SOAS Bulletin of Burma Research, Vol. 2, No. 2, Autumn 2004, ISSN 1479-8484
Editor's note:
Cesar Fedrici's travelled in India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East in the 1560s-
1580s and his account has been immensely influential in the literature. One reason
for this, is that it is not given to the hyperbole of the near-contemporary account of
Mendez Pinto and because of its great attention to detail concerning the state, its
administrators, and trade at Pegu.Unfortunately Fedrici, who spent a considerable
amount of time in Pegu and to a lesser extent in Martaban, in the late 1560s, does
not provide us with comparable information on local society, although he still
provides some valuable information in this area.
Fedrici was presumably a Venetian, from where he says he began his
travels, and his account was originally published in Italian. The most complete
version of his account published in English is the original publication of Thomas
Hickok's translation (london: Richard Jones, 18 June 1588), under the title of The
Voyage and Travaile: Of M. Caesar Frederick, Merchant of Venice, Into the East
India, the Indies, and Beyond, Wherein are Contained Very Pleasant and Rare
Matters, With the Customes and Rites of Those Countries. Also, Herein are
Discovered the Merchandises and Commodities of those Countreyes, aswell the
Aboundance of Goulde and Silver, as Spices, Drugges, Pearles, and Other Jewelles.
Fortunately, the British Library has a complete and clear copy of this early book.
The Hickok translation is the translation used by later editors. However, one
obstacle in making full use of Fedrici is the way in which his account was cut by
different editors in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and published in
various extracts. Even the two earliest compilations that incorporated Hickock's
translation altered the text and unconsciously incoporated copyist's errors. For
example, those who questioned, as asserted by these later editions, whether
Tenasserim did indeed supply nutmeg to the world market, will find that "nuts" in
the Hickok original was transformed into "nutmeg." The first of the two early
republications is the first collection of travels edited by Richard Hakluyt. This was
published in London in 1600 within the third volume of Hakluyt' s The Principal
Navigations Voyages Traffiques & Discoveries of the English Nation made by sea
or overland to the Remote and Farthest Distant quarters of the Earth at any time
within the compass of these 1600 years (hereafter Voyages). The more commonly
used version of Federici, however, is the later and shorter version edited by Samuel
Purchas and published as "Extracts of Master Caesar Fredericke his eighteene
yeeres Indian Observations" in the Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas his
Pilgrimes .(hereafter Hakluytus). Not only were Hakluyt's errors repeated, more
were added, and substantial sections of the account related to Burma were deleted.
130 ©2004 SOAS
131 S OAS BULLETIN OF BURMA RESEARCH
The account reproduced below attempts to provide as complete a version
of Federici's account of Pegu as possible, based on the Hakluyt and Purchas
editions, but checked for major errors against the original Hickok translation. The
text included below only includes the sections relevant to Burma and Southeast
Asia, for information on trade in India and the Middle East, the reader is directed to
the Voyages or Hakluytus Posthumus, or the Hickok original (the latter may be
republished here in a later issue).
M.W.C.
ACCOUNT OF PEGU
Cesar Fedrici of Venice
Translated from the Italian by Master Thomas Hickock
Caesar Frederick to the Reader
I having (Gentle Reader) for the space of eighteene yeeres continually coasted &
travelled as it were, all the East Indies, and many other countreyes beyonde the
Indies, wherein I have had both good and yll successe, in my travells. I have seen
& understood many things worthy the noting, and to bee knowne to all the world:
the which were never as yet written of any: I thought it good (seeing the almightie
had given me grace, after so long Perilles in passing such a long voyage,) to returne
into my owne countrey, the noble Citie of Venice I say, I thought it good, as
breefely as I could, to write and set foorth this voiage made by mee, with the
mervellous things I have seene in my travels in the Indies. The mightie Princes that
govern those Cuntreys, Their Religion, and faith that they have, the rytes and
customes which they use, and live by, of the divers successe that hapned unto me,
and howe many of these conntreys are abounding with spices, drugs, and jewels,
giving also profitable advertisement, to all those that have a desire to make such a
voyage. And because that the whole world may more commodiously rejoice at this
my travell, I have caused it to bee printed in this order; and nowe I present it unto
you (Gentle and loving Readers) to whome for the varieties of thinges herein
conteined, I hope that it shall bew with great delight received, and thus God of his
goodnesse keepe you.
Caesar Frederick
SBBR 2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
ACCOUNT OF PEGU 1 3 2
A Voyage to the East Indies, and Beyond the Indies, &c.
IN the yeere of our Lorde God 1563, 1 Caesar Frederick, being in Venice, and very
desirous to see the Easte partes of the worlde: I shipped my selfe in a shippe called
the Gradaige of Venice with certaine merchandise, governed by M. Jacamo Vatica,
which was bound to Cypris with his ship, with whome I went, and when wee were
arived in Cipris, I left that ship and went in a lesser to Tripoly in Soria, where I
stayed a while. Afterward I tooke my journey to Alexo, & there I acquainted my
selfe with merchantes of Armenia, and Moores: that were Merchants, and
consorted to go with them to Ornus, and we departed from Alepo, and in two dayes
journy and a halfe, we came to a Citie called Bir. . .
In my voyage, returning in the yeere of our Lord God, one thousand, five
hundred, sixtye and sixe [1566], I went from Goa unto Malacca, in a Shippe or
Galion of the King of Portingales [Portugal], which went unto Banda for to lade
Nutmegs and Maces: from Goa to Malacca, one thousand eight hundred miles we
passed within the I[s]land Zeyland [Ceylon], and went through the chanell of
Nicubar, or else through the channell of Sombrero, which is by the middle of the
I[s]land of Sumtara, called Taprobana: & from Nicuber to Pigue [Pegu] is as it
were, a rowe or chaine of an infinite number of I[s]landes, of which many are
enhabited, with wilde people, and they call those I[s]lands the I[s]lands of
Andeman, and they call their people savage or wilde, because they eate one
another: also these I[s]lands have warre one with another, for they have small
Barkes, and with them they take one an other, and so eate one an other: and if by
evill chaunce any Ship be loste on those I[s]lands, as many have beene, there is not
one man of those Ships lost there that escapeth uneaten or unslaine.
These people have not any acquaintance with any other people, neither
have they trade with any, but live onely of such fruites as those I[s]lands yeeldeth:
and if any Ship come neere unto that place or coast as they passe that way, as in my
voiage it happened, as I came from Malaca through the channell of Sombrero, there
came two of theyr barckes neere unto our shippe laden with fruite, as with Mouces
which we call Adams Apples, with fresh nuttes, and with a fruite called Inany:
which fruite is lyke to our Turnops, but is verye sweete and good to eate: they
would not come into the shippe for any thing that wee could doe: neither would
they take any money for theyr fruite: but they would trucke for olde shirtes or
peeces of old linnen breeches, these ragges they let Downe with a rope into their
barke unto them, and looke what they thought those things to bee worth, so much
fruite they would make fast to the rope and let us hale it in, and it was tolde me that
at sometimes a man shall have for an olde shirte a good peece of Ambar.
SBBR2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
133 S OAS BULLETIN OF BURMA RESEARCH
Sumatra
This I[s]land of Sumatra is a great I[s]land and devyded and governed by many
kinges, and devided into many channels, where through there is a passage: upon
the head land towards the West is the kingdome of Assi and governed by a Moore
king, this king is of great force and strength as he that beside his great kingdome,
hath many foists and Gallies. In his kingdome groweth great store of Pepper,
Ginger, Benjamin, he is a bitter enemie to the Portingale and hath divers times
beene at Malacca to fight against it, and hath doone great harme ti the bowzoughes
thereof, but the Cittie alwaie defended . . . valientlie, and with theyr ordinaunce dyd
great spoyle to hys Campe, at length, I came to the Cittie of Malacca.
