A SHORT RELATION o ?
The River NILE, &c;




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L--- - " -





November, i6S8.
At a Meeting of the Council of the Royal Society of London, for improving Natural Knowledge,
ORDERED,
'That thefe Bi/cour/es, " ßiort Relation of the River Nile, tšc. Of iht Unicorn. Why the Abyssike Emperour is called Prester John of the Indies. yf traä of the Red Sea. Of Palm Trees. ^ranßated, out oj a Portugucfe Manu-fcript at the dcfire of the Royal Society, by Sir Peter Wyche, Kt. Felloxü of ike fame" be printed, by their Printer,
Brounker^ Prcf,
A SHORT RELATION
OF THE RIVER
I L E:
Of its SOURCE and CURRENT;
Of its Overflowing the Campagnia of Mgypt^ 'till it runs into the Mediterranean ;
AND
Of other CURIOSITIES. WITH A NEW PREFACE;
Written by an ETE-PFIT N E S S,
Who lived many Years in the chief Kingdoms of the AbyssiNE Empire.
LOVDON: PRINTED FOR THE KOrAL SOCmiT, MDCLXIX: ÄiPllINTBD FOI, AND SOLD BT J. LACKINGTON, No 46 Sf 47» CHIIWELL-STREST, MOORFIEI,DSj MDCCICI.
■^r^J T A	r/ H






v 1
7-' -
\
iVi i o

PREFACE
TO THIS EDITION.
The following Publication being originally printed by order of the Royal Society of London, as appears by the extraft from their Journals, is doubtlefs a ftrong proof of its intrinfic merit j and at the fame time a prefumptive argument in favour of its authenticity and credibility. Lrod Broun k er, Sir Isaac Newton, a 3	Dr.
[ vi ]
Dr. Barrow, Dr, Wallts, Mr. Gregory, Dr. Halley, with other learned men of that day, were the refpedable members, who, in the year 1668, formed the Royal Society in London, and patronized thefe Trafts ; and which Sir P^ter Wyche, at their requeft, tranflated.
A late Traveller, however, has, in various inftances, afferted the
ignorance of the Portuguefe Mif-
'' i
fionaries, taxing them wirh willful mifreprefentation, and including them all under the polite appellation of Lying Jefuiis !
The
[ vii ]
The fame writer, through the whole of a late work, arrogates to himfelf the unique merit of having vifited the Heads of the ^liky and takes uncommon pains to fhew, or at leaft to make his readers believe, that, no other perfon than himfelf, had ever arrived at thefe fo much famed fources; or had returned thence alive, and gi\»en the world a true account of them.
It will appear, however, from the perufal of the following pages, that Father Jeronymo, a lying JeJiii^j had infallibly feen thefe a 4	celc-
[ ]
celebrated fountains, and had given a true account of them, in a plain, unajjuming and modeß manner ; and, excepting fome peculiarities of %le, nearly in the fame words as the writer of the
prefent day. -The inference
is obvious!
Befide the account of the Nile, many curious relations and rea-fonings are offered by this fame lying Jsfuit, which form fome of the mofl; material parts of the five ^luartü Kilumes lately puhlijhed.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABtB,
HENRY LORD ARLINGTON,
ONE OF THE LORDS OF HIS MAJESTY'S MOST HONOURABLE PRIVY COUNCIL ; AND PRIKCIPAE SECRETARY OF STATE.
My Lord,
The thoughtful provtßonfor my Journey^ into Ruffia (whither his Maje fly hath been plea/ed to fend me") hindered vie jrom a more fokmn Dedication of thefe Dif-courfes to Tour Lordßip: They nvere by the curious Sir Robert Southwell procured from an inquifiiive and obferving Jefuit at Lifbon, ivho had lived many years in Ethiopia and the Indies ; fo writ as to
feem
X	DEDICATION.
eem a candid Relation of mat!er of pjčl, contain a more preclfe and minule (iccounf of fome Hlfiorical and Nalural Curlofilk'^
I
than is in any one 'Tracl cxlant^ and gl-c: theVaxtw^t^^ theirjiiß and undoubted ihle of difcovcring daily to the Weft, the IFon-ders and Myßerles of the Eafl. The Royal . Society commanded vie to tranßale tJjcm, and ordered the impreßon. My Lord, Y'our benign and encouraging Patronage, , for all fubtlle and nice enquiries; T^our peculiar prc-oince to get intelligence from the South, and my fartictdar obligations^ count_enancc this dedication, ivhich (were I not in prociaflu) theccpious argument of Tour hordßifs 'vlrliscs and fe feSilon s ^ 'Would jufrly make much larger; now it
muß
DEDICATION.	Xl
muß only excuje ibe faults of the Tranßa-iion^ and publi/h my %eahj being eßeemed^
My Lord,
Your Lordfhip's moft devoted Kinfman, and humble Servant;
Peter Wyche.
' T

S-
A SHORT RELATION
o f
The River NILE, See.
rr^HE Ahyßne Emperour (vulgarly, though falfly called Preßyter John of the Indies) is Lord of the mofl ancient and largeft dominions of thofe many kingdoms and provinces into which Africa is divided: This Empire, is the moft eafterly part of all Africa^ called Ethiopia^ above Egypt, not without rcafon; all Egypt ly^ ing below it, and the fame fituation have to it moft of the bordering kingdoms.
The Red Sea bounds it on the Eaft, Egypt on the N9rth; On the Weft the
Ißand
Ißancl Africa^ and on the South, the Indian Sea,; with this difference, that Eaftward this kingdom reacheth the Red Sea, though at prefent the Turks curtail its greatnefs, by keeping the whole fhorc of that Sea with- two forts la the J/lands of Suaguem and Maffuba, and one upon the main Land called Atquico-, which fcrves for no other ufe» than the defence of the water drank in the Ißand oiMiißiha, drawn out of wclls called Cacimhas funk near the head of a River, dry in- the fummer, full in the winter, fetched daily in boats called Geluas.
The Ifiand of MaJJuha and fort of Arquico are two leagues diftant. This, the only Fort where is imported what Ethiopia wants, and whcnce the natural commodities are exported, that, in circuit about twelve hundred fathoms; fhaped like a man's foot, hath a convenient Haven, little or no defencc, though garri-
fon'd
C )
fon'tl by near fixty Turks, white and black ; the cuftom-houfe is inhabited by the Bajhas Lieutenant (called Caqud) and other officers.
The tßand of Suaguem with the third Fort, is lefs, but better defended by art and nature, incompafled with many flioals, Inhabited by an hundred	; being
the reiklence of the Baßia cut of the limits of the empire, and of natural right belonging to a powerful and warlike king, whofe kingdom is called BaUoio, (anciently Negran) the inhabitants are Moors, the men, horfes and fhcep the faireft I have any where feen ; the water-melons the moft delicious I have ever tafted.
I'oward the North, between Egypt and this empire lies the famous defart of IkC' haidc fo renowned for the ancient Anco-rets, where begins the kingdom of Bal-lotü above-mentioned.
This empire reacheth wcftward fo far
into
into the main land, that the kingdom of Con^o was its tributary, as the great hif-torian John de Barros affirmed in his firft decade : At prefent It extends not further tlian the kingdom of Naire, whofe inhabitants are neither Abyjßnes nor Ethiopians, yet not defective in policy, garb, or government: The foil is rich in Goldmines of the fame quality of thofe of So'^ falla, lying under the fame parallel, and not far diftant, they pay a tax yearly, a tribute of their gold to the Jhyßne emperor, the coin called Miloqueas, the Value ten t^oufand pieces of eight.
The greatnefs of this empire is toward the South more rcftrain'd, there lying betwixt it and the fea, divers nations of Moors and Pagans, barbarous to extremity, which never did, nor do acknowledge themfelves vaflals to the Emperor, who live in tents like the mountainous
j^fricans.
( 17 )
Jfricans, The chief amongft them is eleded every eightli year, with the title of, Caraye Primeyro, afterwards called Luba. The Moors bordering on the fea-coaft have kings, the greateft of them called Macfieda,,
This empire anciently commanded many kingdoms and provinces, their ovt^n annals and fome hiftorlans count above twenty, with almoft as many Provinces : What at prefent paflcth for current, is» that its greatnefs was notorious, though now limited to five kingdoms, each about the bignefs of Portugal^ and to fix Provinces, every one little different from Beyra * or Alenteyo.
One of thefe, and among the biggeft, is called Agaos ; the inhabitants of the fame name, whether thefe beftowed their name, or took it from the Province, This is divided into diverfe Territories, B	the
* Two Provinces in Portugal.
the moft famous called Tuncua, deferv-ediy glorious in £v.o rcfpefts, beijjg the country of rhc famous Unicorn (of which I (hall fpeak in this difcourfe, and only now fay it is not the Abhaia^j rightly tak* en by Authors for the Rhinoceros, (being in fhape, a quite different animal) and having in it the fo long fought-for Head of 2\ile, concealed fo many ages, dif-covered by the induftrious Portuguese.
The higher part of this province is mountainous and woody, yet not without vallies, and groves of cedars, for goodnefs and fcent, not inferior to thofe of Mount Lebanus, their thicknefs is a great inconvenience to travellers, but fuits with the inclination of the native Jigoas^ who being profeflcdiy Pagans^ and fo of little faith or loyalty, live commonly in rebellioxi, thereto invited, not more by their own natural difpofition than the convenience of certain caves, into which in time of
war
V^r they retire, Thefe caverns have but one entrance, are capable of one or two families, whiph are ordinarily great among the Pagans, inqreafed by their wives, multiplied proportionable to the cows they keep, allowing tp ten cows on^ woman.
What is moö admirable iii thofe fub-tcrraneous caves or caverns, is, that they receive not only their goods and cattle, (which are their whole eftates, perfonal and real, they living little on their crop) but they ordinarily find in them water fufficient to fervg them the fummep months, when only they are aflaulted, find are without apprehenfions of being confjuered, though with fmoke, by fire made at the mouth of the cave, having vents, by which they receive fufficient light, and can convey the fmoke, if at» fempted by fire.
3 ^	In
la this Territory of T'onciia is tfit known head antl fcurce of the River A'/^v by the natives called Abani, [i.e.^ the Father of Waters, from the great collcftiom it makes In the kingdoms and provinces tiirough which It pnflčth ; for tlie greateft part of Elhiopia being mountainous, and the torrents fwelled in the winter, the mountains fo tranfmit them as to increafe the rivers, which falling into the Nile, make no little addition to its greatnefs, caufing it to run with fuch a flock of water as overflows the plain of Egypt: this is the river, the Scripture, in Gen. ii. cal-leth Gihan, which encoitipafled the land of Ethiopia^ fo doth Nile^ with its turnings and meanders.
