Pegu

Sources from old books

1638. The merchants mappe of commerce wherein by Lewes Roberts.

Of PEGU, and the coast thereof with the trade.

IN order having passed the coast and gulph of Bengala, the next in this tract, is the Sea-coast of Aracan, Pegu and Sian, stretching it selfe to the Iland and Fort of Malacca, of which according to the observations in trade, as I have collected, I will in briefe touch.

The first on this coast and shoare is Aracan, scituated upon the River of Cosnim, which passeth through some part of Bengala, and entreth into that gulph at this Citie, by which commodious scituation it is found plentifully stored as well with the commodities of that Countrey, as the naturall commodities of the place it selfe.

The next is Macoa, seated upon one of the mouths of that great and famous River Martaban, which by ten mouths issuing into the Sea, gives a great supply to this Countrey of all the commodities that are found in India, from whence this mightie River hath its sourse.

The third is Pegu it selfe, giving name to the whole coast, seated in like manner upon one of the said mouthes, which as being the principall seat of the Princes of this Countrey, I will a little more particularly survey.

The marvellous great tydes, and violent current of this great River is not here to be omitted as appertaining to trade, for it is found to be in it selfe so swift, th•… neither winde nor oare can make head or way against it, and because it is found to keepe: constant course of ebbing and flowing, therefore in their sayling they still observe the tydes thereof, and when those tydes are at highest, there are certaine stations on the bankes whereto their boats galliots and barges are fastned, untill the tyde doe againe serve their turne to proceed on their voyage: this one thing more I finde wonderfull here, that these tydes come not in by a constant continued pace or measure, but come rushing in at the first with a great violence, with a hideous noise and roaring, such as in some lesser sort is seene in the River of Roven, and in our River of Severne in England.

As for the Citie of Pegu it selfe it is divided into two parts, in the one the King and his Nobilitie resideth, lately built and richly beautified, and therefore called the new Towne; the other part inhabited onely by Merchants, Artificers, Sea-men, and such like, and called the old Towne; every house in the old Towne where Merchants doe reside, hath a place built strongly of bricke which as a warehouse serveth his occasion, called by them Godon, espe•…ally to prevent firing, which this Towne is much subject to by •…ason of the combustible matter it is made of; the new Towne 〈◊〉 walled about and is a perfect square, having twentie gates, five 〈◊〉 each angle, ditched about and watered, wherein many Crocodills are kept for the watch of the place by night; the walles are beau•…fied with many Turrets for centinels guilded with gold; the streets •…re very faire, straight as a line, and so broad as fifteene horsemen •…ay ride abrest on both sides; at each mans doore are set palme •…rees, which groveing makes a faire shew, and thereby all passen•…ers may walke daily in the shaddow from one street to another, to prevent the extraordinary heat of the place and climate: the greatest trade that is found at this day exercised in Pegu, is from the coast of Cormandell with pintados, cotton cloth, and other bombasins much in request here; but it is to be noted, that these Shippes must depart that coast by the sixt of September, and take the monsone winde, otherwise they lose their voyage for that yeare: from Bengala also commeth hither sundry shippes with cotton cloth and other such wearing commodities, which taking also the season of the winde arriveth here when the Cormondel Shippes are ready to depart. The principall harbour or port where these Shippes doe ride is called Cosmin, and is the place where the greatest Shippes doe Anchor to lade and unlade their goods. From Mecca comes also sundry Shippes laden with woolen cloth, Damaskes, Velvets, and Chickens. From Mallacca comes many small Vessells laden with pepper, sanders, Porcelan of China, Camphora, and other commodities. From Sumatra commeth also sundry Shippes with pepper and other wares; all which goods are very strictly looked into for the payment of the Kings customes at landing, which is here payd in kind, and amounteth unto twelve per cent. and the King doth hold it for a great affront to be wronged of a penny of it: Rubies, Saphirs and Spinalls paying here no custome in or out, as being the proper commodities of the Countrey.

For the effecting of the trade and commerce of this place, there is ordained eight Broakers or Tareghes by the Kings authoritie, who are bound to sell and vent all the goods and merchandise comming to Pegu, for all mens account of what Nation soever they be, having two per cent. for their brokeredge, and are liable to make good the debts they make, which no Merchant there resident can avoide; for they will have the said two per cent. by the Kings authoritie granted them, whether their helpe be taken or not.