Malacca
Malacca is a Cittie of merveilous great trade of all kind of merchandize, which
commeth from divers parts, bicause that all the Ships that saile in these seas, both
great and small, are bound to touch at Malacca, to paye their custome there,
although they unlade nothing at all as we do at Elsinor: and if by night they escape
away, and pay not their custome, then they fall into greater danger after: for if they
come into the Indies and have not the seate of Malacca, they paye Double custome,
I have not passed farther then Malacca towards the East, but that whichh I will
speake of here, is by good information of them that have beene there. [It] be sailing
from Malacca towards the East, is not common for all men, as China and Giapan,
and so forwards to goe who will, but onlye for the king of Portingale and his
nobles, with leave granted unto them of the king to make such voiages, or to the
jurisdiction of the captaine of Malacca, where he expecteth to know what voiages
they make from Malacca thether, and these are the kings voiages, that every year,
ether Departeth from Malacca, two Galions of the kings, one of them goeth to the
Muluccos to lade Cloves, and the other goeth to Banda to lade Nutmegs and
Maces. These two Galians are laden for the king, neither doo they carrye anye
particular mans goods, saving the portage of the Mariners and Soldiors, and for this
cause, they are not voiages for Merchants, bicause that going thether he shall not
have where to lade his goods of returne, and besides this the Captaine will not
carrye anye Merchant for either of these two places. There goeth small Ships of the
Mores thether, which come from the coast of Java, and change of guild their
commodities in the kingdom of Assa, and these be Maces, Cloves, and Nutmegs,
which go for the Straights of Meca. The voiages that the king of Portingale
granteth to his nobles are these, of China and Giapan: from China to Giapan, and
from Giapan to China, and from China to the Indies, and the voiage of Bengaluco
Sonda, with the lading of fine cloth, and every sort of of Bumbast cloth. Sonda is
SBBR 2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
ACCOUNT OF PEGU 1 3 4
an I[s]land of the Mores, naere to the coast of Giava, and there they lade Pepper for
China. It be ships that goeth everye yeare from the Indies to China is called the
Ship of Drugs, because she carieth divers Drugs of Cambaya: but the greatest part
of hir lading is silver. From Malacca to China is 1800 miles, and from China to
Giapan, goeth every yeare a great ship of great importance, laden with silke, which
for returne of their silke bring bars of Silver which they truck in China, that is
diffant betweene China and Giapan 2400 miles, and in this waye there is divers
I[s]lands, not very big, in which the friers of S. Paule by the helpe of God, make
many Christians there like to themselves: from these I[s]lands hetherwards is not
yet Discovered, for the great sholdness of the Sands that they find. The Portingales
have made a small Citie neere unto the coast of China called Macha, whose church
and houses are of wood, and hath a Bishoprike: but the customes are of the king of
China, and they go and pay it at a Cittie called Canton, which is a Cittie of great
importance, and verye beautifull, two dayes journeye and a halfe from Macheo,
which people are Gentiles, and are so jealious and fearefull, that they would not
have a stranger to put his foote within their land, so that when the Portingales goe
thether to paye their custome, and to buye their Merchandize, they will not consent
that they shall lye or lodge within the Cittie, but sendeth them forth into the
subburbs....
Pegu's Conquest of Siam
Sion was the Imperiale seate, and a great Citie, but in the yeere of our Lord God
1567. it was taken by the king of Pegu, which king made a voyage or came by land
foure moneths journey with an armie of men through his land, and the number of
his armie was a Milion and foure hundreth thousand men of warre: when he came
to the Citie, he gave assault to it, and besieged it twentye and one moneths before
he could winne it, with great losse of his people, this I know, for that I was in Pegu
six monethes after his departure, and sawe when that his officers that were in Pegu,
sent five hundreth thousand men of warre to furnish the places of them that were
slaine and lost in that assault: yet for all this, if there had not beene treason against
the Citie, it had not beene lost, for on a night there was one of the gates set open,
through the which with great trouble the King gat into the Citye, and became
governour of Sion: and when the Emperour saw that he was betraid, and that his
enimie was in the Citie, he poysoned himseife, and the wives and children, friend
and noblemen, that were not slaine in the first affront of the entrance into the Citie,
were all carried captives into Pegu, where I was at the comming home of the king
with his triumphes and victorie, which coming home and returning from the warres
was a goodlye sight to behold, to see the Elephants come home in a square, laden
SBBR2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
135 S OAS BULLETIN OF BURMA RESEARCH
with Gold, Silver, Jewels, and with Noble men and women that were taken
prisoners in that Citie.
Now to returne to my Voyage: I departed from Malacca in a great Shippe
which went for S. Tome, being a Cittie situate on the coast of Chiriamandell, and
because the captaine of the castels of Malacca having understanding pro aduyzo
[by advice], that the King of Assi would come with a great armye and power of
men against them, therefore upon this he would not give licence that anye Ships
should Departe: Wherefore in this Shippe we departed in the night, without making
any provision of our water: and wee were in that Shippe fowr [four] hundreth and
odde men: wee Departed from thence with Intention to goe to an I[s]land to take in
water, but the windes were so contrary, that they woulde not suffer us to fetch it, so
that by this meanes wee were two and forty Dayes in the Sea as it were lost, and we
were driven too and fro. 1
Tenasserim
From the Port of Pequineo I went to Cochim, and from Cochim to Malaca, from
whence I departed for Pegu eight hundred miles distant. That voyage was wont to
bee made in twentie five or thirtie dayes, but wee were foure moneths, and at the
end of three moneths our Shippe was without victualles. The Pilot tolde us that wee
were by his altitude [not farre] from a Citie called Tenassiry, a citie in the
kingdome of Pegu, and these his wordes were not true, but we were (as it were) in
the middle of manie I[s]lands, and manie uninhabited rocks, and there were also
some Portugals that affirmed that they knew the Land, and knewe also where the
Citie of Tenassiry was.
Which Citie of right belongeth to the kingdome of Sion, which is situate on
a great river side, which commeth out of the kingdome of Sion: and where this
river runneth into the sea, there is a village called Mergy, in whose harbour everie
yere there ladeth some Shippes with Verzina, Nypa, and Benjamin, a few cloves,
nuts & maces which come from the coast of Sion, but the greatest merchandise
there is verzina and nypa, which is an excellent Wine, which is had in the flowze of
a tree called Nyper. Whose liquor they distill, and so make an excellent drincke
cleere as Christall, good to the mouth, and better to the stomacke, and it hath an
excellent gentle virtue, that if one were rotten with the french pocks, drinking good
store of this, hee shall bee whole againe, and I have seen it proved, because that
when I was in Cochin, ther was a friende of mine, that his nose began to droppe
away with that disease, and was counselled of the Doctors of Phisicke that he
should goe to Tenassary at the time of the new wines, and that hee should drincke
1 What follows is an account of India's eastern seaboard, which we omit here. M.W.C.
SBBR 2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
ACCOUNT OF PEGU 1 3 6
of the nyper wine, night and day, as much as he could before it was distilled, which
at that time is most delicate, but after that it is distilled, it is more stronger, and [if
you] drincke much of it, it will fume into the heade with drunkennesse. This man
went thither, and did so, and I have seene him after with a good colour and sounde.
This Wine is verie much esteemed in the Indies, and for that it is brought so farre
off, it is very deare: in Pegu ordinarily it is good cheape, because it is neerer to the
place where they make it, and there is everie yeere great quantitie made thereof.
Difficulties of Journey
And returning to my purpose, I say, being amongst these rockes, and farre from the
land which is over against Tenassary, with great scarcitie of victualles, and that by
the saying of the Pylate and two Portugalles, holding them firme that we were in
front of the aforesaide harbour, we determined to goe thither with our boat and
fetch victualles, and that the Shippe shoulde stay for us in a place assigned.
We were twenty and eight persons in the boat that went for victualles, and
on a day about twelve of the clocke wee went from the Ship, assuring our selves to
be in the harbour before night in the aforesaide port, wee rowed all that day, and a
great part of the next night, and all the next day without finding harbour, or any
signe of good landing, and this came to passe through the evill counsel of the two
Portugalles that were with us.
For wee had overshot the harbour and left it behinde us, in such wise that
wee had loste the lande enhabited with the Ship, and we twentie eight men had no
manner of victuall with us in the boate, but it was the Lords will that one of the
Mariners, had brought a little Ryce with him in the boat to barter away for some
other thing, and it was not so much but that three or fowre men would have eaten it
at a meale: I tooke the government of this Ryce, promising that by the helpe of God
that Ryce should be nourishment for us until, it plesed God to send us to some
place that was enhabited: and when I slept I put the ryce into my bosome because
they shoulde not rob it from me: we were nine dayes rowing alongst the coast,
without finding any thing but Countries uninhabited, and deserts I[s]land, where if
we had found but grasse it would have seemed Sugar unto us, but wee coulde not
finde any, yet wee founde a fewe leaves of a tree, and they were so hard that we
could not chew them, we had Water and Wood sufficient, and as we rowed, we
could goe but by flowing Water, for when it was ebbing Water, we made fast our
boat to the bancke of one of those I[s]lands.
And in these nine dayes that we rowed, wee found a cave or nest of
Tortugaes [Tortoise] egges, wherein was a hundred & fortie fowre egges, the which
was a great helpe unto us: these egges are as big as a hennes egge, and have no
shell about them but a tender Skinne, everie day wee sodde a Ketle full of them
SBBR2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
137 S OAS BULLETIN OF BURMA RESEARCH
egges, with a handfull of ryce in the broth thereof: it pleased God that at the ende
of nine dayes, wee discovered certaine fisher men fishing with small barkes, and
wee rowed towards them, with a good cheere, for I thinke there were never men
more glad then we were, for we were so sore afflicted with penurie that we could
skarce stand on our legs. Yet according to the order that we set for our ryce, when
we saw those fisher men, there was left sufficient for foure dayes. The first village
that we came to, was in the gulfe of Tavay, under the king of Pegu, whereas wee
founde greate store of victualles: then for two or three dayes after our arrivall there,
wee woulde eate but little meate, anie of us; and yet for all this, we were at the
point of death the most part of us.
Martaban
From Tavay to Martavan in the kingdome of Pegu, are seventie two miles. We
laded our boate with victuals which was aboundantly sufficient for sixe monethes,
from whence wee departed for the porte and Citie of Martavan, where in short time
we arrived, but wee founde not our Ship there as we had thought we should, from
whence presently wee made out two barkes to goe to looke for her. And they
found her in great calamitie, and neede of Water, being at an ancker with a
contrarie winde, and came very yll to passe, because that shee wanted her boate a
moneth which should have made her provision of wood and water; the ship also by
the grace of God arived safely in the aforesaide port of Martavan.
