1681. Heuwoya, All words signifying Common Soldiers, only they are titles one above another, and the two last are as much as to say Gentlemen Soldiers. To fight, as much as to say, To act the Soldier. Their To dye. Mich, Dead. Tonnaund, To build. Touncheroutwitch, It is fin- Na & Natti, No, or not. I shall only make one Observation from these words, and that is concerning the four first. It is this, that they have no words of their own Language for God and Heaven, but in all probability borrowed them from the Portugueze. But for the two next, The Devil and Hell, words of their own. They number thus, Eckhoi Numbering. Deckhoi Chap. X. Concerning their Learning, Astronomy, and 1681. Heir Learning is but small. All they of their and of Physick. Their Books are only of their Religion Their Books, Their chief Arts are Astronomy and and Arts. Magick. They have a Language something differing from the vulgar tongue (like Latin to us) which their Books it are writ in. They learn to write upon Sand, spreading How they upon the ground, and making it smooth with the hand, learn to write. and so write the letters with their fingers to bring their hand in use. They write not on Paper, for of that they have little or none; but on a Talli-pot leaf with an Iron Bodkin, which makes an impression. This leaf thus written on, is not folded, but rolled up like Ribbond, and somewhat resembles Parchment. If they are to write a Book, they do it after this manner. How they They take the Tallipot leaf, and cut it into divers pieces make and of an equal shape and size, some a foot, some eight inches, write a Book. some a foot and an half long, and about three fingers broad. Then having thus prepared the leaves, they write in them long ways from the left hand to the right, as we do. When the Book is finished they take two pieces of board, which are to serve for the cover of the Book. To these boards [p. 110.] are fastened two strings, which do pass thro every leaf of the Book, and these tye it up fast together. As the Reader hath read each leaf, he lifts it up, and lays it by still hanging upon the strings, and so goes to the next leaf, something The Priests resembling Bills filed upon Wyre. write Books The Gonnies, who are men of leisure, write many Books of Bonna. 1681. The King's of Bonna, that is of the Ceremonies of their Religion: and will sometimes carry them to great Men, as a present, and do expect a reward. The King when he sends any Warrants or Orders to his Warrants how Officers, hath his Writings wrapped up in a way proper wrapped up. to himself, and none else do or may fold up their leaves in that manner but He. They write upon two sorts of leaves. Their Skill in Their They pretend to know by the Stars. They write upon the Tallipat leaves Records or matters of great moment, or that are to be kept and preserved: but for any ordinary business as Letters, &c. they commonly use another leaf, called Taulcole. The leaves of which will bear a better impression than the Tallipat, but they are more stubborn, and harder than the other, and will not fold. But to speak a little of their Astronomy. They who have understanding in it, and practise it, are the Priests of the highest Order, of which the present King's Father was. But the common sort of Astronomers are the Weavers. These men can certainly foretel Eclipses of the Sun and Moon. They make Leet, that is Almanacks that last for a Month. They are written upon a Tallipat leaf, a little above a foot long, and two fingers broad. In them are told the Age of the Moon, and the good Seasons and times to begin to Plough or to Sow, or to go a Journey, or to take any work in hand. On this precise time they will be sure to sprinkle their first Seed, tho they sow all their Field it may be a Month after. And so they will begin to set forth at the very moment, tho possibly they will not go their Journey till some days after. These Astronomers tell them also when the old year ends to the very minute. At which time they cease from future things all work, except the Kings, which must not be omitted. They acquaint them also with the good hour of the New year, they are to begin to work. At which time every Man and Woman begins to do somewhat in their employment they intend to follow the ensuing year. They have also another season directed them by their Astronomers : that is, when to begin to wash their heads, which is assigned to every one according to the time of their Nativities, which Ceremony they observe very religiously. These Astronomers, or rather Astrologers, are skilful in the Knowledge of the Stars, and Planets, of which they reckon nine: 'tis supposed they may add the Dragon's Head and Tail. By which they pretend to foretel all things concerning the health and recovery of Sick Persons; also concerning the fate of Children born, about which the Parents do presently consult them, and save their Children or kill them according to the fortunate or unfortunate hour they tell the Parents they were born in. When a Person is Sick, he carries to these men his Nativity, which they call Hanna hom pot, upon the perusal of which they tell his destiny. These also direct fit times for beginning Journeys, or other undertakings. They are likewise consulted concerning Marriages by looking upon the Man and Woman's Nativity. 1681. Months, They reckon their Time from one Saccawarsi an ancient [p. 111.] King. Their year consists of 365 days. They begin their Their Era, year upon our Eight and twentieth day of March, and Their Years, sometimes the Seven and twentieth, and sometimes, but Weeks, Days, very seldom, on the Nine and twentieth. The reason of Hours. which I conceive to be, to keep it equal to the course of the Sun, as our Leap year doth. They call the year Ouredah. This they divide into Twelve Months, named, Wasachmaha, Pomaha, Ahalamoha, Micheneha, Bochmoha, &c. They divide their Months into Weeks, each consisting of seven days, called Iridah, Sandudah, Onghorudah, Bodadah, Braspotindah, Secouradah, Henouradah. The first of which they account a good and a fortunate day to begin to do or undertake any thing: and it falls out upon our Sunday. On their Wednesdays, and Saturdays they open their Churches, and perform their Ceremonies. Their day, which they call Dausack, they divide into Thirty Pays, hours or parts, and begin their account from the Sun-rising, and their Night also into as many, and begin from Sun-setting: So that the Fifteenth Pay is Twelve a Clock at Noon. They have a Flower by which K.C. 177 M 1681. How they measure their time. Their Magick. destroyed by Magick. they judge of the time, which constantly blows open seven Pays before Night. They have no Clocks, Hour-glasses, or Sun-Dials, but keep their time by guess. The King indeed hath a kind of Instrument to measure time. It is a Copper Dish holding about a Pint, with a very small hole in the bottom. This Dish they set a swimming in an Earthen Pot of water, the water leaking in at the bottom till the Dish be full, it sinks. And then they take it out, and set it empty on the water again, and that makes one Pay. Few or none use this but the King, who keeps a man on purpose to watch it continually. The People will use it upon some occasions, as if they are to sow their Corn at any particular hour, as being the good lucky Season, then they make use of the Copper Pan, to know the time exactly. They do practise Magick. Whereof take these two remarkable instances of many that might be given. The Countrey of Neurecalava formerly brought forth great plenty of Corn, occasioned by reason of its large The Plenty of waterings. A Neighbour Kingdom, the Kingdom of a Countrey Cournegal which lyes in Hotcourley, in those times was brought to a great dearth. At which the King sends to the People of Neurecalava, that they would bring a supply of Corn to his Countrey, which they did in great store upon Beasts in Sacks, and arrived at the King's City: and there for the more expeditious measuring out every Housholder his proportion of Corn, they made a hole in the Sacks, and let it run out, still driving on the Beasts before them and all that was shed before every man's House, was to be his share. This exceedingly gratified the King. Afterward the King to requite them, asked what they most needed in their Countrey? They answered, They had plenty of all things, only they wanted Cahah mirris, that is Turmeric and Pepper. The King to gratifie them sent them such a quantity of each as his Countrey could afford. As soon as this was brought to the People of Neurecalava, they went to measure it out to every man his Portion, but finding it of so small a quantity, they |