travels into the INDIES. Part III. 
The Cotoiial 
anfwers for 
Robberies. 
The piinifl:- 
ment of thofe 
who are fiif- 
pedkd of Rob 
bery. 
Fn-joiî Fonrf- 
dar. 
Dosi-Pc.decha. 
The Cotoual is to Anfwer for all the Robberies committed in the Town -, 
but as generally all that are put into that Office, are very cunning, fo they 
find always evafions to come off without paying. Whil'ft I was at Surrar, 
an Armenian Merchant was Robbed of tv/o thouiand four hundred Chequinsy 
his name was Cogea Minos : Two of his Slaves abfconding about the time of 
the Robbery, he failed not to accufe them of it j all imaginary enquiry was 
made after them, but feeing there was no news to be had neither of them 
nor of the Money, the report run that thefe Slaves had committed the 
Theft; and that they were concealed by fome Moor that was in intelligence 
with them,who perhaps, to get all the Money had killed and buryed them, 
as it had already happened at Surrat. 
In the mean time the Governour told the Cototial,th2.t he muft forthwith 
pay the Money, becaule if the Emperour came to know of the matter, 
all the fault would belaid at their door, that perhaps they might be ferved 
worfe than to be made pay the Money that had been ftolien from Cogea 
Minasy artd that therefore they had befl: fend for the Armenian^ and learn 
from him how much he had really loft. The Cotoual faid nothing to the 
contrary, but at the fame time asked leave to commit him to Prifon, and 
to put him and his fervants to the Rack, that fo by torture he might dif- 
cover whether or not he had really loft the Money, and if fo, whether or 
not one of his own Men had Robbed him. The Governour granted what 
he demanded -, but no fooner was thé news brought to the Armenian, but 
he delifted from purfuing the Cotoual^ and chofe rather to lofe all than 
to fuffer the torments that were defigned for him. In this manner common- 
ly the Cotoual comes off. 
When any one is Robbed, this Officer apprehends all the People of the 
Houfe both Young andOld where the Robbery hath been committed, and 
caufes them to be beaten feverely. They are ftretched out upon the Belly, 
and four Men hold him that is to be puniflied by the Legs and Arms, and 
two others have each a long Whip of twifted thongs of Leather made 
thick and round, wherewith they lafh the Patient one after another, like - 
Smiths ftriking on an Anvil, till he have received two or three hundred 
ladies, and be in a gore of Blood. If at firft he confefs not the Theft, they 
whip him again next day, and fo for feveral days more, until he hath con- 
feffed all, or the thing ftolen be recovered again -, and what is ftrange, the 
Cotoual neither fearches his Houfe or Goods, but after five or fix days, if he 
do not confefs he is difmiffed. 
At Surrat there is a Trevoft who is called Fourfdar^ and he is obliged to 
fecure the Country about, and to Anfwer for all the Robberies that are 
committed there -, but I cannot tell if he be fo crafty as the Cotoual. When 
they would ftop any Perfon, they only cry Doa-padecha, which hath greater 
force than a Hue-and-cry -, and if they forbid a Man to ftir out of the place 
where he is, by faying Doa-padecha,he cannot go,without rendering himfelf 
Criminal, and is obliged to appear before the Juftice. This cry is ufed all 
over the Indies : After all, there are but Fines impofed at Surrat, the People 
live there with freedome enough. 
C H A P. XL 
Bad Offices done to the French Company at Surrat. 
^ Hp Governour "of Surrat was making ftri£t enquiry into the French 
Bad offices 
done to the |^ Company, when I came to the Indies. Seeing at firft he applyed him- 
French Com- ^^jf x.oi\\t other Franks, and particularly to thofe whofe intereft it was not 
pany at Surrat. \^^y^ \^ eftabliflied at Surrat^ they told hira a great deal of evil of the 
French;' 