We found in the Citie of Martavan ninetie Portugalles of Merchantes and
other base men, which had fallen at difference with the Rector or Governour of the
Citie, and for this cause, that certaine vagabondes of the Portugalles had slayne five
falchines of the kinges of Pegu, which chaunced about a moneth after that the king
of Pegu was gone with a million and foure hundred thousand men to conquer the
kingdome of Sion, they have for custome in this country and kingdome, that the
king being wheresoever his pleasure is to be out of this kingdom, that everie
fifteene dayes there goeth from Pegu a caravan of falchines, with everie one a
basket on his heade full with some fruites or other delicates of refreshings, and
with cleane clothes: it chaunced that this caravan passing by Martavan, and resting
themselves there a night, there happened betweene the Portugalles and them:
wordes of dispight, and from words to blowes, and because it was thought that the
Portugals had the worse, the night following, when the falchines were a sleepe with
their companie, the Portugalles went and cut off five of their heades.
Nowe there is a Lawe in Pegu, that whosoever killeth a man, hee shall buy
the shed bloud with his monie, according to the estate of the person that is slaine,
but these falchines being the servauntes of the king, the Retors durst not doe any
thing in the matter, without the consent of the king, because it was necessarie that
SBBR 2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
ACCOUNT OF PEGU 1 3 8
the king should knowe of such a matter. When the king had knowledge thereof, he
gave commaundement that the malifactors shoulde bee kept untill his comming
home, and then he would duely minister justice, but the captaine of the Portugalles
would not deliver those men, but rather set himselfe with all the rest in armes, and
went everie day through the citie marching with the Drumme and ancient
[Ensignes] displayed. For at that time the Citie was emptie of men, by reason they
were gone al to the warres and in businesse of the King: in the middest of this
rumour wee came thether, and I thought it a straunge thing to see the Portugalles
use such insolencie in another mans Cittie.
Dealings with the Retor at Martaban 2
And I stoode in doubte of that which came to passe, & would not unlade my
goodes because that they were more surer in the ship then on the land, the greatest
part of the lading was the owners of the ship, who was in Malacca, yet there were
divers merchants there, but their goods were of small importance, al those
merchants told me that they woulde not unlade any of their goodes there, unlesse I
would unlade first, yet after they left my counsell & followed their own, and put
their goods a land and lost it everie whit.
The Rector with the customer sent for me, and demaunded why I put not
my goods a lande, and payd my custome as other men did? To whom I answered,
that I was a merchant that was newly come thither, & seeing such disorder amongst
the Portugalles, I doubted the losse of my goodes which cost me very dear, with the
sweate of my face, and for this cause I was determined not to put my goodes a
lande, untill such time as his honour would assure me in the name of the king, that
I shoulde have no losse although there came harme to the Portugalles, that neither I
nor my goodes should have any hurt, because I had neither part nor any difference
with them in this rumor: my reason sounded well in the Retors eares, and presently
commaunded to cal the Bargits, which are as Counsellers of the Citie & there they
promised me on the kings head or in the behalfe of the king, that neither I nor my
goods should have anie harme, but that we should be safe & sure: of which promise
there was made publike notes, and then I sent for my goods and had them a land,
and payd my custome, which is in that countrie ten in the hundreth of the same
goodes, and for my more securitie I tooke a house right against the Retors house.
The Captain of the Portugalles, and all the Portugal merchants were put out
of the Citie, and I with twentie and two poore men which were officers in the ship.
We had our dwelling in the Citie. After this, the Gentils devised to be revenged of
the Portugales; but they woulde not put it in execution untill such time as our small
' This section is included in Voyages but not in Hakluytus . M.W.C.
SBBR2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
139 S OAS BULLETIN OF BURMA RESEARCH
Shippe had discharged all her goodes, and then the next night following came from
Pegu fowre thousand souldiers with some Elyphants of Warre; and before that they
made anie rumor in the citie, that the Retor sent, and gave commaundement to all
Portugalles that were in the Citie, when they heard anie rumour or noyse, that for
any thing they should not goe out of their houses, and as they tendered their own
health. Then fowre houres in the night I heard a great rumour and noyse of men of
Warre, with Eliphants which threwe downe the doores of the Ware-houses of the
Portugalles, and their houses of wood and strawe, in the which rumor there were
some Portugalles wounded, and one of them slaine; and others without making
proofe of their manhoode, which the daye before did so bragge, at that time: put
themselves to flight most shamefullye, and saved them selves a boorde of little
Shippes, that were at an ancker in the harbour, and some that were in their beddes
fledde away naked, and that night they caried away all the Portugalles goods out of
the suburbes into the Citie, and those Portugalles that had their goodes in the
suburbes with all.
After this the Portugalles that were fled into the shippes to save
themselves, tooke a newe courage to themselves, and came a lande and set fire on
the houses in the suburbs, which houses being made of boord and straw, and a
fresh winde; in small time were burnt and consumed, with which fire halfe the
Citie had like to beene burnt; when the Portugales had done this, they were without
all hope to recover any part of their goodes againe, which goods might amount to
the summe of sixteene thousande duckets, which, if they had not set fire to the
towne, they might have had their goodes given them gratis.
Then the Portugalles having understanding that this thing was not done by
the consent of the king, but by his lieutenant and the Retor of the citie were verie
yll content, knowing that they had made a greate fault, yet the next morning
following, the Portugalles began to batter, and shoote their ordinance against the
Citie, which batterie of theirs continued fowre dayes, but all was in vaine, for the
shotte never hit the Citie, but light on the top of a small hill neere unto it, so that
the Citie had no harme, when the Retor perceiving that the Portugalles made batry
against the Citie, he tooke twentie and one Portugalles that were there in the Citie,
and sent them foure miles into the Countrie, there to tarrie untill such time as the
other Portugalles were departed, that made the batterie, who after their departure let
them goe at their owne libertie without any harme done unto them.
I was alwayes in my house with a good guard appointed me by the Retor,
that no man shoulde doe mee injurie, nor harme me nor my goodes; in such wise
that hee perfourmed all that hee had promised mee in the name of the king, but he
would not let me depart before the comming of the king, which was my hindrance
greatly, because I was twentie and one moneths sequestred, that I coulde not buy
nor sell any kinde of merchandize. Those commodities that I brought thither, was
SBBR 2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
ACCOUNT OF PEGU 140
Peper, Sandolo, and Porcellan of China, so when the king was come home, I made
my supplication unto him, and I was licensed to depart when I would.
Voyage to City of Pegu
From Martavan I departed to goe to the chiefest Citie in the kingdome of Pegu,
which is also called after the name of the kingdome, which voyage is made by sea
in three or foure dayes; they may goe also by Land, but hee that hath merchandize
it is better for him to goe by sea, and lesser charge, and in this voyage you shall
have a Macareo, which is one of the most mervellous things in the world that
nature hath wrought, and I never sawe anie thing so hard to be beleeved as this, the
great encreasing and deminishing that the Water maketh there at one push or
instant, and with the horrible earth quake and great noyse that it maketh where it
commeth. We departed from Martavan in barks, which are like to our Pylot boates,
with the encrease of the Water, and they goe as swift as an arrowe out of a bowe,
so long as the tide runneth with them, and when the water is at the highest, then
they drawe themselves out of the Chanel towards some bancke, and there they
come to anker, and when the Water is diminished, then they rest a drye: and when
the barkes rest drie, they are as high from the bottome of the Chanell, as any house
toppe is high from the ground.
They let their barks lie so high for this respect, that if there should any
shippe rest or ride in the Chanell, with such force commeth in the Water, that it
would overthrowe ship or bark: yet for all this, that the barkes be, so farre out of
the Chanell, and though the Water hath lost her greatest strength and furie before it
come so high, yet they make fast their prowe to the streme, and often times it
maketh them verie fearfull, & if the Anker did not hold her prow up by strength,
she would be overthrowne and lost with men and goods. When the Water
beginneth to encrease, it maketh such a noyse and so great, that you would thinke it
an earthquake, & presently at the first it maketh 3 waves. So that the first washeth
over the barke, from stem to stern, the second is not so furious as the first, & the
third raiseth the anker, and then for the space of six howres while the water
encreaseth, they rowe with such swiftnesse that you woulde thinke they did flye, in
these tides there must be lost no jot of time, for if you arive not at the stagious
before the tide be spent, you must turne backe from whence you came. For there is
no staying at any place but at these stagious, and there is more daunger at one of
these places then at another, as they bee higher and lower one then another. When
as you returne from Pegu to Martavan, they goe but halfe the Tide at a time,
because they will lay their barkes up aloft on the banckes, for the reason aforesaide.
I could never gather any reason of the noyse that this water maketh in the encrease
SBBR2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
141 S OAS BULLETIN OF BURMA RESEARCH
of the Tide, and in deminishing of the Water. There is another Macareo in
Cambaya, but that is nothing in comparison of this.
City of Pegu
By the helpe of God we came safe to Pegu, which are two cities, the olde and the
newe, in the old Citie are the Merchant straungers, and Merchants of the Countrie,
for there are the greatest doings and the greatest trade. This Citie is not very great,
but it hath very great suburbes. Their houses be made with canes, and covered with
leaves, or with straw, but the merchants have all one house or Magason, which
house they call Godon, which is made of brickes, and there they put all their goods
of any value, to save them from the often mischances that there happen to houses
made of such stuffe.