The Head rifes In the moft pleaf-ant recefs of the territory, having two fprings, called tyes^ each about the big-nefs of a coach-wheel, diftant twenty paces. The Pagan inhabitants adore as '	an
( 21 )
sn idol, the biggeft, offering to It many lacrifices of cows, whicli they kill there, flinging tlie head into the fpring, eat the flefli as lioly, lay the bones together in a place defigned for that purpo(e, which at prefcnt make a confiderable hill, and would makeit much bigger, if carnivorous beafts and birds of prey did not by picking them, lefsen and fcatter them.
Thefe two fprings rife in a little field covercd over with green and thick wood, travellers, efpecially horfcmen, are eafily convinced that this ground flands in the water, from the trembling and hollow found, this field is loft in a lake where it is under water. ^This plain is on the top B3	of
* Provincia ub'i Nylus oritur vacatur	Vidua
I'f^w Gojam tcrru vacatur Sagela, in aphc monlis in flano arhoriLus undique cireundale. Äthan. Kcrcluri Oed. jEgypt. Tom. j. Cap. 7. p, 57,
Fens Nylißius in jummluite ttnlm ValUs qua affimu~ htur ingcnti csmpQ Ju^is montittm iindiq; circundato. ibi.
of ä high mountain, ovef-looking mati/ fpaCiou3 vallles , and from this height in-fenfibly defcends ; from the middle of this defdent is feen, near a trench entangled with fhrubs, the bigger of thefe fprings, whofe bottom is not to be reached vv'.th a iance of five and twenty palms, which by the way meets with, (as is guefled) the i^oots of the neighbouring flirubs, fo hin* dered farther paflage ; the other fpring is to be fathomed at fixteen palms.
From the biggefl fpring runs in a ftrait line, a green and pleafant wood, feeming to follow the courfe of the water, which though under ground, leaves the vein to be track'd by its re-appearing at the dif-tance of little more than an hundred paces; tit this appeärance the quantity of water is fo inconfiderable, as only to make a Very little rivulet, which grows prefent-ly bigger, by the (ifliftance of other fprings bringing in their water. At little more
than
( 23 )
than three days journey from the head, the river is large, deep enough for veflels to fail in, and fa broad, that I doubt whether a jflrong arm can thrftw a ftone over it.
A little above a hundred paces from this place, this river fo conVeys itfelf betwixt rocks, as in the year 1629, I palTed it without wetting my foot; in my journey from the kingdom of Gojama to the province of Dambeha^ when the paf-fengers being many, and the boats but few (which I will anon defcribe}, I with my companions going along the banks of the river, and engaged among many little rivulets, leaping from ftone to ftone, got dry to the other fide ; the fame did immediately many others, naming it the paflage of Father Jeronimo^ I being the firft who difcovered or attempted it.
This is the ordinary paffage over the WU mod frequented by travellers, who ß 4	come
C 24 )
comc from the court and province of Dam-beha^ for the kingdom of Gojama^ the territory called Bed, the paliagc over in boats with head and flern, made of' grofs and thick matt+, ftrongly joined and put together, yet not fecure from falling in pieces, which often happens, and the paflengers left in the water: They are rowed with long round poles, being without the ufc or knowledge of any other oars; are capable of receiving about ten perfons, with fome baggage ; many fwim over; fo do all the beafts ; and both man and beafl go in danger of fome mortal accident from the Sea-horfes and Cro-Cc-diles, both bred in the NiV^r, and infeft-ing the pafTages,
From
I Navigatio hie nulla niß cymlh papyraccis quas tpß fantom appellant. Voffius dc Origins Nili, Cap. xvi.
f-5S-
Conßeiiur libula Memphilh Cymha papyro, Lucan,
From this place the Nile grows crook-cd, making almoA a femi-circle : Two days journey from this paflage, it runs by a point of land into a lake of frefh water, called by the natives Dambeha^ abounding with wild fowl; fome there are, but little fifli; the reafon conceived, that the fca-horfes frig]it, and the crocodiles devour them. This fea is in length twenty-five leagues, fifteen over at the largefl: place ; about the middle are divers iflands of different bignefs, full of w^ood, fome iuhabired, others defart; the biggcft called Dec, two leagues long, but narrow; hither are banifhcd condemned perfons fent for fecurity : whereas the boats not being many, and pain of death to any who without leave go to the Ifiand; all means of elcape are def-peratc. S>vimming is lefs inviting, the lake being full of fea-horfes and crocodiles, which to me^ is certain death.
The
The point of this lake Is with fomtJcU violence broken by the NUe^ that the current is divided in the water and nvjd, till it forces a pafiage at another place, ThcNile is for about a quarter of a Jeag^ni detained in this lake ; leaving that, it makes a beautiful and large tour, fo great as to contain in the circumferencc a king;-dom called Gojama, about the bignefs of Portugal^ and a great part of another called Damotes, By this circuit th? Nile returns again within lefs than two days journey of its head ; hence taking a South-eaft courfe, running through many kingdoms and provinces, it falls into JEgypt. By the way in divers places are made thofe amazing and ftupendous cataracts, fo famous for their ncife, when the water falling with its whole body, finks and hollows the abyfs which receives it. Yet doth not the greatnefs of the noife deafen the neighbouring inhabitants, as
fome
C )
fütne fäbtloüfiy write, if fo, the popu* loufnefs of the adjacent places would fwarm with deaf multitudes, which heat the noife, and find not that efFeft. One of fhefe Cataracts Is eminently remarkable^ as will appear in the relation of what hn5 furprizfcd and allured manj^
At the 'firft or fecond Cataradt the Nile makes, the water from an high and craggy rock is prEecipitated witli all its mafs into a large and deep aby^s, the noife heard three long leagues, and the rebound, (which fpends itfelf in minute atoms and fubtile fmoke), feen as far. The water, to admiration, being fhot with fo much violence as to fall at a diftance, makes an arch, and under that leaves a large road, where people pafs in fecurity, not to be wet. There are convenient feats cut out in the rock for travellers to reft themfelves, where they enjoy the moft pleafant fight imagination can fancy, made by the Sun's
reflečlion
refleČlion on the water, fo producing glorious and pleafing colours, refembling thofe of the Rainbow, which at tliis nearnefs of the water, moü: delicioufly fatisfy and feaft the eye.
The Nile was never under any bridge before we arrived in Rthiopia-i the lirll made in the kingdom of Amara, where betwixt two high rocks was afircight and dangerous paffäge: The Nile ran deep and violent between, all ran great hazard, jnanyloftin thepafliige; the winter chiefly increafed the difficulty. The Aby£mes were incapable of removing this evil, ignorant what Bridges were, and witliout workmen to make them : Tne Emperor, informed what a Bridge was, how conveniently made In fo narrow a paflkge, and we having brought from India, in the Patriarchs company, two flone-cutters, defigncd for building Churches in Ethiopia, one was recomnicnded to this work,
who
C 29 )
who made this firft Bridge, of a beautiful ftru^ture and great convenience to paflen-gers: Thus was the Nile at firfl brought under a ftrange dominion.
This difcotirfe is not improperly ended, by a rcfie£tion why anciently Alexander tlie Great, and Julius Cajar^ ufing fo great diligence to difcover the Head of Nile mifcarried in the enterprize. The reafon was, becaufe they fent difcoverers againft the ftream. Thus going by land, the length of the journey, the many kingdoms and provinces to be travelled through, the fwarms of barbarous people to be encountered, fo many unwholefomc climates to bepafled, made their advance irapoffible ; going by water, the fame difficulties, increafed, attend them: The violent current of "Nik ftopt their paffage, and coming to the firft catarad, they could not proceed, but were forced back with lofl labour ; and being without either
^J^er knowledge of, or commerce with ilje Jbyjfine emplie by the Red Sea, they neither ventured that way, nor conceive^ their defign fo fealible. Thus were their endeavours fruftrated. The knowledge of this province would, by feme of the Ports of the Red Sea, have brought them irjto the AbyJJine empire ; thence two. months journey had made them drink in this fo defirable, lb concealed, and io famous Spring. This fecrqt, (with divers others pf many Piirts of the World, and their difcovery) was received for the indefatigable ii^duftry of the Portuguese., who have feen with their eyes, what many have defired,- bvt could not obtain.
TRS
th£ true c ac se of the river iJILE'i overflowing and drowning the campania* of EGTPT, in the heiqhth of summer, in EUROPE.
D
IVERS caufes were by the Ancients affigned, for the Nile's overflowing in the hotteft Summer months in 'Europe^ according to the opinion of the Writers, every one afserted what was in the reach of his reafoii, yet ali wandered from the truth. The little knowledge had of the fource and current of this fo famous River, of the places it pafseth through, and chiefly of the inland of Eihiopia, where it rifeth, occafioned fuch variety of opinions, without the dtfcovery of the truth, referved for the navigation and commerce of the Portuguese.
The
The great quantity of fnow which falls in the rigour of winter, 011 the inland mountains of Ethiopia^ and is melted by by the iiitenfe heat of the fummer, is not, as fome affirm, the caufe of this river's overflowing ; Ethiopia having not io fharp icolds as to beget fnow, unknown in this country, nor conceivable from our relation : Two places only have a thick white froft, and hail in great quantities, which refemble, but are not, fnow ; One is in the kingdom of T/Vrč-, upon the high mountains of Seman, the other in the kingdom of Damotis^ in the territory called Namor a of the cold climate, whicli melted, do fuperficially water the mountains, therefore miftaken for fnow,.fome-times fall with a current Into the low-lands, yet not fo confiderably, as to fwell the rivers, much lefs to caufe the Inundation o£ Nile.
Neither
( 33 )
Neither do the great wbds, which In thofe Months of the overflowing of Nile^ blow in at the mouth of the River, where it runs into the Mediterranean, caufe this inundation ; as others aflert, who fay, thofe winds repel the water, which being detained with the water which defcends, incrcafeth to that excefs to force the Nile out of its channel and Magnate in the plains of Egypt, fo enriching and fattening the foil, by the flime brought from thofe places through which it pafleth.
