A

COL.LECTION
Voyages a'.ri.d Travels,

Now 6.rftPrinted fromOriginalMaufaripls,

O'tHERS

Now firft Publiihed in EN G L 1 sit.

In Six VOLUMES.
With a Ge11eral P 1l EPA c E, givirtg att Account ot the
Progrefs of N AVIOAToN, from its fitO: Beginning.

Dluftratcd with a great Number of ufcful Maps and Cuts,

Curiduily Etigtavcn.

VoL.IL

L O N D O N:
Pnnted by Amgament f'roul Mca'it. C H V ll CB i Lt; '
For JokN WALTHos, OYer the R6Jal-bt""'ct, iii. f:,nd,ill1 Tso; Wot-ro!i,
at the 11.Jtt,,'1-Hlu and D,,atri St. D,n,jllliia Churcll,. in Flttt
firttt J SAMun Bu.1' ID Ac,,-7,(.,.,_L,,;,t uuJi11t1-ftrttt1 DANrL Ba.owNS,
at tho, Blati-S'fl11m, without '1'n,,pl_t-&r, ?Ii o M Al Ou o llN, in Gr'!!',.-11111 ;
Jo H H Sa c 1t II u ad u, at the s.,,, nett the 11Jtlt1'-'I'mtplt-Gat,, in F!ittfl_rttt,
and Hz Nil y L 11nor, at Or,Ji!<IJi; apnft St. D,mjlm/1 Church, in
Pltttjlrttt. MDCC XDIL
 721

AN

A C COUNT
OF

C O C H I N - C H I N A.
In.TWO PARTS.
The FIRST Treats
.Of the- TEMP OR.AL ST ATE of that Kingdom.
The SECOND,
OJ what concerns tbe SP IR. 1 T u AL.

Written in ITAL I AN
By the R. F. CH R IS TO P HER B O R R ], a A .'ila'
neze, of the $ 0 C IE TY of J F SUS, who was one of the Firll:
M1ss10NE Rs in that KinJ1om.
-
To the R E A D R.

T H 1S ll((Oll#I is fa jhorl, it rttJ11im

not mu,b preface, or lo fay tbt
lrutb, any a1 all1 a lillltlime/11,[-
fi,ing lht &11rio11s to inform bimftff
of lbt value ind ,onttnts of ii. H'bo 1.i,
""lbor was appears by lht lit/1, and wbal tbt
taufe of bis ioing into tbal kingdom, bis pro.
ft}Jio11 and only bufintfs btini to pmub C!.tri-
flianity lo 1b1 infidels: ht lived fi'Vt years a-
mong lbtm, a,zd ltarn'd their langlta $t lo :PW
fe!lion ; and 1bmfore bis r,lalio11 -s tlfJt likt
1boft of travellers, who jujl pafs lbrD1lt.b a familiaf tl.ilb fl'fJtral ,,,n, in teal a11lhorl'1:
tou,,try ; or mw,bants, lbal lou,b alports up-
on the hufi11efs of trade, and eoeftfJ.utnlly Ji/;.
vtr V'!") fabulous auo11111s, tither lo malt lhtir
tta'IJels tbt martfurprizi11g, orfora,anl oflmDVJ
ingbttttr, lalcingtbings upon bear-fay, and nol
rtnderfla11di11g their languag110 gel certain;,,.
formation. '!'bis falbtr on tbt ,onlrary fr:
9.uently (onvtrfing with all loris ofp,ople, and
having a ftllled rtjidtn,e 1hm for years, bad
the opporumity of knowing wbal ht wril, H,.
gives 1b1 dtf'1'iptio11 of lbt ki,,gdom, a (onfidtr
able par/ whwtDfbt lrll'CJtll'd ovh': ht /ptall
ofi1sprod11&1, wbi,bbt badib1 bm1fi1 of/or
fujl,nan&t and eloa1bi11g: ht tells us lht ltmptr
,JnJfeafan, !f ,;,, 1o:", which ht frveral limn
Jell: ht 11la11s lbt in1111datns which he ofttn
Jaw: u tcm an auo11nl of lbtir falls, wbith
ht !larn d from lbtir pritJl.s, or omfars,
wbom ht toH'tJtrltd lo Cbri.ftianit'j: ht fall
dow11 lht p,,wtr and go'IJtrnmtnt of lht ii#t
Jam whi,b be tould be '1IO .ftra11ger to, hei11g
nd lo (ntd, -'. partit11larrze1 bowfar;.,.,
ehrijlian failb as bmt' 1btr1 propagalld J
(f),'iieh ht ftll lmM1Js, as having .b1111 him.fol/4
labt, vrer in lbt 'Uin,yardfor 11Jrftfi'1Jt years
arJ after lhal, rmiving ii /romlboft tbal f11t
.-11d1dbim. In.fine, ther1fa1ion iuurious, tho
jhorl, and feems lo ,arry all the air of lrutb
imagi11ahle, btfidet lbt ge111ral approbation it
bas alafajs rtttivtd in allparts, wbieb is 1b1
grtaltjl "'."!'_"datirm lbal ton bt 1i11t11 ii,
 AN

Ac COUNT
OF

COCH I N-C n1 NA.

The FIRST PART.
OF THE
Temporal State of the Kingdom of Cochin-China.
-
CH AP. I.
Of the Name, Situatio11, and Extmt of this Kingdom.