In the new Citie is the Palace of the King, and his abiding place with all his
Barons and Nobles, and other Gentlemen; and in the time that I was there, they
finished the building of the new Citie: it is a great Citie, very plaine and flat, and
foure square, walled round about, and with Ditches that compasse the Walls about
with water, in which Ditches are many Crockadels. It hath no drawe-bridges, yet it
hath twenty Gates, five for every square on the Walls, there are many places made
for Centinels to watch, made of Wood and covered or gilt with Gold, the Streets
thereof are the fairest that I have seene, they are as streight as a line from one Gate
to another, and standing at the one Gate you may discover to the other, and they are
as broad as ten or twelve men may ride a-breast in them: and those Streets that be
thwart are faire and large, these Streets, both on the one side and the other, are
planted at the doores of the Houses with Nut trees of India, which make a very
commodious shadow, the Houses be made of wood, and covered with a kind of
tiles in forme of Cups, very necessary for their use.
Royal Elephants in Pegu
The Kings Palace is in the middle of the Citie, made in forme of a walled Castle,
with ditches full of water round about it, the Lodgings within are made of wood all
over gilded, with fine pynacles, and very costly worke, covered with plates of gold.
Truly it may be a Kings house: within the gate there is a faire large Court, from the
one side to the other, wherein there are made places for the strongest and stoutest
Eliphantes, hee hath foure that be white, a thing so rare, that a man shall hardly
finde another King that hath any such, as if this King knowe any other that hath
white Elephants, he sendeth for them as for a gift. The time that I was there, there
were two brought out of a farre Countrie, and that cost me something the sight of
SBBR 2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
ACCOUNT OF PEGU 142
them, for that they command the Merchants to goe to see them, and then they must
give somewhat to the men that bring them: the Brokers of the Merchants give for
every man halfe a Ducket, which they call a Tansa, which amounteth to a great
summe, for the number of Merchants that are in that Citie; and when they have
payd the aforesaid Tansa, they may chuse whether they will see them at that time
or no, because that when they are in the Kings stall, every man may see them that
will: but at that time they must goe and see them, for it is the kings pleasure it
should be so.
This King amongst all other his Titles, is called The King of the white
Elephants, and it is reported, that if this King knew any other King that had any of
these white Elephants, and would not send them unto him, that he would hazard his
whole Kingdome to conquere them.
He esteemeth these white Elephants very deerely, and they are had in great
regard, and kept with very meet service, every one of them is in a house, all gilded
over, and they have their meate given them in vessels of silver and gold. There is
one blacke Eliphant, the greatest that hath beene seene, and he is kept according to
his bignesse; he is nine cubits high, which is a marvellous thing. It is reported that
this King hath foure thousand Elephants of Warre, and all have their teeth, and they
use to put on their two uppermost teeth sharpe pikes of Iron, and make them fast
with rings, because these beasts fight and make battell with their teeth; hee hath
also very many young Eliphantes that have not their teeth sprouted forth: also this
King hath a brave devise in hunting to take these Eliphantes when he will, two
miles from the Citie.
He hath builded a faire Palace all gilded, and within it a faire Court, and
within it and round about there are made an infinite number of places for men to
stand to see this hunting: neere unto this Palace is a mighty great Wood, through
the which the Hunts-men of the King ride continually on the backes of the female
Elephants, teaching them in this businesse. Every Hunter carrieth out with him five
or sixe of these females, and they say that they anoint the secret place with a
certaine composition that they have, that when the wilde Elephant doeth smell:
hereunto, they follow the females and cannot leave them: when the Hunts-men
have made provision, and the Elephant is so entangled, they guide the females
towards the Palace which is called Tambell, and this Palace hath a doore which
doth open and shut with engines, before which doore there is a long Straight way
with trees on both the sides, which covereth the way in such wise, as it is like
darkenesse in a corner: the wilde Elephant when he commeth to this way thinketh
that hee is in the Woods.
At the end of this darke way there is a great field: when the Hunters have
gotten this prey, when they first come to this field, they send presently to give
knowledge thereof to the Citie, and with all speed there goe out fifty or sixty men
on horsebacke, and doe beset the field round about: in the great field then the
SBBR2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
143 SOAS BULLETIN OF BURMA RESEARCH
females which are taught in this businesse goe directly to the mouth of the darke
way, and when as the wilde Elephant is entred in there, the Hunters shoute and
make a great noise, as much as is possible, to make the wilde Elephant enter in at
the gate of that Palace, which is then open, and as soone as he is in, the gate is shut
without any noise, and so the Hunters with the female Elephants and the wilde one
are all in the Court together, and then within a small time the females withdraw
themselves away one by one out of the Court, leaving the wilde Elephant alone:
and when hee perceiveth that hee is left alone, hee is so mad that for two or three
houres to see him, it is the greatest pleasure in the world: he weepeth, he flingeth,
he runneth, he justleth, he thrusteth under the places where the people stand to see
him, thinking to kill some of them, but the posts and timber is so strong and great
that he cannot hurt any body, yet he oftentimes breaketh his teeth in the grates.
At length when he is weary, and hath laboured his body that he is all wet
with sweat, then he plucketh in his trunke into his mouth, and then he throweth out
so much water out of his belly, that he sprinkleth it over the heads of the lookers
on, to the uttermost of them, although it be very high: and then when they see him
very weary, there goe certaine Officers into the Court with long sharpe canes in
their hands, and pricke him that they make him to goe into one of the houses that
are made alongst the Court for the same purpose: as there are many which are
made long and narrow, that when the Elephant is in, hee cannot turne himselfe to
goe backe againe. And it is requisite that these men should bee very wary and
swift, for although their canes be long, yet the Elephant would kill them if they
were not swift to save themselves: at length when they have gotten him into one of
those houses, they stand over him in a loft, and get ropes under his belly and about
his neck, and about his legs, and bind him fast, and so let him stand foure or five
dayes, and give him neither meate nor drinke. At the end of these foure or five
dayes, they unloose him, and put one of the females unto him, and give them
meate and drink, and in eight dayes he is become tame. In my judgement there is
not a beast so intellective as are these Elephants, nor of more understanding in all
the world: for he will do all things thay his keeper saith, so that he lacketh nothing
but humaine speech.
Armies of the King of Pegu
It is reported that the greatest strength that the King of Pegu hath is in these
Eliphantes, for when they goe to battell, they set on their backes a Castle of wood
bound thereto, with bands under his bellie: and in everie Castle foure men, verie
commodiouslie sette to fight with Harqubuses, with Bowes and arrowes, with
Dartes, with Pikes, and other launcing weapons: and they say that the skinne of this
SBBR 2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
ACCOUNT OF PEGU 144
Eliphant is so hard, that an Harquebusse will not pierce it, unlesse it be in the eye,
temples, or some other tender place of his body.
And besides this, they are of great strength, and have a very excellent order
in their battell, as I have seene at their Feasts which they make in the yeere, in
which Feasts the King makes Triumphs, which is a rare thing and worthie
memorie, that in so barbarous a People there should bee such goodly orders as they
have in their Armies, which be distinct in squares of Eliphants, of Horsemen, of
Harquebusers and Pikemen, that truly the number of them are infinite: but their
armour and weapons are very naught and weake, as well the one as the other: they
have very bad Pikes, their Swords are worse made, like long Knives without points,
his Harquebusses are most excellent, and alwaies in his warres he hath eighty
thousand Harquebusses, and the number of them encreaseth daily. Because the
King will have them shoot every day at the Plancke, and so by continuall exercise
they become most excellent shot: also he hath great Ordnance made of very good
metall; to conclude, there is not a King on the Earth that hath more power or
strength then this King of Pegu, because hee hath twenty and sixe crowned Kings
at his command. Hee can make in his Campe a million and an halfe of men of
warre in the field against his Enemies.
The state of his Kingdome, and maintenance of his Armie, is a thing
incredible to consider, and the victuals that should maintayne such a number of
people in the warres: but he that knoweth the nature and qualitie of that people, will
easily beleeve it. I have seene with mine eyes, that those people and Souldiers have
eaten of all sorts of wilde beasts that are on the earth, whether it be very filthie or
otherwise all serveth for their mouthes: yea, I have seene them eate Scorpions and
Serpents, also they feed of all kinde of herbes and grasse. So that if such a great
Armie want not Water and Salt, they will maintayne themselves a long time in a
bush with rootes, flowers, and leaves of trees, they carrie Rice with them for their
Voyage, and that serveth them in stead of Comfits, it is so dainty unto them.
The Wealth of the King of Pegu
This King of Pegu hath not any army or power by sea, but in the land, for people,
dominions, gold and silver, he farre exceeds the power of the great Turke in
treasure and strength. This King hath divers Magasons full of treasure, as Gold, and
Silver, and every day he encreaseth it more and more, and it is never diminished.
Also hee is Lord of the Mines of Rubies, Saphirs, and Spinels. Neere unto his
Royall Palace there is an inestimable treasure whereof he maketh no account, for
that it standeth in such a place that every one may see it, and the place where this
treasure is, is a great Court walled round about with walls of stone, with two gates
which stand open every day.
