 2 lib.Georg, feems to have fome
knowledge:
Of thofe great Woods in th? utmofl Ind ia bred.
Near the Worlds fur thefi Border, whofe high head
No Shaft can well the tops thereof fur mount.
Though jhot by thofe we Archers good account.
Antiques Oceano propior gerit India lucos
Extremifinus Orbis j Ubi aera vincere fummum
Arboris haud Ullse ja£lu potuere Sagitta?,
Et Gens ilia quidem fumptis non tarda pharetris.
For near the River Hyrotis (faith an Hiftorian) grew Trees fo exceeding high, as
their meridional fhadows extend five furlongs, which exprefs a due temperament of
heat and moifture: But that thefe are is evident by their Varella's, which are
obfervable ; for moft of their Varella's are ftuffed with ugly Idols. That at Dogomee,
the moft remarkable for ftrudUre without and ornament within , outbraving any
other in the Orient: the Wildernefs or Garden about it and fuperftition there ufed are
fo ft range as might very well challenge a large defcription.
This Kingdom abounds with moft forts of Natures bleffings; for here is ftore of Gold;,
Silver, Lead, andiron^ alfo Smaragds, Topazes, Rubies, Saphyres, Garnats, Eme
ralds, Efpinels, and Cats-eyes: as alfo plenty of Rice, Caravances, long Pepper, Sugar,
Benoyn, Musk, Lac One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , a Gum prepared in like fort as Bees do Wax, and of which our
beft fealing Wax is made •, Bamboo, Cotton, and Callicoes; But all thefe if they were
centupled are not able to make them happy, wanting the true Pearl, that which the god
ly Merchant bought, though to obtain it he fold all his frail pofTelfions : For albeit the
holy Apoftle Saint Thomas brought them tidings of falvation •, yet they love Darknefs
more than Light, delighting at this day in obfeure and loathed fins, and the Kyacks are
filled with filthy Idols: infomuch that Bomferrmzn oldFrancifcan after four tedious years
labour to reduce them to fbme conformity with the Church of Rome, came home, profef.
fing thathehad rather with Saint Anthony preach among Figs than fuch a fwinilh Generati
on. The truth is, like thofe mentioned in the 4^ of S. John 22. they believe they know
not what *, and Quanam eft ifla fimplicitas nefcire quod credos ? layes Hierom to the Lucife-
rians: yet fomewhat, if all be true he tells, is worthy your notice. As, that they be
lieve the World (confifting of Heaven, Sea, and Earth) had four Creations, (which Tra
dition is from the Bannyan-,) and that for impiety it was four times deftroyed, viz.. by
Fire, Wind, Water, and Earthquakes; Each Age was governed by a tutelary Numen *,
miferable in this, that he was tranfitory and not immortal. They reckon that the iaft de-
ftfudion of the World and the death of their laft God was thirty thoufand years ago
(in VUto\ great year perhaps •,) and that all fhall once more fuffer a Chaos. They alfo
imagine, That a great Lord who is omnifcient and omnipotent lives and rules in Heaven:
but they do not worfhip him, in that Satan (who ever loves to cover Truth in dark mifts
of ignorance) aifures themhedefiresit not, and doth them no hurt, howbeit they wor
fhip that Lyar left he do them mifchief. They believe a revivication of the body after
death, co-union with the foul*, and (as believes) confefs a three-fold recep
tacle of fouls departed, Naihac, Nifhac, and Schiia, i, e. Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory:
by