'A New Account of East-India and Persia, in Eight Letters. Being Nine Years Travels, Begun 1672. And Finished 1681. Containing Observations made of the Moral, Natural, and Artificial Estate of Those Countries: Namely, of their Government, Religion, Laws, Customs. Of the Soil, Climates, Seasons, Health, Diseases. Of the Animals, Vegetables, Minerals, Jewels. Of their Housing, Cloathing, Manufactures, Trades, Commodities. And of the Coins, Weights, and Measures, Used in the Principal Places of Trade in Those Parts.' [‎83] (126/506)

Bombaim, and the Parts 85
of Surat, to licenfe them to keep a Mart here, which they make the Chap. V.
Europeans pay dearly for: Yet fuch is their Policy,that without thefe,
neither you nor the Natives themfelves fhall do any Bufinefs, though ^uon^to
they are worfe Brokers than Jews; if they be not the Spawn of keep a Mart. .
them, the Rechahites, that would drink no Wine. Thefe generally
are the Poorer fort, and fet on by the Richer to Trade with the Sea
men for the meaneid things they bring; and notwithftanding they
take them at their own rates, get well enough in exchange of Goods
with them. They are the abfolute Map of Sordidnefs, fareing
hardly, and profefling fairly, to entrap the unwary; enduring fervily
foul Words, Affronts and Injuries, for a future hope of Gain y ex
pert in all the ftudied arts of Thriving and Infinuation ; fo that,
Lying, Diflembling, Cheating, are their Mafterpiece: Their whole
defire is to have Money pafs through their Fingers, to which a great
part is fure to (lick: For they well underfland the conftant turning
of Calh amounts both to the Credit and Profit of him that is fo
occupied; which thefe Banyans are fenfibleof, otherwife they would
not be fo induftrious to enflave themfelves. • '
Having viewed the Tombs by the Sea-fide, and fome more con- Travel to sm
fpicuous at the end of the Plain belonging to the Englifh ; others rat -
feated behind the Dutch Choultry , partly Englijh , partly Dutch :
Marks fet to avoid, as well the Sy/la- and Charihdis of Damkin and
Mora, two Nurferies for Stews, as to warn them of the Sands coming
into the Hole where the Ships ride at Anchor very feCurely : We
in the Company's Coaches Travelled to Surat, Ten Mile, brave
Champion ground; but the Coach wherein I was, breaking, we
were forced to mount the Indian Hackery, a Two-wheeled Chariot,
drawn by fwift little Oxen. By Sun-fet we entred the Company's
Barge, waiting to carry us over the River; where faluted us the
dreadful Noife of the Moors Drums and Trumpets, it being cufto-
mary for them to found at the Caflle every Three hours; but chiefly
at Sun-rife and Sun-fet: I could think of nothing but the laft Trurqp;
fo that I could perfuade my felf there was little Mufick in it; but
they fay Time will bring it to be agreeable to the Ears. On the
other fide the River, other Four wheelecl Coaches expedled us, and ,
the Moors let us pafs the Cuftom-houfe without Examination, having
Women among us; which was no ordinary point of Civility, they
otherwife being ftrid: Examiners, unlefs the Prefident crofs the River,
when they forbear alfo.
The Coach where the Women were, was covered with Cheeks, a The Coaches
fort of hanging Curtain, made with Bents varioufly Coloured with and Guards.
Lacker, and Chequered with Packthred fo artificially^ that you may
fee all without, and your felf within unperceived: Ours was open,
and guarded by fuch a Troop as went to apprehend our Saviour,
drefled after the fame manner we find them on old Landskips, and
led by the fame Phanatick Lights we fee there Painted.
Our Reception at the Englijh Houfe was Courteous and Welcome,
for the Heat of the Day had tired us.
The Houfe the Englifh live in at Surat, is partly the King's Gift, The EngUfi
partly hired ; Built of Stone and excellent Timber, with good Car- Faaory,
M 2. ving, ,