'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.' [‎362] (385/448)

^6z Pegu. The Elephant adored.
But which was worfe than that, through thefe continued brawls of War his Treafure im
paired, hisCities were impoverifhed by want of Trade, and his Kingdom in a lort depo
pulated through lofs of fo many men: Which proved not motives of pity with the other
lubjeded Provinces, but provocatives rather to unfetter; themfelves as Siam had done;
Accordingly the Vice-Roys of Bramaw, Tangu and Rachan confederate: and whiles
the King of was contriving new defignsat Martavm enter Vegnmith a deiperate and
numerous Army, forraging and deftroying fuch as the late famine had fpared ^ where
though they found few people and left food, yet got they riches ineftimable: For, out of
the Citf of Pegu they took no lefs treafure than loaded two thoufand Camels; and as a pe
riod, not only made the wretched King crownlefs, but crowned their conqueft with the lols
of his life, his Wife and three Sons Ibrrowfully accompanying him.
This luccefSf was attended with mif-fbrtune of another kind; for the Sovereign of ^Ar-
rakarK and the other two dif-agreeing about the dividing that great fpoil, were beaten
home by the Bramaan King *, who alio enjoyed it but a while, the Siamite entring fb furi
ouflythat the Bremaan was content with a fafe retreat leaving the Siamite vidorious-
who iince, upon a marriage 'twixt one of the Royal Family of Pegu and his Daughter has'
quit his claim and gives the right Heir leave to re-polfefs both City and Kingdom, which
a fliort peace has recovered to little lefs trade and beauty than it had formerly. But to fa
cilitate our travel, accept thepreceding Map to that in fol. 336. This defcribing India on
the other, fide Ganges.
From Pegu to Bengala are ninety leagues: the fecond Town of note is Martavm un
der 15 degrees-, which fome imagine to be Triglipton noted by Ptolomyy rather than
Pegu as thinks Caftaldm. The next good Rogd is Negrais-har \ nigh which is Cofmya
whence we pafs to Pegu in Faroes or Boats by water. Veilels which are pretty large and
fow'd together with Cairo as here called; a Cord made of the rind of Cocos, for they
have no Iron : In thefe they load their curious Quilts and Carpets, ftitcht and wrought
with raw filk and threads of Gold and Silver, and the bark of a Tree they call Moga, Calli-
coes ; Rice, Pepper,Ginger, Sugar,Hony,Butter, Lac One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , Wax^ and other things Merchandable.
Medon is upon that River from whence we go to Dela, to Cirion, to Macao, and then come
to Pegu. At Coplan are found Hones of price, as Merchants told us. To tell you what is re
ported of the vanity of this Monarch, both whenhelhewshimfelfin his Royal Paradrome
or when he is difpofed to load himfelf with Gems ^ his head, ears, arms, hands, legs, and
feet refembling a beipangled Firmament; fuch as may amaze the fenfe, and dazle the'eye:
or of his deifying his Elephants becaufe milk-white and of greater bulk than ufual, would
be but repetition : I will therefore content my felf in giving you the profped of that his
Deity; not that he is unknown in but for other things than his fliape rendring
him worth the obfervation.
The Elephant (for growth and underftanding reputed the chiefeft of unreafonable
Animals) has been the fubjed of fundry learned Pens *, as of Anftotle, Plutarch, Pliny-,
Strabo, Annian and others. Theygo two, fometimes three years with young, and have
extreme torment in their labour *, the teat is 'twixt their fore-legs, which the young eafily
find and fuck with eagernefs. At three years of age they wean themfelves and fall to other
provant, as herbs, boughs of trees, ihrubs, and like vegetables: but when in fervice have
more dainty fare, as corn, fruits, roots, fugar-canes, milk, whey, and fuch as may increafe
both ftrength and courage. They grow until they be fifteen years old, and are ufually
eighteen foot high, butfome of the higheft mount to four and twenty.- Notwithftanding
which marvellous greatnefs they are not dull and unweildy but quick and fpirited. They
can and ufually do lie down and rife as other Beafts contrary to the report of fome old
Writers: foadive notwithftanding their cylindrical form of leg as at Rome in Nero and
Galba's time they were taught to dance upon a cable or great rope as we find reported by
Suetonius -, and fo full of courage as no ftory gives more commendation to, any beaft than
to the Elephant that King Porm fought upon againft; Alexander. And albeit his Tusks
and his Probofcis are his beft Weapons,yet can he frame his mighty body as occaiion ferves
into offenfive and defenfivepoftures. In rutting time (which is commonly when the feafbn
is hotteft)the males are mad, and hardly to be ruled without the femalesxompany. Some
confidently report That their tefticles are in or near their fore-head^ which beingaten^
der part is the reafon the Condudor fits upon his head, and with his Iron rod or hook
there correds him : Howbeit, Arifiotle places his ftones near his reins. His Trunk is
long and compofed of fmall Ner ves which be full of ftrength and very agile. His skin is
rough and aih-coloured: his Teeth proportionable to his body; fome are thirteen
toot long and weigh upwards of a hundred and thirty pound. Muddy Rivers and
cool lhadovyed places belt pleafe, but Swine, Serpents and Mice difpleafe them *,
* C0Ck-
/