other thing that is good for Pegu:
but they esteeme not the losse of them, for they make such great gaine of
their commodities that they cary from thence out of that kingdome. Also the
king of Assi his ships come thither into the same port laden with peper;
from the coast of S. Tome of Bengala, out of the Sea of Bara to Pegu are
three hundreth miles, and they go it vp the riuer in foure daies, with the
encreasing water, or with the flood, to a City called Cosmin, and there
they discharge their ships, whither the Customers of Pegu come to take the
note and markes of all the goods of euery man, and take the charge of the
goods on them, and conuey them to Pegu, into the kings house, wherein they
make the custome of the marchandize. When the Customers haue taken the
charge of the goods and put them into barks, the Retor of the City giueth
licence to the Marchants to take barke, and goe vp to Pegu with their
marchandize; and so three or foure of them take a barke and goe vp to Pegu
in company. [Sidenote: Great rigour for the stealing of customes.] God
deliuer euery man that hee giue not a wrong note, and entrie, or thinke to
steale any custome: for if they do, for the least trifle that is, he is
vtterly vndone, for the king doeth take it for a most great affront to bee
deceiued of his custome: and therefore they make diligent searches, three
times at the lading and vnlading of the goods, and at the taking of them a
land. In Pegu this search they make when they goe out of the ship for
Diamonds, Pearles, and fine cloth which taketh little roome: for because
that all the iewels that come into Pegu, and are not found of that
countrey, pay custome, but Rubies, Safyres, and Spinels pay no custome in
nor out: because they are found growing in that Countrey. I haue spoken
before, how that all Marchants that meane to goe thorow the Indies, must
cary al manor of houshold stuffe with them which is necessary for a house,
because that there is not any lodging nor Innes nor hostes, nor chamber
roome in that Countrey, but the first thing a man doth when he commeth to
that City is to hier a house, either by the yeere or by the moneth, or as
he meanes to stay in those parts.

In Pegu their order is to hire their houses for sixe moneths. Nowe from
Cosmin to the Citie of Pegu they goe in sixe houres with the flood, and if
it be ebbing water, then they make fast their boate to the riuer side, and
there tary vntil the water flow againe. [Sidenote: