Pilgrimage, Book 5 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
Of the Indian Nations betwixt Cambaia and Malabar, and their Religions.
THe mightie Riuers of Indus and Ganges paying their Fine to the Ledi… of waters, the Ocean, almost vnderunder the very tropike of Cancer, doe (as it were) betwixt their watery armes present into that their Mothers bosome this large Chersonesiu; A Countrey, full of Kingdomes, riches, people, and (our duest taske) superstitious customes. As Italy is diuided by the Apennine, so is this by the hills which they call Gate, quite thorow to the Cape Comori, which not only hauehave entered league with many in-lets of the sea, to diuide the soile into many signories and kingdomes, but with the aire and Natures higher officers, to dispense with the ordinarie orders, and stablished statutes of Nature, aGi. Bot. Ben. Maff.lib. 1. Linsch. I. 1.c.34.at the same time, vnderunder the same eleuation of the Sunne, diuiding to Summer and Winter their seasons and possessions. For whereas Cold is banished out of these Countries (except on the toppes of some hills) and altogether prohibited to approach so neere the Court and presence of the Sunne; and thefore their Winter and Summer is not reckoned by heate and cold, but by the fairenesse and foulensse of weather, which in those parts diuide the yeare by equall proportions: at the same time, when on the West-part of this Peninsula, betweene that rige of Mountaines and the Sea, it is after their appellation Summer, which is from September till Aprill, in which time it is alwayes cleare skie, without once (or very little) rayning: on the other side the hills which they call the coast of Choromandell, it is their Winter; eueryevery day and night yeelding abundance of raines, besides those terrible thunders, which both beginne and end their Winter. And from Aprill till September in a contrarie vicissitude; on the Westerne part is Winter, and on the Easterne Summer; in so much that in little more then twentie leagues iourney in some place, as where they crosse the hills to Saint Thoma…, on the one side of the hill you ascend with a faire Summer, on the other you descend attended with a stormie Winter. The like, saith Linschoten, happeneth at the Cape Rosalgate, in Arabia, and in many other places of the East.
Their Winter also is more fierce then ours, eueryevery man prouiding against the same, as if he had a voyage of so many moneths to passe by sea, their shippes are brought into harbour, their houses can scarce harbour the inhabitants against the violent stormes, which choake the Riuers with Sands, and make the Seas vnnauigable. I leaue the causes of these things to the further scanning of Philosophers: the effects and affects thereof are strange. The Sea roareth with a dreadfull noyse: the windes blow with a certaine course from thence: the people hauehave a melancholike season, which they passe away with play: In the Summer the winde bloweth from the Land, beginning at Midnight, and continuing till Noone, neuer blowing aboue tenne Leagues into the Sea, and presently after one of the clocke vntill midnight, the contrarie wind bloweth, keeping their set-times, whereby they make the Land temperate, the heat otherwise would be vnmeasurable. But this change commonly causeth diseases, Fluxes, Feuers, Vomitings, in dangerous (and to very many, in deadly) manner, as appeareth at Goa, where, in the Kings Hospitall (which is onelyonly for white men) there die fiue hundred in a yeare. Here you may see both the North and South Starres; and little difference or none is found in the length of day and night throughout the yeare.
Dely is the next Kingdome to Cambaia, now not the next, but the same; the mountaines which before diuided it, not prohibiting the Mogors forces to annexe it to his Crowne. Of it is spoken before in the Chapter of Cambaya, as also of Decan, which lyeth along the coast, betwixt the Riuers Bate and Aliga two hundred and fiftie miles. Here bGio-R…t.Ben. Garcias ab Horto, ….2.c.28. Linschot. &c.was, as is said, sometimes a Moore King; who, leading a voluptuous and idle life, by his Captaines was dispossessed of his State: the one of these was called Idalcan: whose seat royall is Visapore, who in the yeare 1572. incamped before Goa, which the Portugals had taken from him, with an armie of seuenty thousand foot, and fiue and thirtie thousand horse, two thousand Elephants, and two hundred and fiftie peeces of Artillery. The other was Nizzamalucco, which resideth in Danaget, and besieged Chaul, with not much lesse forces, against a captaine of the Venazary, which are a people that liue on spoile, as the Resbuti in Cambaia, the Belemi in Delly, Canara or Concam, seemeth to hauehave beene a part of Decan, but is possessed by the King of Narsinga, whose state is on the East side of the Mountaines: it hath in it the coasttownes of Onor, Batticalla, Mayander and Mangalor, cLinscho.lib.1.cap.27.famous for traffique, but eclipsed by the Portugals neighbourhood. In these parts sometimes raigned a Bengalan Prince, which diuided his state among his Captaines, which originally for the most part were slaues, that he might ease himselfe of the cares of Gouernment. And as hee imparted to them great places; so did he likewise honorable names, dVide supra.cap.7.calling one Idalcam, which signifieth the King of Iustice; another Nisamalucco, that is, the Speare of the Kingdome; another Cotamalucco, the strength of the Kingdome; another Imademalucco, the pillar of the Kingdome; another Melique Verido, the keeper of the Kingdome, &c. But he that should hauehave beene the keeper of the Kingdome, was made the keeper of the King, whom these his slaues and officers by ioynt conspiracie had taken prisoner at Bider, his ch…fe towne; the Countrey of Decan falling to those two which are before named, and the rest to the rest.
