Pilgrimage, Book 5 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
Of the Indian Prouinces next adioyning to China.
CAuchin-China aMagin.is an Indian Kingdome, situate betweene the Riuer Cantan, and the Kingdome of Siam, diuided into three Prouinces, and as many Kings, but one of them is Paramount. It bDiscourse of China, p.381.aboundeth with Gold, Siluer, Aloes, Porcelane, and Silke. They are Idolaters and Pagans, and cGi.Bot.Ben.hauehave had some deuotion to the Popish Christianitie, moued thereto by certaine pictures of our Ladie, of the last Iudgement, and Hell (a new kinde of preaching) and hauehave erected many Crosses amongst them, of which the Friers report (after their fashion) some miracles. Their Religion seemeth little to differ from that of the Chinois.
Nigh vntounto this Kingdome is Champa, the name of a Kingdome, and chiefe Citie thereof, of great Traffique, especially of Lignum Aloes, which groweth there in the Mountaines, prized at the weight in Siluer, which they vse in Bathes, and in the Funerals of great Princes. In Religion they are as the former.
Camboia lyeth Southward from thence, a great and populous Countrie, full of Elephants and Abada's (this Beast is the Rhinoceros:) Here also they begin to honour the Crosse, as Frier Siluester (a man, as they say, much reuerenced by the King, and honoured of the people) hath taught them. When the King dieth, dSummario di pop.orientali.his women are burned, and his Nobles doe voluntarily sacrifice themselues in the same fire. The women are generally burned with their husbands at their death. The Camboyans dealt trecherously eNauigatio. Iac.Neccij per Cornel.Nicolai.with the Hollanders, An. 1602. whome they inuited to the shore, with promise of certaine Buffes, and then cruelly slew them. They detained the Admirall on shore, to be redeemed, with some of their Ordinance. When they intend a iourney, they vse diuination with the feet of a Henne, to know whether it will be luckie, or no; and as the Wizard shall answere, they dispose of themselues, eyther to goe, or stay.
On this side of Camboia, is fMagin.G.Bot.Ben.Siam, mother-Citie of a Kingdome bearing the same name, in which are reckoned thirtie thousand families of Mores, besides the Naturals. In these parts are huge woods, harbours of Lions, Tigers, Ownces, and Mariches, which hauehave maidens faces and Scorpions tailes. Heere runneth Menan out of that huge lake Chiamay, which yeeldeth this and other Riuers of like nature to Nilus in Egypt. They hauehave amongst them many religious gDiscourse of China, p.390.men, which leade an austere life, and therefore had in great reputation of holinesse. These liue in common: they may not marry, nor speake to a woman (which fault is punished with death) they goe alway bare-foot, in poore aray, eating nothing but Rice and greene herbes, which they beg from doore to doore. They craue it not, nor take it with their hands, but goe with a wallet at their backes alwaies, with their eyes modestly fixed on the ground, and calling or knocking, stand still, till they receiue answere, or some thing be put in their wallets. Many times they set themselues naked in the heate of the Sunne: notwithstanding that himselfe, with such direct beames, together with his frie (whole armies of Gnats) doe their vtmost malice vponupon them. They rise at Mid-night to pray vntounto their Idols, which they doe in Quires, as the Friers doe. They may not buy, sell, or take any Rents, which, if they should doe, would bring on them the imputation of Heretikes. Some Merchants of Siam being at Canton, and hearing that Frier Martin Ignacio and his companions, were there imprisoned, for … that Chinian Kingdome without licence, they visited them, and seeing their poore Friers weedes, they, besides other almes, offered to pay their ransome, if money would doe it.
The Siamites hG. Bot.B….l.2.part.3.commonly hold, that GOD created all thinges, rewardeth the good, punisheth the bad: That man hath two Spirits; one good, to keepe; and the other euill, to tempt, continually attending him. They build many and faire Temples, and place in them many Images of Saints, which sometime liued vertuously, and now are in Heauen. They hauehave one Statue fiftie paces long, which is sacred to the Father of men. For they thinke that he was sent from aboue, and that of him were borne certaine persons that suffered Martyrdome for the louelove of GOD. Their Priests are clothed in yellow long garments. (This colour is esteemed holy, and euerie yellow thing, for the resemblance which it hath with Gold, and with the Sunne, is hallowed to GOD.) Besides that which is before said of their strict orders, they may not nourish Hennes, because of their female Sexe. To drinke Wine, is punished in their Priests with stoning. They hauehave many Fasts in the yeare, but one especially, in which the People frequenteth the Temples and their Sermons. They hauehave their canonicall houres by day and night for their holy things. They hold, that the World shall last eight thousand yeares, whereof sixe thousand are passed, and then it shall be consumed with fire: at which time shall be opened in Heauen seuen eyes of the Sunne, which shall drie vp the Waters, and burne vp the Earth. In the ashes shall remaine two Egges, whence shall come forth one man and one woman, which shall renew the World. But there shall be no more Salt, but fresh Riuers and Lakes, which shall cause the Earth, without mans labour, to abound in plentie of good thinges. The Siamites are the sinke of the Easterue Superstitions, which they deriue to manie Nations.
