[ch12 is page 324-344] 324 An. 1686 C H A P. XII. [---+++] Of the Inhabitants, and Civil State of the Iſle of Mindanao. The Mindanayans, Hilanoones, Sologues, and Alfoorees. Of the Minda- nayans, properly ſo called : Their Manners and Habits. The Habits and Manners of their Women. A Comical Cuſtom at Minda- nao. Their Houſes, their Diet, and Waſh- ings. The Languages ſpoken there, and tranſ- actions with the Spaniards. Their fear of the Dutch, and ſeeming deſire of the Engliſh. Their Handy-crafts, and peculiar ſort of Smiths Bellows. Their Shipping, Commodi- ties, and Trade. The Mindanao and Ma- nila Tobacco. A ſort of leproſie there, and other Diſtempers. Their Marriages The Sultan of Mindanao, his Poverty, Power, Family, &c. The Proes or Boats here. Ra- ja Laut the General, Brother to the Sultan, and his Family. Their way of fighting. Their Religion. Raja Laut's Devotion. A Clock or Drum in their Moſques. Of their Cir- cumciſion, and the Solemnity then uſed. Of other their Religious Obſervations and Super- ſtitions. Their abhorrence of Swines Fleſh, &c. [---+++] THis Iſland is not ſubject to one Prince, nei- ther is the Language one and the ſame ; but the People are much alike, in colour, ſtrength, and ſtature. They are all or moſt of them of one [+++---] 325 An. 1686 Of the People of the Iſland. [---+++] one Religion, which is Mahometaniſm, and their cuſtoms and manner of living are alike. The Mindanao people more particularly ſo called, are the greateſt Nation in the Iſland, and trading by Sea with other Nations, they are therefore the more civil. I ſhall ſay but little of the reſt, being leſs known to me, but ſo much as hath come to my knowledge, take as follows. There are beſides the Mindanayans, the Hilanoones, (as they call them) or the Mountaniers, the Sologues, and Alfoorees. [---+++] The Hilanoones live in the heart of the Country: They have little or no commerce by Sea, yet they have Proe's that row with 12 or 14 Oars apiece. They enjoy the benefit of the Gold Mines ; and with their Gold buy foreign Commodities of the Mindanao people. They have alſo plenty of Bees Wax, which they exchange for other Commodi- ties. [---+++] The Sologues inhabit the N. W. end of the Iſ- land. They are the leaſt Nation of all ; they Trade to Manila in Proe's, and to ſome of the neighbouring Iſlands, but have no commerce with the Mindanao people. [---+++] The Alfoorees are the ſame with the Mindanayans, and were formerly under the ſubjection of the Sultan of Mindanao, but were divided between the Sultan's Children, and have of late had a Sultan of their own ; but having by Marriage contracted an alliance with the Sultan of Mindanao, this has occaſioned that Prince to claim them again as his Subjects ; and he made War with them a little af- ter we went away, as I afterwards underſtood. [---+++] The Mindanayans properly ſo called, are men of mean ſtatures ; ſmall Limbs, ſtreight bodies, and little Heads. Their Faces are oval, their Fore- heads flat, with black ſmall Eyes, ſhort low No- ſes, pretty large Mouths ; their Lips thin and red, their Teeth black, yet very ſound, their Hair black [+++---] 326 An. 1686 Of the People of the Iſland. [---+++] black and ſtraight, the colour of their Skin taw- ney, but inclining to a brighter yellow than ſome other Indians, eſpecially the Women. They have a cuſtom to wear their Thumb-nails very long, eſpecially that on their left Thumb, for they do never cut it but ſcrape it often. They are indued with good natural Wits, are ingenious, nimble, and active, when they are minded ; but generally very lazy and thieviſh, and will not work except forc- ed by hunger. This lazineſs is natural to moſt Indians ; but theſe people's lazineſs ſeems rather, to proceed not ſo much from their natural inclinati- ons, as from the ſeverity of their Prince, of whom they ſtand in great awe: For he dealing with them very arbitrarily, and taking from them what they get, this damps their induſtry, ſo they never ſtrive to have any thing but from hand to mouth. They are generally proud, and walk very ſtately. They are civil enough to ſtrangers, and will eaſily be acquainted with them, and entertain them with great freedom ; but they are implacable to their Enemies, and very revengeful if they are injured, frequently poiſoning ſecretly thoſe that have af- fronted them. [---+++] They wear but few Cloaths ; their Heads are circled with a ſhort Turbat, fringed or laced at both ends ; it goes once about the head, and is tied in a knot, the laced ends hanging down. They wear Frocks and Breeches, but no Stockings nor Shooes. [---+++] The Women are fairer than the Men ; and their Hair is black and long: which they tie in a knot, that hangs back in their poles. They are more round viſaged than the Men, and generally well