Other reafons, of the fame credit, given by authors, I omit, in hafte to declare the true one, only attainable by fuch who have lived fome years in Ethiopia. The truth, ill fhort, is, that the winter in 'Ethiopia, is the fame, and at the fame time, as in India, and other places under the Torrid Zone, beginning at tlie end of May, or the firft days of ^une, and in all Auguß (the reafon of
C	the
the faireft weather in Europe) fpends its greateft fury; the overflowing of Nile, being at the heighth in thefe months, the ignorance of fummers and winters begat the opinions mentioned: Whereas, the greateft part of Ethiopia being mountainous, and the Nile in its courfe through many kingdoms and provinces of the inland, colledling the rain ivaters which fall from the mountains, and receiving into it many great rivers, thus becomes fo confiderable and mafter-lefs: As the plain of | Egypt experimentally and to its great benefit finds. As much difcountenanced by the heavens, in being deprived of the common benefit of rain, as munificently requited by the water of this famous river, which gave rife to the obfervation, That the Egyptians
never
I	-KihlL indiga mcrcis,
jšut Jovis ill fJo tanta eß ßduäa Nilo,
never lift up their eyes to heaven, never expect any favour from God Ahnighty, but wholly depend upon the JSltle ; thence receiving that benefit other places enjoy by rain ; thofe verfes of Ovid, may feem not applicable to the Egyptians :
Os homini fublime dedit, calumque videre
JuJJit^ et ereäos ad ft der a tollere vultus.
The Nile'y running into the Mediterranean, wafheth the walls of Grand Cairo, diftant from the mouth fifty miles. This River declareth by the way, the more or lefs abundance to be expedted that year: The harveft, proportionable to the greater or lefs inundation, is thus computed. The walls of this populous city have, towards the river * a Tower, C 2	with
* The Aulhofj a faithful Eye-witncfs of all lie relates, and fo of undoubted credit, took this only thing upon report, that the AV/f waflieth the Walls of Grand Cairo, and that on the inlide of this tower
in
with an open Arch, giving paflnge to the Kile^ which accordiiig to the waters it brings down, rileth more or lefs. On the walls of this Tower, from the bottom up^vard, are made Marks, or Degrees ; and, bj ancient cullom, as more or fcwerof thcfe are covered with water, the Magiftrates make it be proclaimed every night in the flreets, that the knowledge how many degrees the Nile hath that day overflowed may be general. This Proclamation begins at the end of
in the walls, fiiould be kept the Regiftcr of the Inundation of the AV/tr; which is on a marble pillar, placcd in the mtJdlcof the river, near a long Ifland callecl Rhcdfs^ oppofite to Grand Cairo. Upon this Ifland, and over the Pillar, is built a Ahfque, with fiich an Arch towards the River, to give the wa;er psflage. This place and Pillar is fo fuper-flitiouf.y fecurpd from the fight of Chrißians, that I found the attempt vain and dangerous i having only ftcn, iii "Janudty, the bottom of the Pillar in the water. The other circuniflance of the nitmber of Degrees, and the Proclamation, arc truly related.
July, and continues all Auguß, when the rife or fall of the river is particularly obferved by the degrees. The abundance of the year is thus guefiled at. When the water covers not fixtecn degrees, the de-fe<ft of it fnggefts fear of a famine ; lifing towards twenty-five, the higher it afcends, the fairer are the hopes of a fruitful feafon ; paffijig that number, they are aflaulted with new fears of death, the quantity of water not allowing them to fow, or houfe their harvefl:. Thefe months pafs not away without feme trouble and anxiety, the weather being every where fubject to irregularity, fo rain is fometimes too much, fometimes too little, by which the crop is altered.
Another Curiofity makes the Nile famous, whofe carrent flores Grand Cairo with Senna^ fo known and fo experienced in medicine in the (hops of Europe. It C 3	Is
is a little flirub, peculiar only to the woods of Ethiopia : the place where I lived in that kingdom has a great quantity. The wild Negroes fetch it from the Inland, and bring it in great boats to Grand Cairo. The French Conful there hath the monopoly of it, for which he prefents every new Bafliaw with thirty thoufand Dollars, and bargains at a certain fet price, and a day prefixed, to buy all that comes; which he performs. Having houfed it in his Magazines, he divides It into three parts ; two are burnt, one referved to be traniported for Ew rope, which pays for the two parts cou-fumcd : There is lefs expence for freight, the fliops always want the medicine, which goes off at the price demanded : Thus is the account balanced.
A Frenchman, ZachariasVermiel, afer-vaut, many years in the Conful's houfe, gave me this information ; his defire to
travel.
( 39 )
travel, brought him by land into Ethiopia, where he lived a year in my houfe, and when we were baniihed, went into the Emperor's army : being grown rich, and turn'd inhabitant, not permitted to return, he died there, ten years after his arrival.
OF THE FAMOUS UNICORN^—WnZKE HE IS BRED, AND HOW SHAPED.
H E Unicorn is the moft celebrated among Beafts, as among Birds are the Phcenix, the Pelican, and the Bird of PaTadi/e : with which the world is better acquainted by the fancies of Preachers and Poets, than with their native foil: little is the knowledge of any of them; for fome of them, nothing but the received report of their being in nature.
C 4	It
If deferves refleftion, that the induliry and indefatigable labour of men in the difcovery of things concealed, can yet give no account where the Phcenix and Bird of Paradi/e are bred. Some would have Arabia the country of the Pfuznix, yet are the Arabians without any knowledge of it, and leave the difcovery to the work of time.
The Bird of Paradife is found dead with her bill fixed in the ground, in an ifland joining to the Malluccos, not far from Macacca; whence it comes thither is unknown, though great diligence has been employed in the fearch, but without fuccefs. One of them dead came to my hands. I have feen many; the tall is worn by children for a Penafhe, the feathers fine, and fubtile as a very thin cloud; the body not flefhy, refembling that of a Tbrulh; the many and long feathers, of a pale invivid colour, (nearer white
than
tliaii afli-colour) which cover it, make it of great beauty. Report fays of thefe birds, that they always fly, from their birth to their death, not difcovered to have any feet: they live by flies they catch in the air, where their diet being (lender, they take fome little repofe ; they fly very high, and come falling down with their wings difplayed. As to their generation. Nature Is faid to have made a hole in the back of the male, where the female lays her eggs, hatcheth heryoung, and feeds them till able to fly: Great trouble and aiFeftion of the parent !—■ This is on the account of the Author's credit which gives the relation: I fet down what I have heard. This is certainly the Bird fo lively drawn in our maps.
The Pelican hath better credit (called by ^evedo the felf-diciplining bird) and hath been difcovered in the land of Angola,
la^ where fome were taken ; I have feen two. Some will have a fear in the breafi-, from a wound of her own making there, to feed (as is reported) her young with her own blood, an adion which ordinarily fuggefts devout fancies. So much of Birds.
Among Beafts we come to the famous Unicorn, of the more credit, becaufe mentioned in holy Scripture, compared to many things, § even to God made man. None of the Authors, who fpeak of the Unicorn difcourfe of his birth or country, fatisfied with the deferved eulogiums, by which he is celebrated. That fecret was referved for thofe who travelled and fur-veyed many countries.
That the Unicorn is not to be confounded with the Abada (commonly contended for) is certain, from the different w^mm^Rhinoceros andC/yzzcor«, not being reafonably to be given to both without
diftinc-
t Edit, vulg, Pfal. 28. ver. 6.
diftinčtion, and from the variety of their bodies and parts; as appears in the Abada we know, and in the Unicorn we fee painted. This has one great ftrait horn, of admirable virtue, the Abada or Rhino' ccros hath two, a little crooked, not fo fovereign, though ufed againft poifon. The country of the Unicorn (an Jfrican creature, only known there) is the Province of Jgaos in the kingdom of Damo-tes ; that it may wander into places more remote is not improbable. This Animal is as large as a handfome horfe, of a dark brown col ur, with the mane and tail black, both fhort and thin (though in other places of the fame Province they have been obferved with them longer and thicker), with a fair beautiful horn, in the forehead, five palms long, as is painted, the colour inclining to white : they live in clofe woods and thickets, fometimes venture into the Campaign,
not
not often feen, being timorous, are not many, and thofe concealed in Llie woods ; The moll; barbarous and'favage people the world hath, enjoy them, and probably feed upon them,'as upon other beaOs.
A Father, my companion, who fpent fome rime in this Province, upon notice that this fo famous Animal was therej nfed all pofl^ble diligence to procure one ; the natives brought him a very young coir, fo tender as in a few days k died. A Portu-guefe Captain, a perfon of years and credit, refpečted by all his acquaintance, and of great efteem with fomc Princes of that Empire, under whom he had ferved, gave me this relation -of the great ones : He told me, that returning once from the Army (whither he ufually went every fummer with the Emperor Malac-Segued') with twenty other Portuguc/e foldiers in company, they one morning relied in a little valley encompaflcd with thick woods,
dcfigning
defigning to breakfaft, while their horfes grazed on the good grafs which plentifully grew there : fcarce were they fat down, when from the thickeft part of the wood, lightly fprang a perfect horfe, of the fame colour, hair and fhape before defcribed ; his career was fo briik and wanton, that
he took 110 notice of thofe new inmates,
«
till engaged amongft them ; then as frightened at what he Jiad feen, fuddenly fiarted back again, yet left the fpeitators fuffi-cient time to fee and obferve at their plea-fure. The particular furvey of his parts feized them with delight and admiration, one of his ilngularities was, a beautiful i1:rait horn on his forehead, like that above-mentioned ; he appeared to run about witli eyes full of fear ; our horfes fctm'd to allow him for one of the fame brood, curveted and made towards him; the füldiers obfervina; iiim in Icfs than mulk-et fliot, not able to flicot, their mulkets
being
being unfixt, endeavoured to eiicompars him, out of an afluranee that that was the famous Unicorn fo often fpoken of; but he prevented them ; for perceiving them, with the fame violent career he recovered the wood, leaving the Portu-guefe fatisfied in the truth of fuch an animal, difcontented at the lofs of their prize. My knowledge of this captain, makes the truth with me undoubted.
In another place of the fame province, (the mofl: remote, craggy, and mountainous part, called Nanina) the fame beaft hath been often feen, grazing, aiTiongft others of different kinds. This place is ia the furtheft recefs of the province, therefore the ordinary place of banifhment for thofe the Emperor intends to keep fecurely. It ends in high mountains, which overlook great and \ afl" plains and forefts, inhabited by feveral forts of wild beafts. To this place of baniiliment, a
, tyrannical
C 47 )
tyrannical Emperor, named Mamas Segued, fent without any caufe divers Portuguefe, who from the top of thefe mountains, faw the Unicorns grazing in the plains below, the diftance not greater than allowed them fo diftin<fi an obferva-tlon, as they knew him, like a beautiful Gennet, with a fair horn in his forehead. Thefe teftimonies, particularly that of the good old man John Gahriel, with
what the Father my Companion, affirm*
ed of his own knowledge, confirms me that this fo celebrated Unicorn is in this province, there foaled, and bred.
