'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.' [‎52] (1007/1024)

5 2
Observations «po«
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Bay they found a River, whofe Water was very good 5 and the Blacks
of the Country brought them Refrefhmentsof all forts of Fowl, Filh,
and Bullock's Befh. There they (laid above 15 days , and before they
fet fail, they took two of the Negro s , which they carri'd along with
them to £ 7 ^ ? to teach them the Language 5 on purpofetotry
if they could difcover by them any knowledge of the Trade of the
Country. The Dutch Commander at Surat defifd me 3 to inform my
felf, when I went to Goa , what the Portugals had learnt from thofe two
Negro j. But one St, Amand , a f rench Ingeneer , who was Supervifor
of the Fortifications of Goa^ told me, That he could not make them learn
one word of the Language • and that he could only guefs by their figns,
that they had fome knowledge of ^Ambergreece and Elephants leeth.
The Portugals however made no quehion but to meet with Gold, if they
could find a way to trade higher up i’ the Country. The Revolutions
of Portugal, and their Wars with Spain have hinder'd them from making
any more particular difcovery of the Coalt. Which it were to be wiilfd
the French would undertake, provided they gave no caufe of jealoufieto
the Hollanders) of what they were going about.
There is alfo a neceffityof pofiefTing, or at leaft having the liberty
of fome place near to ride fafe in , and to wafh and tallow in , in
cafe they Ihould be Raid by the Rain-Seafons. The reafon is, becaufe
that during that ill feafon, at what time it is impoffible to keep the Seas,
the jealous of his Fortrefs of Surat buffers no Foreign Veflel in the
River, where neverthelefs, the Ships being unladen, may ride fecurely
from the terrible Tempefts that laft for five Months.
The only fecure place for the Companies Veffels would be the Tov/n
of Dia y belonging to the Portngals,
The advantage of the fituation is eonfiderable for feveral reafons.
The circuit of the City contains almoft 400 Houfes, and might be
capable to receive a greater number of people, where the Ships would
find all conveniencies during their ftay.^ It is feated upon the Coafl
of Guzerat) upon a point of theGulphof Cambaye, looking toward the
South-eaft. The form of it is almoft round 5 and above half the Circle
environ’d by the Sea. It is not commanded by any Hill; and the Por
tugals have begun thofe Fortifications, which might be eafily finhh’d.
It contains feveral Wells of very good Water, and a River which falls
into the Sea near the City, whofe Water is better then that of Surat y or
Souali) and the Harbouris very commodious for Shipping.
The Vcrtugals , when they had firfl: fettl’d themlelves in the Indies ,
kept there a Fleet compos'd of Galleys , Brigantines, and other light
Veffels, whereby they made themfeivesMafters, for a long time , of all
the Trade of the Places we have treated of. So that no Ship could
trade,without the Governour of Dias Pafsport,who made it in the Name
of the Viceroy that liv'd at Goa. The Impofition, which the Ships paid,
was fufftcient to maintain the Fleet and Garrifon, and to enrich the Go
vernour befides;.
When the Rain-Seafons are over, that the wind fits at North and
Nqrth-eafl:, yon may fail from Dia to Surat m three or four Tides with
light Veffels; but great Ships that are laden muff fetch a compafs about
the Bank.
The City has no Land belonging to it, but what it Rands upon, yet
k would be no difficult thing to agree with the Raja King , or Govervour of
the