In like manner, there are ordained certaine Broakers for the buying of all the commodities bought in Pegu, wherein is found amongst them such candid dealing, that a stranger can hardly be wronged or abused, if he have but so much discretion to provide such goods as may be proper for the Countrey whither he sends them.

The commodities native of this place and Countrey are these, Gold, Silver, Rubies, Saphirs, Spinalls digged at Caplan six dayes journey from Ava in this Kingdome, great store of Benjamin, lo•… pepper, lead, lacca, Rice, Niperwine and sugar; and many other commodities. The manner of their bargaining as being contrary to the custome and use in most parts of the world, is here worth observing; all their bargaines by their law must be made publiquely and in open assemblies of and before all standers by, who because they should yet not know, what is bidden or demanded for any commoditie, the Broakers either buyer or seller having seene the commoditie, and liking of it, putteth his hand under a cloth and toucheth the parties hand interessed, and by nipping, touching and pinching of certaine joynts of each others hands, they know what is bidden and demanded without words speaking, which these Broakers againe with the other hand coverd in the like manner, give notice of to the party who sets him on worke, and either so orders him to proceed to bid more or lesse, or els to give over: and after this manner are all their contracts here made, and afterward by the said Broaker registred accordingly in leaves of trees which with them is used as paper with us.

And when any strangers and forraine Merchants arrive here, these Broakers are bound by their place to provide them a house, Magazin, and lodging, whilest they here are resident, and when the house is taken, the Governour of the Towne sends to know how long time he intends to stay with them, and withall appointeth certaine maides of the Towne to goe to him, that out of them he may make choise of one whilst he remaines there, and then having chosen one to his minde, he contracts with her friends for her use for the said time at an easie rate, which done he bringeth her to his house or lodging, and shee serveth him willingly in all his affaires both by day and night, as both his slave and wife; but then he must take care that during that time he keepeth not company with any other woman; for so he might incurre a great danger and perill of his life by the law of the Countrey. Now when the time of his residence is expired, he payeth the parents of the maid the price agreed for, and departeth quietly away, and shee returneth with credit to her friends, being as well esteemed of as ever shee was before; and if afterward this maid chance to marry, though with the principallest of the Countrey, and that the aforesaid stranger should againe returne hither to trade, he may againe demand his woman, and he shall have her by the law of the Countrey, without the resistance of her husband, or any shame unto him, and shee remaineth by the stranger as long as he abideth there, and he travelling from thence, shee goeth home to her husband againe, which amongst them is held for a most sure and inviolable law and custome.

The coine currant here and throughout all this coast is called Gansa, which is made of copper and lead, and is not the proper money of the King, but every man may stampe it that will, and that is able, because it hath its just value in stuffe and materialls; there is much counterfeiting of this coine, but it is soone discerned by the Broakers, tellers of money, who readily spy it out, and therefore not passable, nor will not be taken by any; with this money Gansa you may buy Gold, silver, Rubies, drugges, spices, and all commodities; and no other money is currant amongst them.

This Gansa goeth by a weight called a Biso, and this name of Bise goeth for the account of the weight, and therefore a Bise of a Gansa is accounted by strangers there trading ½ R. 〈◊〉 or 2 shil. 6. d. starling; and albeit that gold and silver as all other commodities doe rise and fall, yet this Bise never altereth in value or estimation. Every Bise maketh a hundred Gansaes of weight, and so it doth come to passe that the number of the money is Bisa.

In this Countrey is also seated the Towne of Martaven, a place of great traffique, and the last of this coast; the Inhabitants whereof are wonderfull expert in making of hard waxe, which hence is dispersed throughout India, and into many places of Europe; here is also made those great earthen Iarrs or vessels which serve them to keepe water, oyle, or any other liquor, and are much used in India, and aboord their shippes in stead of caske, barrells, and such vessells, and throughout all these Countries are called of the name of the place Martavanas; and in some places by the Portugalls Tenajos.

