Lewis & Clark College

and miserable Situation. Ship’s Diet is badly calculated for this Disorder, & other things cannot be procur’d for such a Number.
21st. By a Calculation we found our Water would run short, at the Quantity daily expended, Wherefore the People were put to an Allowance of Three Pints PDay. We now saw every Day a Number of Birds about the Ship, & not being far from the Coast of Brazil, it was the general Wish that the Admiral would steer for Rio Janeiro on that Coast, as he was acquainted that there was a great Number of sick in the Fleet, many of whose Lives might perhaps be saved by such a step. It was the Winter Season off the Cape, & he well knew, we must meet with Hurricanes in the Months of June and July, whereas had he gone to Rio Janeiro, the whole Fleet might have lain there, & refresh’d till those Months were expired, when he would have fine Weather to run to the Cape. This would have occasion’d no delay, as it was necessary for him to lay some where or other two Months, to arrive in proper Season on the Coast of Coromandell … On the Morning of the 22nd. we saw the Island of Trinidada bearing SW five Leagues and the Rocks of Martin Vas SbE[?]E. about three Leagues, and a ship under Swedish Colours. This Island appears to be a lofty irregular Rock, it being impossible to discover the [end page 32]

TRINIDADA

Bearing SW. 3 Leagues. Latitude. Longitude

The Rocks of MARTIN VAS within 3 Leagues of Trinidada
Bearing NE 2 Leagues. Latitude Longitude.

least sign of Herbage at any distance. Yet some Part of it is cover’d with verdure & there are a number of Bushes and low Trees on the Island; Plenty of white wild Hogs & perhaps Goats There is likewise a spring of water, but it is difficult to be procur’d on Account of Rocks which surround the Island so that no Boats can come on shore. Nevertheless several of our Indiamen have attempted to get off Water and Fire wood, & have succeeded by rafting, but they were obliged to roll every thing in to the Water, and evade backwards and forwards. I have heard it said that the Portuguese had once a Garison here of 300 Men, but the Face of the Island contradicts it. The Rocks of Martin Vas, are about two Leagues distant from Trinidada, and I believe, have never been trod on since their Discovery. . When we were off this Island the Admiral tantaliz’d us very much, for changing his Course suddenly he steer’d right down for the Coast of Brazil, for about an Hour, when he tackd and stood on its old Course again. But he only meant to go to leeward of the Island.
24th. A Soldier died who had been recovering from the Flux. The Weather for the last week very fine.
July 1st. One of the Boys standing on the Poop across a Rope, the ship took a sudden Rowl and jerk’d him overboard, where he sunk immediately. The Men even now in a very deplorable State, having no particular Complaint but extreme Weakness. [end page 35]

A lingering Flux attended some of them but not to a violent Degree. In one Part or other of the Ship, a Man was fainting all Day long. On the 6th. our Armourer died. 7th. one of the Soldiers died. 9th. In the Night it came on to blow very hard, and towards the Morning we had a very heavy Gale of Wind. Two Men in the Night fell from the Yards into the Sea, when it run Mountains high, and no Assistance could possibly be given them. At seven in the Morning we saw five Sail of the Fleet several Leagues distant, and at Noon lost sight of them, so that we were once more a single Ship. The Gale continued with a large heavy Swell, which made the Ship strain and labour amazingly. The Ports were caulk’d, and every Crevice shut up which could possibly admit water.
11th. The Armourer’s Mate died. The Gale continued & no ships in sight.
13.th One of the Company’s Recruits died. The Scurvy began to become troublesome amongst us, and as fresh Air was shut out, & water constantly shipping, whereby not only the Men themselves, but their Beds, and Bedding were made wet, we expected it very severely before we made the Land. . The Gale continued to the 18th when it became moderate. 20th. Two of the Soldiers and a great Number ill of the Scurvy. . . . .
21st. One of the Soldiers died. . . . . . . [end page 36]

25th, Captn. Bull open’d his private Instructions, which he had receiv’d from Sr. Edwd. Hughes relative to separation, and found the Rendezvous to be at the Cape of good Hope. Still a fresh Gale, & the Ship was so far to the Westward as to forbid all hopes of getting to the Cape for a fortnight. We remain’d in the same Latitude for three Weeks but contrary winds prevented our running down our Longitude. We had seen large Flights of Birds every Day for some Time.
Augst. 1 The Soldiers were almost all incapable of any kind of duty great Numbers of Men being confin’d to their Beds by the Scurvy. The Ship’s Company were likewise affected but not in so great a Degree. It is amazing how fluctuating the Spirits are of a Person in this Disease. Clouds often appear on the Horizon like Land, which being what they ardently wish’d for, they frequently call’d out Land when it was not so. Hearing the Report, the poor Wretches below, from themselves invigorated and endeavour’d to get on Deck to look at it. But when they found their Expectations disappointed they sunk into the contrary Extreme, & some have been so far gone in those Langours as to be pronounc’d dead. 6th. One of the soldiers died in the Scurvy. On the 7th the joyful Discovery of Land was made. In the Morning it blew fresh, but in the Evening [end page 37]

The Breeze fail’d us, and left us off the Land in almost a Calm It is rather a dangerous Place to work into in the Night, but a gentle Breeze springing up, we fired Guns, for Light to be hoisted on Penguin Island, which was accordingly done, and we got into Table Bay. There we found four of the Indiamen at an Anchor, who had likewise parted Company but arriv’d before us. The Admiral and three other Ships were in False Bay and within a week they all arriv’d, nothing material happening to them except the Loss of a Topmast or two. They had all been sickly during the Passage, the Men of War, particularly amongst whom the Scurvy made dreadful Havock. The Burford Man of War had buried upwards of seventy Men and three Times that Number incapable of doing their Duty. The Resolution Indiaman had been visited by a malignant Fever, in which she buried upwards of Forty of her Ship’s Company. We found it difficult to land our Sick Men immediately, So we got Meat, Vegetables, Oranges, and all Kinds of fresh Provisions for them; & in a few Days they were all able to undergo the Fatigue, & notwithstanding their dismal situation, all speedily recovered. We sent on Shore of Soldiers [end page 38]