SBBR2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
145 S OAS BULLETIN OF BURMA RESEARCH
And within this place or Court are foure gilded houses covered with Lead,
and in every one of these are certaine heathenish Idols of a very great valure. In the
first house there is a Statue of the image of a Man of gold very great, and on his
head a Crowne of gold beset with most rare Rubies and Saphires, and round about
him are foure litle children of gold. In the second house there is the Statue of a Man
of silver, that is set as it were sitting on heapes of money: whose stature in height,
as he sitteth, is so high, that his highnesse exceeds the height of any one roofe of an
house; I measured his feet, and found that they were as long as all my body was in
height, with a Crowne of his head like to the first. And in the third house there is a
Statue of. brasse of the same bignesse, with a like Crowne on his head. In the
fourth and last house, there is a Statue of a Man as big as the other, which is made
of Gansa, which is the metall they make their money of, and this metall is made of
Copper and Lead mingled together.
This Statue also hath a Crowne on his head like the first: this treasure being
of such a value as it is, standeth in an open place that every man at his pleasure
may goe and see it: for the keepers thereof never forbid any man the sight thereof. I
say as I have said before, that this King every yeere in his feasts triumpheth: and
because it is worthie of the noting, I thinke it meet to write thereof, which is as
followeth. The King rideth on a triumphant Cart or Wagon all gilded, which is
drawne by sixteene goodly Horses: and this Cart is very high with a goodly
Canopie over it, behind the Cart goe twenty of his Lords and Nobles, with every
one a rope in his hand made fast to the Cart for to hold it upright that it fall not.
The King sitteth in the middle of the Cart; and upon the same Cart about the King
stand foure of his Nobles most favoured of him, and before this Cart wherein the
King is, goeth all his Armie as aforesaid, and in the middle of his Armie goeth all
his Nobilitie, round about the Cart, that are in his Dominions, a marvellous thing it
is to see so many people, such riches and such good order in a People so barbarous
as they bee. This King of Pegu hath one principall wife, which is kept in a Seralyo,
hee hath three hundreth Concubines, of whom it is reported, that hee hath ninetie
children.
Justice in Pegu
This King sitteth every day in person to heare the suits of his Subjects, but he nor
they never speake one to another, but by supplications made in this order. The King
sitteth up aloft in a great Hall, on a Tribunall seate, and lower under him sit all his
Barons round about, then those that demand audience enter into a great Court
before the King, and there set them downe on the ground forty paces distant from
the Kings person, and amongst those people there is no difference in matters of
audience before the King, but all alike, and there they sit with their supplications in
SBBR 2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
ACCOUNT OF PEGU 146
their hands, which are made of long leaves of a tree, these leaves are three quarters
of a yard long, and two fingers broad, which are written with a sharpe Iron made
for the purpose, and in those leaves are their supplications written, and with their
supplications, they have in their hands a present or gift, according to the
weightinesse of their matter. Then come the Secretaries downe to reade these
supplications, taking them and reading them before the King, and if the King
thinke it good to doe to them that favour or justice that they demand, then hee
commandeth to take the presents out of their hands: but if he thinke their demand
be not just or according to right, he commandeth them away without taking of their
gifts or presents.
Death and Property in Pegu 3
They that die in the Kingdome of Pegu lose the third part of their goods by ancient
custome of the Countrey, that if any Christian dieth in the Kingdome of Pegu, the
King and his Officers rest heires of a third of his goods, and there hath never beene
any deceit or fraud used in this matter. I have knowne many rich men that have
dwelled in Pegu, and in their age they have desired to goe into their owne Countrey
to die there, and have departed with all their goods and substance without let or
trouble.
Commerce in Pegu
In the Indies there is not any merchandise that is good to bring to Pegu, unlesse it
be at some times by chance to bring Opium of Cambaia, and if hee bring money
hee shall lose by it. Now the commodities that come from S. Tome are the onely
merchandise for that place, which is the great quantitie of cloth made there, which
they use in Pegu; which cloth is made of Bombast woven and painted, so that the
more that kinde of cloth is washed, the more lively they shew their colours, which
is a rare thing, and there is made such account of this kinde of cloth which is of so
great importance, that a small bale of it will cost a thousand or two thousand
duckets. Also from S. Tome they layde great store of red yarne, of Bombast died
with a root which they call Saia, as aforesaid, which colour will never out. With
which merchandise every yeere there goeth a great ship from S. Tome to Pegu, of
great importance, and they usually depart from S. Tome to Pegu the 10 or 11 of
" This section has been moved up from the miscellaneous comments added by Federici to
the end of his account.
SBBR2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
147 SOAS BULLETIN OF BURMA RESEARCH
September, and if shee stay untill the twelfth, it is a great hap if shee returne not
without making of her voyage.
Their use was to depart the sixt of September, and then they made sure
voyages, and now because there is a great labour about that kinde of cloth to bring
it to perfection, and that it bee well dried, as also the greedinesse of the Captaine
that would make an extraordinary gaine of his fraight, thinking to have the winde
alwaies to serve their turne, they stay so long, that at sometimes the winde turneth.
For in those parts the winds blowe firmely for certaine times, with the which they
goe to Pegu with the wind in poope, and if they arrive not there before the winde
change, and get ground to anker, perforce they must returne backe againe: for that
the gales of the winde blowe there for three or foure moneths together in one place
with great force. But if they get the coast and anker there, then with great labour
they may save their Voyage. Also there goeth another great ship from Bengala
every yeere, laden with fine cloth of Bombast of all sorts, which arriveth in the
Harbour of Pegu, when the ship that commeth from S. Tome departeth. The
Harbour where these two ships arrive is called Cosmin. From Malaca to Martavan,
which is a Port in Pagu, there commeth many small ships, and great, laden with
Pepper, Sandolo, Porcellan of China, Camfora, Bruneo, & other merchandice.
The ships that come from Meca enter into the port of Pagu & Cirion, and
those ships bring cloth of Wooll, Scarlets, Velvets, Opium, and Chickens, by the
which they lose, and they bring them because they have no other thing that is good
for Pegu: but they esteem not the losse of them, for that they make such great gaine
of their commodities, that they carrie from thence out of that Kingdome. Also the
King of Assi [Achen] his Shippes come thether into the same port laden with
Peper; from the coast of Saint Tome of Bengala out of the Sea of Bara to Pegu are
three hundreth miles, and they goe it up the River in foure dayes, with the
encreasing water, or with the floud, to a Citie called Cosmin, and there they
discharge their ships, whither the Customers of Pegu come to take the note and
markes of all the goods of every man, and take the charge of the goods on them,
and convey them to Pegu, into the Kings house, wherein they make the Custome of
the merchandize.
When the Customers have taken the charge of the goods, and put them into
barkes, the Retor of the Citie giveth licence to the Merchants to take barke, and goe
up to Pegu with their merchandise; and so three or foure of them take a Barke and
goe up to Pegu in companie. God deliver everie man that he give not a wrong note,
and entrie, or thinke to steale any Custome: for if they doe, for the least trifle that
is, he is utterly undone, for the King doeth take it for a most great affront to bee
deceived of his Custome ; and therefore they make diligent searches, three times at
the lading and unlading of the goods, and at the taking of them a land. In Pegu this
search they make when they goe out of the ship for Diamonds, Pearles, and fine
Cloth which taketh little roome: for because that all the Jewels that come into Pegu,
SBBR 2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
ACCOUNT OF PEGU 1 4 8
and are not found of that Countrie, pay Custome, but Rubies, Saphyrs and Spinels
pay no Custome in nor out: because they are found growing in that Countrie.
I have spoken before, how that All Merchants that meane to goe thorow the
Indies, must carrie all manner of houshold-stuffe with them which is necessary for
a house, because that there is not any lodging, nor Innes, nor Hosts, nor chamber
roome in that Countrie, but the first thing a man doth when hee commeth to any
Citie is to hier a house, either by the yeere, or by the moneth, or as hee meanes to
stay in those partes.
In Pegu their order is to hire their houses for sixe moneths. Now from
Cosmin to the Citie of Pegu they goe in sixe houres with the floud, and if it be
ebbing water, then they make fast their Boate to the River side, and there tarrie
untill the water flowe againe. It is a very commodious and pleasant Voyage, having
on both sides of the Rivers many great Villages, which they call Cities: in the
which Hennes, Pigeons, Egges, Milke, Rice, and other things bee verie good
cheape. It is all plaine, and a goodly Countrie, and in eight dayes you may make
your Voyage up to Macceo, distant from Pegu twelve miles, and there they
discharge their goods, and lade them in Carts or Waines drawne with Oxen, and the
Merchants are carried in a Closet which they call Deling, in the which a man shall
be very well accommodated, with Cushions under his head, and covered for the
defence of the Sunne and Raine, and there he may sleepe if he have will thereunto:
and his foure Falchines carrie him running away, changing two at one time, and
two at another. The custome of Pegu and fraight thither, may amount unto twenty
or twenty two per cento, and twenty three according as he hath more or lesse stolne
from him that day they custome the goods.