THK
THE REASON WHY THE AhTSSINE EMPEROR IS CALLED PRESTER yoUN 0¥ THE INDIES.
HAT there was anciently in the Indies a puiflant Chriftlan Prince, Lord of many Kingdoms and large Territories, is out of quejdion : being grounded on the authentic authority of good Hiflorians and Authors ; as undoubted is it, that at prcfent there is no fuch Prince ; his memory pe/ifhed many ages fmce, leaving the extent of his empire undecided. Both thefe affertions are proved by the famous Hiftorian John de Barr os in his
Decads. And the advance made by the
«
Portuguese into, the Indies^ afliires us, that at prefent no fuch Prince is known in thofe many Kingdoms and Provinces of the Eafl:, by them difcovered.
This
This being out of controverfy, yet the Emperor of Ethiopia^ in the opinion of many, pafleth for that famous Preßyter John of the Indies; by this name qom-f monly, though falfely called, by thofe who pretend mueh, but have little knovv-^-ledge of him.
There have not been wanting fome late Authors, who upon finali grounds, and Itis truth, would maintain this opinion and report, proving by divers etymoligies and interpretations of the word, that the Ahvßne Emperor was properly Preßer John : But this affirmation being without any appearance of truth, ejjcufeth me from fhewing how little It hath ; I only fay, that tliofe who have fpent fome time in Ethiopia know ail reported on this fub^ ječt to be a meer fable ; never any Prince of this Empire had that title, neither is the word known in the whole extent of thofe dominions.
P	That:
That fome probability fpread this report through the world, that this Emperor was the famous Preßyter John of the Indies, is nndeniable : Firft, his kingdom being in the eafl:ern parts, thence, without examination, if his empire were properly in th.e hdies (only lying betwixt the River Indus and Ganges')^ the cphiion firft fettkd on this bafi'?. Secondly, The ancient Preßyter John profeffing himfelf a Chriftian, having for the emblem of his faith a crofs in a haiid, and when he went forth, or a journey, a crofs was carried before him, being b.efides a prieft, (all which, or the greatefl: part fuits with the Abyßne Emperor ; for that he was by ancient cu{^ torn a prieft, is reported of him by tradition, and their own annals; for the crofs in particular, he often carrieth in his hand, and all there have it in peculiar reverence and devotion) gave apparently this error a fecond rife. Thirdly,
Ignorant
Ignorant in what part pf India his empire was, having often heard of the Chfif-tianity of this king and his fubjeas, and ■without any records of the ancient Pr^" ter Johtiy unlncjulfitive men concIude4 him the Ab^ffine Emperor. Thus miC-takes are commonly gilded over with the appearance of Truth, We who lived in Ethiopia, refleöing on this, and often (Jifcourling by way of enquiry, what might moft probably beget this opinion, derived it from what J fhall here offer ; if a thing fo obfolete admits any convie-tion, or what is maintained by commor^ opinion is to be refuted.
Ethiopia hath an ancient and ufual cuftom for (laves to petition their mafters^ and fubječls their fovereign, either in the car with an humble and fubmifiive voice^ or at a diftance, from fome eminent place, to tell their grievances, and demand juf»-tice againft their oppreflbrs; fo placing
D z	theniv
C s^ )
themieives as to be m'ofl: conveniently heard, every one cries as loud as his voice can reach, in the language of his own province or nation. The Portuguefe (frequent here) cry, Senhor, ^^^nhor, Senhor; not defifting till their biifinefs is difpatched. The Moor cries, Acid^ Acidy /ictd ; which fignifies the lame. The Boor of the kingdom of 'Tigere f^ys, jidariCy Adaric^ Adaric. The Courtier, and thofe more civilized, Aheto, Abeto, Abeto; intimating the fana.e. Others bark like dogs, or howl like wolves, and by imitating the different cries of other beafts, are fo underftood and known of what place and province they are.
Thole of an higher province, in the heart of this great empire, (;where many ages thefe princes Kept their court) when-accordln^to this ancient and ufual cuftom, they prefent their petitions, cry "Jan Coy\ {J.C,) my King: fignifying King,
and
Slid Coy my) which fuppofed, for the clearer proof of what I endeavour to evince» you are to be reminded, thät the Jby/' Jhies affirm their emperors were priefts; in teftimony of that, relate fome miracles wrought by them. That the Jbyßnes are naturally wanderers, particularly, undertake pilgrimages to the holy land, which being not far remote, doth more eafily engage them in tl:ie journey. This they piaftife at prefent, though formerly they did it more frequently.
It is alfo notorious, that the French, mofl: of any nation of Europe, ufed the Levantine trade, their concourfe was fo great, that thofe infidels fcarce knew any other Europeans, and called all white men (as they flill do) franks^ by a fmall corruption from the word Francois. The French neceffärily met many Abyjfmes, particularly in Paleßine, with whom their difcourfe was probably about their nation D 3	and
( 54 )
find Country: The j^byßines fpcaktng oi tlieir King, undoubtedly gave him tlic ittoH: ancient, moift ufual and moA refpcct-fal title of Jnn ; neither is it lefs probable, tliat for the greater reverence of tht foyol perfon, they told them their Kiiig was a Prieft; thence was he concluded Jan by title» find by office ä Priefl. All ^cnow that among us, Sacerdote and Pre/-byiero are the fame, which the Latins call Pf eßyter and the French Frejer; this word joined to Jah begets Preßer Jan, which with a fmall addition is corrupted into Preßer John^ intending tli€ fame. The French returning home were likely to relate what they believed and heard in foreign part5, fo fpread the report, that the King of the Abyffines Was King and Prleft Preßer Jan ; there not being thön any knowledge of the true Preßer John of the Indies^ This report fet abroad, paft current, that this fam&us Prince Was •
without
without doubt the Emperor of the Jhyf. ßnes, thence at prefent vulgarly called Prefer John of the /?idüs.
i may without arrogance think the eoijjeclures and probabilities on which this JIfcourfe is grounded, above contempt; both from my own obferv.itbns and experience, and from the approbation of able judges, particularly of great travellers, and tliofe converlant in Ethiopia, who found them agree with tlieir information; if any are diflatisfied with this Tr^či, Jet them not condemn the good-will that offers it, and take my word to acquiefce in any better propofed.
D 4
A
A short tract of the RED SEA-, anö of the cause of this name, by which it is commonly known.
H E Red Sea bounds the territories of the Abyßine empire, which Eaftward drinks thofe waters. Having therefore difcourfed what nannes the Abyffine Emperor Preßer John, we may conveniently enquire after the true caufc that calls that boundary of this empire, the Red Sea,
The name of jRtfijfjV^, commonly given to the Arabian Gulf, is very ancient; the miftake lies only in the reafon. I fhall relate what I think moft fultable to my own furvey and experience.
The Ancients named the moft eaftern parts of all Jfrica^ Jromatum Prom, the
Cape
Cape of Spices; becaufe all thofe fliipg which brought them from the coaft of India, and traded with the ports of that Sea, firft made that headland, called at prefent by all mariners, Guarda Fuy: The inland is the kingdom of Jdel; the inhabitants all Moors, and ftout foldiers. The defečl of rain' is here, the fame as in Egypi^ fupplied by the many and great rivers, running from the mountains of Ethiopia, which on that fide bound this kingdom. This Promontory is anfwered by another in Arabia Felix, directly op-pofite, called Cape Fartach, from a city and people of the fame name inhabiting the main land, warlike Moors, and fo reputed: the diftance between thefe two capes, is fifty leagues.
The largenefs of the ocean begins to be reftrained from thefe two Promontories, to the entrance of the Red Sea, in length an hundred and fifty leagues; the
two
two fliores ail the way coming clorer^ till they meet at four leagues diftance in the narroweft part of the ftreight, where this fea lofeth the name of the j^mbian Gulf, and within is called the Red Sea ; which extends three hundred and eighty leagues, to Sues, near the bottom of that ftreight. In the largeli place, betwixt Mqfuba and the Hland of Camaran^ the breadth is forty kagues ; near Sues only three, which is yet narrower at the bottom.
Authors divide this Sea into three parts ; the middk is clear and navigabk, not ^vithout foine fhxall iflands and rocks,, which appeariaag above water arc of little danger: The other two parts, near tJie two fliores Qi Arabia aad Ethiopia^ are of very bad paflägc, full of fhoaJs, rocks, and white coral; which in the night especially, endatigor paflengers.
The mouth is doiible, made by an
ifland
illand called Nahuvi, or Bahelmandelf two kagues in length, lefs than a quarter breadth, all an high, wild barren rock, parched with the wind and fun, without any grafs, poflcffed by an abundance of' fea-fowL
The entrance on the fide of Arabia, being clear and deep, is the ordinary paf-fage for fliips of burthen ; the other part of the mouth, towards Ethiopia, though three leagues over, is fo full of flioals, that none venture through, but in little reffels, called by the natives, Geluas.
Near the ifland is a narrow channel of a good deptli, which I twice pafled, but too dangerous for great ^hips, approaching the land.
Within this ftreight begins the Red Seay the eafterly fhore called Arabia Pe-ireo. Twelve leagues higher than the mouth is the city Mocha^ rich and of great trade: Forty further is the Band
of
of Camaran ; then follow RIdo, Loia^ Zehlia and Goro; this latter, within fight, and within half a day's jonrna-y of Mout Sinai. Hither lies Glda^ the Port of famous Mccha or Medina-, where is the tomb of Mahomet. At the bottom of this ftreight is Sues^ anciently a city of Heroes ; at prefent a poor fifliing village, wanting the trade of fpices from Indiciy which arrive there, as to the Mart of the Eaft and Levant, and the general Fair of the Indies. This city from Grand Cairo is twenty-five leagues ; fixteen from the nearefl: part of the	and forty-one
from the Mediterranean.