and sailors Ninety three very ill; & kept many with lesser scorbutic Complaints on board, where they got plenty of Necessaries, Fruit etc. & soon grew healthy and strong. . The Cape of good Hope is the southern Extremity of Africa, which name was given it by the Portuguese, on their Arrival here, after several Attempts in which they were defeated by heavy Gales of Wind etc. They here form’d a Settlement but were driven out, as they were from allmost all their Acquisitions to the Eastward of this in the Indian Seas, notwithstanding their great Merit and extreme Indefatigability had entitled them to the sole, and uninterrupted Possession. The Dutch have possess’d it since the beginning of last Century. The Natives of this Part of Africa, call’d Cafrania, are suppos’d to possess the least Share of Sensibility or rational Feeling of any of the Inhabitants of the Globe. An invincible Indolence has been always observ’d Amongst them & an Ignorance as, inveterate; in Short they may be said to hold the lowest Place in the human System. Neither does the external Figure supply the other Defect. They are of a most disagreeable Colour, not so black as the Natives of Guinea or any other Part of Africa, nor of the more pleasing Copper Colour of the South Sea Inhabitants. They endeavour to [end page 39]

remedy this Defect by Anointing their Bodies, and those of their Children from the first Hour of their Birth, till they grow old, wth. a Composition of Soot, Grease, & Dung. Their Apparell generally consists of a sheep skin with which they cover their Backs & Part of their Buttocks, turning the hairy side inwards or outwards according as the Weather[?]; this with an Artificial Cape of the same Kind of Ingredients as mention’d before, dried on their Heads in the Sun, compose the dress of the Males; The Women are habited in the same Manner except that they wear an additional small Robe, made of the Skin of some soft Animal. Their Garments are fasten’d to their Bodies by Thongs of the same Kind. They have many Customs amongst them too horrid to be related & so incredible, that was I to relate them, Persons unacquainted therewith, would imagine I was using the Privilege of a Traveller. However they are described by several Authors & by some, Accurately. When the Dutch first settled here, they met with great opposition from the Natives, who were very numerous, & might under proper Management have prevented, any european Power from making a Settlement in the Country; but their own Inaptitude to Mas[?]uævres of this sort, join’d to the Artifice of the Dutch, have effectually subdued them, & the present [end page 40]

Austerity of that People. A Conduct establish’d on the Principles of Cruelty, is found to be the only Means of governing them, and as the dutch inherit that Principle from Nature, consequently they are the proper People to possess the Country . . . . . The Country is now civilized for several hundred Miles, & inhabited by the dutch, who plant Vineyards, grow Corn etc. amongst them, of which things the Natives are totally ignorant & probably will ever remain so. One would be almost led to imagine that the Ideas of those miserable Wretches were limited, & incapable of Improvement, for tho’ living amongst a People remarkable for their Industry and Application, they never discover an Inclination to adopt any Plan, that would tend to their public or private Benefit Vines where first planted by a Spaniard, who brought them with him from the Canaries, & finding them flourish, taught the european Inhabitants the Art of Cultivating them, which is now brought to perfection. Of the many Kinds of Wine that are made here they may be reduced to two. The red, and the white, the other arising from the same Stocks, but receiving their Taste and Colour from the Variety of soil, or difference in Making. Their best Wine is call’d Constantia made at a village of that Name, Ten Miles distant from Cape Town. It is of a deeper Colour than the best french Claret is of a rich, sweet, aromatic Taste, so much as resembling Tent-Wine [end page 43]

But the Quantity of this, can be but very inconsiderable, as the Plantation itself Consists of no more than 40 or 50 Acres. Yet Winesellers here will show Wine very much like it & assure the Buyer upon their Honour that it is a true Constantia (But let it be remember’d it is the Honour of a dutchman.) These Vines have been transplanted into various Parts of the Country from the true Constantia, but degenerate. The White is a Stock of the Canary, but very far degenerated, yet some very good Wine may be got. Stalks of the same Vine planted in different Soils, vary very much in their Juice, & this in part accounts for their great variety at the Cape, for you will not find Wine alike at any two Houses there. They make several brewings likewise so that the last run is very far inferior to english Small Beer … The Principal and in fact only Town the dutch have here which deserves that Name is Cape Town situate on the Sea Shore. It is defended from the heavy Winds on three of its Sides by stupendous Mountains call’d the Table Land, Prince Charles’s Mount, the Lion’s Ramp, and Sugar Loaf. The Town is regularly built with spacious Streets intersecting each other at Right Angles, so that you may see from one end of the Town to the other. Their Houses are neat, but not elegant or lofty none exceeding three stories. They are built of thin Bricks & Plaster’d over with white Mortar. To obviate any ill Effect arising to the Eyes when the sun [end page 44]

Shines intensely hot, they paint their doors, window shutters & Frames of a Grass Green. Their Public Buildings are the Church, Hospital, Library and Town House, but all scarcely worth Noticing. They have begun building a capacious & what promises to be a commodious Hospital. The Company’s Gardens excell every thing in the Place, tho’ they within these few Years have lost their Beauty. It is a large Piece of Ground, of a rectangular Form, divided into a Number of regular Partitions by Oak & Maple Edges forming many agreeable and shady Walks. A large Avenue divides the Garden from the Top to the Bottom, regularly planted with Oak Trees, it wants but a few Feet of being half a Mile long. In the Middle of the Garden, a Government House is lately erected, with a Fountain and Parterie before it. This Garden produces almost all the Vegetables in Use, at least in the culinary way, Fruit & every thing which can be wanted to suffice Nature or regale the Appetite. The Dutch Indiamen are supplied with vegetables from this Garden. There are a great Number of Slaves, kept by the dutch Company, on Purpose to cultivate it. The Soil in this Part of the world is dry & sandy, but immense Pains has been taken to improve it. No large Trees grow here so that Timber is very Scarce & they are obliged to get almost all their building Materials from Holland or Batavia, except Lime, which they make of sea shells, by burning them on [end page 45]

Faggots of Wood to a Calx. Houses are consequently very dear. Fifteen thousand Rix Dollars was given for a Tradesmen’s House. The Dutch Inhabitants are generally healthy & long liv’d, The Women in general are handsome, the Men lusty and strong. Every Kind of menial Employment & even the lower Artifices such as, Bricklaying, Shoemaking etc. are perform’d by slaves brought in dutch ships from India. They have a great Number, but keep them in the most abject submission, punishing them severely for trivial Offences. The Junior Member of the Council at Batavia has the Government of the Cape, with a Council sent from Holland. The Fiscal or Mayor, has very extensive Power, & is independent of the Governor sent from Holland, and not be remov’d from his Office but by a special Order of the Directors at home. He decides all small offences, but Capital Crimes or intricate Trials are referr’d to the Council, at which Time the second in Council presides & acts as Judge, this, condemns, or acquits the prisoner. But no Person can be executed till the Governor has sign’d the Death Warrant in whom alone is repos’d the Power of Life and Death. The Fiscal is Lieutenant of the Police & has a Number of Men (malays) always ready to execute his Commands, assisted by large Mastiffs, who, if the Culprit endeavours to fly seize him, and sometimes almost tear him in Pieces . . . . . . . [end page 46]

