A Geographical Description of All the Countries in the Known World, Part 1 · Subpart 31 – Subpart 49
Tartary described.
The Tartars inhabit a vast space of ground in Asia, and are divided into many Tribes different both in name and government one from another: The greatest and mightiest of them is the Crim Tartar, called by some the great Cham, that lyeth South, and South East from Russia. Their Arms are Bows, Arrows, and Swords; they are all Horse-men, and use to shoot as readily backward, as forward: the common souldiers have no armour more than their ordinary apparel, which is a black sheep skin with the wool side outward in the day time, and inward in the night, with a cap of the same: the Nobles imitate the Turks, both in apparrel and armour. In their wars they chiefly seek to get store of Captives, especially of Boyes and Girles, whom they sell to the Turks, or other neighbour Nations; they are most of them Mahometans. They have certain Idol puppets made of Silk or other stuff in the likenesse of a man, which they fasten to the door of their walking houses to keep them in safety; besides they have the Image of their great Cham, of an huge bignesse, which they erect at every stage when they march, and every one as he passeth by, must bow down to it, they are much given to witchcraft, and sorcery. They are divided into Hoords, over each of which is a Duke, who are bound when the Emperor sends for them, to attend him with such a number of Souldiers, every one having two horses, one to ride on, and the other to kill, when his turn comes to have his horse eaten: for their chief food is horseflesh, which they eat without any bread: They keep also great heards of Kine, and black sheep, rather for their skins and milk (which they carry with them in great bottles,) then for their flesh, which (they say) is not so strengthning as horse-flesh, they drink milk and bloud mingled together: Sometimes as they travel, they let their horses blood; and drink it warm. They have no Towns but walking houses, built upon wheeles, like Shepheards Cottages: these they draw with them, and drive their cattel before them, and when they stay, they plant their Cart-houses very orderly in rank, so making the form of streets, and of a large Town: the Emperor himself hath no other City but such as these: In the spring they move with their Cattel Northward grazing up all before them, and then return Southward again, where they remain all the winter: Towards the Caspian sea, and on the frontiers of Russia, they have a goodly Country, but marred for want of Tillage.
They use no money, and prefer brass and Steel before all other mettals. They have broad and flat visages, much tanned, have fierce and cruel looks, thin hair on their upper lips, they are light and nimble, they have short legs, as if they were made for horsemen: their speech is sudden, and loud, speaking out of a deep hollow throat: their singing is very untunable. The Circasses that border upon Lituania, are more civil than the rest, applying themselves to the fashions of the Polonians: The Nagay Tartars lye Eastward, and are far more savage, and cruel: The most rude, and barbarous, are the Morduit-Tartars, that worship for god, the first living thing they meet in the morning, and swear by it all the day after: when his friend dyes hee kills his best horse, and carries his hide upon a long pole, before the Corps to the place of buriall: that so his friend may have a good horse to carry him to heaven; they are void of learning, and without written Laws, only some rules they hold by tradition, as to obey their Emperor and Governors: none to possesse any land, but the whole Countrey to bee common: not to use daintiness in diet, &c.
This great Country is bounded on the East with the Eastern Ocean: On the West with Russia, and Moldovia: On the North with the Sythick, or frozen Sea: and on the South with Mare Caspium, the Hill Taurus, and the wall of China: Its in length from East to West, five thousand four hundred miles, and in breadth from North to South, three thousand and six hundred miles. It was formerly called Scythia. It hath been so fruitfull of people, that it was called, Vagina gentium, et officina generis humani; the mother of all inundations.
From hence indeed Huns, Herules, Franks, Bulgarians.
Circassians, Sueves, Burgundians, Turks, Tartarians,
Dutch, Cimbers, Normans, Almaines, Ostrogothes,
Tigurines, Lombards, Vandals, Visigothes,
Have swarm'd like Locusts, round about this Ball.
And spoil'd the fairest Provinces of all.
The Island of Cyprus Described.
In the Mediterranean Sea: there are only two Islands belonging to Asia, Cyprus, and Rhodes.
The Island of Cyprus Described.
