Pilgrimage, Book 5 · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI.
Of the Philippina's.
IT is already shewed, that those Ilands receiued this name of Philip the second, King of Spaine, and that this name sometime is in a large sense attributed to all these Ilands in those huge Seas, but more properly to those which Legaspi discouered in the yere 1564, and where the Spaniards hauehave since that time had some places of abode: Mendenao, Tendaya, Luzon, and their neighbours, lying farre into the Sea before Cauchin-China & Cambaia, betwixt the seuenth degree and the twentith of Northerly latitude. They are aG.Bot.Ben.many in number, some of them very great, rich in rice, hony, fruits, birds, beasts, fishes, gold: and enriched further with trade from China. Seuentie of these Ilands are subiects or friends to the Spaniards. Of ancient time they were subiect to the Chinois, bDiscourse of China.vntill they did voluntarily relinquish them: the cause of much ciuile warre amongst themselues, that Anarchy prouing worse to them than a Tyranny, or rather the worst tyranny, eueryevery man becomming a Tyrant, and as he had means of wit, strength and followers, preying vponupon others, vsing or selling them for slaues: which their diuisions made an easie way to the Spanish Conquest.
They worshipped the Sunne and Moone, and the men and women, which in their language they called Maganitos, obseruing in their honour solemne and sumptuous feasts. In the Illocos they worshipped the Deuill, and offered to him many sacrifices in recompence of a great quantity of gold, which they said he had giuen them. Their Feasts and Sacrifices were done by women, which were Witches (of them called Holgoi) reuerenced amongst them as Priests. These had ordinary talke with the Deuill, and many times in publique. These wrought strange witchcrafts; they answered vntounto all questions that were demaunded of them: (although their answers were often either lies or riddles) they used lottes as the Chinois, and were obseruers of times. If they beganne a iourney, and met with a Lizard or other worme, they would returne home, saying, the heauens prohibited their proceeding.
They hauehave now amongst them many Preachers and Monasteries of the Augustinians, Franciscans, and Iesuitcs. But the wicked life of the Spaniards is so offensiue to the Inhabitants, that the Discourser (himselfe a Frier) telleth heereof a notable Storie. cPag.349.A certaine Ilander soone after his baptisme, died, and appeared after to many of his Countrey-men, perswading them to be baptized, as a way vntounto that happines, whereof he now had in himselfe most blessed experience: OnelyOnly they must be baptized, and obserue the Commaundements, of which the Spaniards preached to them, of whom, and of others like vntounto them, there were in that happy place infinite numbers. Here …pon he vanished, and some were perswaded: but others of them refused, saying; that because there were Spaniard-souldiers in glory, they would not go thither, because they would not be in their company. A like History Bartholom de las Casas dCrudel.Hisp.relateth of a Westerne Indian, at the time of his death answering to a Dominicke Ftier, which counselled him to die a Christian, and so to be capable of heauen: (when hee heard there were Spaniards in heauen) he would rather be in hell with his fore fathers then in heauen with the Spaniards.
The Spaniards eFrancis. Va…z 1601.hauehave their Bishop and Archdecon, and besides other Religious, seuen Colledges of Iesuites. Boterus fG.B.B.part 4. lib….3.saith, that the King of Spaine had thought to hauehave made Manilla an Archibishopricke, & added three other Bishoprickes. Captaine Noort g… Noort 1600.(a Dutch man that compassed the world) lost a ship heere in fight with the Spaniards, & suncke one of theirs: he affirmes that the conuerts of these parts, are more popishly Christian then in the midst of Rome or Spaine, and more addicted to their superstitious follies. In Mendenao they are Mahumetans, as they are in Burnco.
In these Philippina's hTho.Candish voyage, Ha…k. tom. 3.some carue and cut their skinne, with sundry strakes and deuises all ouer their body. Moreouer, as we hauehave spoken of Balls worne in their yards, by the men of Pegu, so here, the men and men-children amongst them hauehave nayles of tinne thrust quite through the head of his priuy part, being split in the lower end, and riueted, which is done when they be yong, and the place groweth vp againe, without any great paine. They take it out, and put it in as occasion serueth. This here, as that in Pegu, is said to hauehave bin practised, to auoyde the sinne of Sodomy, whereto before they were prone. The males also are (at least in iOn the Ile Capul.some of the Philippina's) circumcised. The people worshippe the deuill, who oft times appeareth to them in conference, in most vgly and monstrous shape. There is amongst them an Iland of Negro's inhabited with blacke people, almost as bigge as England, in nine degrees.
