BOOK VI.] History of Nature. 123 



own Commodities to other Countries, and bring foreign 

 Merchandise into their own. Those that are the richest and 

 most worthy manage the affairs of the State, distribute Jus- 

 tice, or sit in Council with the Kings. A fifth Kind there is 

 besides, in great repute, and given wholly to the Study of 

 Wisdom and Religion ; and these make profession of being 

 always ready for a voluntary Death: and they end their 

 Days on a great funeral Fire, which they have prepared 

 beforehand. Besides all these, one Thing there is amongst 

 them half Savage, and full of exceeding Toil, and yet by 

 which all the Estates abovesaid are maintained ; which is the 

 practice of hunting and taming Elephants. It is with them 

 they plough their Ground, upon them they ride : these are 

 the best Cattle they know : with them they go to War, and 

 contend in defence of their Frontiers. In the choice of them 

 for War they consider their Strength, their Age, and Bigness 

 of Body. There is an Island in the Ganges of great size, 

 containing one Nation, named Modogalica. Beyond it are 

 seated the Modubae, Molinda3, where standeth the fruitful 

 and stately City Molinda ; the Galmodroesi, Preti, Calissae, 

 Sasuri, Fassalre, Colubae, Orxulre, Abali, and Taluctae. The 

 King of these Countries hath in Arms 50,000 Foot, 3000 

 Horsemen, arid 400 Elephants. Then comes the stronger 

 Nation of the Andarae, with many Villages, and with 30 

 Towns, fortified with Walls and Towers. These maintain 

 ready to serve the King 100,000 Foot, 2000 Horsemen, 

 and 1000 Elephants. The Dardse are the richest in Gold ; 

 and the Setae, in Silver. But above all the Nations of India 

 throughout, and not of this Tract only, the Prasii far exceed 

 in Power and Reputation ; and the largest and richest City, 

 Palibotra, from whence some have named this Nation, yea, 

 and all the Country generally beyond Ganges, Palibotros. 

 Their King keepeth continually in pay 600,000 Footmen, 

 30,000 Horsemen, and 9000 Elephants, every Day. Whereby 

 you may guess the mighty Wealth of this Prince. Beyond, 

 more within, inhabit the Monedes and Suari, who possess 

 the Mountain Maleus : in which, for six Months, the Sha- 

 dows in Winter fall northward ; and in Summer, south- 



