Page images
PDF
EPUB

professes to be a Mahomedan, but cannot utter the creed, and is.

cast into prison, 63; Sultan's guard of Abyssinians; their dress and

arms, 64; camels and tents, 65.

Chapter concerning the partiality of the women of Arabia Felix for

white men, 65-68.

The Queen's kindness to Varthema, 65; he feigns madness, 66, 67;

he is removed to the palace, 68.

Chapter concerning the liberality of the Queen, 68-73.

The Queen makes much of him, but he evades her advances, 68-70;

she procures his release from the Sultan, 71; he goes to Aden and

engages a passage to India, 73.

Chapter concerning Lagi, a city of Arabia Felix, and concerning

Aiaz, and the market in Aiaz, and the castle Dante, 73-75.

Whilst the ship delays he travels over Arabia Felix; to Lagi (Láhej),

73; Aiaz ('Az'az), 74; Mahomedan sects; strong city of Dante

(Damt), 75.

Chapter concerning Almacarana, a city of Arabia Felix, and of its

abundance, 75-77.

Goes to Almacrana (El-Makrânah), a city on a mountain, 75; great

reservoir; and the Sultan's treasure kept there, 77.

Chapter concerning Reame, a city of Arabia Felix, and of its air,

and of the customs of the inhabitants, 77, 78.

Goes to Reame (Yerîm), 77; fat-tailed sheep; seedless grapes;
longevity of people, 78; fashion of horns.

Chapter concerning Sana, a city of Arabia Felix, and of the strength

and cruelty of the King's son, 78-80.

Goes to Sana (Sanäa), 78; the Sultan's endeavours to capture it, 79;

the Sultan of Sana's mad son, who eats human flesh, 80.

Chapter concerning Taesa and Zibit and Damar, very large cities

of Arabia Felix, 80-82.

Goes to Taesa (Ta'ez), 80; its antiquity and buildings, 81; goes to

Zibit (Zebid); goes to Damar (Dhamâr), 82.

Chapter concerning the Sultan of all the above-mentioned cities,

and wherefore he is called by the name of Sechamir, 83, 84.

The name explained; the Sultan puts no one to death but in war;
but had thousands in prison.

Chapter concerning apes, and some animals like lions very hostile

to man, 84, 85.

Returns to Aden, 84; finds a mountain with numerous apes, and

destructive animals like lions (supposed hyenas), 85; goes on board

ship.

Discourse touching some places of Ethiopia, 85.

An accident sends them to the coast of Ethiopia, where they enter the

port of Zeila (Zaila).

Chapter concerning Zeila, a city of Ethiopia, and of the abundance

THE BOOK CONCERNING PERSIA.

Chapter concerning Diuobandierrumi, and Goa, and Giulfar, lands

of Meschet, a port of Persia, 91-93.

After twelve days reaches Diuobandierrumi (Diu in Guzerat), 91;

goes to Goa (Goghâ), 92; to Giulfar (Julfâr in the Persian Gulf), 93;

and Meschet (Máskat).

Chapter concerning Ormus, a city and island of Persia, and how

they get very large pearls at it by fishing, 94, 95.

Chapter concerning the Sultan of Ormus, and of the cruelty of the

son against the Sultan his father, his mother, and his bro-

thers, 96-99.

The Sultan's eleven sons, the eldest a devil, the youngest simple, 96;

the former murders his father, mother, and brothers, except the
youngest; he tries to get rid of two powerful favourites of his father,
and is slain by one of them, 97, 98; who causes the younger brother
to be proclaimed Sultan, 99; the many merchants of Ormus.

Chapter concerning Eri in Corozani, of Persia, and of its riches,

and of the abundance of many things, and especially of rhu-

barb, 99-101.

Varthema passes to Persia, and travels to Eri (Herât) in Corazani

(Khorassân), 99; abundance of silk and rhubarb; population, 101.

Chapter concerning the river Eufra, which I believe to be the

Euphrates, 101-103.

Arrives at a large river called by the people Eufra (? Pulwân), 101;

reaches the city Schirazo (Shirâz); turquoises and rubies from

Balachsam (Badakhsân), 102; musk, and its power when pure;

character of the Persians; liberality and kindness of Cozazionor

(Khawaja ——), a Persian merchant who proposes that Varthema

should travel with him; they set out towards Sambragante (Samar-

cand), 103.

Chapter concerning Sambragante (as it is called), a very large city

like Cairo, and of the persecution by the Soffi, 103, 104.