At the South East End of the Town stands the Fort, this which runs the road to the Country, against the Natives of which it seems to be principally intended for a defence. Several Small Batteries are along the Beach, but not of much Force; they talk of building a new Fort. The present Fort contains Apartments for the Governor and a few Military Officers & Barracks for five Hundred european Soldiers, which are some of the finest Fellows I ever saw, being pick’d from All the Dutch Ships bound to Batavia. Tho’ the military Force in the Town is small yet they have a numerous Militia up the Country, which they say can be assembled in a very short Notice. Whilst I was in this Place I saw two Companies of Cavalry, & a Body of Infantry reciev’d, compos’d of Inhabitants of the Town, all of whom are obliged to beare Arms, under & above certain Ages. They met once a Year & exhibit the greatest Burlesque on the Art military I ever saw. For a description of the natural Productions of the Cape, any of the Histories of Africa may be consulted. Was I ask’d the Character of the dutch in this Country I must confess, it would puzzle me to give it. Duplicity, Cozenage, & Hypocrisy, are wanting in Expression to define the Arts they make use of in Trade, Cruelty falls short of their natural Disposition & Pride is a Term too gentle & confin’d to express the Haughtiness of their narrow minded Souls . . . . . [end page 47]

Table Bay is nearly semicircular, form’d by the Projection of two Points of Land. Almost equidistant from each Point is an Island call’d Robin, or Penguin Island, on each side of which, ships may safely go in & out of the Harbour. The dutch make it a Place of Exile for Criminals. There is a Sergeants Guard upon it and a few Guns for Signals. Table Land is a lofty Mountain flatten’d at the Top, & very difficult of access, adjoining to Prince Chars’s. Mount at the South End & to the Sugar Loaf on the North. The Sugar Loaf is almost as high as Table Land but rises in the Shape its Name bears & terminates in a small Point, wherein are two or three Pieces of Cannon & a Man constantly looking out. The Ascent is very dangerous as towards the Summit, there is no other hold but a Rope, which if a Person lets go, he would immediately fall to an immense depth & be dash’d in a thousand pieces Prince Charles’s Mount & the Lion’s Ramp, are not so high, they form the North & South Points. Winds blow in the Months of June and July very hard from the Northwest, bringing on a Prodigious Swell which no Ship can outride. Whole Fleets have gone ashore here and perish’d with their Crews & Instances of single Ships have been frequent. For this Reason all dutch Ships are prohibited from coming into Table Bay till the 15th of August. [end page 48]

On the 8th or 9th of October the Signal was made from the Sugarloaf for a Fleet, which afterwards prov’d to be Six English EastIndiaman viz. The Hawke, Ceres, Prime, True briton, Walpole & Earl of Sandwich. The Arrival of these Ships occasion’d a longer delay of the Fleet, as it was necessary they should remain a fortnight or three weeks to refresh. On the 27th. the Admiral made the signal but contrary winds detain’d us till the 5th of November, when we sail’d in Company with the Indiamen who had join’d us making in all one & twenty Sail. The Reason the Admiral assign’d for his long Stay at the Cape was on Account of the Monsoons which are periodical winds blowing one half of the Year from the Southwest & the other half from the North East. Fortunately for his Majesty most of the People employ’d in his Service are too wise to be instructed. However had it been otherwise & Sr. Edwd Hughes had condescended to have ask’d the Advice of the old India Captains he might have found his Way to India about two Months sooner than he did. We arriv’d in Madras Roads on the 18th of Jany.1780. The Grafton was very healthy in her Passage from the Cape, not losing a Man, by Sickness, but two unfortunate young Fellows fell overboard and were drown’d. The Men of War were very sickly the Superbe particularly so that the Admiral was obliged to shift his Flag on board the Worcester & let the Superbe convoy’d by the Eagle, make the best of her Way. They had a Kind of a [??]sensic= [end page 49]

The Duke of Grafton, East Indiaman. Captn Saml. Bull Commander, left Portsmouth on Sunday the 7th of March 1779 with Twelve other Indiamen, under the convoy of Sir Edwd Hughes Knt. in the Superbe 74 Gunship & eight Men of War and sloops, Transports & other vessels to the number of Forty sail or upwards. We proceeded down Channel with a fair wind to Plymouth, off which place we were joined by the Belleisle Man of War, and the Nymph sloop of Eighteen Guns, which latter had been dispatched from Portsmouth a few days before, to acquaint the Belleisle of the Admiral’s Intention to sail speedily. The Grafton was very deeply laden, having been freighted considerably beyond her Tonnage. Her ship’s company consisted of 120 men for the most part Landsmen many of whom had never before seen the Sea. People unacquainted with those affairs would wonder, why so easy a Service, where there is more Pay, and less danger than in the Navy, should be so destitute of good Seamen, but they must be inform’d that after a man in the capacity of a common sailor on board an Indiaman has been absent from his native country and Friends for the space of two or perhaps three Years, when he has overcome the Dangers of the Sea, a long Voyage, the Scurvy, Inclemencies of foreign climates, and [end page 5]

-al Fever on board as had the Atlas Indiaman, which was fatal to many. On the second or third day from the Attack they were so delirious as to jump overboard whereby several were drown’d. During the Passage several Ships left the Admiral to go to their respective ports but the Grafton & Atlas sailing very heavy were obliged to be towed. The Superbe had likewise the Scurvy on board to a great degree, as had the other Men of War, but the Indiamen scarcely perceived it. This was owing to the little Care taken of the sick Men at the Cape where they were sufferd to great drunk with Cape Wine & rowl about the Streets, having at the same Time Scorbutic Ulcers etc. on their Limbs. On the Contrary the Men from the Indiamen had Contrus put over them to prevent their drinking a greater Quantity of Wine than allow’d by the Surgeon; the Consequence of which was that the Indiamen went to Sea perfectly healthy & the greatest Part of the Men of War in as bad a Situation as the came in, leaving two hundred at the Cape unable to be got on board. . . On Our Arrival at Madras, we found Sr Edwd. Vernon, with the Ruffion, Aria, Coventry & Sertine Men of War, The Walpole Indiaman who had left the Fleet since our departure from the Cape, The General Barker who parted Company before we made the Cape, & the Bessborough, Captn. Montgomery. [end page 50]