CrofTmg from hence to the other fhore of Ethiopia, the firft city is Akocere^ formerly rich and populous, now a poor village, Little further, is Corondclo^ where the Children of IJraelj at their coming out of Egy/»/> P^f^ over to the other fhore of Arabia^ the Sea opening for three
leagues,
leagues, (the diftance betwixt both the fliores) into a fair large way, as feems to be intimated in the book of Wifdom^ ; or dividing itfelf into twelve parts, as maybe gathered from the Pfalmiß^. Not far diftant, is a place called Rifa, whence are exported and imported commodities from and for Egypt.' This place is lituat-ed in the hollow of high mountains, which run along in a bridge, difcoverable from mod parts of the Red Sea\ ; when, from thefe mountains toward the Sea it is Winter, on the other fide of them is Summer; fo vice ver fa. Hence to Suagucm, is de^-fart, but the road for Grand Cairo. The Ifland oiSuaguem, (whersthe fTar/'j detained me fometime prifoner) is round and
little
* Chap. xix. ver. 7. § Pfalm cxxxv. vcr. 13. f The fame is affirmed by Grotius, in his Boot čle	Ni!i, of t Iiis Shore of the Reä Sea, and of
other mountains \w Afia and Africa^ Cap. la.
little, full of inhabitants: the relidence and court of a Baßjaw^ having in it the Cuftom-houfe, where all Merchants Ships unlade; Half the profit, by agreement accrues to a king of the inland, called Bahn. An hundred leagues further is the Ifiand Majfuba, in circuit twelve hundred fathoms, fliaped like a man's foot. Between this and the main land, Ships have a convenient road. Here refides the Bafljaw's Lieutenant, called Caqua, judge of the Cuftom-houfe. Two league s further is a fortrefs called Arqutco^ (where I was fometime prifoner) ill fortified with ft one and clay ; worfe provided with ammunition, only to defend the water which every day goes in boats, (called Gelluas,) for Maßtha, deftitute of any other liquor. Below this Ifland is that of Daleca^ where pearls are fiftied, in length fixteen leagues, ftreight and populous. A few leagues lower is the Port of Bailur in the kingdom
of
of Dancali^ where I landed going into Ethiopia. Twelve leagues further, we return again to the ftreight of Babel*
rnmdcL
This general knowledge prefiippofed, we come to fpeak of the original of the Name; for which divers reafons are given. By my obfervations, during fix weeks I was upon that Sea, and twenty dajs at another» when my inquiries were very fevere and fcrupulous, I found not: any opinion warrantably grounded. So general a name is vainly contended for, and not to be allowed, by certain red fpots which appear, and to fome, feem to proceed from certain parts of a Whale; thofe fpots not always appearing, and the Whales being very few in thofe fliallows"; in the Ocean, out of the^ftreight, there are many. Neither did I in all my voyage upon that Sea obferve any fuch dif-Cülouriiig.
( 64 )
A fecond reafon for this name is fetched from Ibme hills of red earth, whole durt, carried by the fury of the winds and falling into the waters, chaiigcth it to this colour. This opinion feems fabulous ; for by curious fearch no fuch hills are difcoverable, neither conld the dufl be fo confiderable, to make the fpots fo great, as would give the general name to the whole Sea. Others contend, that the red Coral which grows at the bottom of this Sea, by reflection on the water, begets the fame apparent colour, and gives the name : This opinion is equally falfe : The Coral at the bottom of the Sea being not red enough to create any fuch apparent colour or name ; the red is faint, nearer ' white, than any other colour, enlivened by an artificial compofition. Upon the Ihore of this Sea I have gathered fome, not in branches but in little pieces, called Ihop-ware, (being ground and there ex-
pofed
pofed) the Sun gave it out of the water a very vivid colour; this confirmed me, that the name proceeded from the Coral, 1 fliall now declare my opinion, if any voice be permitted me upon this fubject. What I fliall affirm, I faw with my eyes, and difcourfed the matter with my com-^ panions capable of giving their judgment, Being prifoner to the Turks^ and failing in thofe Seas, one of my companions and of the company of 'Jefus^ happened to be Patriarch of Ethiopia^ excellently ikilled in divine and profane learning; we con-eluded the water of that fea not difFerent from that of the ocean; In fome places we obferved a long tratS: of water^ bluish, caufed by the great depth : In others, vve found divers white fpots, proceeding from the white fand, and the (hallownefs; Other places were difcoloured, green, by the mud which covered the bottom. In other parts of the water, vi^here it was as E	clear
clear as in any other fea, were fome recl-diih fpots ; we found thefe fpots (which were innny) to be caufed by a \vecd rc-fembling that we call Cargaco, rooted in the bottom ; fome that was loofe and floating almofl on the furface of the water, we took up, and casing anchor thereabouts, we made an Indian dive to the bottom for more. Upon ftrift examination, it proved to be that the JLthiopians call Sufo^ which grows in great quantity in India and divers parts of JJia. The fame name of Sufo, is given to the feed; to a meat made of it, like Almond-milk, well tafted, (and often eaten by me) and to the Flower, which refembles Safron, and may be miftak^n for it. Of this is made a red colour, called Sufo, ufed for dying cloth in Ethiopia and India (fome of which cloth furnifhed my poor church in Blhtopia, with a fuit of hangings). The weed, feed, meat, flower, and colour
agree
agree in the fame name of Sufo, which coiifuiered, puts us In mind, that the Scripture, in St. Jerome's tranflatioii, caiis the Red Sea, inftead of Mare Rubrum, Bahar Suf, making Suf and red the fame In Hebrew. This Sea therefore, being fo near, rather betweeii Ethiopia and Paleßine., and in both places ^^red, our obfervation named that Sea, not from any fuch colour appearing in the water, but from the growth of that weed, which in the Hebrew and Ethiopian language fignifies rubrum. And by experiment, the Flower boiled, and mixed with juice of limes, makes {o beautiful a red, that it is nearer an incarnate than red, and if durable would be defervedly of great efteem.
Confidering the weaknefs of the other reafons ; from our Difcourfe had on that Sea, we concluded the name derived from no other caufe, than from the growth of E 2	the
the weed Sufo ; infufficient of itfelf to produce that colour, but whofe Flower makes it, and the natives give the nanric of the Weed to the Colour.
a discourse of PALM-TREES:—OV their variety ; their fruit, and the usefulness of it;—of their proper soil.
F all the Trees creatcd by Almighty God for the ornament of the earth, and fervice of man, the Palm-tree is the moft ufeful and profitable to human fo-ciety : Though for this end the Author of Nature created all Plants; all which, with all their virtue, are at man's devotion, yet none ferves fo munificently, and for fo many ufcs as the Palm-tree. For, from her deepeft roots, which take
firft
(h )
firft pofTefTion of the earth In vegetation,. tiD t!ie highefl: leaf of her adorned head, with the variety, proprietj, and excellency of her fruit; in fine, with all her virtue, is man fiibftantlally ferved, and paid his due tribute. What I fhall fay in this trnft will fully unfold this truth.
The Palm-tree is advanced by one peculiar excellency, by which, without any Second, fhe hath the advantage of all. Other trees, well fatisfied in paying man oncc a year their tribute, reft from their labour ; the Palm-tree takes no repofe, but every month in the year prefents new fruit. A beautiful clufter of thirty, forty, fometiiTies more, Cocoes, or Nuts, monthly appearing; and though not above ieven, twelve at the moft, come to be ripe, and attain the laft perfedion, (there not being ftrength and nourifliment for fb many) yet Is it queftionlefs, that the Palm-tree by her fruitfulnefs was by God E 3	pecu-
peculiarly created for the jidvantagc of mankind : If vigor to perform lier natural propenfity be wanting, yet is her generous inclination apparent.
Wc may truly fay of the Palm-tree, that not being (which is not contended for) that fo fingular and excellent tree, peculiar to the happlnefs of Heaven, which the Scripture calls " the Tree of Life"^, which bearetli twelve mannet of fruits, and jieldeth her fruit every month," yet that it is a iimilitude or emblem of that fcecundify. That by the frequency and goodnefs of her fruit, and by the great be-nefir man enjoys by it, it is a certam Tree of Life on Earth, as the other is truly in Heaven, and the moft beneficial the Earth produceth, fhall appear in this Difcourfe.'
The moft favourable climate or foil, and which with greateft propriety and in
moft
* Rev. xxii. vcrfc 2-
moft abundance produceth this famous Tree, (which ftrangers, divine and human writings, and the natives, in the property of their language called the ?alm-trec) is /jjia, particularly that part of it, cdWed India^ containing the kingdoms and provinces, which lie betwixt, and are bounded by the two famous rivers Indus and Gan^eSj both fo well known in hiftory. How religious fables have made Ganges, and how vain a fanftity, blind idolatry attributed to thole waters, (in which to waüi, is fufficient to be cleanfed from fliult and punifliment, and be fecured of falvation) much might be faid, by what I have obferved and heard of this fuperftition ; but that is not the tafk of this difcourfe, intended only of. Palm-trees.
The land neareft the Sea-fide producetli the faireft; the air from the Sea, being very favourable and benign to them.
E 4	Though
Though Grangers give the fame name of^ } '.dm-tfee to divers Torts of this tree, all Crinnot challenge it, iieithcr enjoy the exc llencies, proper to the Palm-tree ca.U led Coro : The nnflves diftinguifh them by particülar names, and reckon up eight forts, all different in their trunks, leaves, fruit, profit and appearance, yet enjoy the general name of Patm-trees, having I know not what likenefs^ by which they lay claim to it, beiides the proper name öf cach fpecies.
The ch'iefefi: and möft famous,"'and which bell: tetains the property of the Palm-treCi is that which bears Cocoes ; of thefe fome are wild, fome cultivated, fomcj but few, called Barcas, which amongft them fignify excellent; and when they knavifKly put ofi* any thing for excellent, they fay It is S^rriz. The Nut Barca is favoury, wholefome, not to be furfeited on, though eaten in never lb
great
great A quantity j But as all trees are not Bareas, fo not all the nuts; and the fame tree bears Barcas and others: The natives dlftinguifli and very much value them. The Nut Barca, when crude and unripe is Cii lied Lanba T'augi (i.e.^ excellent and fweet; is refrefhing» whoiefome, of great ufe in fevers. If the roots of this tree touch the Sea, or any brackifh water, the bearing is very much improved.
Of the other feven forts, fome are elieemed wild, from their fruit, foil, and the little manuring tliey require. The tree called Cajura^ is the peculiar one which bears Dates; though in India this tree yields none, but affords a certain liquor which they diftil, and of it make wine. Another fort named Trefulim, from her fruit of the fame name, Arequt-ira^ of whofe leaves arc made great umbrellas, large enough to flielter one or two men from the rigour of the fun or
rain.
rain, without which none could travel; There are lefs, for the fame ufe, like our umbrellas, which alio keep off the rain. This tree yields no fruit.
