_From hence he set sail to _Swalley-Road_, and so from
thence coasted till he arrived at _Delyn_ a Town that
belongs to the _Malabars_; he gives an account of what
he there saw and observed._
Some two hours after we set sail, we were becalmed, having not the least
breeze of wind, the weather withal being exceeding hot and sultry: at
length we arrived in _Swalley-Road_, where was riding an English Vessel;
there we cast anchor: the English men came aboard of us, whom our
Captain welcomed with the best of his entertainment. I could not forbear
embracing my dear Country-men, shewing them so many demonstrations of
joy, that by their looks, they seemed to question whether I was in my
right wits. Their Masters-mate calling me aside, askt me, how I came to
be ingaged in this Vessel? how long since I came from _England_? with
many other questions too tedious here to relate. To all which I gave him
such satisfactory answers, that he seemed very well pleased. I gave him
a summary relation of what I had suffer’d, since my departure from my
own Country; the report whereof, seemed to extract much pity from him.
In fine, I told him, I had a great desire to see _England_ again, and to
that end desired him to make use of what interest he could, to remove me
into their Ship: he promised he would; and accordingly giving a Present
to our Captain, he so far prevailed upon him to let me go, and perswaded
the chief of whom he was concerned withal, to entertain me, which they
did with much willingness. I was so like a Sea-man in this short time,
that none could distinguish me from one that received his first rocking
in a Ship. I carried about me as deep an hoguo of Tarpawlin as the best
of them, & there was no term of art belonging to any part of the Ship or
tackling, but what I understood. I could drink water that stunk (as if
_stercus humanum_ had been steept two or three days in it) as well as
any of them, and eat beef and Pork (that stirred as if it had received a
second life, and was crawling out of the platter to seek out the rest of
his Members) I say, I could devour it with as much greediness (scorning
that my appetite should be ever again taxed with any of those Epithets,
either nice or squeamish) as if it had been but nine hours, instead of
nine Months, in salt. And to make me the more compleat, I had forgot to
wash either hands or face, or what the use of a comb or shirt was,
neither did I know how to undress my self; or if wet to the skin, to
make use of any other means than my natural heat to dry my self: I never
lookt on a hat or band, but as Prodigies. But to return to my purpose,
where I left off. In three days time we set sail for _Swalley-Road_,
steering our course from them, all along the coast of _India_, _Decan_,
and _Malabar_. I knew not whither they intended, neither did I care now,
as thinking my self safe, being amongst my friends: on the 20 of
_April_, seven days from our weighing anchor in _Swalley-Road_, we came
to an anchor at _Delyn_, a Town of the _Malabars_: We durst not land,
the people being so treacherous and bloody; yet we suffered them to come
aboard us in their small Canoos, selling us for any trifles, Coco-nuts,
Jacks, Green-pepper, Indian-pease, Hens, Eggs, and the like. They
brought us likewise Oranges of so pleasant a taste, the rind vying with
the juice, which shall become most grateful to the palate: We had
likewise from them Plantanes, a fruit supposed by some, to be that which
_Eve_ was tempted withal; if a man gathers them green, yet will they
ripen afterwards, coloured with a dainty yellow: the rind or skin will
peel off with much facility; they melt in the mouth, giving a most
delicious taste and relish. These _Malabars_ are coal-black, well
limb’d, their hair long and curled; about their heads they only tye a
small piece of linnen, but about their bodies nothing but a little cloth
which covers their secrets. Notwithstanding their cruelty & inhumanity,
we man’d out our long-boat, and 15, whereof I was one, went ashore,
carrying some Muskets and Swords with us, suspecting the worst: Landing,
they fled from us, but not without sending good store of poysoned arrows
& darts amongst us. It is no wonder that these people are so black, for
they live under the scorching fire of the torrid Zone. We returned to
our Ship, finding it no way safe to stay here longer; next morning
hoisting sail, we came to _Canavar_, where we met with people more
civil; whereupon we landed; and receiving things from the inhabitants of
considerable value, for toys and trifles we gave them in lieu, we
resolved to stay here a while. The better sort of these people are
called _Nairo’s_, whose heads are cover’d with a low tulipant, & their
middles with a party-coloured Plad, resembling a Scotch Plad: The poorer
sort have nothing but a small vail over their privities, wholly naked
elsewhere; which veil or flap the women in courtesie will turn aside,
and shew a man their _Pudenda_, by way of gratitude for any courtesie
received, as if they would render satisfaction with that, which could
never receive plenary satisfaction it self. They have a strange custom
in their Marriages, observed among them by the highest to the lowest:
who so marrieth, is not to have the first nights imbraces with his
Bride, but is very well contented to bestow her Maiden-head on the
_Bramini_, or Priests, who do not always enjoy it, being glutted with
such frequent offerings, and therefore will many times sell them to
strangers. Such a proffer I had once made me, and with shame I must
confess, I did accept it, forgetting those sacred vows I made in
_Newgate_, to live a more pious, strict and sober life. The Bride that
night, was plac’d in one of their Fanes, as is customary, the Priest or
_Bramin_ coming to her; but instead thereof, according to agreement
between this Priestly Paynim and my self, I went: I wondred to find her
so low of stature, but I did not much matter it then, minding something
else; which having performed, I departed. The next morning I had a great
desire to see her, but was amazed to see her so young, believing it
impossible (though I knew the contrary) a child (for I may so call her,
being but seven years of age) could be capable of mans reception at that
tender age. Afterwards, I was informed, it was usual for them to marry
so soon: first, being extreamly salacious and leacherous, and as fit,
nay, as prone to enjoy man at that age, as _Europæans_ at fourteen.
