_He discourses of the manner of Government, of the Inhabitants of the_
East-Indies; _a small Voyage by Sea, where he is in danger by a
Tempest, and a_ Malabar _Man of War, but escapes both; he makes some
rambles into the Country, and returning home has some reflections on
his fore passed life._
I was now arrived at the Meridian of my age, and enjoyed such a plenty
of every thing, that I soon forgot the many miseries I had lately
suffered, since my banishment from _England_. I governed my Family with
a most absolute command, and received a willing obedience as well from
my Wife, as all our Servants, and during the stay of our _English_
Ships, I gained very much by entertaining my Country-men with
necessaries. I kept so punctual a correspondence with the _Banian_
Merchants, that I could command any thing; and by their means found the
way of Trading, by which I considerably enriched my self; so that at the
departure of the _English_ Fleet, I having cast up an account of my
Estate, found that I had gained above 2000 Rupees, (which being the
Country money, and worth about 2 _s._ a piece, amounted to 200 _l._)
also I had a good parcel of Diamonds, besides those I had cheated the
_Banian_ of at my first arrival; several other Commodities I had by me,
which (with my Houshold-stuff which was considerable) did in all amount
to a great value. The Fleet being departed, the chief of our Trading
ceased, and now it was vacation time, and I (hating idleness, and
somewhat weary of my Wives company) being desirous of Novelty, set out
to view the Country: to which end taking money with me, and all other
necessaries, I hired an _Indian_ Coach, which is a kind of a Chariot
with two wheels, and will hold about four persons; this Coach was drawn
with two Oxen, who will travel about thirty miles a day: my charge was
not much, for about eighteen-pence a day paid my Coach-man, and kept his
Cattel. Thus did I ramble about the Country, visiting other of my
acquaintance, where I had a full enjoyment of every thing the Country
afforded: for we had not only the Country drink called _Toddee_, which
is made of the juyce of several Trees, and _Punch_ which is made of
Rack-lime, or lime-water, Sugar, Spices, and sometimes the addition of
_Amber-greese_, but we likewise drank great quantities of _Persian_
Wine, which is much like Claret, and brought from that Country in
Bottles. These were our drinks whereof we drank plentifully, and
oftentimes to excess; our meat was chiefly Rice, with Beans, and
Turkeys, Beef and Mutton, and sometimes Veal and Lamb; this was my
ordinary diet, but the _Banians_ eat no flesh, accounting it criminal,
it being contrary to their Religion to kill any thing; the chiefest
exercise we had was playing at Nine-pins, a game I was well acquainted
with in _England_, and therefore could well enough deal with the
Natives, though they were expert therein. Though I pleased my self in
these things, yet there was still wanting the only thing which had
alwayes made my life pleasant to me, and that was the company of Women,
for without their pleasing society in a full enjoyment I reckoned I had
nothing, and therefore upon every turn found them out; but I must now be
contented with the Natives, who although they are not so fair as the
women of our _European_ Countries, yet they may pass well enough, for
their complexions are commonly of a tawny hiew, but they are richly
adorned with Pearl and other Jewels; I speak of those who were
Mercenary. There is no Town but had two or three of these
_Brothel-houses_, which were allowed of; neither was it any disgrace to
be seen therein; the handsomest women are here: the Matron of the house
is furnished with several, who she purchases sometimes of their own
Parents, who sell them, not accounting it an injury to dispose them to
this purpose. These old Bawds are as cunning as those of our Country,
for they will sell a Maidenhead two or three times over, for which they
will sometimes have twenty or thirty Rupees, according to the goodness
of the Commodity, and good will of the purchaser, who shall enjoy his
bargain for two or three dayes or nights together, either at their
lodgings, or at home at their own houses; neither do their Wives dare to
contradict their Husbands therein, for they will oftentimes bring home
one of these Lasses, and lodge them in a Cot in the same room with their
Wives, and lye with them as often as they please, and when they have
done with them send them home again.