1652. Cosmographie in four bookes by Peter Heylyn.

PEGV.

PEGV is bounded on the East, with Jangoma, and a part of Siam; on the North, with the kingdomes of Brama; on the West and South, with the kingdome and Golf of Bengala. So called from Pegu the chief City, as that is by the name of the River upon which it standeth. Divided commonly into the kingdoms and estates of 1. Verma, 2. Macin, 3. Orrachan, 4. Martavan, and 5. Pegu specially so called.

1. VERMA is the name of a small kingdome bordering upon Bengala, and so denominated from Verma, the chief Town thereof. A kingdome which hath no Port or Haven at all; and therefore wholly freed of Moores and Mahometans, which can be said of no other of these Indian kingdoms.

The people black, naked above the Waste, and covered beneath it onely with a veil of Cotton: in matter of Religion Gentiles, and in wane right valiant. This last apparent by the long and frequent warres which they had with the Peguans: to whom made Tributary in conclusion, but not fully conquered.

2. MACIN, so called from Macin the chief City thereof, is another of these Peguans kingdoms. Of small esteem but for the great quantity of the sweet-wood by the Latines called Lignum vitae, by the natives Calamba, so much in use for Funeralls and Bathes, (as was said before;) held also by the Indians for a Sovereign and unparallell'd Medicine against many dangerous diseases; great quantities whereof are brought hence yearly by the Merchant. One of the first kingdoms which was conquered by the king of Barma, (upon whom it bordereth) in the beginning of his Fortunes.

3. ORRACHAN or Arrachan, lieth on the West of Macin, and the South of Verma, environed round with mountains and impassable woods. Chief Towns thereof, 1. Dia ga, taken and destroyed by the Portugals, in the quarrels betwixt them and the king of Arrachan. Anno 1608. •. Sundiva, situate in an Iland unto which it gives name, fix leagues off from the continent of Bengala, to which it formerly belonged. Subdued by the Portugals, Anno 1602. and from them taken by this king about two years after, and made a member of his kingdom. The Iland 30 leagues in compass, very strong, fruitfull, and the Town well fortified. 3. Arrachan, the head City, which gives name to all, distant from the Sea 45 miles, but seated on a large and capacious River. The king and kingdom of no note, till the ruins of Pegu, to the Crown whereof it once pertained. In the desolation of which State the king hereof combining with him of Tangu, besieged the second Tanguan king in the Castle of Macan; and had betwixt them the whole pillage of that wealthy City, together with the possession of the best Towns of it. After this victory, he returned to Arrachan in triumph, leading with him the white Elephant: of the king of Pegu, sumptuously adorned; the brother and two sonnes of the Peguan following in the Pag•ant. A solemn and magnificent entry. The better to assure himself of his new dominions, this king bestowed upon the Portugals the fort of Siriangh, on the River of Pegu. For which favour ill-requited by the Portugals, who had taken his sonne, and put him to a grievous ransom, they brake out into open warres. In the pursuit whereof, after many losses, the king recovered from them the Isle of Sundiva, and manning out a Fleet of 1200 sail (of which 75 were of so great burden as to carry every one, twelve peeces of Ordnance) and in that fleet 30000 Souldiers, 8000 hand-guns, and 3500 greater peeces, besieged the Fortress: assisted in that action also by the king of Tangu. And though he failed in his design, yet like enough he had prevented the king of Av•, who took it in the year 1613 as before is said, had he not been outed in the mean time of his own kingdom, by the king of Barma: of whole great rise, the conquering of the Realms of Macin and Arrachan, were the first foundation.

4. MARTAVAN, the richest of these kingdoms, lieth South to Arrachan, a little turning towards the West. The soyl so fertile that it yieldeth three Harvests in a year, and sent annually 15 ships to Cochin, and as many to Mala•a, laden with Rice. Rich also in Mines of Iron, lead, steel, brass, silver, gold, and Rubies: and very liberally provided of Springs and Rivers. The Forrests well-stored with Harts, Bores, and Buffoles, store of Pines and Palms: the woods with Sugar-canes, many excellent fruits; the ordinary herbs and shrubs either Medicinal or odoriferous. The principall City of it called also Martavan, situate on an Haven open at all times of the year, and not choked with sands, as usually other Havens are in the Indian winter: of great trading, much splendour, and a temperate a••. Faithfull unto the last to the Crown of Pegu, to the Kings whereof their own were subjects and in that constancy they twice repulsed the king of Siam who then had conquered the most part of the Kingdome of Pegu. Angry whereat, the Siamite caused two of his cowardly Captains to be cast into a chaldron of scalding oyl: and at the third assault became master of it. Bannalaius the old King hereof (99 years old) with his heir apparent, and 200000 of his Subjects, being compelled to hide themselves in the woods and Desarts.

