_In this chapter is declared of such kingdomes as are
adioyning vnto that of Cochinchina, and of some
notable thinges in them, with the rites and customes
of the inhabitants._
[Sidenote: The kingdome of Champa rich of drugs.]
Nigh vnto this kingdome of Cochinchina there is another called Champa,
that although it be poore of gold and siluer, yet is it verie rich of
drugges and gallant wood, and great stoare of prouision. This kingdome
is very great and full of people, and they some what whiter than those
of Cochinchina; they are as nigh and as willing to become Christians as
their neighbors, but for the performance thereof they doo lacke that
which the other doo. They haue the same lawes and ceremonies as well the
one as the other, and are all idolaters, and doo worship the second
causes, in the same order as the Chinos do, vnto whome likewise they do
make one manner of acknowledging.
[Sidenote: The kingdome of Camboia.]
From this iland you may go with ease vnto Malaca, leauing on the right
hand a kingdome which is called Camboia, the which is great and very
full of people, and all of them affectioned to go to sea, and
nauigation, by reason whereof they haue an infinite number of vessels.
It is a very fertill country, with great stoare of prouision: there are
elephants in great number and abadas,[92] which is a kind of beast so
big as two great buls, and hath vppon his snowt a little horne. At this
day there is one of them at Madrid, the which was brought out of the
Indians to his maiesty, and many do go to see it for a strange thing,
and neuer the like seene in Europe, whose skinne is so hard (according
vnto the report) that no man, although he be of great force and
strength, can passe it with a thrust. Some haue saide that it is an
unicorne, but I take it for the contrarie, and they are of my opinion
almost all those that haue beene in those partes, and haue seene the
true unicorne.
[92] The Spanish word for the rhinoceros.
In this kingdome there is a religious man of the order of S. Dominicke,
called frier Siluester, whome God did carrie into those parts for to
remedy the soules that are therein: hee dooth imploy himselfe to learne
their natural language, and to preach the holy gospell in the same
tongue, and hath them likewise prepared, that if he had any companions
for to help hym, they should obtayne much fruite for the heauens: he
hath sent and requested for some vnto the India of Portingall, but they
would neuer send him anie, peraduenture by some sinister information, by
men which the diuell doth marke as instruments, for to stay and let the
saluation of those soules for euer to remayne in his tyrannicall power.
This fryer did write a letter vnto Malaca vnto fryer Martin Ignacio, and
vnto other religious men, intirely requesting them for the loue of God
to giue such order that hee might be holpen with some religious men, of
what order soeuer, with certification that therein they shall doe great
seruice vnto God, and put remedie in those soules whome he dare not
baptise, for feare that after lacking the euangelical refreshing, to
water and cherish them, they returne to bring forth that euill fruit of
idolatrie. This petition did not take effect according to his desire,
for that there was not to serue his turne, nor any that was vnoccupied.
They vnderstood of him that brought this letter, that the king of that
kingdome had in great veneration the sayd father Siluestro, in so ample
manner, as was the patriarck Ioseph in Egypt: hee had in all that
kingdome the seconde place, and euery time that the king would speak
with him, he gaue him a chaire: and gaue him great priuiledges, and
licence for to preach the holy gospell throughout all the kingdome
without any contradiction, and for to edifie the churches and all other
thinges whatsoeuer he thought necessarie: this king himselfe helping
thereunto, by giuing of great gifts and charitie: he said also that in
al the kingdome there were erected many crosses, and were had in great
reuerence. And for the confirmation of the truth hereof, the aforesaid
frier Ignacio did see in Malaca a present that the king of this kingdome
of Camboia did send vnto another friend of his: and amongst many things
contained therin of great riches and curiositie, there were two crosses
very great and wel made, of a gallant wood and very sweete, and all
garnished very richly with siluer and gold, with their titles enamiled.
[Sidenote: The kingdome of Sian.]
[Sidenote: The mother of idolatrie.]
[Sidenote: Faint hearted people.]