featured ; only their Noſes are very ſmall, and ſo low between their Eyes, that in ſome of the Fe- male Children the riſing that ſhould be between the Eyes is ſcarce diſcernable; neither is there any ſenſible [+++---] 327 An. 1686 Their Habits. [---+++] ſenſible riſing in their Foreheads. At a diſtance they appear very well ; but being nigh, theſe Im- pediments are very obvious. They have very ſmall Limbs. They wear but two Garments ; a Frock, and a ſort of Petticoat : the Petticoat is only a piece of Cloth, ſowed both ends together : but it is made 2 foot too big for their Waſtes, ſo that they may wear either end uppermoſt : that part that comes up to their Waſtes, becauſe it is ſo much too big, they gather it in their Hands, and twiſt it till it fits cloſe to their Waſtes, tucking in the twiſted part between their Waſte and the edge of the Petticoat, which keeps it cloſe. The Frock fits looſe about them, and reaches down a little below the Waſte. The Sleeves are a great deal longer than their Arms, and ſo ſmall at the end, that their Hands will ſcarce go through. Being on, the Sleeve fits in folds about the wriſt, wherein they take great pride. [---+++] The better ſort of people have their garments made of long Cloath ; but the ordinary ſort wear Cloth made of Plantain-tree, which they call Saggen; by which Name they call the Plantain. They have neither Stocking nor Shooe, and the Women have very ſmall Feet. [---+++] The Women are very deſirous of the company of Strangers, eſpecially of White Men; and doubt- leſs would be very familiar, if the Cuſtom of the Country did not debar them from that freedom, which ſeems coveted by them. Yet from the high- eſt to the loweſt they are allowed liberty to con- verſe with, or treat Strangers in the ſight of their Husbands. [---+++] There is a kind of begging Cuſtom at Mindanao, that I have not met elſewhere with in all my Tra- vels ; and which I believe is owing to the little Trade they have ; which is thus : When Strangers arrive here, the Mindanao Men will come aboard, and [+++---] 328 An. 1686 How they treat Strangers. [---+++] and invite them to their Houſes, and inquire who has a Comrade, (which word I believe they have from the Spaniards) or a Pagally, and who has not. A Comrade is a familiar Male-friend ; a Pa- gally is an innocent Platonick Friend of the other Sex. All Strangers are in a manner oblig'd to ac- cept of this Acquaintance and Familiarity, which muſt be firſt purchaſed with a ſmall Preſent, and afterwards confirmed with ſome Gift or other to continue the Acquaintance : and as often, as the Stranger goes aſhore, he is welcome to his Comrade or Pagally's Houſe, where he may be entertained for his Money, to eat, drink, or ſleep ; and com- plimented, as often as he comes aſhore, with To- bacco and Betel-nut, which is all the Entertain- ment he muſt expect gratis. The richeſt Mens Wives are allowed the freedom to converſe with her Pagally in publick, and may give or receive Preſents from him. Even the Sultans and the Generals Wives, who are always coopt up, will yet look out of their Cages when a Stranger paſſeth by, and de- mand of him if he wants a Pagally: and to invite him to their Friendſhip, will ſend a Preſent of To- bacco and Betel-nut to him by their Servants. [---+++] The chiefeſt City on this Iſland is called by the fame Name of Mindanao. It is ſeated on the South ſide of the Iſland, in lat. 7 d. 20 m. N. on the banks of a ſmall River, about 2 mile from the Sea. The manner of building is ſomewhat ſtrange ; yet generally uſed in this part of the Eaſt Indies. Their Houſes are all built on Poſts, about 14, 16, 18, or 20 foot high. Theſe Poſts are bigger or leſs, ac- cording to the intended Magnificence of the Super- ſtructure. They have but one floor, but many par- titions, or rooms, and a ladder or ſtairs to go up out of the ſtreets. The roof is large, and covered with Palmeto or Palm-leaves. So there is a clear paſſage like a Piazza (but a filthy one) under the Houſe. [+++---] 329 An. 1686 Of their Houſes and Buildings. [---+++] Houſe. Some of the poorer People that keep Ducks or Hens, have a fence made round the poſts of their Houſes, with a door to go in and out ; and this under-room ſerves for no other uſe. Some uſe this place for the common draught of their Houſes ; but building moſtly cloſe by the River in all parts of the Indies, they make the River receive all the filth of their Houſes ; and at the time of the Land- floods, all is waſhed very clean. [---+++] The Sultans Houſe is much bigger than any of the reft. It ſtands on about 180 great Poſts or Trees, a great deal higher than the common Building, with great broad ſtairs made to go up. In the firſt room he hath about 20 Iron Guns, all Saker and Minion, placed on Field-Carriages. The