72 Travels in India. Part II. 



found a means to appeafe them, promifing to each of them that had loft their 

 Husbands two Piasters, every Ptafter being four millings a piece, which came to . 

 above two thoufand four hundred Crowns,befides four thoufand, which were to be 

 paid for the Ranfom of the Captain and the other Sea-men. immediately the 

 Prefident fent the Money., and I faw them at their return, fome in health, o- 

 thers in violent Feavers. The Malavares are a People fo fuperftitious, that 

 they never touch any thing that is foul or foyl'd, with their Right Hands, but only 

 with the Left, the Nails of which Fingers they let grow, and ufe inftead of 

 Combs., for they wear their Hair long like the Women, tying it about their 

 Heads in wreaths, aud binding it with a Linnen cloath with three corners. 



Since I have mention'd Daman, I will tell you in a few words how that 

 City was befieg'd by Aureng-Zeb the prefent Great Mogul. Some are of 

 opinion that Elephants do great matters in War; which may be fbmetimcs 

 true, but not alwaws ; for very often inftead of doing mifchief to the Enemjr, 

 they turn upon thofe that lead them, and rout their own party as Aureng- 

 Zeb found by experience, at the Siege of this City. He was twenty days be- 

 fore Daman, and refolv'd at length to Storm it upon a Sunday, believing that 

 the Chriftians were like the Jews and would not defend it upon that day. He 

 ii.at commanded the Place was an old Souldier, who had ferv'd in Franc?, 

 and had three Sons with him. In the Town were eight hundred Gentlemen, 

 and other ftout Souldiers, who came from all parts to fignalize their valour 

 at that Siege. For though the Mogul had in his Army above forty thou- 

 fand men, he could not hinder relief from being put into Daman by Sea, in . 

 regard that he wanted Ships. The Sunday that the Prince intended to Storm, 

 the Governour of Daman, as had been order'd at the Counctl of War, caus'd 

 Mafs to be faid prefèntly after Midnight,and then made a Sally with all his Cavalry 

 and fome part of his Infantry, who were to fall on upon that quarter which was 

 guarded by two hundred Elephants. Among thofe Elephants they flung a great 

 number of Fire-works which fo affrighted them in the dark of the Night, 

 that knowing not whither thev went , nor being to he rul'd by their Go- 

 vernours , they turn'd upon the Befiegers with Co much fury, that in left than 

 two or three hours half the Army of Aureng-Zeb was cut in pieces, and 

 in three days the Siege was rais'd j nor would the Prince alter that, have any 

 more to do with the Chriftians. 



I made two Voiages to Goa,, the one at the beginning of the year 1641. 

 the fécond at the beginning of the year 1648. The firft time I ftay'd bur 

 five days, and return'd by Land to Sur at. From Goa I went to Richolly, which 

 is upon the main Land, thence to Vijapour, thence to Golconda, thence to Au- 

 reng-abat, and fo to Surate I could have gone to Sweat without paffing through 

 Golconda, but my bufinefs led me that way. 



From Goa to Vifapour, coftes. 8j 



Which takes up generally eight days journey. 



From Vifapour to Golconda, coftes. 100 

 Which I travel'd in nine days. 



From Golconda to Aureng-abat, the Stages are not fo well order'd, being 

 fometimes fixteen, fometime twenty five, fometimes twenty Leagues afiinder. 



From Aureng-abat to Surat takes up fometimes twelve, lbmetimes fifteen^, 

 fometimes fixteen days journey. 



Vi[apour is a great fcambling City, wherein there is nothing remarkable, 

 neither as to the publick Edifices, nor as to Trade. The Kings Palace is a vaft. 

 one but ill built ; and the accefs to it is very dangerous, in regard there are 

 abundance of Crocodiles that lie in the Water which encompafs it. The King 

 of Vi[apour has three good ports in his Dominions., Rejapour, Daboult, and Cra* 

 paten. The laft is the beft of all, where the Sea beats upon the foot of the 

 Mountain, and you have fourteen or fifteen Fathom Water near the Land. Upon 

 the top of the Mountain there is a Fort, with a Spring of Water in it. Cra- 

 paten is not above five days journey from Goa to the North. And Rabaque, 

 where the King of ViÇapour fèls his Pepper, is as far diftant from it to the 

 Eaft. The King of Vifapour and the King of Golconda have been formerly tri- 

 butary to the Great Mogul-, but now they are abfolute of them/elves. 



This 