The inhabitants of this Kingdome are much giuen to pleasure and riot: they refuse the vse of manuall Arts, but addict themselues to Husbandrie. They hauehave iMaginus. G.Bot.Ben.publike Schooles, where they teach Lawes and Religion in the vulgar Language: other Sciences they learne in a more learned Tongue. They worship innumerable Idols, but especially the foure Elements; according to which his Sect, each man maketh choise of his buriall. They which worshipped the Earth, are therein buried: the Fire burneth the dead carkasses of them which obserued it: in the Ayre are hanged (to feast that ayrie-winged people with their flesh) those which adored the Ayre, being aliue. The water drowneth those which had aliue beene drowned in that Waterie Religion. EueryEvery King, at his first entrance to the Crowne, erecteth a Temple, which he adorneth with high Steeples, and innumerable Idols. In the Citie of Socotay is one of mettall, fourescore spannes high.
The Kingdome of Siam comprehendeth that Aurea Chersonesus of Ptolomey, described by Arrianus in his Periplus, (the Mappe whereof Ortelius set forth 1597) which Tremellius and Iunius iudge to be Salomons Ophir. The Land trendeth long and narrow, and containeth fiue hundred Leagues of Sea-coast, compassing from Chaupa to Tavay. But of this space the Arabians, or Moores, hauehave vsurped two hundred, with the Townes of Patane, Paam, Ior, and Malacca, now in possession of the Portugals: and the Kingdomes of Aua, Chencran, Caipumo, and Brema, hauehave shared also therein. Odia kIoan.Bar.l.9.c.2.is the chiefe Citie thereof, containing foure hundred thousand households, and serueth the King with fiftie thousand souldiors: and to the Riuer Capiumo (on which it standeth) belong two hundred thousand Vessels. This King hath nine Kingdomes subiect to him, and thirtie thousand Elephants, whereof three thousand are trained to the warres. His Nobles hold their Lands in a kind of Knights-Seruice, like the Turkish Timars (yet onelyonly for terme of life) and without the Kings pay serue him, whensoeuer he appointeth, with twentie thousand horse, and two hundred and fiftie thousand foot. The Countrey is compassed with the high Hills of Iangoma, Brema, or Brama, and Aua, and is it selfe plaine, in situation and fertilitie (caused by inundation) like to Aegypt. The Lai are tributaries to Siam, for feare of the Gueoni, Caniballa and Man-eaters liuing: in the Mountaines adiacent; against whome the Siamite defendeth them, and inuaded those Gueoni one time with twentie thousand horse, two hundred and fiftie thousand footmen, and tenne thousand Elephants for Carriages and Warre. Caesar Frederike lCas.Frid.reporteth, That in the yeare 1567 the King of Pegu besieged the King of Siam, in his chiefe Citie, with an Armie of 1400000 men, and lay before it 21.moneths, and had 500000 fresh souldiors sent him in supply, and yet had not preuailed, if Treason had not more furthered his designes then force. The gates were one night set open, and the Peguans entred: which when the Siamite perceiued, he poysoned himselfe, leauing his Children and Kingdome a prey to the Conquerer: whose triumphall returne, Fredericke (then in Pegu) beheld. Since that time the Kings of Siam hauehave beene tributaries to Pegu.
