‘The travels of Sig. Pietro della Valle, a noble Roman, into East-India and Arabia Deserta. In which, the several countries, together with the customs, manners, traffique, and rites both religious and civil, of those Oriental princes and nations, are faithfully described: In familiar letters to his friend Signior Mario Schipano. Whereunto is added a relation of Sir Thomas Roe’s voyage into the East-Indies’ [‎78] (99/508)

1 he Travels of Peter Delia Valle,
pieces of Artillery planted upon them to defend the En
trance.
/ ; VIJ I. Tis to be known that the City of Goa 3 at this day the Head
■£'/ .-/it a lA of all the Dominion of the Portngals in India, is fituate here in
ly##, / ^ Vne of thefe lilands, of which, as I laid beforej there are innume-
^ " r.ible upon all the Coaft of India, made by the feveral Rivers
which divide them from the main-land. The City is built in the
iniiiolt part of thelfland toward the Continent 5 and therefore
the v hole Iiland is plentifully inhabited with Townsand places
o^ Recreation, and particularly, upon the River 5 which is on
either fide, adorn'd with Buildings and Houfes, furrounded
with Groves of Palm-Trees, and delightful Gardens. The
grc ateft part of the Ifland is inclos'd with a Wall, with Gates at
the places forpaflage, continually guarded for fccurity againft
the attempts of Neighbours, and alfo to prevent thePxi ^htof
Slaves and I hefts 5 fince onelythat River being crofs'd you
enter prefently into the Territory of Jdil Sciah and the Moors -
but 'tis otherwile toward the Sea-fide, for all the Coaft which is
belet with other fmall fflands and Pen-infula's, for a good fpace
belongs to the ?ortugals, being inhabited with Townsand di
vers Churches. The City which lyes on the right hand of the
River; as you enter into the inmoftrecefs isfufficiently large
buil t , partly, on a Plain, and, partly, upon certain pleafant
riills , from the tops whereof the whole filand and the Sea are
di{cover d with a very delightful profpedt. Tlie buildings of
the City are good, large and convenient, contrived for the moft
pari for the benefit of the wind and frefh Air, which is very ne-
ctiiary in regard of the great heats, and alfo for reception of
y y /} vs a / ^ rcat ^ a ^ ns o ^three Moneths of PaufecaL which are lune
P / / anci ' which not upon account of the heat (although
r - - ^ j j —- v^imc neat Ultnough
it be very great at that time, but greateft of all in when the
Snms.nthe Zemth ) but of the great Rain, the f/rLj"call
the Winter ot the Earth. Neverthelefs the buildings have
not much ornament or exquifitenefs of Art, but are rather
plain, and almoft all without beautifyings. The beft are the
Churches, ot which many are held here by feveral Relisions as
anffe' Do», t «,cans Francifia difcalceated
indeed R OU , ' ^ ^ Covents; and
r;», v halt l L ,rtht Religious that arc here, would fuffice for a
City bigger then Goa: But befides thefe there are alfn r l.t
of Secular Priefts, and Parift.es, and ChappeI s Ta t 'd laftlv t /e
See or Cathedral, which neverthelefs is neither the faireft' r.
Ssr" ?K hof r^' Ci ' r ; ■ h - Sg »; h .; 6 0 s. z
nor finirhM J ht ^ eeot Goa a t the time of my being there was
rSife te - ■I.enS feem'd to
/t.
^ \
me fmall and lefsftately, butha^fi^.SS^
good y Church 3 C ^ Ce,Ve ' t 1 ha . t when 'tw.ll be a very
L ilavesaMack.nJ?^! IS numerous ' but ^e greateft part
i liavesj a black and lewd generation, going naked for the
moft