They Find These Ryals By Diving For Them In The Sea, Having Been
There Lost In Two Portuguese Ships Not Long Before, That Were Cast Away
When Bound For China.
In their language the cocoa-nut is called
calambo; the plantain, pison; a hen, jam; a fish, iccan; and a
hog, babee.
Departing from the Nicobar Islands on the 21st November,
we made sail for the island of Ceylon, where we arrived about the 3d
December, 1592, and anchored on its south side, in six fathoms water,
but lost our anchor, as the ground was foul and rocky. We then ran along
the south-west side of the island, and anchored at a place called Punta
del Galle, meaning to remain there in waiting for the Bengal fleet of
seven or eight ships, the Pegu fleet of two or three, and the ships from
Tanaserim, a great bay to the south of Martaban, in the kingdom of Siam,
which ships, according to different informations we had got, were
expected to come this way within fourteen days, with commodities for the
caraks, which usually depart from Cochin, on the homeward voyage, about
the middle of January.
The commodities of the ships which come from Bengal are, fine pavilions
for beds, wrought quilts, fine cotton cloth, pintados, (painted
chintz,) and other fine goods, together with rice; and they usually make
this voyage twice a year. The ships from Pegu bring the most precious
jewels, as rubies and diamonds; but their principal lading is rice and
certain cloths.
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