C
Ochin-China, so call'd by the Por-
'"1,.utfas, is by the ntives call'd A-
n,a,,,, fignifying a wcltcrn country,
becaufe it lies weft of China ; for
which fame reafon the ]apo_nefts in their
language give it the name of Co,hi, figni
fying the fqtS 411.a.,n, n the Co,b-Cbi-
11tft Languagt. But the Porlugutjis having
by means of the ]apo_ntfts been admitted to
trade in A11am, of the Japonefa word Co,hi,
and thi .!>ther \\'.01 China, compoundc4
he name Co(hiN-China, applying it to
tbi.s ldngdom, as if they caU'd 1t Cor.hin of
China, the better to diftinguilh it from Co
e.bin. the. ciy in India, i.nhabited by the
fort11g11tfl; and the rea,fon why in thr.
J.Jl:IJ?li of cbc world we generally find Co,/Jfa.
Chilla fet down undi:r the domination
,j(C4111hi.n-China, .or CIUltbina, or the like,.
is. n Qthcr but the: ,o.n:uption of the right
riam, or that the,authrs of. tltofe n,a
wo.uld fignify, th this. kingdoltl was -
begillJl,iog of Ch(a. .. .
This kingdom ol). the four.h borders ui,-.
QJl tli;U of Chiampd,, io 1 1 degrees of north:
latit.ude, Oil th north fomewhat,inc.t 1,iog
caft-w.ard. with..'l'qnc.qim, on the cail; is the'
Chintfa fea and. 91::ihe weft north: w.eO: thi:
indom of Lais . . . (ccon.dCac.hiam,. bMe.the prince, the king's
A. to its extent, I fhall her f only.
of Cpchi11-Chi11a, which is par Q gra,
kindom; Qf 'l'u11,him,. u(up,4, bx king,
who was grandfather to h1111 now reigning
in Cochi,..China. who rebcll'd againft the
greac king of f'u,.,'1im: for as yet the l'or
1u,ut.fes have traded only in this province ;
aricJ here only the fachcrs of the fociety have
bccn converfant, in order to introduce Chri
ftianity: yet at the end of this account,
l lhall d,if(:o.urfe oncel'{lig .Jome particu
lars of 'l'un,him, where our fathc:rs got foot
ing fince; my return into Europt.
Cochin-China extends above a hundred
leagues along the fea, reckooins from the
kingdom of Chiatnpd, in the atorefaid I r
de_grees gf nortlt latitude, to the gulf
otAmam, in the latitude of , 7 degrees,
or thcreabou.ts, where the king of uir
,bun's dominions begin. The breadth
is not much, bcillg about twenty miles, all
he country pla.in, fuut up on. the one fide
l;>y the fea, and on the other by a ridge of
mountains inhabited by the Kt1t20is, which
Q_gnifi.es a fa.vag people ; for tho' tey arc
Cobi,,-Cbinefts, yet they no way ackno. w-
(edge or f!Jbmi,t to, the king, k,ccping in_
tc faftn. of the uncouth mountams
rdcri.ng oo, the kingdotn of Lais,
. CQchi.N-CIJ!11.4 . is clividc_d into Jive po
VlDCCS,. the firft: bordering on 'J'utmm,
where di.i,s k& r:cfidcs, is.call'd SinllUd ; the
(on, cfides and governs ; the third ,. ftuam-
1.11,a ; the fourth. ignin, by the PorJu
ll!t/tS. call'd PulluCllf!1bi; and the fi.fth con
fining on Cbiampd, 1s Rtnran.
 .An Account of Cochin.China.
CH AP. 11.
0/ th, Climatt, and Naturt of tht Country
T H 0' this kingdom, as h:is been faid,
lies bet,.,een II and 17 degrees of
north latitude, hence it follows of courfo,
tha.t the:, ountry is rather h.ot than old,
and yet It 1s not fo hot as India, tho' It be
in the fame latitude, and within the torrid
zone. The: caufe of thcditfercnce is, bccaufc
in India there is no diftinction of the four
feafons of the year, fo that the fummcr lafts
there nine: months without intermiffion,
without feeing fo much u a cloud either
dav eir nii:;ht, and .therefore the air is conti
1ually, as it were, inflamed with the great
refli:dion of the fun.beams. The other
three months .ue call'd winter, not bccaufo
there is any want of heat, but bccaufc ar
that tim.:: it gtnerally rains day and night,
and ho' to app.:arance, fuch continual rain,
lhould 11a1urally cool the air, yet they fa.I
ling in the three months of Ma1, ]11111, and
711ly, wh"n the fun is in iu greateft eleva
tion, and in the :unitb of Indi11, and no
wind1 blowini but what arc hot, the! ait
continues fo 1nflam'd, that fomctimes tht
heat is more intenfe than in fummer, whert
for the moft part there arc plcafant 11ind1
blowing from the fea, wiiich cool tho
ground, wherewith, if Almighty Goo cid
not relieve thofe countries, they would bcr
uninhabitable. 1 arc drowned, the owner lofes them, and
But Cocbitz,Cbina eri, ving the diftinJ
dion of the four fcafons, .:ho' not in fci
pcrfea a manner as Ellrop,, is much more
temperate: for tho' iu fummer, which
comprehends the three months of May,
71111e., and July, be violent hot \ bccaufe
it lies within the torrid zone, and becaufe
the fun is then in its zenith, yet in Stpltm.;.
btr, Ollober, and Now.bw, t autumn:
fcafon, the heat ccafes, and the 1ir becomes:
very tcmrate by rcafon of the continual
mins, which at th11 time ufually fall upon
the mountains of the Xnnm;. whmco tho
waters- running down in abundance d o fo
ftood the kingdom, that meeting with the
fea, they fcem to be all of a piece. Thefc ln- 1
undadonsduring thefe three months, for the !
moft part happen once a fortnight, a,,d laft:
cart
three<layuta.time. ,They fervcnotonly to 1
cool theair, but to fertilize the mak-
ing it fruitful and abounding in all things,'
but.particularly in rice, which is the moft'
common and univcrfal food of all the king- i
dom. Duri11g the other three winter months,
which art Dtmbw, '}111111ary, and FtJnta'
r,, there are cold northerly winds, bringing
cool rains, and fo fuffic1endy diftinguilh
ing che winter froin other fcafom, To con
clude, in Mar,b,, .Apil, and M(IJ, the cf-
of Cochin.China.
fcas offErin appear, all things being green
and bloffilnung.
Now fincc we have fpoke of thcfe inun-
dation, I will not conclude this cluptcr
without firlt obfcrving fame curioficics that
occur on occalion of them.
The firft is, Tha.t all men in gcner.il
wilh for them, not only that they my
cool the air, but much more for the fertt
Ii zing of the earth: for which rcafon as foon
us they appear, all thepcoplcarc fo r,lcas'd
and joyful, that they cxprefs it by v1litlng,
fcafting, and prcfentlng one another, all of
them crving, and often repeating, DaJ,11
Lui, Ddlkn Lui that is, the inunda.tion
is come, it is hera I and thia ia done by per
fons of all dcgrca, even ro the king hlmfclf.
And In regard the inundations often come
fo unexped:cdly, that V1:ry often when they
do' tiot think of it at night, they find them ..
fclvca th next morning furrounded with
water I fo tt they cannot go out of their
houfcrs, tnlt>.ughout thelo kingdom, as
has bteri fa1d I hence 1t 1s that abundan
of cattle are drowned, for want of time to
retire to the mountains, or higher grounds.
For this rtafon there is a pleafant fort of
law throughout the kingdom i which is,
that if oxen, goats, fwine, or other beaftsp
they belong ro him that firft take1 them:
which e11ufcs much fporf and jollity ; be-
caufe when the Lui happens, they all go
out in hoats, to' fcek the drowned cattle i
upon which they afterward fcaft and treat
one another.
Nor are the younger fort without their
!'If.time i for there being in thofc fields of
rice,: an' infinite number of rats, their ncfts
filling with water, they are forced to fwim
out, and gec.tif.6nthc trees to fave them-
felvcs : and it ,jj lcafant to fee the boughs
loaded with rars, likc fruit hanging on them.
TMn' '.do the,\ys run out in dieir boats,
ftriving to out.:dQ one another; in fhaking
rhc trees, at the rats may fall and be
drownl:d : which thildifh paftime is won-
dcrfUI beneficial-to the country delivering
it' from thofcf'mifchicvous creatures, that
oterwife, by! cgrces, would de-,our all
thd tu:iM{t " 1 '
c ln 1 lhort,' the Lttl cufe anotlier nfider-
able advantage: which 1s, that it affords
every body the opportunity of furnilhing
his 'hdufe with-all' ncccffar1es, bccanfe the
country being all navigable, durir, : thefe
three days, commodities arc very eafiiy con-
vey'd from one city to another, and there-
fore then arc held the greatcft fairs and mar
 'An t!lecouut of Cochin-China:
)ms, and with greater concourre of ople
dun at any other time in the year. Tlien
a1ro it is, that they lay in prov1fion of wood
to burn and build, bringing it frum the
mounuins in boats I which to this purpore
come into the ftrects, and into the very
houfa, built tor this purpofe upon high
CH AP. IJJ.
Of lhl Fruiifulntfi
I T is an cary matter to concelYe the fer
tility of Cocbin-Cbin, by the advantas
accruing from the LIii I yet we will mention
fome other particulars rel.uing to it, The
LIii leaves the land (o fruitfuf. that rice is
gathered three times a year, in fuch great
plenrr, and abundance, that there is no bo
dy wall work for gain, all pcrfons having
enough to live on plentifully.
Tliere are great quantities of fruit of (e.
veral forts, all the year about I and they
arc the fame with thof e in /ui, Cbi11
Chin being within the fame climate. But
to come to particulars I the oranges thue
arc bigger than ours in E,w#pf, and Ytrf_
full; the rind of them Is thin, cender, and
fo well ufted, that it is eaten with the juice,
which has a plcafant relifh like .limons in
Italy .
There is a fort of fruit which the Port11
l,"t/ts call 6a11ana'1, and others Indi11n figs
tho', in my judgment, the name of a fig
is neither proper to thofe in Jui, nor in
Co,hi11-Cbi11i1, becaufe neither the tree nor
fruit has any refemblance with our 6,
the tree beir, like that we caJJ lnd1t111
Wheal, bur higher, and the leaves fo long
and broad, that two of them would ferve
to wrap a man in quite round, and from
head to feet. Hence fome have tal.c."l OC
cafion to fay,. that this was the tree in pa
radifc, with the leaves whereof ../dam co
ver'd himfclf. This tree at the top pro
duces a clufter of twenty, thirty, or forty.
of thefe faun's togctU and each of
them is in 1hapc, length, and thickndi,
of an indifferent citron io ltly. Before
the fruit is ripe, the rind b green but
afterwards yellow, u the citrons are. There
is no need of a knife topare this fruit, for the.
rind c:omcs off as we fhell lJea,u. This Jruit
has a moll: fragrant f mcll I the pith or fteth
of it is yellow, and firm, lilt that of a.
btrgamal pear, when full ripe, that melts
in the mouth, By this it appears to be no
way like our fig, except in the tafte and.
fwcctnefs. There is another fort of them, ,
which is only e.iten roaftcd, and '!ith wine:'
the fl:cm dies every year, when 1t haspro
duc'd the fruit, and leaves a young fprout
at the foot, which grows up againft the
next year. That which in Italy they call
pillan, thu w:.mr may have free paflage,
thcople Jiving durin th:1t time in the up
ptr floors I to which it were a wonder if"
the UI thould ever rife, they being huilc
according to the fituation of the pl.u:e, to
fuch a height as they know by loni; expc
rienCC', is fulficicntly ibovc the w:um.
of tht Country.
an Indian fig, is nothing like the plant, or
fruit of this bt111a11a, we now fpc.ik of I nor
is this which we have in lla!y.call\) an
India11 fig, in thofc parts. This fruit
is common throughout all India. There
is another fort in Chi11-Cbi1111, that is not
found in Cbi11a, nor 1.Jia: it is u big as the
la citrons we have in Italy I fo that one
of them i1 enough to fatisfy a man. Thefe
are nourifhing, very wlaite within, and full
of black round feeds, which chew'd together
with the white fubftanc:e, arc of a delicious
taftc , and a good medicine againft the ftux.
There is another fruit in Cbi11-Cbin11,
which I have not fcen in any other country
ofllldia, and this they call Ca11: the out-
ward form and nature of the rind ii like our
pomegranate I but within it conains a fub
ftancc aJmoft liquid, which is taken our,
and eaten with a fpoon, the tafie b aroma.
tide, and the colour like that of a ripe
n1cdlar.
Th have another peculiar to the coun-
but taftcs like raifins, and b caUd'"'' :
try, that grows, and is like our cherrici,
, There arc alfo melons, but not fo good
u ours in &rope I nor arc they eaten
without fugar or honey, The water-me-
lons are large and delicate.
There is a fruit they call ,iaua,
is common to the other parts of India, but
much larger in Co,bi11-Cbi1111: It grows on
a tree asliigh as the walnut, or chdnut,
and has much longer prickles than the j11
1,,b. It is as big asa very large pomfion in
Italy, (o that one of them is a man s load,
The out-rine is like chat of a pine-apple.
but foft and tender within. This fruit. is
full of certain low round kernels, like a
fmall piece of coin, that is round and fiat
and in the middle of every one of them,
is a ftone that is thrown away. There are
two forts of this fruit I one rn Port1't,Utfa is
call'd ,illlt4 6ar,a : the ftone of this is
thrown away, and the pulp is ftiff'1 they.
do not take out the !tone of the ocher 1
noriuhe pulp hard, but foft uglue:' both.
thcfe in taftc fomewhat refemble that dell
cious fruit called the tl#ri111, whereof we
1hall fpcak oat. I'
This dur;,,, is one of the moft delicious
fruits in the world, and only found in Mfl.
 An .Account of Cochin-China.
/J(d, Bor 11to, and the adjacent i0;1nda. The
tree differs little from the,i11cta !aft men
tioned, and the fruit it ftlf i., like it with
out, and that refcmblcs the plne-ar,plc, e
ven in the hardnefs of the rind, '1 he meat
within is very white about the bone, to
which it fticks like glue, anti talk! very
like our mangiart bian ctJ (a dainty among
che I1aJiani,) This meat and liquor is di
vided into ten or twelve little aputments,
in each of which the fklh anJ anoi!lure is
about its ftone, which is as big a, a large
chefnut. And it is to be obfcrv'd, that
when they break open the 01ell of this fruit,
there comes from it an ill fcent, like that
of a rotten onion, all the f ubfbnce within
remaining of a moft fweet and uncxpreffi.
ble fa,our, whereupon I will relate what
happened in my prcfence : a prcl,\te arriv
ed at MalMta, and one there opened a du
rio11 before him to give him a t.1ftc ; the
prelate was fo offended at that naufcous fmell
that came from it when broke, that he
would not taflc it by any mi:ans. Being
afterwards fet down to dinner, they gave
the reft of the company mangiart /Jian,o;
but on this prelate's I;>late they faid the white
fubftance of this fruit, which i! fo like the
mangiart bian,o, that he could 11ot diftin
guifh the difference by the fight. The
prelate taftcd it, and th-..ught it fo much
more delicious than ufual, th:lt hef ask'<.!,
what cook drefs'd it fo rarely? ' hrn he
tlut had invited him to dinner, fmiling,
told him, It was no other cook but Goo
himfclf, who had produc\l that fruit,
which w.is the very d11rio11 he would not
tafle. The prelate was fo atlonifh'd, that he
thought he could never eat enough; and they
fo dear , that even at Afa/aw,, where they
grow, they fomctimes colt a crown apiece.
Cochin-China abounds in another fort of
fruit, by the Portuguefes call'd ananas ;
which tho' it be common to all India, and
Brazil,, yet becaufe 1 have not found it
well defcrib'd by thofe that have writ of it,
I would not pafs it by. This fruit does
not grow on a tree, nor from a feed, but
on a ftalk, like our artichokes, and the
{km and leaves are much like chofe of the
thiil:le or artichoke. The fruit is li!:e a ci
Iinder, a fpan long, and fo thick that it
requires buth hands to grafp it. The pulp
within is clofe, and like a radilh, the rinil
fomewhat hard, fc.ily like a filh. When
ripe, it is yellow both within and without,
is par\l with a knife, and i:atcn raw, the
t.1lk of it an cager fwecr, and as foft as a
foll-ripe btrgamot-pear.
There: is belides, in Cocbfo-Cbina, a fruit
peculiar co that country, which thi: Por/u.
:te/,:s call arua. The trunk of it is as
!trait as a pJlm-trce, hollow within, and
produces le.ivcs like thofe of the palm, on-
ly at the top among thcfc Jr.l\'ct, there
grow fome fmall bough, which bear the
fruit in lhapc and bignef!i like a walnut,
reen without juft as the nu1 ii , within it
is white and hard like :\ chefout, and h:is
no talte at all. This fruit is not eaten alone,
but Is wrapp'd up in le,\Vo of bttlt, well
known in /ndia,which are like our ivy-lc.1vci;
in Europt, and the r.l:mr it fr.If cling! to
trees like the ivy. l'hde lC.1vcs arc cut in
pieces, and in them they wr.1p a bit of 4
r((a, each of them making four or the
morfcls, and with thi: ""''' they put fame
lime, which is not there nude of Hone, .u
in Europt, but of oiltc:r-fhclls ; and as a-
mong us there arc cooks :ind caterers, &c.
fo in Co,bin China thi:re is one in evi:ry fa.
mily, whofe bufinefs is to wr.ap up thefc
morfd1 of a rua in belle, nnd thefc perforu
bt:lng women, are Clll'd Bi:tlem. They till
their boxes wirh thefe morfels, amJ chew
them al! day, not only when they are at
hornt', but when they arc w:ilking, or talk
ing, a all times, and in all pl.lees, never
fw.1Jlowing, but fpitting them out when
they arc well chcw'J, ret.iining nothlng
but the relifh and vertue of it, which won-
derfully comforts the ftomach. Thefe
morlels arc fo much in ufe, that when one
of them goe! to make a vifit, he c.arries a
box full of them, and prefcntly prefi:nts
fome of the party vifitcd, who cla
it into his mouth ; and before the vititor
departs, he that is vifite<l fends to his Bt:
tler-woman for a box of the fame, and pre
fents it to the vifitor, ro return his kindncls;
:md thcfc morfels muft be llill nuking. And
th.:rc i! fo much of this a reca u:.\l, that the
grcateft revenues of that country come from
the fields of it, as among us uf olive-g.t.r-
dens, and the like.
<J'obauo is alfo u'd there, hut not fo much
as belle. The country alfo abounds in JII
forts of pumions and fugar canes. The
European fruits arc not yet come thither ;
but I believe grapes and figs would take very
well. Our herbs, as lettice, endive, col-
woru, and the like, come up well in Co
cbi11-Cbina, as they do throughout all India:
But they grow into leaf, without produc
ing any fred, fo chat it inufl: be ftill fuppli
ed out of E11ropt,
There is allo great plenty of flclh,
reafon of the great multitude not only of
tame cattle, as cows, go;1ts, fwine, buffa-
loes, and the like ; but of wilJ, fuch as
deer, much bigger than thofc of Europe,
wild boars, &(, and of hens boch tame and
wild, of which fort the fields are full, tur-
tles, pigeons, ducks, geefr, and cranes,
which are favory enough ; and in lhorr,
other forts, which we have not in Europe
Their filhery is very great, and filh fo
delicious, that tho' I hav.: trnvi:ll'd fo m:iny
 An Account of Cochin-China.
coun.ries, 1 do not think I have met with
any to compare to that of Co,hin-China.
And the country, as was faid before, ly
ing all along upon the fea, there are fo m.,
ny boats go out a filhing, and they bring
in fo much filh to all ports of the kingdom,
that it is really very remarkable to fee the
long rows of people continually carrying
filh from the lhore to the mountains; which
is duly done ev"ry day, for four hours before
fun-riling. .\.,1cl tho' generally among the
Cochin-Chinefcs, filh is more valu'd than
fielh, yet the main reafon why t!Iey apply
themfelves fo much co fifhing, is to furnifh
themfelves with a kind of fauce, which they
call balac hiam, which is made of falt filh
macerated and ftee pcd in water. This is a
fharp liquor, not unlike mufbrd, whc:nof
every body lays in fuch fl:ore, that they
fill barrels and tubs of it, as m.my in Eu-_
rope lay in r!,eir fl:ocks of wine. This ot
it felf is no food, but lcrves to fharpen the
appetite to t'1e rice, which they cannot l'.lt
without ir. For this reafon, tho' rice be
the general and moft common fuflenance
in Cochin-China, there muft be vafi: quan
tities of balachiam, without which it is not
eaten, and confoquently there is continual
filhing. There is no lefs plenty of lhell
filh, oifi:ers, and other produtl: of the fea,
efpecially of one fort, which they call ca
meron, (I fuppofe this to be the Po1'tuguefe
word camera no, fignifying fhrimps, or
prawns.)
Bef1des all this, providence has furnifh'd
them with a fort of food fo rare and de
licate, that in my opinion it may be
compar'd to the manna , wherewith the
chofen people of Goo were fed in the de
fart. This is fo peculiar to Cochill-Chi11a,
that it is no where elfc to be found : and I
will give an account of what I know of it
by experience, and not by he:ir-fay, having
fecn and eaten of it feveral times,
In this country there is found a fma''
bird like a fwallow, which fafl:ens its nefi:
to the rocks, the fea-waves break againft.
This little creature with its beak, takes up
fome of the foam of the fea, and mixing it
with a certain moiflurc it draws from its
own fiomach, makes a fort of flime, or
bituminous fubflance, which ferves to build
its ncfl:,' which when dry and hardened, re
mains tranfparent, and of a colour between
green and yellow. The country people ga
ther thefe nell:s, and being foften'd in wa
ter, they ferve to feafon meat, whether
filh, fiefh, herbs, or any fort whatfoevi:r ;
and give every thing fo different a relith,
and fo proper to it, as if they had been
fea'.on'd with pepper, cinnamon, cloves,
and the richefl: fpicc; chis neft alone being
enough to fcafon all forts of provifions,
without falt, oil, bacon, or any other addi-
tion; and therefore I faid I thought it like
manna, which had in it the tafie of all the
moll delicious meats; faving that this is the
work of a fmall bird, and that was m:ide
by Goo's angels. And fuch grc.:at fi:ore
of them is found, that I my felf faw ten
finall boats loaden with nefls, taken among
the rocks, in not above a mile:'s difbnce.
But they being fo precious a commodity,
only the king 1.leals in them, they being all
kept for him; and his gre:itelt vent is to
the king of China, who values them at a.
great rate.
They eat no fore of white m('ats, look-
ing upon it as a tin co milk the cows, or
ocher creatures: and the n:1 fon they give
for this nicety, is, that milk washy nature
appointed for fuflenance of the young ones:
as if the owner of the young ones could
not difpofe of their fuflenancr. They eat
fome thing which we lo.1th, and count ve
nomous, as camel ions, which are here fome-
what bigger tlun hole that ;ire fometimes
brought dry\! up into Italy, out of other
countries. I faw a friend buy f 11e ty'd
together in a clufler, and lay the1n upon
the live coals, which having burn'd rhe
firing, they walk'd about gently, as they
ufcd to do till they felt the heat of the fire;
which being of a violent cold nature, they
refifted a-while, but were at !aft broil'd: my
friend took them up, and fcraping off the
burn'd fkin with a knife, the flefh remain'd
extraordinary white; then he bruis'd and
boil'd them in a certain fort of fauce like
buttrr, and then eat them as a great dainty,
inviting me to bear him company: bm I
had enough with the fight of it.
Cochin-China abounds in all other things
neceifary for the fupporc of human life ;
and in the firfl: pbce for cloathing: there
is fuch plenty ot (ilk, that the peafants and
mechanirks grner.1lly wear it; fo th.it J
was often picas\) to le men and women at
their labour, carrying Hone, earth, lin1e,
or the like, without the lcaft fear of tear-
ing or fpoiling the rich clo.nhs the y had on.
Nor will they wonder at it, who f11all know,
that the mulberry,trees, whofe leaves feed
the filk-worms, grow in vaft plains, as
hemp does among us, and run up as fafl:;
fo that in a few months the faid worms ap-
pear upon them, and feed in the open air,
!pinning their chrearl at the proper time, and
winding their bottoms in foch plenty, that
the Cochin-Chi11efes havc not only enough
for their own ufrs, but the}' furnifh Japan,
a111l lend it into the king:10111 of Lais, whence
it afterwards fpread .is far as 'libel; this
filk being not fo fine and foft, 1)llt fi:rongc:r
and more fuhfl.mci.il rh,111 chat of Chilla.
The 11 rnclur<'s tile Cochin-Chillefes ufc of
wood, arc 11othing inferior o thofc of
any other pan of the world ; tor without
 .An .Account of Cochin-China.
f.ilfifying, this country has the beft timber them now and then drop down, breaking
in the univerfe, in the opinion of all that off either for want of moifture, or through
have been there to this time. Among the age, and are therefore found rotten and
variety and multitude of their trees, there worm-eaten, infinitely excee<ling the com-
are two that moft ufually ferve for build- mon aquila, or eagle-wood, in vertue and
ing, and a!e fo incorruptible, that they do fweet fcent ; and this is the fo highly va-
not decay m the leaft, either under ground, lu'd and famous calambd. The aquila is
or under water ; and they are fo folid fold by any body, but the calamba belongs
and heavy, that they do not fwim up- only to the king, bccnufc of the high value
011 the water, and a Jog of them fervcs of its perfume and vertue. Aud to fay the
inftead of an anchor to a fhip. One of truth, it is fo fweet where they gather it,
them is black, but not fo as ebony ; the o that fame pieces being prefmted me, for
ther is red, and both of them, when the a trial, I buried them above a vard and a
bark is taken off are fo fmooth and !lick, half under ground, and yet they'd ifcovered
that they fcarce need any plaining. Thefe themfelves by their fragrancy. Thecalam-
trees are c;1ll'd tin ; and they would ba, where taken, is worth five ducats a
not deviate much from the truth, who pound; but in the port of Cocbin-Chinu,
Jhould fay, they were that incorrupti where the trade is, it bears a much greater
ble wood, which Soloman made ufe of for price, and is not fold under fixtecn ducats
building the temple: for we know the a pound. lnJapa11 it is worth two hundred
fcripture gives them a name much like this, d ucats a pound; but if there be a piece
calling them ligna thyina. The mour, big enough for a man to l.iy his head on
tains of Cochin-China are all full of thc:fe like a pi'low, the Japonefes will give after
trees, all ftrait, of fuch a prodigious height, the rate of three or four hundred ducats a
that they feem to touch the clouds, and fo pound: the reafon of it is, becaufe they in-
thick that two men cannot fathom them. Head of a foft down-pillow, when they
Of this timber theCocbin-Cbintfls build their fleep, lay their head on fome hard thing,
ho\Jfes, every man being free to cut down and generally it is a piece of vood, which
as man, as he pleafcs. every one according to his ability endea-
The whole fabrick of their h oufes refts vours to have of as f;reat value 1s can ; and
upon high, folid, and well fettled pillars, a piece of ca/amba 1s look'd upon as a pil-
between which they place boards to re low fit for none but a king, or fome great
move at pleafure ; either to exehange them lord. Yet the aquila, tho' of lefs price and
for cane-lattices, which they weave neatly, efteem than the calamba, is fo confiderable,
to let in the air in hot weather; or to that one lhip's load of it, enriches any mer-
leave a free paffage for the water and boats, chant for ever: and the bcft advantage the
at the time of the inundation, as we ob king can allow the governor of Jl1alacca, is
fcrv'd above. They have alfo a thoufand to grant him one voyage of aquila; becaufe
curious inventions, and ingenious contri the Brachmans and Ba11iam of India, uf-
vances to fet olf their houfes, with carving, ing to burn their dead with this fweet wood,
and ocher works on wood, which are a ve the confumption of it is continually \'cry
ry great ornament. great.
Since we have begun to talk of the trees, To conclude, Cochin-China abounds in
before we proceed upon any other matter, rich !11ines of the mofl: precious metals,
I will here mention fomethmg of a fort of efpec1ally of gol?: and to. reduce to a few
wood, accounted the richeft commodity chat words, what might be fa1d more at large
can be carried out of Cochin-China to other of the plenty of this country, I will con-
parts; which is the moft famous wood cal clude with that which the European mer-
led aq11ila, or eagles-wood, and calamba; chants trading thither commonly fay of it;
which are the fame thing as to the tree, but which is, that in fome meafure the wealth
c\iffer in their value and vertuc. Of thcfe of Cochin-China is greater than that of
trees, which arc thick and hish enough, China it felf; and we all know how rich
the &mois mountains arc very tull ; if the that country is in all refpccl:s.
wood be cut off a young tree, it proves I ought in this place to fay fomething of
aq11ila, or eagle-wood, and this there is the beafts, whereof w before obferv'd
moll plenty ol every one cming as much there was gre,1t variety and numbers in
as he can: but when the woml is of an oJ..! Cochi11-Cbi11a: but that I may nor dilate
trCl', that proves calmnba ; which were ve too much, I will only treat of the ele
ry hard to be found, had not nature it felf phants and abadas, or rhinocero's, chief
provided for it, cauting thefe fame trees to ly found here; of which many curious
grow on 1hc tops of unacceffible moun things may be faid, which perhaps very
t,1ins, where growing old without being many have not heard of.
c:q'o)'d to dcllruaion, fume boughs of
 An Account of Cochin-China.
CH AP. IV.
Qf the Elephants and Abad,11, or Rhinocero's.
T H ER E are abundance of elephants
in the woods of Co(bin-China, which
they make no ufe of, becaufe they know
not how to take, or tame them : therefore
they bring them tame and well taught from
Cambogia, a neighbouring kingdom. Thete
are twice as big as thofe of India, the round
print of their feet they lc:wc behind them,
1s not lefs than half a yard diameter ; the
two teeth flriking out of the mouth, where
of ivory is made, arc very often four yards
and a halflong; that is, thofe of the males,
for thofc of i.l,e females are much (horter;
by which it is eal)' tc compute, how much
thofe elephants of Cochin-China are bigger
than thole l11ewn about in Euroj'e, whofe
teeth are not above three quarters of a yard
long. !he elephants live .many yes ;
and I ask mg, how old one might be? I he
driver of it told me, It was lixty years old
before it came from Cambogia, and had liv
ed forty in Cocbili-China: and having my
felf feveral times travdl'd upon elephants
:n that kingdom, I can relate many things
that will teem flrange, but yet arc very
true.
An elephant generally carries thirteen or
fourteen perfons, who are thus difpos'd of:
as we lay a faddlc on a horfe, fo they clap
a certain machine upon the elephant, which
is like,\ coach, wherein there are four feau;
it is fafl:ncd with chains under the elcph:rnt's
belly, as a horfc's faddlc is girt. The coach
has two doors on the fides, where fix per
fons fit, three on a fide; and another be
hind, where there are two more ; and l.tll
ly, the nayre, who fupplies the phce ot a
choachman, fits over the elephant's head,
and guides him. Nor have I travcll'<l in
this manner by land only, but very often
by fca too, croffing arms of it above a
mile over: :md ic was wonderful to any
body that knew it not before, to fee fuch
a vall: great lump of fldh fwimming under
fuch a wtight, fo that it look'd like a boat
rowing. True it is, the beall: groan'd un,
der the toil, ocrnfion'd by the unreafonable
bulk of its ow11 body, and the difficulty of
breathing; and therefore to eafe it felf in
that p.1i11, it fuck'd in water with the
trunk, and fpouted it out fo hih, that it
look'd like fome great whale gliding along
the ocean,
.Fur the fame reafon of its mighty wrpu-
lcncy it finds much difficulty in ltooping
down; and th)s bein abfolutely ncceffry
for the conve1cncy ot paffengm to gt up
to, or down from the coach, he docs It nor
but when commanded by the na;re; and if
when he is kneeling, any one fi:ops but ne
ver fo little, upon ceremony, or any other
account, he riles up, not having patience
to continue in that polture, it is fo painful.
Nor is' it lefs worderful to behold, hoN
at the nave's command, he makes, as it
were, a ladder of his limb, for the great
er couvenkncy of thole that are to get up
into the cu.ich: the fidl: fkp is his foot,
which is high enough ; for the fecond, he
turns out the fitll joint above the fame foor,
<lilhnt euou"h from the other; for the
third, he bc;ds his knee; for the fourth,
his hip-bone, !licking out to that purpofo ;
and trom whence, he tnat gets up, lays
hold of a chain fafl:ued co the coach it felf,
where he feats himli::lf.
By this it plainly appears, how much
they arc mill:aken, who fay and write, th:1t
the elephant can neither kneel nor bow
down; and that the only way to take him,
is to cut the tree he Jeans againfl: to Oeep:
for that falling together with the falfe fup-
port, and not being able to rile. hi: becomes
a certain prey to him that lies in wait:
which is all a fable, tho' it be true that he
lies not down to fleep, that being an uneafy
pofiure to him, as has been faid, but Oeeps
always !landing, with a continual agitation
of his head.
Upon occafion of war or battle, they
ake off the roof of the coach, whence, as
it were from a towc:r, the foldiers fight with
mufkets, arrows, and fometimes a fmall
piece of cannon, the elephant bc:ing firong
enough to carry it, his ftrc:ngth being an
fwcrable to all the refl:: and I have fcen one
my fc:lf, that would carry vall: weights up-
on his trunk ; and another that lifted up a
grc.it piece of cannon with it; and another.
who by himfelf launch'd ten galliots one af-
ter another, taking hold of them very dex-
terouOy with his teeth, and lhovin"' them
into the Cea. I have fren others pull up
large trees with as much eafe we do a cab-
bage, or a letcice: with the fame eafe they
throw down houfes, levelling whole ftreets
when they are commanded, either to do
harm to an enemy in war, or to flop the
fury of the flames u_pon occafion of any
fire.
The. trunk :s length is proportionable
_ to
the height ol the rclt ofl11s body, fo that
he can take up any thing off the ground
with'.)ut Hooping. Ir is made of abund.ince
of frnall fincws knit together, which makes
it fo pli.iblc, that he can take up rhe leall
thing, and yet fo f\rong and firm as we
have fl1cwn.
 '.An .Account 'oj' Cochin-China.