Heere also be those kAnt.Galuanoblacke people called Ospapuas, Man-eaters and Sorcerers, among whom Deuills walke familiarly, as Companions. If these wicked spirites find one alone, they kill him, and therefore they alwayes vse company. Their Idoles they adorne with Ostrich feathers. They vse to let themselues bloud with a certaine hearb laid to the member, and licked with the tongue: with which they can drawe out all the bloud in their body.
When as Magellan, first of all men, by the West discouered these Easterne Ilands, in the Ilands of Buthoan and Caleghan hee could learne no other Religion obserued amongst them, but that lifting vp their hands closed together, and their face towards heauen, they called on their God by the name of Abha. In Zubut (in token of friendship) he and the king did let themselues bloud on the right arme, for so was their wont to confirme leagues of amity. The king had his skinne painted with a hote yron Pensile: he and his people at Magellan's perswasion were baptized; and burned their Idoles, which were made of hollow wood, with great faces and foure teeth, like borestuskes in their mouthes; painted they were all ouer, but had only a fore-part, and nothing behinde.
They weare in their yard a naile of gold. They had many wiues, but one principall. They obserued many Ceremonies in killing a hogge, in sacrifice, as it seemed, to the Sunne. After the sounding of their cimballs, and certaine cates set downe in platters, two olde women came forth with Trumpets or Pipes of Reede, and did reuerence to the Sunne, and then clothing themselues with sacred vestments, one of them put about her fore-head a haire-lace with two hornes, holding another hairelace or skarse in her hand, and so began to sound, daunce, and call vponupon the Sunne, wherein she is followed by the other, both of them in this manner dauncing about th… Hogge, which is there fast tyed. lA. Pigasetta. in ….The horned Beldame still muttereth certaine wordes to the Sunne, and the other answereth her: then doth shee take a cuppe of Wine, and after some Ceremonies, poureth it on the Hogge: and after that with a launce, after dances and flourishes, she killeth the Hogge. All this while a litle Torch is burning, which at last she taketh into her mouth, and biteth it: and the other woman washeth the Pipes with the swines bloud, and with her finger, embrewed with bloud, marketh the forehead of her husband first, and then of the rest. Then doe they vntire themselues, and onelyonly with women associates, …ate the cheere in the platters: and after singe the Hogge, and eate him.
From hence Magellan went to Mathan, where in a battell with the Ilanders he was slaine. In Puladan they keep Cockes for the Game, but eate not of their flesh, forbidden by their superstitions. In Ciumbubon they found a tree, which had leaues like those of the Mulbery, hauing besides on each side of the leafe, as it were, two feete, with which (as if it had bin mouing and sensible) it would stirre and go vp and downe. Pigafetta kept one eight dayes in a platter, and when he rouched it, presently it would …lee from him, and moue vp and downe: he thought it liued of the aire.
In Burneo the people are, partly Moores, & partly Gentiles, and according to their Religions, hauehave two Kings and two royall Cities, situated in salt-water. The Moores when they kill a hen, or a goat, vse first certaine words to the Sunne. The Gentiles mMas. Transil.worship the Sunne and Moone, esteeming the one Male and the other Female, him the Father, this the Mother of the Starres, whom also they reckon in the Catalogue of their demi-gods. They salute the Sunne in his morning-approch, with certaine verses and adoration: which they also performe to the Moone, and demaund of them children, riches, and other their necessaries. After death they expect no future state. The Spaniards heard of great Pearles, as bigge as egges, which the King of Burneo had: and if you beleeue them, they tooke an Oyster themselues, whose fishie substance weighed seuen and fortie pounds. The Moore-King in Burneo was serued in his Pallace and attended onelyonly by women and maidens.
In Gilolo nPigafetta.they are likewise some of the Arabian Sect, the others Gentiles. The Moores had two kings of their law, each of which had six hundred children. The Gentiles vsed to worship the first thing they encounter in the morning all the day following. They oGot. rthus pag.396.were sometime man-eaters; some of the Ilanders were by the Portugalls conuerted: but the King being poysoned by a Mahumetan, they declined. Yet one Noble man named Iohn, first killed his wife and children with his own hands, left they should apostatize, and then offered himselfe to indure any torment.