Madras lies in Lat___N Long___ & is the Capital of the English Settlements on the Coast of Coromandell. It is divided into the white Town or Fort, calld Fort St George, and the black Town. The White town is rather small, but, excellently fortified, built at a great Expence, regularly, & contains many good Houses. But few People reside constantly in it, almost every Gentleman having a Villa, about 2 or 3 Miles in the Country, which is beautifully open. Where they dine and spend their Evenings & return to their Business in the Fort in the Morning. Madras is situate on a low Coast, yet very dry & healthy, except at some seasons of the Year when the Land Winds blow. These winds are inconceivably hot & continue sometimes a Month, during which the People are in generall seized with inflammatory Complaints, which subside on the Appearance of the sea breezes. Whilst the Land Winds blow all the Tables, Brescares, Chairs, etc. in the settlement crack & fly to Pieces, the Furniture in general becomes rotten & they are obliged to have a kind of defence at their doors & windows con[?]res’d of Straw or some such substance which they keep continually wet. The black Town is large & populous; few europeans live in it except some who cannot afford the Expence of a House in the Fort, but it contains Gentoos, Portuguese & Armenians to a great Number. In some Parts the Streets are regular and clean, in [end page 51]

others, horridly nasty, particularly in a large Plain which divides the Fort from black Town. The Houses of the Gentoos are low consisting of a number of small rooms on one Floor & so many People are generally crouded together in one House, as must totally banish Cleanliness from amongst them. But the poorer Sort who cannot purchase or rent Houses build themselves small Huts on the open Plain or Esplanade, or throng themselves in one Corner of a Street, in Houses resembling wretched Dog Kennels in England, or more properly a Hottentot Krawl. . In some Part of every street is a Church, the principal of which, tho’ at best but paltry Edifices, contain things of great value, viz. Gold etc. with they adorn their Idols. Paganism whatever might be its origin or Foundation, seems to be supported by unconquerable Ignorance & consequently can never be extinguish’d amongst them. It inculcates on the meaner Tribe abject submission to their Superiors, who whilst possess’d of this Key to the People’s Minds, can never be induced to part with it easily. Many of their Rigid Institutions tend to no other Point, than blinding their Eyes to Independence or Liberty. Their Religion teaches to Acknowledge but one God, whom they represent by divers symbolical Figures, expressing the [end page 52]

Power, Anger, Justice and other Attributes of God. They Allow the Metempsychosis but are not so rigid as the more northern People, as they are allow’d to eat Fowl, Fish, Mutton etc. The hold the Cow in high Esteem because some ancient Traditions induce them to believe it is favour’d by the Almighty. On the Contrary they Avoid and detest the Hog, because the same Authority pronounces it Odious to God. Their Emblems of God are enclos’d in a large kind of wooden vehicle, carv’d in a curious Manner, & fix’d on two wheels; to this Carriage they fasten Ropes, some of which from the Size of the Carriage are as large as Ships Cables. These at certain Times they drag thro the Streets, from the narrowness of which, and the extreme Uneveildness of the wooden Tower, it upsets & generally kills or breaks the Bones of several, but they deem it a happy Death. A Smaller One is drawn thro the Streets every Night & Morning by a Set of Fellows who live upon Charitable Donations. They are preceded by Young Girls loaded with Ornaments, who dance very curiously thro the streets, Whilst a Number of Wretched Musicians make a most hideous Consort on Drums, Pipes & other Noisy Instruments without the least attention to regularity or Music. They pass under Canopies erected across the Streets [end page 53]

from high Poles on either Side on which they hoist Flags of various Colours & entwine the whole with Flowers. They have likewise Wooden Figures of Bulls & Camels as large as the Life. These People are divided into a great Vanity of Classes, call’d Casts, to describe the Customs of each of which would be an endless Piece of work, far beyond my knowledge. Religion is the fundamental Principle on which they act; the Care of which together with the distribution of Justice, Knowledge of Medicine and Inculcation of Knowledge is committed to the Bramins who are the principle. To these all other People of what Cast soever pay respect. They are prohibited from practising any of the meaner Arts & are supported by donations or rather Exactions from the People in general who are divided into an infinity of Casts, whose Precedence is regulated. No person dares invade a different Cast, but each must follow his allotted Employment. Thus the Taylor’s Son must be a Taylor, the Shoemaker’s a Shoemaker. Intermarriages with various Casts are likewise forbid. By the Comission of certain Crimes, or by the degeneracy of Breed, they sometimes irrecoverably lose their Cast, & go under the denomination of Parrears, being never after made the least Account of, nor distinguish’d from Brutes, but pursue unnotic’d any libidinous Cause they please. [end page 54]

The Dress of both sexes is thin & light. The Men, (or at least those who can afford) wear next their Bodies a thin kind of shirt, open before without Sleeves, & reaching generally as low as ours. Over that when he goes abroad he has a long Gown made of Muslin Doria or fine thin Cloth, which fits Close to the Body & Arms, & buttons round the Neck, but falls from the Waist in Folds, gather’d like our Ladies Gowns in England, which reach to the Ground. Under, they have Trousers, & some of them wear shoes, with curling Tops. A long Volume of fine Cloth forms thin Turban which they wrap closely round their Heads. No Dress could be better calculated for this Country, where the Heat of the Sun is so intense & its Rays falling so directly on their Heads. The poorer sort wear only a Piece of coarse Stuff wrapp’d round their Middles. The Women have a long Piece of Coloured Cloth & sometimes Silk tho very seldom, folded round their Bodies in various Forms, passing obliquely from one Hip to the opposite shoulder whereby, a Part of their Bodies only is conceal’d. Their Toes, Fingers, Legs, Arms & even Noses are loaded with Ornaments, according to the ability of the Father or Husband, but even the poorest amongst them have their Ornaments on their Arms & Toes. The poor women are obliged to perform all laborious work, such as fetching of wood, water, & other kinds of Burthen, whilst perhaps the Husband is indulging himself in Indolence. [end page 55]

I once ask’d the Reason of this, & received the following modest Reply. “Woman was made entirely for the Service of Man.” The trading, part of the People are divided into Debashes and Merchants. The Merchant receives his Goods from small settlements up the Country of which these are a Great many thro’out the Carnatic, Your Debash is a Person who constantly attends upon you, knows all your concerns, buys & sells & conducts all your Merchandize. Every Gentleman in the Settlement has one of these, and on a ship’s arrival from Europe, a Number of them go on board and offer their services producing Letters of Recommendation. Every Man who has any thing to sell or buy fixes upon one, who from that Time becomes his Steward. He is a kind of intermediate Person or broker, betwixt the Merchant and his Master, for which he gets so much pCent from the Merchant. They receive no Wages being glad to do the Business for Nothing. There is no doubt but the Debash will cheat his Master, but in a less degree than the Merchant would, was there no Debash, Wherefore of two Evils the least is to be chosen. It is amazing to see what a Train these Fellow drag after them, as they have the appointment of all their Master’s servants, who are always very numerous. [end page 56]

