'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎334] (357/448)

Mount Elly.
The Jnanas is not inferiour to the in bulk, albeit the plant it Ipring from be no
way equal: for it arifes not from feed, but a Root like that of an Artichock: at ma
turity they rife not above two foot, whereby with lefs labour they enrich the gatherer:
without, 'tis armed with a moiftlefs rind which is hard but pleafant within: and though
a little feem ,to fatiate, yet experience teaches that the ftomach covets it and admits an
eafie digeftion. The Duroyen refembles the Jackj the fhape is round,and the out-fide beau
tiful, yet that beauty exceeds not the inward vcrtue for albeit at firft opening it give a
fmell not unlike a rotten Onion which to many feems ofFenfive, the meat nevertheiefs is
of a whitilh colour and divided into a dozen cells or partitions which are filled with
Hones as big as Cheftnuts, white and cordial. In Malacca and Java they abound moffc
and are worth the enquiring after •, for it is a fruit both nutritive and dainty, yea, with
out an hyperbole an Epitome of the belt and rareft fruits throughout the Orient. Arec
and Betde alfo are here much in ufe. The Arecca tree grows very high and refembles
the Palmeto: the wood is fuzzie and foft and hangs like fhaded grapes in clufters; the
fruit is ihaped like a Wall-nut, and of like bignefs; white within, and not eafily pene-
trated ^ but like good oyl hath neither tafte nor fmell; for they eat it not alone, but wrap
it in a leaf of Betele or Betree which hath neither flower nor moifture, and chew it in
morfels. Some ( as I have noted ) mix with it a kind of Lime like that of Oyfters-lhells
which together (if they fay true) cures the cholick, removes melancholy, kills worms,
purges the maw, preferves the teeth, prevents hunger, and ftupifies the fenfe: which
laft vertue occafions the Indians Women to chew it when they go to burning with their
dead Husbands. •
Mount Elly is in 12 degrees latitude,in 55 degrees 30 minutes longitude; variation 13
degrees; A place as eminent in Hills as any other part we faw upon the coaft of India,
and limits the two rich and populous Kingdoms Decan and Mallabar, It gave^his re-
femblance as we rode before it.
An unhappy accident happened us here, before we weighed anchor: For, on the five
and twentieth day defcrying at the point of the Bay a Junk of feventy Tuns fraught with
merchandize and bound for Acheen j we could likewife perceive a Mallabar Pirat fculk
near this Junk, which he doubted not to board being off at Sea and paft our help. As
accordingly fell out: for being under fail, the Man of War gave her chafe: the Junk
perceiving danger, chofe rather to put her felf under our protedion than hazard the
rapine of that Frigat. But her condition (with grief I fpeak it) was little better ; for
the Jonas boarding her with her Barge, tow'd her to our Admiral, where (after fbort
confultation ) fhe was adjudged prize. For my part I could not reach the offence ; but
this I could, (as fome reported) that fhe had a Cargo of Gotten, Opium, Onions, and
probably fomewhat under the Gotten of more value, which was her crime it feems*
But how the prize was diftributed concerns not me to enquire^ Iwasapaffenger,no Mer
chant nor Informer. The Sea-men it appeared were to make what advantage they could
unto themfelves: for, they firft gave the Indians that were aboard a churlifh welcome,
by which they perceived they intended to make them flaves and fell them to the Javans,
who ufiially give fifty Ryals for every Slave •, which rather than fuffer, threefcore of
thofe poor wretches threw themfelves defperately into the Sea *, choofing rather to ex-
pofe their CarcafFes to the waves than the mercy of our Men, if I may fo call it: which
fcem'd fport to fome there, but not fo to me who had compaflion: nor could 1 be in
formed what provocation had been given our Men to make fuch a proceeding. The
Canoo's from the fhore fhew'd them more mercy, for they faved fome of them •, but thofe
our Boats took up refented our dealing fo paffionately as they feem'd more willing to be
drown'd. That night we had terrible weather, much rain mixed with thunder and
lightning. This ftormy weather is ufual here when the Sun is neareft and makes their
- Summer;
Mount ■
anamtc ■