I tryed several of these _Bona Roba’s_, who pleased me very well, for
what they wanted in beauty they supplyed in respect and willingness to
comply with and please me in all my desires; and though many times they
have the Pox, by reason of their heat and activity, yet they value it
not, for they are so well acquainted and furnished with remedies, that
they soon cure themselves, and the men who accompany them: my ramble
being finished, I returned home, and though my Wife knew I had been at
several of these _Brothels_, yet I was joyfully received and welcomed by
her. We keeping a publick house, had all sorts of guests, and now being
at leisure I discoursed with several of the _Brammanes_ who are their
Priests, who informed me not only of the Civil but Ecclesiastical
Government of the Nation: for though I supposed them Heathens, yet I
found that they followed a rule in their livings to which they strictly
tied themselves: They in general gave me this account, that they are
governed by a Kingly Monarch, who is called the _Great Mogul_, he is
absolute in his Dominions, and all his subjects are his slaves; all the
Land and Houses throughout his Dominions are his own, and the
Inhabitants or occupiers are only his Tenants, and pay a valuable rent
for what they enjoy, which is annually collected by Officers to that
purpose appointed, and paid into his Exchequer; this he bestows at his
own pleasure, or spends in making War with his Enemies, who are chiefly
the _Tartars_, and sometimes the _Persians_; they have frequently Civil
Wars amongst themselves upon the death of their Prince, if he leaves
more Sons than one behind him; for he who last ruled, and was Father of
this present _Mogul_, made his way to the Empire by the death of eleven
of his Brethren, he himself being the youngest when he dyed, which is
not long since; three of his sons survived him, who all immediately
raised great Armies either to gain the Empire, or lose their lives in
general.
The two youngest having assembled all their well-willers and friends,
with considerable Armies approached one another, a River now only
parting them.
The eldest of the two dispatched a Messenger to his Brother, to tell him
that he was very well satisfied in his taking Armes, and since he was in
such readiness, if he pleased he would joyn forces with him, and assault
their elder Brother, who being vanquisht they would divide the
Government. The youngest Brother willingly assenting to these
propositions, came over to him, but no sooner was he in his power, but
he caused both his eyes to be put out, (thereby disenabling him from the
Government) and soon gaining the Captains of his Brothers Army to his
party, he joyned Forces, and causing his blind Brother to be carried
with him, advanced to meet and oppose his elder Brother; in short time
they met, and fought each other with various success, but in fine he
conquered his Brother, and depriving him of life, as the other of sight,
he now remains sole Monarch of this large Empire.
The old _Mogul_ died infinitely rich, for he left eight _Tancks_ of
coyned Money, each _Tanck_ esteemed to hold ten millions of Rupees; and
indeed it is no great marvel, for he hath some of his Subjects,
especially the _Banian_ Merchants, that are very rich, all whose
treasure he will command at his own will; there is one _Banian_ whose
name is _Vergore_, who was the chiefest Merchant of his Tribe, and hath
most of the Stocks of his fellows in his hand; to him the _Great Mogul_
sent for money, to which message he sent this answer, That he would
presently furnish his Highness with a hundred Carts loaden with ready
money. The _Mogul_ hearing this, ordered him to keep it till he sent
again, or had further occasion. The _English_ have great priviledges,
for they pay less Duties and Customes than the Natives, for the _Banian_
Merchants will sometimes hire an _English_ man to go to Sea with them in
their Juncks, which are great Barks, not to do any service in the
voyage, but only to own the Goods, that they may save several Taxes and
Duties that else must be paid, as Anchorage and Moorage. I one time was
asked by a _Banian_ of my acquaintance, whether I would go to Sea with
him, and he would give me a considerable recompence: he told me that I
should only wear my hat, eat my victuals, and when we came to our Port
own the Goods; being desirous of seeing fashions I consented, and our
Junck being loaden, we set sail and departed: but never was I
accompanied with such Sailers, for the Junck (which is much like a close
Lighter) was deeply loaded with Callicoes, it carried above 1000 Tun:
the wind being fair, all the tackling was nailed down and fastned, so
that when we had been four dayes at Sea, the wind contrary to custome
changed: but though it began to be tempestuous, yet all our men being
then at dinner, there was none would leave their eating to handle the
sails, or alter the tackling; dinner being ended, I perswaded them with
much adoe to go to work, but it was some hours ere they had loosned
their tackling, so as to lower their sails, and by that time we were
driven out of knowledge; the winds there are usually so constant, that
they never make provision to handle their sails, and alter them, but
commonly as they fix them at their setting out, so they continue till
they come to their Port, where instead of an Anchor they carry a very
great stone, fastned by an iron ring to their Cable, which they let down
while they stay, but take up when they go away; and then they alter
their sails, sitting them to the wind to bring them back; they continue
in that manner to the end of the Voyage.