The Moluccos are vsually reckoned (as before is said,) but many other Ilands are subiect to them, and by some Authors called also by that name. The King of Ternate is said pSir Fr. Drah….to hauehave seuenty Ilands vnderunder his subiection, and in his port representeth great maiesty. Both here and in Banda the Mahumetan superstition hath set footing, and preuailed, as in the other adioyning Ilands, the Moores being as zealous to winne Proselites, as to enrich themselues. None of these Ilands is aboue sixe leagues in compasse, enriched with cloues, but of other fruits barren and poore. One qMass.libr. 5.tree they hauehave, which out of the cut braunches yeeldeth a white, holesome, and fauourie liquor for drinke, they call it Tuaca, and the pith thereof affoordeth them meate called Sagu, tasting in the mouth like sowre Curds, melting like Sugar, whereof they make certaine Cakes, which will endure good for foode tenne yeares. The cloue-trees not onelyonly sucke vp all the moysture of the Earth, where they grow, disdaining any other plant should grow neere them (like our Inclosers) sodainely drinking vp all the heauens liberality in showers, but with their thirstie appetite intercept the running waters that descend from the Mountaines, before they can betake them to their mothers lappe, the Oceans refuge. In this Iland rGaluan….are men hauing anckles with spurres, like to Cockes; here are hogges with hornes: a riuer stored with fish, and yet so hote, that it flaicth of… the skinne of any creature which entreth it: there are Oisters so large, that they christen in the shells: Crabbes so strong, that with their clawes they will breake the yron of a picke-axe: stones which grow like fish, whereof they make lime.
In Ternate sIac. …is a mountaine, which (as it were) angry with Nature, for being fastned to the earth, doth not onelyonly lift vp his high head aboue the airy regions of clouds, but endeuoreth also to conioyne it selfe with the fiery Element, where with it seemeth to hold some entercourse, with dreadfull thunders belching out light flames, mixed with a darke smoake, like prowd Greatnesse, wasting it selfe with it owne flames, and filling the neighboring-valley with ashes, It is not much aboue a hundred yeres, since first the Sect of Mahumet entred the Moluccas. But now tLud.Fernand. La.Masonius.both heere and in Amboino the Iesuites hauehave their residences, and hauehave perswaded many to their Catholike faith. Stephan uGot. Arthus pag 403.ab Hagan in the yeare 1605. wanne this Iland of Amboino, and the fort of the Portugals, to the States: it is a cloue-Iland.
Much conflict was sometime betweene the kingdomes of Spaine and Portugall, about these Ilands: and some warre since betwixt. the Portugalls and Hollanders, ended with the Hollanders losse. These Moluccians are treacherous, faithlesse and iealous: they suffer no man to see their wiues; yea themselues see not their wiues vntill they be contracted.
In Ternate xHolland Nauig. 1598. & 99: per Bilibald. Strobe…Theft is neuer suffered vnpunished: the Hollanders sawe a boy of eleuen or twelue yeares, for stealing a leafe of Tabacco, led vp and downe with his hands bound behinde him, for a publique spectacle and derision to other boyes. They maintaine deadly warres with the Portugalls, and spare none of them that they can get. If an Eclipse of the Sunne or Moone happen, they howle and make piteous lamentation, perswading themselues, that their King, or some great man amongst them will die. Experience thereof was the sixt of August 1599. when the Moone was eclipsed about eight of the clocke at night, they eueryevery way by crying out, by strange gestures, praying, and beating their basons and drummes, expressed a lamentable passion of griefe, for the feare aforesaid. And the Eclipse being past, when they see, that neither the King, nor any other is dead, they obserue the next day solemnly festiuall with publike Procession of old and yong, of all sorts. They esteemed it a Miracle when the Hollanders told them that there were in their Country which could prognosticate of Eclipses long before. Columbus yGas.Ens li. I. ca. 5.vsed the simplicity of the Iamaicans to his preseruation: for when they forsooke him he threatned vntounto them the anger of GOD, whereof they should see an euident token in the darkening of the Moone within two daies, which according to the naturall reuolution of the Heauens (knowne to Columbus) comming to passe, the Ilanders with dread and feare shewed all readinesse to his seruice.
The water about Ternate is so cleare, that they fish by the eie, and can see the Ankers in the bottome of the water, at sixteene or seuenteene fadome depth, as if it were but a foote: and espie euerie fish which passeth, to no small aduantage of their fishing.
