I Cannot
Now Speak Of Their Trees And Fruits, Or Should Write Another Letter As
Long As This; Neither Have I Yet Seen Any Tree Resembling Any Of Those I
Have Seen In Europe, Except The Vine, Which Here Grows To Little
Purpose, As All Their Wines Are Brought From Portugal.
The drink used in
this country is water, or wine made from the coco palm-tree.
Thus much
must suffice for the present; but if God send me health, I shall have
opportunity to write you once again; but the length of this letter
compelleth me now to take my leave, with my best prayers for your most
prosperous health. From Goa, the 10th November 1579. - Your loving Son,
THOMAS STEVENS.
SECTION II.
_Journey to India over-land, by Ralph Fitch, Merchant of London, and
others, in 1583_[402].
INTRODUCTION
We learn from the following journal, that the present expedition was
undertaken at the instigation, and chiefly at the expence of Sir Edward
Osborne, Knight, and Mr Richard Staper, citizens and merchants of
London. Besides Fitch, the author of the narrative, Mr John Newbery,
merchant, William Leedes jeweller, and James Story painter, were engaged
in the expedition. The chief conduct of this commercial enterprize
appears to have been confided to John Newbery; and its object appears to
have been, to extend the trade, which the English merchants seem to have
only recently established through Syria, by Aleppo, Bagdat and Basora,
to Ormus and perhaps to Goa, in imitation of the Italians, so as to
procure the commodities of India as nearly as possible at first hand.
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