_Of some kingdomes of the newe worlde, and of
particular things that haue beene seene in them; and
treateth of the citie and riuer of Ganies._
[Sidenote: The Iland of Samatra supposed to be the Iland of Ophir.]
[Sidenote: The richest iland in the world.]
Ouer against this famous citie, of which so many thinges may be spoken
of, is that mightie kingdome and Iland of Samatra, called by the ancient
cosmogrofers Trapouana, which is (as some say) the Iland of Ophir,
whether the fleet which King Solomon sent, of which there is particular
mention made in the Scripture, in the third Booke of the _Kings_,[98]
cap. 9 and 10, and in the _Paralipomenon_,[99] cap. 9, that went and
returned again laden with gold and rich tymber for to adorne the temple
of Ierusalem, and of many other curious things, whose memorie doth
remaine vnto this day amongst the naturall people, although diffusedly,
but not so much as those that haue it out of the Holy Scripture, neither
so true. This iland is vnder the equinoctial line, so that the one halfe
doth extend vnto the pole artick, and the other halfe vnto the poole
antarticke. It hath in longitude 230 leagues, and in latitude three
score and seuen leagues: and is so nigh vnto Malaca, that in some parts
it is less than ten leagues. In this kingdom there are many lords and
rulers, yet he that hath the greatest part thereof is a Moore, and is
called Achan; it is one of the richest ilands in al the world, for that
it hath many mynes of fine golde, of the which (although there is a law
that they cannot take out of them more than is necessarie) yet there is
great abundance carried from thence to Malaca, Turkie, and many other
places. There is gathered vpon this iland great abundance of pepper and
beniewyn[100] of Boninas, in great quantity, out of whose trees (whereof
there is great woods) there come foorth so sweet a smel that it seemeth
an earthly paradice, and was wont to be smelled twenty leagues at sea,
for which respect the ships that saile that way do come so nigh the
lande as they may to haue the comfort of that smell. There is also much
camphora, and all kinde of spices; by reason wherof there commeth vnto
this kingdome to traficke, many Turkes that come in ships and foystes[101]
out of the Red Sea. Also there doth traficke thether those of the
kingdom of Sunda, Iaua the great, and Ambayno, and others that are there
nigh vnto them. Vnto this iland came certaine Portingals to buy and
sell, whereas they were all slaine, and some for the profession of the
faith; for the which they are holden for martyrs of Iesu Christ, by the
opinion of Christians that doo dwell nigh, when they vnderstood the
cause. The most part of this kingdome are Moores; and therefore they do
abhor the Christians, and do make with them all the warre they can, but
in especiall with them that dwell in Malaca, whom many times they haue
put in great danger of their liues, and losse of their goods.
[98] The first book of Chronicles.
[99] Chronicles,--the second book is here referred to.
[100] Benzoin.
[101] A small boat, from "fusta", Spanish.
[Sidenote: An armie of a million and sixe hundred thousand men.]
Running from this kingdome of Malaca by the north and northwest cost is
the mightie kingdome of Pegu, the which is in bignes greater then
Samatra, and equall in riches, especially of pearls and al sorts of
stones, and very fine christall: there is great store of prouision, and
an infinite number of people, and the king thereof is mightie: to whom
(as we haue said) the king of Cyan doth pay tribute, because he ouercame
him in a battaile which he had with him in the yeare 1568, according
vnto the common opinion: the occasion was, that, vnderstanding how that
the saide king of Syan had in his power a white elephant (whome those of
the kingdome of Pegu do worship for god), the king sent to buy the same,
and to giue for it so much as he would esteeme or value it: but he
utterly denied the same, and saide that he would not let him haue it for
all that he had in his kingdom: the which caused so great anger vnto the
king, that hee called together all the souldiers that he could make,
with determination to get by force of armes that which he could not by
faire meanes and great ritches: in the which he did so great diligence,
that in a fewe dayes hee had ioyned together an armie of a million and
sixe hundreth thousande of men of warre, with whome hee departed vnto
the saide kingdome of Syan, which was from his kingdome two hundreth
leagues, and did not onely performe his pretence in bringing away the
white elephant, but did also make the king tributarie, as he is vnto
this day, as hath bin declared vnto you.