Cyprus is seated in the Sea of Syria, and is in compasse five hundred and fifty miles: Its in length from East to West, two hundred miles: In breadth but sixty five miles. Its about sixty miles distant from Cilicia, and one hundred from the main land of Syria. In summer its very hot: the greatest supply of water is from the Clouds: So that in Constantines time, there being a great, and long drought, the Island was almost unpeopled for thirty six years together. Ordinarily its very fruitfull, and so stored with Commodities, that without the help of other Countrys, its able to build a ship from the keel to the top-sail, and to furnish it to Sea, with all things necessary, either for a voyage or Sea-fight. It yeilds plenty of wine, Oile, Corn, Sugar, Honey, Wool, Cotton, Turpentine, Allum, and Verdegreece: As also all sorts of Mettals, Salt, Grograms, and other Commodities; whence it was called Macaria; or the blessed Island. There are abundance of Cyprus Trees growing in it. The Inhabitants are warlike, strong, and nimble, civil, Hospitable, and friendly to strangers. The Jews in Trajans time slew in this Island, two hundred and forty thousand living souls, whereupon ever since they suffer no Jew to come amongst them.
The Island is divided into eleven Provinces: the chief Rivers are Pedeus and Tenus: The chief Cities are Paphos, once famous for the Temple of Venus. Famagusta on the South Sea. Nicosia almost in the center of the Countrey. Amathus, Ceraunia, now called Cerines: And Arsione, now Lescare. Its now under the Turks, who took it from the Venetians, Anno Christi, One thousand five hundred threescore and ten.
The Island of Rhodes Described.
Rhodes is situated in the Carpathian Sea, over against Caria in the lesser Asia: Its in circuit one hundred and twenty miles: The chief City is of the same name, where stood that huge Colossus of Brasse, in the Image of a man fourscore cubits high, whose little finger was as big as an ordinary man: it was the work of twelve years, made by Chares of Lindum.
The Inhabitants of this Ile were always good Seamen. Anno Christi 1308. the Knights of St. John in Hierusalem, being driven out of Asia by the Saracens, seized upon this Island, and were always troublesome neighbours to the Turks, till the year 1522. at which time Solyman the Magnificent, wrested it from them. The forenamed City of Rhodes, stands on the East part of the Island at the bottome of a hill, and on the shore of the Sea; having a safe and fair Haven: it hath also two walls for defence, thirteen high towers, five bulwarks, besides sconces and outworks: Its inhabited only by Turks and Jews: for though the Christians are suffered to trade freely all day; yet at night, upon pain of death they must leave it.
The Rhodian Colossus more fully Described.
In the Isle of Rhodes stood one of the worlds seven wonders, which was a huge Colossus made of Brasse in the form of a man, standing with his two leggs striding over an haven, under which, ships with their Masts and Sails might passe: It was fourscore cubits high, with all the parts proportionable, and all gilt over. When Muani the fifth Caliph of Babylon, overcame Constance the Emperour in a Sea-fight, and had taken the Isle of Rhodes, this image being formerly thrown down by an Earthquake, was sold by him to a Jew, who loaded nine hundred Camels with the brasse of it. Theoph. Pez. Mel. Hist.
The Islands and Countries in the East-Indies Described. Malabar Described.
Malabar is neer to Cape Comeryn: Its four hundred miles in length, but not above a hundred in breadth: yet so populous that one of the Samorines, or Kings, hath brought into the field two hundred thousand men: The Countrey is green and full of all delights, Cattel, Corn, Fruit, Cotton, silk-worms, and other Merchandise: it hath store of strong Towns, and safe Harbours. Its divided into many Toparchies, but all obeying the Samorine, a naked Negro, yet as proud as Lucifer: The Nayroes are his Lords, a sort of Mammeluks, that live by the sweat of other mens brows, lust wholly Mastering them: they always go armed with sword and Buckler: The people generally are big-limmed, strong, cole-black, wear their hair, (which is like wool) long, and curled: about their heads they have a wreath of a curious sort of linnen wrought with gold, and silk: about their wast a peece of Calico, all the rest naked: the vulgar sort pink their skins in many places: some are Mahometans, others Gentiles: the Mahometan women use vails like other Indians: such as are Gentiles affect nakedness: their greatest pride is in their noses, and ears; and they judge them most brave which are bigest, and widest: their ears they make big by weighty bables which they hang in them: they wring their snouts with silver, brass, or Ivory: their arms and legs are chained richly. Their Braminies, or Priests, have the maiden heads of all that are married: they are couragious and politick.