All the body is covered with a rough
afb-colour fkin. An elephant's ufual day's
journey is twelve leagues, and his motion
has the fame effed: upon thofe that are not
ufed to it, as that of a fhip has at fea.
I fhall fay nothing more wonderful con
cerning the elephant's docility, or aptnefs
to learn, than what is generally reported;
by which it will appear, there was reafon
to fay, No beaft was more ftnjible than the
ekphant: for it docs fuch things as feem
to be the alb of prudence and underftand
ing. In the firff place, though the nayre
makes ufe of a certain inftrument of iron
a yard long, which has a hook at one end,
wherewith he ftrikes and punces him, that
he may be watchful , and mind what he
bida him do, yet for the moft part, he
governs him only by words : by which it
appears he underftands the language very
well ; and fome of them underftand three
c,r four that arc very different, according
to the feveral countries they have lived in.
Thus he that I travelled on, feerned to
undcrftand the language of Cambogia,
whence he came, and that of Cochin-China,
where be was. And who would not ad
mire to hear the na1, e difcourfe with his
elephant, tell him the way and road he is
to take, what place he is to pafs by, what
inn they are to lie at, what they lhall there
find to eat ; and in fhort, give him an ex
aa: account of all that is to be done during
the journey? and to fee the elephant per
form what he expc& from him, as regu
larly as any man of good fenfe could do :
infornuch t that when the elephant feerns
to have underftood what place he was to
go to, he takes the fhorteft cut to it, with
out minding the beaten road, rivers, woods,
or mountains, but goes on, not doubting
to overcome all difficulties, as in effe8: he
does: for if any rivers be in the way, he
either fords or fwirns them ; if woods, he
breaks the boughs of the trees, pulls them
up whole, or cuts them with a fharp irort
like a fcithe, which to this purpofe is faft
ened to the fore-part of tlie top of the
coach, wherewith upon occafion having
firft laid hold of the boughs, he cuts them
with his trunk, and makes himfelf way,
cutting through the thickeft foreft, where
it is eafily known to have been an elephant
that made the way: . and all this he does
with great eafe and expedition, in obedi
ence to the nayre.
One only thing di!l:urbs this creature,
and puts it to great pain; which is, when
a thorn, or fuch like thing, runs into the
bottom of his foot, which is extraordinary
foft and tender, and therefore he treads
very cautiouny, when he goes thro' places
where there may be danger of fuch an ac
cident. I went a journey once with feven
or eight elephants in a compay, and heard
the ntiyrts, every one warn h1S own beaft,
to look out carefully where he fet his feet:
for they were to pafs over a fandy place
about a mile in length, where thorns grew
up among the fancf; upon this intimation
all the elephants held down their heads,
and lookin out, as it were, for fome fmall
thing that 1s loft, they walk'd that mile
very caut'aouny, fl:ep by fl:ep; till being
told there was no more to fear, they lifted
up their heads, going on as they had done
at firfl:. Being come at night to the inn,
the naym fent the elephants to the wood to
feed, without taking the coach off their
backs ; and I afking, why they did not
take it down : They anfwered, That the
elephants fed ori the boughs of trees, and
therefore they left the coach on their backs,
that they might cut them with that iron
we faid was before it. The next day being
come where there was no wood, every
nayre carried a large bundle of green boughs
for his elephant. I took particular fatis-
fa8:ion to obferve one, who more nimbly
than the reft, laying hold of thofe boughs
with his trunk, b"rked them with his teeth,
and then eat them up as quick, and with
as good a gun, as we would a fig, or any
other fort of fruit, Difcourfing the next
day with my fellow-travelters, who were
about twenty, I told them, how much I
was plcafed to fee that elephant eat the
boughs fo cleverly. Then the nayrt, by
order of the elephant's mafter, called him
by his name, which was Gnin, he being at
Corne diftance, but prefentJy lifted up his
head to give e.u to what 'Has {aid to him.
Remember, faid the nayre, that fathtr, the
pa.lfenger that loolced upon you ye.fterday, whm
you was eating ; talc, fucb a bough as one of
them was, and come btfort him, as you did
ye.fttrday. No fooner had the nayre fpoke
the words, but the elephant came before
me with a bough in his trunk, fingling me
out among all the compiny, fhewd it me,
bark'd, and eat it; then inclining himfclf
very low, he went away, as it were, laugh-
ing, making figns of joy aml fatisfa8:ion;
leaving me full of a!l:onilhment, to fee that
a bealt fhould be fo apt to underftand,
and do what it was commanded. v-:t the
elephant is obedient to none but the nayre,
or his ma!l:er I and he will only endure''to
fee them get upon him : for if he fbould
fee any other pcrfon mount, there were
danger that he would throw down the
coach with his trunk, and kill him: and
therefore when any body is to get up, the
nayre generally covers his eyes with his
cars, which arc very large and ill fhap'd.
If ,lt any time the elephant doc:s not obey
fo readily as he fl1ould, the nay,e beats
hirn cruelly on the middle of his forehead
 An .Acctt;nt ,of Cohin-China.
fl:anding himfclf all the while upright on
his hcJd: One time when I was upon him,
with frveral others, the 11ayrt beat him,
as has been fa.id, and every Hrokc he gave
him, it looked as if we lhould have been
all thrown down headlong. Genfrally they
give him fix or feven ftrokes on the mid
dle of the forehead; but with fuch force,
that the eleph:mc quakes and yet bears all
patiently. There 1s only one time when
he obeys neither the 1111yre, nor any other
body ; which is when on a Cuc.Iden he is
inflamell with luft: for then, bein(]' quite
befides himfclf, he bears with no body, but
bys ho)J of the co:ich with all that are in
it, killing, dell:roying, and beating every
thing to pieces. But the 11ny_re by certain
figns difcovcrs it a little before it comes,
and getting down fpeedily with all the paf
fengers, unlods him, taking down the
co:ich, and leaves him alone in fome by
pl.tee, till that fury be over : after which,
being fenfible of his error, and as it were
a fhamed of himfelf, he goes with his head
low to receive the blows that are to be
given him, thinking he has deferved them.
Formerly the elephants were of great ufe
in war, and thofe armies were formidable
rhat c.1rriec.l great troops of them into the
field ; but fince the Portuguefts found out
the way of ufing al'tificial fireworks to
them, they arc rather hurtful than other
wife: for not being able to endure thofc
fparks of fire which get into their eyes,
they betake themfelves to flight, breaking
their own armies, killing and confounding
all that fbnds in their way.
The tame elephant fights with only two
creatures, which are the wild elephant,
and the abada, or rhinoceros; the I.mer it
ovcri:omes, by the firll: is generally con
quered. The rhinoceros is a bea!l of lhape
between a horfe and an ox, but as big as
one of the fmallcll: elephnts, covered all over
CHAP. V.
Of tle .C!falities, Ct!floms, and Manners of the Cochin-Chinefes;
Living, their Habit and Cures.
T H E Cocbin-Chiwfas are in colour like
r
the Chinefes ; that is, inclined to an
olive-colour: me:m thofc that are neareft
the fra; for thofc up the inland, as far as
'l'o11cbin, are as white as the Europeans. The
fhape of their faces is exatUy like the Chi-
11,fts, with f\Jt nofes, little eyes, but of an
indifferent ftature, not fo fmall as the 'Ja
ponefas, nor fo tall as the Chinefes. Yet they
arc Jtronger and more atl:ivc than either of
them, and brJver than the Chi11efes, but
are out-done b y the 'JapontftI in one thing,
which is the contempt of life in dangers
and battles; the 'Japonefes fec:ming to make
with fcalcs, as it were fo many plates of ar
mour. He has but one horn m the mid
dle of the forehead, which is !1:.raight and
pyramidal, and his fe'!t and hoofs are like
tllofe of an ox. When I was at N11ocmon,
a city in the province of Pu/ucambi, the
governor went out to hunt a rhinoceros,
that was in a wood near our dwelling place.
He had with him above an hundred men,
fome a foot, and fome a horfeback, and
eight or ten elephants. The rhinoceros
came out of the wood, and feeing fo many
enemies, was fo far from giving any tokens
of fear, that it furioufiy encountred them
all; who opened and making a Jane, Jct
the rhinoceros run through: It came to the
rear, where the governor was a top of his
elephant, waiting to kill it: the elephant
endeavours to by hold with his trunk, but
could not by reafon of the rhinoceros's
fwiftnefs and leaping, that fl:riving to wound
the elephant with its horn. The f"Vcrnor
knowing it could receive no hurt, by reafon
of the fcales, unlefs they flruck it on the
fide, waited till Jcaping it hid open the
naked place, and call:ing a dart, dexteroufly
frruck it through from fide to fide, with
great applaufe and fatisfacl:ion of all the
multituae of fpeclators; who without anr
more to do, laid it upon a grc.lt pile of
wood, fetting fire to it, leaped and danc'd
about, whilfi: the fcales were burning, and
tlelh roafting, cutting pieces as it roaftcd.
and eating them. Of the entrJils, that is
the heart, liver, and brain, they made a
more dainty dilh, and gave it to the go
vernor, who was upon a riling ground,
diverting himfelf with their merriment. I
being prcfent obtained the hoofs of the
s.overnor; which are looked upon to have
the fame quality and vertuc, as the claws
of the great beaft (or the hoofof the elk)
and fo the horn is good againft poifon,
as is the unicorn's.
of their ,z;.ay of
no account of life, nor to apprehend the
leaft fear of death.
The Cochin,Chinefas are naturally the
moft courteous and affable of all the Enfl-
ern nations ; and tho' on the one fide they
value themfelves much upon their valour,
yet on the other they look upon it as a
great lhame, to tuffer thcmfclves to be tran
fportcd with paffion. And whereas all the
other Eaflern nations, looking upon the
Europeans as a profane people, do naturally
abhor them, and therefore fly from us
when firft we come among them : in Co
,hinChina it f.ilb out juft contrary ; for
 An .Account of Cochin-China:
:ites of ar- they {hive who ihall be neard1: us, a1k a neft man made no anfwer, but g.ive him
the mid thoufand queftions, invite us to eat with all the piinnier as it was, for him to carry
aight and them, and in ihort ufe all manner of cour hom, as he did, admiring the liberality
fs are like tef y with much familiarity and rcfpect. of the Cocbin-Chinefes ; but taking cor.,-
Nuocmon, So it happened to me and my companions paffion on the poor fiihcrman, he after-
ambi, the when we firft came there, being, as it were, wards paid him the full value of it.
rhinoceros, among friends of an old ftanding. This is The manner of breeding and civility
ling place. a very good difpofition to facilitate the th Cocbin-Cbinefes ufe, is more or lefs the
dred men, !'reaching of the gofpeJ. fame with that of the Chinefes, always
back, and This loving and eafy difpofition is the punctually obferving all uiceties ; we know
rhinoceros caufe of much concord among them, ther. thcfc latter obferve between fuperion and
g fo many all treating one another as famiiiarly as ,f inferiors, equals, and the refpect due to
any tokens they were brothers or of the fame family, ancient perfons, ever preferring the eldeft,
Jtred them tho' they have never known or feen one of what deoree foever, t\d giving them
1 Jane, let another before, and it would be look'd up, preference before the younger. Where-
:ame to the on as a moft vile action, if one man eat fore fome of thofe gentlemen coming often
1 top of his ing any thiug, tho' never fo little, ihou,d a vifiting to our houfc, tho' the interpreter
e elephant not fhare with all about him, giving every told them, that a father we had there
trunk, but one a bit. They arc alfo naturally kind and fomewhat elder than the reft, was not
hinoceros's free-hearted to the poor, to whom it is our fuperior: yet they cou!J never be
g towound cull:omary among them never to deny an brou&ht to pay their refpect to the young
c p:cwernor alms, when afked; and it would be reput fuper1or, before the old man. In every
:, y rcafon ed a great fault to deny it, as if it were due houfc, tho' never fo poor, the Cocbin-Cbi-
It it on the to them. Thus it happened, that foma ,refes have three forts of feats ; the firft and
. open the {hangers efcaping from a ihipwreck in a meaneft, is a mat upon che bare floor, on
dexterouy port in Cochi,-China, and not knowing the which perfons of equal quality fit, :ir Lhofe
, fide, With language to make known their want, but that are of the fame family. The next is,
of all the learning only this word do;i, which figni a low ftool, covered with a very fine mat;
,ithout an,: fies, I am hungry: when the natives faw which is for perfons of better account. The
c.1t pile of {hangers at their doors, crying out Joii third, is a couch about three quarters of a.
and danc'd as if the greateft misfortune in the world yard high, on which only the lords and
1rning, and had befallen them, every one ftrove to be governors of places fit, or perfons de
1 it roaftcd, before another in giving them to eat ; fo dicated to the divine fervice, and on this
ails, that is that in a ihort time they gathered fo much they always make our fathers fit.
1ey made a provifion , that a fhip being afterwards This good nature and civility ofthe Co
to the go given them by the king to return to their thin-Chinefes, makes them fo courteous to
g ground, country, they took fuch an affection to ftrangers, whom they allow to live accord
rriment. I that country, where they found all things ing to their own laws, and to wear what
ofs of the for their fuftenance at fuch eafy rate, that cloaths they pleafe; and fo they praife
on to have not a man of them would go away; fo their cuftoms, and admire their doctrine,
s the claws that the c:iptain of the fhip was forced to frankly preferring them before their own;
of the elk) drive them aboard with many blows and quite contrary to the Chinefas, who defpife
ft poifon, cuts, which he effectually did, loading the all but their own cuftoms and doctrine.
{hip with the rice they had gathered only As for their hi.bit, we have before ob-
by going about, crying, I am hungry. ferved, that it is the general cu!l:om in
But as ready as the Cocbin-Chinefas are Cochin-China to wear filk; it only remains
to give, fo are they as ape, if not more, to fpeak of the fathion of their clothes.
ir ra.ay of to a1k any thing they fee, fo that as foon To begin with the women ; I think the
as ever they caft their eye on any thing modcfteft garb of all India; 11r even in the
that is new to them, and curiou3, they hotteft weather, they fuffer n( put of the
rehend the fay, Scbi11 Mocaii; that is, Give me one of body to be uncovered : they w,'.!:lr five or
tbefe 1bi11gs: an<l it is fuch a rudenefs to re fix petticoats one over another, all of fo.
urally the Th ei r ti fufe them, tho' the thing be rare and pre veral colours; the firft reaches to the ground,
ll the Eafl viliry. cious, that whofoever fhould do it, would which they trail along the ground with fuch
e fide they be ever after looked upon as a vile perfon; gravity and ll:ate, that the tips of their toes
eir valour , fo that a nun muft either hide, or be ready arc not fecn: the fecond is halfa fpan ihorter
on it as a to give what he ihcws. A Porlugu_efe mer than the firft: he third fhorter than that;
to be tran chant diniking this uncommon cuftom, as and fo one over another; fo that all the fe-
eas all thi: not ufed to it, refolved, fince every one veral colours appear: and this is the womens
upon the nfked of him whatfoever he faw, to do the habit from the wafte downwards, for on
o naturally fame with them: accordingly he came to their bodies ,hey weu doublets checkered,
y from us a poor 6 Cherman's boat, and laying hold of of feveral colours ; over all they have a veil ;
m: in Co a pannier full of fi{h, in the country lan but fo thin, that tho' it covers them, yet
trary; for guage; faid to him, Schin Mocaii, the ho- it is tranfpai '!nt, and {hews all their gaity
they
 An Account ( CochinChina.'
with modefty, and makes a beauteous ma
jell:ick appearance . Their hair is loofc,
cprcading over their fhoulders, fo long
that it reaches to the ground, and the
longer the greater beauty it is rcckon'd.
On their head they wear fuch a broad
cap, that it covers all their faces, fo thJt
they cannot fee above four or five paces
before them ; and thcfc caps are interwo
ven with filk and gold, according to the
quality of the perfon. T',e women when
met, are not obliged to any other return
of civility, but co life up the brims of their
caps, fv much, as their face may be fecn.
The men, inll:cad of breeches, fwath them
felves with a whole pierc of ll:uff, putting
on over them five o. fix long and large
gowns all of fine filk, and of feveral co,
lours, with wide ficeves, like thofe of the
monks of the order of St. Bmedill; and chcfc
gowns, from the wall:e downwards, arc
all fiafhed curioufiy, fo .rhat as a man
moves, he makes a fhew of all thofe feveral
colours together, and if any wind blows
to lift them up, they look like peacocks
with their fine feathers fpread abroad.
They let their hair grow as the women
do, down to their heels, and wear the
fame fort of hats, or broad caps. Thofe
who have any beard, and they are but few,
never cut it; being in this like the Chintfts,
as they :ire in fullering the nails of their
hands to grow, which the people of note
never pare ; this being a mark of dill:inc
tion between them an.! che co:nmonalty,
who always keep them fhort, for the con
veniency of their trade5; whereas the gen
try have them fo Jong, that they cannot
,;rafp any fmall thing in their hand. Nor
-.:an they approve of our fafi1ion of cutting
our hair and nails ; being of opinion, that
they were given by nature, as an orna
ment to man: fo that fome difcourfe arifing
once concerning hair, they 1.1:arted an ob
jel.tion, which was not fo eafy to anfwer at
fight, faying: If the Saviour of the 'U.?r/d,
u:hom in your aclions you profefs your ftlves to
imitate, wore his h.:zir long, after the man
ncr of the Naz:irites, as you you, felves do
affirm, and flew by your pitltms, why do
110/ )'OU do Jo loo? Adding, '!'hat our Savi-
011r's wtaring loug hair, demo11jlrated it lo
be :be betterfajhion. But at !all: they were
facisfy'd with the anfwer we made, that this
imitation did not confilt in the outward drefs.
The fcholars and doctors are fomewhat
more gravely clad, without fo many co
lours and fialhes, and therefore cover all
their gowns with Qne of black damafk,
They alfo wear a thing like a fiole about
their necks, and a blew !ilk maniple on
their arms, covering their heads with caps
made after the manner of mitres.
Boh men and women carry faps in their
hands, rather for ornament than ure, and
they arc nut unlike to thofe the women in
Europe ufe. :For mourning, as we E"ro
ptans ufc bfack, they wear white. They
never uncover their heads in faluting, that
being looked upon as an uncivil aaion.
Wherein they agree with the Chine.fas, a
mong whom lhat cull:om is reputed fo un
mannerly, that to comply with them in this
particular, the fathers of the focicty were
forced to obtain leave of pope Paul the
fifth, to celebrate the holy facri6cc of the
mafs covered. In fhort, the Cochi,,-Chine
fts wear neither fbllCs nor ll:ockings, onlz
faving their feet with leather foles fall:encd
acrofs the toes with filk, like fandals ; nor
do they think it indecent to go quite bare
foot ; and though going fhod or unfhod,
they are apt to dirty their feet, they value
it not, there being in every houfc at the
door of the chief roum, a large \'an of
clean water, in which they wal.h their feet,
leaving thofc foles or fandals they ufc there',
co take them again when they away,
bccaufe they cannot then dirt their feet, all
the floors being covered with mats.
The Cochin-Chintfts not being fo fond of
their own cul.l:oms, as to defpifc thofc of
ll:rangcrs, as the Cbi11tfts do, our fathers in
thofe parts have no occafion to change their
habit,- wherein thev differ but little f,om
che generality of .ill India. They wear a
thin cotton cal.Toc:k, which they call Ehin
gon, and is genc,ally blew, without any
cloak, or other upper-garment. They
have no fhoes, m.ithcr after the European,
nor country fatition ; the 6rft they cannot
get, becaufc there is no body knows how
to make them ; and the fatter they cannot
endure, becaufe of the pain it is to any
body that is not ufed to it, to have his
toes fpread at a dill:ance from one another,
by reafon of the buttons that fall:en chem
on, and therefore they choofe as the lcfs
evil, to go quite barefoot, tho' it expofes
them to continual pains in the bowel,
efpecially at firft, by reafon of the damp
nels of the country, and their not being
ufed to it. True it is, that in time n:aurc
complies, and the ikin grows fo hard,
that it is no pain to walk upon ll:ones or
briars. When I returned to Macao, I could
not endure fhoes, thinking them a weight
and encumbrance to my feet.
The chief full:cnancc of the Cochill-Chi-
nefes is rice; and it is wonderful, that tho'
the country abounds in ficth, fowl, fifh,
and fruit, of fo many feveral fores, yet
when they eat, they firll: fill their belly
with rice, and then tall:c of other thing5,
as it were for fafhion-fa:c. They make
more account of rice than we do of bread,
and that it may not clog them, they cat
it alone without any feafoning of falt, fu-
 An .Acco,,nt of Cochin-China.
gar, oil, or batter, but boiled in fo much
water as will keep it from burning to, fo
th.it the gr.tin remains whole, only foften'd
aud moif\:en'd. For this very reafon that
the rice is not feafoned, it is tL <!alier of
digeftion , and therefore they that Jive
upon rice, as they do in the Eajl, com
monly eat it at leafi four times a day,
and a great quantity of it to fupport na
ture. The Cochin,Cbi11efts eat fitting crofs
leggcd on the ground, with a round table
before them breaft-high, with mouldings,
or adorned with filver or gold, according
to the people's quality or wealth. It is not
very large ; becaufe the cuftom is for every
man to have one to himfclf l fo that at a
feaft, as many f?iuefts as there are, fo many
tables are prov1aed, and the fame is done
when they dine privately 1 only, fometimes
man and wife, or father and fon, will make
a fhift with the fame table. They neither
ufc knives nor forks s of the firft they have
no need, becaufe every thing is broughtup
from the kitchen cut into fmall bits ; the
place of the )aft is fupplied by two little
fticks, wherewith they neatly and very rea
dily take up any thing; nor have they any
need of napkins, for thty never foul their
hands, nor touch any thmg with them.
There arc frequent invitations among
ncighbcurs , and at thefe entertainments
they provide other forts of difhes than
what we ha"c hitherto fpoke of; for they
make no account of rice, fuppofing every
man has enough of that at homr ; and tho'
he that treats be never fo poor, he does
not come off with credit, unlefs every gucft's
table be ferverl with at leaft an hundred
difhes; and it being the cuftom to invite
all their friends, kindred and neighbours,
chere is no feaft where there is lefs than
thirty, forty, fifty, fometimes a hundred,
and even two hundred guefts: I was once
my felf at a folemn emerLainment , at
which no lefs than two rhoufand we.re feaft
ed, and therefore thefo banQuets muft be
made in the country, that there may be
room for fo many tables. Nor muft an
bod, admire that the tables being fmal l.,
they be furnifhed with a hundred dilhes at
lcaft; for upon thefe occafions they very
curioufiy make fr.1r1e1, of fugar-canes on
the table, on whicl- they difpofe of the
faid difhes; and there mull: be in them all
the varieties of meat the country produces,
as well flelh as filh, and butcher's meat as
fowl, wild and tame creatures, with all
forts of fruit the feafon ::iffords ; for if but
one were wanting, it would be a great
fault in the entertainer, and they would
not count it a feaft. The men of quality
that are invited eat firit, being waited on
by their r.hief fervants. When the mafters
havc tafted of all they like beft, lhefe fame
principal fervants take their places, and
eat, being waited on by the inferior fort:
then there fucceed in their places ; and
becaufe all of them are not able to confume
fuch plenty, and according to cuftom all
the d1fhes muft be emptied; when thefc
are fatisfied, then the very meaneft fervants
of every great man come in, and do not
only eat their belly full, but put up all
the fragments in uags they carry for that
purpofe, and carry them home, where they
merrily divide it among the boys, and o-
ther mean fry, and fo the feaft ends.
Cochin-China produces no grapes, and
therefore inftead of wine they drink a Ji.
quor diftilled from rke, which taftes like
brandy, and refembles it in colour and
harfhnels, fpirit and brifkncfs, and they
have fuch plenty of it, that '.111 people in
general drink as much as they will of it,
and are as drunk as people are among us
with wine. Gr:t\:t'r perfons mix that liquor
with fome other water diftilled from ca
lamba; which gives it a delicious fmell,
and is a delicate compofition.
Between meals they drink hot water,
wherein they boil the root of an herb they
call chia, f.om which the liquor takes
name. It is ordial, and helps to difpel
humours from the ftomach, and advance
digeftion. The Japonefts and Chinefts ufe
fuch a fort of drink, only that in China,
infte:td of the root, they boil the leaves of
the herb; and in Japan, a powder made
of the fame leaves; but the effect is the
fame, and they all call it cbia.
Amidft this great plenC? nf meat, and
abundance of provifions, it is incredible
how much hunger and chirft we Europeans
endure; not fo much for want of food,
as becaufe we are not ufed to that diet,
nature. finding a very great mifs of bread
and wme: and I believe the Cochin-Chine.fas
would be in the fame condition, lhould
they come into Europe, where they would
be deprived of their ufual fufrenance of
rice, tho' they had plenty of other delicate
provilions. To this purpofe I will not
omit to relate what happened to us with a
governor of Cocbfo.China, he being a fril!nd
of ours, was invited by us to eat at our
houfe; and the more to !hew our alfeaion,
we endeavoured to have ,l!veral dilhes dref
fed for him after the European manner. He
fat down to table, and when we expected
he lhould acknowledge our kindnefs, com
mend the cookerf, and thank us for the
rarity, becaufe we had been at much trou
b!-: about it: when he had rafted them all,
he could not eat of any one, though cut
of civility he fl:rove againft his ftomach ;
and we were forced to drefs more meat af
t'!t the country-fafhion, the beft we could,
whereof he afterwards eat very
 .An .Account of Cochin-China.
. to his own anJ our fatisfac\ion. Yet pro
vidence docs not neglell: a thonfand ways
to fupport thofe that undergo thefe hard-
1hips for the preaching of the gofpcl, find
ing means, even in this world, to requite
what they fuffer for the fake of Goo, as
, happens in this rticular of food, as was
before fairi of going bare-foot ; for by de
grees nacure grows familiar with ic, and
comes to be fo habituated co the cuftom of
the country, that it looks ftrange when to
ret\..rn to its firft ways. This happened
to me, who when I returned from thence,
coveted nothing but the rice of Cochin-Chi
na, which I thought fatisfied me more than
any other thing.
A& for phyficians, and .:heir way of prac
tice, there are abundance of dotl:ors, not
only Porluguefes, but natives; and it often
is experimentally known, that the country
phyficians eafily cure feveral difeafes, which
the E,mptan fhyficians know not what to
do with: fo it fometimes happens, that
after our phyficians have given over a pa
tient, they call one of the country, and he
cures him.
The phyficians of the country ufe this
fort of practice: being come to the pati
ent's bed-fide, they ftay a little to fettle
themfelves after the motion of coming;
then they feel the pulfc for a long while to
gether, very attentively, and with much
confideration; after which they ufually fay,
You have fuch a diftemper; and if incu.
rable, they- honeftly fay, I have no cure
for this difeafe: which 1s a fign the p:itient
will die. If they find the difeafe curable,
they fay, J have a medicine that will cure
him; anci l will do it in fo many days.
Then they agree what they are to have if
they cure the fick man, bargaining the bcft
they can , and fomctimes they draw up
writings co bind the contract After this
the phyfici.m himfelf prepares the medi
cbe, without the hdp of an apothecary;
for which reafon there are none in the
country: and this they do, that they may
not difcover the fecret of the art they work;
and becaufe they will not truft another to
put together the ingredient they prefcribe.
If the patient recovers within the time ap
pointed, as generally happens, he pays the
price agreed on ; if he mifcarries, the phy
fician lofes his labour and medicines.
The nJedicines they gi.ve are not like
ours, which caufe a loathing, and arc lax
ative ; but theirs are palatable as their
broths, and nourifhing without any other
fuftenancc, which makei; them give the pa
tient feveral dofes in a day, as we give
broth at fo many hours interval; and thefe
do not alter the courfe of nature, but only
help the ufual operations of nature difperf.
ing the {leccant humours, without wrack
jng the patient.
I remember a pafiage worth the relating
in this place: a PorJu1,utfo falling fick, fent
for the Europtan phyficiana ; who having
ufed their endeavours, gave him over.
When they were gone, a phyfician of the
country was called ; who undertook to
cure him in fo many days, ftritl:ly enjoin
ing him, whilft he was under his hands.
to have a care of having to do with wo-
men upon pain of cert:iin death, from
which the vertue of his medicine could not
deliver him. They agreed upon the price,
and the phyfician undertook to cure him
in thirty days. The patient took the me-
dicines prcfcribeJ im, and in a few days
found himfelf fo well recovered, that he
was not afraid to tranfgrefs the phyfician's
injuntl:ion; who coming to vifit him, by
the alteration of his pulfc difcovered the
!ick m:in"s incontinency, and bid him pre-
pare to die, becaufe there was no cure for
him; but that he fhouJrl pay him his mo-
ney, fince it was none of his fault that he
muft die. The cafc was try'd; the lick
man was adjudged to pay: and fo he
died.
Bleeding is alfo ufed, but not fo much
as in Europe, nor is it done with a fteel
l:inl:Ct; but they have abundance of goofe.
quills, in which they fix fome bits of fine
porcelane, made iharp, and fhaped like
the teeth of a faw, fome biggert .1.1.nc
lcfs, of fcveral fizes. When they are to
let blood, they apply one of thefe quills
to the vein, proportionablc to the bignefs
of it, and giving it a fillip with the finger.
open the vein, only fo much of the porce-
bne entring as is requifite: and what is
moft wonderful , when they have drawn
the blood, they ufe no fillet or binding to
ftop it ; but wetting their thumb with fpit-
tie they prefs the orifice, fo that the ficlh
returning to the place whence it was part-
ed, the blood is ftopt, and runs out no
more: which I fuppofe to proceed from
the manner of opening the vein, as it were
fa wing it with that porcelane full of teeth,
and therefore it doles again the eaficr.
There are alfo furgeons, who have fome
wonderful fecrets, whereof 1 will give but
two inftances , one pratl:ifed upon my
felf, the: other upon one of our brothers,
my companion: I happened to fall from
a. very high place, with my bre:ift againft
the corner of a ftone, whereupon I prc-
fently began to fpit blood, and had a wound
in my brcaft outwardly. We applied fome
medicines after our European manner, but
to no purpofe. A furgeon of the country
came and took a quantity of a certain
herb like that we call mercury, and mak-
ing it into a plaifter, laid it on my breaft,
then he caufed fome of that herb to be
boiled for me to drink, and made me eat
 .An Account of Cochin-China.
the fame herb rn w: and thus in a few days
perfet11y cured me. I, to make another
experiment, caufed the leg of a hen to be
broke in fcveral places, ancl making a plai
ficr as he had done of the f.imc herb, bound
it upon the broken leg, and in a few days
ic was whole and found.
A fcorpion bit a brother of ours, my
companion, in the neck ; and in that king
dom the bite of a fcorpion is mortal. All
his throat fwelled immediately, and we
were about giving him extreme unt1ion.
A furgf'on was fcnt for, who immediately
fet a pot of rice a boiling in nothing but
fair water, then clapping the pot to the
brother's feet, covred him and it clofe
with cloths, that the fteam might not go
out, and as foon as the faid ficam and hot
fmokc of the rice came up to the place
where the bite was, the brother felt the
pain affwagc, the f welling in his throat fell,
and he remained as fauna as if nothing had
ailed him.
Many other inftanccs might be added,
but I fitall only fay, thnt the medicines in
thofe pares have a greater virtue than
when they come to US) and particularly I
can affirm, that I brought with me a fmall
cafk of rb11barb, which was extraordinary
good there, and when I came into Ettrope,
having fpent two years by the way, lfountl
it fo changed, that I fcarce knew It m_y felf,
fo that thofe medicines lofe much of their
virtue in bringing from thofc countries to
our parts.

