Travels in India. 



Part. II. 



CHAP. XXIII. 

 Of the Places where they find their Gold both in Afia and America. 



JApon, which confifts of feveral Iflands Eaftward of China, bending to the North, 

 fome people believing that Niphon, which is the biggeft, is in a manner join'd to 

 the firm Land, is that Region of all Afia that yields the greateft quantity of Gold : 

 Though others believe it is found in the Iflard of Formofa, and carri'd thence to 

 fapofi. For as long as the Hollanders have had the Ifland, they could never 

 yet tell what is the Trade of that Coaft, whence they believe the Gold comes. 



There comes alfo Gold from China, which the Chine/es exchange for. the Silver 

 Which is brought them. For price for price, they Jove Silver better than Gold s 

 becaufe they have no Silver Mines. Yet it is the coarfeft metal of all the Afia- 

 tsck.Go\à. 



The Ifland of Celebes or Macajfar produces Gold alfo, which is drawn out of 

 the Rivers, where it rowls among the Sand. 



In the Ifland of Achen or Sumatra, after the rainy feafon, when the Torrents are 

 wafted, they find veins of Gold in the Flints, which the waters warn down from 

 the Mountains that lye toward the North-eaft. Upon the Weft-fide of the Ifland^ 

 when the Hcllat.drs come to lade their Pepper, the Natives bring them great 

 ftorc of Gold; but very coarfè metal, if not worfe than that of China. 



Toward the T'hibet, which is the ancient Caucafus, in the Territories of a Raja, 

 beyond the Kingdom of Cachemirjhere are three Mountains clofè one by another, 

 one of which produces excellent Gold, the other Granats, and the, third Lapis- 

 Laz.uU. 



There is Gold alfo comes from the Kingdom of Tipra, but it is çoarfe, almoft 

 as bad às that of China j and thefe are all the places in Afia that produce Gold. 

 I mall now fay fomething of the Gold of Africa, and the places where it is found 

 in greateft quantities. , 



Obferve by the way, that the Vice-Roy of Moz,ambique has under his Com- 

 mand the Governors of Sofala and Chepor.-Goura. the firft of thefe two Go- 

 vernments lies upon the River Sene, fixty leagues from the Month of the River j 

 and the other ten leagues higher. From the Mouth of the River to thcfe very 

 places on each fide of the River, great numbers of Negro's inhabit, which are all 

 commanded by one Portuguese. The Portnguez.es have been Mafters of this 

 Countrey for many years, where they take upon them like Lords, and make War 

 one upon another for the flighteft occafions in the World ; fome of them having 

 under them five-thoufànd Cafres, which are their Slaves. The Governor of Mo- 

 zambique furnifhes them with Calicuts, and all other neceflàry Commodities 

 which they want, which he fells them at his own rates. When he enters upon 

 his Government he carries with him great quantities of all forts of Commodities, 

 efpecially Calicuts dy'd black. His Correfpondents alfo in Goa fènd him every 

 year two VelTels, which he fends to Sofala, Chepon-Goura, and even as far as the 

 City of Monomotofa, the chief City of a Kingdom of the fame name, otherwife 

 calPd Vouvebaran, diftant from Chepon-Goura fifty leagues, or there-abouts. He 

 that commands all that Countrey., aflumes the name of Emperor of Monomotopa, 

 extending his Dominions as far as the Confines of Yrefier fohn's Countrey. From 

 this Countrey of Monomotopa it is, that the moft pure and fineft Gold of all Africa 

 comes: where they dig it with eafe out of the earth, not being put to labour 

 above two or three foot deep. In fome places of that Countrey which are not 

 inhabited by reafon of the fcarcity of water, the people find great pieces of Gold, 

 of feveral forms and weights, upon the furface of the earth ; fome of which 

 weigh an ounce. One I have by me that weighs an ounce and a half, or there- 

 abouts. Being 2XSurat 3 I went to vifit the Embaflador of the King of the 

 Abyffms. He fhew'd us the Prefent which his Mafter had lent to the Great Mo- 

 gul, confifting of fourteen (lately Horfes, the remainder of 30, the reft dying by 

 the way j and a great number of Slaves of both Sexes. But what was moft 



remarka- 