Next, they extreamly honour Wedlock, insomuch, that if any of their
children die whilst very young, they will hire some Maiden to be married
to him, and so lie with him the night after his decease. So soon as we
arrived (which is a custom they use to all strangers, of what Country
soever) we had presented us choice of many Virgins; our Boat-swain
chusing one he fancied for a small price, she guided him to a lodging,
where if he would have stayed so long, she would have performed his
domestick affairs, as well at board as bed, discharging her duty very
punctually: but he that undertakes any such thing, must be very wary
that he be not venereally familiar with any other woman, lest that she
with whom he hath contracted himself for such a time, doth recompence
his inconstancy with mortal poyson. At his departure, her wages must be
paid to her Parents, who returns then with much joy, and they receive
her with as much credit and ostentation. The chiefest among them hold it
a very great courtesie, if any one will save them the labour, pain &
trouble, by accepting the Hymeneal rites of his Bride. I should have
told the Reader, that the _Bramins_ are so much respected and esteemed
by the commonalty, that if any of them gets their wives or daughters
with child, they believe that off-spring to be much holier than their
own, being extracted from Pagan piety. Their Funerals they celebrate
after this manner: Bringing the dead corps near to their Fanes or
Churches, they consume it to ashes, by fire made of sweet smelling wood,
unto which they add costly perfumes in Aromatick gums and spices; If the
wife only (for here they will not hear of Polygamy) cast not herself
into the flames voluntarily, they look upon her to be some common
prostitute, having not any thing commendable in her natural disposition;
but if she freely commits her self to the flames, with her husbands
carcase, she from that noble act (for so it is esteemed of among these
infidels) derives to her memory, reputation and glory amongst her
surviving friends and kindred. They are deluded on to this resolution by
their _Bramins_, who perswade them by so doing, they shall enjoy variety
of perpetual pleasures, in a place that is never disturbed by alteration
of weather, wherein night is banisht, there being a continual spring;
neither is there wanting any thing that shall ravish each individual
sense. This was at first a stratagem invented by some long-headed
Politician, to divert them from murdering their husbands (which they
were frequently guilty of, by reason of their extream leachery and
insatiate venery) so by that means they were reduced to that good order,
as that they tender’d the preservation of their husbands healths and
lives equally with their own. For my part, I could wish the like custom
enjoyn’d on all married English females (for the love I bear to my own
Country) which I am confident would prevent the destruction of thousands
of well-meaning-Christians, which receive a full stop in the full career
of their lives, either by corrupting their bodies by venemous
medicaments administred by some pretended Doctors hand (it may be her
Stallion) unto which he is easily perswaded, by the good opinion he hath
of his wifes great care and affection for him: or else his body is
poysoned by sucking or drawing in the contagious fumes which proceed
from her contaminated body, occasioned by using pluralities for her
venereal satisfaction, and so dies of the new Consumption.
Or lastly, by pettish and petulant behaviour, she wearieth him of his
life, and at last is willing to die, that he may be freed, not only from
the clamorous noise of her tongue, but that the derision of his
neighbours, and scandal that she hath brought upon him, may not reach
his ears. That all such might be mindful of their duty, I would have
(were it at my disposing) these two lines fixt as a Motto to their
doors.
_A Couchant Cuckold, and a rampant Wife,
Are Cop’latives disjunctive all their life._