After this Peguan had raigned seuen and thirtie yeares, he left his Kingdomes, but not his fortunes, to his sonne: who taking displeasure against the Siamite, his vassall, sent for him to come to him, which he refused. And thereupon he entred into his Countrey with nine hundred thousand men, and besieged him in his chiefe Citie: which he, seeking politicke delayes, made semblance still to deliuer, vntill in the third monethmonth after (which was March) the Riuer ouerflowed the Countrey six score miles about, after his yerely custome, and partly drowned, partly committed to the Siamites, attending in boats for this bootie, to be slaughtered, that huge Armie; of which, scarce threescore and tenne thousand returned to Martavan, and those without Elephants and Horses. And when the King of Pegu proceeded in his attempts with like successe, the Siamite, at last, besieged him in Pegu, his Royall Citie, An. 1596. But hearing a rumor of the Portugals comming to helpe him, he raysed his siege. These are the reports of Franciscus Fernandes, a Iesuite. Of the Peguan wee shall speake more in the next Chapter.
Malacca is now subiect to the Portugals, who hauehave there their Bishop, and a Colledge of Iesuites besides the Castle. It sometime was subiect to Siam, from whome it rebelled, after that Marchandise had made them rich. The Ayre is here very vnholsome: their Speech, a deuised Language of the first founders (for it is not long since it was but a few Fishers Cottages:) their Religion is Mahumetan, as a great part of the Coast here about is. Maginus calleth it the Centre of the Easterne Trafficke. They are mLinscho…. R.Fitch.proud of that their Language; wherein they deuise many Sonnets and amorous Poesies. The Malayos, or Countrey people, goe naked, with a Cloth about their middle, and a little Roll of Cloth about their heads. Lodonico Barthema (who was there before the Portugals knew it) supposed, that here arriued more shippes then in any Citie in the world. The Riuer Gaza, neere thereunto, is more, after his reckoning, then fifteene myles ouer. The people in the Countrey (which compasseth about two hundred and threescore myles) lodge in Trees, for feare of Tygers. After that Alphonsus nIoan.Bar.l.9.Albuquerque had conquered Malacca, the Moores, dispossessed there, seated themselues in diuerse places along the Coast, and some of them vsurped the title of Kings.
Patane oG.Arthus Dantisc. Hist. Ind.Oriene.pag.333.is a Citie betweene Malacca and Siam, chiefe of that Kingdome, whereto it giueth name, in the height of seuen degrees. The buildings are of Wood and Reed, but artificially wrought. The Mesquit (for many of them are Mahumetanes) is of Bricke. The Chinois are more then the natiue inhabitants. They are of an Ashcolour. The vse pNavig.Iacob.Neccij.three Languages; the Malayan (which to them is naturall) the Sian, and Chinan. The first is written like the Hebrew, from the right hand; the second, like the Latine, from the left, and almost in like Characters; the third, from the right to the left, with a descent from the toppe to the bottome. The Chinois hauehave idolatrous Temples, and so hauehave the Sians, wherein are many golden Statues; the Priests which attend them are clothed in yellow. They hauehave sacred youths which are their Oracles. The people when they enquire of them, sit a conuenient distance from the Images, and obserue the yong mans gestures (who with his haire disheuelled lyeth prostrate before the Idoll) singing and playing on Instruments, vntill he arise, and standeth vp. For then, as possessed of the Deuill, he runneth vp and downe with a terrible countenance, and maketh a stirre, as if he would kill himselfe, and them that stand by, with a sword which he hath in his hand. Then the people prostrating themselues, request him to declare the Deuils Oracle, and he answereth as pleaseth him; his lyes being accounted Oracles. Adulterie is here a capitall offence, the father of the malefactor being the Executioner, or his next kinsman, if hee bee dead: yet is this vice common (notwithstanding this rigor) by reason of the womens vnbridled lust.
