Travels in India. Partll. 



Town till the next day in the evening, where we obferv'd, that when the Inhabi- 

 tants fetch their water to drink, they ftay till the Sea is quite out, and then dig- 

 ging holes in the Sand as neer the Sea as they can, they meet with frelh- 

 water. 



The twelth, we departed from Calk at 9 and the next morning about ten of the 

 clock we came to Madrefpatan, other wife call'd Fort St. George, which belongs to 

 the Englijh, having travell'd not above feven or eight leagues that day. We lay 

 at the Covent of Capuchins, at what time Father Ephraim, and Father Zenon 

 were both there. 



The fifteenth, we went to St. Thomas's Town, to fee the ^//«-Friars, and the 

 Jefuits Church, in thefirft whereof is an Iron-lance, wherewith they fay that St. 

 Thomas was martyr'd. 



The two and twentieth, in the morning we departed from Madrefpatan, and 

 after a journey of five leagues we arriv'd at a large Town call'd Serravaron. 



The three and twentieth, after 7 leagues travel, we came to Oudecot, the whole 

 days journey being over a flat fandy Countrey. On each fide there are only Gopfès- 

 of Bambou' s that grow very high. Some of thefe Copfes are fo thick, that it is im-' 

 pofTible for a man to get into them j but they are pefrer'd with prodigious num- 

 bers of Apes : Thole that breed in the Copfes upon one fide of the way, are ene- 

 mies to them that are bred on the other fide , fo that they dare not crofs from 

 one fide to the other, but they are in danger of being immediately ftrangl'd. 

 Here we had good fport in fetting the Apes together by the ears j which is done 

 after this manner. This part of the Countrey, at every leagues end, is clos'd up 

 with Gates and Barricado's, where there is a good Guard kept, and where all Paf- 

 fengers are examin'd whither they go, and whence they come 5 fo that men may 

 fàfely travel there with their Money in their hands. In feveral parts of this Road 

 there is Rice to be fold ; and they that would fee the fport, caufe five or fix 

 Baskets of Rice to be fet in the Road, fome forty or fifty paces one from the 

 other, and clofe by every Basket they lay five or fix Battoons about two-foot-long, 

 and two inches about ; then they retire and hide themfelves ; prefently they fhaU 

 fee the Apes on both fides of the way defcend from the tops of the Bamboo's, 

 and advance toward the Baskets which are full of Rice : They are about half an 

 hour (hewing their teeth one at the other before they come near the Baskets j 

 fbmetimes they advance, then retreat again, being loath to encounter. At length 

 the female-Baboons, who are more couragious than the males, efpecially thofè 

 that have young ones, which they carry in their arms, as Women do their Chil- 

 dren, venture to approach the Basket, and as they are about to put in their heads 

 to ear, the males on the other fide advance to hinder them. Immediately the 

 other party comes forward, and thus the feud being kindled on both fides, they 

 take up the Battoons that lie by the Baskets, and thrafh one -another in good 

 earneft. The weakeft are conftrain'd to flie into the wood with their pates bro* 

 ken, and their limbs maim'd ; while the Matters of the Field glut themfelves with 

 Rice. Though it may be, when their bellies are full, they will fuffer fbme of the 

 female-party to come and partake with them. 



The four and twentieth, we travell'd nine leagues, all the way being like the 

 Road the day before, as far as Naraveron. 



The five and twentieth, after a journey of eight hours, through a Countrey of 

 the fame nature, meeting at every two or three leagues end with Gates and 

 Guards, we came in the evening to Gaz.el. 



The fix and twentieth, we travell'd nine leagues, and came to lie at Courva, 

 where there was nothing to be found neither for Man nor Beaft, fo that our Cat- 

 tel were fore d to be contented with a little Grafs, which was cut on purpofe for 

 them. Courva is only a celebrated Pagod ; by which, at our arrival, we law fe- 

 veral bands of Souldiers pafs by, fome with Half-pikes, fome with Muskets, and 

 fome with Clubs, who were going to joyn with one of the principal Comman- 

 ders of MirgimoWs Army, who was encamp'd upon a rifing-ground not far from 

 Courva j the place being pleafànt and cool, by reafon of the great number of 

 Trees and Fountains that grace it. When we underftood the Captain 'was fo neer, 

 we went to wait upon him, and found him fitting in his Tent with many Lords of 

 the Countrey, all Idolaters, After we had prefented him with a pair of Pocket- 



Piftols 