The rites of the people and priestes of this countrie, doo resemble much
those of the kingdome of Syan: they haue amongst them many monasteries
of men that liue honestly, solitarie, and with great penance, and people
verie apt to receiue the holy gospell. For ouer and aboue that they are
docible and of a good vnderstanding, they are men which do studie
philosophie, and are well inclyned and charitable, and haue a particular
affection vnto vertue, and vnto such as they do knowe that haue vertue,
and very friendly to remedie the necessitie of their poore neighbours.
[Sidenote: The kingdome of Arracon.]
Going from this kingdome towardes the north is the kingdome of Arracon,
verie plentifull of prouision, but few things of contractation or
marchandice, which is the occasion that it is not well knowen to the
Spaniardes, for that they haue not gone thether. They doo vnderstand of
the naturall people and of their customes, that they are very apt to
receiue the holie gospell.
[Sidenote: The kingdome of Vangala.]
From this kingdome alongst the same coast, you came vnto the kingdome of
Vangala,[102] through the which doth passe the riuer Ganges, one of the
foure that comme foorth of paradice terrenall, the which being
vnderstood by a certaine king of this kingdome, he determined to cause
some to ascend vp that riuer till such time as he had found the head
spring or head thereof, and therewith paradice: for the which effect he
commanded to be made diuers sortes of barkes, both small and great, and
sent in them vp the riuer certaine men (of whose diligence hee had long
experience), and were prouided with victuals for many daies, and gaue
commandement that presently after that they had discouered that which
hee desired, that they should return with great speede, for to giue him
particular and true relation, with pretence foorthwith to go himselfe to
inioy the things which he thought necessarie to be seene, and woorthie
to be desired, of his trauaile, and in a place so delightfull.
[102] Bengal.
These men did nauigate vp the riuer many monethes, and came vnto a place
whereas the water came foorth so softly and with so small noyse, which
gaue them to vnderstande that they were not farre from the first head
thereof, which should be paradice, that which they went to seeke. They
gaue to vnderstand that in this place, after they had seene so many
tokens, and comforted themselues with maruellous sweete smels, and aires
of great delight, they thought verily that they had bin in the paradice
terrenall. And more, when as they came vnto that place, where as the
riuer did runne so peaceable, and the ayre so delicate and sweet, there
entred into the hearts of them all, so great and extraordinarie ioy,
that they seemed to be in the true paradice, and forgot all the trauaile
that they had passed for to come thether, and of any other thing that
did signifie paine or griefe. But when they did intend to go forwardes
with this their pretence and intent, and thereunto did put all diligence
possible, they found by experience that all their trauaile was in vaine,
and howe that they remained alwaies in one place: and coulde not
vnderstande from whence did come or proceede that contradiction, they
could not find in the waters by reason of the peaceablenesse thereof.
This experience being done, attributing it vnto a miserie because they
could not get a shore, they returned backe againe by the same riuer,
till they came to their owne kingdome, whereas they arriued in a very
short time, and gaue their king to vnderstand (who sent them) all as
aforesaide, and many other thinges more, the which I do leaue out for
that I do take it _apocripha_. They hold it for a certaintie that the
riuers Eufrates and Tygris are not far from this riuer Ganges; and it
seemeth to be true, for both of them doo discharge their currents, or
water, into the Persian sea, the which is not farre distant from this
kingdome.
The people of this kingdome haue this riuer in great reuerence, which is
the occasion that they neuer enter into the same but with great respect
and feare. And when they doo washe or bath themselues in it, they haue
it for a certaintie that they remaine cleare from all their sinnes.
Likewise this kingdome, with great ease, might be conuerted vnto the
Catholike faith as it seemeth, for that they haue amongst them many
morall rites, ceremonies, and vertues.