But now it falling out otherwise, great was their trouble, not knowing
how to behave themselves: and although there was forty men on board, and
they all well enough acquainted with Navigation in those parts, yet I
that was but of one years standing was their best instructor, or else we
had been lost and perished; most of our sails being now taken down, and
the wind ceasing, we by the next day came into our knowledge, but met
with another misfortune, which was like to prove worse than the former,
for we discovered a Junck, though nothing near so big as ours, yet
better man’d, and was indeed a _Malabar_ Man of War, and our professed
Enemy, who are used to infest those Seas with their Pyracies; our Seamen
being sensible of the desperateness of our condition, were greatly
dismayed, but I (who was formerly used to be dead-hearted enough) did
now become valorous, and encouraged them by words and actions, for
considering the badness of my own condition, being likely not only to
lose what Estate I had lately gathered, but at least wise my liberty,
and it may be my life, (for many of these _Malabars_ do kill and feed on
their Prisoners) these considerations I say possessed me with so much
courage, that I was resolved to try my utmost power to defend my self
from my Enemies; we were by chance accompanied by ten _Moors_ called
_Rashpoots_, who being alwayes brought up in Wars, never go unarmed;
these persons being more courageous than the rest, by my example, put
themselves into a posture of defence, and the other Seamen had Swords
and other weapons put into their hands, to keep the Enemy from boarding
us: we had eight great Guns in our Junck, which were carried more for
ornament than use, for they knew not how to discharge them against an
Enemy to advantage, (they being as well as their tackling and sails,
fixed to one place) only served to be shot off in triumph, and make a
noise, but would not be well levelled to carry a Bullet to do execution.
I seeing this inconvenience, took such order therein that the Guns were
placed so as to dammage our Enemy, who now approaching us, came close up
towards us, but he found a hotter entertainment than he expected, for we
killed several of his men with our first broad-side; the only weapons
our Enemies had were great stones, which they threw at us in abundance;
but we having again charged our great Guns, and all the small ones we
had aboard, gave them such a peal as was the funeral knel to many of
them; by this time they were discouraged, and our men seeing the good
success we had came all in sight and every one taking a great stone
which had been thrown to us by the Enemy, gave them such an onset with
the stones, as now made them think of giving over their enterprize,
which we compelled them to do, so soon as we had given them another
broad side, and once more discharged all our small guns: this gave them
so general a blow that they Vered about and left us to prosecute our
Voyage. Our Enemies being gone, I called all our men together to see
what damage we had sustained, and upon enquiry found that we had not
lost a man: but about half a dozen broken heads and faces was all the
harm we had received.
I was generally applauded for my courage, and the chief owner of the
Goods not only rendred me infinite thanks, but promised me a great
reward, which was justly paid me at the end of our voyage: I told them
that I much wondred at the manner of our Enemies fight, but I received
this answer, that they seldome used any other weapons than stones, which
they carried in great plenty, trusting to them and their great numbers:
for the Bark that set upon us had above a hundred men in her, and would
have certainly taken us, had I not made so good a fight with our Guns,
which was a thing unusual for them to meet with, not suspecting that we
could make any use of them, otherwise then to shoot upright as was
usual, but they found the contrary to their cost: for I suppose we had
the good fortune to kill several of them, which so disheartned them,
that they left us as I told you; and thus we meeting with no more
obstruction, in two moneths time finished our voyage, and returned home,
where I received 500 Rupees as a recompence for my good service.