When the King goeth to the Mesquit, a boy goeth before, which beareth his Sword on his shoulder, and in the other hand a kidde: after him follow the kings souldiors. After them another with a Censer. Next to whom commeth the King with a Tiresol ouer his head, to keepe off the Sunne. When they are come to the dores, there are Vessels of water to wash their hands and feete, before they enter; and then the floore is couered with white Cloth, whereon they prostrate themselues, with their faces to the Earth, softly mumbling their Mumpsimus-deuotions. In the middest is a Pulpit, spread with white Cloth. In stead of a Bell they hauehave a great Drumme hanged vp, which they beat with clubbes: They hauehave in eueryevery Temple also one Bell, but without a Clapper. All come at that Peale, or Sound, with their weapons armed.
The Moluccians zIat Neccij Nauig.in octaua part. Ind. orient. de Bry.are better proportioned then other Indians, hauehave more beard (which the elder men nourish and weare long for their greater authoritie) browne of colour, and meane of stature. For valour they hauehave not their like in all India, especially those of Ternate, chusing rather to die then flee, and esteeming it a great credit to fight against greater multitudes. Their shields are of Wood, two spannes broad, and foure foote long. They are exceedingly addicted to slouth and ease, none working in any handicraft; their houses are of timber and reedes, without one naile in them, which their slaues build, and doe also their other labors. They hauehave no money, and the siluer which they hauehave is employed to vessells of plate. Their riches are their Cloues, wherewith they prouide them of other necessities. They neuer see their wiues till they be married; nor the wiues them. Makian and Moher are now subiect to the king of Ternate: Tidore and Batian hauehave their peculiar kings. This people hauehave the power to elect their king, so that they choose one of the royall and ancient familie. The king of Ternate calleth himselfe king of Golilo, whereof he hath but a part, and that by conquest. The Birds of Paradise (saith this Author) hauehave two feet, aswell as other Birds; but as soone as they are taken, they are cut off, with a great part of their body, whereof a little is left with the head and necke, which beng hardned and dried in the Sunne, seeme to be so bred. The Moores aPig…setta.made the Ilanders beleeue that they came out of Paradise, and therefore call them Manucodiata, or holie Birds, and hauehave them in religious accompt: They are very beautifull, with variety of fethers and colours.
Amboyna bringeth forth Orenges, Citrons, Limons, Cloues, Coquos, Bonana's, sugar-canes, and other fruits, being a very fertile Iland. The Inhabitants are simple, liue sparingly, and are attyred like other the Moluccans. They spend much Rice, whereof they make loaues like Sugar-loaues. They hauehave Gallies bNauig. Holland,….per. B. Strobaeum. De Bry, part.5. Ind. Or. hath the pictures of these Gallies, &c.after their manner, formed like Dragons, which they row very swiftly: they call them Karkollen. The Admirall came to the Hollanders with three of these, full of armed men, which rowed round about them, expressing manifold signes of ioy with Songs and Drummes: the slaues singing as they rowed. They had three pieces of Ordinance in euerie Galley, which they discharged, answered in that kinde by the Hollanders. But two of the Holland-shippes not finding sufficient store of commodities for them all, went to Banta, passing by Poel Setto, an Island not inhabited, bearing Northwest from Banta fiue Dutch myles. They say it is inhabited of Deuils, and whosoeuer must passe by, maketh all possible hast to be gone, much affrighted either by selfe-fancies or deuillish impostures.
Banta is foure and twentie Dutch myles from Amboyna… and diuided into three parts, which comprehend fiue myles. The chiefe Citie is Nera. In this Island are more store of Nutmegs then elsewhere in the Moluccas: for which cause they resort hither from Iaua, China, and Malacca. They professe Mahumetisme so deuoutly, that they neuer goe to their Watches before they hauehave prayed in the Mesquit, whereinto they enter, being first washed (after the Mahumetane manner) but pray so loud, that they may be heard a great distance: their wordes of Prayer are Stofferolla; Stofferolla; Ascehad an la, Ascehad an la; Y…lla, Ascehad an la; Yll lolla. yll lolla, Mahumed die Rosulla: At the pronouncing of which last wordes, they stroke their hands ouer their face; in which gesture they thinke is much holinesse. Other prayers they mutter ouer very softly, with little mouing their lippes. THey stand vponupon Mattes, and lift vp their eyes twice or thrice to Heauen: after which, they kneele downe, bowing their head twice or thrice to the earth. Thus they doe often euerie day, both at home and in the streets. They hauehave their publike Meetings and Bankets in their Temples very often, eueryevery one bringing his part of the cheere: which sometimes they doe in the Woods, a hundred in a companie. At these times they consult of publike affaires.