General, and other great Men have ſome Guns alſo in their Houſes. About 20 paces from the Sultan's Houſe there is a ſmall low Houſe, built purpoſely for the Reception of Ambaſſadors, or Merchant Stran- gers. This alſo ſtands on Poſts, but the floor is not raiſed above 3 or 4 foot above the ground, and is neatly matted purpoſely for the Sultan and his Council to ſit on ; for they uſe no Chairs, but ſit croſs-legg'd like Taylors on the floor. [---+++] The common Food at Mindanao is Rice, or Sago, and a ſmall Fiſh or two. The better ſort eat Buffa- lo, or Fowls ill dreſt, and abundance of Rice with it. They uſe no Spoons to eat their Rice, but every Man takes a handful out of the Platter, and by wetting his Hand in Water, that it may not ſtick to his Hand, ſqueezes it into a lump, as hard as poſſibly he can make it, and then crams it into his mouth. They all ſtrive to make theſe lumps as big as their mouths can receive them ; and ſeem to vie with each other, and glory in taking in the biggeſt lump ; ſo that ſometimes they almoſt choak them- ſelves. They always waſh after meals, or if they touch any thing that is unclean ; for which reaſon they [+++---] 330 An. 1686 Of the Houſes, &c. [---+++] they ſpend abundance of Water in their Houſes. This Water, with the waſhing of their Diſhes, and what other filth they make, they pour down near their Fire-place : for their Chambers are not Boarded, but floored with ſplit Bamboos, like Laths, ſo that the Water preſently falls underneath their dwelling rooms, where it breeds Maggots, and makes a pro- digious ſtink. Beſides this filthineſs, the ſick peo- ple eaſe themſelves, and make water in their Cham- bers ; there being a ſmall hole made purpoſely in the floor, to let it drop through. But healthy ſound people commonly eaſe themſelves, and make water in the River. For that reaſon you ſhall always fee abundance of people, of both Sexes, in the River, from morning till night; ſome eaſing themſelves, others waſhing their bodies or cloaths. If they come into the River purpoſely to waſh their cloaths, they ſtrip and ſtand naked till they have done ; then put them on, and march out again: both men and wo- men take great delight in ſwimming, and waſhing themſelves, being bred to it from their Infancy. I do believe it is very wholſome to waſh mornings and evenings in theſe hot Countries, at leaſt 3 or 4 days in the week: for I did uſe my ſelf to it when I lived afterwards at Ben-cooly, and found it very refreſhing and comfortable. It is very good for thoſe that have Fluxes to waſh and ſtand in the Ri- ver mornings and evenings. I ſpeak it experimen- tally; for I was brought very low with that diſtem- per at Achin ; but by waſhing conſtantly mornings and evenings I found great benefit, and was quickly cured by it. [---+++] In the City of Mindanao they ſpeak two Lan- guages indifferently ; their own Mindanao Lan- guage, and the Malaya: but in other parts of the Iſland they ſpeak only their proper Language, ha- ving little Commerce abroad. They have Schools, and inſtruct the Children to read and write, and bring [+++---] 331 An. 1686 Their good opinion of the Engliſh. [---+++] bring them up in the Mahometan Religion. There- fore many of the words, eſpecially their Prayers, are in Arabick ; and many of the words of civility, the ſame as in Turkey : and eſpecially when they meet in the morning, or take leave of each other, they expreſs themſelves in that Language. [---+++] Many of the old people both Men and Women can ſpeak Spaniſh, for the Spaniards were, formerly ſettled among them, and had ſeveral Forts on this Iſland ; and then they ſent two Friers to this City, to convert the Sultan of Mindanao and his people. At that time theſe people began to learn Spaniſh, and the Spaniards incroached on them and endea- voured to bring them into ſubjection ; and proba- bly before this time had brought them all under their yoak, if they themſelves had not been drawn off from this Iſland to Manila, to reſiſt the Chineſe, who threatened to invade them there. When the Spaniards were gone, the old Sultan of Mindanao, Father to the preſent, in whoſe time it was, razed and demoliſhed their Forts, brought away their Guns, and ſent away the Friers, and ſince that time will not ſuffer the Spaniards to ſettle on the Iſlands. [---+++] They are now moſt afraid of the Dutch, being ſenſible how they have inflaved many of the neighbouring Iſlands. For that reaſon they have a long time deſired the Engliſh to ſettle among them, and have offered them any convenient place to build a Fort in, as the General himſelf told us ; giving this reaſon, that they do not find the Engliſh ſo incroaching as the Dutch or Spaniſh. The Dutch are no leſs jealous of their admitting the Engliſh, for they are ſenſible what detriment