It is requisite that a man have his eyes watchfull, and to bee carefull, and to
have many friends, for when they custome in the great Hall of the King, there come
many Gentlemen accompanied with a number of their slaves, and these Gentlemen
have no shame that their slaves robbe strangers: whether it be Cloth in shewing of
it, or any other thing, they laugh at it. And although the Merchants heipe one
another to keepe watch, and looke to their goods, they cannot looke thereto so
narrowly but one or other will robbe something, either more or lesse, according as
their merchandise is more or lesse: and yet on this day there is a worse thing then
this: although you have set so many eyes to looke there for your benefit, that you
escape unrobbed of the slaves, a man cannot choose but that hee must be robbed of
the Officers of the Custome house. For paying the custome with the same goods
oftentimes they take the best that you have, and not by rate of every sort as they
ought to doe, by which meanes a man payeth more then his dutie. At length when
the goods be dispatched out of the Custom-house in this order, the Merchant
causeth them to be carried to his house, and may doe with them at his pleasure.
SBBR2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
149 S OAS BULLETIN OF BURMA RESEARCH
Duties and Currency in Pegu
There are in Pegu eight Brokers of the Kings, which are called Tareghe, who are
bound to sell all the merchandize to come to Pegu, at the common or the corent
price: then if the Merchants will sell their goods at that price, they sell them away,
and the Brokers have two in the hundred of every sort of merchandise, and they are
bound to make good the debts of those goods, because they bee sold by their hands
or meanes, and on their words, and oftentimes the Merchant knoweth not to whom
he giveth his goods, yet he cannot lose any thing thereby, for that the Broker is
bound in any wise to pay him, and if the Merchant sell his goods without the
consent of the Broker, yet neverthelesse hee must pay him two per cento, and bee
in danger of his money: but this is very seldome seene, because the Wife, Children
and Slaves of the debtor are bound to the Creditor, and when his time is expired
and paiment not made, the creditor may take the debtor and carrie him home to his
house, and shut him up in a Magazen, whereby presently hee hath his monie, and
not being able to pay the creditor, he may take the Wife, Children, and Slaves of
the debtor, and sell them, for so is the Law of that Kingdome. The currant money
that is in this Citle, and throughout all this Kingdome is called Gansa or Ganza,
which is made of Copper and Lead: It is not the money of the King, but everie man
may stampe it that will, because it hath his just partition or value: but they make
many of them false, by putting overmuch lead into them, and those will not passe,
neither will any take them. With this money Ganza, you may buy Gold or Silver,
Rubies and Muske, and other things. For there is no other money currant amongst
them. And Gold, Silver and other Merchandize are at one time dearer then another,
as all other things bee.
This Ganza goeth by weight of Byze, and this name of Byza goeth for the
account of the weight, and commonly a Byza of a Ganza is worth (after our
account) halfe a Ducket, litle more or lesse: and albeit that Gold and Silver is more
or lesse in price, yet the Byza never changeth: everie Byza maketh a hundreth
Ganza of weight, and so the number of the money is Byza. He that goeth to Pegu to
buy Jewels, if hee will doe well, it behooveth him to bee a whole yeere there to doe
his businesse. For if so be that he would returne with the Ship he came in, hee
cannot doe any thing so conveniently for the brevitie of the time, because that
when they custome their goods in Pegu that come from Saint Tome in their ships, it
is as it were about Christmas: and when they have customed their goods, then must
they sell them for their credits sake for a moneth or two: and then at the beginning
of March the ships depart. The Merchants that come from Saint Tome take for the
paiment of their goods. Gold and Silver, which is never wanting there.
And eight or ten dayes before their departure they are all satisfied: also
they may have Rubies in paiment, but they make no account of them: and they that
will Winter there for another yeere, it is needfull that they bee advertized, that in
SBBR 2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
ACCOUNT OF PEGU 1 5
the sale of their goods, they specific in their bargaine, the terme of two or three
moneths paiment, and that their paiment shall be in so many Ganza, and neither
Gold nor Silver: because that with the Ganza they may buy and sell everie thing
with great advantage. And how needfull is it to be advertized, when they will
recover their paiments, in what order they shall receive their Ganza, because hee
that is not practicke may doe him selfe great wrong in the weight of the Gansa, as
also in the falsenesse of them, in the waight hee may bee greatly deceived, because
that from place to place it doth rise and fall greatly: and therefore when any will
receive money or make paiment, hee must take a publike weigher of mony, a day
or two before he goe about his businesse, and give him in paiment for his labour
two Byzaes a moneth, and for this hee is bound to make good all your money, and
to maintaine it for good, for that he receiveth it and seales the bags with his seale:
and when he hath received any store, then he causeth it to be brought into the
Magasea of the Merchant, that is the owner of it.
That mony is verie weightie, for fortie Byza is a strong Porters burthen;
and also where the Merchant hath any paiment to bee made for those goods which
hee buyeth, the Common weigher of money that receiveth his money must make
the paiment thereof. So that by this meanes, the Merchant with the charges of two
Byzes a moneth, receiveth and payeth out his money without losse or trouble. The
Mercandizes that goe out of Pegu, are Golde, Silver, Rubies, Saphires, Spinelles,
great store of Benjamin, long Pepper, Lead, Lacca, Rice, Wine, some Sugar, yet
there might be great store of Sugar made in the Cuntrey, for that they have
abundance of Canes, but they give them to Eliphants to eate, and the people
consume great store of them for food, and many more doe they consume in vaine
things, as these following. In that Kingdome they spend many of these Sugar-canes
in making of Houses and Tents which they call Varely for their Idols, which they
call Pagodes, whereof there are great abundance, great and small, and these houses
are made in forme of little Hits, like to Sugar loaves or to Belles, and some of these
houses are as high as a reasonable Steeple, at the foot they are verie large, some of
them be in circuit a quarter of a mile. The said houses within are full of earth, and
walled round about with Brickes and dirt in stead of lime, and without forme, from
the top to the foot they make a covering for them with Sugar-canes, and plaister it
with lime all over, for otherwise they would bee spoyled, by the great abundance of
Raine that falleth in those Countries. Also they consume about these Varely or
Idol-houses great store of leafe-gold, for that they overlay all the tops of the houses
with Gold, and some of them are covered with gold from the top to the foot: in
covering whereof there is great store of Gold spent, for that every ten yeeres they
new overlay them with gold, from the top to the foot, so that with this vanitie they
spend great abundance of Gold. For every ten yeeres the raine doth consume the
gold from these houses. And by this meanes they make gold dearer in Pegu then it
would bee, if they consumed not so much in this vanitie. Also it is a thing to bee
SBBR2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
151 S OAS BULLETIN OF BURMA RESEARCH
noted in the buying of Jewels in Pegu, that he that hath no knowledge shall have as
good Jewels, and as good cheape, as hee that hath beene practised there a long
time, which is a good order, and it is in this wise. There are in Pegu foure men of
good reputation, which are called Tareghe, or Brokers o/Jewels.
These foure men have all the Jewels or Rubies in their hands, and the
Merchant that will buy commeth to one of these Tareghe and telleth him, that hee
hath so much money to imploy in Rubies. For through the hands of these foure men
passe all the Rubies: for they have such quantitie, that they know not what to doe
with them, but sell them at most vile and base prices. When the Merchant hath
broken his mind to one of these Brokers or Tareghe, they carrie him home to one of
their shops, although hee hath no knowledge in Jewels : and when the Jewellers
perceive that hee will employ a good round summe, they will make a bargaine, and
if not, they let him alone. The use generally of this Citie is this; that when any
Merchant hath bought any great quantitie of Rubies, and hath agreed for them, hee
carrieth them home to his house, let them bee of what value they will, he shall have
space to looke on them and peruse them two or three dayes: and if hee hath no
knowledge in them, he shall alwayes have many Merchants in that Citie that have
very good knowledge in Jewels; with whom hee may alwayes conferre and take
counsell, and may shew them unto whom he will; and if he finde that he hath not
employed his money well, he may returne his Jewels backe to them whom he had
them of, without any losse at all. Which thing is such a shame to the Tareghe to
have his Jewels returne, that he had rather beare a blow on the face then that it
should bee thought that he sold them so deare to have them returned. For these men
have alwayes great care that they affoord good penniworths, especially to those
that have no knowledge. This they doe, because they would not lose their credite:
and when those Merchants that have knowledge in Jewels buy any, if they buy
them deare, it is their owne faults and not the Brokers: yet it is good to have
knowledge ih Jewels, by reason that it may somewhat ease the price.
There is also a very good order which they have in buying of Jewels,
which is this; There are many Merchants that stand by at the making of the
bargaine, and because they shall not understand how the Jewels bee sold, the
Broker and the Merchants have their hands under a cloth, and by touching of
fingers & nipping the joynts they know what is done, what is bidden, and what is
asked. So that the standers by know not what is demanded for them, although it be
for a thousand or ten thousand Duckets. For every joynt and every finger hath his
signification. For if the Merchants that stand by should understand the bargaine, it
would breed great controversie amongst them.