The City of Callecut in Malabar Described.
Callecut a City is not large, nor of any beauty▪ the houses are low, thick, and dark: The Samorine, or Emperor usually abides here: many deformed Pagathoes are here worshipped: The chappel where their grand Idol sits is covered, and about three yards high: the wooden entrance is ingraven with infernal shapes: within their beloved Priapus is imperiously enthronized upon a brasen Mount: his head hath a resplendent Diadem, from whence issue four great Rams horns: his eyes squint: his mouth is wide, from whence branch four Monstrous Tusks: his nose is flat: his beard like the Sun beams, of an affrighting aspect; his hands are like the claws of a Vulture; his thighs and legs big, and hairy; his feet, and tail resemble a Munkies; Other Temples▪ have other Pagods, ugly all, yet all differ in invention. They commonly exchange their wives; As men have many wives, so one woman may have many husbands.
The Isle of Zeiloon Described.
Zeiloon, or Ceilon, is two hundred and fifty miles in length, one hundred and forty in breadth. It abounds with sundry sorts of aromatick spices: but especially with Cinamon: It hath plenty of Orenges; Dates, Cocoes, Ananas, Plantans, and Mastick; It hath Elephants, Bufolos, Cowes, Sheep, Hogs, &c. Smaragds, Rubies, Ambergreece, &c. The King hereof to shew his bravery to the Portugals, invited them to see him walk upon a Tarras, arraied in an imbroidered Coat, powdered with Gold, Smaragds, Diamonds, and Pearl; altogether darting out rayes wonderfull, delightfull and pleasant: Hereupon Selveira, the Portugese Governor, builds a stately and strong Castle amongst them, under pretence of defending them from the Mallabars; but it was rather to bee his Jewel keeper: for in a short time hee ravished the King of all his riches; In this Island there is scarce any village, or Mount, without its Pagod: amongst which, that Apes tooth god was the principal, resorted to by millions of Indians: and when Columbo, the Vice-Roy of Goa took it away, they pro…ered to redeem it with three hundred thousand Duckets; Their Idols are horribly deformed, and ugly: yea the more ugly the more venerable.
The Manner of fishing for Pearls in the Isle of Zeilan.
They begin their fishing every year in March or April, and it lasteth fifty dayes, and when this time draweth neer, they send very good Divers to discover where there is the greatest plenty of Oisters under water, and right against that place they pitch their Tents on the shore, making as it were a little Village; and so when the time is come, they go out in their Boats, and Anchor in fifteen or eighteen fathom of water, and then they cast a rope into the Sea with a great stone fastened at the end of it: Then a man that hath his nose and ears well stopped, and anointed with Oile, with a basket under his left arm, goes down by the rope to the bottome of the Sea, and as fast as hee can fills the basket with Oisters, and then shaking the rope, his fellowes in the boat pull him up with his basket, and thus they go on till they have filled their Boats with Oisters, and so at evening when they come to their Tents, each lay their heap of Oisters by themselves, and none of them are opened, till their fishing bee ended: At which time they open every man his own, which is easily done, because then they are drie, and brittle: There are but few of these Oisters in comparison, that have Pearles in them. There are also certain that are expert in Pearles, present, that set the price upon them, according to their carracts, beauty, and goodness: the round ones are best.
Choromandel described.
Choromandel stretches from Cape Comoryn to the famous Gulph of Bengala, and hath in it these famous Towns of Trade: Negapatan, Meliapore, Polycat, Armagun, Narsinga, Mesulipatan, and Bipilipatan.
Negapatan is hot, and unwholesome, the wind and raines being for the greatest part of the year high, and unseasonable. The Town hath good water, and fruits well relished, cooling and nutritive, yet the people are much vexed with feavers, fluxes, &c. they are blackish, blockish, unapt for study or exercise, by reason of the heat: A small thin shuddery or lawn is drawn before their secret parts: their head hath a small wreath, the rest is all naked: they have gold, and precious stones, which they esteem as wee do trifles. The Bannians Wives have here more freedome to burn themselves when their Husbands dye, than in other places; so that in this place the custome is usual. If any refuse to burn, they must shave, and are accounted as Monsters.
The City of Goa described.
