'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.' [‎197] (242/506)

Hijiory of Eaft-India.
97
Ul\
Chap. VI,
The Portugals
might have
Conquered In
dia had not
the Enghfr In.
terrupted
them, and
the Dutch fal
len upon
them.
The Portugals,
Not to defraud them of their due, might have Subdued India by
this time, had not wefallenout with them, and given them the firft
blow 2ii,0rmus; upon which the Dutch fell in and took from them
the bed of their Conqueft, and all their Spice Trade; notwith-
ftanding they have added fome Chriftians to thofe formerly Con
verted by St. Thomas, but it is a fond report to fay all India ; no more
than to have Conquered all the Inland Country, where they never
pierced, their Pofleflions being moft by the Sea-fide ; yet at this day
they bear the Port of a Vice-Roy at Gm , who has his Council, and
Governs after the Mode of Portugal: yis Reign is Triennial, as are
all their Cafitaneas,
The Dutch,
Though a Commonwealth in Europe, find it propereft to bear the
face of a Monarchy here, appointing a General at Batavia, whofe
Power is extenfive over all India : Thefe begin to be taken notice of,
and are efteemed as Men of War among thefe Nations ; for obliging
and fair Means prevail not here, they being of a lefs Ingenuous
Temper than to be won by any other ways than Force; lo that a
Tyrannical Government in India is as neceflary to keep them under,
as abftaining from Flefh and Walhing their Bodies, to keep them in
Health, wherefore they have wifely Ordained Religious Rites:
Anithis is the reafon they have a value for
i
The Englijhy
Who they fee are content with Bomlaim, and a peaceable way of The Engujh
Trade; fquare with the Humour , and meet with the Praife of m " ch
the Banyans; but command not that Awe by which thefe People va
are beft taught to underftand themfelves. •
The Parfies,
As they are called, are of the old (lock of the Perjians, Worfhip the The parjte,
Sun. and Adore the Elements; are known only about Surat ; where ex pofe their
thcf are famous for what all other Nations deem infamous, the ex- powisof the
pofing their Dead to the Fowls of the Air; And thefe coming in by Air.
permiflion are obliged to Conformity with the Heathen Cuftoms,
being almoft, as the Gileonites to the Ifraelitts, Hewers of Wood
and Drawers of Water; having been curbed formerly by the Gen
tiles, and now by the Moors ufed as perfedt Slaves; yet they en
dure this, that fo they may enjoy their Religion, and that benefit,
which is tolerated to the Indians more than any where, the liberty
of getting Children, and an indulgence for Poverty.
The Indians are Tall of Stature, Large Boned ; their Colour va
ries according tothediverfityof the Region; the Parfies are Straw
Coloured, as Hyppocrates witnefled for them ? /Ethiopians we Black
and