CH AP. VI.
Of the Cfoil and Political GO'Vernment of the Cochin-Chincfes.

IforWill give a brief account of as much as

may fuffice for the reader's information;
it would be too tedious, and from the
tone as if they were finging, which they
do to ufe themfelves to it, and give every
word its proper accents, which arc many,
purpofe of this my 1hort relation, to dif every one: expreffing a feveral thing: and
courfe of every thing in particular. The therefore one would think, that to con
government of Cochin-China, in general, verfe with them, a man muft underftand
1s a medium betwixt thofe of China and ja the grounds of mufick,
pan: for whereas the Japonefts make lcfs The language they generally fpeak, is
account of learning than military know different from that they read and teach in
ledge: and on the contrary, the Chinefts at the fchools, and which their books are
attribute all to learning, taking little no writ in : as among us the vulgar languacre
tice of warlike affairs. The Cochin-Chinefts differs from the Latin ufed in the fchools.
following the example of neither, equally Wherein they differ from the Cbinefes, who,
encourage learning, and fkill in war, ac if they are learned, or noble, always ufe
cording as occafion offers, fometimes pre the fame language, which they call of
ferring the foldier, and fometimes the fcho ma11dari11eJ ) that is, of doctors, judges,
lar, and fo repul{ing them as appears moft and governors, and the characters they ufe
convenient. in writingrnnd printing their books, are
In Cochin-China there are feveral univer above mg4-. thoufand, all differing from
fities, in which there are profeffors, fcho one anotl\er. And for this reafon the fa
lars, and degrees conferred by way of ex thers of the fociety fpend eight, and even
amination, in the fame manner as is prac ten years, in ftudying the Chillefe books,
tifcd in China, the fame fciences being before !hey can be mafters, and go abroad
taught, and the fame books and authors to convcrfe with them. But the Cochin
read; that is, Zinfu, or Confucius, as the Chinefts have reduced the characters to three
Portuguefes call them ; which are authors thoufand, which they generally make ufe
of fuch profound learning, and in fuch cf of: and thefe are enough to exprefs them
teem and reputation among them, as .d felves in their harangues, letters, petitions,
ri.ftotle is among us, being much ancienter memorials, and fuch things which do not
than he. Thefe books of theirs are full of belong to printed books ; for thofe of ne
erudition, of ftories, of grave fentences, ceffity mutt be in Chinefa characl:ers. The
of proverbs, and fuch like things, for the japone/es have been more ingenious, who
directing a civil life, as are Seneea, Cato, tho' in all that belongs to books, whether
and Cicero, among us; and they fIJCr '. written or printed, they agree with the
many years in learning the true fenfe of the Chinefas ; yet for common ufes have found
phrafes, words, characters, and hierogly out forty eight letters, wherewith they ex
phicks, they are writ in ; but that they prefs whatfoever they pleafe, as well as we
moft value is moral fhilofophy, or ethicks, do with our alphabet: and yet the Chinefe
reconomy, and policy. It 1s comical to charat1ers are In fuch efteem even among
fee and hear them, when they arc fiudy the japonef,s, that thefe forty eight letters,
ing, read and repeat their ldfon5 in fuch a notwithftanding the ufe they are ofabove the
 An Account of Cochin-China.'
others, arc contemned in cornparifon of
them , infomuch, that In fcorn they call
them women's letters.
The ingenious invention of printing was
found out in China, and Cocbi11-Cbina,
long before it was in Europe: but not in
fuch perfection: for they do not compofe
joining letters and characters, but with a
graver, penknife, or fuch inftrument, cut
and carve the characters upon a ftone a.s
they will have them in their books: on
this board fo carved they lay their paper,
and print it off, as we in Europ: do cop
per-plates, or the like.
Betides thefc books of morals, they have
others, which contai things they account
facred; as for inftan<'e: the creation ar.d
beginning of the world: of the rational
fouls of demons: of idols, and of their fe
vernl fecb. Thefe books are called Saye
Kim, to diftinguifh them from the profane,
which they call Saye Chiu. Of the doctrine
of their facred books, we fhall treat in the
fecond part of this account, where the fub
ject will be more fuitable.
Tho' th.! languae of the Cocbin-Cbintfts
be in one 1efpect like that of the CIJintfts,
both of them ufing all monafyllables, de
livered in feveral tones nd accents; yet
they mterly differ in the word it felf, the
Cocbin-Cbine)t'.i bein more full of vowels,
and confequently fotter and fweeter, more
copious in tones and accents, and therefore
more harmonious. The language of Co
chin-China is, in my opinion, the eafieft
of any, for thofe that have a mufical ear,
to take the tones and accents; for it has
no variety by way of conjunction of verbs,
or declination of nouns, but one and the
fame word, with the addition of an adverb,
or pronoun, fignifies the prefent, .:the pre
terit, and future tenfes, the fingulilr num
ber, and the plural; and in fine, (ervcs for
all mood,, tenfes, and perfons, and the
diverfity of numbers and cafi:s. For inftance:
This word, 'To havt, which in the Cbineft
IJnguagc is Co, by only adding a pronoun,
frrvcs all occalions, faying, I b(J'l)e, 'l'bou
have, Ile have; the name of the perfon
making that cliverfity, which we exprefs
by altering the termination, thus, I have,
<fhou half, He bas. In the fame manner
they make the feveral tenfes; faying, for
the prcft:nt, I now have; for the preterit,
I heretofore have; and for the future, I
berta(ler have: And fo without ever alter
ing the word Co; by which it appears how
calily this language may be learned: as it
happened to me, who in fix months un
<.lt:rftood fo much, that I could difcourfe,
and even hear their confeffions, tho' not
fo perfeclly, for it requires at leaft four
years to be a mafter. [2ois variety of moods
taNd tmfts, appears better b1 the Latin, 01
otbtr langagtr, than in Englilh, wbtt't w1
ufe much tl't j,Jme mttbod, as be reprtftntJ in
Cochin-Chin1, wr variations the fame, bt
ing but /t'W, as lo inftancc in the /amt word,
I have, You have, We have, They have,
I fhall have, May we have: and fa in this,
and many others.]
Hut to return to our relation: I was fay-
ing, that the Cocbin-Cbinefts reward not
only the learned wiLh dignities, employ-
ments, and revenues; but that they make
great account of good foldiers, in which
particular they aa differently from us
for inftead of affigning brave commanders,
fome land, earldom, or marquifate, as a
reward of their valour, they allot him fuch
a number of people, and vaffitls, belonging
to the king ltimfelf, who whatfocver part'
of the kingdom they live in, are obliged to
own him as their lord, to whom they have
been affigned by the king, being bound
upon all occafions to fervc hlm with their
weapons, and to pay him all thofe duties
they before paid to the king himfelf; and
therefore, as we fay, fuch a one is lord,
earl, or marquefs of fuch a place; they
fay, fuch a one is a man of fifty, fuch a
one of a thoufand men, to fuch a one the
king has added three thoufand, to fuch a
one two thoufand; their dignity, wealth,
and grandeur increafing by the addition of
far
many vaffals. We lhall fpeak of the wars
of this kingdom in the next chapter.
It remains that we fomewhat worth
being known of the civi government. In
the firft they govern rather after a military
manner, than by judges, counfellors, and
lawyers, and their formalities, the vice-
roys and governors of provinces perform-
ing that function; for every day they give
publick audience for four hours daily, in
a large court within their own palace, two
hours in the morning, and two after din.
ner. Hither all fuits and complaints are
brought, and the vice-roy, or governor,
fitting on a tribunal raifed like a balcony,
hears every man in his turn ; and thefe
f;Overnors being generally men of found
Judgment, capacity, and experience, they
eafdy difcover the truth of the matter by
the queftions they put, and much more
bv the common confent of the ftander-by,
which is gathered by the applaufe they
give the plaintiff, or defendant, and ac
cordingly they immediately, without de-
lay, give judgment with a loud voice,
which is immediately executed without any
demur, or appeal, whether the fentence be
death, banifhment, whipping, or fine, every
crime being punilh'd as the law appoints.
The crimes generally try'd and feverely
punilhed are many, but they are particu-
larly rigid againft falfe witnell'es, thieves,
and adulterers, The firft of thefe being
 An .Account of Cochin-China.
conviclcd of having given f.ilfc evidence,
are thcrnfdves indifpcnfably condemned,
as if they themfclvcs had committed the
crime they accufe others of. And if the
crime they alleded deferved death, they
nre li:ntenced to die: and experience te,1chcs,
tint this w-J.y of tri.11 is very proper to
find out the truth.
Thieves, if the theft be confidcrable,
arc beheaded; if fmall, as for example, a
hen, for the firll: offence they have a fin
ger cut off, for the fccond another finger,
for the third an car, and for the fourth
the head.
Adulterers, both men and women, in
differently are call: to the elephants to be
killed, which ill done thus : They lead
the criminal out into the field, where in
the prefonce of an infinite number of peo
ple llockin together, he is fct in the mid
dle with lus hands and feet bound, near
an elephant, to whom the condemned per
fon's fcntence i1 re,,J, that he m:ty execute
every part of it orderly; firll: that he lay
hold of, grafp, and hold him fall: with
his trunk, and fo hold him in the air,
lhewing him to all the company; then
that he tofs him up, and catch him upon
the points of his teeth, that his own weight
may 11:rike them through him; that then
he daCh him againll: the ground ; and lall:1 y,
that he bruife and crulh him to pieces
with his feet: All which is exac1ly per
formed by the elephant, to the great ter
ror and amazement of the fpeccators, who
are taught by this punilhmcnt, at another
man's colt, what fidelity is due between
married pcrfons.
CH AP. VII.
Of the Prm:er of tbe King of Cochin-China,
his Kingdom.
I Took notice at the beginning of this
account, that Cocbin,Cbinti was a pro
viuce of the great kingdom of '/'011cbin, U
forp'd by the grandfather of the king now
reigning; who being made govl!rnor of it,
rebdkd againft the foid king of 'l'oncbin;
to which he was not a littll! encouraged,
by having in a fhort time got together
:i great m.my pieces of cannon of the
wrecks of lever.ii Pot't11g11efaand Dutch !hips,
caft away upon thole rocks, which being
taken up by the country people, there are
above fixty of the biggelt, at this time,
Lo be fren in the king's p.1.ce. The Co
thi11-Cbinefas are now become fo expert in
m.maging artillery, that they perform it
better dun the Europeans, practiling con
tinu.illy to Choat at a mark, with fuch
fucccfs, that being proud of their fkill,
as foon as any E11rop,an lhip arrives in
Since we arc upon thi point of m:itrl
mony, it will not be from the purpofe
to deliver fome farther particulars con
cerning it, btfore we conclude this ch.ip
ter. The Cocbin,Chinefe,, tho' heathens,
never ufe to Clntratl; matrimony within
thofc degrees forbid by the laws of Go,,
and n.iture, nor within the lirll: degree of
the coll,1tcral line of' brother, and fifl:crs,
In other degrc:cs matrimony is lawful 10
every man with only one woman; tho"
rich men ufe to have many concubines,
under pretence of 6r Jndeur and geni::ro-
fity, looking upon 1t as covetoufoels, not
to have as many as every man's income
will conveniently maint.im ; and thefo
arc called fccond, third, fourth, and
fifth wives, and fo on, according to cvert
one's rank, all which wait upon the firf:t:1
which is accounted, and really is the truo
wife, whofe bufinefs it is to chufe the others
for her hulband. But thefc marri:igea of
theirs are not inditfoluble, the !Jws of
Cocbi1J.Cbinr1 allowing of divorces, but not
at the will of either party, it being firll:
requifite, that the pcrfon fuing for it, con
vict the other of many offences ; which
being made out, it is lawful to dilTolve
the tirll: marri.1gc, and marry again. The
hulbands bririg the portion, and le,\Vc their
own houfes to go to the wife's; upon
whole fortunes they live, the women ma-
naging all the houlhold-affairs, and go
verning the family whilft the hufb.ind live!I
idle at home, hardly knowing what there
is in the houfe, fatified that they hava
meat and clothes.
and of the Wars he has in
their ports, the king's gunners challenge
ours, who being fenfible that they cannot
{l:and in, competition with them, as near
as they can, avoid this trial of fkill, be-
ing convinced by experience, that they will
hit any thing as exactly with a cannon, as
another Chall do with a firelock ; which
they are alfo very expert at, often draw-
ing out into the field to exercife. An-
other great encouragement to rebellion,
was, his having above a hundred gallies,
which rendring him formidable by Cea,
and the artillery by land, he eafily com-
pafs'd his defigns ag.1inft the king of '/'on
chin. Betides, by reafon of the conftant
trade in Japa11, there were in Cochin-China
abundance of Cata,,1'1, which arc fcymitars
made in Japan, anu excellently tempcr'd:
And all the country abounding in horfcs,
which tho' fmall, are handfome and met-
 An .AccoUttt of Cochin-China.
tlefome, on which they fight, caning dares,
1tnd d,1ily exercifc themfelvcs.
The power of this king is fo great, that
whenfocvtr he pleafcs, he can bring 80000
fighting men into the field, anJ yet is al
ways in fear uf the king of <fon,bin, whofo
power is four times a1 great; to whom,
for quietnefs fake, he, by agreement, pay
a tribute, of all fuch things as his king
rlom affords, and arc ufdul for that of
']'o,l(Jin, particularly of goltl, filver, and
rice; furnilhing, be fide all this, plank
and timber for building of g.1llies. And
for the fame reafon he wns ,ibout entring
into a league with the fur,itivc fon of the
late king, who lordccl it in the utmoft
provinc:e of <fonchin, which borders upon
Cbl11a, that in cafc he fucceeded, and be
came mailer of 'l'on,bin, C'bin-Cbi11a might
remain free from all tribute and acknow
lcclgmcnt,
.For the better underfbnding hereof, it
is to be obferved, that whrn I was in Co
thi11-Cbina, that kingdom was in the pof
feffion not of the precedent king, but the
tutor or governor of that fon, who made
his efcape from the faid governor to favc
his life. The faid prince lived like a fu.
gitive, in the fartheft province adjoining
to China; whc:re being known to be what
he was, that is the late king's fon, he was
received by that people as their fovereign
lord, and by'his ooa sovernment he had
fo fl:rcngthened h1mfelt, that his tutor al
ready declared king of 'l'oncbin, w.t.s much
afnud, feeing him grow fo great, left he
fhould agree with the king of Co,hin, Cr.ina,
who is of the oppofite fide, to catch him
between them, and expel him his unjuft
poffiffion. He therefore every ye:1r form'J
a conliderable army to ddlroy the aforc:
faid prince i but always co no purpofe, be
caufc: the army being of ncceffity to march
five or fix days, through a country where
there is no other water to drink, but that
of fome riven coming from the enrmies
counr.ry; the army nlways found it poifon'd
by the prince's party, with a fort of herb,
the effetl: whereof wa1 fuch, that it de
tlroyed both men and horfes l which ob-
1 iged him always to retire after much trou
ble and expcnce caft away.
The military difcipline, and art of war
in Cochin-China, is almoft the fame as in
Eropt, the fame form being obferved in
drawing up, fighting, and retiring. This
king has generally war in three pares of
his kingJom: Firft, he is always upon his
defence againR: the king of 'l'oncbin, who
as has been faiJ continually threatens and
affaults his frontiers, and therefore the king
of Cochin-China has his rcfidence in Si-
111tua, the extreme part of his dominions,
tile better to oppofe him, and march his
forces tnwar,ls the contints nf <fo11,hi11,
which i, a 11owertiJI provinl'.e, and gcne
r.ally under uperlenetd and martial gover
nours.
The next is a fort of civil war, raifcd
by cwo of his own hrochers, who aiming
to be equal in rnmm:ind nncl power, noc
f.1thficd with wh.1t has bcm allotted them,
have rebellctl ag;1inft him, and craving
fuccours from <J'ond.1h!, g.1ve him perpetu
.il trouble. Whiltt I lived in thofe puts,
chry h:1ving got fome pk-ccs of cannon,
which they rarrietl upon elephants, forti
fictl thenifdvcs lo wdl UJ>Oll ihe frontiers,
that the 1,;ing'sarmy m.m:hing againft them,
was i11 the.: firft engagC"meut routed with
the Io's of 3000 men; but corning to a
frcond bJt1le, the king's brotbrrs loft all
th<'f h,1d gained before, heing both made
priloncrs; anti they had both immediately
loft their lives, had not his majefty's natu
ral clemency and brotherly affection pre
vailed, anti taken pl.lee of his anger, fo
far as ro liiare their Jives, yet fo as to
keep them prifoners.
The third place where he has continual
war, is on the weft,fide, and utmoft bound
of his kingdom called Rtnran, againft the
king of Cbiampti i whofe efforts being
wc..,ker, are fufficiently repulfed by the
troops of that fame province, and the go
VC"rnor.
He is alfo in continual motion, and mak
ing warlike preparations to affift the king
of Cambogia, who has married his baftard
daughter, fending him fuccours of gallies,
::ind men, againfr the king of Siam; and
therefore the arms of Cochin-China, and
their VJlour, is famous and renowned, as
well by fea as by I.ind
. At fen they 6ht in gllies, ns has bee
fa1d, each of which came5 cannon, and 1s
mann'd with mufkeccers: Nor will it fcem
ftrange, chat the king of l'ochi!I-Chi11a has
an hundred, or more, gallies in a readi--
ncfs, when the method of furnifhing them
is known. It is therefore tobcobferved, that
the Cocbin-Chint_fts do not ufc to have a
crew of criminals, or other Oavcs, to row
in their gallies; but when they are to gO'
out to fight, or for any other purpofe, the
way to man them immediately is this: A
great number of officers, and commiffi.ries,
go out privately, and fcouring on a fud-
drn all together throughout the whole king-
dom, wirh the king's authority, prefs all
they find fit for the oar, conducting them
all together to the gallies, unlefs the y be
exempted by birth, or any other privilege.
Nor 1s this method fo troublefome as it
appears at firft light; for in the firlt place
they are well uf<:d and p:iid aboard the gal-
lies; and betides, their wives and children
are fed and provided with all things
 An .Account of Cochin-China.
celT.iry, accorulng to their condition, all
the while: they arc from their houfc:s. Nor
<lo they only ferve ac the oar, but upon
occafion lay hold of their weapons, and be
have thcmli:lves brsively for which p11r
pofc every one has his mullm, daru, sind
fcymitar allotted him and the Co,hin-Cbi-
11tft1 bdng of an undaunted fpirit, and
brave, they give good tokens of their va
lour, either rowing to join their enemies, or
with their arr.is when Joined. Their gallies
arc fomewhat lefs, but particularly narrower
than 011n, but fo neat, and fo well adorned
with gold and filver, that they afford a glo
rious light. Chiefly the ftem, which they .1c
count the moft honourable poft, is all
over old, there the captJin and pcrfons
of chief note h:ivc their ftation: and the
rcafon they give for it is, that it being
rhe captain's dury to be the firn upon any
danger, it i:s fit he lhould be in the pro-
CH AP. VllJ.
Of the 'lrade and Ports
Cochin.China.
THE great plenty Cochin-China affords
of all things necelfary for the fupport
of human life, as has been faid before, ia
rhe caufe that the people have no curiofity,
or inclinatinn to go Into othct kingdoma
to trade; and therefore ther never go fo
far to (ea, u to lofe fight o their beloved
lhore; yet they arc very ready to admit
of flrangcrs, and arc very well pleafc:d
they fhould come not only from th.: neigh
bouring countries, but from the rcmotcft
parts to trade with them. Nor do they
need to ufe any nrt for this purpofc, ftran
gcrs being fufficiently allured by the fruit
fulnefs of the country, and the great wealth
which abounds there ; and therefore they
rcfort thither not only from 'I'onchin, Ca,,..
iogia, Chi"'hto,, and other neighbouring
places, but from the remotcft, as China,
Matu, 'Japan, Manila, and Ma/a((a, all
of them carrying filver to Cochin-Chi1111,
to carry away the commoditi.es of the coun
try, which are not bought, but exchanged
for plate, which is here put otf as a com
modity, being fometimcs worth more, and
fometJmes lefs, according as there is more
or lc(s plenty of it, as 1s ufual with filk
and other goods.
All the coin they ufe is of brafs, and
of the fame value, like a qttatrine, 500
of which make a crown. Thefe piece
arc quite round, with the king's arms and
cnfign llamped on them, and every one
of them h:i.s a hole through the middle,
which ferves to firing them by thoufands,
and every thoufand is worth two crowns.
The Chilltfts and Japontfas, drive the .chief
trade of Co,bi11-Cbina; which is managed
pcrell part of the g:illy for th.at purpofe.
Among other fomofdrfenfivc arms they
ufe in war, they h.1vc certain oval, hollow
targets, fo long th:tt they cover a man quite,
and fo light, th.&t they can manage them
without any trouble. The cities of this
kingdom h.&ve a great advantage in the man-
ner of their houfc:s, which being all of
wood upon pillars of timber, as lias bc,en
faid tlcforc when the enemy cornea fo ftrong,
that they perceive they c,mnot oppofe him,
every man flies to the mountain with what
he hu., firing the houfes, fo that rhc ene-
my finds nothin but the ruins left by the
flames, and having no place to fortif)' him-
felf, nor any thing to fubfiit on, is forcod
to retire back to his own country, and the
inhabit.ints returning to the fame place In
a fhort time, with great eafc: rebuild their
houfes.
of
at a fail held yearly at one of che port
of this kingc.k,,1, and lalling about four
months. 1'he Chintfas, in their vcficls they
call ju11b, bring the value of four or five
milhona in plate and the Japontfas, iR their
fhips calkd fommts, :m infinite quantity:
of Tcry fine lilk, and other commodities of
their country. Thi:: king has a vaft revenue
from this fair by cuftoms, and impoft, and
all the whole country receives great pro
fit. The Cothin-Chinef,s applying them
felves very little to arts, becaufc plenty
makes them lazy ; and being foon taken
with the curiofitic:s of other countries it
comes to pafs, th1t they p11t a great value
upon, and buy at great ratfs, many thing,,
which to others are of very fmall worth ,
a, for inftance, combs, nC('dles, bm:elets,
and pendants of ghif., and fuch-like wo
mens tackling. I remember a Port111,r1tft,
who bringing intu Cochin-China from Mfl
,ao, a box full of needles, which could
not be worth above thirty ducats, ma
above a thoufand of it, fell mg that for Six
pence in Cochin-Chilla, whidi had not coft
him above a farthing at Mfl(ao. In fho.
they out-bid one another, in buying any
thin that is very new and ftrangc without
fpa rmg for price. They arc very fond of
our hats, of caps, of girdles, .fhirts, and
all other fores of garments we wear, be
caufc they a-re quite different from theirs 1
but above all, they put a gm,t value up
on coral.
, As for their ports, it is wonderful that
in a coaft little more than an hundred
iclgues in lengih, there fhould be above
lixty molt convenient landing-places; which
 .An .Account of Cochin-China:
is fo, IJecaufe there are many large arms
of the fea. But the principal port, to
which all fl:rangers refort, and where the
afore-mentioned fair is kept, i that of
the province of Caccbia11; which has two
mouths, or inlets from the lea, the one
called Pullucbiampello, and the other of
'J'uro11, being at fidl: three or four le;1gues
difl:ant from one another, but running in
feven or eight leagues like two great ri
vers, at lafl: join in one, where the vdfels
that come in borh ways meet. Here the
king of Cochin-Chin11 :1ffigned the Chinefa;,
and ]apo11efe;, a convenit:nt fpot of ground,
to build a city for the benefit of the foir.
This city is called FaifiJ, and is fo large,
that we may fay they are two, one of Chi
tufe;, the other of Japo11efe;; for they are
divided from one another, each having thrir
difl:inct governor, and the Cbi11rfas living
according to the hws of Chi11e1, as the 'Ja
ponefe; do accortling to thole of Jara11.
Ar.d becaufe, as we f.1id before, rh::
king of Cochin-China O',l\'e frt'c admittJnce
to all nations whatfover, the Dutch re-
forted thither with all fom of commodi
ties. Hereupon the Portuguefes of Macao
refolved to fend an emb.1ffador to the king,
to demand in their name, that the Dutch,
as mortal enemies to thtir nation, fhoulcl
be excluded all Cochin-China. One cap
tain Ferdinand de Cofla, a man well known
for his valour, was appoinre<l ro go upon
this embaffy ; which he delivered and was
favourably heard, with affuranccs of ob
taining his demands. Neverthelefs, whilfl:
he was yet at that court, there arrived a
Dutch fhip, and coming to an anchor in
the port, fame of them landed with much
mirth and jollity, and prefently went with
rich prefents to the king: I le accepted of
them very graciouOy, and granted them
the ufual liberty of trading freely in his
kingdom. Acojta hearing of it, went pre
fently to the king, and compl.lining, That
his majefl:y did not keep his word with
him, in a Portuguefe bravado gave a fl:.imp
on the ground to fhcw his refentment.
The king ar.d all the courtiers were plea
fed at his paffion, and bidding him have
patience, an<l expect the event , for he
1houkl find he had no caufe to complain,
difmiffed him. In the mean while he or
dered all the Dutch to go afhore, ancl land
all their goods againft the fair at <J'uron,
as thePort11guefe; did; which they perform'cl:
But as they were going upon the river in
boats, they were on a fudden affaulted by
the gallies, which deftroyed mofl: of them.
The king remained mafl:er of their goods;
aml to juftify this acl:ion, alledged, that
The End of the P:rfl Part.
he very well knew the Dutch, as nutorio1i
piratls, 'who infdled all the fra, were
worthy of feverer punilbment; and there
fore, by procl,11nation, forbid any of them
ever rl'forting to his country : and it was
acl:11,1lly foun::l, that thole very men had
robl.inl fame velfels of Cocbin-Chi11a, and
thenfore took this juft revenge; :idmit
ting the I'ort11g11efas as good and fincere
friends: \Vl10 not long after fent anotha
embalfatlor from ,l,!at"ao, to obtain of the
king a confirmation of the aforcfaid edict,
at the inlt.rnce of Acojla, :ille<lging as a
motive, the danger that the Dutch, in titn{',
might cunningly poffefs themfelves of fome
part of Cochin-China, as they had done in
other p.1rts of India. But the new em
baffador was advifed by knowing men of
that country, not to mention any fuch thing
to the king, bccaufe that very thing would
be a motive to him to grant the Dutch a
free tr,1dc, and invite all Ilolla1!d to come
over; he pretended to be :ifraid of no na
tion in the world; quite contrary to the
king of China, who being afraid of every
body, forbids all fl:rangcrs trading in his
kingdom ; and therefore the embaffador
mnlt urge oLher motives to obtain his de
ft re.
The king of Cochin-China has always
fhewn himlclf a great friend to the Ar-
t11g11efeJ th:lt trade in that king !,,m, and
has levcral times offered them three or
four leagues of the fruitfollefl: country about
the port of <J'uron, that they may build a
city there with all forts of conveniences,
as the Chi11efes, and JaJonefes, have done.
And were it allowed me to give his catho-
lick majerty my opinion in this point, I
fhould fay, he ought, by all means, to
command the Portuguefes to accept of the
kind offer made them, and to build a goorl
city there as foon as pofiible ; which would
be a refuge, and brave dc:fence, for all
the fhips that p,1fs by towards China: For
here a fleet might be kept in readinefs
againft the Dutch, that fail to China and
Japan who( neceffity mufl: pafs through
tht: m1cldle at the bay, that lies between
the coaft of this kingdom, in the pro-
vinces of Ra11ran, and Pulucambi, and the
rocks of Puluf,ji.
This is what finall matter I thought I
could, with truth, give an account of con
cerning the temporal fl:ate of Cocbi11,Chi11a,
according to the knowle_)ge I could gain
in fame years I rcfided there ; as will far
ther appear in the focond p.irt of this re
btion.
 An .Accounl of Cochin-China.
The Second P A R T.
TREATING
Of the SP IR I T u AL S T A T E of Cochin-China.
CH AP. I.
Of thefi,jl tntring of the Fathers of_ the Society of 'J E S US into that Kingdom :
And of the two Chur,hes built at Turon and Cacchian.
B
EFORE the fathers of the fociety
of J Es us went into Cochin-China,
!t was the cufiom of the Portuguefts
trading thither, to carry thither
with them from Malacca, and Matao, and
the Spaniards from Manila, fome chap
lains, to fay mafs and adminifter the facra
ments to them, during their flay there,
which generally was three or four months
in a year. Thefe chaplains having no other
obligation but only to ferve the Por/uguefes,
never thought of promoting the fpiritual
welfare of the natives of that country, not
applying themfelves toleam their language,
nor ufing any other means to communi
cate the light of the gofpel to them. And
yet there was one of thefe who had the face
to publifh in Spain, in a book call'd, CZ'he
Poyage of the World; that he had catechis'd
and baptis'd the infanta or princefs of Co
ehinChina, and a great many of her ladies:
whereas never infanta, nor anv other per
fon of all that royal family, tfll this time,
has fhewn any inclination to become Chri
fl:ian, notwithftanding we fathers go every
year to vifit the king, and difcourfe with
all the great men of the court; and yet the
infanta has not given any token of being a
Chriftian, or fo much as knowing what a
Chrifiian is. And iL may well be difcern'd,
how falfly he talks in this point, by the o
ther fables he adds in the fame book, con
cerning chat infanta ; as that fhe would
have marry'd the faid chaplain, and the
like. We know of none but fome fathtrs
of the order of Sc. Francis, that went from
Manila, and one of St. .drrgujline, from
Macao to Cochin-Cbi.,a, merely for the con
verfion of thofe fouls. Bue they meeting
with 110 fuccefs, by reafon of the manr fe
veral difficulties that occur, they return d to
their countries: Providence fo ordering it,
which had dc:fign'd that land to be cult i-
vated by the fons of the holy patriarch Igna
Jius, which was done as follows.
Certain Por/uguefe merchants acquainted
the fuperiors of the fociety of JES us at
Macao, with the great advantages that
might be gain'd, to advance the glory of
Goo in Cochin-China, if there were un-
daunted and zealous labourers fent thither;
and particularly one captain earneftly pref-
fed the father provincial, not to abandon a
kin-dom fo capabl of being infiructed in
the holy faith. The propofal feem'd to the
father very agreeable to the fpirit of our
vocation, and therefore without demurring
upon the execution of it, he made choice
for this enterprize of F. Francis Buzome,
who had been profelfor of divinity at Ma-
cao, by birch a Gmoefe, but educated in
the kinJ?;dom of Naples, where he was aa
mitted mto the fociety, and whence he fet
out for India: together with F. James Ca
ravalho, a Por/uguefe, who from Cochin-
China was to attempt to go over to 'Japan,
as he did. This was he, who being/ut
into a pool of cold water in the dea of
winter, and exs'd to the wind and fnow,
gave up his life for the fake of his Redeem-
er, freezing leifurely to death. F. Cara-
val'ho being one, F. Buzome was lefcalone
in Cochin-China, with only a 1.iy-brother
to .attend him: bein zealoully inflam'd
wid.1 the defire of favmg fouls, he us'd all
pollhble means for their converfion, and to
thi purpofe bean his million at CZ'uron.
But as yet he knew not the language,
nor could he nnd any interpreter that knew
any more Porlugruu than what was requi-
fite for buying and fdJing, and fome words
or 1phrafes, which the interpreters of the
chaplains of fhips, who were there before
the fathers of the fociety, made ufe of to
aOc the Cochin-Cbinefes, Whether they
w1,tild be Chril'ti.,ns? After this manner
 .An Accotmt of Cochin-China.
tlcy h,1d made fomr, but fuch :is might ra
thn be aet:ounted fo by name tha11 by pro
frflion; for they did not fo much :1s under
(! :ind wh,H the n.1me of :i Chri!li.1n meant:
:ind this by re.ifon of the phr:ife the intcr
prctt'rs us'd to ask them, Whether they
would he Chrillians: for the words they
made ulc of, fignify'd nothing more, than
th.It they would become l'ortuguefe; which
J,'. J'r,111tis R11-:.ome founLI out bv this fol
lowing accidi:nt: :i pl.iy was atkl in the
l'ubliLk m.1rket-pbcl', at wl1:d1 the fathl'r
faw one in the h:1bit of .1 Port11g1,.i
brought in by way ofri,li..:ule, with a great
lwlly fo artifici:Llly made, that a boy was
hid in it; the pl.1yer, before the .audience,
turu'd him out of hisbdly, amt ask'd him,
Whether he would go into the belly of the
J1ort11_;:,11tfe? U ling chefc words, Co11 g,i:oo
11111011 b.111 t/0111 laom Iloalaom cbiam? That
is, Lillie /1oy, wil/ you go i11!0 !be belly of 1be
Portuguclc, or not? The boy anfw1r'd,
Ile would: anti then he put him in ag.ain,
often rcpe.iting the fame thing to divert
the fpccl.itors. The father obfcrving, th.at
the phratc the 1l.1ycr fo often repeated,
J.
}.!11011 bi1u tlom ,iom Ilo,1/i1om cbiam, was
the fame the interpreters us\l, when they
afk'd any one, \Vhether he would be a
Chrillian? Prefently conceiv'd the rni!lake
the CocL1i1-Cl.miefas were umlcr; who
thought, that to become a Chrillian w.1s
only to cc.1fc being a Cochi11-Cbi1uft, and
become a J>or/11$/"'fi' ; which to make fport
w;is cxprcfs\l m the play, by m;1king the
boy go into the belly of him th;1t acted
the Portu,{liefc. The father took care, that
fo pernicious :in error f11ould fpr1ad no
farther, teaching thofc already baptis'd
their duty, anti inllruccing thofe that were
nc,, ly convcrtctl, what it was to be h.1p
tis\l :1n<l become :i Chrifiian, t.tking parti
cular care that the interpreters ihould be
well inform\! in this particul.ir, that they
might afterwards fcrvc f.iithfully in teach
ing of others; changing the abovemen
cion\1 phrafi: into chis, Muo11 bau rlau cbri
fli,1111 cbiam? That is, fPi/1 )'OU en/tr i11to
tbe cbrijli,m /(lw, or 110? His great diligence
and charity was fo fuccefsful, that within a
few d;1ys he began to reap the fruit of his
labours, as well by the reformation of thofe
who before were Chri!lians only in name,
as the c.:onverfion of many more. Nor was
the fame of his charity and zeal for the
gaining of fouls confin'tl to Turon, his ufual
place of rdidcnce, but fpread abroad into
other pl.ices ; he labouring in all pl.lees to
inftruct, convert, and difpofo the people
to receive baptifin with Cuch fervour, :'lml
fo great a concourfc :1bout him, that in a
fhort time thofc r.w Chri!li.ins built a vc-
ry l.irge churh at <furon, iu which. the
mofi: holy facnface of the mafa wa publack-
ly celebrated, and the dirillian doctrine Caufe
preaeh'tl .1011 taught, b y mean of the ir1- 1he pe
terpreters, then well inflructcd; ;,)) pcr- c:11lion
fons being very much tak1n. witl F.. Fra11-
cis B1rzom(: who betides has being a per-
fon of great knowledge and virtue, entire-
ly gain'J the alfc:ctions of thole heathens,
by his great meeknefs and alf.ibility, info-
much that thry all flock'd after him.
This p.ircicuiarly happened at Cacchit1m,
the,city where the kmg rcfides, fix or fc-
ven le:igues from '111ro11, up the river.
Herc F. Buzome mJde fo great an iar.
preffion, chat a place was prclcntly allot
ted him for a church, which was built in ,\
very f11orc time, every body contributing
to the expence, and to the work, accord
ing to their power. Betides, he had a
good houfc aflign'd him, fit for to m:ike a
rcficlence of fathers, who were to go thither
in time to inftruct that people in matters of
faith: all which was done with the affifiancc
of a moft noble lady, who was converted,
and in baptifm took the name of Joam1a.
She not only undertook the foundati.m of
chc houfc .111d church, but erected fever.ii The I
altars and places of prayer in her own houfc, 1hrr,
never ceafing to blcfs and pr.iifc Go D for nilll'd
the mercy fltewn her, in enlightening and
drawing her to the faith. All this his di
vine 1mjelly brought to pafs in tl!e fpace of
a year, through the means of lus fcrvanc,
F. Francis Buzome ; whofe fame being
fpread as far as Macao, the following year
our father provincial thought fit to frnd
him another f1thcr, th.it was younger,
with a J.iponefe brother, that learning the
language, he mightafterw:irds preach with
out !landing in need of :in interpreter.
This was F. Francis de Pina, a Portuguefe,
who had lcarn'd divinity under F. Francis
Buzome. Ami tho' this fccond year the
increafe was not anfwcrable to that of the
firft, as to the con1erfion of fouls, yet the
advantage was much greater in the fulfer
ings of a cruel perfecution, rais'd by the
enemy that fow'd the tares, who could not
endure to fee the divine feed grow up fo
profperoufl y in thofc -irts, and endeavour'd
to choke it ; as fhalrbe fhewn in the next
chapter.
 .An Account of Cochin-China.

CH AP. 11.
Of the Perfec11tion the New Church o{Cochin-China mdur'd, at its}i,jl Inflitu
tirm: and how I was Jent thither to he ajjijling to it, by my Supmors.
HE perfecution again!l: the fathers of the harbour, becaufe at that time a fort
T
took its beginning from an accident at of contrary winds, which ufually hold three
firlt fight ridiculous, and of no moment, or lour months, had begun to blow, which
which afterw,trds gave them much caufe to by the Portuguefes arc call'd Moncao, or
lament. That year there happened an uni general winds . The Cocbin-Cbillefts obferv-
verfal barrennefs throughout the whole ing it, would not allow them to rcrnrn into
kingdom, for want of the ufual inundation the city, but oblig'd them to remain upon
in autumn ; which, as was faid in the firft the fhore depriv'd of all human comfort,
part, is fo necelfary for bringing up the and expos'd to the burning heat of the fun,
rice, the chief fupport of life in that coun which in thofc pares is very violent. It
try. Hereupon their priclls, whom they was a grrat fatisfaftion to them in the midft
call 0111f11ii.<, hekl a great council, to find of their fulfcrings, to fee the conll:ancy of
out tile caufc why their idols were fo ,tn fome of thofc new Chriftians, who never
g1y with all their kingdom, that feeing the forfook their mall:ers, fol lowing, accom
people lbrve to de;uh about till' fidds, yet panying, :md relieving them the bell: they
they were not the leaft mov'd ro compaf could, becoming voluntary companions in
fion for fo great a calamity. le w:ts there their futfi:rings. F. Buzome had here a
unanimoufly areed, that there was nothing new trial of his virtue; for the uneafinefs of
new in the kmgtlom, fo oppolite to the this uncomfortable life, in a few days,
wor01ip of the idols, as the admitting of caus'd an impoflhume to break out in his
11:rangers freely to preach up a l.1w there, breall:, from which abundance of corrup-
that utterly contra,lifted the honour iven tion ran, and w.1s :\ mighty weakening to
to thofc Idols ; aml that they being JulUy him.
provok'd at it, reveng'd themfclves by de The infernal fiend, not fatisfied to have
nying them their defircd rain. brought the preachers of the gofpel to this
Thi being agreed on as a moll: undoubt- mifcrable. cond!tion,. made yet farther cf-
ed truth, according to their ignorance, they forts to d1fcrcd1t their doftrme, and catho-
prefr:r.tly wmt in a tumulrnous manner to lick religion, making ufe to this putpofe of
the king, :md prcfs that the preachers of one of thofc omfaiis, who living a folimry
the new law may be bani01'J all the king life, was therefore in great reputation of
dom, that being the only means to appeafo fanftity. This man coming one day from
the wrath of their golls. The wife king his hermitage, publickly boall:ed, That by
laugh\! at their pro c :tt:, knowing it to be his prayers he would caufc the idols imme-
,
a foolifh notion oft 1ofe pricfls, and made diately to fend rain : and without more to
little account of it, having a gre:it ell:eem do, went away follow'd by an innumera-
for the fathers, and a kinJnefs for the Por ble multitude to the top of a mountain,
tuguife. Yet this favour of the king avail'd where he began to call upon his devils, and
them but little to oppofc the fory of the 11:riking the earth three times with his foot,
minill:ers of Satan ; for they fo fl:1rr'd up the fky was prefently clouded, and there
the ptuple to prefs that the preachers of fell a fhower of rain; \\thich tho' not fuffi
the gofpel might be expell'd the kingdom, cicnt tofupply the want, yet was enough to
that the king, not able to refill without give a reputation to that minill:er of hell,
danger of a mutiny, fent for the fathers, and to difcredit our holy faith, every one
and with much concern toltl them, He was faying, They had not yet feen the foreign
fenfible of the folly of the people, anJ ig priell:s obtain fo much by their prayers of
norance of the priells; but that it w.1s not the great Goo, whofe fervants they pro
prudence to withfland a. multitude, fo ea fcfa'd themfclves. This :tccident troubled
gerly bent upon fuch an affair as that was, the fathers more than the mifery they liv'd
which was deligncd for the removing fo in : but Providence comforted them by the
gem,ral a calamity; and therefore they means ofthdady 7aanna above-mention'd.
mull depart his kingdom as foon as poffi She, as it were, with a prophetick fpirit,
ble. The fathers having heard thefe words bid them not be concern'l\ at any thing
with tears in their eye&, feeing themfelves that had happened; for in a little time Goo
oblig'd to forfakc thofc new and tender would make the hypocrify of that omji,ii,
plants of Chrillianity, yet ever fubmitting and the vanity of his idols, known to all
to the will of Goo, went away to embark; men, by dclhoying the reputation he had
but being got aboard, in obedier. .:e to the gain'd till then ; all which was verified to
king's command, they could never gee out a tittle foon after. For the fame of his
 An Accrmnt of Cochin-China;
fancl:ity being fpread abroad upon account
of r.he rain, and comin to the king's car,
he prefencly fent for ham, and gave him
an apartment in the palace. There he fell
in love with one of the king's concubines,
and found no difficulty to compafs his de
fign; but the matter being known, tho' in
Cochi11-China this be ccounted a moft hei
nous crime, and it be death to have to do
with a woman the king has once touch'd ;
yet they could not proceed to execution a
gainft him, as being a perfon facred among
them, but according to the form appointed
by their laws. The king therefore gave
the fentence, Thal. the omfaii fhould va
nifh; but that he fhould neither go call,
well, north, nor fouth, nor through any
part whatfoever of his kingdom. This de
cree being publifh'd, was immediately ex
ecuted in fuch manner, that the omfaii va
nifh'd with great lhame, and was never
more feen in the kingdom, nor out of it.
But the devil being enraged, vented his
fory :igainfi Goo's fervants, ftirring up the
people to fire the church in Turon, to the
grief C'f the fathers, who t !held all from
the lhore without hopes of redrefs.
1n the mean while the news of the fa
thers misfortune was fpread all about the
neighbouring countries, and even as far as
Macao, which was a great trouble to the
fathers of that college, v,ho pitying their
brethren, refolv'd to fend them fame relief
by a Po1/ugueft veffel that was ready to fail
to Cochin-China ; and the fathers judg'd the
bu finefs might fucceed the better, if two
fathers going in it, one had the name of
chaplain of the n1ip, to return in it ; and
that the Cocbin-Cbinefas might have no caufe
to complain, or be incens'd, he that re
main'd was to go difguis'd: F. Peter Mar
ques, a Portugufo, W3S appointed chaplain;
f
and I had the good fortune to be his com-
anion, ob.:dience fo ordering it : for tho'
had been deftin'd for China by our father
general, I freely and affecl:ionately embra
ced the opportunity of dedicating my felf
to Goo in the miffion of Cochin-China, and
for the comfort of thofe affiicl:ed fathers,
feeing my fclf quite fhut out of ChiNa, by
rcafon of the pcrfecution uis'd there. I
fet out from Macao in the habit of a ilnve,
and foon arrived in Cocbi.'1-China U'>on my
birth day, which was very near opcing the
way for me to a bldfed life; but it P,leas'd
Providence to order matters otherw1fe, ei
ther becaufe my fins made me unworthy of
Cuch a mercy, or for other caufes only
known to Goo : as the veffel was entring
the harbour, upon which there were abun
dance of the country people, there hap
pened, I know not how, a quarrel between
two Port11guefes, and one of them falling
down for dcad,the other leap'd into the fea to
efcapc the wounded man's friends and com
panions, who would have kill'd him. He
fwain a-while, but being tir'd, drew to,
wards the thip again, to fave himfclf from
finking, and endeavouring to catch hold
could not, bccaufe they were ready above
with half-pikes, javelins, and fwords, to
wound him. I feeing him in that dill:ref
endeavour'd to relieve him; and tho' I
was in a fervile habit, ran amon g them,
and calling out to one, and pulling ano
ther, took Cuch pains that I appeas'd them.
The Cocbin-Cbi11efes who were aboard the
Ship, feeing the Por/11g11efts pacified at t,1e
fight of a nave, began prefently to fufpefi
the matter ; and knowing by experience,
that the Porlugueft1, when in a paffion, are
not fo eafily quell'd, unlefs religious men
interpofe, faid to one another, This man
is certainly no nave, as his habit feems to
fuggeft; and being no merchant, as the
rcit-are, he is certainly one of their religi
ous men, that endeavours, contrary to the
king's command, to be conceal'd in our
country, but we will difcover him to the
king h1mfelf, that he may be punifh'd as he
ierves. Immediately they flock'd ahouc
me, ancl tho' I did not underftand their lan
guage, yet I plainly perceiv'd they had all
a jealoufy of me ; and notwithftanding all
my endeavours not to difcover my felf, I
could not prevent their fending advice to
court. When I had fatisfy'd my felf as to
this point, believing I was certainly a dead
man, I refolv'd to die as what I was: ac
cordingly I put on my habit of the fociety,
a furplice over it, and a fl:ole about my
neck ; and in that habit I began publick
ly to preach the faith of Chrift by means
of the interpreter; then erecl:ing an al car on
the thorc, I faid mafs, and gave the com
r.1 Jnion to the Portuguefes that were prefi:nt,
ftanding ready for whatfoever it lhould
pleafe Goo to appoint: But it pleas'd him
not that I fhould then fhed my blood for
him. Whillt my caufe was in hand, it
rain'd fo abundantly d:ty and night, with
out ever ceafing, that every man apply'd
himfelf to tilling of the ground, and Cow
ing of rice, and perhaps reflecl:ing that they
had obtain'd that at my arrival, which they
had fo long wifh'd for, looking upon it as
a good omen ; and concluding it was not
the fault of the fathers that they had want
ed rain, they repented them of all they
had done againft us, and never gave us any
farther trouble, but fuffer'd us to live free
ly throughout the kingdom.
Matters being thus pacified, I refolved
to o look out F. Buzome, and his com-
pa111on, fince I was gone thither to th r
end ; and whil!t I was endeavouring to hear
Come news of him, the report of my arri-
val being fpread about the city, that ladt
 .Au ./1.ccoutll .of Cochin.China.
".Joanna a, '11entioned found me out. Jo, as fuperior, and to ferve the Japo11efas;

