( 546 ) 
of Afia likewife, who have as good Reafon to pretend to 
Antiquity, and poflibly much better than /£g)'/>^, /^tht» 
opia^ Chaldeay for that we are inform'd by the De- 
icriptions of the vaft Empire of China, that tney have 
many Mountains formed by Art into various Shapes, 
that they have and do (till make ufe of inacceffible Moun- 
tains for theirSafe guard againft Incurfions and Invadings 
of their Enemies, and for hving quiet and (ecure from 
their Foreign Difturbers ; for which Ufe fomc of thefe 
mentioned by the Dodlor, do manifeftly feem to have 
be^n occafioned. Befides, we find that the Heathen 
Priefts did much affeft to make ufe of the Tops or Hills 
and Mountains, and the Caverns and Caves of Rocks 
and Hills, for the places of their Idolatrous Worfhip, 
and for delivering of their Oracles ; for which, 'tis not 
unlikely but that fome of thefe were at firft defigny, 
though they have been fince deferted or converted to 
other Ufes. 
But to leave thefe Enquiries to the Scrutiny and Judg- 
ment of more knowing Antiquaries, I ftiall proceed to 
give fome farther Account of the Contents of his other 
Letters. In his Fourth Letter, there he gives an Account 
of the Canatick Country ; and firft he defcribes Carwar, 
and the Fleet of Sevagi there: next Goa^ and all that is 
remarkable in and about that Gity ; then an Excurfion to 
Gocourn, where he relates the ftrange Rites of a Heathen 
Solemnity, and adds a Difcourfe of the bordering Princes 
and Governments,as alfo of the wild Beafts of the Woods, 
as Tigers, Apes, ^c, and of the Trees and Fruits, as 
the Bamboos^ Cajfta Fiftula , tamarind-Tree^, Indian 
Oak, Uux Vomica^ Mangoes^ Cherufesy Ananas, &c, 
then adds a fummary Defcription of the whole Country, 
and its Produ&s in general, as of its Mountains, Plains, 
Woods, Rivers, the Minerals, Vegetables, Animals, the 
People and their Conftitutions, and Cuftoms, Houfing, 
Cioathing, 
