a.d. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



c. 1565. 



and other mo with whom a black Moore damsel in our 

 company had conference, and did understand them wel 

 ynough, had dwelt in Pegu. This new come woman, 



[II. ii. 79.] imagining that we ment to make our abode in that 

 citie, bid us to be of good comfort, for that her 

 countrey was not distant from thence above five dayes 

 journey, and that out of her countrey there lay a high 

 way for us home into our owne. Being asked the 

 way, she answered that the first three daies the way 

 lieth over certaine great mountaines & wildernesse, 

 afterward people are met withall againe. Thence two 

 dayes journey more to the Brames countrey. Where- 



Southward fore I doe conclude, that Chenchi is one of the confines 



from Chenchi Q f ^^ k m gd omej separated by certaine huge mountaines, 

 as it hath bene alreadie said, that lie out towards the 

 South. In the residue of these mountaines standeth 



Avoins, the province of Sian, the Laoyns countrey, Camboia, 



Campaa, and Cochinchina. 



Chenchi. This citie chiefe of other sixteene is situated in a 



pleasant plaine abounding in all things necessarie, sea-fish 

 onely excepted, for it standeth farre from the sea : of 

 fresh fish so much store, that the market places are never 

 emptie. The walles of this city are very strong and 

 high : one day did I see the Louteas thereof go upon 

 the walles to take the view thereof, borne in their seates 

 which I spake of before, accompanied with a troupe of 

 horsemen that went two and two : It was tolde me they 

 might have gone three & three. We have seene more- 

 over, that within this aforesayd Citie the king hath 

 moe then a thousande of his kinne lodged in great 

 pallaces, in divers partes of the Citie : their gates be 

 redde, and the entrie into their houses, that they may 

 be knowen, for that is the kings colour. These Gentle- 

 men, according to their neerenesse in blood unto the 

 king, as soone as they be married receive their place 

 in honour : this place neither increaseth nor diminisheth in 

 any respect as long as the king liveth, the king appointeth 

 them their wives and familie, allowing them by the 



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