it would be to them if the Engliſh ſhould ſettle here. [---+++] There are but few Tradeſmen at the City of Mindanao. The chiefeſt Trades are Goldſmiths, Blackſmiths, and Carpenters. There are but 2 or 3 [+++---] 332 An. 1686 Their Trades. [---+++] 3 ; Goldſmiths ; theſe will work in Gold or Silver, and make any thing that you deſire : but they have no Shop furniſhed with Ware ready made for Sale. Here are ſeveral Blackſmiths who work very well, conſidering the Tools that they work with. Their Bellows are much different from ours. They are made of a wooden Cylinder, the trunk of a Tree, about 3 foot long, bored hollow like a Pump, and ſet upright on the ground, on which the Fire it ſelf is made. Near the lower end there is a ſmall hole, in the ſide of the trunk next the Fire, made to re- ceive a Pipe, through which the wind is driven to the Fire by a great bunch of fine Feathers faſtned to one end of the ſtick, which cloſing up the inſide of the Cylinder, drives the air out of the Cylinder through the pipe : Two of theſe Trunks or Cy- linders are placed ſo nigh together, that a Man ſtanding between them may work them both at once. alternately, one with each hand. They have neither Vice nor Anvil but a great hard Stone, or a piece of an old Gun, to hammer upon: yet they will perform their work making both common Utenſils, and Iron-works about Ships to admiration. They work altogether with Charcoal. Every Man almoſt is a Carpenter, for they can all work with the Ax and Ads. Their Ax is but ſmall, and ſo made, that they can take it out of the Helve, and by turn- ing it make an Ads of it. They have no Saws ; but when they make Plank they ſplit the Tree in two, and make a Plank of each part, planing it with the Ax and Ads. This requires much pains, and takes up a great deal of time ; but they work cheap, and the goodneſs of the Plank thus hewed, which hath its grain preſerv'd entire, makes a- mends for their coſt and pains. [---+++] They build good and ſerviceable Ships or Barks for the Sea ; ſome for Trade, others for Pleaſure ; and ſome Ships of War. Their trading Veſſels they ſend [+++---] 333 An. 1686 Bees-wax and Tobacco. [---+++] ſend chiefly to Manila. Thither they tranſport Bees- wax, which, I think, is the only Commodity, be- ſides Gold, that they vend there. The Inhabitants of the City of Mindanao get a great deal of Bees- wax themſelves : but the greateſt quantity they purchaſe is of the Mountaneers, from whom they alſo get the Gold which they ſend to Manila ; and with theſe, they buy there Calicoes, Muſlins, and China Silk. They ſend ſometimes their Barks to Borneo and other Iſlands ; but what they tranſport thither, or import from thence, I know not. The Dutch come hither in Sloops from Ternate and Tidore, and buy Rice, Bees-wax, and Tobacco : for here is a great deal of Tobacco grows on this Iſland, more than in any Iſland or Country in the Eaſt Indies, that I know of, Manila only excepted. It is an excellent ſort of Tobacco ; but theſe people have not the Art of managing this Trade to their beſt advantage, as the Spaniards have at Manila. I do believe the Seeds were firſt brought hither from Manila by the Spaniards, and even thither, in all probability, From America : the difference between the Mindanao and Manila Tobacco is, that the Min- anao Tobacco is of a darker colour, and the leaf larger and groſſer than the Manila Tobacco, being propagated or planted in a ſatter ſoil. The Ma- nila Tobacco is of a bright yellow colour, of an in- different ſize, not ſtrong, but pleaſant to ſmoak. The Spaniards at Manila are very curious about this Tobacco, having a peculiar way of making it up neatly in the leaf. For they take 2 little ſticks, each about a foot long and flat, and placing the ſtalks of the Tobacco-leaves in a row, 40 or 50 of them between the two ſticks, they bind them hard together, ſo that the leaves hang dangling down. One of theſe bundles is ſold for a Rial at Fort St. George : but you may have 10 or 12 pound of Tobacco at Mindanao for a Rial ; and the Tobacco is as 334 An.1686 The Leprosie. as good, or rather better than the Manila Tobacco, but they have not that vent for it as the Spaniards have. [---+++] The Mindanao people are much troubled with a sort of Leprosie, the same as we observed at Guam. This distemper runs with a dry Scurf all over their bodies, and causeth great itching in those that have it, making them frequently scratch and scrub them- selves, which raiseth the outer skin in small whitish flakes, like the scales of little Fish, when they are raised on end with a Knife. This makes their skin extraordinary rough, and in some you shall see broad white spots in several parts of their body. I judge such have had it, but are cured; for their skins were smooth, and I did not