Another tree there is (the name not much in ufe,) by the leaf, trunk, and make, of the race of Palm-trees ; the fruit called de Rapoja (z.f.) the Foxes fruit; eaten, of no good tafte, fuch a crab as never ripens, and if brought to maturity would prove a wild Hate^ being foin the form, colour, bunch, or clufter. The tree called Berlim^ bears no fruit, only ufed for adorning Churches; the boughs of fo fit a fize and proportion for this ufe, as if folely created by God Almighty for his fervice, not of lefs efteem and value, becaufe ferviceable to divine worfhip, this dedication fupplies the de-fed of fruit for the fervice of man, and may reafonably rank the tree above the fruitful.
The
The laft the earth produceth, called Macomeira, is without doubt a fpecies of the Palm-tree; her fruit in cluflcrs of tliirty or more, every one as big as an ordinary apple ; when ripe, of a date-colour, and very gratetui, the rind as hard as tow, oftner fucked than eaten ; if fwal-lowed, of very hard difgeflion ; In fcent, exceeding the J Camoefa ; the ftone, called Coquinho, very hard, though green, is, fovereign againft many difeafes.
Thefe are the Palm-trees the earth produceth, which challenge a right in that name. The Sea affords one, which though at the bottom of the deep, and fo undif-covered,'the fruit called Cocoy and fur-uamed Maldlva, (becaufe the Sea about thofe Iflands affords that plant in great-eft abundance) gives us the information. The Maldhes are a ridge of great and
fmall
X Eflecmed the beft Apple in Portugal.
fmall Iflands, reach ng near tWo IiuiidreJ leagues, are counted from North to Fouth diftaiit from the fhore, thirty or forty leagues, the natives affirm them to be eleven thoufand. He was at leifure, and of no fmall curiofity who counted them* But not to enquire too ftriclly and mi nutely into tlieir number, the occan about thefe Iflands moft abounds with tiieio nuts, which are rare ; the Sea cafts them •upon the fhore, or they float upon the water, yet have I feen them from the coaft of Melinde to the Cape of Guarda-fuy, for above two hundred leagues : they are little lefs than a man's head, grow two together, joined one to tlie otlier, not all along, but near two thirds, the colour of the Rind, (which Is hard, though thin) black. The Eu ropeans make of it bodies of biids, e. g. of a Peacock, adding to it feet, neck, head and wings, and that perfection of parts the bird dc-
Hgned
( 77 )
ßgned requires. The Pulp, or Kernel of tliTs fruit Is very firm, as in thofe that grow at laud; of very great efteem with the natives. I have feen it fold for its weight in filver, being efteemed a Angular remedy againft all difeafes, particularly againft poifon, pounded in a mortar (made for that purpofe) with a little water, till it grows white, and fo drank. In India they make frequent ufe of this remedy, having it in abundance, S,o much of the Palvi-tree and the Nut Maldiva, I am now to difcourfe of the ineftimable profit of the other forts.
Palm-trees^ of what fpecies foever, have neither a thick trunk, nor boughs Jikp other trees. As they grow in height, their houghs come out at the top, and open to make room for others ; as the old ones fall, they leave an iinpreflion in the tree where they were. If any have two trunks, the thing is very peculiar,
and
C 78 )
and fhewn as notorious: I have feen one or two fuch, in all the time and places I was in India : One of them near the coaft of Metinde, whence 1 embarked for the ifland Pate, to fee a thing fo remarkable. The tree called Macomeira (from the fruit named Macoma) is the only one, that grown to the height of a man, divides herfelf into two trunks, each of which at the fame diflrance is divided into other two, fo grows on, each trunk producing two, till (he arrives to that height, the natives allow proportionable to the fpecies. The tree called Tra-Julim grows the tallefl, and for height, were the thicknefs proportionable, (lofti-nefs is more conliderable ia this, than any other of the forts) and the nature of the wood folid, and ftrong, might make a mall: for a great vefiel, but it wants fufficient fubftance, neither are thofe trees which yield Cocoes proper for that ufe ;
In
In little vefiels they ferve, as will be Immediately related.
That the moft favourable fituation for the growth and fertility of thefe .trees is the ground neareft the Sea, has been faid before : and if the roots reach the mud of falt-water, they thrive beft with that watering. Experience hath found, th^it thofe 'Palm-trees^ wliich grow iieareft houfes inhabited, are the moft fruitful; therefore the natives, if f offible, contrive to dwell in the Palm Orchards, having there their goods and eftates, (as will prefently be faid) their pleafure and recreation : Thefc are the real eftates in India^ as vineyards and oliveyards in Europe : amongft thefe is arable land, which they fow, and have a crop of rice, 'vvheat, and other grain ; I have feen fair and beautiful Palm-trees in the inland, remote from the Sea, always in plains, never upon hills, where they come to no maturity, either becaule in
low
grounds they ihelter one the other, or that on the hills the winds fhake them too vio-]ently, to the no little detrin^ient of their fruit, being tall and tender with all their boughs and fruit on the top, they are obnoxious to the wind, the whole weight being at the head, the body high, tender, and fragile : they may be fitly compared to the mart of a Ihip with round top and top-maft, without the help of ihrouds to fupport it,
Thefe trees are planted, by fowing the Cocoes or Nuts in a bed, and covering them with earth : a little time will put forth a Ihoot, the ordinary product of feed; arrived at fome growth, they are tranfplanted into a place defigned for that purpofe ; there ranked in fit diflance, order and proportion, where they remain till arrived to perfedion, and being planted in a line, make a fair (hew in the field, fo pleafant to the natives, that no garden
in
111 Europe is with more care manured, or of greater, if of equal fatisfačtion. This hath been experienced by prefentlng them with our rarities, who neglect them and figh after the Palm-trees of their own country ; though there is not a more melancholy and unplcafant ^rght to the Europeans, than to be in a Palm-orchard, where nothing is to be feen but trunks of trees fet in order, which appear withered without any foliage; all the greenefs being above the fight, there is little enjoyed : beheld at a diftance, no profptd is more grateful. Being young plants, their mortal enemies are the cattle, which rifle their beauty, and with their teeth do them no little damage ; that begets a neceffity to encompafs them with fences.
Thefe plants are manured with fmall expence, ordinarily they require notmucli watering; grown to fome bignefs, they lay afhes to tlieir roots, all forts of fhell-F	fiHi,
fifli, particularly, little fifh, called by the natives Ciita^ putrefied at the foot of the tree, are of admirable efFefl; but all trees cannot be fo indulged; this is fupplied by mud taken out of fait marflies, by which their frultfulnefs is very much advanced. They bear fruit at five years if planted in foft artificial beds, fo taking root fooner and with greater cafe ; at fe-ven, if the earth be firm and hard, fpread-ing their roots leifurely and with more difficulty. I oJily know one fpot of ground in the Ifland of Cetiaon fo fruitful and proper for thefe trees, that in two years they come to their growth, get ftrcngth, and are laden with fruit-
The fruit of this tree, (whatfoever the fpeciss is) comes forth thus : From the flemof the Pahuy fhoots out a twig, made like a man's arm, not unlike a moorifli fcymiter, which the natives call Poyo. This opens and puts forth a clufter of thirty,
fifty,
( 83 )
fifty, eighty, fometimes an hundred Co-quhihos or nuts, about the bignefs cf an hazle -nut; fhould all come to perfe£lion the quantity were ftupendous, but the parent wanting fap and nouriflimcnt for fo many young ones, the greateft part falls off and comes to nothing ; few remain of the firfl appearing multitude, twelve or fourteen in every clufter may come to maturity, according to the goodnefs ' of the ground, or the foiling employed: Nature fupplies the loft ones, by putting forth immediately another duller before the firfl. is ripe or cleared of the flower ; the fame happens to the latter fruit, and fo to more, every month a bunch appearing, and all the trees having four or five clufters ofdiflerent ages, fome in the blof-fom, others newly cleared of the flower as big as ordinary nuts, others larger, fome come to perfe£lion ; The Palm-tree refembles an indulgent mother, envlron'd F 2	with
with greater and fmaller children, at the fame time feeding thefe and bearing others; a rarity not experienced in other trees.
The emolument of this fruit Coco is very extraordinary, for divers ways it proves good meat ; while the kernel is yet in water, and full of liquor, the nut green, and not come to maturity, the natives drink it as an exquifite regallo, being fweet and recreative, affording a good cup of wholefome water called Lan/^a; arrived to a greater conliftence, like that of cream, they eat it with fpoons, then called Cocanba : come to the laft perfečlion, it is eaten, is favoury and well tafted : but being extremely hot and of hard digeftion, much of it is unwholefome, the nut Barca excepted, which is favoury and harmlefs. The thin rind which covers the kernel, black and good in medicine. This nut grated and put into the hollow joints of canes called Bambus is boiled, and of it
made
niiiJe Cujciis^. The gratings fteeped in weiter and fqueezed, the milk they yield, makes aldndof broth, frequent amongft them, called CcruU whicli is very delicious : Tiie nut Coco is eaten other different ways, which defer^^edly advance the cfteem of this provifion. The two rinds taken off, the kernel divided into two parts, and expofed to dry in the fun, whea dried is called Copra ; of this great quantities go for the inland country, and where no olive-trees grow; Oil made of which is toothfome, wholefome, and good for wounds and fores. This Copra eaten with Igra-, (a fort of coarfe Mufcovadoes fugar, made of the fweat of the Palm-tree^ as {hall immediately be related) is a great dainty with the Indians. And that no part of the Coco may feem not valuable, and declaring the obligation human F 5	life
• A Meat like the Italian	and near
the confillence of our Grout.
life hath to the Palm tree, the outmof^ Rind, called Cairo^ not unlike tow, well macerated and drawn into threads, affords all forts of fine thread, and ropes big enough for the grcateft veflels and fliips, which are in great efteem for good and fecure cables, they will endure ftretching, and rot not in fait water; thefe advantages have they above cables made of Hemp. The fecond Rind, the immediate cover of the Coco., when green, is eaten hke Chardons, is tender, crackles in the mouth,, and of the fame effedt in the ftomach, blacks the lips and fingers like Chardons; when ripe is very hard and thin, called Charetta, and made up for divers ufes; chark'd, it admirably tempers Iron, and is accordingly efteemed by artificers.
Befides the related, divers other emoluments acrue from the Palm-tree and her fruits ; the Palm-tree alone being fuf-
. ficieiit
^cient to build, rig and freight a with bread, wine, water, oil, vinegar' lugar, and other CoiTimoclities, all afforded by the Palm-tree. _ I have failed in veflels where the bottom and the whole Cargo hath been fiom the munificence of the Palm-tree ; I will take upon me to make good Vvhat I have aflerted.