I was joyfully received at home by my Wife, and acquired a very good
esteem of all by this my valourous exploit, and had many advantageous
offers to go again on the same account; but I valuing my pleasure more
than profit, which was hazardous, declined the propositions, and now
rested my self at home, only making some excursions to visit the best of
my friends, who failed not to welcome me, being the handsomest Women, to
whom I made my self welcome. Sometimes I travelled to the adjacent
Towns, where I visited the pleasant Gardens, and other times I went
further to the Cities, which being well built with Brick, had pleasant
Platforms or Turrets on the top; many of the Cities were walled, and
fortifyed with Castles for their defence: I seldome went without a
couple of attendants, which are called _Puisns_, who were my daily
servants; these were a sort of _Banians_ who served me for four
shillings a moneth a piece, and out of that found themselves diet,
unless they travelled far from home, and then I allowed each of them but
three half pence a piece _per_ day to buy them victuals and drink, which
was only _Cutkeree_ _Butter_, _Toddee_, with which they were very well
satisfied; neither indeed doth the _Consul_ give much more to his
Servitors, for his chief _Puisn_ hath but twelve shillings _per_ moneth,
and out of that he keeps a horse and a servant to attend him. They are
very diligent and faithful in what they are intrusted with, but so soon
as they perceive a New Moon, they tell their Master of it, that they may
pay them their wages.
Having now satisfied my curiosity in these travels, and being returned
home, I began to consider with my self my fore-passed life: then it was
I did run over these several accidents that had formerly befallen me.
As first, how I committed Rogueries when but a Boy, and ran away from my
Mother, (of whom I had never since so much as heard or enquired) I had
some reflections thereupon, and what my Mother might Judge was become of
me: Then did I call to mind the rogueries I committed, when among the
Gypsies and Beggars, and how with them I first tryed and tasted the
pleasure of a Female companion, from that my apprentiship, and the
several adventures I had, and the pleasant nights lodgings, I enjoyed
not only with the Maid, but the Mistress: how after the Maid, whom I had
gotten with Child, was delivered, I dispatcht her and child to
_Virginia_, and soon after by mine and my Mistresses extravagancies sent
my Master first to Prison, and so out of the world, my Mistress her self
not long surviving him: being then a freeman, I married, but was justly
enough fitted for my disloyalty by my wives incontinency, which with my
own prodigality soon consumed me, enforced me to leave _England_ for
_Ireland_, which being my first great remove, I seriously reflected on
not knowing where I should end my dayes, I being now far distant from
the place of my Nativity; but I bethinking my self that my only
livelyhood depended there in my viril strength, not that I was exposed
to carry burthens, or labour in the day time, but in the night, in
Venerial combats, where I received equal pleasure: and indeed I having
run through the whole course of my life, found, that by the favourable
and good opinion of women (which was not undeserved) I had not only
preserved my self, but many times raised my self a sufficient fortune:
as I had lately done by marrying with my _Moorish_ Wife, in which
present condition I concluded my self much better than when I was in
_Ireland_ tyed to my old woman, who only paid me and gave me money
according to the service I did her, and was then again old and peevish,
and above all things very jealous; whereas now I was my own pay-master,
and though my bed-fellow was not fair, yet she was young and pleasant,
and so far from jealousie, that she her self sometimes would procure me
a young girl, the fairest in the country to lye with me, and she also
lying by me, and taking much pleasure therein.
Then did I proceed in the thoughts of my former life, and considered the
many dangers I underwent, all the time I followed my padding employment,
and though I then usually wore money enough in my Pocket, and sometimes
met with some female adventures, as the Farmers Daughter, the Poetick
Widdow, and my Female Robbers, and others in whose converse I took much
pleasure, yet I was in all these pleasures still accompanied with fear
of being snapt, as indeed I was at last and likely to be trus't up: but
that my penitence wrought so upon my friends as to procure my sentence
of death, to be altered into that of banishment: which had through many
miseries and cross adventures brought me hither, where I received the
full enjoyment of all things: this consideration took me up much time,
and possessed me with some virtuous thoughts, believing that I had not
been preserved and reserved from so many hazards but for some good end;
and now I had a fair opportunity of declining Vice, and living
vertuously, I not being likely to be exposed to any such Roguish shifts
or courses as formerly, these thoughts of virtue made way for those of
Religion, and now it was that I seriously considered of that Word in
general, and being (though little practised in) yet well enough
acquainted with the Christian Religion, I wondered at the absurdity of
the Religion of other Nations, especially of the Country wherein I now
lived; and having been curious in the enquiry of the grounds thereof, I
had received a good account, though little satisfaction; but since it is
a Novelty, and may well enough suit with the following discourse, which
will consist of several and variety of Knaveries and Cheatings, whereof
I suppose this of this Countries Religion may very well bear a part: I
shall give you a short account thereof in this following chapter.
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