'Collections of travels through Turky into Persia, and the East Indies. Giving an account of the present state of those countries, as also a full relation of the five years wars, between Aureng-Zebe and his brothers in their father's life time, about the succession. And a voyage made by the Great Mogul (Aureng-Zebe) with his Army from Dehli to Lahor, from Lahor to Bember, and from thence to the Kingdom of Kachemire, by the Mogols, call'd, the Paradise of the Indies. Together with a relation of the Kingdom of Japan and Tunkin, and of their particular manners and trade. To which is added a new description of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, and also of all the Kingdoms that encompass the Euxine and Caspian Seas, being the travels of Monsieur TavernierBernier, and other great men.' [‎189] (518/1024)

Book III.
Travels in I n d i a.
CHAP. XVIII.
Of the Kingdom of Siam.
H E greatefl: part of the Kingdoip of Siam lies between the Golf of Siant f
* and the Golf of Bengal* *, bordering upon Vegu toward the North, and the
Beninfda of Malacca toward the South. The (horteft and neareft way for the
Euroyaam to go to this Kingdom, is to go to Jfpahan y from Ifpahan, to Ormas
from Ornws to Surat, from Surat to G ole on da from Golconda to Majlipatan, there
to embark for Denonferh, which is one of the Ports belonging to the’King-
dom of Siam. From Denonferin to the Capital City, which is alfo call’d Siam 9
is thirty-five days journey, part by Water, part by Land, by Waggon, or upon
Elephants. The way, whether by Land or Water, is very troublefome * for by
Land you muft be always upon your guard for fear of Tigers and Lions : by
Water, by reafon of the many falls of the River, they are forc’d to hoife up
their Boats with Engines. 1
All the Country of Siam, is very plentiful in Rice and Fruits y the chiefeil
whereof cite Mangos, Darions, and ManguSlans. The Forefls are full of Harts
Elephants,Tigers,Rhinocero’s,and Apes where there grow alfo large Bambou’s
in great abundance. Under the knots of thefe Bambou’s are Emets nefts as big
as a mans head, where every Emet has his apartment by himfelf; but there is
but one hole to enter into the nell. They make their nefts in thefe Canes to
preferve themfelyes from the rains which continue four or five months together.
In the night time the Serpents are very bufie. There are fdme two foot
long, with two heads; but one of them has no motion.
There is alfo another creature in Siam, like our Salamander, with a forked
tail, and very venomous.
The Rivers in this Kingdom are very large j and that which runs by Siamh
equally as large as the reft. The water is very wholefome; but it is very full
of Crocodiles of a monftrous bignefs, that devour men if they be not very care
ful of them felves. Thefe Rivers overflow their banks while the Sun is in the
Southern Tropick; which makes the fields to be very fertil as far as they flow 5
and it is obferv’d, that the Rice grows higher or lower, as the floods do more
or lefs increafe.
the Capital City of the Kingdom, where the King keeps his Court, is
wall d about, being about three ©f our Leagues in circuit ; it is fituated in an
luand, the River running quite round it, and might be eafily brought into eve
ry flreet in the Town, if the King would but lay out as much Money upno that
defign, as he fpends in Temples and Idols.
The SUmers have thirty-three Letters in their Alphabet. But they write
from the left to the right, as we do, contrary to the cuftom of Japon, China,
Cochinchina, and Tunquin, who write from the right to the left.
All the Natives of this Kingdom are flaves, either to the King or the great
Lords. The women as well as the men cut their hair j neither are they very
nai in their habits. Among their Complements, the chiefeft is, never to go
betorea perfon that they refpeft, unlefs they firft ask leave, which they do by
noidmg up both their hands. Thofe that are rich have feveral Wives.
y he Money of the Country is already defcribM.
one of the richeft Monarchs in the Eaft, and ftiles him-
p r ^ H eavei i an d Earth though he be Tributary to the King of China.
jekldoni firews himfelf to his Subjects; and never gives Audience, but to
t ^ Principal Favourites of his Court. He trufts to his Minifters of State,
01 the mandgemeflt of his affairs, who fometimes make very bad ufe of their
authority. He never (hews himfelf in publick above twice a year*, but then
1 d s with an extraordinary magnificence. The firft is r when he goes to a cer-
am P^god within the City, which isguilded round both within and without.
1 si e are three Idols between fix and feven foot high, which are all of maflie.
Gold j