RALPH FITCH 



In this towne there is a trade of cotton, & cloth of 

 cotton, much sugar, which they cary from hence to Ben- 

 gala and India, very much Opium & other commodities. 

 He that is chiefe here under the king is called Tipper- 

 das, and is of great account among the people. Here 

 in Patenau I saw a dissembling prophet which sate upon 

 an horse in the market place, and made as though he 

 slept, and many of the people came and touched his 

 feete with their hands, and then kissed their hands. 

 They tooke him for a great man, but sure he was a 

 lasie lubber. I left him there sleeping. The people of 

 these countries be much given to such prating and dis- 

 sembling hypocrites. 



From Patanaw I went to Tanda which is in the land 

 of Gouren. It hath in times past bene a kingdom, but 

 now is subdued by Zelabdim Echebar. Great trade and 

 traffique is here of cotton, and of cloth of cotton. The 

 people goe naked with a litle cloth bound about their 

 waste. It standeth in the countrey of Bengala. Here be 

 many Tigers, wild Bufs, and great store of wilde foule : 

 they are very great idolaters. Tanda standeth from the 

 river Ganges a league, because in times past the river 

 flowing over the bankes, in time of raine did drowne 

 the countrey and many villages, and so they do remaine. 

 And the old way which the river Ganges was woont 

 to run, remaineth drie, which is the occasion that the 

 citie doeth stand so farre from the water. From Agra 

 downe the river Jemena, and downe the river Ganges, 

 I was five moneths comming to Bengala, but it may be 

 sailed in much shorter time. 



I went from Bengala into the country of Couche, 

 which lieth 25. dayes journy Northwards from Tanda. 

 The king is a Gentile, his name is Suckel Counse : his 

 countrey is great, and lieth not far from Cauchin China : 

 for they say they have pepper from thence. The port 

 is called Cacchegate. All the countrie is set with Bambos 

 or Canes made sharpe at both the endes & driven into 

 the earth, and they can let in the water & drowne the 



V 481 2H 



A.D. 



1583-91. 



Tanda in 

 Gouren. 



[II. i. 25-.] 



Couche : this 

 seemeth to be 

 Quicheu, 

 accounted by 

 some among 

 the provinces 

 of China. 