5. PEGV, the most predominant Kingdom, lieth like a Crescent or half-moon on the Gulf of Bengala; extending on that coast from Negrais unto Tavan the next Town of Siam, for the space of three hundred miles, and upwards; but little less in breadth, if not quite as much. So called from the River Pegu, which runs thorow the middest of it, and gives this name also unto Pegu the most noted City.

The Soyl hereof exceeding fruitfull, by reason of the annuall overflowings of the River, which do yearly fatten it, fit to bear wheat, and of Rice yielding an incredible quantity. It affordeth also many Rubies, great numbers of Civet-Cats, plenty of ••cca, (a Gum there made by Ants, as here Bees make wax) store of Elephants, and abundance of Parats which speak plainer, and are much fairer than in any place else.

The people of a mean stature, somewhat corpulent, and naturally beardless. If any stragling hair thrust forth, they alwayes carry Pinsers with them, to pull them out. Nimble and strong, but yet not very fit for warre; spending too much of their strength in the love of women, to which most passionably addicted. They black their teeth, because they say that dogs teeth be white: and wear no cloths but on their heads and about their nakedness. Said by the Jews to be descended from some of the Tribes of Israel confined hither by Solomon: but by the Peguans themselves, to be begotten of a dog and a China woman, which were saved here upon a Shipwrack. By Religion for the most part Gentiles, imagining innumerable worlds one after another, and a determinate number of Gods for every world: more Orthodox in assigning after this life according to the merits of the party deceased, one place of Torments, and another of Delights and pleasures, if they had not added a third also for satisfaction.

Chief Cities of this Kingdome,

1. Cosin, seated in a Territory full of Woods, as those Woods of Tigers, Wild Bores, Apes, and Parats: the houses made of Canes, which serve here for timber, (some of them being as bigge as Hogs-Heads) covered over with thatch.
2. Joccabel, a great City, on the River Pegu.
3. Dian, on the same River also, where they make Barks or Vessels as big as Galeasses; which serve both for trade and liabitation.
4. Coilan, a City four-square, and each square four miles.
5. Lanagon, a pleasant Town, and full of Palm-trees.
6. Dala, in which were the Kings Stables for his ordinary Elephants: his four White Elephants (for so many he had) being alwaies kept about the Court, not seen abroad but in great solemnities, when trapped in furnitures of Gold, and no less honoured by the people, than the King himself: called therefore King of the White Elephant by the neighbouring Princes.
7. Silvanpede, where many victualling Barkes are made to serve for dwelling on the Sea.
8. Mevcao, where they use to unload such goods as are to pass by Land to Pegu. Neighboured by the strongest Castle in all this Kingdome, and therefore chosen by the King for his place of Retreat, when distressed by the Kings of Arrachan; and Tangu. To the last of which making choice to yield up his person, with his Wife and Children, because he had maryed him to his Sister, he was by him perfidiously and basely murdered.
9. Siriangh, a strong peece on the mouth of the River, given by the King of Arrachan; to the Portugals, and by them committed to the keeping of Philip de Britto, in the year one thousand six hundred, or thereabouts. Who having made it good against him, and the King of Tangu his Associate, for the space of thirteen years together; was at last forced to yield himself prisoner to the King of Av•, by whom cruelly tortured on a spit.
10. Pegu, the glory of these parts, great, strong, and beautifull; Divided into two Towns, the Old and the New; the Old, inhabited by Merchants, the New, by the King and his Nobility. The houses made of wood, but covered with Tiles; a Coco-Tree before every house, yielding a comfortable shade, and a pleasant shew. The Steetes as strait as any line, and so broad that ten or twelve men may ride abrest in the narrowest of them. In figure square, each square having five Gates, besides many Turrets; all of them beautifully gilded. The whole well walled with walls of stone, environed on all sides with great Datches; and in the middest the Royall Palace, walled and ditched about, most sumptuously gilded; but specially the Temple or Idol-chapel, the walls whereof were hid with Gold, the Roof tiled with Silver.