perceive them to scrub themselves: yet I have learnt from their own mouths that these spots were from this distemper. Whether they use any means to cure themsleves, or whether it goes away of it self, I know not: but I did not perceive that they made any great matter of it, for they did never refrain any company for it; none of our people caught it of them, for we were afraid of it and kept off. They are some- times troubled with the Small Pox, but their ordi- nary distempers are Fevers, Agues, Fluxes, with great pains, and gripings in their guts. The Coun- try affords a great many Drugs and Medicinal Herbs; whose Virtues are not unknown to some of them that pretend to cure the sick. [---+++] The Mindanao Men have many Wives: but what Ceremonies are used when they marry I know not. There is commonly a great Feast made by the Bridegroom to entertain his Friends, and the most part of the night is spent in mirth. [---+++] The Sultan is absolute in his power over all his Subjects. He is but a poor Prince; for as I men- tioned before, they have but little Trade, and therefore cannot be rich. If the Sultan understands [+++---] 835 An.1686 Of the Sultan and his Family. that any Man has Money, if it be but 20 Dollars, which is a great matter among them, he will send to borrow so much Money, pretending urgent oc- casions for it; and they dare not deny him. Some- times he will send to sell one thing or another that he hath to dispose of, to such whom he knows to have Money, and they must buy it, and give him his price; and if afterward he hath occasion for the same thing, he must have it if he sends for it. He is but a little Man, between 50 and 60 years old, and by relation very good natured, but over-ruled by those about him. He has a Queen, and keeps about 20 Women, or Wives more, in whose com- pany he spends most of his time. He has one Daughter by his Sultaness or Queen, and a great many Sons and Daughters by the rest. These walk about the streets, and would be always beg- ging things of us; but it is reported, that the young Princess is kept in a room, and never stirs out, and that she did never see any Man but her Father and Raja Laut her Uncle, being then about 14 years old. [---+++] When the Sultan visits his Friends he is carried in a small Couch on 4 Mens shoulders, with 8 or 10 armed Men to guard him; but he never goes far this way: for the Country is very woody, and they have but little paths, which renders it the less commodious. When he takes his pleasure by Wat- ter, he carries some of his Wives along with him. The Proes that are built for this purpose, are larger enough to entertain 50 or 60 persons, or more. The Hull is neatly built, with a round head and stern, and over the Hull there is a small light- house built with Bamboos; the sides are made up with split Bamboos about 4 foot high, with little Windows in them of the same, to open and shut at their pleasure. The roof is almost flat, neatly thatched with Palmeto leaves. This house is di- [+++---] 336 An.1686 Of their Proes. vided into 2 or 3 small Partitions or Chambers, one particularly for himself. This is neatly matted un- derneath, and round the sides; and there is a Carpit and Pillows for him to sleep on. The se- cond Room is for his Women, much like the for- mer. The third is for the Servants, who tend them with Tobacco and Betel-nut; for they are always chewing or smoaking. The fore and after parts of the Vessel are for the Mariners to fit and row. Be- sides this, they have Outlayers, such as those I de- scribed at Guam; only the Boats and Outlayers here are larger. These Boats are more round, like the Half-Moon almost; and the Bamboos or Out- layers that reach from the Boat are also crooked. Besides, the Boat is not flat on one side here, as at Guam; but hath a Belly and Outlayers on each side: and whereas at Guam there is a little Boat fa- sten'd to the Outlayers, that lies in the Water; the Beams or Bamboos here are fastned traverse- wise to the Outlayers on each side, and touch not the Water like Boats, but 1, 3 or 4 foot above the Water, and serve for the Barge-men to sit and row and paddle on; the inside of the Vessel, except on- ly just afore and abaft, being taken up with the apartments for the Passengers. There run across the Outlayers two tire of Beams for the Paddlers to fit on, on each side the Vessel. The lower tire of these Beams is not above a foot from the water: so that upon any the least reeling of the Vessel, the Beams are dipt in the water, and the men that sit are wet up to their waste: their feet seldom esca- ping the water. And thus as all our Vessels are Rowed from within, these are Paddled from with- out. [---+++] The Sultan hath a Brother called Raja Laut, a brave man. He is the second man in the Kingdom. All strangers