Three of us only in a small House had no less than forty black Fellows of various denominations in waiting, exclusive of Cooleys to carry Burdens. Long Custom seems to have made this necessary. The black people here are very numerous & it seems as tho’ their Religion had an Eye to their Numbers, when it forbad many Casts from eating Meat, so that Rice which they get in great Quantities to the Northward is their principal Food. They have another Grain call’d Doll, resembling our pease. They are very fond of things greacey or hot & as they have Buffalo Butter & Chili peppers in great Quantities, they are never at a loss for it. They all Chew the Beetle Leaf & Nut, with a small piece of Chenam, or Oyster shells calcin’d and mixt with water. The Beetle is held in high Esteeme; At the Procession an old Priest from the Carriage, who sits as it were supporting his God, distributes Beetle Leaves to the Crowd. At the New Moon and other public Festivals, Girls dance before the Images of the Gods all Night, which is a curious solemnity well worth seeing. They writhe & contort their Limbs in a Variety of surprizing Forms, which would be admired even at Sadlers Wells. The dance seems to be a regular successions of steps & Motions which must be gone thro’ from the simplest to the Most Complex, & I have seen little Girls perform it, With surprizing Agility. At this Solemnity they put Wreaths of Flowers highly perfum’d, round the Neck of the Spectators. [end page 57]

Yet altho these Girls perform those Feats in Honour of the Divinity and before their Temples, they are a set of abandon’d Prostitutes, & dance no longer than they are Paid. I have hitherto been speaking of the Gentoos but these are a great Many call’d Moors, who follow Mahometanism, but differ little in their Dress, Manner of Living, etc. from the Gentoos. Polygamy is not allow’d amongst the Gentoos, but they who can afford, generally keep a Number of Women; & as they are contracted to each other Young, without their Consent & even without their knowledge of each other, it generally happens that the poor Wife is sacrificd to the Rage of a disappointed Man who has the Power of treating her as his slave, as he generally does. I believe in some Cases Bigamy is admissable. The Gentoos burn their dead, & the so much talk’d of Custom of their wives burning with them voluntarily would prevail here, was it not prevented by the strict Injuctions of the English.
The Nabob of Arcot who nominally governs the Carnatic, resides at a House about two Miles from the Town, tho’ in Times of Danger he comes to Madras for Safety. He is said to be very poor & one great proof of it is, the slow Payment of his Troops. The Nabobs’ and Company’s Forces amount to the Number of ___. Who are dispers’d all over the Carnatic, to exact obedience & collect the Revenue which amounts annually to the sum of ___ [end page 58]

Their sepoys make excellent Soldiers, are kept in high discipline, and seldom disent; they have now commission’d officers of their own, but all the commission’d officers are white Men. A Coolness has long prevail’d betwixt the military & civil Lines, the former of which are subordinate to the latter. This Coolness extends so far as even to affect a Young Man coming out in either Line . .
Up the Country are innumerable small settlements at which they manufacture Cloth, Muslins, Cambries etc. which, with precious stones, constitute the Export Trade of this Coast. Its Situation is very much against it, as a Place of Trade, as a violent surf always beats on the Beach, by which the Boats often overset, and never a Year passes without Lives being thus lost. It would be impossible for european Boats to land there without being Stove to Pieces, wherefore they have Boats constructed on Purpose, being sown together with Rope made of the Plantain Tree that they may give way to every wave. . There are a Set of Men at Madras call’d Juglars whose Feats are really curious & astonishing but some of them at the same Time disgusting, such as thrusting a naked sword, down their Throats, swallowing large Quantities of Hair etc. passing a crooked Instrument thro’ their Nostrils, which coming out at their Mouths they fasten a Fire Wheel to it and set it off. They likewise carry about snakes of various sizes and Kinds. [end page 59]

a numerous Train of assailing Evils; immediately on his return to England, before he has seen his relations or even had an Oportunity of informing them of his return, he is dragg’d from his Ship perhaps emaciated by disease, and confined to the Hold of one of his Majesty’s Tenders, there to reexperience the shocking miseries he flatter’d himself he was freed from. Happy would it be for those Men, and for the Navy, and Kingdom in general, could some Expedient be hit on to man his Majestys Navy in a more respectable Manner, and explode a Practice disgraceful to the Service and shocking to Humanity.) There were likewise on board two Companies of the 73rd Regt of Foot or Sd. M[?]sends Highlanders, and twenty five of the Company’s Recruits, who were all (except the Officers) stowed on the Orlope Deck; betwixt the after part of the after & fore part of the fore Hatchway. So that with those before mention’d, and nine Passengers the Ship was uncommonly crouded. We had a continual fair Wind & fine Weather till we got clear of the Land, which was three Days after our Sailing. At this Time Hostilities were eagerly carried on betwixt England, & France by Sea, and with great success on our side; our Cruizers [end page 6]

The Day after we came to an Anchor in Madras Roads, a Cutter from the Asia Man of War, with a Lieutenant, came on board and took twenty of our Hands out. At Madras I had an Oportunity of seeing how injudicious a Step it is to send young Highlanders to India. They say they endure hardships better than other english Soldiers, that they would follow their leaders to the End of the World without Murmur, that Vicissitude of Climate and all the disadvantages of Life have no Effect on them. I believe that if the Will alone was sufficient all this would be done but why better than English or Irishmen? Can it be suppos’d that Men born in a high Northern Latitude, expos’d from their Infancy to the Inclemency of cold weather, whose Exercise has been always little and Diet exceedingly scanty, should be fit Persons to resist the burning Heat of India, where the coldest day is hotter perhaps than they ever felt it? A Melancholy Instance of the Contrary we had in the Passage when the air was cool’d by Breezes, & where tho the Mortality amongst the Highlanders was so great, the English or Irish Soldiers scarcely suffer’d. On their Landing in India they fell away like rotten Sheep. Men apparently in Health were dead in a few Hours, & what could this be attributed to but the Climate. In Fact the Heat here is almost intolerable to the Natives at Particular Times of the Day, how then must it be for those poor wretches, who have been wading in snow from their Infancy … [end page 60]

These Circumstances naturally give rise to the following Questions. Are these Troops sent to India for the good of the public service (in preference to any other Men), or to enrich private persons? Is not some Interest requisite to procure the appointment? Is it not cruel to sacrifice the deserving many for the undeserving few? etc. By an Unhappy misconduct betwixt the Captain and his Officers the Ship was in an uncomfortable Situation. The Chief Mate then under Suspension; the second Mate had been twice suspended during the Passage & requested to leave the Ship which was granted; the third Mate quite dissatisfied as was the whole Ship’s Company, which was now reduced to a small Number. Five Gentlemen were appointed to enquire into the Chief Mate’s Conduct but the Ship did not stay long enough to have it decided, wherefore he continued in Suspension till we should arrive at Bombay. We were ordered by the Governor and Council to sail with the Atlas and Bessborough to Pondicherry, there to take in a Battalion of Seapoys and proceed with them to Surat. The other Indiamen who came with us were order’d to their respective Ports in India except the Norfolk, who was to sail for England, in Company with the Ganges & Genl. Baker, in which Sr Thos. Rumbold (Governor) and his Family were going home; Sir Edward Vernon & a Captn of a Man of War, intended to sail in the Norfolk . . . . . [end page 61]