r
By her I un ':ltvld that F. Francis d, Pina, .keeping F. Francis dt Pina for his compa-
w1ch the 'jaf>o11c, brother, had been pri nion : and I returned to 'l'uron, chere to
vately conve, r 7po11,fo Chrifbans fervc the Port:,f!lefts, co fay mats, pre-ach
to the city Faijo, al people c.crtainly .con to them, and hear their confeffions, and
cluding that the fathers were then got learning at the fame time the language of
out of the kingdom. Upon this informa CBCbill-China, endeavoured, with the affif.
tion, F. Ptt1r Marfuts, who knew the tancc of the interpreters, to pt:rfuade fume
language of ".Japan very well, would have of thofe 'heathens to be baptized; and
us go to Faifo, where we found F. Francis above all, to encourage and confirm chofu
dt Pina, who was there hid, but ver:, well that were already baptized. Soon at:cr my
ufed by thofe good Japonef, Chriftians, to firft coming, their happened a mean ac-
whom he privately adminiftred the facra cident worch, to be known : I was railed
menn. We received incredible jay in to make a d)';ng infant a Chriftian i I did
mt.eting: for bcfides the general charit)' fo, and foot, after ic gave up the gholl:. I
of religion, we had been companions, and was concerned, not knowing where to bu-
great friends, in the college of Macao; and ry it, which made me think of fixing a
the kindnefs of the ".faponefts was extraor burying-place for all the Chrifti.ms chat
dinary, for they treated us during a fort fhould die for tht future. To this purpofe
night very fplendidly, with great demon. I ordered a maft of a 1hip that was call:
ftrations of affecHon and joy. by, to be taken, and a ftately crofs to be
Here I alfo underftood how, throurrh made of it : which done, I invited all the
Goo's fpecial providence, F. Buzomt \;, Portuguefts, and failors, to help to carry it
alfo fafe in the kingdom, as if GoD had to the appointed place, I attendmp.; with my
particularly defended him for the good of furplico and ftole. Whilft th,. hole was
that miffion, where whiln he was upon the digging to ere& the holy crofs, a compa-
fl:rand amidft fo many afflictions, and with ny of armed men came out from the
that impoftumc in his brcaft, the govc1110r neighbourhood, who wich their mufkets
of Pul11cambi came to 'l'uron, who feeing thrcamed to kill me ; which I p!rceiving,
that man fo ill ufed, that he looked like a caus'd the interpreter to endeavour to know
walking ghoft, being moved to compaffi of them, what it was they would be at ?
on afked who he was, and what misfor And was told, they would not ha\ e tha::
tune had brought him to that mifcrable crofs erected there, b001ufe they feared the
condition. He was told all that had hap dC\ils would infeft their houfes. I anf wer'd,
pened ; and that the want of rain being It would be quite contrary ; becaufe the
laid to his and his C<'mpanion's charge, he crofs had fuch a virtue, that it put the
had been bani1hed by the king's order. devil to flight. With this they were fo
The governor was not a little mazed, and well pleafed, that laying down their arms,
laughed to think that this 1hould be at they all ran to help: and thus the crofs
tributed to a poor religious man, which was fet up to the general fatisfacHon of all
could no way depend of him ; therefore parties, and the burial-place fixed. Soon
he ordered him to be taken from that o\lCn after the governor of Pulucambi came rhi
1hore, and carry'd into one of his galhes, ther, and brought F. Buzomt with him ;
in which he l.arry'd him to his province, and we met all four fathers of the fociety,
entertained him in his own houfe, had him to our unfpcakable joy at Falfo, together
looked after by the moft fkilful phyficians wich two lay-brothers, one a Portugueft,
in th1t city, and made his own cliildren at and the other a Japoneft_. After a chari-
tend him during a whole year ; for fo long table reception, we confulted togerher a-
his fickncfs laftcd : all men admiring that bout the moft proper means of promoting
a heathen 1hould behave himfelf fo chari that miffion. It \',--:\S unanimou{ly agreed,
tably towal'ds a fhanger utterly unknown that F. Ptttr Marques 1hould ftay at Faljo
to him only out of mere natural cornpaf. wich the Japontfe brother, bec:tufe he was
fion. a good preacher , and the other three,
Thus we were four priefis of the fociety wich the Portuguefe brother, 1hould follow
in Cochin-China: F. Buzome, at Pulucambi, the governor of Pulucambi, who earneftly
one hundred fifcy miles from the port of defired it ; which was accordingly don,
'Iuron ; F. Ptttr Marquu remained at Pal- as 1hall be here relaced.
 Account of Cochin-China.
CHAP. V.
tfhe Gqver11or of i>u1ucambi introduces tht F11thtr1 of t& SocitfJ ,'nto hi, Prwinc,.
/Jui/ding thtm a Hou.ft and Church.
f Francis Bt1%1Jmt, F. Francis d, Pina,
and I, fee out from Fai/ri, for Pulu
eambi, with the governor of tl1at province;
who all the way treated us wich mexprcf
fiblc: courtefie and kindnefs, alway! lodg
ing us near himfclf, and behaving himfclf
in Cuch manner, that there being no hu
man motives to incline him fo co do, it
plainly appeared to be the work of Pro
vidence:,
He appointed a galley only to carry us
and our interpreters, not fuffering fo much
as our baggagr to be pu aboard !t, but
ordered another boat for 1t. In this eafic:
manner we travelled twelve large days
journey, putting into a port mornmg and
evening, and all the JX>rtll beins near
great towns or cities of the province of
11nghia, in which province the: governor
had as much power as in his own at Pulu
tambi; all people ran to pay their rc:fpefu
and acknowledgments, bringing him rich
prc:fcnts, the firfi of which always fell to
our fharc, he himfclf fo ordering it, every
one admiring to fee us fo honoured; which
gained us much efteem and reputation a
mong thofe people:, that being th: defign
of the governor: and this was much for
warded by the great account he made of
our intcrceffion, when any criminal was to
be punilhed: for we no Cooner opened our
mouths, but we obtained all we defired ;
Ly which means we not only gained the
reputation of being great with the: gover
nor, but of having compaffion and kind
ncfs for thofe people, who therefore loved
and refpetted us. Beficlcs, during the whole
voyage, he treated us as if we had been
fame: great lords, contriving fports and
paftimes in all pares, caufing the gallies
fometimes to reprefent a fea-fight, fame
times to row for rewards. Nor did there
a dar. pafs but he came aboard our galley
to v1ut us, feemin much pleafc:d with our
converfation, efpcc1ally when we difcourfcd
of religion and our holy faith. In this
manner we came to the province of Pt1lu
,ambi, thro' which we had ftill fame days
journey to make, before we arrived at the
governor's pal.ice, who for our greater
llivcrfion would have us travel by land. To
this purpofo he ordered feven elephants to
be provided; and the more to honour us,
would have one for each, caufing an hun
dred men, fome on horfcback, and fame
a foot, to.ttend us: .ind thejourney being
for recreation, we fpcnt eight days in it,
being royally entemined wherefoevcr we
came; but particularly in the -'luf of a
filler of his, we had a moft fplendid enter
tainment, not only for the variety and
number of difhes, but much more for the
rarity of the drcfiing, all things being dref
fcd after the Europ,an manner, tho' neither
the: governor, nor any of the family wc:rc
to talle of them.
Being at length come to the governor,
palace, all the entertainments arid dainties
of the journey concluded in Cuch a reccpti
on as he ufed to make for kings and great
princes, treating us for eight days together
m moft fplendid manner, making us fit in
his royal throne, and eating with us him-
fclf in publkk, with his wife and children,
to the reat aftonilhment of all that city,
where it was unanimoufly affirmed, fuch a
receJ>tion had never been fccn, unlc:Js it were
for Come royal perfon : and this was the
caufeofthe reportgenerallyfprc:adthrough-
out the kingc1om, that we were a king's
fons, and were come thither about matter
of great concern ; which bcin(?i known b7
the governor, he was mightily plcafed ,
and before the chiefeft men of die court
he publickly faid, It is 'Very true, tl,al 11#
fathmwm the fans of a king, far they wtr
aniels, come thither, 1101 for any walll or
nmjfity of their own, kinf, provitl1d wilb all
things in their own tounlrm, bt1t 111/y 0111 tf
p11rt zeal lo Jave their fouls: And therefore
he advifed them, to give ear lo the fathers,
and obftrve the law they wo11ld pmub lo them,
learn the dotlrine they tat1gh1, and reiw Jhl
faith they delivered: for (faid he) 1 havt ofw,
di[cou,fed and eonwrfed with theft men, and
plainly perceive by the doElrine they teach, that
there is 110 true i'aw br,t theirs, nor 110 ,zuay bul
that they }hew, whitb leads to eternal falva-
lion. But ta/re heed what yo11 do ; for 1m-
lefi you learn that tr11e dotlrine, which 1,
your chief, bring lo you b1 111eans of theft fa-
thers, your neglect and 111.fidelity wi/J be pu-
nijhed 1ternally in he/J, Thus f poke that
lord, becoming a preacher of the ofpel,
tho' himfelf a heathen ; all men being the
more amazed and afl.onilhed at it, becaufo
of the great conceit they had of his wif-
dom.
After the firft eight days, we gave him
to underftand, that we would rather go
live in the city, the better to promote the
preaching of the gofpel, which we could
not fo well attend in the palace, becaufc it
was three miles from the city, in an open
field, according to the cuftom of the coun-
try. The governor would not h)lve parted
 .An Account of Cochin-China.
with us, becaufc of the great affcaion he
h.,d for us, but preferring the publick good
before his own fatisfa6Hon, he immcdiatc
I:r ordered there fhouJd be a very convc
D1cnt houfc provided in the city Nuomna11:
and moreover told us, we might fee :.bovc
a hundred houfcs that were about his pa
lace, and take our choice of the conveni
enccft of them, to make a church of it 1
and acquainting him with it, he would pro
vide aJI that was ncceffary. We returned
him thanks for fo many favours bcftowcd
on us during our journey, and thofc we
fiill received. Having taking our leaves
for the prefcnt, we mounted the elephants
again, and with a great attendance went
away to the city Nuo"ma11, which extends
it (elf five miles in length, and half a mile
in breadth, where we were by the gover
nor's order 1eccivcd with extraordinary ho
nour. He not being able to endure to be
fo far from u,, came the next day to vifit
us, to know whether the houfc we had
given ua was conver,ient; and told us, he
knew that we being ilrangers, could not
have money and other ncceffarics,but that he
took upon him to provide every thing I and
immediately ordered a good fum to be paid
us monthly, and every day ftclh, fifh, and
rice to be fcnt in for us, our interpreters,
and all the fervants of the houfc: and not
fo fatisfieJ, he frequently fent us fo many
prcfcnts, that they alone were: fufficicnt to
furnilh us plentifolly with all things. The
more to honour and ,redit us among all
men, he one day gave publick audience in
the court of our houfe, in the manner as
we faid above was pratl:ifcd in Coebi11-Cbina.
Herc feveral cri:ninals were tryed, every
one receiving fentencc ac 'lrding to his
crime; among the rcft, two were con
demned to be fhot to death with arrows,
and whilft they were bound we undertook
to beg their pardon; which was immedi
ately granted, and he ordered them to
be difcharged, publickly protefting, he
would not have done it at the requcft of
any other, but to thefc holy men, who
teach the true way for the falvation of fouls,
(faid he) I can deny nothing ; and I am
my felf impatient to be rid of thofe impe
diments that obftrutl: my being baptized,
and receiving their holy faith ; which is
what you all ought to do, if you defire to
oblige me.
Then turning to us, he again defircd we
would apF.int the place for the church,
that he might give orders for its fpeedy
fitting up. We fhew'd him a place that
fccm'd convenient enough, and he approv
ing of it, went away to his palace. Be
fore three days were over, news was brought
us, that the church was coming: we went
out with great joy, and no lcfs curiofity,
to fee how a church fhoukl come, which
tho' we knew was to be made of timber,
as had been agreed, yet it could not choofe
but be a great pile, according to the fpacc
it mull: fill, ftanding upou great pillars.
On a fuddcn, in the field, we fpied above
a thoufand men, all loaded with materials
for this fabrick. Every pillar was carried by
thirty lufty men; others carried rhc beams,
others the planks, others the capitals, o
thers the b.1fc:s; fomc one thing, fomc an-
other, and fo all of them went in order to
our houfe, filling all the court, which was
very large, to our unfpcakablc joy and fa.
tiafatl:ion. One only thing difplcafed us,
that we had not provifions enough in the
houfe, to give fo great a multitude a fmall
entertainment; for tho' they were paid. by
the governor, yet it looked like ill-breed-
ing to fend them away without fomc re
frcfhment: but we were foon eafcd of chis
trouble ; fteing every one fit down upon
the piece he brought, being obliged to keep
and deliver it, and take out of his wallet,
his pot with fldh, fifl1, and rice, and light-
in a fire, fall to cooking very quietly,
without afking any thing. When they
had eaten, the arch1tccl: came, and taking
out a line, viewd the ground, mark'd out
the difl:anccs, and calling thofo that car-
ried the pillars, fixed them in their places;
this done, he called for the other parts,
one after another, that every man might
give an account of what he brought, and
o his way : and thus all things proceed.
mg very regularly, and every man labour-
ing his beft, all that great pile was fet up
in one day; yet eiLher through over-much
haftc, or the negligence of the architecl:, it
proved fomewhat awry, and leaning to one
fide; which being made known to the go-
vernor, he prcfcntly commanded the ar-
chitetl:, u ron p;1in of cutting off his kgs,
to call al the workmen he had need of,
and mend it. The architetl: obey'd, and
taking the church to pieces with a like
number of workmen, rebuilt it in a very
lhort time very compleatly. And we blef-
fed Goo, for that a time when Chrifti-
ans were fo lukewarm, it had plcafed
him to fiir up a heathen fo Zt'aloufiy to
build a church, in honour of his Divine
Majcfty.
And to fhew how affecl:ionatcly the o
vernor looked to our affairs, I will g1v
one particular inftance , and fo end this
chapter. In the months of June, July,
and A,gufl, the fouth-weft winds generally
reign in Coebin-Cbina, which caufes fuch
an extraordinary heat, chat the houfes arc
perfetl:ly parch'd and dried up; and being
all of wood, the leaft fpark of fire, that
through negligence or other accident
falls upon them, immediately takes, as it
 An .Account of Cochio-Cbini
would do in tinder and therefore during
thofe months, there are generally great
fires throughout the kingdom for when it
has taken hold of one houfc, the flame
foon catches hold of thofe that lie the way
the wind blows, nnd miferably confumc:1
them. To deliver us from this danf!;er,
our houfe being in the middle of the city,
and to make it farther appear what efteem
the governor made of us, he put out an
cdia, commanding, that the top..s of all
the howea that 1111. fouth-weft of us, fhould
be taken off' 1 and there were fo many of
them that they extended at leaft two
mike I which he did to the end, that if
any of chem took fire, it might be the
eafier co prevent its paffing forw,mJ to ours:
and this waa readily performed by them alJ
by reafun of the great rcfpcct they bore
us.

CHAP. IV.
Of the GrYtJernor of Pulucambi's Dtatb.

O UR if irs ,i ,.,;ced very profpc by the violence of the diftcmper, he died

roull_, :., ,:.;,. ,,ty, and it was now without baptifm.
the time, Y..t;. .... , 11:-. ,e Providence was, Anv man may guefs how much we wtrc
according to i; ::. .- ;,;,r'1od, to give us concerned at this accident, feeing ourfelves
a tafte of fuflc1,, , whr.-.. , :ch Goo fre forfaken In a ftrnnge country, and ddli-
quently tries his krvants, .iii ... fo we ever cute of all human help ; but ic chieAy
fee he gives fuch a mixture of profperity grieved us, that a pcrfon fo well difpofcd,
and adverlity, that they neither be depref and through whofe means we had con.
fed by the one, nor euffed up by the o ccived hopes. that the faith might fpread
ther: and as the primitive church was throughout the whole kingdom, thould die
founded by the holy apoftlcs upon thcfe fo in our hands without baptifm. Abun
two pillars of profperity and tribulation, dance of their rites and fupcrfiitious cere-
even fo it pleafed the Almighty, that the m onies were performed at this governor's
new church of Cochin-China fhould be efta death, at which we were prefent tilJ the
blifhed by his apoftolical mini!ters. The Jaft, It would be endlcfs to relate them
firft beginnings of this mifHon were very all and therefore I will fet down two or
fuccefsful , as ha3 been fren in the firft th;ce, by which the others ufed by thofe
chapter of this fecond pr; but very foon gentil es upon fuch occafions may be gucf,
after enfued that terribl pl!rfecucion for fed at, Firfi 1 whilft he lay in his agony.
w:int of rain, which had like to have ru there was a multitude of armed men, who
ined all. Afterwards, with the favour of did not ccafe to cut and make thrufts in
the governor of P11/ucambi, the ftorms the air with their fcimitars, caft darts and
feemed to be blown off, and the budding fire mulkcts in the rooms of the palace 1
vine fee med to promife abundance of fruit: but JY.l'.rticularly two, that ftood on each
but it pleafed him that dif pofes of all fide of the dying man, were continually
things, that the governor of Pulucambi's ftriking the air about his mouth with their
death, like a violent north-wind, almoft fcimitars, and both thefc and the others
deftroyed all in the bud. This misfortune being alked , why they did fo, told us,
happcn'd as follows: the governor went they frighted the devils, that they might
out one day a hunting on his elephant, not hurt the governor's foul, as it was
very well pleafed, and the fport drawing c1epartin his body. Thefe fupcrfticious
him on, he made no ref\eclion that he rode ceremonies made us pity their ignorance,
all day over a fcorching plain, where the but not fear any harm to our felves, as
heat pierced his head in fuch manner, that followed when the governor was dead: for
at night he fell into a burning fever; upo n we had much caufe to fear being expelled
not;ce whereof, we hafted to the palace to that province of Pulu,am!Ji, and perhaps
vifit, or rathr to baptize him, if we found all the kingdom, with the lofs of aIJ we
him in imminent danger. He kept us had acquired towards fettling Chriftianity,
with him two days, we ftill preffing him and perhaps worfe. It is the cuftom when
to be baptifed , as he had often faid he any great pcrfon dies, for all the omfaiis,
would s to which he always anfwered, he or priefts of the country, to meet together,
was ordering his affairs for that purpofc, in order to find out not the natural, but
but came to no conclufion. The third the fuperftitious caufe of his death; and
day he loft his fenfes, Goo fo permitting, being agreed upon what it may be, imme.
for caufes only known to himfelf ; and diacely th1t thing to which it is attributed.
perhaps that vain honour he ever patnon is ordered to be burnt, whether it be a
atcly covered, was the reward of the good houfa, garment, man or bcaft. Accord-
cums he did us: in fine, he bcg:,n to rave, ingly all the omfaiis being alfembled in a
and fo continued three days, till overcome great hall, they began to argue this point:
 .An .Account of Cochin-China.
we who were prefenr, remcmbring the
pcrfeution for want of rain, there being
at that time nothing extraordinuy in the
J>rovince, but the governor's kind recep
tion to us, and his affignin a houfe, and
building a church in the city, with fuch
extraordinary tokens of affection for our
holy l.iw; did not at all quefiion, but
that thefe things being reprefentr.d to them,
they would lay the death of that lord to
our charge, and confequencly woulJ order
us all to be burnt alive, together with our
houfe and church, and all' our goods.
Therefore we fl:ood in a corner of the hall,
recommending our felv-:s to G o o, and
preparing our felves for wh,.troever his
Divine Majefiy lhould fuffer to be decreed
againfi us; 'whenf
one of the 0111/aiis, who
was the cldef of them, and as it were
their dean, ftanding up, faid with a loud
voice, that, in his opinion, the only caufe
of the governor's death, was the falling
of a beam fome days fincc in the new pa
lace; and he was the more apt to believl!
it, becaufe all the diftemper was in his
head, as appeared by his raving; an evi
dent fign, as he faid, of the firoke he had
received in his head by the aforefaid beam :
all which he meant metaphorically, and in
a fupcrfiitious fenfe, and therefore it pleaf.
cd the other omfaiis, who all unanimoufly
agreed in the fame fentiment: and fo riling
without more to do, they went and fee
fire to that palace, which was all reduced
to alhes, whilft we gave thanks co Goo
for having efcapcd fo manifc::ft a danger.
This done, fomc other omfaiis, who pro
fcfs necromancy, came to the goveor's
palace, to perform another foperfhuous
ceremony, according to the cutlom of the
country. The kindred of the party de
ceafeJ looking upon it as a great bleffing,
that any body infpired by an evil fpirit,
fhould fpeak concering the fbte of the
foul dcp,trted; and to this purpofe thofe
wiz:ml om(aiis were called, of whom they
all earnefily beg that devililh favour, he
that obtains it being much envyed by the
rett Thcfe conjurers made their circles,
and ufed feveral charms both in words and
actions, that the devil might enter into
fome one of the governor's kindred, who
werl! there in a fuppli.mt pofiure, but all
in vain. At )all: a f1ll:er ofrhe governor's.
for whom he had an cxtrt,ordinary kind
nefs, came in, and begging the fame fa
vour, immediately gave manifoft figns
that fhe was poff'efi: for being dccrepid,
by reafon of her great age, and not able
to go alone, fhc began, to the afl:onifh
ment of the fpectators, to fkip as nimbly
as if fhe had been a young girl, and the
ftick fhe threw from her hung in the air,
all the while the devil was in her
during which time talking in a raving
manner, and doing many diforderly actions,
fhe uttered fcveral cxtravagancies about
the ftatc and place her brother's foul was
in l and concluding her mad difcourfc. the
devil leaving her, fhe fell down as if the
had been dead, remaining fo fpcnt for the
fpacc of eight days, that (he cou!ll not ftir
for meer weaknefs, all the kindred and
friends flocking to vifit her, and congra-
tulate her happ;nefs, in that fhe had been
chofcn among all the relations for an ac-
tion (as they thought it) fa glorious and ho
nourable for the dead man.
At length they began to order the fu-
neral of this lord , and as in the catholick
church it is the cufiom to honour the me-
mory of men renowned for fancl:ity of life,
by a folemn canonization ; fo in Cocbi11-
Chi11a, the devil always mimicking holy
things, the more to delude the people, it
is ,.,,.ttomarv t;; honr. the death of thofo
who have ben univ, dly uted jutl men,
and upright in thrit .. cti,} ,, and adorned
with moral virtl' . wit: ,,;"at folemnitx
and magnificen L', . ,non;;.ir,g them , 1f
we may focal' . a! "r their manner, by
cternizmg then mt 1:,ry, and giving them
immortal venc:atio1. Fo1 this reafon, the
governor of r lucambi, who by all men,
not only in h , ..." i,rovince, but through-
out all the ki,.6dc,.n was, for his extraor-
dinary natural parts, reputed a man of
great wiliJom, and incomparable prudence,
his government being adorned with fmgu-
lar jull:ice and integrity, together with an
unufual inclination and affecl.ion for all
needy perfons, was jud0ed not to require
a doleiul fad funeral pomp, as was due to
others; but on the contrary, all demon ..
fl:racions of joy and grandeur, which might
declare him worthy of religious honours,
and to be added to the number of their
gods. This being decreed, they all en
de:ivoured to lay afidc their mourning and
farrow, and to exprefs all pleafure and
fatisfaction; and to this purpofe all the go
vernor's kindred, for the fpace of eight
days, fumptuoufly treated all the people,
durin which time, they did nothing from
morning till night, but eat and drink, fing,
dance, and play upon mufical and warlike
inll:ruments.
After the eight days, the body was car-
ry'd in a filver coffin gilt, under a canopy,
to the city where he was born, called Chi-
fu, three days journey difiant, attended by
a multitude of all forts of people, dancing
and rejoicing, leaving the palace where he di-
ed utterly difinhabited, that it might run to
ruin, and no fign ofit remaining; fo the me-
mory of the governor's death might be loft
in perpetual oblivion, he fl:ill remaining alive
with perpetual praife and veneration in the
 An .Accoi,nt of Cochin-Cha.
hearts and mouths of all men. Being come
to a fpacious plain without Cbi[u, they all
fell to work upon a palace, twice as mag
nificent and fumptuous as that the gover
nor died in l and to make a greater fhew
of the dead man's wealth, they built as
many gallies as he ufed to keep, upon
wheels, for them to run upon dry land.
In the fame manner they made wooden
elephants and horfes, and all other move
ables ufed when the governor went abroad
when alive, without fparing any coft. In
the midft of the paface they erecl:ed a
Jbtely temple, with a fine altar, on which
they pl.iced the coffin covered, and hid
with fuch curious workmanfhip, that the
hieroglyphicks, carving, and painting,
greatly move thofe gentiles to refpeel:. For
three days continually they performed fc
veral facrifices and ceromonies, by the
minlftry of five or fix hundred omfaiis, all
clad in white, wh'> fpcnt the time in fing
ing and facrificing, offering wine, oxen,
and buffaloes, in great numbers, the pub
lick entertainments continuing thefe three
days, for above :wo thoufand men of note,
every one having his table to himfelf, ac.
cording to cuftom, and each of them co
vered with above two hundred difhes. At
the end, of thefe three days they fet fire to
all that pile, burning the palace and tem
ple, with all the perfumes and furniture,
only faving the coffin with the body, which
was afterwards buried, and privately re
moved to twelve feveral graves, that the
people being always in doubt where it had
been left, that uncertainty might increafe
the honour of the new idol, they adoring
it in all thofe places where they thought
the bones might be. Thus the folemnity
ended for that time, till fome months af
ter, that is, in the feventh moon, accord
ing to their computation of time, it was re.
peaced in the fame manner as it had been
performed at firft; a few months after it
was done a third time, and fo from time to
time for three years, all the revenues af.
figned the governor of that province by
the king, being fpent upon this folemnity
for thofe three years, and therefore no
other governor was appointed during that
time, they being perfuaded that the dead
man's foul, which was placed among the
gods, would continue in the government
tor thofe three years. However, his own
fon was appointed his deputy-governor,
or lieutenant.
We three fathers of the fociety then in
that province, Were prefent at moft Of this
folmnity ; d tho' we di_<l not attend t
their fuperftmous ceremonies, yet to a.void
being thought ungrateful and unmannerly,
we were forced to accept of fome invitati-
ons, in one of which we were forewarned
we lhould be afkcd where the governor's
foul was l afi'uring us, that if we fa.id it
was in hell, we fnould prefently be cut to
pieces. We were a. little after publickly
afked the qucfl:ion, and anfwered, That no
man could be faved without baptifm ; but
that through the mercy of Goo, and ear
neft defire to be bartizcd fufficing, whe,
bcuer cannot be; i the governor, at lafl:,
had fuch a defire, as it was likely he had,
becaufe of the aJfca:ion he bore our faith.
as we faid above, and that he would have
afked it, but that the violence of his dif
tempcr hindred, therefore it might be be
lieved he was faved, and not damned.
This anfwer, tho' new and uncxpca:cd,
in fome meafurc fatisfy'd them, in token
whereof they offer'd us"fome whole buffa
loes, fome boiled, fome roafted, which
had been facriticed co their new idol, the
dead governor; but we rc.fufing them,
faying, Our law forbid us to eat of tha
flcfh fo defiled by their facrifice : inftead of
the dead facrificed buffaloes, they ordered
others alive to be given us ; the governor'
kindred afttrwards fending us elephants,
that we might return on them to Pu/11-
rambi, wich as much honour as when c'::
govtrnor was living.
Thefc were the Jafl: favours we received
in virtue of the governor of P11/u,a111bi's
favour ; and therefore returning home,
we were kft like farherlefs chiklren, for-
faken by all the world. Now no body
minded us, the allowance of rice for our
maintenance failed, and we having but
twenty crowns mufl: in a few days have
been reduced ro great mifery and want ;
and if any one fell fick, we durft not call
any body to breath a vein, becaufe we
had not wherewithal to pay for it; and tho'
there were among them people very rea-
dy to fupply the needy, cfp .:ially witb
fuilenance, as was fa.id above, yet it was
not convenient for ua to afk any thing, left
W": fhould lofe all the advantage we made,
as to the converfior. of fouls, becaufc they
would have faid, we went not thither to
preach the law of JBsus CHRIST, but to
fupply our wanes under the protea:ion of
the governor . No body now came co
our houfe, that firft fhew of authoriy
ceafing, and tho' we had learned the lan-
guage of the country, yet they made no
acco.mt of the words of three poor men,
left in che midft of infinite idolaters, and
defpifed our doa:rines, as an invention of
our own, carried thither to oppofc the an-
cient feels and ccnecs.
Three years pafs'd after this manner,
and yet we were not fo m11ch troubled at
our own wants, which Goo knows were
very gr::at, as to fee every day lefs hopes
of promoting the fcrvicc of Goo among
 An Account of Cochin-China:
thofc pagans, having during thofc three
years converted but very few, and that
with unfpcakable labour and toil, Things
being in this pofturc, in fome meafure dcf
pcratc, we being inclinablc to believe the
cimc was not yet come, when it would
J>lcafe Goo to enlighten the darknefs of
thofc people, either bccaufc our fins ob
ftruficd it, or for fome other hidden judg
ments of Goo. Bue when our human
frailty llicwed it fdf moft diffident of di-
vineaffiftance, even then, the more to con.
found us, the Goo of mercy fhcwc:d the
wonderful effccb of h ia di vine omni potency,
that the noble undertaking of convming
fouls might be wholly attributed to him,
we then owning we had no power to pro-
ceed in it, and that we migf1t know expe
rimentally, ch11t ntitbn- h, wlx> walm, nor
h, who plallls, Jm 11y 1bi11t., lut ii is Goo
1h11 gru,s 1/,1 inmaft, as will :ippear in
the foJlowing chapter.