In this magnificent Palace lived the Peguan Kings, in as much pomp and pleasure as the world could yield: his empire not extending only over these kingdoms now described, but over all the Provinces or kingdoms of the Bramane also; which he governed by his severall Vice-Roys, or rather TRIBUTARIE kings. A happiness too great to continue long. For in the year 1567. the Vice-Roy or Tributary king of Tangu, by the aid of his faction, and reputation of his vertues, entered into rebellion, and slaying the Nobles of the Land, usurped that kingdome. After this he subdued the Cities and kingdoms of Calam, Melintay, Prom, Miranda, and Ava, inhabited all of them by the Brames or Bramanes; and therfore taking to himself the title of king of Brama, because his fame and fortunes took their rise from his victories over them. Following the course of his Successes, he first assailed the Cities of Odia, and Siam, but repulsed with loss. To make amends for which misfortune, he beleaguered Pegu, and subdued it; and by the reputation which he got in that action, returning to the siege of Siam, had it yielded to him. Dying he gave the kingdome of Ava unto one of his Brothers; that of Peam to one of his grandsonnes; the kingdome of Jangoma to a younger sonne, but born after the time of his obtaining the Crown of Pegu; and finally that of Pegu, with the Soveraignty over all the rest, to his eldest sonne, a Prince of vicious and tyrannical nature; and not more cruell to his subjects, than they disobedient to him. Whereupon preparations are made on both sides, the people to defend their liberty, the King to preserve his Royalty. During these civill discords, the titulary king of Stam, whose late overthrow was not yet fully digested, came violently into the Countrey of Pegu; burning Corn, Grass, and Fruits; killing man, woman, and child, and having satisfyed his Fury, returned to his home. This spoil of the fruits of the Earth, was but a pr•logue to an unsupportable famine, which consumed all the inhabitants of this flourishing kingdome, except such whom the Granaries of the City of Pegu preserved, Anno 1598. For here the Fathers devoured their Children, the stronger preyed upon the weaker; not only devouring their more fleshy parts, but their entrails also: nay they broke up the skulls of such as they had slain, and sucked out their brains. This calamity incited another Tributary Prince of Tangu, to make his best advantage out of his neighbours affliction; though made his Brother-in-Law, and advanced to great honours by his Father. For justly fearing the displeasure of his angry Prince, to whose aid he had refused to come, when sent for by him, he joined himself with the king of Arrahan, besieged his Lord and Soveraign in the Fort of Meccao. Brought to extremities, the unfortunate Prince, thought best to put himself into the hands of his brother of Tangu; who assaulted and entred Pegu, where he found as much treasure as 600 Elephants, and as many horses, could conveniently carry away. This havock being made, he villanously murdered the King, Queen and their Children, and departed; leaving the gleaning of his spoil to the King of Arrachan: who, Anno 1600, was expelled by the King of Siam, who enjoyed it not long. For the King of Barma having with an Army of an hundred thousand fighting men, and fourty thousand Elephants, subdued the Kingdomes of Macin, and Arrachan, followed the currents of his Victories; conquered Siam, drove the king thereof from PEGV, where he hath built a most Magnificent Palace: and is now the sole Monarch of the twelve kingdomes of this India.

A more particular relation of this King, and his new-settled Estate, we cannot yet understand: what his Revenues are, what his Government, what his Forces. Merchants, whose inquisitiveness into the State-Matters of other Princes, is dangerous to their trading, cannot give us any full satisfaction: Scholars and Statists are not permitted to observe; and such of the Natives as could give us the most light, are not suffered to travell. Onely we may conjecture by the great Wealth of those several Princes, and the vast Armies by them raised in their severall Territories, that his Annual Revenues, Casualties, and united Forces must be almost infinite.