'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.' [‎372] (395/448)

'Borneo.
Benjamin by the Malayans called Meryan and by other Indians Benyan, is either white
or yellow, but both are itreaked: the gum ifliies from a tree which is high and fmall and
furnifhed with fruitlefs branches the leaves are not unlike the Olive. Arabia has good
but fegu and Siam better \ whereas that from Sumatra, Vriaman and ifomw/eiscourfe and
bad, and more approved of at Java than in England.
Amber is of many forms, grey, brown, white and black: grey is reputed bell, the black
' is worft, the other two be indifferent. The beft fort of grey is pure and interlac'd with afliy
veins and not fubjed to fink ^ for the moft part got in Soffala.Magadoxa, Mombajfa, Mofanl
bi^He, Madagafcar, Mohelia, Melinde and other parts of South Africk-, found there at incer-
tain hazards. Now concerning Gems, I will but name their proper places, for in thefe I
borrow the report from Merchants i Emrald, Chalcedon, Onyx, Sardonyx, Sardis, Bezar
Amber, Hematift and Turquoife for the moft part are had in Arabia^ Indoftan and Perfia-
Pearls, Berylls,Saphyres and Adamants at Jafper, Cornelion, Chrylblije, A CT at
Heliotrope, Jacinth in Mallabar-, Narfmga and Cochin-chyna (which Cochin-ehyna extends
from 11 to 17 degrees North lat. and is confined by Chyampa, Tmchin, Lays and the Ocean: a
Countrey richandpleafant, the People Idolaters, yet civil to Strangers,) Diamonds come
from Borneo and Gulkunda-, Bifnajrar, Delly and the Ifles near the greater Java: Gold, Silver
Rubies and Porcellan from PegHySiam, Bengda-, Sumatra,Japan and Cbyna ^ enough to make
poor Men rich, and rich Men miferable. Now albeit the beft and moft Orient Pearl in the
World have for fome years been got near Bahrim in the Gulph of Perfia, where in fome
Oyfters have been found no fewer than 100 Pearls great and Imall, generated (fome fay)
of the morning dew of Heaven, which in ferenes falls into the gaping Shell-fifh, and there
breeds no otherwife than as kernels do in Hogs and ftones in bladders or the kidneys:Never-
thelefs ftore of fmall Pearl is had in Oyfters, Mufcles and other ShelWilh all along the Coaft
of India, as I could partly obferve in our paffage: for the Natives in feveral places would
adventure to the fides of our Ships though under fail with their fmall Canoos tp chaffer
with us and I well remember, that amongft other things ftore of Seed-pearl was pro-
fered. Howbeit, fometimes great Pearls are found, as may appear by the report of a
Sea Captain, who not far from Borneo law a Pearl was round and Orient and of the bignefs
of a Doves egg, of great price and probably Xuperior to that which Cleopatra dilfolved
valued at 250000 Crowns, and drunk to aggranaize^/. Antony''s Welcome. P. Martyr
Dec ad. 8. reports, That he faw a Pearl weighed 100 ounces which was offered to be fold
the Duke of Medina Stdonia a Spanljh Grandee: but the Mogul has Pearls of incredible big
nefs and value. To return. By a N, N. E. courfe in few hours we view Mindanao lile (as
big as Sicily) branching from 6 to above 9 degrees North. North of which and neighbour
ing are the Philippine, fo named in honour of Philip II, by Lopez.de Legafpi who firft difco-
vered thofe IQes and planted there An.Dom. 1565. near them are the Manilia, by PtoL called
Satyr or mi InfuU, Ifles for the moft part namelefs becaufe numberlefs; of which, the beft and
greateft is Lmonia under 14 deg. North lat. whence in a dired azumoth Weft is Cambogia
a rich part of the Aftatick Continent ^ but North from Luconia are Shyma and Shycoca, beft
known to the Inhabitant of Chyna and J^^,as is Formofa which has 22 degr. an Ifle 150 miles
in length and 5o inbreadth, lirft inhabited by the Spaniards and Mulattos, who grew very
numerous and rich v but of late the Dutch have thruft in by force amongft them, and there
planted a Colony. The Scituation is very advantagious for Trade, fo near neighbouring
Chyna and Japan, with innumerable other Iflands, as is Corea •, a long narrow Penin-
fule, famous in the fcite, but infamous in her Inhabitants, who are a People that live by
Ipoil and doing mifchief to their Neighbours, more fubtile than the Chynefes or the
Japonefes.
JAPAN, unlefs Mercator's fancy be true that it was Aurea Cherfonefm, was unknown
to old Geographers; albeit the Name Chryfe be given it by Niger and Zipangri by M' P'
Vmem: who rather than fo great an Ifle fhould be without a Name, makes bold with his
Invention: but certain it is we owe the firft difcovery to Mom, Pejhom and Zeymorm,
hzmfotPortugds, who in the Year 1542. wandring abroad to feek their fortunes were
by ftorm ihipwrackt upon this Ifle, from which time it was well known to them, but the
EngUJh begun to trade here not till the Year 1613. the Dutch more lately: but whe
ther it be an Ifle or no is difputable: albeit ibme pretend to know its dimenfions, and ac
cordingly limit it 'twixt the degrees 35 and 48, and by like lup^ofition the length to be
230 leagues and breadth 109. or thereabout *, moft 'of which is barren and courfe, but
fruitful in Minerals. Towns of beft note and Traffick are Meacco, Oz.acca, Tenz.e, Fyrando,
Fuccatc or Falcate, Sacay, Cratez., Tenkeday, Oringaw, Amamgueyo, Vofuquis, Mach-
ma, &c. of which Meacco, a Mediterranean City is reputed the Metropolis, Surunga the
next beft,and next that O^acca honoured with the Court till about the year 1615. a great
part