We left Madras on the 12th of February, in Company with the Atlas, (the Bessborough having gone before). Off Couvelan the Atlas got aground within Sight of the Ships in Madras Roads. We presently after came to an Anchor, and sent her Assistance. In about fifteen Hours she got off without receiving any Considerable Damage. On the 14th We saw Pondicherry Flagg Staff, and came to an Anchor in the Night. Pondicherry is situated along shore like Madras, but the Surf does not beat quite so violent. It has some good buildings and the Fortification were masterly, but they are almost destroyed. A Battalion of Sepoys are garrison’d here under the Command of a Major & the French Inhabitants live very peaceably under the English Government. The black Town here is more regularly built than that at Madras, but their Customs etc. are nearly the same, they being about 100 miles distant. The Vegetables are said to be much better here than at Madras, tho’ I did not observe a remarkable difference. On the 17th of February after taking in 160 Sepoys, Officers, etc. We made Sail in Company with the Atlas, Bessborough, and some country vessels. It is a beautiful Coast and would be very pleasant but for Currents, foul Winds, Shoals etc. some of which one is sure to meet with. On the 21st we made the Island of Ceylon & on the first of March Cape Comorin, the Southernmost Point of the hither Peninsula of India. Here we gave Chace to a Country Ship but could not come up with her. On the 2nd the Bessborough & Country Ships left us. [end page 62]

On the 5th we came to an Anchor off Angings a Small English Settlement on the Coast of Malabar, where we inform’d that a Number of Maratha’s infested the Coast. 7th We came to an anchor at Cochin a dutch Settlement, where they have a Governor, Council etc. It is the Capital of the dutch Settlements on this Coast, but remarkable for Nothing, but a species of the Elephantiasis found amongst the black People in plenty. It generally affects the Leg & is commonly call’d the Cochin Leg. Here is a Bar, but it may be avoided, there being a wide Channel, Yet an english E. Indiaman’s Boat was once lost here, whereby a Lady, the Captain, 2d Mate & Doctor were drown’d. We sail’d from hence the 10th, and anchor’d the 13th in Callicut Road. Here we saw a fleet of ships one of which hoisted Company’s Colours They weigh’d and stood after us. 14th. Saw Sacrifice Rock, there being light Winds we did not pass it till the 16th. When it appear’d to be a kind of Pumice Stone, without the least appearance of Herbage. 16th pass’d Tillicherry & 12th Mt.dilla 20th Saw Mangelore the fortified Town of the famous Hyder Aly. join’d by the Bessborough and a Snow. 22 Saw St Mary’s Rocks. 24th saw Hog Island, Pigeon Island, & Bassalore. 26th Saw Anjedive, & the Oyster Rocks off Carwar. 27th Saw Cape Raymas. 28th Saw St George’s Island and Marmagon Salset. In the Afternoon Anchor’d in Goa Bay. and saluted the Fort. Goa is the principal Settlement the Portuguese have in the East. The outer Harbour where large Ships lie is call’d [end page 63]

The Island of ST PAUL in the Indian Sea.
Bearing 2 Leagues. Latitude 37º • 50' [??] Longitude

[TBA]

The FRIAR'S HOOD on Ceylon.
Bearing WbS 5 Leagues Latitude. Longitude.

The Town of POINT GALLO. on the Island of Ceylon.
Bearing E NE 3 Leagues. Latitude. Longitude

ADAM'S PEAK on Ceylon
Bearing EbN. 3 or 4 Leagues. Latitude Longitude

Goa Bay & forms a semicircle at the northernmost Extremity of which stands Alguarda Fort & at the southernmost the Monastary of Nostra Signiora de la Caba. At the bottom of the Bay begins Goa River It is a Narrow Gut, on one bank of which is a small Fort. This River in its Passage to Goa City which is about seven Miles, forms two other large Bays. The Banks of this River are adorn’d with Houses wch look Nobly at a Distance, but when you come close to them, there is a great falling off. Sailing down the River a Person would suppose Goa to be a most elegant City with magnificent Buildings, but on Landing, nothing is seen but a few ill built, whitewash’d Churches. The Portuguese in this Part of the World, seem to apply themselves to Business, less than any other Part of Mankind. At any Other Settlement on the Coast they are glad to traffick, but here it is the contrary. That they are blind to their own Interest is certain, but whether it proceeds from Ignorance or Principal is a Doubt, but true it is, that the Crown of Portugal is daily enriching itself, whilst Individuals tho high in Office have but one Coat to their Backs. Their Rigour to the Natives is notorious, binding them down to one branch of Religion, whilst all other Powers in India tolerate all Religions. Strangers, find no Entertainment here even for Money; here are no Inns, and no Place to lodge in, except a Dismal Hole given by the Nabob and call’d the english Choultry & even here a Glass of Water is hard to be got. [end page 67]

They make a quantity of Arrack here which is its staple Trade We got on board a few Hogs, Bullocks & some water, and Six of our Ship’s Company ran away. April 1st Weigh’d and got under sail, in Company with the Atlas. 2nd Saw Eleven Sail of Marattos. Had a foul Wind and strong Current so were obliged to stand off the Coast. 7th Saw a Fleet for Bombay 9th Spoke them & they prov’d to be Company’s vessels 10th Saw Ragipore. 16th Saw Choul. 17th being off Bombay the Chance cruizer Captn. Bond came on board to conduct us in. We came to to anchor just within the Harbour, but receiv’d orders from the Governor and Council, to continue our Course to Surat. Weigh’d immediately and stood out with the Atlas. Here we found the Tide exceeding strong, so that we were obliged to go up with the Flood and come to with the Ebb. 24th We came to an Anchor at Surat Bar. The City of Surat lies 15 or 16 Miles up the Country on a broad Shallow River, navigable only with the Tide. Its banks are very low, and it divides into a Number of small Streams, wch in the Time of the heavy Rains unite and form a kind of fresh Water Sea. At this Time no Navigation is practicable. Surat lies about two Degrees to the Northward of Bombay, is large & populous, and a Place of Trade. In Time of Peace it is the Key to the Trade of the inward or Guzurat Country, which takes off a Number of european Commodities. The Number of People which [end page 68]