CH AP. V.
H(lU) God 111adt 'IIJIIJ for tht Convtr/ion of the Provi11Ct of Pulucnmbi, !,y mean,
oftht nJkfi Ptrfam in it.
E having nothing to maintain us 11t th, ca_fi,n of 'JlfW comi11g ; I fi't lht holy
W Puhrambi, and converting no body,
difperfed our fclvcs into feveral parts: F.
1111d unblemijhtJ life you 7e.ul, I J11ow )'OU
prtach and ltach tht trut Goo , a11d btbig
Frands dt Pina went to live at Faifd, a fatisfitd that this is moft agmablt to reafon,
'Japom.fe city, as has been faid, with a dc am ptrfuadtd t.l,al thtrt is no trru law but
fign to ferve thoft' ChriCl:ians, whofe pallor 'jOUrs, nor othtr Goo but yours, nor a11y
he had been before, and to live upon their wy lo lift roer/afting, but that you ltru/:J ,
alms. He being wdl fkillcd in the lan and tbmfort my coming lo yuur houfo, is for
guage of Coehin-Cbina , and talking it no othtr i11tml, but tarnefUy lo btg (JI )OIi,
naturally, never ceafc:d there to preach our that bathing me in yo,tr holy wattr, you will
holy faith. F, Fra11,is Buzom4 went away add me lo t/Je ,111mbtr of l'hri.ftians; this is
for Furon, carrying along wirh him the lht 11tmofl of 111y f.f;ij!m and dejires. In the
beft interpreter we had, to endeavour to fir ft place (commended her good and holy
obtain fome alms of the PortMgu,Jts there, refolution, exhorting her to return thanks
that might at leafi: maintain us two in to Goo for fo fignal a mercy bcftowed
Pul:uambi, in our houfe at Nuomnan, till on her, in calling her to the knowledge of
fomc fllpply came from Ma(ao. his holy law, there being nothing in this
Thus was I left in Pulucambi, folitary world to be valued equal to the foul's fal
and difconfolate, without any hopes of the vation. Next I made m y excufe for not
conver!ion of thoft: gentiles. When one complying out of hand with her pious and
day being at home, far from any fuch rcafonable rcqueft; becaufe, altho' I had
thought, I faw a number of elephants be fome knowlc:dge of the Cochi11-Cbintfe lan
fore our door, with many ladies, and a uagc, yet it was not enough to infirua her
large retinue of gentlemc:n, afrer whom in the lofty myftc:ries of our chrifiian re
followed a great lady, and principal m:1- ligion ; and therefore I advifed her excel
tron, moft richly clad, and adorned with lency to wait for F. Buz.omt, who in a few
abundance of rich jewels, according to days was to return from '.furon, having
the country fafhion. I was much furprizcd with him an excellent interpreter, by whole
at the unufual fpt:clncle, and majefty of means fhe would be inftrucl:ed as fhe ought
the lady, and in fufpence, not imagining to be to her own fatisfaaion, and obtain
what might be the defign of the new vi!it. the end of her holy defires. '.fbt great
Going out at ]aft to receive her, I un fire (replied 1he) that inflamts my htart, will
der!1:ood fhe was wife to the cmbaffador 1101 allow of/Mch a long delay ; and tht mort,
the king of Co,hin-China was fending to for that my btifband is hourly i:xpttltd from
the king of Cambogia, which embaff'ador court, with whom I am fao11 lo embar) for
was a native of -N11om11an, " here we lb# kingdom of Cambogia, where lbt da11gtrs
dwdt, and next the governor the chief man of tht }ta bting frttumt, a ftorm may happm
in that city, who was then at the court of lo rift, whm dy in, I may ptrijh [gr {!()er.
Sinud, treating with that king upon the She added, that rt was enough rf I dif
fubjecl: of his embaff'y. After the ufual courfcd of matters divine, as I did of othc:r
ceremonies and compliments, according to things; for fhe fhould underftand all I faid.
the cuftom of the country, the lady be Thcfe vi!iblc tokens of hc:r refolucion ob
ing unwilling to lofe time upon matters liging me to it, I began the beft I could
that were not to her purpofc, Lei us come to inform her in Cevera} matters and prin
(faid fhe) to the b11Jinefs I aim al, I have ciples of our holy faith. Soar, after it
lmn fully informed, fatbtr, of your coming pfeafcd Go o, F. Buzomt returned, and
into tbiJ our ,ountry and pr0'7Jince, a11d of feeing this good fuccefs, gave infinite thanks
 An .Account. of Cochin-China.
to Goo, The lady wasmuch plcafcd with
the arrival of the interpreter, whom !he had
focarnefllyexpct1ed I with whofeaffiflancc,
and her continu.11 application, fiudy, and
attention at catechizing, which was done for
two hours before and two hours after dinner,
in a fortnight's time 1hc became pcrfc in
the chrifli.m dorinc. Above all, what
made the grcatcft impreffion on her heart,
was the knowledge of JEsus CHRIST,
true Goo, made man, and humbled for
the fake of man 1 .md therefore in fome
mcafurc to imic.itc our Saviour's great hu
mility, fhc for the future came to our
houfe, which was a good mile from hers,
not only without the fiate and elephants
file ufed before, but bare-footed, in dirt,
and upon fioncs, obliging her gentlemen
and laaics, by her example, to imitate her
devotion.
In our fpiritual difcourfcs, and cxpolition
upon the catcchifm, when we came co make
mention of hell, defcribc its torments, rc-
prcfcnt the grcatncfs, eternity, and variety
of torments there fuffercd, the horrible com
panr of devil!, the darkncfs of chofc infer
nal dungeons, and uninhabitable dens ; and
hilly, the torture of fire: both fhc and
her ladies were fo terrified, that having
by themtelves, all night, conlidered upon
what they had heard, they came again the
next day to tell us, they would all be Chri
ftians, co nvoid that cvcrlafiing mifery :
But we telling them it was impoffible, they
being fervants, and confcqucntly concubines
to the embafTador, according to the cuf
tom of the country, as has been mentioned
in the firft treatife, the cmbaffador's lady
anf wered, 'J'bat impediment don not co11urn
me. it iJ fa, faid we, for your exallmcy iJ
your bujhand'J 011/y tvife, and baJ 1101 to do
with other men, and therefore may fruly be
baptized. At thefc words, lifting up her
hands to heaven, 1he gave fuch tokens of
joy, as if 1he had been befidcs her felf,
tho' fhc had never been truly fo much
her felf, as when fhe fhcwed fuch figns of
joy, for chat which ought co be the only
caufe of all our fatisfaclion. Her women
on the other fide, feeing thcmfelvcs ex
cluded the way of falvation, cried out aloud,
they would forbear being the embaffador's
concubines, fince it obftruacd their bap
tifm, and was che way to damnation. The
lady feconded their good purpofes, taking
upon her to deliver them from that fin,
and get every one of them a hufband.
All lets and impediments being removed
b f thefe promifcs of the lady, and firm
purpofes of the women, one day, which
was the joyfullcft I ever faw in my life,
the embafiador's lady richly apparelled,
and drcffed with jewels, and nobly attend
ed to our church by gentlemen, was bp-
tlzcd, wlrh twenty five of her women,
nnd ns chief of them called Ur/it/a, to the
glory of Juus CHlllST, who by menn1
of thcfc few women, opened a way to the
convcrlions made by our miffion in Co,bln
Cbina.
After they were baptized, we went In
proceffion to the palace of the embaffiidor's
lady Urfola, where there was an oratory,
in which 1he ufcd before ro perform her
fupernitious devotion to an idol. When
we came in, we firfl fprinklcd the houfc
with holy water, and then the lady, and her
women, couragiouny bid hold of thl! idol,
and throwing it violently againft the sround,
beat it to peiccs, trampling on it; in
whofc rlacc we fct up a fine 11ic\urc of
our S.1v1our, which thole new devout Chd-
fiians falling down, devoutly worlhippeJ,
owning themfclves his moll humble and
devout naves. Then we put about their
necks fomc .Ag1111J Dei's, croffl's, mclals,
and relicks , Y<hich they valued above
the gold chains, and llrings of pearls they
were adorned with. lfaving obtained chis
viaory over the devil, after faying the li-
tany, and other prayers in the oratory,
now bldTcd, F. Buz.ome, and I, returned
home with that fatisfatlion and thankfgiv-
ing thlt every man may imagine. The
embaffador's lady, and her women, came
after this, every day duly to mafs, cate-
chize, and ocher fp1ricual exercifcs, with
great tokens of fervour, and chriftian pi-
ety.
At this time the embaff.ulor, hufband
to the /ady Urjitla,. came from . court, to
depart m a 1hort ume upon fus embaffy
to the king of Cambogia. It is the cuflom
of that councry, when rhe head of the family
comes from afar off, for the wife, chik!rcn,
and reft of the family, co go out at lcatt
a mile upon the way to meet him. The
lady Urji,la failed to perform this ceremony,
being then retired in her oratory. The
hufband wondring ac it, and furpctling
fhc might be hindml by ficknefs, alkc:ll
what was become of her; but underftand-
ing fhc was well, admired it the more,
till coming to the gate of his palace, and
miffing the ufual reception, h;: began to
miftruft !he was angry with him. At
length he went up, and into rhe oratory,
where he found his lady and her maids,
wich Ag1111s Dei'J, and relicks about their
necks, beads in their hands, and other
chriftian li(?;ns, praying before the image
of our Saviour. The embaffador was af:
tonifhed at chis light, and his lady dirca-
ing her <lifcourfe co him, bid him noc ad-
mire that fhe had forbore the ufoal com
pliments to him, becaure fhe was raifed to
a higher pitch of honour than he was, both
1lie and her women being children of the
 4..1f:.Hf.t . , 9>b,;Qht:!
. 0
true Ci.lo, and 5.lviour of the world, Juu5
C.ia IS_T; whofplthlre-'fhe'fhewed, him,
r..ylng\ he ought to ac'torchftn, if hc'wo11ld
l::H_! eqll'.lt to them indinit'y. ''' The emt:r.1fu
dbr mt>v byli!5 Uy S"fOrd, an thbc:su
ty of chc plflur, w1ch. teal, 'In his eyes felt
ctwn and adorect,-thcn fta'ndinJJ up, he turn-
ca'.ro hj5 'wffe and womet1.'f:aymg. HHvlr It
,pa)!ill }011 jl)culd'jt Cbrl.ftl4'1J 1 Ha'Ut yeu a
n,f11d't1' lt41Jt"'U "D1'11ot"JCI!, hO'W'lbat tbt
l.w'tb, 1atb' "4c'Jorlldr polyg1Jmy 1'
/
t/fi!t yo11 mil, trltr fiHiJ J,rotbtr JWt/.
/111g-pl,m,. o,.J t,avJ:'tbino-you,' aHd fetlt
011t;11othtr bo11.f!. His lady anfwered, 'Net-
lbd'ttil;/ yot1 "d1pa,.,, 110,. w, ltfl'rlt '-'" for
11,t;! <fAJW bt '11 t,mMy Jo ''all tbiitgr: Wilrty
toceatin S" M. the! P,te_(cht,'th prib11tlrt,
of plurahry of Wives, to avoid that daffi
cutcy \thich wduk\ h:ivc_breda di(hfrbai,te-.
The embafi".idor took hcatt' anhefe words,
ondchtivihg, a! yet, chat he' need not
!icd to'kave hf 'wrnen, thus pi-'
ouny 1tnppfed un, he fa1d, he would be
3 thri!l:ian' too; and foltO'w the &odd exJ
1{ty1ple (c:t' hi01 oi 'his Wife; arid her wo-
men. I ' I ..,.,, ,.,,,
... Th next morning betimes the cmbaf
fadof came to'8Ur 'Jloufe, f
'ro're!J U51'' tna(
fincc c:'ha'm'itlc h'wlfc: a 'CMlftian
e Had a mind ''td"embrace 1
the fame niti
gion' 'if w lhbtfgrtt phta:icabtd.' 1 Vcfy
t,i'aicable; rara-we, Juli' tSf joy'nd fatist
-ro
ralHon"al 1gratful a 'auel?ion ,for irt
cafeh wrc'rti>Wetl: we'wou'ld in a 'fnort
1
ti(tfe 1nl\rua:'..h1tn 1\lfltc:iencly to be b:it>l
\ized; "lfe -a 1 lad/ nd bccaufi die
:ilf'airs of 'hi5 eml:ia'tfy'took'Up
0 tl\c'di)', 1 f'b
tlia"f h'had nol 1 '1eifut tb"t:ic'lnftruae&
lii>on lijs'(Cltlien w;lgrcogotohishoufe
af-ng1it; whhe w[.1 begti\' -toVc:itethiti:
im,1 '?dntinuing iff'.oriwehfy nights;' four
oi five 1hours lat' a"time, H1formin him
e
irt nitfttiek 6f out' 'ho)Y' faith; from
l'he creation of' the'world; tin th"e redcmp
Ciori' of ,ma; ,'tfte ''gt6ry of h'eavetir:".titd
-ins' 6f'hell. c'w\ls' i'I fmall matter' for
ro great 'a perfon/.and fo full <?f\blifinc!B,
to lofe his fleep_to 'hear th lwrtl of'Gciu
and he' gJve, htmfelf to thctn 'With rear
1
:ipplication; :tlking iiny' verf lngt!nio\ls
'q11efos', 1 likh' fhewell '!S great wip fn
all our difcoutfeS';"'our whole :ilm' was tb
"i i?tnhhe 'truth or otir l'loty 1.iw'in the
,!,lure of tlis obfe! lh:and mk it agree
. able to rea\oh, chat blng made fenfible
of che gt'eat i,tnP.?rtnce- 1of fa'lvatiori, rid
the terror of the' p!im of hell, and bemg
welf indined th, .Ind. convinced of the cct
't.iinty'ofour rcligiC>n, he might'afterwards
'm.ike leff diffictJlty in the main point ton
2erning .polyg'a1ny;- which was the only
thing'hc ftuck 'at, and which we till thtn
had defignedly forbore to !peak of,;, Hav-
. irig gone. fo f.ir towards the' 1:mbalfador
I .
rc..,verCion, we began to t'xround upon the
comm3ndmcnr,.1 wbcre--...o informe1l him
1
that am(f Chrilli.ms icwu tmli1wful to
,
ha've many wives.
Thi! propolldon was fo unexpected, th:tt
like fire thac hu wacet chruwn. on it, the
embaludor prtfently cooled, and taking
leavc'Of us, faid, this was a matter of grcn
cdnfequenct', iand thcmdrc required time,
to come to a rcfolution"' This anfwer wae
Co dif1,teafing and grievous to us; that re
turning hdrtlc we , fpent', that' n.ighc. in
prayer and morti6cation, ,praying to Goi,,
with all the fervour we could.-: that hd
would be pleafcd, to puca happy eonclu
fll>rt to the woric he hid forwcll begun.
Next morning one of the moil: learned
0111fitiis in the city- tame to usfrom 'the
emb::.ffador, to examine the rcafons for
the prohibition of polygamy. Amon
ocher objett:ions, this m;in made on. ill
his opinion, of the gn:ateft force, which
was, Why plliralicy ot; wives fhould be
forbid, finccr gcner.uionl and chilt:!ren, werci
a work of perfct1ion j and ,fo agreeable ta
nature, chiefly when a man.hada barren
wife, as WB9' the embaffitdor's c.1fc:1 ia:nd
might not have another co get heirs uponi
We wanted not anfwers according to our
divinity, but perceiving. they were not fat
tisfactory to them ,becaufcn they wen: not
ufed ro our thedloglcal notiom. we ::it IA.ft
added a 1rcafon 'ouo,of fCTlptlJrc,whereof
rhe embalfador had beforifome knowkdge
from us, and it pltafed:GoD, th:s-1made
an lmpreffiori on tiisheart,rand nbfolucdy
convinced "him; I This IW:ls potting of him
in mind, that-Goo ,bcingfo juft.- and the
law he had 'prefc:ribcd fo agree.ible,to na..-
tural reafon, u he himfclf h:td owned, be
ought without'doubt co :obey in .thispoinr.
fincc GoD' himft:lf commanded it.; and thi11
fo tnuch themore, inm:gard thac -Goo
'creating ma-n, intimated rhc:, famo,co him,
when men,1 1was1 moftoccafion for: prOp:l
gating humanrare;--and yec:he grrie-dd@1
.bunmc wife, whcrea he coul as lily
have given him many ,more,.' that man
might multiply the faftcr.-. This reafQV,
I fay, folly, fatisficdtheembaffiidor, ,yec
.findin it difficult roobfene ,the precept,
as being a thing he was much addi
co: Is thert' 110. rem,dy,: faid ht:, or dijp111-
fatio,i frfJ1!1 tbt pope, or .,,y other mtt111s,
11/io' ,re'l)t,. fo difficult, lo bav, this point,,-,.
'fliitttd l We told. him, , it was in vain to
feekany redrefs wharfoever in thiscafe, :u1d
therefore; if he ddired to be ,faved;tb'!
mutt difmifs the other women, and ftkk
1 to his wife/ .Then the embafi"ador lifting
np'his eyes and hands-,to heaven;' as ..ic
"\tere fttuggling with, himfelf, aad prdsd
on'by truth,'' with a Gt' ,crous . refolution
,faid, If lhtn mttltiplidt1 ,: wiv,s bt inmr
f
.
 An Account oj Cochin-China.
fiflent with my falvation, let them all go
the 11ame of Goo ; for it is pity to loft an
eternity of glory, for a tranjitory delight.
Tlien turning to his concubines. who were
prefent with his wife, he difcharged them
:lll: but perceiving they laughed at his
clifcharge, ns a thing th.it would never
ftand good ; to fhew he was in earnefi, he
ordered his wife to pay them all off im
mediately, and let not one of them fiay
in his palace that night. After which
turning again to the fathers, Bebo/cl, faid
he, I have readily performed all ,-011 com
ma11dcd me. Having obtained our defires,
we went home to give thanks to Almighty
Goo.
But the devil found out a v.ny fiill to
make oppofition, m:iking ufe of the Indy
Urfula's womanifh temper ; for fhe had
not the heart to turn away thofe women
fbe had bred up from their infancy in her
houfe, and )ovecl them as if they were her
own children. Therefore fame fl:rife ari
fing between the man nnd his wife, he
preffing to have them gone, and {he op
pofing, the embaffador <liffatisfied, came
to us to jufl:ify himfelf, and defire to be
baptized, fince the impediment was re
moved, he being willing the women fbould
depart his houfe. We were about going
to work, perceiving he fpoke rationally,
and particularly becaufe he refolved they
fhould not continue in his houfe as his
concubines, but as his lady's fervancs. But
the good man making a fiand as if he
were thinking, at !all: f.1id he had a fcruple
to propofe: Since, according to what you
fathm bave taught me, faid he, Goo fm
of
into the heart man, and cannot be deceived,
tho' I difzre to Jorfalu and ft11d away the
womm, yet whilft they continue in the houft,
I plainly fie, either my ancient habit, or
frailty of 11ntrire will eafily cauft me to fall
again into fi11; thmfore methinks I do not
promd with du,. jincerity in this affair. We
perceiving, by the embaffador's difcreet and
chrifiian difrourfe, he forefaw the danger
of being in the immediate occafion of fin,
fl:udied fame proper means to remove {o
confiderable an impediment, but nothing
occurring for the prefrnt he himfelf being
very earnell: upon the bufintfs, propofed a
method, which we fl:uck to as the bell: of
all others: Fathers, faid he, the fafefl way
I ,a11 thill/c of is that you as their direBors
powerfully perfuade the chrijlian women that
were my conubines, (for the heathens I will
infallibly make my wife tur11 away) that i11
cafe through frailty i jhould be u11rler any
/e111plalio11 they rifzfl me refolutely; a11d for
n/11111,b as 1 bear a great refpefl to, a11d
.fland in awe of 011r Saviour's piflure pltued
if
i11 the 01 atory, tbt women lie in that 1lace,
I will rather tt tor11 to piem tb,zn hav, a11y
thing tQ do with them i11 the pr,jm.-e of tbal
grtat urd ; anti the, bei11g thus ftcured
agninfl me, till ,here be an opport11nity of
ma,r,-ing tbe111, it will be lcnof.1111 abroad,
that they are not kept in the boufl as m,
,011c11bines, but only as ftrvants to m1 on/,
wife Urfula, and the people wili be Jenjible
I do 110/ aU co11trary_ to tbe law of Goo.
This methoJ was fo well approved of,
that the d;1y after it was put in execution,
the emb.iffi1dor was baptized in great ftate,
attendc<l by drums, fifes and other infiru
mencs, and he himfdf clad in rich appa
rel. With him were baptized twenty other
gentlemen, his bell: friends, and he had the
name of our holy patriarch Ignatius given
him. After which, taking lus wife Urfu/a
by the hand, fhe renewed the old contract
of matrimony as a facrament of the church.
The joy they all conceived at their hap
tifm, and hew marriage, was unfpc.ikable.
It now remained that the embaflador
thould dep,irt on his embaffy for Cambo
gia ; and he ordered, that the Chip which
was to carry him, fhould have a crofs in
its colours, and the pitlurc: of the glorious
father S. Ignatius his protetlor, caufing all
the jacks and pennants to exprefs the reli
gion he profeffed. Embarking with all
his gentlemen and chriftian women, he had
a profpcrous voyage from Nuomnan to
Cambogia. When he fquadron appeared,
being well known to the people of Cam
bogia to be the embaffador's, they were
all afionifhed, feeing d:rifiian colours fee
up; and therefore they imagined that the
king of Cochin-China, inftead of the ordi
nary embaffador, had fent fame extraordi
nary Portugueft Chrifiian; but their doubt
was foon cleared, feeing the ufoal embaffa
dor l.1nd with a crofs and medals on his
brca!l, among the gold chains and jewels.
This fight on the one hand, moved the
Portuguefe and J"ponefe Chrifiians, who re
fid there on account of trade, to give fhouts
of JOY, and blefs Goo for this new off-fpring
Cochin-China had produced ; and on the
other, the heathens could noc believe that
the embalfador, who before was obferved
to be exceffively lafcivious, fhould embrace
the chriftian religion, which forbids all im
modefiy. But the grace of the holy Gholl:
foon appeared to firengthen human frailty.
for tho' the embaffador ac his palace in
Cambogia, had double the number of con
cubints, as generally ufcd to attend his
wife, he ordered them to be all difmiffed.
nor dicl he ever life up his eyes to look
at them, which made his fame fpread abroad,
as of a man of fingular fantlity irnd vir
tue; and being reputed a man of great
knowledge, his ex.1mplc: moved m:iny of
the moft learned perfons of Pu/ucambi to
be baptized.
 An . .Account of Cothin.Chiha.
CH A.P.' VI.
How God open'd another way to Ch,-ijlianity, through th; means of the learned
People among the Heathens.
O D's infinite mercy, and his ardent land; and fo when they miftakc, thacfamc
G defires for the falvation of mankind,
finds out divers means fuitablc to the fe-.
quantity is taken from chem.
The reafon why they nuke fuch account
veral conditions of perfons, which are as of fortellin'g the clipfe, is becaufe of the.
it were fo many ways to direct and lead many fu perftitions at chat time us'd towards
them to hat end for which they were cre-1 the fun and moon, for which they p,epare
ated. Thus we fee he himlelf in perfon rhemfdvcs in very folemn manner: for the
called upon his people, and complying king being told the day and hour a month
with the inclination of the pcrfons, invited before the edipfe happens, fends orders
the wife men by means of the ll:ar; Dmi.s. rhrought all the provinces of the kingdom,
the Areopagite the aftronomei:, by rhe pro. for. the: learned and common fort to be in
digy of the wonderful cclipfe; S. Augujli11,. a.i'eadinefa that day. When the time is
by the knowledge ofche true light and law, come, all the lords in every province meet
and the confufion anrl obfcurity of former, with their governors, commanders and gen-
errors; and in fine, he calls the ignorant try, and people with their proper officers
multitude, by the means of prodigies, in every city and liberty. The reate!l: af-
wonders and miracles. So it fell out in the fembly is at court, where the principal men
new church of Cochin-China; for when his of the kingdom are, who all go out with
divine majefty had by himfelf convinced colours and arms. Firft goes the king.
fome of rhe principal perfons, as has been cloath'd in mm,irning, and afi:er him all the
fhewn, next he call'd not only the learned court, who lifting up their eyes to the fun
and wife philofophers and mathematicians, or moon, as the eclipfc comes on them,
by means of fome eclipfes, as !ball be fhewn make feveral obeifances and adorations,
in this chapter, but alfo the omfaiis orpriefts, fpeaking fome words of compaffion for rhe
who were hardened in the errors of their pain chofe planets endure ; for they look
heathen feB:s, to the knowledge of the true upon the eclipfe to be no other, but chat
religion, as the following chapter will make the dragon fwallows up the fun or moon ;
appear. And Jaftly, in the next to that and therefore, as we fay, lhc moon is all or
we (hall fet down, how he opened the way half eclips'd; fo they fay, Dfl a11 nuti, Da
of falvation to the people by means of fe an bet; that is, the dragon has eaten half,
veral prodigies and miracles. now he eats all.
Now to come to the manner of convert Which way of expreffion, tho' it be no-
ing the wife and learned Cocbin-Chintfts, thing to the purpofe, et it lbews th:.t they
reputed excellent mathematicians, by means affign the fame grounJ for rhe eclipfe ori-
of the eclipfe. For the better underll:and ginally chat wr. do, which is curring of
ing of what we are to fay, it is requifite in the ecliptick, that is the fun's circle and the
the firft place to be acquJinced with a cuf line of the courfe of the moon, in chore
tom they have in this kingdom, relating to two points which we call the dragon's
the fcience of aftrology, but particularly head and tail, as afi:ronomers well !mow:
of eclipfes; for they make Cuch a great ac whence it follows, that the very fame doc-
count of it, that they have large halls where trine, and the fame terms and names of
it is taught in their univerficy; and there the dragon, arc common both to us and
are fpecial allowances affign'd the aftrolo them, and fo they give names like ours to
gers ; as for infiance, Lands which p1y the figns of the zodi:ick, Cuch as Aries.;
them a tribute or fiipend. The king has 'l'aurus, Gemini, &c. And thus in procefs
his peculiar aftrologer. and fu Im the prince of time the people have invented fabulous
his fon, who ufe all their art co fct down caufes of rhe eclipfe, in!lead of the true,
eclipfescx:1B:ly. Bue wJnting the reforma faying that the fun and moon, when eclip-
tion of the calendar, and ocher matters, fed are drown'd by rhe dragon; whereJs,
relating to the motion of the fun and at that time they are really in the head or
moon which we have, they commie fome rail of the afl:ronomical dragon.
miO:akcs in the calculation of the moons and Now ro return to the compaffion they
eclipfes, wherein they generally err two or have for chofc fulferini:s pl.mets; when the
three hours, and fomecime,, tho' not fo adoration is over, rbey begin firfl: ar the
oti:en, a who!e day; tho' generally they king's p.ilace, and then throughout .-.11 rhr:
arc right as to the material part of the e city co fire mufkets and c.1nnon, ring bells,
cliple. Every time they hie right, the king found trumpets, beat drums, and play up
rewards them with a certain quantity of on ocher infi:rumencs, even ro clauer-
 An . .Account of Cothin.Chiha. ....
ing of the kettles, and other utcnfils of the no cclipfe. Yet they could not but
kicchen in all houfes: and this is donr,, to , at.my, a{for,1nce in anfwering them, that
the end the d,ra gon may be frighted with tl\e hour was not yet come, cill the &_lafs
the gi'eW nbife;- ancJ' dof pl'\)t:e to cat all}'' W:11M1un, oll.t',. which, mcy. ga((,!d at. a: 1! it
more, but vomit up what he has alrt!.idr' I.ad, been fo,ne wonderful thing. Then
1

