REPORTS OF JAPAN a.d. 



1565. 



both confesse and preach in that language. Certaine 

 godly bookes also he hath done into that speach, not 

 omitting to translate other as laisure suffreth him. To 

 make an ende, our Lord for his goodnesse vouchsafe 

 to preserve us all continually, and to give us ayde both 

 rightly to interprete his will, and well to doe the same. 

 From Meaco the 19 of February 1565. 



Other such like matter is handled both in other his 

 letters, and also in the Epistles written by his com- 

 panions to be seene at large in the aforesaid volume. 

 Amongst the rest this seemed in my judgement one of 

 the principall, and therefore the rather I tooke upon 

 me to do it into English. 



Of the lies beyond Japan in the way from 

 China to the Moluccas. 



AMongst other lies in the Asian sea betwixt Cantan 

 a Chinish haven in Cathaio & the Moluccas, much 

 spoken of in the Indian histories and painted out in 

 Maps, Ainan and Santianum are very famous. Ainan Ahum. 

 standeth 19 degrees on this side of the Equinoctiall 

 line nere China, from whence the Chinish nation have 

 their provision for shipping and other necessaries requisite 

 for their Navie. There staied Balthasar Gagus a great 

 traveiler 5 moneths, who describeth that place after this De reb. Jap. 

 maner. Ainan is a goodly countrey ful of Indian fruits lu +• 

 & all kind of victuals, besides great store of jewels and 

 pearle, well inhabited, the townes built of stone, the 

 people rude in conditions, apparelled in divers coloured 

 rugs, with two oxe homes, as it were, made of fine cypres 

 hanging downe about their eares, and a paire of sharpe 

 cyzers at their foreheads. 



The cause wherefore they go in such attire I could not [II. ii. 88.] 

 understand, except it bee for that they do counterfeit the 

 devil in the forme of a brute beast, offring themselves 

 up to him. 



Santianum is an He neere unto the haven Cantan in Santianum. 

 the confines likewise of China, famous for the death 



347 