inhabit Surat is incredible, & they live in such little tottering Houses as surprizes one, for a Person seems to be in danger as he walks thro’ their narrow streets, nevertheless they carry on Business there with the utmost Regularity, and I have heard it frequently call’d a good Place. The English Resident here (or Chief) is a Counsellor of Bombay, who with four or five senior Merchants form a Council at Surat; but, no great Fortunes can be made here, except by those who have Interest enough to procure, two or three lucrative Posts. It is the Residence of a Nabob. The French, Dutch & Portuguese, had, Factories here but the French Factory since the War commenc’d has been broke up. There is a Castle in the City which mounts a Number of Guns. All kinds of Provisions are to be got at Surat. Excellent Beef & Mutton, Potatoes, Cabbages, Yams etc. with which they supply Bombay, as likewise Wheat & Rice. There are always two or three Vessels belonging to Bombay Marine station’d here, of which the youngest Bombay Captain is generally Commodore. The Bar runs out a long Way, which renders it very dangerous laying there especially at the Monsoon Time which commences sooner than at Bombay. Such an Amazing swell rolls in, that ships often break adrift & get upon the Bar. The Atlas parted her Cable here & lost an Anchor, but fortunately came too in plenty of Water. In this Country they manufacture, Silks, Cottons, Shawls, etc. Drugs etc. are to be bought. [end page 69]

having taken a vast Number of their Martinique, St Domingo and other West Indiamen, with seven or eight very valuable East Indiamen, to revenge which, it was reported & not without gaining Credit, that they had collected a pow’rful Fleet to intercept us in our Passage. This Scheme might have been easily effected, & if attended with Success (as the Weather was very favourable for a Cruizer in the Bay) would not only have procur’d them Honour, but have amply repaid their numerous Losses. In the Chops of the Channell we fell in with the Courageux, Lord Mulgrave, on a Cruize, who join’d, & proceeded with the Fleet. We pursued our Course without Interruption or Loss of any Part of the Fleet, for A Week; At the End of which we parted from our Convoy in a Fog, & was left a single, comparatively defenceless Ship, which would have fall’n a prey to a frigate, or almost any Adventrous Privateer. The Perturbation we were in is not easily to be described, since we had Nothing to expect but a Visit to France. Our Ship carried Twenty, nine Pounders on the Gun-Deck, and six, four pounders on the Quarter Deck, but then we were so deep and unwieldy, that a swiftsailing light Ship, might easily have Kept in [end page 7]

The Navigation from Bombay to Surat is said to be dangerous, and some Ships take a Pilot from Bombay. We went up with a foul wind, yet were in no Danger; such precise rules are laid down to avoid the sands which are on each Side, that a little attention carries the ship safe. We were a long while going up, having the wind in our Teeth, and a strong Ebb Tide against us, which obliged us to anchor frequently, but coming down, every thing was in our Favor. On the 30th of April we came to an anchor in Bombay Harbour, which is a very fine one secure on all sides, Yet as the winds blow directly on the Coast and drives a prodigious sea before it, those must be a swell in the Harbour. During the rainy Season all Commerce ceases in this Port; the Ships are stript of every thing to their lower Masts, which are only supported by a single stay each, & have Tubs turn’d over their Heads. The greater Part of them are thatch’d from one End to the other. They ride by Chains, which are very large and strong, yet nevertheless sometimes break, & ships are often a drift in the Harbour. . . The Beginning of the Rains is generally regular to a fortnight. The early Part of May generally produces it. A few light Showers fall the first three or four Days after which they grow heavier and become incessant. They continue in this Manner, two, three or four Months, attended all the while with Thunder, and Lightnings. The Weather, before the Rains come on, is excessive hot, & the Earth so parcht up, as to forbid walking on it, even the Natives can scarcely support it. No green Tree or [end page 70]

Vegetable can be seen, but clouds of hot sandy Dust almost obscure the Sky. Yet after a few Showers of Rain the Earth grows refresh’d & produces Grass in the most barren spot & the Trees & Plants once more receive their Pristine Vigour and Beauty. At Intervals the Weather, seems exceedingly cold, so as to oblige the Natives & those who have long inhabited the Country to wear Cloth. Yet the Thermometer was seldom below 80º. By an exact Observation every Day at Noon during three Months Rain I generally found it from 80º to 84º. Tho’ in an extraordinary fine Day it would rise to 86º. And in a Squall of Wind and Rain fall to 79º. The Sudden Change of the Air, & the Temperature of the Climate, must needs have some ill Effect on the Health or Constitutions of the Inhabitants, especially when we consider, that the Earth has been scorching, for the space of eight Months, and the Air pure and elastic. Yet I observ’d its Effects were less perceiv’d by the Natives & People accustom’d to the Climate than by new Comers. Indeed Gouts Rheumatisms, and chronical Disorders, were exasperated in the unhappy People subject to those Complaints, but fresh Disorders were hardly felt. Those afflicted with the Dysentery, or any Disease attended with much Debility, and Relaxation, must evidently fall victims to the Change, as must the Asthmatic etc. But those Effects, ill as they may be, Providence has counterbalanc’d by the excellent Disposition it reproduces in the system of things in general. Rice, that grand support of Millions, can only be produc’d (to Perfection) by Moisture. [end page 71]

depriv’d of Rain a few Days it droops, withers, & dies. How wisely then has providence provided for its Creatures. Tho’ the Rains deny all Intercourse, and Traffick, yet they come periodically & afford I may say an agreeable Cessation to recruit Strength, adjust past Occurences & adopt future plans. Tho’ they forbid Exercise abroad they come follow’d by a Train of Blessings, Vegetation, Verdure, Strength Plenty & Delight. The Beasts as well for Food, as burden, find wherewithal in this comparatively short vacation, to be again useful in the Service of Man. The Air loaded with unsalutary Particles and Clouds with electrical Fire, might produce dreadful Havock on the Earth were it not thus defended. The Sources of the Springs and Rivers would be dried up, Wells exhausted, seeds in the Earth become lifeless, & depriv’d of those essential articles, how could the Inhabitants of the Earth exist. . . Bombay, tho not the Principal Settlement the Company possess in India, is of as great Importance to Navigation & of course to Commerce, as any of the other Places if not more so. It commands the whole Malabar Coast. The Fortifications are very good, and the Town well garrison’d would be able to sustain a long Seige. The Island is about Nine Miles long, and three broad, but unable to support its Inhabitants. Provisions are brought from Surat, & the Adjacent Island of Salsett where the Company have a Garrison. It is very rocky Yet in some Parts, innumerable Quantities of Cocoa Nut Trees grow, [end page 72]