The greatness of Sambragante and its king, 103; but they are

hindered from going thither by the Soffi's (Shâh Isma'îl es-Sûfï's)

violence against believers in Bubachar, Othman, and Aumur (viz.

Sunnis); Cozazionor proposes to give Varthema his beautiful niece

Samis (Shams) to wife, 104; they return to Eri, and thence to Ormus,

and take ship for India, where they arrive at the port of Cheo (Jooa

in the Indus delta).

Chapter concerning Canonor, a very great city in India, 123-125.

The King of Portugal's castle at Canonor, 123; importation of horses,

124; spices (properly so called) begin; the King's Naeri (Nairs) and

their costume; the travellers take their way to the kingdom of

Narsinga, and reach the city of Bisinegar, 125.

Chapter showing Bisinegar, a very fertile city of Narsinga in

India, 125-128.

Great size and defences of Bisinegar (Bijayanagar), 125; a paradise
of a place, 126; the power of the Pagan King; his horsemen and
elephants; equipment of the war elephant; his docility, 127; his
dread of fireworks; how elephants were employed in Varthema's
presence at Canonor to beach a ship; the absence of joints a fable;
description of the animal, and power of his trunk, 128; height of the
elephant; pace, and how they are mounted.

Chapter showing how elephants generate, 129-131.

They generate in secret marshes, 129; parts of an elephant eaten in

some countries; various values of elephants; their great discretion;

riches of the King of Narsinga; dress of the people and the king; his

coinage, 130; lions; the Portuguese honoured in Narsinga, 131;

return to Canonor, and go to Tormapatani.

Chapter concerning Tormapatani, a city of India; and concerning

Pandarani, a place one day distant; and concerning Capo-

gatto, a similar district, 131-134.

Tormapatani (Dormapatam), 131; misery of the people, 132; timber

for ships; houses worth half a ducat; Pandarani; Capogatto, 133;

go to Calicut; has reserved till now the description of the manners

of the preceding places (because similar to those of Calicut), but he

will now describe that kingdom, for the King of Calicut, called

Samory, is the most important, 134.

Chapter concerning the Pagans of Calicut and of what classes they

are, 141, 142.

Classes of the Pagans, 141; Brahmins; Naeri (Nairs); Tiva, or arti-

sans, 142; Mechua, or fishermen; Poliar, who collect pepper, wine,

and nuts; Hirava, who plant rice; degradation of the two last before

Brahmins and Naeri.

Chapter concerning the dress of the King and Queen, and others

of Calicut, and of their food, 143.

Chapter concerning the ceremonies which they perform after the

death of the King, 143, 144.

Succession goes to sister's son, 143; reasons for this, 144; customs
on the King's death; betel eating.

Chapter showing how the Pagans sometimes exchange their

wives, 145-147.

Varthema shows his Malayalim, 145; dialogue between two mer-

chants exchanging wives; polyandria of the other classes of

pagans, 146.

Chapter concerning the manner of living, and of the administration

of justice among the Pagans, 147, 148.

How they eat, 147; punishments; impaling; fines; curious mode of
enforcing payment of debts.

Chapter concerning the mode of worship of the Pagans, 149.

Their matutinal washing; prayers; and customs of cooking, &c.

Chapter concerning the fighting of these people of Calicut, 149-151.

Army of the King, 149; dress, 150; customs of battle; the Naeri

(Nairs), 151; customs as to burning and burial; money of Calicut;

great variety of nations found trading there; great numbers of Moors

(Mohamedans).

Chapter concerning the manner of navigating in Calicut, 152-154,

Mode of ship-building, 152; timber, 153; sails; anchors of marble;

seasons of navigation; names of the different classes of vessels, 154.

Chapter concerning the palace of the King of Calicut, 155, 156.

The palace and its small value, 155; why they cannot dig founda-

tions, 156; the King's jewels, and his bad humour, with the reasons

thereof; his treasures.

Chapter concerning the spices which grow in that country of

Calicut, 157, 158.

Pepper described, 157; ginger, 158; myrobalans.

Chapter concerning some fruits of Calicut, 159-163.

Fruit called ciccara (jack), 159; amba (mango); corcopal (?), 161;

fruit like a medlar; comolanga (?); malapolanda (plantain), 162.

Chapter concerning the most fruitful tree in the world, 163-166.

The tenga (cocoa-nut tree), 163; its many uses, 164; the nuts; sub-

« PreviousContinue »