Nigh vnto this kingdome is that of Sian, in the hight of fourteene
degrees from the pole artike, and three hundred leagues from Machao,
wheras the Portugals do go to trade: it is the mother of all idolatrie,
and the place from whence hath proceeded many sectes, vnto Iapon, China,
and Pegu. It is a flourishing countrie, and well replenished of all such
things as be requisite for to merite the name to be good. There be in it
manie elephants and abadas, and other beasts that are nourished in that
countrie: besides this, it is very rich of mettals, and gallant sweete
woode. The people of this kingdome for the most part are faint-hearted
or cowards, for which occasion, although they are infinite in number,
yet are they subiect vnto the king of Pegu, who ouercame them long time
since, in a battell (as afterwards shall be declared): and they doo pay
him ordinarily great and heauy tributes. They would be conuerted very
easily unto the faith of Iesu Christ, and would leaue their idols, if
they had any to preach vnto them: yea and would subiect themselues vnto
any king or lord that woulde fauour them, and not vnto this whom now
they do obey, for that hee dooth intreate them tyrannously. They haue
amongst them many religious men after their fashion, who doo liue in
common, and leade an asper and sharp life: for the which they are had of
al the rest in great veneration. The penance which they do is wonderfull
and strange, as you may iudge by some things that I will declare here:
amongst a great number that be tolde of them, there are none of them
that can marrie, neither speake to any woman, and if by chance he do,
they are without remission punished by death. They go alwayes barefoote,
and very poorely apparelled, and do eate nothing but rice and greene
herbes, and this they do aske for charitie euery day, going from doore
to doore with their wallet at their backes, alwayes with their eyes
looking on the ground, with such modesty and honesty, that it is to be
wondred at: they doo not craue their charity, neither take it with their
hands, nor do any other thing but cal or knocke, and stand still, till
such time as they giue them their answer, or put something into their
wallets. It is told of them for a truth, that many times for penance
they do put themselues starke naked in the heate of the sunne, which is
there very great, for that the country is in twenty sixe degrees of the
equinoctiall, whereas they are much troubled there with gnats, whereof
there is an infinite number, and is a thing that if they did passe it
for Gods sake, it is a kinde of martyrdome of great desert. God for his
mercy lighten them with his grace, that this which they do smally vnto
the profite of their soules, may bee the occasion that after they are
baptised, they may deserue for the same many degrees of glory.
Likewise in secrete they doo great penance, and doo rise vp at midnight
to praie vnto their idols, and they do it in quiers, as is vsed amongst
vs Christians. It is not permitted them any rentes, nor any other kinde
of contractation: and if they bee seene to deale in any, they are
detested and hated, as an heretike is amongst vs.
For this kind of asper liuing, the which they do, according vnto the
report, for the loue of heauen, and that with great zeale, they are
respected of the common people for saints, and for such they do
reuerence them, and do commit them vnto their praiers, when they are in
any trouble or infirmity. These and many other things more be declared
of them in like order, which may serue for to confound vs, that
confessing we do not obserue and keepe, hauing for the same our sure
reward, not of humain interest, but that which God hath prepared for the
good in heauen.
The law of the gospell in this kingdome would bring foorth much fruite,
for that the people are charitable, and louers of vertue, and of them
that haue it. This experience had the father Ignacio and his companions
in China, at such time as they were prisoners, where there were in a
city certain ambassadors from the king of Syan, who were bound to the
court, and there they vnderstood that the Spaniards were sentenced to
death for entring into that country without licence: they went to visite
them, and when they saw them with their asper habites and very poore,
and did resemble very much the habit of their religious men, they had so
great affection vnto them, that ouer and aboue they sent them good
charity, the which was two bags of rice, much fish and fruits: they did
offer to them al the money they would desire, and to ransome them in al
that the judges would demand for them: in recompence of this good wil
they shewed vnto the Spaniards, they did verifie that aforesaide, that
they are great louers of vertue.