DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.634#0047
16 A Twelve Monti?s Voyage
Letter I.
WW
CHAP. IV.
Takes up our ssay at Mechlapatan, to our Landing at
Fort St. George.
TheTrwsurc HpHE next Morning the Second of the Factory (the Chief)
setonShore. J^ being at Fort St.George, visited the Admiral, and ordered
the Treasure to be set on Shore.
That if the empty Hollander mould be so hardy as to face us,
their small hopes of plunder might abate their Courage; which
otherwise, might tempt them to attack us with the greater vi-
gour.
The Bonmen The Boat-men that came for it were of a Sun-burnt Black, with
described. Jong black Hair, tied up in a Clout of Calicut Lawn, girt about the
Middle with a Sato, in their Ears Rings of Gold ; those that were
bare-headed, were morn all to one Lock, which carclcily twitted
up ( some have fooliflily conceited ) to be lest for ferimel
{one of. their Prophets) to hold fast by when he mould haul them
to Heaven ; but more truly to prelerve them from the Plica Polo-
niea, which attends long Hair not cleanly kept, and to which thefe .
People are incident.
pimu, ot Set- Among these, some more modissi than the rest, as going in a
vantstowai: Garb more Civil, Coiling Calicut about their Heads, Turbat
oa us' sashion, on their Bodies light Vests, underneath long Ioose Breeches,
and swadled about the Waist with a Saili; ossered their Service sor
a small Pension, to execute our Affairs on Shore, or wait on us
Aboard.
These spake Englijh, and acquainted us, how the French had set
fire to four Vessels of the Moors, and made Prize of four more, as
they were in this Road not two Months ago; that they had con-
strained some Dutch Factories to run on score to supply their wants
with Victuals, and other Nccessaries j whose Credit, by these
Emergencies, and their Cash failing, begins to sink: Money be-
ing here not only the Nerves and Sinews, but the Life it self of
Trade.
•Landing at Being sent for on Shore by the desire of the Factory, by one of the
Mtchtya:*n. Country Boats, I was landed at Mechlapatan ; These Boats are as
large as one of our Ware-Barges, and almost of that Mould, sailing
with one Sail like them, but padling with Paddles inslead of Spreads,
and carry a great Burthen with little trouble ; outliving either Ship
or Englijh Skiff over the Bar. Which by the rapid motion of the
Waves driving the Sands into an Head, makes a noise as deafning as
the Cataracts of Nile, and not seldom as dissicult a Downfal. Over
this the Land shuts us up on both sides, and the ttiller Waters con-
tentedly do part their Streams to embrace the Town.
TlwFortand Near which a Fort or Blockade (if it merit to be called so) made
Town. of Dirt, hides half a score great Guns ; under the command of which
several Moors Junks ride at Anchor. A Bow-mot srom whence the
Town it self, environed with a Mud Wall, entrenched with a (link-
ing
Letter I.
WW
CHAP. IV.
Takes up our ssay at Mechlapatan, to our Landing at
Fort St. George.
TheTrwsurc HpHE next Morning the Second of the Factory (the Chief)
setonShore. J^ being at Fort St.George, visited the Admiral, and ordered
the Treasure to be set on Shore.
That if the empty Hollander mould be so hardy as to face us,
their small hopes of plunder might abate their Courage; which
otherwise, might tempt them to attack us with the greater vi-
gour.
The Bonmen The Boat-men that came for it were of a Sun-burnt Black, with
described. Jong black Hair, tied up in a Clout of Calicut Lawn, girt about the
Middle with a Sato, in their Ears Rings of Gold ; those that were
bare-headed, were morn all to one Lock, which carclcily twitted
up ( some have fooliflily conceited ) to be lest for ferimel
{one of. their Prophets) to hold fast by when he mould haul them
to Heaven ; but more truly to prelerve them from the Plica Polo-
niea, which attends long Hair not cleanly kept, and to which thefe .
People are incident.
pimu, ot Set- Among these, some more modissi than the rest, as going in a
vantstowai: Garb more Civil, Coiling Calicut about their Heads, Turbat
oa us' sashion, on their Bodies light Vests, underneath long Ioose Breeches,
and swadled about the Waist with a Saili; ossered their Service sor
a small Pension, to execute our Affairs on Shore, or wait on us
Aboard.
These spake Englijh, and acquainted us, how the French had set
fire to four Vessels of the Moors, and made Prize of four more, as
they were in this Road not two Months ago; that they had con-
strained some Dutch Factories to run on score to supply their wants
with Victuals, and other Nccessaries j whose Credit, by these
Emergencies, and their Cash failing, begins to sink: Money be-
ing here not only the Nerves and Sinews, but the Life it self of
Trade.
•Landing at Being sent for on Shore by the desire of the Factory, by one of the
Mtchtya:*n. Country Boats, I was landed at Mechlapatan ; These Boats are as
large as one of our Ware-Barges, and almost of that Mould, sailing
with one Sail like them, but padling with Paddles inslead of Spreads,
and carry a great Burthen with little trouble ; outliving either Ship
or Englijh Skiff over the Bar. Which by the rapid motion of the
Waves driving the Sands into an Head, makes a noise as deafning as
the Cataracts of Nile, and not seldom as dissicult a Downfal. Over
this the Land shuts us up on both sides, and the ttiller Waters con-
tentedly do part their Streams to embrace the Town.
TlwFortand Near which a Fort or Blockade (if it merit to be called so) made
Town. of Dirt, hides half a score great Guns ; under the command of which
several Moors Junks ride at Anchor. A Bow-mot srom whence the
Town it self, environed with a Mud Wall, entrenched with a (link-
ing