that come hither to trade must make their address to him, for all Sea affairs belong to him. [+++---] 337 An.1686 The Mindanaoan General, Wars, &c. him. He licenceth strangers to import or export any Commodity, and 'tis by his permission that the Natives themselves are suffered to trade: Nay the very Fishermen must take a permit from him: so that there is no man can come into the River or go out but by his leave. He is 2 or 3 years younger than the Sultan, and a little man like him. He has 8 Women, by some of whom he hath Issue. He hath only one Son, about 12 or 14 years old, who was Circumcised while we were there. His eldest Son died a little before we came hither, for whom he was still in great heaviness. If he had lived a little longer he should have mar- ried the young Princess; but whether this second Son must have her I know not, for I did never hear any discourse about it. Raja Laut is a very sharp man; he speaks and writes Spanish, which he learned in his youth. He has by often conversing with Strangers, got a great insight into the Cu- stoms of other Nations, and by Spanish Books has some knowledge of Europe. He is General of the Mindanaoans. and is accounted an expert soldier, and a very stout man; and the Women in their dances, sings many Songs in his praise. [---+++] The Sultan of Mindanao sometimes makes War with his Neighbours the Mountaineers or Alfoors. Their Weapons are Swords, Lances and some hand Creffets. The Creffet is a small thing like a Baggonet, which they always wear in War or Peace, at work or play, from the greatest of them to the poorest, and meanest persons. They do ne- ver meet each other so as to have a pitcht Battle, but they build small Works or Forts of Timber, wherein they plant little Guns, and lye in fight of each other 2 or 3 months, skirmishing every day in small Parties, and sometimes surprizing a Breft- work; and whatever side is like to be worsted, if they have no probability to escape by flight, they [+++---] 338 An.1686 Their Religion. A Gong. fell their lives as dear as they can; for there is fel- dom any quarter given, but the Conquerour cuts and hacks his Enemies to pieces. [---+++] The Religion of these people is Mahometanism. Friday is their Sabbath; but I did never see any difference that they make between this day and a- ny other day, only the Sultan himself goes then to his Mosque twice. Raja Laut never goes to the Mosque, but prays at certain hours, 8 or 10 times in a day; where-ever he is, he is very punctual to his Canonical hours, and if he be aboard will go ashore, on purpose to pray. For no business nor company hinders him from this Duty. Whether he is at home or abroad, in a house or in the field, he leaves all his Company and goes about 100 yards off, and there kneels down to his Devotion. He first kisses the ground, then prays aloud, and divers times in his Prayers he kisses the ground, and does the same when he leaves off: His Servants, and his Wives and Children talk and sing, or play how they please all the time, but himself is very serious. The meaner sort of people have little De- votion: I did never fee any of them at their Pray- ers, or go into a Mosque. [---+++] In the Sultans Mosque there is a great Drum with but one Head, called a Gong; which is in- stead of a Clock. This Gong is beaten at 12 a Clock, at 3, 6, and 9; a man being appointed for that service. He has a stick as big as a mans arm, with a great knob at the end, bigger than a mans fist, made with Cotton, bound fast with small Cords: With this he strikes the Gong as hard as he can, about 20 strokes; beginning to strike leisurely the first 5 or 6 strokes; then he strikes faster, and at last strikes as fast as he can: and then he strikes again flower and flower so many more strokes: thus he rises and falls 3 times, and then leaves off till 3 hours after. This is done night and day. [+++---] 339 An.1686 Circumcision. A Mock-fight. They circumcise the Males at 11 or 12 years of Age, or older; and many are circumcised at once. This Ceremony is performed with a great deal of Solemnity. There had been no Circumcision for some years before our being here; and then there was one for Raja Laut's Son. They chuse to have a general Circumcision when the Sultan, or Ge- neral, or some other great a person hath a Son fit to be circumcised; for with him great many more are circumcised. There is notice given about 8 or 10 days before for all Men to appear in Arms, and great preparation is made against the solemn day. In the morning before the Boys are circum- cised, Presents are sent to the Father of the Child; that keeps the Feast; which, as I said before, is either the Sultan, or some great person: and about 10 or 11 a clock the Mahometan Priest does his Of- fice. He takes hold of the