%6 Travels in India. Part H. 



From the Bridg faoulcapoul to Agra^ coftes ^ 

 So that from Seronge to Agra it is an hundred and fix Coftes, which are ordinary 

 leagues ; and from Sur at to Agra, 339. 



CHAP. V. 

 7fo Road from Surat ?o Agra through Amadabat. 



"CRom Surat to Baroche, coftes 22 

 .1 All the Countrey between thefe two Cities is full of Corn, Rice, Millet, and 

 Sugar-Canes. Before you enter into Baroche, you muft Ferry over the River 

 which runs to Cambaya, and falls into the Golf that carries the fame name. 



Baroche is a great City, to which there belongs a Fortrefs, of which there is 

 no ufe made at this time. But the City has been always very famous, by reafon 

 of the River, which has a particular quality to whiten their Cottons j which are 

 brought thither from all parts of the Great Mogul's TerritorieSj where they have 

 not that convenience. In this place are made a great quantity of Bafta's, or long 

 and large pieces of Cotton. Thefe Cottons are very fair, and clofe woven j and 

 the price of thefe pieces is from four to an hundred Roupies. You muft pay 

 Cuftom at Baroche for all Goods that are brought in and carri'd out. The Eag- 

 UJh have a very fair Houfe in the City ; and I remember once, that coming thi- 

 ther one day in my return from Surat to Agra with the Prefident of the Engli/h, 

 prefently the Mountebanks came about him, and ask'd him if he would fee any 

 of the'ir tricks. The firft thing they did was to light a great fire, and to heat cer- 

 tain Iron-chains red-hot, and wind them about their bodies, making as if they felt 

 a great deal of pain, but in truth receiving no harm at all. Then they thruft a 

 piece of a ft'ick into the ground, and ask'd the Company what Fruit they would 

 have. One told them, he would have Mengues ; then one of the Mountebanks 

 hiding himfelf in the middle of a Sheer, ftoopt to the ground five or fix times 

 one after another. I was fo curious to go up ftairs, and look out of a window, to 

 fee if I could fpy what the Mountebank did ; and perceived, that after he had 

 cut himfelf under the armpits with a Razor, he rubb'd the ftick with his Blood. 

 After the two firft times that he rais'd himfelf the ftick feem'd to the very eye to 

 grow. The third time there fprung out branches with young buds. The fourth 

 timé the Tree was covered with leaves -, and the fift time it bore flowers. The 

 Prefident of the EngUJh had then his Minifter with him, having brought him frojn 

 Amadabat to Chriften the Commander of the Hollander's Child, to which he Jbad 

 promifed to be Godfather. The Engli/h Minifter protefted - N that he could not give 

 his confent that any Chriftian mould be a fpeclator of fqc| delufions. So that afc 

 foon as he faw that thofe Mountebanks had of a dry-ftick, in lefs than half an 

 hour, made a Tree four or five foot high, that bare leaves and flowers as in the 

 Spring-time ; he went about to break it, protefting he would not give the Com- 

 munion to any perfon that mould ftay any longer to fee thofe things. Thereupon 

 1 the Prefident was forc'd to difmifs the Mountebanks, who wander about the 

 Countrey with their Wives and Children juft like Gipfies ; and having given 

 them to the value of ten or twelve Crowns, they went away very well con- 

 tented. 



They that are curious to fee Cambaya, never go out of their way above 

 five or fix Coftes, or thereabout. For when you are at Baroche , inftead of 

 going to Broudra, you may go directly forward to Cambaya, from thence af- 

 terwards to Amadabat. But whether it be for bufinefs, or out of curiofity, 

 the latter Road is never to be taken ; not only becaufe it is the longeft way* 

 but becaufe of the danger in eroffing the mouth of the Golf. 



Cambaya is a great City at the bottom of the Golf that bears its name. 

 Here it is that they mape thofe fair Agats, that come from the Indies, into, 

 Cups, Hafts of Knives, Beads, and other forts of Workman/hip. In the pacts' 

 adjacent to the City, they alfip .make Indigo of the fame nature of that of 



. C % z ' Sar- 