They hauehave ciuill Warres, Nera and Lontoor holding together against three other Townes. Two little Islands, Pollerviin and Poelvuay take part with Nera, and when occasion requireth, come thither with their Boats to consultation, where they are entertained in publike Feasts: the manner whereof is, that they sit downe in order; in stead of a Table eueryevery one hath a piece of a leafe of the Bonanas Tree: then is set before each a piece of Sagu bread, after that, a dish made of the leafe of another Tree, with a little sodden Rice and Flesh-pottage, which they hurle by handfulls into their mouthes, deuouring rather then eating the same. In the meane while the Gentlemen arise with their weapons, and exercise themselues in martiall Games, with Daunces. The quarrell betwixt these Islanders grew about the cutting of certaine Trees, from whence it is come to cut and kill one another with cruell butcheries.
They exercise Sea-fights in their Caracorae, or Galeots, with great dexteritie, with great shouts and cryes, the Gentlemen dauncing on the Hatches very actiuely. They are very bloudie and barbarous, yet burie the heads of their enemies with sweet odours.
If any of their friends die, the women made a shrill and loud crie to call him againe; which not effected, they prouide a great Feast, whereunto all the kindred and friends are inuited.
They burie them almost after our fashion, in a white sheet, the corpes being carried on mens shoulders, the men first, and women after, following. A Censer is there left fuming all the day and night; and in the night they keepe a light burning in a little House, which they hauehave set ouer the Graue. In the morning and euening all of all sorts come and say their Prayers a long while together at the Graue: and being asked wherefore? they said, That the dead should not arise againe.
They hauehave a play with the ball, exercised by many of them, not as amongst vsus with the hand, but with their feet, tossing the same vp into the Ayre, and taking it one of another with admirable sleight.
Before we leaue these Moluccas and their dependant Islands, we may conclude with a Tragedie, wherein blinde Superstition, and beastly crueltie, were principall Actors. When Menesius cArt. Hist. Ind. Orient.c. 46.was Gouernour of the Portugall Fort in Ternate, he kept a Sow, which some of the deuouter Mahumetans killed. He getting the chiefe Priest (accessorie to the fact) into the Castle, at his deliuerie made his face be greased with Bacon by the Iaylor, which caused the people to offer abuse to some Portugalls. Menesius in reuenge cut off the hands of two of them, the third had his hands bound behind him, and was baited with two dogges on the Sea-shore: which his implacable enemies transported him into like dogged humour (though he were not with H…cuba transformed into the shape) insomuch, that fastening with his teeth on one of their eares, he held fast, till his strength failing, he sunke into the Sea with the dogge, and was drowned.
In Celebes they dOd. Barbosa.eate mans flesh. eHak.….3The King of the Moluccas was wont to send condemned persons to Celebes, to be deuoured. Castrius conuerted the King. Southward of Celebes is situated a little Island, where Sir Francis Drake graued his shippe. This Island is throughly growne with Woods, in which eueryevery night certaine fierie Flyes made such a light, as if eueryevery twigge or tree had beene a burning Candle. Here they found Battes as bigge as Hennes, and plentie of Cray-fishes so great, that one would suffice foure men to their dinner: they digged themselues holes in the Earth, like Conies.
From hence they sayled to Iaua; of which name M. Paulus and Nic. di Conti re… kon two great Islands, ascribing to the one two thousand, and to the other three thousand myles in circuit. The lesse is neere to the firme Land of the South Continent, where Beach, and some other Prouinces, are named by Paulus and Vertomannus, of Heathenish Superstitions. The lesse Iaua had in the dayes of M. Paulus eight Kingdomes, in six of which himselfe had beene, which he nameth Felech, wherein the rurall inhabitants were Idolaters, the Citizens Moores: the Idoll-worshippers eare any flesh whatsoeuer, of man, or beast, and obserue all day what they first see in the morning.
Basma fM. Paul. l. 3.the second, acknowledged the great Chams Soueraigntie, but payed him no tribute. Here were certaine Vnicornes, headed like a Swine, footed like an Elephant, with one …or…e on their forheads (with which they doe not hurt any, but to that end vse certaine prickles that grow on their tongues;) They delight also in the Myre like Swaine. Here are little Apes, much resembling men in their countenance, which they vsed to preserue with certaine Spices, hauing flayed off their skinnes, and left the haire growing in those parts, where Nature causeth men to be hairie, and fell them to Merchants, to be carried ouer the world as the bodies of little men; happily the onelyonly true Pygmies the world yeeldeth.
