159 
to the sun, and loaded with hardy cannon: the bowers dedicated 
to rest and ease, are turned into bold rampires for the watchful 
centinel to look out on; every tree that the airy choristers made 
their charming choir, trembles, and is extirpated at the rebounding 
echo of the alarming drum; and those slender fences, only designed 
to oppose the sylvan herd, are thrown down, to erect others of a 
more warlike force. 
“ Not far from the fort lies the town, about a mile in length; 
the houses are low, and thatched with olas of the cocoa-nut trees; 
all but a few the Portugals left, and some few the Company have 
built; the custom-house and warehouses are tiled or plaistered; 
and instead of glass, they use panes of oyster-shells for their win- 
dows; which, as they are cut in squares, and polished, look grace- 
fully enough. There is also a reasonable handsome bazar. 
“ At the end of the town, looking into the field, where cows 
and buffaloes graze, the Portugals have a pretty house and church, 
with orchards of Indian fruit adjoining. The English have only a 
burying-place, called Mendam’s Point, from the first man’s name 
there interred, where are some few tombs that make a pretty shew 
at entering the harbour; but neither church nor hospital, both 
which are mightily to be desired. There are no fresh-water rivers, 
nor falling streams of living water: that usually drank is rain-water 
preserved in tanks; which decaying, they are forced to dig wells, 
into which it is strained, hardly leaving its brackish taste; so that 
the better sort have it brought from Massagon, where there is only 
one fresh spring. 
“ In the gardens of India, are gourds of all sorts for stews and 
pottage, herbs for salad, and some flowers, as jasmin, for beauty 
