'Collections of travels through Turky into Persia, and the East Indies. Giving an account of the present state of those countries, as also a full relation of the five years wars, between Aureng-Zebe and his brothers in their father's life time, about the succession. And a voyage made by the Great Mogul (Aureng-Zebe) with his Army from Dehli to Lahor, from Lahor to Bember, and from thence to the Kingdom of Kachemire, by the Mogols, call'd, the Paradise of the Indies. Together with a relation of the Kingdom of Japan and Tunkin, and of their particular manners and trade. To which is added a new description of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, and also of all the Kingdoms that encompass the Euxine and Caspian Seas, being the travels of Monsieur TavernierBernier, and other great men.' [‎55] (374/1024)

Book I.
Travels in India*
55
and thence to Qgonli by land } for when the River is low, there is^io going by
Water, by reafon of a great Bank of Sand that lies before a City call’d San-
tmu
\ lay that night at Tout if our ^ diltant from Rage-mehale, coftes 12
I faw there at Sun-rifmg a great number of Crocodiles lying upon the Sand.
The feventh, I came to Acer at, coftes 2 5
From Acer at to Daca, it is counted by Land forty-five Leagues. All that
day I faw fuch a vaft number of Crocodiles, that I had a great defire to fhoot
at one, to try whether the vulgar report were true, that a Musket-lhot would
not pierce their skin. The bullet hit him in the jaw, and made the blood gulh
out } however it would not ftay in the place, but plung’d into the River.
The eight, I faw again a great number lying upon the bank of the River, and
made two fhot at two with three bullets at a time. As foon as they were woun
ded, they turn’d themfelves upon their backs,opening their throats, and di’d upon
thefpot. # v . ' , ‘
That dayT came to lie at Bonhadia, coftes 17
The Crows were here the caufe that we found a very fair Fifh, which the Fiflier-
men had hid among the Ofiers by the fide of the River} for when our Water-men
law the Crows in great numbers hovering, and making an hideous noife about the
Ofiers, they prefently conjedur d that there was fomething more than ordinary .*
and they made fo diligent a fearch, that at length they found an excellent difli of
meat.
The ninth two hours after noon,we met with a River call’d Ctorwr,that runs
from the North, and we lay at Dampour, coftes 1 <5
The tenth, we lay by the River-fide in a place remote from Houfes, and we
travefl’d that day, coftes 15
The eleventh,toward evening, being come to that part where Ganges divides it
felf into three Arms, whereof one runs to Daca ; we lay at a large Town, upon
the entry of the great Channel, which Town is call’d Jatrapour, coftes 20
They that have no luggage,may make a fliort-cut from Jatrapoffr to Daca, and
fave much ground, by reafon of the many windings of the River.
The twelfth, about noon, we paft by a large Village call’d Bagamara, and came
to lie at Kafiata, another great Town, coftes 11
The thirteenth, about noon we met with a River, two leagues from Daca,
call’d Laquia, which runs from the North-Eaft. Juft againft the Point where the
two Rivers join, there Hands a Fortrefs of each fide, with feveral pieces of Can
non. Half a league lower, appears another River call’d P^/«,upon which there
is a fairBridg of Brick, which Mirz.a-Mola caus'd to be built. This River comes
from the North-Eaft} and half a league upward appears another River call’d Ca-
damtali, that runs from the North, over which there is a nother Bridg of Brick.
On both Tides of the River are feveral Towers, as it were inchas’d with feveral
heads of men, executed for robbing upon the high way.
About evening we came to Daca, having travell’d by water that day, coftes 9
Daca is a great Town,that extends it felf only in length} every one coveting to
have an Houfe by the Ganges-fide. The length of this Town is above two leagues.
And indeed from the laft Brick-Bridge which I mention’d to there is but one
continued row of Houfes feparated one from the other ; inhabited for the moft
part by Carpenters,that build Galleys and other fmall Vefiels. Thefe Houfes are
properly no more than paltry Huts built up with Bamboucs, and daub’d over with
fat Earth. Thofe of Daca are not much better built .* The Governours Palace is
a place enclos’d with high Walls, in the midft whereof is a pitiful Houfe, built
only of Wood. He generally lodges ia Tents, which he caufes to be fet upin a
great Court of that Enclofure. The Hollanders finding that their Goods were not
r rU t ^ le ordinar y Houfes of Daca, have built them a very fair Houfe} and the
have another, which is reafonably handfom. The Church of the Auftin-
rt \\7\} S and ls a very comely Pile.
When I travell’d laft to D^,the Nabob An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Cha-Eft-Kan,vtho was then the Gover
nor or Bengala, was at War with the King of Arakan,who& Naval-Force confifts
generally of 200 Galeafles, attended by feveral other fmaller VelTels. Thefe
aiealles run through the Gulf of BengaU, and enter into the mouth of Ganges^
the