e lying full of filthy water, which
men must passe through, or leape ouer, for they haue no bridges: In the
towne there is great resort of diuers Countries and nations, as of Malacca,
Bengala, Malabar, Guihereters of Pegu, Sani Malicas, Banda, China and of
many Kingdomes that haue great traffique for Pepper, that groweth rounde
about Bantam, which in August and September is ripe, there you haue
nutmegs, out of the Island of Banda, and Cloues from Moluca, which the
Portingalles doe most buy vp: Wee bought Nutmegs there for a blank a pound:
All victuailes and necessaries are there in great aboundance to be had, as
Hennes, Hartes, Fish, and Ryce, and diuers kindes of fruites, as Auanas,
Cocus, Bonanas, Manges, Doroyens, Iacca, Pruna, Grapes, Oranges, Lemons,
Pomegarnets, Cocombers, Melons, Onions, Garlicke: but breade they haue
none, but in steade of it they eate Ryce: Beefe is there the dearest
victuaile, for an Oxe in that place is worth 7. 8. or 9. Rialles of 8. The
Chinars have the greatest and most trafficke in that towne. They come
thither in the Month of Ianuarie, with 8. or 9. great shippes, bringing all
sorts of Porseline, silks, Damaske, gold thread, Iron pannes, and Iauas
money called Caixas, whereof 12000 make a Ryall of eight: They are hanged
vpon stringes by two hundred together, for the which they both buy and sel
al kinds of marchandises, and there they lade Pepper which they carrie into
China: Without the towne they haue a great place wherein they commonly vse
to sell their wares, and there they dwell, and haue greater and better
houses then any are within the towne, all made of reedes, onely that in
euery house they haue a square place made of stone, wherein they put their
wares to keepe them from burning, as some riche men in the towne likewise
haue: The Chinars are very subtill and industrious people, and will refuse
no labour nor paynes to yearne money, there they make much Aqua vitae of
Ryce and Cocus, and trafficke much therewith, which the Iauars by night
come to buy, and drinke it secretly, for by Mahomets law it is forbidden
them. The Chinars liue there with free libertie: When they come to remaine
there for a yeare or more as they thinke good, they buy themselues a wife
or two, or more as they thinke good, and liue together like man and wife,
and when they meane to depart, they sell their wiues again, but if they
haue children they take them with them and so returne to China: They haue
no special re