'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.' [‎339] (362/448)

Cmlam,
or rather acceptable: but in this they differ from other libidinous Law-givers V as the
men have many Wives, fo one woman here is allowed many husbands^ and the iffue
bequeathed as Ihe nominates. The old cuftom of the World is here retained, in the Sedge
and Palmeto leaves they ufe for paper j the pen being then a ftile of Iron, but now a har
dened piece of wood cut (harp. Thence we palled by
C O W L A M a Town and Province called Sopatpa in Arrhyan, and Colay in Ptolomy
who places it in 13 degrees, but we found it in 9 degrees North, included in the Travan-
Zorian Kingdom. Once it obeyed the Narfingan Monarch, and once the Mallabar, but
at this day neither. About two hundred years ago. the Town was rich, and great and
populous •, traded to by many Indians, enlarged by the Samoryn, and able to number a hun
dred thoufand Inhabitants ^ of fuch repute it then was for fcituation, trade, and fidelity
of the Cowlamites. But now> the period of her excellency is outrun; for Callicm firft,
and then Goa have not only monopolized but attracted the trade of this as well as other
parts thereabouts.
Now albeit I have mentioned the Bannyans in lundry places as I meet with them here
alfo all along this coaft I find theyfwarm in multitudes, fucking in the fweetnefs of gain
by an immeafurable thirft and induftry, but Sic vos non vobis, for it is raviihed from
them by Drones, the Moors and Gentiles lording it over them. Alas! the Bannyan is no
fwaggcrer, no royfter: he abhors domineering and fighting» yea, fuffers himfelf to be
fleeced by any man, rather than refill or Ihed blood by breach of peace or making the lealt
oppofition *, they love no tumult, no innovation ^ are content to fubmit rather than go
vern, and wilh all were of their mind*, that is to fay, morally honeft, courteous in beha
viour, temperate inpaffion, decent in apparel, abftemious in dyet, induftrious in their
callings, charitable to the needy, humble, merciful, and fo innocent as not to take away
the life of the fillieft vermin, and no marvel, feeing that if they fhould deftroy any living;
thing, thereby they might diao^ge their friends of a peaceful Manfion, or devour the
fouls of fuch as weredeareft to them: for as I have elfewhere noted, they verily credit
the tranfanimation or paflage of fouls into beafts. A perfwafion how ftrange foever it be
to us, was not fo of old to our Countreymen the Druida; who not only believed the im
mortality of the fouls of men, but after leparation from the body that they paifed from
one man unto another. Ovid feems to allude unto it,
Leis home, and in bruit beafts our bodies hide,
Where happily our Parents may abide.
Our Brothers, or fame by Allyanae tied •
One man or other [ure !
-inque ferinas
Poffumus iredomos, Pecudumq-, in corpora condi 1
Corpora qua? poflunt animas habuilTe Parentum 3
Aut Tratrum, aut aliquo junaorum foedere nobis'
Aut honainum certe i 5
But the Countrey is not wholly overfpread with thefe Gentiles *, for amongft them here
and there are fcattered Chriftians: yea, the Jefuits report, that Anno Bom,
'twixt Cowlam and this Cape were then above twenty Villa's of S. Thomas Chriftians. More
certain it j| their Anceftors were converted byS. Thomas the Apoftle *, for both here and
moft other parts of the habitable World the Apoftles without all doubt divulged the dad
tidings of falvation,as fore-told by the Prophet David, Pfal. 19. There is no Speech nor Lan
guage where their voice is not heard: their found is gone into all Lands, and their words unto the
ends of the World. Mantuan alfo gives this atteftation.
As when the Flood o*re (pre ad, old careful Noe
His Sons dijperft throughout the World, to jhow
The Law of Cod, and facred rites to pay:
So when our Saviour would no longer flay
On Earth, a miffion of his Scholars he
To th* utmoft bounds of th 7 Earth with Charter free
Doth makeyt'' inftruft the World both how to pray,
And to appeafe Gods wrath with facred Lay.
Sicut aquis, quondam Noe fua mifit in orbern
Pignora fedatis, ut Geas human a per omnes
Debita coelituum Patri daret orgya terras;
Sic fua cum vellet Deus alfa in regna revert^
Diicipulos quofdam tranfmifit ad ultima Mundi
Littora j doduros Genres quo Numinaritu
Sint oranda, quibus Coelum placabile facris.
and accordingly, Hiftory abundantly acquaints us that in both the Afia r s the Golpel wa^
throughly preached : but for their ingratitude removed, and through the fubtilty Of Sa
tan that carnal Law of Mahomet hath fince infeded thefe parts, fo as it hath fpread it felf
almoft through all the Oriental Iflands and Continent. Notwithftanding which,Chrift has
his flock; which though fcattered, in due time will be gathered. For in Perfia are many
thoufand; and in India a no lefs multitude: neverthelefs, compared with other Idola
ters, but a handful : Which mult not difcourage, feeing 'tis better go to Heaven alone,
Xx 2 than