SBBR 2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
ACCOUNT OF PEGU 1 5 2
Manner of Dress at Pegu 4
In Pegu the fashion of their apparell is all one, as well the Nobleman, as the simple:
the onely difference is in the finenesse of the Cloth, which is cloth of Bombast one
finer then another, and they weare their apparell in this wise: First, a white
Bombast cloth which serveth for a shirt, then they gird another painted Bombast
cloth, of fourteene braces, which they bind up betwixt their legs, and on their heads
they weare a small Tocke of three braces, made in guise of a Myter, and some goe
without Tockes, and carrie (as it were) a Hive on the heads, which doeth not passe
the lower part of his eare, when it is lifted up: they goe all bare-footed, but the
Noblemen never goe on foot, but are carried by men in a seate with great
reputation, with a Hat made of the leaves of a tree to keepe him from the Raine and
Sunne, or otherwise they ride on horsebacke with their feet bare in the stirrops.
All sorts of women whatsoever they be, weare a smocke downe to the
girdle, and from the girdle downewards to the foot they weare a cloth of three
braces, open before, so straight that they cannot goe, but they must shew their
secret as it were aloft, and in their going they faigne to hide it with their hand, but
they cannot by reason of the straightnesse of their cloth. They say that this use was
invented by a Qyeene to be an occasion that the sight thereof might remove from
men the vices against nature, which they are greatly given unto; which sight should
cause them to regard women the more. Also the women goe barefooted, their
armes laden with hoopes of Gold and Jewels: And their fingers full of precious
Rings, with their haire rolled up about their heads. Many of them weare a cloth
about their shoulders in stead of a Cloake.
A Typhoon
And at my being in Pegu in the moneth of August, in Anno 1569 having gotten
well by my endevor, I was desirous to see mine owne Countrey, and I thought it
good to goe by the way of Saint Tome, but then I should tarie untill March.
In which journey I was counsailed, yea, and fully resolved to goe by the
way of Bengala, with a Ship there ready to depart for that voyage. And then wee
departed from Pegu to Chitigan a great Harbour or Port, from whence there goe
small ships to Cochin, before the Fleet depart for Portugall, in which ships I was
fully determined to goe to Lisbon, and so to Venice. When I had thus resolved my
selfe, I went a boord of the ship of Bengala, at which time it was the yeere of
4 This section has been moved up from the miscellaneous comments added by Federici to
the end of his account.
SBBR2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
153 S OAS BULLETIN OF BURMA RESEARCH
Touffon: concerning which Touffon you are to understand, that in the East Indies
oftentimes, there are not stormes as in other Countries; but every ten or twelve
yeeres there are such tempests and stormes, that it is a thing incredible, but to those
that have seene it, neither doe they know certainly what yeere they will come.
Unfortunate are they that are at Sea in that yeere and time of the Touffon,
because few there are that escape that danger. In this yeere it was our chance to bee
at Sea with the like storme, but it happened well unto us, for that our ship was
newly over-plancked, and had not any thing in her save victuall and balasts, Silver
and Gold, which from Pegu they carrie to Bengala, and no other kind of
Merchandize. This Touffon or cruel storme endured three dayes and three nights:
in which time it carried, away our sayles, yards, and rudder; and because the ship
laboured in the Sea, wee cut our Mast over-boord: which when we had done, shee
laboured a great deale more then before, in such wise, that she was almost full with
water that came over the highest part of her and so went downe: and for the space
of three dayes and three nights, sixtie men did nothing but hale water out of her in
this wise, twentie men in one place, and twentie men in another place, and twentie
in a third place: and for all this storme, the ship was so good, that she tooke not one
jot of water below through her sides, but all ranne downe through the hatches, so
that those sixtie men did nothing but cast the Sea into the Sea. And thus driving too
and fro as the wind and Sea would, wee were in a darke night about foure of the
clocke cast on a shold: yet when it was day, we could neither see Land on one side
nor other, and knew not where we were. And as it pleased the Divine power, there
came a great wave of the Sea, which drave us beyond the shold. And when wee felt
the ship afloat, we rose up as men revived, because the Sea was calme and smooth
water, and then sounding we found twelve fathom water, and within a while after
wee had but sixe fathom, and then presently wee came to anker with a small anker
that was left us at the sterne, for all our other were lost in the storme: and by and by
the ship strooke a ground, and then wee did prop her that shee should not
overthrow. When it was day the ship was all drie, and wee found her a good mile
from the Sea on drie land.
Sundiva Island and Arakan
This Touffon being ended, wee discovered an I[s]land not farre from us, and we
went from the ship on the sands to see what I[s]land it was: and wee found it. a
place inhabited, and, to my judgement the fertilest I[s]land in all the world, the
which is devided into two parts by a channell which passeth betweene it, and with
great trouble wee brought our ship into the same channell, which partem the
I[s]land at flowing water, and there we determined to stay fortie dayes to refresh
SBBR 2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
ACCOUNT OF PEGU 1 5 4
us. And when the people of the I[s]land saw the ship, and that we were comming a
land: presently they made a place of Bazar or Market, with Shops right over against
the ship with all manner of provision of victuals to eate, which they brought downe
in great abundance, and sold it so good cheape, that wee were amazed at the
cheapnesse thereof. I bought many salted Kine there, for the provision of the ship,
for halfe a Larine a piece, which Larine may be twelve shillings sixe pence, being
very good and fatte; and foure wilde Hogges ready dressed for a Larine; great fat
Hermes for a Bizze a piece, which is at the most a Penie: and the people told us that
we were deceived the haife of our money, because we bought things so deare.
Also a sacke of fine Rice for a thing of nothing, and consequently all other things
for humaine sustenance were there in such abundance, that it is a thing incredible
but to them that have seene it.
This I[s]land is called Sondiva belonging to the Kingdome of Bengala,
distant one hundred and twentie miles from Chitigan, to which place we were
bound. The people are Moores, and the King a very good man of a Moore King, for
if he had bin a Tyrant as others bee, he might have robbed us of all, because the
Portugall Captaine of Chitigan was in armes against the Retor of that place, and
every day there were some slaine, at which newes wee rested there with no small
feare, keeping good watch and ward aboord every night as the use is, but the
Governour of the Towne did comfort us, and bad us that we should feare nothing,
but that we should repose our selves securely without any danger, although the
Portugals of Chitigan had slaine the Governour of that Citie, and said that we were
not culpable in that fact; and moreover he did us every day what pleasure he could,
which was a thing contrarie to our expectations considering that they and the
people of Chitigan were both subjects to one King.
Wee departed from Sondiva, and came to Chitigan the great Port of
Bengala, at the same time when the Portugals had made peace and taken a truce
with the Governours of the Towne, with this condition that the chiefe Captaine of
the Portugals with his ship should depart without any lading: for there were then at
that time eighteen ships of Portugals great and small. This Captaine being a
Gentleman and of good courage, was notwithstanding contented to depart to his
greatest hinderance, rather then he would seeke to hinder so many of his friends as
were there, as also because the time of the yeere was spent to goe to the Indies. The
night before hee departed, everie ship that had any lading therein, put it aboord of
the Captaine to helpe to ease his charge and to recompence his courtesies.
In this time there came a messenger from the King of Rachim [Arakan] to
this Portugall Captaine, who said in the behalfe of his King, that hee had heard of
the courage and valour of him, desiring him gently that hee would vouchsafe to
come with this Shippe into his port, and comming thither hee shoulde bee verie
well entreated. This Portugall went thether and verie well satisfied of this King.
SBBR2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
155 S OAS BULLETIN OF BURMA RESEARCH
This King of Rachim hath his seate in the middle coast betweene Bengala
and Pegu, and the greatest enemy hee hath is the King of Pegu: which King of
Pegu imagineth night and day, to make this King of Rachim his subject, but by no
meanes he is able to doe it: because the King of Pegu, hath no power or armie by
sea. And this King of Rachim may arme two hundreth Galleyes or Fusts by Sea,
and by Lande he hath certaine sluses with the which when the king of Pegu
pretendeth any harme towardes him, hee may at his pleasure drowne a great part of
his Countrey. So that by this meanes hee cutteth off the way that the King of Pegu
shoulde come with his power to hurt him.
Commodities of India'
From the great port of Chitigan they carie for the Indies great store of ryce, verie
great quantitie of Bombast cloth of everie sorte, Suger, Corne, and Money, with
other merchandise. And by reason that Warres was in Chitigan, the Portugall
shippes tarried there so late, that they arived not at Cochin so soone as they were
wont to doe other yeares. For which cause the fleete that was at Cochin was
departed for Portugalle before they arived there, and I being in one of the small
shippes before the fleete, in discovering of Cochin, wee also discovered the last
shippes of the Fleete that went from Cochin to Portugall, where shee made saile,
for which I was mervellouslie discomforted, because that all the yeere following,
there was no goinge for Portugalles, and when we arived at Cochin I was fully
determined to goe for Venice by the way of Ormus, and at that time the Citie of
Goa was besieged by the people of Dialcan, but the Citizens forced not this assault,
because they supposed that it woulde not continue long. For all this, I embarked my
selfe in a Gallie that went for Goa, meaning there to ship my selfe for Ormus: but
when we came to Goa, the viceroy would not suffer any Portugall to depart, by
reason of the Warres.
And beeing in Goa but a small time, I fell sicke of an infirmitie that helde
mee fowre moneths: which with phisicke and diet cost mee eight hundred Duckets,
and there I was constrayned to sell a small quantitie of Rubies to sustaine my need:
and I solde that for five hundreth Duckets, that was worth a thousande, and when I
began to waxe well of my disease, I had but litle of that monie left, everie thing
was so scarse: For everie chicken (and yet not good) cost mee seven or eight
Lyvers, which is six shillings, or six shillings eight pence.