In Samara, the third of those Kingdomes, none of the North-starres can be seene. They are Man-eaters, and Idolaters; but not so brutish as in Dragoian, the next Kingdome: where, if a man be sicke, his kinsmen consult with their Sorcerers, who enquire of the Deuill, Whether he shall escape, or no? And if the answere be Negatiue, they send for certaine men, specially designed to that villanous Mysterie, which strangle him; and then they dresse and eate him amongst the kindred, euen to the very marrow in his bones. For (say they) if any flesh should remaine, it would putrifie, and wormes would breede thereof, which after (for want of sustenance) would perish, whereby the soule of the dead partie would be much tonnented. The bones they burie safely, that no Beast should touch them: such dread hauehave they of Beasts and crueltie in a more then beastly crueltie, and such a care to obserue humanitie …nd pietie in a most impious inhumanitie.
Lambri, the next Kingdome, hath in it some men with tayles, like dogges, a spanne long.
The last is Fanfur, where they liue of bread made of the pith of Trees, the wood whereof is heauie, and sinketh to the bottome, if it be put in water, like yron, and therefore they make Launces thereof, able to pierce Armour: for it is three-fingers thicke betwixt the hollow and the barke.
To let passe Pentan, Sondar, and other idolatrous Islands, and come to Iaua Maior: This Countrey is very rich, but in times past of most abhominable custome. Ndi Conti.Nic. Conti sayth, That they seede on Cats, Rats, and other vermine, and were most vile murtherers, not sticking to make tryall of the good cutting or thrust of their blades on the next bodie they met with, and that without punishment, yea (if the blow or' thrust were deliuered with fine force) with much commendation. Vertomannus gVer. l.6.affirmeth of them, That some obserue Idols, some the Sunne or Moone, others an Oxe, and many the first thing they meet in the morning, and some worship the Deuill. When men were old, and not able longer to work, their children or parents carried them into the market, and sold them to others, which did eate them. And the like they vsed with the younger sort in any desperate sicknesse, preuenting Nature with a violent death, and esteeming their bellies sitter sepulchres then the earth, accounting others fooles which suffered the wormes to deuoure so pleasant foode. For feare of these man-eaters they stayed not long there. It seemeth that they hauehave much left these bruitish customes, since wonne to more ciuilitie by the trading of Moores and Christians; especially such as are of the Arabian Law: although, as our owne countreymen report, which hauehave there liued, a mans life is valued to the murtherer at a small summe of mony. They are a proud Nation: hScot.If a man should come in where they are set on the ground after their manner, & should sit on a Chest, or high thing, it were as much as his life were worth.
When they are sicke, iGio. Bot.Ben.they vow vntounto GOD, vponupon their recouerie, a more honourable death, which they performe after their recouerie, by the murtherous hand of some other vponupon them. They are kOd.Barbosa.great Inchanters, and obserue houres, and sitting minutes and moments of time, for composing their Blades and Armour, of which they are conceited, that, being tempered with their Charmes and Superstitions, with the least drawing bloud of another, they will kill him; themselues, in their inchanted Armour, safe from others blowes. They abide in expectation of these Martiall minutes, for their coniured Armours, sometimes eight or tenne yeares, before they can finish them. The Iauans lBar. dec.2.l.9. ca…. Holland. Nau. Arthus. Isacius & ….say, That their auncestors came from China, which Countrey they forsooke, because of the tyranuie where with they were oppressed, & in great multitudes peopled this Island. They weare their haire and their nailes long. They are dutifull to their superiors. The great men stir…e not forth, without a great troupe of followers. They are seldome idle, much busied about their Scabberds and Weapons, which they vse to poyson. They are not without their weapons night or day, which they will not suffer another man to touch. They are so eager of reuenge, that they will presse on their aduersaries weapon, drawing it through their owne bodie, to kill him that hath wounded them. They hauehave Mahumetane Temples, where they doe their deuotions with great silence. They acknowledge IESVS, Mahomet, Dauid, and Moses foure Prophets. They obserue their houres, and two Fasts, or Lents. The great mens wiues neuer goe out of the dores to be seene. Their Cities are Ballambua, and Panarucan, (a little from whence is a burning Hill, which first brake forth 1586, and oppressed infinit numbers of men, and cast great stones into the Citie, for three daies space making one continued night of darknesse) Passarua, the King whereof married the King of Ballambuas daughter, and the second night after he had lyen with her, slew her and her attendants, because she would not turne Mahumetan. Ioartam, Surrabaia, Tuban, Matara, are also royall Cities, as are Daunia, Taggal, Charabaon, and many others. But Bantam is of most trafficke, frequented by Portugalls, Dutch, and English, in which eueryevery day are three seuerall Markets. Here Merchants, when they come, may buy a woman for their …leshly & worldly businesse (you may adde the Deuill too, to make vp the nūber) which at their departure they fell againe. Publike affaires are treated and handled by night, at which time the Counsellors of State meet, & ascend some tree, or the roofe of the house, viewing the heauens till the Moon arise, & then goe into the Senat-house.