The Veflels are by the Natives called Pmgayos, on which I have coafted the land of Mdinde^ and gone into the Red Sea : they venture not far from ihore, being v/eak, without any binding of Iron, unable to endure any flrefs of weather or beating of tlie waves, therefore launch not out into the main Ocean. The Palm-tree yields Plank, though weak and fpun-gy, as if made of Tow: the Planks arc fowed together with fine tliread, made of the outmoft rind of the Nut (as hath been faid) ; the feams are caulkcd witl^ Okiim of Cairo, after laid over (as is ufual) F 4	wkh
C «8 )
with the fat of fifh, ferving inflead of hot pitch : where there is any ufe of nails, that is kipplicd by wooden pins, made of a certain fpecies of the Palm-tree; the " Mafl is provided by the lame tree, and requires not much pains to fafhion it: Ropes of all^fizes are mads of Cayro, i e. the rind of the Coco. Sails are woven of tue leaves of the Palm-tree called Cajuris, of which are alfo made Sacks, (called Macondas) in which they carry Millet, , or any ether thing at pleafure. Bread (before mentioned) the fame Nut fup-plies, either dry, then called Copra^ or green, when named Puto ; which grated a'ld put into hollow canes is Cu/cus : Water proceeds from the fame Nuts being green, before the kernel arrives to a due conliftency, clear as rock-water, frefher and better. Oil is made of Cö/tä (i. e. the Nut dried in the fun) in great quantity ufed by all people in InMa^
having
C S9 )
iiaving no other of their own growth, hefides what is drawn from a feed called Gergeiim, of fmall value, ufed only by the poor.
The Wine requires more pains and afliduity. When the Pahi-tree puts forth her (hoot or Poyo ((haped like a Moorifli fcyniiter) before the clufter appears, they cut three fingers breadth from the point, and tying it near the incifion with a reed to prevent flitting, put the end of the fhoot into a pitcher made for that purpofe, called Gorgo; leaving it there, the ihoots, like vines pruned, but in greater abundance, weep that juice, which fhould have produced Cocoes. This liquor is twice drawn in the natural day ; in the morning that which was wept by flight, and in the evening the diftillation of the day : At thefe times, a man deputed to that bufinefs, and of a certain extraction, called Bajidarins, with a goad
hung
C 90 ?
hung at his girdle, and with a prLining-hook in his hand, climbs the tallefc Palm-tree ; fome of which, peculiarly thole called Cajurisy are of a prodigious height, they climb, as on a ladder, by notches made in the trunk of the tree, and with as much fecuiity as fca-men run up to the main-top. In other lefs Pahn-trees^ (feeming to be of that ckfs which yields Dates) they make a hols in the trunk, there lodging a cane through which the liquor diftills, which when the tree affords, Ihe bears no Cocoes. This liquor is fweet, medicinal, clears the body from humours, is drunk for a Regallo, and called Sura; fet to the fire in great veflels, is diftllled as in a llmbech, but with this caution, that they continually caft cold water upon the veflel, left as ftrong water it fliould take fire. This is the wine made of the Palm-tree called by the natives Urraca, it intoxicates in little
quantity,
quantity, flies to the head, and is of a flrange efFečl:; much more powerful if diftilled over again, when it becomes a Q^uintefllence. Of this Urraca is made excellent Vinegar, by putting into It two or tliree fired fticks, or a great flonewell heated. Sugar is made of the fweet Sura coming frefii from the tree, which boiled till it coagulates becomes good Sugar, perfečt in tafte and colour. The merchandize afforded by the Palm-tree^ and laden on vefiels, are dried Cocoes or Nuts, the Rind, and many other commodities before-mentioned : this juftlfies the Palm-tree's building, rigging, and lading a vef-fel with goods, and ihip-provifions for the mariners, all her own produa.
The Palm-tree being fo beneficial and advantageous to human life, doubtlefs no tree in any known part of the world may come into competition with it ; and amongft all her advantages, no other fo
well
well fatisfies the fight when laden Vvith great and fmaller clufters, forae ript^ others colouring ; feme ia the blofi^orr., others forwarder; the grateful appearance of her frult^is no lefs ple2.f;rit Lhan her admirable foecuudity i Her talhiefs not inferior to a high Cyprus-tree^ her trunk flender, without the help of boughs, to climb by, her nuts retired at the top, amongfl her leaves and branches, makes her refemble a fond mother, bringing her children about her the better to prefervc them, and cutting off all intercourfe tending to their deftruftion.
All places produce not Cocoes of the fame bignefs, which are great or fmall according to the nature of the climate, and quality of the foil fitted for the production of that fruit. The coafc of Malabar being cool, and abounding with rivers (which fpring in the mountains of GatCj to whofe foot this coall extends)
affords
affords Tuch large and fair Cocoes that the Lanka? (z.^.) young and imperfečl nuts of Cochim and thole territories, are every one Sufficient to quench the thirft of two persons. After tliefe are cried up thofe of the ifland of CeUon» where the ground is very rank and luxuriant, yet inferior to the foil of Malaca, and the places adjoining, where the Cocoes are the greateil^ Thofe oi Arabia the Happy are fairer than any yet fpoken of; the goodnefs of the foil, and nature of the climate, being pro-portionably advantageous, the name of Happy proves it. Of all thefe places and forts of fruit I am an eye-witnefs. Two peculiar virtues of thefe Cocoar, are not to he pafled over in filencc : The firft, that when the ckifter begins to appear, being yet covered wi'h the flower, gathered, pouiided, boiled in three pinrs of Cow's-raiik, it Is an infallible cure for the yellow Jaundice ; befides the opinion had of this
remedy

remedy, I fpeak by experience, having with it in a few days cured one troubled with this difeafe. The fecond is, That ill the opinion of the women, (where fancy moft domineers) the water of Lanhas makes a wafh for the face, which eminently betters the complexion, either by creating it where Nature beflow'd it not, or advancing it where Nature is deficient, or preferving it where it was naturally allowed. From what hath been faid, ii evidently concluded, that if the Author of Nature created all Trees for the fervice of man, the Palm-tree of all thofe doth moft induftrioufly ferve and advantage him, by fo many ways," and fo confidera-ble produftions ; and becaufe that which bears Dates is of the true race of Palm-trees, fomcthing is to be faid of that and her fruit.
Thofe trees which bear Dates, yield them not in India ; there only affording
the
the Sura before mentioned, of which wine h made. Northward, thofe Trees grow ill the greatefl quantity; fome have Dates, which appear in fair cluflers but come not to maturity : the reafon muft be in the climate, which favours them not. In AJrica they attain the highefl: perfection, T)ate$ being the natural fruit of that part of the world ; thofe of Arabia.^ where they grow in great quantities, are excellent, pleafant to the fight, in beautiful clufters, (which beginning to ripen appear in various colours, confining of a faint vermillion, and pale whitenefs, called trie Date colour) and more acceptable to the tafle. _ Arabia produceth divers forts, particularly ihe Happy; (Fetrea 13 not without them.) A bafer fort there is, which lerves for common fuftenance, given to horfes for provender: Others there are of a more exquifite tafle and value, amongfl: them thofe called Muxanas,
which
which are the leaft, but naturally recom. penced by an excelJent flavour; few of them exported out of Jrabia; the Xarifcs referving them for themlelves as excellent, and give the reafon that their exqul-fitenefs makes them properly theirs, challenging the befl things in the world, as the poflerlty of Mahomet^ and for the religion they profefs, which they would falfiy put off for orthodox. This fiuit ripens not upon tlie tree if there be not near it or in fight, the fruit called the Male ; a fecret In nature found by experience, the caufc yet undifcovered.
Writing this, I remember a difcourfe I had with an old man, but a credulous chriftian ; As we were eating Tome of thefe Dates^ I was obferving. That the ftone beaten and drank in water, was good for women in ftrong labour, to eafe tlielf pangs, and facilitate their delivery ; and that it had on one fide the perfect fhapeof
the
( 97 )
the letter O. The good old man, in grear devotion and fimplicity anfwered mc with a ftory, which with him pafled for infiilible : That the letter O remained upon the flone of a Date, for a remembrance that our Biefled Lady the Virgin, her Divine Babe in her arms, reßingher-Jelf at the foot of a Palm-tree, {which inclined her branches., and offered a clußer of Dates to her Creator), Our Lady p/ucH:-ed feme of the Dates, and eating them^ fa-tisfied with the taße and favour, cried out in amazement^ Oh, how fweet they are! ^'hii exclamaticn engraved the letter O, the frß word of her fpeech, upon the Date-jftone, which being very hard., better pre-ferved it, I have related this llorj of more piety and plain devotion, than truth and certainty, for the Reader s dlverfion and entertainment; Yet not to believe this old-wife's fabie, would be with them fcandalous.
G	There
( 98 )
Tliere are fome Palm-trees which bear a fruit called Macomas, o£ a fingular virtue, (befides their Sccnt, more grateful than that of a Camoje/a, and their perfeft Datc-coLour ;) This fruit, eaten upon ati overcharged ftomach, after too much repletion, in a very little time digefts all, and creates a frefh appetite. God be praifedj thefe Trees are fo far removed from Europe, that our Epicures are without the advantage of their fruit, which would advance the luxury of thofe men St. Paul fpeaks of, ^orum Venier Deus eß, whofe God is their belly, from their freqiient facrifices made to it. I have had experience of this natural virtue of this fruit. The Stone eaten is good agalnft Hypochondriacal Vapours.
Another fruit called "Trefolim^ (which hath the name of the tree which bears it) grows in cluilers of fifteen or more, each as big as two fifts joined ; the firft colour
green.
green, when ripe ends in a purple colour | opened hath three partitions, replete with a certain fubftance like ili-coagulatedi milk; freih and cooling, of an infipid tafte, yet commonly eaten for a Regalioi the kernel of a faint white. The fruif of a Palm-tree called Areicat pot much jittering from the Trefolir/i, is of emir nent elleem with the native Indians \ The Ifland of Ceilon produeeth the mpft and the beft, Thefe Cocoes are exported^ and prove good merchandize, not biggep ordinarily than an ha^le^nut, the kernel firm and hard, the ufual dainty of the Indians, who accuftgmed to chew the leaf of an herb bigger, thicker," and of a clearer green than an Ivy-leaf, are forced to champ Jreica ; from warming and recovering the ftomach, efteemed very cordial and dclicious ; the juice contrafteth the mouth like Alum, or aCyprefs-appie^ if chawed, which fometimes fuppll.es th§ G 3	virtug
of Jreica: This fruit, like Dates, grows iu elufters, two hundred or more counted in a bunch ; exquifite Beads are made of them, white ftreak'd with black. The Indians fo dote on this fruit, as to have it common in their mouths, thence tranf-mit the juice to their ftomach, which it fortifies and flrengthens, faftens the teeth, and helps digeftion ; therefore the lafl: thing done at meals, is to chaw a piece of this, which they as highly prize, as the Jturopcans their choiceft fruit; but from the experience of both, I am for my countrymen.