Beside this great charges, the Apothecaries with their medicines were no
small charge to me. At the ende of sixe moneths they raised the siege, and then I
beganne to worke, for Jewels were risen in their prices: for, whereas before I sold a
5 This section is in Voyages, but not in Hakluytus.
SBBR 2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
ACCOUNT OF PEGU 1 5 6
few of refused Rubies, I determined then to sell the rest of all my Jewels that I had
there, and to make an other voyage to Pegu. And for because that at my departure
from Pegu, Opium was in great request, I went then to Cambaya to imploy a good
round summe of money in Opium, and there I bought 60 percels of Opium, which
cost me two thousand and a hundreth duckets, every ducket at foure shillings two
pence. Moreover I bought three bales of Bombast cloth, which cost me eight
hundred duckats, which was a good commoditie for Pegu: when I had bought these
things, the Viceroy commanded that the customc of the Opium should be paide in
Goa, and paying custome there I might cary it whither I would. I shipped my three
bales of cloth at Chaul in a shippe that went for Cochin, and I went to Goa to pay
the aforesaid custome for my Opium, and from Goa I departed to Cochin in a ship
that was for the voyage of Pegu, and went to winter then at S. Tome.
When I came to Cochin, I understoode that the ship that had my 3 bales of
cloth was cast away and lost, so that I lost my 800 Seraffines or duckets: and
departing from Cochin to goe from [sic, for] S. Tome: & in casting about for the
I[s]land of Zeiland the Pilote was deceived, for that the Cape of the I[s]land of
Zeiland lieth far out into the sea, and the Pilot thinking that he might have passed
hard abord the cape, and paying remour in the night: when it was morning we were
farre within the cape, and past all remedy to goe out, by reason the windes blewe so
fiercely against us. So that by this meanes wee lost our voyage for that yere, and
we went to Manar with the ship to Winter there, the Ship having lost her mastes,
and with great diligence we hardly saved her with great losses to the captaine of the
Ship, because he was forced to fraight another Ship in S. Tomes for Pegu with
great losses & interest, & I with my friends agreed together in Manar to take a bark
to cary us to S. Tomes; which thing, we did with al the rest of the merchants, &
ariving at S. Tomes I had news through or by the way of Bengala that in Pegu:
Opium was verie dear, & I knew that in S. Tome there was no Opium but mine to
go from [sic, for] Pegu that yeere, so that I was holden of all the Merchantes there:
to be verie rich: and so it would have approved, if my adverse fortune had not
beene contrarie to my hope, which was this. At that time there went a great shippe
from Cambaya, to the king of Assi, with great quantitie of Opium, and there to lade
Peper: in which voyage there came such a storme, that the ship was forced with
wether to go romer 800 miles, & by this meanes came to Pegu, wheras they arived
a day before me; so that Opium which was before veriw deare, was now at a base
price: so that which was solde for fiftie Bize before, was solde for two Bizze and
halfe, there was such quantitie came in that Ship, so that I was gladde to stay two
yeeres in Pegu unlesse I would have given away my commoditie: and at the ende
of two yeeres I made of my 2100 Duckets which I bestowed in Cambaya, I made
but a thousand Duckets.
SBBR2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
157 S OAS BULLETIN OF BURMA RESEARCH
Return to Pegu
Then I departed againe from Pegu to goe for the Indies and for Ormus with greate
quantitie of Lacca, and from Ormus I returned into the Indies for Chiall, and from
Chiall to Cochin, and from Cochin to Pegu. Once more I lost occasion to make mee
ritch, for wheras I might have brought good store of Opion [Opium] again, I
brought but a little, being fearefull of my other voyage before. In this small
quantitie I made good profite. And nowe againe I determined to goe from [sic, for]
my Countrey, and departing from Pegu, I tarried and wintered in Cochin, and then I
left the Indies and came for Ormus.
Commerce of the East Indies
I thinke it verie necessarie before I ende my voyage, to reason somewhat, and to
shew what fruits the Indies doth yeelde and bring foorth. First, in the Indies and
other East partes of India there is Peper and ginger, which groweth in all parts of
India. And in some partes of the Indies, the greatest quantities of peper groweth in
amongst wilde bushes, without any manner of labour: saving, that when it is ripe
they goe and gather it. The tree that the Peper groweth on, is like to our Ivie, which
runneth up to the toppes of trees wheresoever, and if it should not take hold of
some tree, it would ly flat and rotte on the grounde. This Peper tree hath his flower
and berry, like in all partes to our Ivie berry, and those berryes be graynes in
Peper: so that when they gather them they bee greene, and then they lay them in the
Sunne, and they become blacke.
The Ginger groweth in this wise, the Land is tilled and sowen, and the
herbe is like to Panyzzo, and the roote is the Ginger. These two spices growe in
divers places.
The Cloves came all from the Moluches, which Moluches are two Islands,
not verie great, and the tree that they grow on is like to our Lawrell tree.
The Nutmegs and Maces, which growe both together, are brought from the
I[s]land of Banda, whose tree is like to our Walnut tree, but not so big.
All the good white Sandolo is brought from the Island of Timor. Canfora
being compound commeth all from China, and al that which groweth in canes
commeth from Bruneo, and I think that this Canfora cometh not into these partes:
for that in India they consume great store, and that is very deare.
The good Lignum aleos commeth from Chochinchina.
The Benjamin commeth from the kingdome of Assi [Achen] and Sion.
Long Peper groweth in Bengala, Pegu, and Giava.
Muske commeth from Tartaria, which they make in this order, as by good
information I have bene told, there is a certain beast in Tartaria, which is wild [and]
SBBR 2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
ACCOUNT OF PEGU 1 5 8
as big as a wolfe, which beast they take alive, & beat him to death with small
staves that his blood may be spread through his whole bodie, then they cut it in
peeces, and take out all the bones, and beat the flesh with the bloud in a morter
verie small, and drie it, and make purses to put it in of the Skinne, and these bee the
coddes of muske.
Truely I knowe not whereof the Amber is made, and there is divers
opinions of it, but this is most certaine, it is cast out of the Sea, and throwne a land
and found upon the sea banckes.
The Rubyes, Saphyres, and the Spynetly, they be gotten in the kingdome of
Pegu. The Diamandes they come from divers places: and I know but three [sorts]
of them. That sort of Diamands, that is called Chiappe, they come from Bezeneger.
Those that bee pointed naturally come from the land of Dely, and from Java, but
the Diamands of Java are more waightie then the other. I could never understand
from whence they that are called Balasy come.
Pearles they fish in divers places, as before in this booke is showne.
From Cambaza commeth the Spodiom coniealeth [concealed?] in certaine
canes; I founde manye of them in Pegu, when I made my house there, because that
(as I have saide before) they make their houses there of woven Canes like to
mattes. From Chianela they trade alongest the coast of Melyndy in Ethiopia, within
the lande of Caferaria: on that coaste are many good harbors kept by the Moores.
Thither the Portugalles bring a kinde of Bombast cloth of a Lowe price,
and greate store of Paternosters or beads, made of paltrie glasse, which they make
in Chiawle [Chaul] according to the use of the Countrie: & from thence they carry
Eliphants teeth for India, Slaves called Caferi, and some Amber and Golde. On this
coast the king of Portugall hath his castle called Mozenbich, which is of as great
importaunce as any castle that hee hath in all his Indies under his protection, and
the captaine of this castle hath certaine voiages to this Caferaria, to which places no
merchantes may goe, but by the agent of this Captaine, and they use to goe in small
ships, and trade with the Caferaries, and their trade in buying and selling is without
any speeche one to the other. In this wise the Portugalles bring their goods by little
and little alongst the sea coast, and lay them down: and so depart, and the Cafer
merchants come & see the goods, & there they put downe as much gold as they
think the goods is worth, and so goeth his way and leaveth his golde and the goods
together, then commeth the Portugal: and finding the gold to his content, he taketh
it and goeth his way into his ship, & then commeth the Cafer and taketh the goodes
& carieth it away: and if hee find the golde there still, it is a signe that the
Portugalles are not contented, and if the Cafer thinke he hath put too little, he
addeth more, as he thinketh the thing is worth: and the Portugalles must not stand
with them to[o] strickt; for if they doe, then they will have no more trade with
them, for they disdaine to be refused, when they thinke that they have offered
ynough, for they be a peevish people, and have dealt so of a long time, & by this
SBBR2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
159 S OAS BULLETIN OF BURMA RESEARCH
trade the Portugals change their commodities into gold, and cary it to the Castle of
Mozonbich, which is in an I[s]land not farre distant from the firm land of Caferaria
on the coast of Ethiopia, and distant from the India 2800 miles.
End of Voyage
...Now to finish that which I have begun to write, I say, that those partes of the
Indies is verie good, because that a man that hath little: shall make a great deale
thereof, alwaies they must governe themselves that they be taken for honest men.
For why? To such there shall never want helpe to do wel, but he that is vicious, let
him tarrie at home and not go thither, because he shall alwayes bee a begger, and
Dye a poore man.
SBBR 2.2 (AUTUMN 2004): 130-159
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11