fore-skin with two sticks, and with a pair of Scizzars snips it off. After this most of the Men, both in City and Country being in Arms before the House, begin to act as if they were ingag'd with an Enemy, having such Arms as I described. Only one acts at a time, the rest make a great Ring of 2 or 300 yards round about him. He that is to exercise comes into the Ring with a great shriek or two, and a horrid look; then he fetches 2 or 3 large stately strides, and falls to work. He holds his broad Sword in one hand, and his Lance in the other, and traverses his ground, leap- ing from one side of the Ring to the other; and in a menacing posture and look, bids defiance to the Enemy, whom his fancy frames to him; for there is nothing but air to oppose him. Then he stamps and shakes his Head, and grinning with his Teeth, makes many ruful faces. Then he throws his Lance, and nimbly snatches out his Creffet, with which he hacks and hews the air like a mad man; often shrieking. At last, being almost tired with [+++---] 340 An.1686 Solemnities at Circumcisions. motion, he flies to the middle of the Ring, where he seems to have his Enemy at his mercy; and with 2 or 3 blows cuts on the ground as if he was cutt ng off his Enemy's Head. By this time he is all of a sweat, and withdraws triumphantly out of the Ring, and presently another enters with the like shrieks and gestures. Thus they continue com- bating their imaginary Enemy all the rest of the day; towards the conclusion of which the richest men act, and at last the General, and then the Sultan concludes this Ceremony: He and the Ge- neral with some other great Men, are in Armour, but the rest have none. After this the Sultan re- turns home, accompanied with abundance of peo- ple, who wait on him there till they are dismist. But at the time when we were there, there was an after-game to be played; for the General's Son being then Circumcised, the Sultan intended to give him a second visit in the night; so they all waited to attend him thither. The General also pro- vided to meet him in the best manner, and there- fore desired Captain Swan with his men to attend him. Accordingly Captain Swan ordered us to get our Guns, and wait at the Generals house till fur- ther orders. So about 40 of us waited till 8 a clock in the evening: When the General with Captain Swan, and about 1000 men, went to meet the Sultan; with abundance of Torches that made it as light day. The manner of the march was thus: First of all there was a Pageant, and upon it two dancing Women gorgeously apparelled, with Co- ronets on their Heads, full of glistering Spangles, and Pendants of the same, hanging down over their Breast and Shoulders. These are Women bred up purposely for dancing: Their Feet and Legs are but little imployed, except sometimes to turn round very gently; but their Hands, Arms, Head, and Body are in continual motion, especi- [+++---] 341 An.1686 A Procession at a Circumcision. ally their Arms, which they turn and twist so strangely, that you would think them to be made without Bones. Besides the two dancing Women, there were two old Women in the Pageant, hold- ing each a lighted Torch in their Hands, close by the two dancing Women, by which light the glit- tering Spangles appeared very gloriously. This Pageant was carried by fix lusty men: Then came 6 or 7 Torches, lighting the General and Cap- tain Swan, who marched side by side next, and we that attended Captain Swan followed close after, marching in order 6 and 6 abreast, with each man his Gun on his Shoulder, and Torches on each side. After us came 12 of the Generals men with old Spanish Match-locks, marching 4 in a row. After them about 40 Lances, and behind them as many with great Swords, marching all in order. After them came abundance only with Creffets by their sides, who marched up close without any order. When we came near the Sultans house, the Sultan and his men met us, and we wheeled off to let them pass. The Sultan had 3 Pageants went before him: In the first Pageant were 4 of his Sons, who were about 10 or 11 years old. They had gotten abundance of small Stones, which they roguishly threw about on the peoples heads.. In the next were 4 young Maidens, Nieces to the Sultan, being his Sisters Daughters; and in the 3d, there were 3 of the Sultans Children, not above 6 years old. The Sultan himself followed next, being carried in his Couch, which was not like your Indian Palankins, but open, and very little and ordinary. A multitude of people came after, with- out any order : but as soon as he was past by, the General, and Captain Swan, and all our men, clo- fed in just behind the Sultan, and so all marched together to the Generals house. We came thither between 10 and 11 a clock, where the biggest part [+++---] 342 An.1686 