eaten. of the fun or moon. . going out, I lhew'd them that the circle of
When1 wcf Wefe ,nform'd of tl\i!. t!:Ulrom,. the IUOOn, on, dial'., fidu: the cclipf!! begnn,.
the fir{\: eclipfe that: ooM)tftt!dl wa one of w:.s. not foi pcrib;h. a.s it fhoul<l be, an.di
the mo;:,h, in the year :i6o,. (>f> ehe nintliof feon afca, :1111 the moon b darkened.
Deitl,fh!r, at elen at' mghtt. I wa'S clleli they pen:tiv'd the anuth of n>.yi prediiclion.
in' tlie cilcy' N11o'ltmd11f, m the' provif1ce. of The, commander and aU of thetn, being a ..
Pii!iHtHll5'i, where there wa's thic' comm,1nder ftorulb'd, prcfently: fent to giYe notice o!
of t'h'e w:ird we Jrv'd iri,. W'l\ofc forr. was be- it t4> all rhe ward,. and fpread the new.s of
conieaChtiftiari; tl'io' chc! fath*, s proad the cclipfe throughout the city,. th1.1t every
of .h: ovtn learning, dfWd tl'Ot only on !11an mighr go out to mak1: ufual naife,
rel1gtoh but our knowledge; aridwe.uneft- 1n favour of cbc moon; . g1vtng ClUt eve,y
If defir'd hi coilverfion,. ping th! if he where. that there were no fudl i:ne.n a:, tb.o
receit'd the tatholick faltl-., his onmple fathe-rs, whofe doctrine and. books e:auld
would induce tho'fl: of his ward ot quarter not choofo but be true, ftnce they ha.d fa
tci do the fame. Thii n1an came onc:e e,raetly forct0ld the eclipf whichtbcir:
to vlfit tH before the etllpft of the moon learned men had taken no notice of; and
happehe<!, iind in difctiurfe we! happened to therefore in . performance of his promife.
titlk bf it, fie politively affirming there the cummander with all his family became
would t:le no foch etlip: afid tho' we de! Chrill:ians, as did many more of his ward,
rt1ohfirati:d it to hiin, according to out cal- with fome of the moft le.untd men in tho
cufalibn, :irlc:t fheW'd him the figute of it city, and other men of note.
!h our boo.ks, yet he would hever believe.: Such another accident happened ac tho

'
1t\ -;illedgmg 11mong other arguments fot fame time, tho' among peopll! of greatar
his l\macy, that If any fuch edlpfe \!Jere quality, and in a more cmintnt plac;c.
Hfte be, the ling would dubtlefii hne Tho' du: king's aftrologers had_ noc fore,
lent im. i'te t month for acxt)rdmg Sit tl1is cdiple! yet th belonging to. the
to the cuffiml c:K tl\t kingdom, whtte;i prince nt C11ma,,,, bciog more llud1ous
t 'wa"nted but ight da of tht tio1e by a11dihnelligcnt, foretold it; but with a grofs
us alpinted; wherefore he having l'lo fudt millakie ;as rn time! tor ic was not of aa
:idvice, 1't'tfais :i'Certaln fign that there wou4d I.lour o. twD, as is ufual, but of a whole
bc1nolfuch'eclfipfe. Heperfill:iogootlfoatoe- day, giving out tba: the fall moon, and
ly in Jiis ,opinion,. would needs 4ay ll wa- conlequently .the a:lipfe w.oi,ud a day
gir of a Cnhaia, which iS :i filk >g&Wln. We foorrer cl11111t WJU. F. lv-,a11aui1 Pi1111, .who
1