Not farre from Bantam mIo.Isac.Pontan …. … stelodam. Nau. Batah. 1594.ap. De Bry, part.3.c.33.liue certaine of the Passarrans, which being there oppressed by their King, came hither, and here obtained a piece of ground, to build them a Citie, which is called Sura. They hauehave a King, or Gouernour, and liue quietly, following Husbandrie: they eate nothing that hath life (a common Superstition of the Indians) weare white Clothes of Paper, made of the leaues of Trees, and neuer marrie (herein resembling the Iewish Essees) yet neuer want succeeding generation: Many of the Iauans daily consecrating themselues vntounto their Societie. The Chinois in Iaua doe sometimes bring vp Crocodiles, and eat them.
The King of Tuban nBilib. Strobausis the richest King, and mightiest in all Iaua. They hauehave many Horses, and make great account of them, decking them with gallant furniture of Gold, Siluer, and the counterfeits of Dragons and Deuils on their Saddles: they ride and manage their Horses with great skill.
Madura is North from Iaua, a fertile Island of Rice, the soyle whereof is so moist and waterish, that their Buffalls and men goe almost knee-deepe, when they sow it. Arosbay is the chiefe Citie. They are theeuish, and giuen to spoyle, and captiued many of the Hollanders, which went thither on shore, to buy commodities; which they were forced to redeeme at a deere rate. In these parts, are Battes as bigge as Hennes, which the people rost and eate.
The Island Bali is very populous, containing (as is thought) sixe hundred thousand inhabitants; they are Ethnikes, and worship that which they first meete in the morning. Here and in Pulo Rossa the women are burned with their dead husbands: one man is said oNauig. Bat. 1594.c.39.to hauehave had fiftie of his wiues (for they marrie as many as they please) burned with him, whiles the Hollanders were there. The Island hath many Buls, Buffals, Goats, Swine, Horse, with many kindes of Fowles, Fruits, and Mettalls: The chiefe men are carried by slaues on seats borne on their shoulders, or else in Chariots drawne with Buffalls.
In the Voyage of M. Thomas Candish pTh. Candish. Hak. 10.3.pag.822.is mention made of a Iauan King, called Raia Balombam, very aged, which had a hundred wiues, and his sonne had fiftie. Their custome is, that when the King dieth, they burne the bodie, and preserue the ashes. Fiue dayes after the wiues of the dead King goe to a place appointed, and there shee which was deerest in his fauour, throweth a ball from her; and where that ball resteth, thither they goe all, and turning their faces Eastward, stabbe themselues with a Crise or Dagger to the heart. They are very resolute people, and dread no attempt which the King shall enioyne them, be it neuer so dangerous. All the race of this King Ballamboam was rased and vtterly destroyed by the Passarvan, after a long siege: which Warre was begun in the bloud of the King of Ballamboams daughter, whome hee slew, as is before sayd, and added this Drunkennesse vntounto his thirst.
Iortam, or Ioartam qN…nig. Oliuer Noort.containeth about a thousand households. The inhabitants are Ethnikes, and hauehave their Temples in Woods, to which they resort to say and doe their Holies at noone, before their deformed Deuill-formed Pagodes. In this Citie dwelleth the chiefe Pope, or High-Priest, of that Superstition, whose authoritie is great in all those parts. He was a hundred and twentie yeares old, and had many wiues which nourished him with their milke, being not able to take other sustenance: a deadly enemie to the Christians, whome the King did yet with some Priuiledges fauour.