The Kingdome was gouerned many yeres by a Queene, who gaue good entertainment to the Hollanders. Iames Neccy and his fellowes, An. 1602. after their double misfortune and madnesse, which had befalne them, the one in iest, the other in earnest; this at Macao in China, where they were, and knew it not, and setting twentie m… on shore *The Hollanders saw many men & women of China in their Boats, which were Fishers, and dwelt in them: but saw not a Portugall, nor could procure any of the other, at any summe, to deliuer them a letter on shore. After 1603, the Hollanders tooke a rich shippe of the Portugals at Macao, laden for Iapan. Cornel.de Vena., neuer saw them againe, but heard, that the Portugals had caused fifteene of them to be hanged: the other at Auarella Falca, in 11. degrees ½. where they found the Tract of Carts, and footings of Beasts, but could not see a man, nor shoot a Beast. They guessed, that the people liued as the Tartars, wandring in Carts and Tents, without any setled dwelling. The place was by them called Sotternym, by reason that many of their companie had lost the vse of reason, and became madde, with eating a certaine fruit there growing, like to Plummes, with a tender stone, which continued till they had slept. Had they knowne then the easinesse of the cure, it had beene better then any Comedie to hauehave tickled their Splene, and prouoked laughter rA merrie madnesse of EueryEvery one in his …mor., to see one fighting against the enemies, which assaulted him at his Cabbin: to heare another with piteous shrikes crie out on the multitude of Deuils and Hobgoblins, which affrighted him: a third sees strange sights, and cryes out, the shippe is full of strangers: and whiles one, in more pleasing distraction, enioyeth (and ioyeth in that distracted pleasure) the sight of GOD and his Angels, another (transported by this humoured Charon) with dreadfull and gastly lookes trembles at his supposed sights of the Deuill, and his hellish associates. It were a madnesse to relate how exceedingly this their madnesse was diuersified, and how many Acts this Tragicall Comedie had, till sleepe had dispersed those fumes wherewith that fruit had distracted their braines. From thence (as is said) they came to Patane, where the Queene entertained them in good sort, and to their contentment.
As the difference of their writing, in such neerenesse of dwelling, is very much, so no lesse is found in their Religions. The Batauians are Mahumetanes. The Chinois and Siams are Ethnikes, in that diuersitie of Rites which you hauehave heard. Whiles the Hollanders were there, one of those youths, in that Propheticall distraction beforementioned, warned them to depart from thence; for a great fire would otherwise consume them: whereupon many forsooke their habitation, and yet no fire happened. They also saw the execution of their seuere Law against Adulterie, on two noble Personages, whose lewd familiaritie being detected, she chose to be strangled, and he to be stabbed (the Law permitting them their choise of the kindes of death) which by the fathers of the parties was executed on them. In single persons it is accounted no crime. And if a foreine Marchant come to trade there, they vse to aske him, if hee neede not a woman: yea, many young women offer their seruice; and the price and time being agreed on, shee, whome he pleaseth to chuse, goeth with him to his house, and in the day performeth the office of a Seruant, in the night of a Concubine: but then neither of them may seeke change of pleasure, without great perill.
The Siamites that liue here, weare two or three balls of Gold or Siluer, as bigge as a Tennis-ball, in their yards, as wee shall after obserue in Pegu. The Mahumetans weare them not. The Queene keepes her selfe close at home among her women; of which, some may not marrie (but yet may doe worse) others may, hauing first obtained the Queenes licence. It is seldome that shee is seene; yet sometimes shee is, when shee rideth on an Elephant in Progresse, for her recreation. And for Elephants, they hauehave a deuise to take them in this sort. Some ride into the sSee the next Chapter of another way to take them.Woods on a tame Elephant, and when they espie a wilde one, they prouoke him to fight. Whiles these are fastened in the encounter, by the teeth, or tuskes, each striuing to ouerthrow the other, some come behinde the wilde Elephant, and fasten his hinder feete, and so eyther kill him for his Teeth, or by famine tame him.
Since this time t…o.Herinannis… Hist. Nav.ab 1602. a….604., the Hollanders hauehave had much trading at Patane; and the King of Ior, moued with their good successe against the Portugals, ioyned his Nauie to theirs, to chase them out of those parts. Yea, they hauehave braued the Portugals, euen before Goa, the Seat of their Viceroy; and in Nouember, 1604, at Calecut uStep. … gen.entred into solemne League with the Samaryn, and the Hollanders, against them: and the next yeare they wonne from the Portugals the Castles of Amboyne and Tidore, not to mention many other prizes taken from them by the Hollanders at sundrie times. In the yeare 1605, Cornelius Matelivius was sent to the Indies with twelue shippes; and the next yeare after Paulus à Caerden, with twelue more. And Matelive xCorn. Mateliy. Navig. & pug. Amstelodam. Hist. 10, Isacij Pontani.besieged Malaca in the yeare 1608, and on the seuenteenth of August was a great fight by Sea, betwixt the Portugals and Hollanders. But in this attempt they had not successe answerable to their desire. He that will not onelyonly reade, but in manner see, the most of these exploits of the Hollanders, with other rarities of the Indies, may resort to Theodoricke yIndia Orientalis, partes …. per T. & is.de Bry.and Israel de Bry, who hauehave in liuely stampes expressed these Nauigations, with the obseruations of Linschoten, and others.