Goa eOf Goa, reade Arthus histor. Ind.c. 25. & Linschot.is the seat of the Viceroy, and of the Arch-bishop, and of the Kings Counsell for the Indies, and the staple of all Indian commodities. It standeth in a little Iland, called Tizz…arin, nine miles long, and three broad. Bardes on the North, and Salzette, are both in like subiection to the Portugals; the King letting them to ferme, and employing the rents to the payment of the Arch-bishop, Cloysters, Priests, Viceroy, and other his officers. There dwell in this Towne of all Nations and Religions. The Gouernment is as in Portugal. Only publike vse of forren Religion is forbidden them: but in their houses priuately, or on the maine land, they may practise the same. The Portugalls many of them are married with Indian women, and their posteritie are called Mestic…s, and in the third degree, differ nothing in colour and fashion from naturall Indians. Of the Portugalls they reckon two sorts, married men, and souldiers, which is a generall name to all Bachellours, although they are at their own command. Of these are many Knights, and are called Canalhiero Pidalgo: for if a man doe any thing worth reckoning, presently his Captaine imparteth this honor to him; whereof they much boast themselues, albeit that this Knight-hood had descended to Cookes boyes. Many of the Portugalls liue onelyonly by their slaues. They vse great ceremonie or pride (which you will call it) in their behauiour: the particulars whereof let Linschoten fLinschot.lib. 1.cap.28. 29. 30. 31. 32., that there liued amongst them, teach you.
Besides both Abassine and Armenian Christians, Iewes, and Moores, heere are many Heathens. The Moores eate all things but swines flesh, and dying, are buried like the Iewes. The Heathens, as De…anijns, Guzarates, and Canarijns, are burnt to ashes, and some women aliue are buried with the Gentlemen or Bramenes, their husbands. Some will eat nothing that had life; some all but the flesh of Kine, or Buffles. Most of them pray to the Sunne and Moone: yet all acknowledge a GOD that made all things, and ruleth them, after this life rendering to all according to their workes. But they hauehave Pagodes, which are Images, cut and framed most vgly, and like monstrous Diuels, to whom they pray and offer: and to Saints which heere hauehave liued holy, and are now intercessours for them. The Diuell often answereth them out of those Images, to whom also they offer, that he should not hurt them. They present their Pagode (when a marriage is to be solemnized) with the Brides maiden-head; two of her neerest kinswomen forcing her vponupon the Iuory pinne, (leauing the bloud there for monument) of that diuellish Idoll; the husband herein applauding his happinesse. They hauehave for the most part a custome to pray vntounto the first thing they meete withall in the morning, and all that day after they pray vntounto it; be it Hogge, or any other thing. But if they first meete with a Crow (whereof there are great store) they will not for any thing stirre out againe that day, after so vnluckie a signe. They pray likewise to the new Moone, saluting her first appearance on their knees. They hauehave Iogos or Hermits reputed very holy: many Iuglers also and Witches, which shew diuellish tricke…. They neuer goe forth without praying. EueryEvery hill, cliffe, hole, or denne, hath his Pagodes in it, with their furnaces hard by them, and their cesternes alwaies full of water, with which eueryevery one, that passeth by, washeth his feete, and then worshippeth and offereth Rice, Egges, or what else their deuotion will afford: which the Bramen… eateth. When they are to goe to sea, they will feast their Pagode with trumpets, fires, and hangings, fourteene dayes before they set forth, to obtaine a good voyage: and as long after their returne: which they vse to doe in all their feasts, marriages childbirths, and their haruest and seed-seasons.