_Of many other kingdomes that are in this new world,
and of their names and properties, but in especiall of
that famous cittie of Malaca._
[Sidenote: The kingdome of Lugor and that of Patane.]
[Sidenote: Gold, pepper, and drugs.]
Nigh vnto this kingdome of Syan there are two kingdomes togither, the
one of them is called Lugor, and the other Patane; they belong both vnto
one king, who is a Moore and of the linage Malaya, yet notwithstanding
the people of these kingdomes are gentiles, and doo vnderstande in them
to haue great good will to become Christians, if they had anie to preach
vnto them the gospell. The lande is very rich of golde, pepper, and of
drugges, but the people faint hearted and cowards, and for little: for
which occasion they are more giuen vnto thinges of contentment and
pleasure, then vnto wars or brawlings.
[Sidenote: The kingdomes of Paon and Ior.]
At the ende of this kingdome is the straite of Malaca, in the which
there are two small kingdomes, the one of them is called Paon[93] and the
other Ior:[94] the people of the first are the most traiterous that are
in all the whole worlde, as the Portugals haue many times experimented;
and those of the second kingdome, sometimes they are in peace, and
sometimes in warre with the said Portugals. They will haue peace when
they do see themselues in necessity of the same, but war ordinarily.
These two kingdomes are halfe Moores, by reason whereof it seemeth that
with an evil wil they wil be reduced vnto the law of the gospel, if that
by the help of God they be not mollified of their hearts.
[93] Pahang.
[94] Johore.
[Sidenote: The Straight of Malaca is vnder the line.]
This straight of Malaca is vnder the equinoctiall line, and is accounted
from the kingdome of Cochinchina vnto it three hundred and seuenty-six
leagues: this is an euill straight and very dangerous for ships that
passe thorough it, for very few times it is without stormes or some
other greater danger, as it happened vnto a verie great shippe in the
mouth of the straight, in the presence of frier Martin Ignacio, the
which in verie little space was swallowed vp with the sea, and in it
more then three hundred thousand ducats in merchandice that was within
her, although the successe thereof our people did attribute it more vnto
the iust iudgement of God than vnto the storme, for that according as
they were informed, they had committed grieuous offences, at the time
when she sanke: for being very nigh with his shippe in the which he
went, and many other more, they felt not, neither had any suspition of
any danger. From this straight to go vnto Malaca, you coast alongest the
sea, fiue and twentie leagues: all which coast is full of great,
mightie, and thicke woods, by reason whereof, as also for that it is not
inhabited, there are many tygers, elephants, and mightie great lysards,
and other furious beastes.
[Sidenote: A daintie kind of meat.]
[Sidenote: A tree of wonderfull effect.]
[Sidenote: Two contraries in one subiect.]
The citie of Malaca, in our pole articke, is eleuated from the
equinoctiall onely one degree: of ancient time it was the most
principallest citie of all these kingdomes, and resident therein a
mightie king, a Moore, but after it was conquered by the Portugals, who
in these wars did wonderfull things of great force and courage: they did
driue foorth all the Moores out of the same, and out of all the borders,
and made of their Mezquita or temple (which was a singular peece of
worke) a high church, as it doth remaine vnto this day: there are also
three monasteries of religious men, one of S. Dominicke, an other of S.
Francis, and the third of the companie of Iesus, or Iesuites. It is a
verie temperate countrie, being so nigh the equinoctiall line: the
reason is, for that euery weeke ordinarily it rayneth three or foure
times (which is the greatest cause of health in all that countrie), and
thereby is made woonderfull fruitfull, and with great abundance of
prouision; but particularly of fruites, for there is great store, and
some sortes neuer seene in Europe, amongst the which there is one that
is called in the Malaca tongue _durion_,[95] and is so good that I haue
heard it affirmed by manie that haue gone about the worlde, that it doth
exceede in sauour all others that euer they had seene or tasted: it is
in forme like vnto a mellon, whose ryne is somewhat harde, and hath vpon
it little white prickes which seemeth like haire, and within the fruite
be partitions, which be of the colour like vnto _maniar blanco_,[96] and
of so good sauour and tast is it. Some do say that haue seene it, that
it seemeth to be that wherewith Adam did transgresse, being carried away
by the singular sauour. The leaues which this tree yeeldeth are so bigge
that a man may couer himselfe with one of them, which mee thinketh is
but coniecture or defining: but there is cannafistola[97] for to lade
fleetes, very bigge and good, and of a singular effect, one of the
notablest things in this kingdome, and is a maruellous tree of an
admirable vertue, the which putteth foorth so many rootes of so
contrarie vertue, that those which grow towards the orient be good
against poyson, agues, and many infirmities that do war against humaine
life; and those rootes that growe towards the west be ranke poyson, and
in effect, all cleane contrarie vnto the first. So that it seemeth here
to be founde two contraries in one subiect, a thing which, in
philosophie, they were woont to count impossible.
[95] The Durio Zibethinus of K[oe]nig.
[96] Blanc mange.
[97] From the name the cassia fistula is probably meant, although the
author is silent respecting the purgative properties for which that
plant is so remarkable.
This citie is of great contractation, for that there come thether all
the kingdomes that we haue spoken of, and from many other more that are
nigh thereabouts: but in particular a great number of great ships from
the Indians, Canton, Chincheo, and from many other places, likewise the
Iapones carry thether their siluer to sell, and those of the kingdome of
Syan carry many things very curious, but especially cloues, and pepper
of the Iland Malucas, and those of Burneo bring much sanders and
nutmegs, and those of Iaba and Pegu bring the wood of Aguila, and those
from Cochinchina and Cham bring great store of wrought silke, drogges,
and spicerie; and those of Samatra, or Trapouana, much golde and wrought
things, and fine cloth of Vengalas and Coromandel. All these, and other
thinges, make this citie famous and plentifull, as also very much
enlarged of the Portingals that go thether ordinarily euery yeare and
traficke there.