Goa is the bravest, and best defenced City in all the Orient, where the Vice-Roy of Portugal keeps his residence, and seats of Justice. Its built three hours journey within land, in an Island thirty miles compass, surrounded by a River that flows from the mighty mountain Bellaguate. Its compassed with a strong and beautiful wall, proud in her aspiring Turrets, dreadful in many tormenting Cannons. The Market-place or Buzzar is in the Center of the City, richly built, pleasant, and capacious: the other streets (after the Indian mode) are narrow, and nasty: the buildings in general are spacious and comely: Tis watered with a delicious stream: the Gardens are filled with sweet, and eye-pleasing flowers: the whole Isle abounds with Grass, Corn, Groves, Cattel, fruits, and many other sense-ravishing delights, wherein there are above twenty Villages: The field peeces here are above three hundred; the Palaces are strong, of good stone, furnished within with rich Arras, and painting, and the Churches beautiful, and comely. Herb. Travels.
The City of Amadavar described.
Amadavar is the Metropolis of Cambaya, or Guzurat, watered by a sweet River, and circled by a beautiful strong stone wall of six miles compass, well and orderly adorned with many pretty Towers, and twelve Posterns. The streets are many, indifferently large, and comely: most shops abound with Aromatick Gums, perfumes, and spices: as also with Silks, Cottons, Calicoes, and choice of Indian, and China rarities, owned, and sold by the fair spoken, but crafty Bannians. The Market-place is rich, and uniform, the Castle strong, large, and moated about. The houses in general are built of Sun-dryed Bricks, low, large, and tarrassed.
The Island of Socotora described.
Socotora is an Island in the mouth of the Red-Sea: a little Island, but pleasant, and abounding with good things, one part rising into wholesome Hills, other parts falling into fruitful dales; all places garnished with spreading trees, sweet Grass, fragrant flowers, and rich Corn: hath store of Olives, Aloes, Sempervive, Sanguis Draconum, Cocoes, Dates, Pistachoes, Orenges, Pomegranats, Pomecitrons, Lemons, Melons, Suger-Canes, &c. It abounds with fish, foul, and flesh: Here are Civet-Cats. The inhabitans are black; they are Christians by profession; their Churches are built in the form of a Cross, kept sweet, and neat, without seats and images: they have a Patriarch whom they reverence, and duly pay their Tithes to the Clergie: their feasts and fasts like ours. Age is much regarded, humility commanded, and commended: second marriages are not allowed, except they had no Children by the first: have their Sacraments; wrap the dead in clean linnen, and so bury them without lamentation.
Ormus described.
Ormus is situated in the Persian Gulph, a miserable, and forlorn City, and Isle at this day; though not many years since, it was the bravest place in all the Orient.
If all the world were made into a Ring,
Ormus the Gem, and grace thereto should bring.
The whole Island is a Sulphurious Earth, which together with the heat of the Sun, from May to September, makes it almost intollerable; so that their custome is to sleep in beds of water all day, naked; the City had a fair Buzzar, many Churches, Monasteries, brave Magazeens, stately houses, and as gallant a Castle as any was in the East. The whole Isle exceeds not fifteen miles in compass, and is the most barren place in the World, neither affording Tree, nor spring of good water: yet from the advantagious standing, the industrious Portugal made it the staple, and glory of the world, till in the year 1622. the English joyning with the Persians, made it a ruinous heap, as it continues till this day.
Narsinga Described.
Narsinga is famous all over Asia: its confined by Mallabar, Gulcunda, Bengala, and the Ocean: the King is very rich, and powerfull in men, arms, and ammunition: His Countrey full of all things requisite for use, and pleasure: Hath many fair Towns, strong Forts, pleasant fields, and choicest Minerals, abounding in Rivers, hills, dales, Cattel, Corn, Fruits, &c. The Temples have in them many rich, and Massy Idols, of ugly shape, as best pleaseth the Devil for his service, and devotion.
Bisnagar is the second City in Narsinga for grandeure, and bravery; being circled with a wall of four miles compass, and as well fortified: well built, and wealthy; It is much frequented by our European ships, and Junks from all parts of India. Few strangers come thither but they are invited by the King, who delights to shew them his fine cloathes, being set thick with stones, and Gems of infinite value: hee hath for his guard a thousand Pensioners: Hee affects Polygamy, and therefore stiles himself, The Husband of a thousand women, who at his death makes his flaming grave their consuming Sepulcher.