which amongst the Natives constitute a Trade. An Owner of a small piece of Ground plants a Number of those Trees, taking Care to have the Convenience of Water, & in a few Years they bear Fruit & are then let for a yearly Rent. The Inhabitants of Bombay consist of a great Vanity of Breeds. The English of Course hold the highest Rank, then the Descendants of the English by black Women, of which there are a great Number of a very disagreeable Colour, being neither black nor white. There are a Number of Portuguese, black, some of whom are partly rich. All these we suppose have an european Mixture in them. Of the Native Eastern Branch, the Persees tho originally not of this Coast claim the Preference, because they have the most Money & the greatest Rogues. Yet to do them Justice there are some very good People amongst them. This Branch of People are descendants from the Ancient Inhabitants of Persia, who upon the Conquest of that Country by the Mahometans, fled into India to preserve their Religion; The Mahometans putting all to the sword, who would not embrace theirs. The Gentoos afforded them an Asylum on Condition they would in Compliance with the Gentoo Religion abstain from Pork, which they promis’d & perform it as punctually as the Jews in London. Those are the Worshippers of the Sun, and of the Fire, which latter they dare not extinguish. The Countenance those People have lately receiv’d from the English, makes them rank themselves above the Gentoos, who are not a whit inferior [end page 73]

to them in Point of Ability. Indeed they may be said to be superior, as almost all the offices belonging to the Custom Master, Paymasters etc. are fill’d with Gentoo Clarks call’d Purvo’s, who accompt & write as well as Europeans. Besides the Persees and Gentoos, there are Moors, who adapt themselves for all Services, Merchants, Shopkeepers Sailors, Taylors etc. The Gentoo and Moor Languages are talk’d in common by all three, for the Persees retain Nothing of Persia but their Religion; they are totally ignorant of the persian Language. The same domestic Laws and Customs prevail amongst them, as in all other Parts inhabited by Gentoos. etc. & they are all punishable by the brittish Laws. Bombay Dock & marine Yard render this settlement an important one. The Dock will contain three Indiamen at a Time, where they are repair’d, clean’d etc. as well as in England. They build excellent ships, capable of carrying fifty Guns, and sheath them with Copper. The Timber they use for this purpose is call’d Teak; it is firmer and heavier than Oak & preserves those Qualities much longer. The ship and Boatbuilding is executed by the Persees who are remarkably clever in this Branch. One Advantage they have over us is that they have no Necessity to let the Timber lay any Time to season for it never shrinks. Besides European Bottoms are soon eat thro by Worms in the indian seas; these the Teak Bottoms resist, the wood being too hard for the worms to penetrate. . . European ships [end page 74]

find a Market at Bombay for Copper, Iron, Steel, red & white Lead, Anchors & all kinds of marine Stores. Provisions sell all over India. But they are very rigid at the Custom House, which is a considerable draw back on the Goods. The Bombay Merchants send annually, several ships to China and Bengal, loaded with Cotton, which grows in great Plenty in the Country about Surat. . Lead, Cloth Cochineal etc. are Commodities for the China Markett. To England they send coarse Bale Goods & Pepper, & carry on a brisk Trade up the Persian Gulph. Yet the Trade & Reveneus are not sufficient to defray the Annual Expences, wherefore it is in one Sense a Burden to the Company who are obliged to supply them with Money from Bengal. Those Supplies since the Commencement of the Maratta War have been enormous; The Troops likewise belonging to this Coast which commonly amount to ___, have been found insufficient, so that Bengal & Madras have likewise furnish’d them with Forces. Coll. Goddard march’d over Land from Bengal to Surat, with 6000 Men, but has not been able to gain any great Advantage over the Marattas. The Coast of Malabar is so infested with Pirates that the Government of Bombay is under a Necessity of Supporting a regular Marine. They have a Number of Ships, Grabs, Snows, Ketches, Gallivats commanded by Captains and Lieutenants. [end page 75]

The oldest Captain is Commodore of the Coast. These convoy Fleets of Boats up and down the Coast, carry Dispatches & go to Persia Bengal etc. From the Adjacent Island of Salsett, Surat & other Settlements, Bombay is supplied with Necessaries. Of the Animal Kind, they get Bullocks, Sheep, Goats, Hogs, Buffaloes, Hares, Ducks, Fowls, Geese & Turkeys. with different Kind of Wild Fowl. Of Fish, there are Plenty. Soles, Skeat Maids, Pompets, Mullet, Eels, Modishun Fish, Rock Cod & many others. Of the vegetable their Gardens produce Cabbages, a Kind of Spinach, the finest Onions in the World, french Beans, Cucumbers, Musk & Water Melons, Pine apples, Mangoes, Guavas, Plantains, Bananas, Pawpaws, Custard apples, & other Fruits imitative of the european kind & making good substitutes for Gooseberry & Apple Pies. They have likewise Radishes, Lettuce & other sallad Herbs & Roots. Their Trees are besides the Fruit Trees before Mentirn’d, the Teak, an excellent kind of black wood, the Ricinus vulgaris, Palmira Tree, Cocoa Nut Tree etc. Which last is of infinite Service from the various Uses it is put to. From a rough hairy Part of the outside of the Nut is make all kinds of Rope, even Cables, The Inside of the Nut supplies them with an agreeable Drink, call’d the Milk, & they use the Nut itself in Curries. The Shell they burn, I believe to make a kind of blacking. By wounding the lofty Branching, A Liquor exudes, with which they sometimes [end page 76]

get intoxicated. Small Vessels are built with its Timber, Fans are made with its Leaves, in short no Tree answers so great a Variety of Purposes. This Island is well stock’d with venomous Snakes Scorpions, Centipedes, large venemous Spiders, & a Sharp Tooth’d Animal with its Head like a Hog, & Body like a rat call’d a Bandicoot. they have likewise enormous Toads & other disagreeable Reptiles. Inhospitality holds her highest Court at Bombay, & has Envy, Slander and Malice for her three Favorites. . . The first European Power that possess’d the Coast of Malabar was the Portuguese who first settled at Goa, (which they now hold), but since they have dwindled away to the Insignificant Place they now hold in the system of Merit they have lost many Settlements. The English by possessing Bombay and Surat command the whole Coast. The Portuguese tho’ unable to prevent their Settlements from falling into the hands of Country Powers, and thereby not only injuring themselves, but other european Powers likewise and that very materially, look nevertheless with an insidious Eye on the English, who have rescued, and retain several of them. They will communicate no Insight of the interior Part of the Country and tho possest of Maps, and Charts deny them. The inner Part of the Country to the Northward manufacture, Cottons, & a Mixture of Silk and Cotton & many very curious things in that Line, which [end page 77]