AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1563-81. 



The cutting^ In the moneth of March or Aprill, when the sappe goeth 



gathering of ^p ^-q the toppe of the tree, then they take the Sinamom 



tree round about in length from knot to knot, or from 

 joint to joint, above and belowe, and then easilie with 

 Ararethinge. their handes they take it away, laying it in the Sunne 

 to drie, and in this wise it is gathered, and yet for all 

 this the tree dieth not, but agaynst the next yeere it 

 will have a new barke, and that which is gathered every 

 yeere is the best Sinamome : for that which groweth two 

 or three yeeres is great, and not so good as the other 

 is ; and in these woods groweth much Pepper. 



Negapatan. 



FRom the Hand of Zeilan men use to goe with small 

 shippes to Negapatan, within the firme land, and 

 seventie two miles off is a very great Citie, and very 

 populous of Portugals and Christians of the countrey, 

 and part Gentiles : it is a countrey of small trade, neither 

 have they any trade there, save a good quantitie of Rice, 

 and cloth of Bumbast which they carie into divers partes : 

 it was a very plentifull countrey of victuals, but now it 

 hath a great deale lesse ; and that abundance of victuals 

 caused many Portugales to goe thither and build houses, 

 and dwell there with small charge. 



This Citie belongeth to a noble man of the kingdome 

 of Bezeneger being a Gentile, neverthelesse the Portugales 

 and other Christians are well intreated there, and have 

 their Churches there with a monasterie of Saint Francis 

 order, with great devotion and very well accommodated, 

 with houses round about : yet for all this, they are 

 amongst tyrants, which alwayes at their pleasure may 

 doe them some harme, as it happened in the yeere of 

 our Lord God one thousand five hundred, sixtie and 

 five : for I remember very well, how that the Nayer, that 

 is to say, the lord of the citie, sent to the citizens to 

 demaund of them certaine Arabian horses, and they 

 having denied them unto him, and gainesayd his de- 



400 