Mesulipatan is seated neer the Bengalan Ocean; The Town hath little beauty, not many years since a raging mortality, and Famine having well nigh depopulated it; The fields, and gardens, are parched by the Sun from March to July; the four next months are disturbed with wind, and incessant rains; only from November to March, they have kindly weather. The English have here a residence where they trafick for Calicoes, Rice, &c.
Malacca described.
Malacca is a Peninsula, whence abundance of gold is carried into Pegu, Siam, Borneo, and Sumatra; Its judged to bee part of the Ophir whence Solomon fetched his gold.
Malacca, the Royal City obeyes now the Siam Monarchy; being conquered by the King thereof, Anno Christi 1508. by the help of the Portugals, at which time they gat an incredible Mass of Treasure, three thousand peeces of great Ordinance, and so much minted coin that the King of Portugals part came to two hundred and fifty thousand Ryals of eight. The City is above three miles long, but narrow; built upon the banks of a pleasant River as broad as our Thames. A rivolet of sweeter water runnes through the Town, over which is raised a strong stone bridge, the buildings are generally low, and but meanly furnished, though they want no gold to purchase better. The streets and fields shew many delightful Arbours, and choice fruits, with Corn, Sugar, and Durapen trees, preferred before gold, and silver.
Patania Described.
Patania stands between those two famous Ports of Malacca, and Siam: the Town is strong, and defended by twelve great brass guns, whereof one is a Basilisco of twenty six foot long. The People are black, and go almost naked: they delight much in eating Bettle, and Opium: they usually eat in plates of Gold, they are very hospitable to strangers, and the better sort of them blush not to proffer their daughters, and neeces to be their bed-fellows during their stay there. Adultery they punish sharpely, Fornication lightly, they delight much in wine, Rack, Rice, Fruites, &c.
Siam Described.
Siam is a powerful and wealthy Kingdom: The King hath under him many Countries watered by Ganges: he usually goes to war with a thousand Elephants; and two hundred thousand men: The Inhabitants are black, and almost naked: As a badge of devotion, they gird their middles with a peece of Leather, and carry an umbrella in their hands to lenefy the flaming Sun; they are great Idolaters, worshiping gods in the shape of Prtapus, or Pan: They have Groves and Altars, whereon they offer flesh, fruit, and flowers; their Tallapois, or Priests, are great Conjurers, and much esteemed by the People. Here are abundance of Diamonds, Chrysolites, Onix-stones, Magnets, Bezars, with Lignum aloes, Benjamin, Cotton, and mines of Gold, Silver, Iron, Copper, &c. Victuals, and other Commodities are very cheap: But its most memorable in the Cabriz, or blood-stone here generated.
The Riches of the King of Pegu.
The King of Pegu in the East-Indies for people, dominions, gold, silver, and precious stones, far exceeds the power of the great Turk. This King hath diverse Treasuries full of Riches: Hee is Lord also of the Mines of Rubies, Saphires, and Spinels. Near unto his Royal Palace there is an inestimable Treasure, whereof hee makes no account, for it stands in such a place as every one may see it. It is a great Court, walled about with stone, with two gates which stand alwayes open; and within this Court are four guilded houses covered with lead, and in each of them are Idols of a very great value. In the first there is the Image of a man of gold, very great, and on his head a Crown of gold, set with most rare Rubies, and Saphires, and round about him are four little Children of gold. In the second there is the statue of a man of silver, sitting on heaps of money, whose stature in height as he sits is higher than the roof of an house: I measured one of his feet (saith mine Author) and it was as long as all my body, with a Crown on his head like the first. In the third there is a statue of Brasse of the same bignesse, with the like Crown on his head. In the fourth there is a statue as big as the other of Gansa, which is the mettal they make their mony of, which is copper and lead mingled together: this also hath a Crown on his head like the first. They have many Idol-houses, which they call Pagods, all the tops whereof are covered with leaf gold, and some of them are covered with gold from the top to the bottome, and once in ten years they guild them a new. This King stiles himself King of the white Elephants, and when hee rides abroad, four white Elephants are led before him vested with gold, having their teeth inclosed in sheathes wrought with Jewels. Hee keepeth above four hundred tame Elephants, and hath many wild ones in the Woods, which they can catch at their pleasure▪