a$reed rte, Tt -updh '<!dnditioh, that if wer)t;;f\: was ttlCll ut ,court. .twi igiYcn noice of it t11
\\Jc were 1to give 'him foch :gahMft:; !b\lt a .courtier wbo was llCTf ,great with rtbe
if we 'won, inll:e\td ofpaying the !gown, prince, being bis :onzgiu that iis, io ,thr
he was to -otne co us for ight days loge- mature of n1:.tier of 1hr: .!lCl'cmQDies. 'f.he
ther, ftp hear th'c catechize -and 11ny-fl:c1rkts father told .him, That uoce :the ,edlipfe
'ofoudlait'h hpounHea. -He r-cpl-y'-d, he tWa.s,notito fell out as their .ail,""loge &id.
woulc! hot'orily oo "tb, =but the very mo- but .as F.,Chrifiophw /Bo,rri affirm'd, thr:
ment 1he ff:lw tlie 'cclipfo would become a .following .night , 1he Jnoukl ,give ,tlu:
'Chrillian: 11Jr he'faid, if.our tlott,inc ,wa .pr.inec.his.mafu:r:notice.of it. But,tbc,,m,-
fo certain :t'na infullible in:fuch "hidden .tncl ine.not,eiving entire.credit to the father,
he,tvenly things 'ns eclipfes -are, :and ,thC!irs 1Voultl,not,do that duty of.his:.officc t chat
fo'erroheous, 'thcre 'W!is rto doubt but our time. The hour appoin .b,y the .iftrQ-
rcligicin anti kno\\'ledge ofthe ,true Goo logers ! being come, ,arui the ,prince havine;
was no lefsalflirecl and fafo, and rhelts notice :df.it, he went ,out,with.his.whok
falfe. 'The day:oftht eclipfe being come, .court, .iaccordjng to .cuftom, to Joe and
the aforefaid gentleman with a great-many help the moG>n, that.as.they Cud .was to be
fcholars came to our houfe--:i nrght, bring- ttlips'd; "but:.findiog. he was r.leceiv!d, and
'ig them switneffs of tI1ee'venr. -But ,growing :mgry,withhismathematici.iJls fo.-
becaufe th1.: edipfe was to be .. at eleven chtir mi:ftake, he orded they fuould for-
lit night,' I we'nt to' fay my office, tur oing 'feit the revenue of.a , town, acccmling, to
up the' hour ghfs in the -rill!an while. Au the:cufbom before, mention'd. , Hence the
hour before the time 'thefe mtn c:\me feve- omgne cook occafion to,acquainc the prinae
rI times, calling upon n\e byway of.de- 'that the:European.f.u:her had, .before this
rifion to fee the ec!ipfr, thinking I had not happened, told him: the .ec1ip:e .would be
,dchdrawn co fay my office, but hadt-hid :she night followipg. The .prince , was
iny flf' for lh:imc that t there would r be 11111ighcily-plcasi that the father.i lhould hi.:
,
 An . .Account of Cothin.Chiha.
,ight, whtre his mathcmaticiana had mif ours was carrtd to the prince, who being
cury; doubtfu) "'the matter, fr11t his mathcma
The omgw rcpait'd imf'Cdiatdy to the t-iL'ians to mi. to afk m1 opinion, and argue
father, to know t)le pndfe lime of the c the point. This difpte ha.d no othfr cf-
dipfe; who havipg fMw.'d hf!l\ that it waa felt on them, but only to increafe their
to be exaa:l at elen th_o foHowing doubt, and hold the priRCe in f1,1fpcnfe,
Bighr, he ftilr continu'q do.uhtfol of the whelher he ought to fend his orders through-
truth of du: matter, and therc;for w.oulJ out the kingdom, as tho king his father
nor wake the prince till he faw the begin had done, or publHh the contrary ; for on
ning of the eclipfe. Then he ran to rouze thtt one hand it wrough, upvn him to fee that-
him, and he coming out with fome of his both their books and ours gr.mted the e- .
courtiers, perform'd the ufua1 cere_mq11ies clipfe, wherefore he thought it would be a.
and adorations to the moon. Yct he would di!honour to him, in cafc it happened not
not make the ro;ttteq>l\lickl:t !mown for I,) h.ive feQt tl\ u(uI avic. 1 and on the
fear of utterly difcred1ting their book \ll'\Q 0,tlier .(ide, he had a great opinion of us on
mathematicians, tho' all men conceiv'd a account of the antecedent eclipfo of the
greit opiniqn i;,f qur do&rin_e, ;inc_! v.a.rtic-. moon, reo,p f1.1,li{lg to onfult. m,e
Ji\rly the orng,r, whQ frqm that ti1_1w fQr- igaiq,, l i!l.lfvm'4,. t.it hiving q\culteg
wards for ti, whole month came to hear the; the; eHp(e v.ery &ac,lly, l fo.u,rid it cqul
Ci\techUing, diligently learning all tha be 1.1 po(fi.blf Q vifil::ile in his. k_ii:igclQm,
longs to our holy faith. H.owever he; wa a11d therefgre he. neec;I i:iqt take any care tQ
llOt baptiz', wanting refoluti t? _over fond advice P.U\lt. th<; q4pty for I wo1M,
reme the d1fflculty pf the mult1phc;1ty of be ;111fweril.Q!e fol:' his_ an.{\ hi aftrologer
women, as the embaffador Ign4(i11s_ had rep1,1tation 1 S.-!h1ft hr jpg il,n.rJ his 1nathe
<lgne before. He forbore not ncverthele( matici,1ns. f-le <} }:\it r1=ly'd upon my
publickly with much (1.!rv.Qur to eclare q4r word, and toq1' OQ ca.re iq give notice i
dotl:rin<! and Jaw were true, and all oth.ers. his liberty of th1, ecJipc, the""wh.ole court
flfe, and faid he would certai11ly clie a anc;l king'!\ q!lrologr actn:iirino- at it; and.
Chriftia11, which ITIQV'd mapy other tQ de- they e[lq\Ji.ripg intQ the ca1,1fe ofthe prince'
flre to be bapt'd. neg1etl:, wen anfwer'd, t.hat he h:id better
Having talk'd of the eclipfc of the ITIOOn, mthematicfan in his cQurt than th\! kin
we will co1 .1de with another of th_e full, hi father: y whih they uncterftood tha
which happ.:ued on the 22d of il,;fay, 16i1, fome of qur flther being there, he fprfopk,
which the kif!g's afirologers foretold wa the opjriion Qf th n:uivs for theirs. How-
o 1,lft two hours; but having conceiv'd a <:ver the public.1tiQn they had made bei!>g
great opinion of 11s ;is lo this p.irticuhir, for irrevokalik, th!! i1tiql rreparations weri;
tlwir own greater fccurity, they came to m.id again(!: the d.1y of the eclipfe, till tht;l
afk our opinions concerning it. I tokl them ho\Jr bein cqrne they tl'periincntally per-
it was true there wm1ld be nn eclip.fe of <;eiv'd their error. The day was clear :imJ
the fun, the figure whereof l lhew'd m o"r not : cloud tQ be fecn, and tho' it was th
epbe,i,erides; b1.1t I purpofely forl::iore to let month of May, when the f4n is there i11
thtm know, that 1t wquld pot be fee:t in the ;enith, and the titne of the fay .. bout
Co1hin-China, by reafon of the moqn's pa three in the afternoon when the hea"t is vio-
{aliax to the fqn. Now they l;nqw not what lent, yet the king rli no omit to go out
the parallax is, which i the caufe they are with his cqurciers, enduring all the b4rning
often deceiv'd, not fincling the juft tirni: by fun for a long time i but finding himfclf
their books and ,a!culations. This I clid, hnpqs'd t1pon, and bt:ing much incens'd, i.!J
that their error being obferv'd, ot1r i--1ow well by rei\fon of the grl.!ai heat 4e cndur'd,
ledge might appear the more: J ti\en: as at the ignor;\nce of jlis methernatician$,
forc dcmnded ume to find out the precifo who hat! put hirn tQ that trouble without
time, faying in general tern1s, it wa re *ny rqfon, he reprirnanded them feverely.
qui!ite to meaflire heaven by the earth, to They alledg'd for heir excufe, that there
difcaver whether iha{ eclipfc woqld be vili would be an eclipfe infilllibly, but that
\,lc in their country; ancl I delay'd the nn they had made d,ty's mifiilke as to the
fwer fo loflg, till the tirpc of making knowq conjuncl:iqn of the moon, and therefore it
the cclipfe being rome, the a!l:rologcrs fa would be foen r.he next day at that fame
tisfy'd that 01.1r bopk ngrecd with their Ppi hour. The king fubrnitted to his aftrolo-
nion, witho fimlier rclleclion, condud gers, and corning f
out the ntt d.iy at the
cd the eclipfi: was 1110ft certain, and advis\J fame hour, fofcr'd the f111e inconvniency
Lhe l,ing tQ publilh it after the ttfual man of hNt, to th<! great ihame pf his afholo-
ner. W"hen the ,1llrploers had fprtad their gcrs, who efcap\l not unpunirh'd; for he nor.
t:ilfe prcdic1ilm rhrm1ghnut the kingdom, only took :iway their rcvent1es, but oruer'J
l g.1ve it om th,: the cdipf would not be they f11ould kneel a whole day in the court
frll at all in Co,hi11-Cbi11a. This aficrcion of of the pal.tee, bare-headed expos'd to the
 '.An .Account of Cochin..China.
heat of th..: fun, and to the fcc,rn of all
the courtier::. To rttum ,o the prince who
had got the better in this point, he writ to
his father in a jelling manner, That tho'
he was his fon, he had out-done him as to
the ecliple, and had more learned n1en at
his court.
It is not to be imagin'd how much repu
tation this accident gain'd us among the
learned, infomuch that even the king's and
CH AP. VII.
How God open'd another way to Chrijlianity, by means of thr Omfaiis, or
Heathen Priej!s.
G OD in his infinite wifJom foreknow
ing of how great confequence it would
be for the converfion of thofe heathens,
that fomc of their priefts or omfaiis lhould
be converted, becaufe of the great autho
rity they have among all the people, it
pleas'd his Divine Majefty to open even this
way to his holy faith. Ano11ifaiiwhofename
was Ly, liv'd near to our houfe, and had
the charge of an idol temple, and being a
neighbour had freguent opportunities of
converfing with us, and of coming to fome
knowledge ofour rules, actions, and courfe
of life. This pleas'd him fo well, that
proceeding ftill farther, he woul,: need! be
inform'd as to the law of Goo, whereof
w e gave him a full account ; and coming
ro difcourlc ofthe refurreclion ofour Loao,
fbewing him how he rofe again, that he
and all men might rife again the laft day,
he was fo plea'd ac ic, that being infpir'd
bv Goo, he afk'd to be b.1ptis'd, which
was accordingly granted to him and all
his family upon Chri!lmas night, which
he liJent on his knees in prayer with flood;
of teari:, uttering thefc w0rds, 'l'uii C;1111;
biet; that is, I knew not, as if he wol.ld
h:\Ve faid, Forgive me my Goo, for till no"'
I knew you not. Then continuing fome
time nry fliil, as it were contemplating,
he repeated the fame words, making a
fweec harmony to the new born infant.
After baptifm he took fuch an affection
for us, that he refolv'd to come to us with
all his family, that he might live under our
rule; but being inform'd that could not
b::, bl'cau!c he was marry'd, he concluded
tu Jin nca1er to our houfe, that he might
ngul.lt.,; his aclion3 by the found of our
bll. evrn to faying the long litany in his
oratory, at the time we ufe to f.ty it every
d.,1, according to the cuftom of the focie
t): And it is remarkable, that obfcrving
me at a certain hour us'd to fay our beads
walking, he would w.1\k at the fame time,
to the :1111:izemcnt of his countrymen, who
:ook l !" n walk;ng as a firang,c and ridicu
prince's m:ithematicians came,. u:, rarnelr
ly begging we would receive them to our
fcholars; and upon thir ;,ccount the fmt
of the fathers was every wherr fo gre:ir,
that not only our knowiedge in atlrono:ny,
but our rehgion was cxtoll'd above their
own, they arguing from the heavenly bo
dies to things above the heavens, as I faid
before.
lous action, becaufe they never going a fiep
but what is about bufinefs, or to fome di
verfion, look'd upon our action of walking
as idle, becaufe we went to a place to no
other er..j but to rernrn; fo that the peo
ple flock'd to fee us walk, and admiring
the ftrangenefs of it faid, OmJ:iii di lay ;
that is, the father goes and come, goes and
comes. Yet their gazing did not make
omfaii Ly leave his cuflom, which tended
to nothing but to be like us in all points,
He had but one wife, and had lived about
thirty years, which was his age, fo l!:ri3:lyup
to the law of nature, th1t he h.1d ne>'er, as
he faid, to that time, lmowi.igly dc,iated
in any matter of con{;quenc from what
was ju!l: and upright; and hi adoring of
idols was becaufe he chc,ughc it contrary to
reafon not to adore thc:n1. This fhews how
true that doctrine of divines is, ro wit,
that Goo never fails to Juve baptifrn ::dmi-
nifired, either by the h:inds cf men, as chis
was, or the minil\ry of :.ngels, to a heathen
w!,o lives a good moral life, according to
. :,L ,Jiclates of reafon, and law of nature.
Thi. 0111/aii Ly wholly devoted himfclf to
th<" :ervice ot Goo, a11d after providing
for the maintenance of ;.,is family, all he
and they could earn was be!l:ow'd upon our
church, taking fpecial care of its neatnefs
and decency, and of adc,rning the alcars.
Nor was chis all Gc,o requir'd of this
his belov'd ferv.1nt; for he fo inflam'd his
heart, that he applied himfelf to preach the
faith of CHRIST publi:kly, making the
myftery of the rcfurrdtion the ufual fub-
ject of his di!courfr, wl1ereby he attraclcd
and converted abundJnce, not only of the
common fore, but feve1 al omfaiis; for tho'
he was none of the mofi learned, yet his
fervour fo well fupply''d that defect, th:t
among thole who cam,: to defire baptifi,1,
there was one of the 1110!1: lt:arned and fa.
mous men in the kingclom, whofc authori-
ty, he himfrlf provirg the falficy of the
he.1then feels, immediatelv im:re.ts'd the
h.1rvctl of the church. 'J'his man there-
 ./in Account of Cochin-China.
fore took upon him to oppofc the other
gentih:s, eafily confuting them, as being
well acquainted with the: grounds they went
upon; herein very much eating om fathers,
who not being fo well acquainted with
their fecl:s, could not fo well oppofe them.
And in truth there was need of fuch a
help ; for there i; fuch variety of omfaiis
in that country, that it looks as if the de
vil had endeavoured among thofe gentiles,
to reprcfrnt the beauty and variety of reli.
gious orders inftituted by holy men in the
cathalick church, their feveral h1bits an
f-.vering their feveral profellions; for fome
are clad in white, others in black, others
in blue, and other colours; fome living
in community, fome like curates, chap
lains, canons, and prebcnds ; others pro
fefs poverty, liviug upon alms; others ex
ercife the works of mercy, mini!l:ring co
the tick, either natural phyfick, or magick
charms, without receiving any reward ;
others undertaking fome pious work, as
building of bridges, or othr.r fuch things
for the publick good, or erecting of tem
ples, and going about the kingdom, beg
ging alms to chis purpofe, even as far as
the kingdom of <J'onchi11; others teach the
doctrine of their religion, who being very
rich, have publick fchools, as univerfal
maftm. There are alfo fome omfaiis who
profofs the farriers trade, compalfianarely
l:t1re elephants, oxen, and horfcs, without
CH AP. VIII.
A foort Account of the Sc{ls in Cochin-China.
T H E end of all feces is either the
god they adore , or the glory and
l1:1ppinds they expect, Come believing the
immort.tlity of the foul, others conduding
that all ends when the body dies. Upon
thefc two principles the eaftern n:mons
build all their fects; all which took their
origin from a great mct.1phyfician of the
kingdom of Siam, whofc name w;1s Xa,a,
much ancienter th:in Arfiotle, and nothing
inferior to him in cap:icity, and the know
J.:dgr of 1utural things. The fharpucts of
this nun's wit rai!ing him to confider the
nature and fabrick of the world, reflecting
on tht! beginning and end of all things,
ancl xu tirnlJrly of human nature , the
d1icfl.1dy of this worldly palace; he once
wtnt up to the top of a mountain, and
thm: attentively obfrrving the moon ,
\1hich ritin;; in the tl.trknets of the night,
gemly r.,ifrd it fi:lf above the horizon to
b.: hi,.\ a3.1in the mxt d ay in the fame
d.11 km i".;, and the fun grtting 11 p in the
moming to fct ag.iin at nigilt, he conclud
c,l th:.t as well moral as phytirJl and na.
t1.1r.1l things wc.:rc nothing, came of nothing,
afkingany reward, being fatisfy'd with any
thing th,t i, freely given t11cm. Laftly,
Ochers look to the monafteries ()f wcimt:11,
who live in community, and admit of no
man among them but the omfaii who
looks to them, and they are all his wives.
There are vaft temples with beautiful
towers and ileeple3, nor is there any town,
tho' never fo little, without a t::mple to
worthip its idols, which are generally very
large ftatues, with abundance of gold and
1Jlver 1hut up in their breafts or bellies,
where no body dares to touch it, till ex-
tream r.cceffity obliges fomc thief to gut
the idol, without regard to fo great a fa.
crilcge as that is accounted among them ;
and what is very remarkable, they have cha-
plets and {\:rings of beads :-ibout their necks,
and make fo many proceffions that they out
do the Chrifii,:ns in praying to their falfe
gods. There arc alfo among them fome
pcrfons refcmbling abbots, bifhops, and
arch-bifhops, and they ufe gilt ftaves, not
unlike our croficrs, infomuch that if any
m;tn come newly into that country, he
r.1ight eJlily be perfuaded there had been
Chrillians there in former times; fo near
has the devil endeavoured to imic.ite us.
This will give us an opportunity of adding
here a chapter of the iecl:s in Cochin-China,
to give fomc light how we may draw that
people out offuch darknefs, and brinr; them
inco the light of the golpel,
and ended in nothing. Therefore returning
home, he writ fe\eral books and large
volumes upon this fubject, calling chem,
Of nothing; wherein he taught that the
things of this world, by reafon of the du
ration :ind meafure of time, are nothing:
for tho' they had a being, faid he, yet
they would be nothing, nothing at pre
fenc, and nothing in rhc time to corr.,
for the prefrnt beinr ut a moment, was
the fame as nothing.
His fecond argument he grounded on
the compoticion of things; let us inftance,
faid he, in a_ _rope.-,_ the whic no: beig
naturally d1ftmgu1!11ed from its parts, in-
afmuch as they give its being and com-
poficion, fo it appears that c1 .e rope as a
rope is nothing ; for as a rope it is no dif-
tincl: thing from the threads it is compos'd
of, and the threads themfdvcs arc no di-
flincl: thing from the hemp they are made
of, and the hemp has no other beinr; but:
the clements, whereof its fubftance confifts:
fo that rcfolving all things after this man-
ner into the clements , ::ind thofc to a
fort uf m11Jeria pl"ima, and meer pctcntia,
 An AccOflul ef Cochin.China;
which is therefore allually nothing, ha at
)aft proved, th1t as Wt'U the heavenly
thin!, as thofe undrr henen, were truly
nothing.
In the fame manner did he argue a9 to
moral things: that the natural happinefs of
man did not conlifl: in a pofidve concur
rence of all that is good, which he looked
upon as impoffible, but rather in being
free from all that is evil, and therefore
faid, it was no other thing but to have no
<lifeafc\ pain, trouble, or t like; and
for a man to have fuch power over his
paffions, as not to be fenlible of affcdion
or averfion, to honour or difgracc, want
or Ienty, riches or poverty, life or death,
an[ that herein confifted trua htatitude.
Whence he inferred, th:i.t all thefe things
being nothing, they took thdr origin 13 it
were from a caufe not efficient but ma
terial, from a principle which in truth
was nothing, but an eternal, infinite, im
menfe, immutable, almighty, and to con,
dude, a Goo that was nothing, :md the
origin of this nothing.
As a prelude or introducl:ion to his fed,
this philofopher gave fome account of the
making of the world under two metaphors.
The one was, that d1e world came out of
an egg, which ftretched out fo vaftly, that
the heavens were made of the fi1ell, the
air, tire, and water, of the white; and of
rh yolk, th earth and all earthly things.
The other metaphor he took from the body
of a vait great man, whom lhcy call Bance,,
whom he would call Microcofi_n, faying
that the m:1fs of the world came from him,
his fcull extendin{; ro form the heavens,
his two eyes making the iun and moon,
his flef11 the earth, his bones the moun
tains, his hair pfans and trees, anr'. his bcl
Jy the fc.1, and thus applying all ,he limbs
and parts of man's body, to the fabrick
and ornament of the world; he added,
rhat the other men fpread about all the
world , were made of this great man's
lice.
Ha,ing eftabilhed this doctrine of no
thing, he rathered fome fcholars, by whof e
me:{:i h.: fr,-rad it throughout all the eait.
B,it tht c;.:,4s who knew that a feel: which
re,fo,l all thi,'e:'I to nothing, was hurtful
to the: gov..:rnm!11t, would not hearken to
ir, n')r allmv theri: was no puni(hment for
wicktd men, or rnat ti1e hapPinefs of the
qood fhoulJ b..: rc!'.:h1ced only.to the being
tree from f::'fcrir.g in thi3 world, anJ the
authority of the C':itnefes being fo great,
others following their example, rejected his
doctrine. ,.Y,;oca diffatisf1ed that he was dif
appointed of follmrcrs, changed his mind,
and retiring writ fcvera! other great books,
reaching that there was a real origin of all
tHngs, a Lord of heaven, hell, immor-
tality, and tranfmiaration of fouls from
O(le body to another, benrr or worfc, ac
cording to the merits or tkmerits of the pcr
fon i tho' ahi:y do not forgtt to affign a fort
of heaven and hell fo: the foulll departed,
exprcffing the whole mttaphorically under
the names of things corPoical, nmi of the
joys and futfrrings of this wDtld.
This fecond doctrine being made pub-
lick, the Chintfn received it, a11d above
oth<":rs the bonzis, who are generally the
mtandt and moll: inconfiderable people in
'JaJan, who being zealous for their fpi-
rituI advantage admitted this doctrine,
and prefervcd it in twelve feveral forts of
feas all differing from one another, tho
that which is moil folJowecl and eiteemed,
is the opinion alXi feel: that believes aU to
be nothing, which rhey call g111.fi11. Thefe
fomctimes go abroad into a field to hear a
fermon, tha is a difcourfc: of blifs made by
a J1,,rzo, who ti'cats of no other fubj,
but to perfuadc his congregation, rhat hu-
man blifs is nothing, and r.hat he .is happy
who valut:ll not whether he has children or
no children, whethl!r he is rich or poor,.
fick or wll, and the like i and the bon
preaches th:s doctrine with fuch 11:rength
of argument, and vehemncy, that the au
dience being fully bent upon the contempt
of all things, whith in themfelves they
look upon as nothing, foffering themfelves
to be in a m'.l.nner tranfported, they ex-
vrfs their fati,facl:ion and happineJs in
ih1s manner, that is often crying out with
a loud voice, xi11, xi11, xin; that is, no
thing, nothing, nothing, accomp.inying
their voices with certain bits of boards chey
clap between the fingers of one hand
fl:riking them together with the other (a!I
boys play on their fnappers) and with this
noife they arc quite befides themfelves as if
they were drunk, and then they fay they
h:nre done an atl: of blifs. The Japonefts
and ochers making fo great account of this
opinion cf nothing, was tlie caufe that
when Xica the author of it was come to
his i.1lt, calling together his difcip!cs, he
protell:ed to tht'm upon the word of a d y-
ing man, that in the many years he had
lived anJ lludy'J, he had found nothing
fo true, nor any opinion fo well grounded,
as was the feel: ot nothing ; and cho' his
fecond doctrine feemed to differ from ir,
yet they mult look upon it as no contra
diction or recant;ition, but rather a proof
and confirmation of the firft, tho' not in
p)Jin t<::nns, yet uy way of metaphors
and par.1blts, which might all be apply'd
to th opinion of nothing, as y,ould plain-
ly appt.1r by his books.
But it is time to rernrn to our Cochi11-
Chillefts, who not receiving this moll: foolifh
;md vain Joctrine, which denyh f; the fu b-
.
 An Account of Cochin-China.
fhntial form, reduces all things to nothing,
they generally throughout all the kingdom
hold the immortalit of the foul, and con
fcqcently the eternar rewards for the juft,
and punifhments for chc wicked , yet
mixing a thoufand errors with thefe truths.
The firft: of which is, that they do not
diftinguilh between the immortal foul and
the demons, calling both by one and the
f.ime name Maa, and attributing to them
both, the fame practice of doing mifchief
to the living. The fccond is, that they
a!llgn one of the rewards of the foul to
be tranfmigration from one body to another,
more worthy, nobler, and in greater digni
ty ; as from one of the common fort to a
king, or great lord. The third, that t:
fouls of the dead fiand in necd of fufl;c.
nance and corporal food, and therefore at
certain times in the year according to their
cufl:om, the children make plentiful enter
tainments for their dead parents, men for
their wives,and friends for their acquaintance
departed, expecting a long time for the dead
gueft to come and fit down at table to car.
Weone day confuted thefeerrors with argu
ments which the philofopers call a priori,
and therefore told them that the foul was a
fpirir, and had no mouth or other ma
terial part to eat, and therefore they were
deceived to think they could feed, And
then a polleriori, for Ill cafe they did ear,
then the clifhes would not be as full after
they had done as they were before. They
J.rnghed at theft: arguments, faying, thefc
fathers know nothing; and to folve both
difficulties, anfwered, that meat confifted
of two parts, one the fubfbnce, the other
the accidents of quantity, quality, fmell,
raite, and the like. The immaterial fouls
of the dead, faid they, taking only the
fubft:ancc of the meat, which being imma
terial, was proper fufrenance for the in
corporeal fpirit, left only the accidents in
the difhes, as they appear to our corpo
ral eyes, to which purpofe the dead had
no need of corporeal parts as we faid. Any
wife man may by this falfe anfwer difcovcr
CH AP. IX.
Hrn.o God opened anothe1 Way to the Convet:Jion of the meaner fart by
miraculous Means.
I T remains that we thew how Goo acl:
ing conformably to the mean vulgar
people of Cochin-Chinn, who were ufcd to
fe r.hantoms, vifions, and apparitions, the
devil ofr.en appearing to them, was pleafecl
to f11ew fame miracles, to the end that
declining in their opinion of diabolical pro
digies, they might own the only Lord and
fingular worker of true wonders. Tht.:
the acutenefs of the Cochin-Chi,:efa philo-
fophcrs, tho' they abfolutcly err as to the
reality of th.: argument.
They alfo err in refpea to the fouls
themfelves, adoring thofe of men who were
looked upon as holy in this world, adding
them to the number of their idols, where
of their temples are full, placing them
orderly according to their fever.ii degrees;
in rows along the fidcs of the temples, the
Jcafl: firfi, and fo bigger and bigger, till
the bit are extraordinary large. But the
high altar being the moft honour.tble place
in the temple, is purpoli:ly kept empty,
behind which is a vacant dark fpace, to
exprc:fs that he whom they adore as Goo,
and 011 whom the pagods, who like us were
vifibfo and corporeal men, is invifible,
wherein they think the greatcft: honour con
fifls. Such a multitude of idols, by them
accounte<l gods, giving us occafion to en,
dcavour to dem'onftrate to them, that
there can be but one only Goo: They
anfwcrcd, they agreed to it, fuppoling
thofo that were placed along the fidcs ot"
the ccmpks, were not they that had cre
ated heaven and earth, but holy men
whom they honoured, as we do the holy
apofrles, martyrs, and confelfors, with the
fame diftincl.ion of greater and lc::lfer fanc
tity, as we affign among our faints. And
therefore to corroborate their alfertion
they added, that the vacant dark place about
the high altar, was the proper place of
the Creator of heaven and earth, who be
ing invifible, and '{Jite remote from our
fenles, could not be reprefented by vifible
images of idols, but that under that va
cuity and darknefs the due adoration was
to be given him as to a thing incompre
henfiblc, ufing the interceffion of the idols,
that they may obtain favours and bleffings
of him. And altho' according to what has
been hitherto faid, they feem to have an
efficient ard intellecl:ual caufe for Goo,
yet upon mature examinat:on of the mat
ter and their books, we find that they cer
tainly adore a predomin:int element.
devils appear fo frequently among thofe
heathens, that not to fprak of the oracles
they deliver by the mouth of idols, which
are in great eiteem among the wretched
gentiles, they walk about the cities fo fa.
miliarly in human f11apes, that they arc
not at all fearrd but admitted into com
pany, and this is carried fo far, that there
are abundance of Incubi and S11m1bi. And
 An Account of Cochin-China.
amon gre.tt people thofc hush.mets account crying out very loud, !i.f,1q11i ,'111ro, th:tt
t/iemtrlve luppy, who l..now their wives is, thL devil in a rnonllrou tliJ1c; whrrt'
h.1ve fuch famili.,rs \ for generally they upon Come wmilc:: rnmc runnint'; to dc
h l\'t to do with none hut m.ll'riell wo fire us, that fim.c we had Wt';1por:; ng.dnfl
nwn, puhlickly liu11l inr, that they ,tre wor thofc evil l'pirits, we would go l'l'lievc thole:
thy to 111ix with a naturr li.1 muc.:h above dillrcfli-d people who wnc: infrtlrd by them.
their own as i the 1b ils. It h.ipprncll Having recom111t1all-ll our frlvc to Go,,,
in my time, that a wn11un of grc.1t q11.1- and arni\l our fclvn with rroffr s, f{11111 lJ(is
lity, motlwr to two fon who were Cliri and rcl1rks, we wtnt two of m to the pLirc
lti !ns, envyed by her nl'ip,hbours not fo whentlte devil wa, and L'a111e fo 1war, that
murh for her be.mty, .1s tor ht1 dilhnncll we only w.111tcd t11rni11g of a corner to l,c
familiarity with th(! devil, politivcly re, upon hrm, whrn he l'udlknly \'aniflw,I, k,1v
t'uling tu become a Chrilli.111, c.11nc to die i11g three prints ofti.:rt upon the pavtmcnr,
in labour, and by the a1lifl.111ce of the de which I f.nv, and were above two f'pan
vil brought forth two l'gg: Now it be lung, with the marks 111'.t rnc:k's 1.ilons and
ing held as moll ccrt.1i11 among tlll'm, that tj,urs. Some attributed the devil's flying 10
the devil hc:r /11cub11s was r,o.l of the ri the virtue of the holy crofa and rclkks we
vers, they did not L,ury tl:c holly in a c.ivc, carried with us.
building .1 cha1,lI ovn it :1s is the ufoal Thefc frightful apparitions Go11 h:,s m:,dc
rnltom, but carrying it in folcmn pru ufe of to attraa: many to his holy faith,
("effion t,'l a river c.1ll- it into the deep, yet not denying them good vilions, a1
together with the two eggs, faying, let her will :,ppcar by the following :iccidenu,
go to the lord of the riwr, fincc fhc was which happened brfore me in that king-
worthy to have to do with him when livin. dom. The lirlt w:is, that as we were one
Among the common fort this filthimfs 1s day in our own hottfc, we faw a proceffion
nut clkcmcd an honour, but they r:ither of a v.,fi multitude of pc:oplc in a field
:ircount it a grievous diltempcr when their making tow.mis 11. whither when they
women are thus molcficll by the llc:vil, c:imc, being nfkcd wh:,t they would h:ivc,
:\S we fhoulll their being poffdl. Thcfo they anl'werril, that a moll: beautiful l.uly
women therefore un,lcrllanding that the came from rheir bn<I through the air, on
rcliion of the fathers was altogether op :\ throne of bright clouds, who bid them
JlOhte to the devil, they imagined tlll'y go to that c:ity, whcrc they fhoulJ find
miht h.we fome medicine againlt tlm the fa1hrr, who would fhc:w them the
ditlcmper, c:illing holy things, as the wa fore w.,y to blifs, :tml the knowklge of
ter of baptifm, Agnus Dds, and the like, the true Goo of heavrn. This made 11s
mctlkincs, an,l tlll'rcfurc came to our houfe give thanks to the blc:flcd Virgin, whole
to bLg fuch mrdicincs ; am! by the gr.1cc thi f,rcat benefit was ownCtl to be, and
of Go1> all thofe that carried away with havin9 catechifcd anti baptifed the 11eople
t 1\ rn any bit of Agnus Dei, wLre never frnt tl1cm home wdl plcafc:d.
m:1re moldkd by the devil, yet with The frcond was at :mother time, F.
this difference, tbt thofo who were not Frt111<is Buz.ome an,1 J returning homcw.ird
Chrifiians faw the Incubus c.:omc to the together, Cuch an ultitudc of people c,1mc
b.:d'sfillc, but had not power to lay hold to another phcr, "ho having p:iid us very
on, or touch their pcrfons, whereas the much rcfped, toll! F. Frn11ds Buz.ome, they
Chrifl:i.1ns pcrcehed that he could not come were come to him to teach them wh:rt he
near the chamber-door, which occafioneJ haJ promifctl them the night bl'fort when
fcveral to be l;,,1,::7,ed. he was in their town. The father w.r,
Tho' thcfc Inmb11; devils appearing in nfionifhed at thrir demand, having never
human 1pcs, do no harm to the boJy, been in the pbce they fJ1okc of; but ex
yet fomwmes there arc others th.it appear m aminin& into the 111:HtLr, I fonnd that Gol)
horrid and frightful fhapcs, and the Corbin of his infinite mercy 1ml c.:aulcd fomc an
C!.,imfis, who have often fcen, llcfcribe them gel in the father'& lhape, or in a dream
.1fta the fame m.mncr as we p,1int them, had given thofe people fume knowktlgc
for cx.1mple 1 with a cock's face, a long of our holy faith. Thl' fame ol' tlrefo mi
t.iil, a bat's wings, a liidcuus look, bloody racle: being fprcad abroad, fuc.:h numbcn
flaming eyes; and whrn they appear in of people were converted, that the church
fuch Jhapcs, they arc much feared, being given us by the governor w.1s too little,
then generally hurtful to men, fometimcs and we were forceJ to build one Lrgcr,
carrying them up to he tops of houfes to his wife, children, anJ kindred, with ma
call d1Lm down lu::1Jlung. \V c once hc:ard ny other Chrillians co11t1ibuting towarJi;
wont!c1 f'ul nuifo of pco11le in our firecr, . ir.
 An Account ef Cochin-China.
CH AP. X.
OJ tht Churchts and Chri.Jlans of Faifo,
f Francis ,11 Pina being gone to Faifo,
;\ city of the 7aponef,:s, as was faid be
fore, he there joined F. Pt'ler Marques, and
they did great fervicc in that city. The
latl of them, who was mafier of the 'Ja
poneft tongue, in a thort time reformed
fome of .:hole Chri{fons who were become
libertint'll, nml kept women, and converted
many pagans. The other who undcrfiood
the 1:ioguge of Cocbin-China made many
Chrifiians, anil having convinced fome bon
os and omfaiis, by that means drew over
m,1ny more to the holy faith; fo that be.
tween Japonefes nncl Cochin-Cbinefts, that
church for number and religious obfervance
might compare with many in Europe, fuch
was their piety, zc:il, frel)ucnting of the
facramcnts, and other godly works. The
church of '.furo11, which we faid in the fe
cond cluptcr of this book, the heathens
burnt llown during' Lhe lirlt r.erfecution,
was by ,c,o's permi!lion rebuilt by means
of the fathers " the focicty, who gained
mnny Chrillians in that city.
Abundance of people were likewifc con-
vcrted t0 our faith at Cnccbiam; which
goou work w;1s much forwarded by the
CH AP. XI.
Of the Kingdom ofTunchim.
W ll EN the fupcriors of Jtfacao Cent
me into Cocbill-Cbi11a, they told me,
they did not abfolutely defign I fhould
continue in that miffion, but only to learn
the language, that I might afterwards dif
covcr the kingdom of 'l'tmchim. For this
reafon during thofc five years I dwelt therr,
I ahnoll mnde it my bufinefs to enquire
into, and get certain information of the
atfairs of th:it kingLlom, the language be
ing the fame, as formerly it was but one
kindom. I will therefore fay as much
of 1t as any way concerns Cochin-China,
which has Come depcmlance upon 'limchim,
and this according to the accounts given
me by 11.1tives of 'l'unchim, who c.ime to
the province of Pulucnmbi, where I re
fidcd moll part of my time; the rell: I
will leave to the news we fl1all recei re
from our fathers, who are there Hill mak
ing further difcovcrics.
This kingdom , belides Cochi1,.Chi11a
which bcluncr to it, c.:ontains fo,Jr other
provinces, all extending Cl}U,llly in length
and breadth. In the very center of them
is the roy.11 city of 'li111chim, from which
all the king<lom t:ikcs n.une, there the
Turon, and C:icchiam.
Omgne, who on account of the father's
fortelling the cdipli: fo c.:crrainly, as was
before obfervcd, publirkly affirnwd, there
was no other true religion but that thl'
f.ithcrs taught. This w:1s the llate or
atl:iirs there, when I came away out of
tha i:ountry for Europe, which was in the
y,ar 1621..
Afterwards by the annual letlrrq fcnt me
by thofc fathers, my companions left there
cultivating that vincyarJ, I underllooLl
that there were llill about a thoufand t:on
vtrted :tnd bapti1.ed in :i year, and that
Chrlnianity flouriflml more than ever it
had Jone :1t Ca"hia111 p;Hticularly. But
now of late they write, that the king 1ml
forbid any 1norc becomin Chrifiians, nml
thrcatncd to expel the fathers out of the
kingdom, nnd this becaufe the Portugueft
trade :1ilcJ. Yet it plcafcJ Goo this per
fccution went no farther, he king being
fatisficd, provided one of the fathers went
away to Maeno, to endeavour to perfuac!c
the Porl11g1ufas to continue the trade, as it
fecms was afterwards done, fo that things
arc now quiet, and the fathers c.:ontinuc
gaining new Chriltians as they did at firll:.
court is kl-pt, anll the king relidcs, being,
cncompaffid on all fidcs by thofc.: four
provinces, compofing a fquare four times
a big as Cochill-Chi11a. On the e.ill:-fide
of this kingdom is the gulf of Ainam,
into which falls :\ great and navigable ri
ver that runs down eighteen leagues from
the city 'l'u11cbim, and Japonefe fhips eall'd
7onlcs go up it. This river generally over
Hows twice a year, in June and November,
drowning almoll: half the city, but it latls
not long. On the fouth are the frontiers
of Sinuva, the court of Cochin-China, as
lrns been obfcrved already. On the north
of it is China, without the defence of a
wall, the trade and commerce between the
Chineft: and 'l'uncbillefes being fo mutual
and conll:ant, r.hat it will not allo\\ of walls
and gates fhu:, as they arc again,l; other
foreigners. This is the reafon that .,duces
the fathers of our focicty to attempt the
entrance into China that way, knowing
they fhall not on this fide meet with all
thofe impediments that ll:rangers meet with
throughout all r:he rell of the kingdom,
and more efpcck.'.ly about Ca,11011. Lafily,
on the weft it borders on the kingdom of
 An Account of Cochin-China.
Lai, hto which F. A!e.:.111der Rhodes of
At'ig11011 nude hi. wJy thro' Co,bin-China;
nnd thi ki11gdu111, I am of opinion, c:in
not but borJrr upon tbat of 'l'ibet, newly
clifrovcml; which I am ape to believe, as
wdl by rc.1fon cf the excrnt amt length of
the IJnd of 'libel uml border of Lai, be
caufc by the grcatncfs aml comp.ifs of thcf.:
two kingdoms, it fcems impor.iblc th.it ,my
other bud fhoukl lie betwixt thc-m; as :ilfo
much more on account of what the fame
fathers who were t:1crc rel.He of 'libel,
who report ell.It the Circ:1cfl: province of
'l"ibet c.1llw.ml bordi:r.i 11po11, .ind tr.ides
with :1 people, who fdl d1c111 rnw filk and
line dillm, like thofc of Chi11,1, and fucl1
like commodities, which we know 'li111-
cl.ii111 :1bound in, and f..:11 them to the
L,,1!is.
.As to the government of this kingdom
it is hrcdit.uy , and ruled as follows:
The fopr::me regal cl ignity refidcs in one
they call B1111a; but he of himfclf docs no
thing at :ill, all things bdng left to his
f.ivouricc, whom they call Cbiuua, whofc
power is fo abfolute both in peace and
w.1r, th.tt he is com<:: Ly degrees to own
no fupcrior; the B1111<1 rem.1ining in his
roval p.1tlce, quite cue off from all ma
nagement of the publick affairs, f.1tisfied
with an exteriour relpcct due to him as a
fort of f.icred pcrfon, and with the atho
rity of m.,king J.1ws, and confirming all
edicts. \Vhcn the Cbillua dies, he always
rnde.,vours to have his fan fuccecd him
in the government; but for the moll part
it foils out th:1t tlac tutors of thofc fems
afpiring themrrtvcs to th:1t llignity, endea
vour to murder thr:m, and by th.1t means
pofffs themfclvcs of the dignity of Cbi11ua.
The Cbi1111.1's power is fo gre.1t, that
fuitablc tn the bigncfs of the kingclom, he
is able to bring into the fidd three or four
timr the number of men as the king of
Cocbi11,Cbi11a, whofc army as was faidabove
amounts co 80000 men. Nor is it any
The CONCLUSION.
I T is not poffiblc but that fuch as have
lc,1fl: inclination to the difcovery of the
worll!, and arc moft affected to their own
countries and homes, mufl: be excited by
this fhort account to dcCirc to fee not only
the variety but the truth of fuch fl:range
things, which tho' thty be not fupernatu
ral, lllay yet be tcrm'd miracles ot nature.
Such arc thofe I have faid I faw in Co,hin
Cbina, a I.rnd as to its clinucc and feafons of
the year habitable, by rcafon of the fruic
fulm:fs of its foil abounding in provifions,
fruit, birds, and bcafis, and the fca, in
choice and ddicious fi(h; amt mofl healthy,
uccaufc of the excellent temper of the air,
difficult matter for the Chuma, :ts often as
he plcafcs, to raifo 300000 :irmed men or
more, bccaufc the prim:: lords of hi king
dom, Cuch as among us, dukes, 111.1r911er.
frs, and c.1rls, arc ublig\l in time ot w;ir
to t'urnilh them ,lt their own rxpc,ic:, The
B11na's Hrength jq not above 40000 men
fur his gu.ml. Yet he is alw.1ys own'll
as fupcriour to the Chi111111 of 'T1111'bim,
by the king ol' Corbi11-Chi11a, and by
that other Chi1111a, we obfcrv\l in the
firfi book to he fled into the province bor
dering upon Chi11,1, tho' thdc arc continu
ally at w.1r againll one :inuthcr ; ,, 1d the
king of Lais bordering upon 'limchill,, p,l)'S
him :1 certain tribute.
Therefore when we fay this crown i., he-
rcditary, it i.i to be uml..:rlloml only in rc-
li:rcncc to the b1111a whofo children alwJys
fucceed, the royal r.1cc being continunl in
his family. This is as much as I thought
fie briefly to fay of the kingdom of 'J'uu-
thim, from what I could learn of it till my
return into E11r0Je.
Since then I have been inform\!, that
F. Julia11 Baldi1101te, an Italian born at Pif
toria in '1'11ji:any, was frnt into that king
Jorn to make fomc wJy for the gofpel, and
arriv'd from J.,facaQ at the city 'ltmcbim,
after a month's fail. J\s for what the f.ikt
father found in that country, what pafs'd
between the king and him, the folemnity
of his reception, anti the firll: foundation
lie l.1id for Chrifti,mity, I refer the reader
to the account given h1tely by that father
himfelf; and we arc fl:ill expecting frelh
advices from the other fathers, as F. Peter
!larq11es a Portuguefa, and F. Alexander
Rhodes of Avig, 11011, who we faid before had
been in Cocbi11-Cbi11a and are there ftill
g.1ining Chrifl:ians. We therefore hope
both thefc kingdoms of 'l'u,ubim and Co
chin-China, will foo11 be united to the flock
of the church, acknowledging and giving
the due obedience co the univerfal paftor anJ
vicar of CuR 1ST our LoR o on earth,
infomuch th:tt thofe people do not yet
know what the pl.1gue is. It is rich
in gold, filver, filk, Calambd, and other
things of great value, fie for trade by reafon
of the pores and refort of all nations: peace
able, becaufc of their loving, generous, and
fweet difpofition : and laltly fecurc, not
only by the valour and bravery of the Co
chi11-Chillefts accounted fuch by other cuun
tries, and their ftore of arms, and lkill in
managing them ; but even by n:tturc, which
has fhut it in on the one hde by the fea,
and on the other by the rocky /lips, and
uncouth mountains of the Kemois. This i
that part of the earth call'J Co,bin-Chi1111,
 An Account of Cohin-china.
which wants nothing to make it a p:i.rt of
heaven, but that Goo ll1ould fend thither
a great many ofhis angels, fo S. Jobn Cbr'j
fajlom c'alls apoltolical men, ancf preachers
oft he gofpcl, How eafily would the faith
be fjm:ad abroad in this kingdom of Cochin
China, where there arc: not tho(c difficulties
which we fathers of the fociety di(pers'J
about the Eaft, do meet with in orher coun
tries ; for there is no need here of being
di(guis'd or concc:al'd, there people admit
ting of all fl:rangcrs in their kingdom, and
bein well plcas'd that every one fhould live
in his own religion. Nor is it necerr.1ry
before preaching to (pend many years in
fl:udying their letters and hicroglyphicks,
as the fathers in China do, for here it is e
nough to learn the language, which as has
been faid is foeafie, that a man may preach
In a year. The p(Oplc arc not fhy, nor
do tney fhun (hangers, as is praais'd in
other eafiern nations, but mal<c much of
them, atfeB: their perfons, prize their com
modities, and commend their dothine.
They do not lie under that great impe
diment for the receiving the grace of the
gofpcl, that is, the fin of fodomy, and o
thers contrary to nature, which is frequent
i11 all the other caftcrn countries, the very
name whereof the Cochin-Cbin,fis naturally
abhor. In 1hort, thcfc people may very
eafily be taught the principal myfl:erics of
our holy faith, they, as we have fhcwn, in
a manner adoring but one only Goo, ac
countin$ the idols as inferior faints, allow
ing the immortality of the foul, eternal pu
nifhmcnts for the wicked, and blifs for the
F I N I S.
juft, ufing temple,. facrificcs, proccffions 1
fo that changing the objects, It would be
eafie to introduce the worfhip. That here
will be no difficulty in making out the my
nery of the holy eucharlft may appear by
the diftinction they make between the acci
dents and fobfl:ance of the meat they pro
vide for the dead, as has been faid above in
this fecond book. All thefe things infbr.,;,
the minds of the children of the fociety,
who tho' reclufc and fhut up in the collegl's
and provinces of Europt, have an ardent
dcfire to convert the world. And tho'
many ofthem put it in practice with thea(
lHlance of the holy fee apoftolick, which
with a fatherly care relieves the miffion of
1apan as alfo by his catholick majefl:y
king Philip, and his council of the lndiu,
who fo frequently with incredible bouncy
fupply the Eajl and Wejl-lndiu with mim
fl:ers of the gofpcl, yet 1t is impoffiblc that
thcfe two great pillars which liipport other
mighty weights, and bear almoft all the
world on their fhoulders, can fufficiently
fupply all that dally occurs and is difco
ver'd, I therefore truft in Goo, that his
Divine Providence will rouze up fome gene
rous foul, inflam'd with the zeal of Goo's
honour, to fend and maintain fomc evange
lical minifl:m, who fatisfy'd with a religi
<us and poor fuftenancc. may convey tho
food of the gofpel not only throughout Co
chin-Chin,., but unto the grt kingdom of
'l'uncbim, founding a church and chrlftian
flock that may compare with the mo{\ fO
nowncd in the world,