Musical Bells. The Ladies. of the company were immediately dismist; but the Sultan and his Children, and his Nieces, and some other Persons of Quality, entred the Generals house. They were met at the head of the Stairs by the Generals women, who with a great deal of respect conducted them into the house. Captain Swan, and we that were with him followed after. It was not long before the General caused his dancing Women to enter the Room, and divert the company with that pastime. I had forgot to tell you that they have none but vocal Musick here, by what I could learn, except only a row of a kind of Bells without clappers, 16 in number, and their weight increasing gradually from about 3 to 10 pound weight. These were set in a row on a Table on the Generals House, where for 7 or 8 days together before the Circumcision day, they were struck each with a little stick, for the biggest part of the day, making a great noise,and they ceased that morning.So these dancing Women sung them- selves,and danced to their own Musick. After this the General's Women, and the Sultans Sons, and his Nieces danced. Two of the Sultans Nieces were about 18 or 19 years old, the other two were 3 or 4 years younger. These young Ladies were very richly dreft, with loose Garments of Silk, and small Coronets on their Heads. They were much fairer than any Women that I did ever see there, and very well featured; and their Noses, tho but small, yet higher than the other Womens, and very well proportioned. When the Ladies had very well diverted themselves and the company with dancing, the General caused us to fire some Sky-rockets, that were made by his and Captain Swan's order, purposely for this nights solemnity; and after that the Sultan and his retinue went a- way with a few attendants, and we all broke up; and thus ended this days solemnity: but the Boys [+++---] 343 An.1686 The Ramdam. Abhorrence of Swine. being fore with their Amputation, went straddling for a fortnight after. [---+++] They are not, as I said before, very curious, or strict in observing any days, or times of particular Devotions,except it be the Ramdam time, as we call it. The Ramdam time was then in August, as I take it, for it was shortly after our arrival here. In this time they fast all day, and about 7 a clock in the evening, they spend near an hour in Prayer. Towards the latter end of their Prayer, they loudly invoke their Prophet, for about a quarter of an hour, both old and young bawling out very strangely, as if they intended to fright him out of his sleepiness or neglect of them. After their Prayer is ended, they spend some time in feasting before they take their repose. Thus they do every day for a whole month at least; for sometimes 'tis 2 or 3 days long- er before the Ramdam ends: for it begins at the new Moon, and lasts till they see the next new Moon, which sometimes in thick hazy Weather is not till 3 or 4 days after she change, as it happen'd while I was at Achin, where they continued the Ramdam till the new Moons appearance. The next day after they have seen the new Moon, the Guns are all discharged about noon, and then the time ends. [---+++] A main part of their Religion consists in washing often, to keep themselves from being defiled; or after they are defiled to cleanse themselves again. They also take great care to keep themselves from being polluted, by tasting or touching any thing that is accounted unclean; therefore Swines flesh is very abominable to them; nay any one that hath ei- ther tasted of Swines flesh,or touched those Creatures, is not permitted to come into their Houses in many days after, and there is nothing will scare them more than a Swine. Yet there are wild Hogs in the Islands, and those so plentiful, that they will 344 An.1686 Shoes spoil'd with Hogs-briftles. come in Troops out of the Woods in the night in- to the very City, and come under their Houfes, to romage up and down the filth that they find there. The Natives therefore would even defire us to lye in wait for the Hogs, to deſtroy them, which we did frequently, by fhooting them and carrying them preſently on board, but were prohi- bited their Houfes afterwards. [---+++] And now I am on this fubject, I cannot omit a ſtory concerning the General. He once defired to have a pair of Shoes made after the Engliſh fa- fhion, tho he did very feldom wear any: So one of our men made him a pair, which the General liked very well. Afterwards fome body told him, that the Thread wherewith the Shoes were fowed, were pointed with Hogs briftles. This put him into a great paffion ; fo he fent the Shoes to the man that made them, and fent him withal more Leather to make another pair, with Threads point- ed with fome other hair, which was immediately done, and then he was well pleafed. [+++---]