The Cocoa or Nut of Maldivii, Is another fruit of the Palm-tree; we have already fpoken of its fhape, virtue, price, and value. The fruit commonly called Coco is found on the Tea, or caft upon the fhore ; the make of the Tree which pro-duceth them. Nature hath hid at the
bottom
C )
bottom of tlie deep, and charged herielf with it3 culture.
I iKall conclude this Difcourfe of Palni' frees with tlils obfervation,—That nothing has life without Enemies of that Jife, which by divers ways and flrata-gems attempt and aflault it. The vegetation of the Palm-tree wants not thele, by the Indians called ücknefles and dif-eafes, wJiich prejudice this fo advantageous Tree and lier fruit, by which Man is fo plentifully provided. As he is faid to live and die, the fame is fald of the Pa'm-tree, which like man, hath infirmities and difeafes, by which, and many accidents, they pine aw^ay, decay, dry up, and at lafl die. There is a long lift of difeafes incident to this Tree, which work her death, if remedies are not timely applied.
A mortal enemy to this Tree, is a certain rpecies of black worms, wliich are G J	nnturdly
ftätüraily fo provided, äs eafily to plcfce finj timber green or dry, whereby conveying themfelves into the heart of it, neither doth this confume much time, they defifling not till they arrive at the innermofl fapj living on what they cor^ fode and deface, cafting out the remainder. This in the Palm-tree is efFečted with tnore facility and lefa time, the wood being tender, and the marrow (the part fed upon) favoury l With greater gufto, und by natliral inftlnčV, they get to the top of the tree ; and what they did in the trunk, do in the Eye of the Palm-tree^ with more eafe and fatisfaölon ; devouring the Eye, which is extremely white, tender, fweet, delicious and grateful, to ä miracle. A Palm-tree is often cut down, to come at the Eye, as her cholcefl: fruit and dainty ; 1 have'had grpt expe* rience of Its goodnefs; the worm hath no ill palate in the choice of this morfel j
tim ely
timely reiTiedy not applied, the worm Jeaves not, till, (as they call it) fhe procures the death of the poor tree. To prevent tliis, the proprietor, or thofe called Bandariiis, (the only men chärged with tliefe trees) are obh'ged to watch thele thieves; and with iron iaftruments, invented for tliat purpofe, (fometimes made flrait, when the lioles go fo, fometimes crooked when they make their way by turnings and meanders) to purlue them, till they feize them, and upon their forked points draw them out dead.
Another diftemper fliflens 011 thefe trees, through the careleHliefs or little dexterity of the Bandai-ins, when thev climb the tree, to empty the Sura, out of the Gorgo or Vef?el, into their Gourds ; if by chance any drop lights on the tree, by a natural malignity," it engenders another worm, which attacks and devours the E^^'e. This difafter is defperate beyond the help of G 4	lemcdy.
remedy, the Mafter lofeth the tree, but the cuflom of the country, obligeth the Baiickriti to make fatisfadtion : the price of every fuch iiegle£t is ten Vardoos, in our money, three + MiUrees; The great abundance of thefe trees iu India, lefiens the mulčl; every Palm-tree well manured, and growing in good ground yields the owner one Pardao yearly. According to this eftimate, every Proprietor gives a near guefs at the rent of his Orchard.
A third difeafe feizeth this Tree (her emolument to man feeming to beget her more enemies to leflen her value) which is no open and violent adverfary, but created by the fame Earth, which gives; growth and nourifhment to the root of the tree, and is no faint refemblance of a Nurfe, who for want of milk, or having
it
t Twcnty-Jivc Shillings.
k fpoiled, fees her Nurfling pine away, and (without timely prevention) languifli till it dies. The Palm-tree is not fecure from this danger, the Earth which pro-duceth it, in a long trad of time, or by fome malign influence, growing barren ; this defeat is communicated to the Tree, which renders it infirm, vitiated, barren, till It fails utterly. This diftemper and indifpofition of the Earth, (which the Palm-tree, by an attractive virtue fucks in, with the moifture that nourilheth it, and conveys throughout from root to head) is difcovered by a reddifh minute fand, appearing in the Earth, the difeafe dilates not only iu the body, but outwardly on the trunk of the tree ; when the Bandarin perceives this, he is forced to make a great hole through the found part of the tree, to hinder the contagious creeping further, as is pračlifed in Gangrenes, where the found part is cut off: the parts
afFefted
affe£ted without, are unbarked, and where the fand appears they nui in hot irons. Thefe cures not tinnely applied, the profitable Tree periOieth.
Thefe difafters are accon^ipanied with a fecret of Nature, worth refieöilon. Two or three years before this untimely death, thefe trees are faid to be laden with Cocoes or Nuts, fo beyond cuftom, that this un-ufual excefs is fufpicious to the Natives, and awakens them to watch the difeafes incident to the Palm-tree, fo to hinder them by a timely prevention ; Nature by this overplus, feems to fupply the abfence and lofs of this Tree ; and' the beneficial Palm, forefeeing the end of her munificence, ftrives to recompence her owner.
There is yet in the Pahn-tree a thing more excellent, delicious, and more grateful to the palate, than hath been mentioned ; a morfel to be compared with whatfoever is efteemed moll; delicate, is
that
tlint they call Palmito-; the iniiermofl: Eye of the Tree; which being cut out and ftript- of the boughs, mny pafs for the centre of all the branches, which hi the heart of the tiee, before they fhoot forth, are fo joined and united, as to appear the fame thing. The fubftance of this Pal'-mito is white like milk, delicious in extremity, coagulated, tender, of a tafte above milk, more delightful and of a better Confečlion ; in fine a Bocone pleafing in the Iiigheft, and free from all fulfome-nefs. What I have faid is without exaggeration ; the Reader, I am fure, would if he tafted it, be of my opinion, who am able to give a fufficient account of this Palmito ; for befides my experience of it in India^ where other provifion was not wanted, at the Cape of Good Hope., (where the veffel we came in from Portugal fuffered fhipwreck, at the land called Terra de Natale and where we fpent
eight
eight months on (hore, in the place \vc were firft call: upon, to build two barks to faveoui" company) 1 Iiad leifure enough to be convmced of its exquilltencfs ; ther;; fcarcity of provifion, obliged us to make ufe of what we found ; it was our good fortune to light on great flora of Palm-trees, not of thofe which yield Cocoes or Nuts, but of that fpecies which bear Dates : thei-e, having known in India, what the Palmi to was, we in a ihort time furnifhed ourfelves with as many as grew in a league's compafs ; the Palmito ferved us for food and dainty, neither was its gratefulnefs heightened by our hunger.
The fruitfulnefs and profit of the Palm-^ tree, lafts many years ; there are figns for a near guefs, at her precife duration. This Tree puts forth every year four branches, which leifurely difplay tliem-f^ves in the form of a crofs, after three
or
C 109 )
or four years decay ; which the Palm-tree of herfelf cafts off, or they are lopt off by the Bandarins, every one leaves a niark where it grew : By tliefe is given a probable conje£lure at the age of the tree. That it may appear how the -whole Palm-irce, is ferviceable to human life, nothing fuperfluous, but all fubflantially profitable, from the deepeft root to the higheft leaves : The root (as hath been faid before, where we fpoke of the virtue of the other parts) chark'd, gives an excellent temper to iron ; The boughs and leaves, made up with a wick, ferve for a torch, (called by them Chuli) with this travellers are fecure from all danger of ferpents, v.'hich abound in India, are of exquifite polfcn, and their multitude makes them frequent the roads, and afiault paflengers ; Tiiey fly from the light of this Chuli; of anotJier fervice when they fifh in the
rivelil
nvers, inftead of a candle as Is ufu.d jn Portugal-. Of the leaves befidc^, are made great Parafols, capable to Ihelter tv\o per-fons from the fun or rain ; thtfe rec^uire a man to carry them (there are perfons deputed for that office) and are called Boyde Sombrero; fmall portable ones there are for the fame ufe, none walking in the ftreets, winter or fummer without great or little Parafols. The leaves have another ufe ; of them are made coverings for their palanquins or litters, iu which one perfon is commodioufly carried and defended from the rain and fun. Some Palm-trees afford leaves called Olhas^ which ferve for books and paper, with a fmall iron pent;il inftead of a pen, they open and grave the jetters, upon the leaf or Olha^ without the ufe of ink, as faft and as eafily, as the fwifteft writer. The leaves of the tree Cajura dried, remain of
r
a.lively white colour, which are made hito liats, of great account though cheap, being ft> becoming, fo accurately wrought and light, that every body the vicC'Toy
not excepted, defires to wear them : the *
Indians call them Palhate. The bark of the Poyo or twig on which grow the fair cluflers of Cocoes^ being of a thicker and ftronger fubftance, furnifh the common people, particularly the Bandarins, who drefs the Palm-trees with caps made like Englifh ordinary riding-caps.
To end the difcourfe, I Ihall obferve, (what challenges a reflection) the natural fabrick of the Pahn-trees ; that the trunk being very flender and difproportionable to the tallnefs, the whole weight of ti.e boughs, (called Palms) and of the fruit, being at the top, in a manner at the vertical point of the film body, the boughs, as they grow difpl;i;'Ing themfeives, and
amongft
amongft them hanging the fair dullers .of Cocoes^ the fhock of winds, fhould without doubt, eafily break and ruin this dif-proportioned machine. Provident Nature, again ft this, hath for every new birth of thofe boughs provided fwathes, of the fame matter and texture of the Palm-tree, not unlike coarfe cloth, or canvas : with thefe the branches and what grows there, are fwathed fo ftrongly and fecurely as to defy any violence of winds to disjoint them: they are liable to be fliaken, yet not where they have this Girdle, which to break is a work of iron. By thefe the PalvitreCi as a tender mother, gathers her children about her, as fecure from being loft and fcattered, as they are well defended againft any violence of wind, which would tear and force them from her bpfom.
This
This is what, for the fatisfačtion of the curious, could be known of the Palm-tree, of what fpecies foever; who de-fires a more particular and fevere relation, may travel into India^ and thofe other parts where this tree grows, may enquire more minutely, and perhaps lofe his labour.
FINIS.
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