How peper is had:  and where it groweth.

[Sidenote:  Malabar.] Moreouer, that it may be manifest how peper is had, it is to be vnderstood that it groweth in a certaine kingdome whereat I my selfe arriued, being called Minibar, and it is not so plentifull in any other part of the worlde as it is there.  For the wood wherein it growes conteineth in circuit 18 dayes iourney.  And in the said wood or forrest there are two cities, one called Flandrina, and the other Cyncilim.  In Flandrina both Iewes and Christians doe inhabite, betweene whom there is often contention and warre:  howbeit the Christians ouercome the Iewes at all times.  In the foresaid wood pepper is had after this maner:  first it groweth in leaues like vnto pot-hearbs, which they plant neere vnto great trees as we do our vines, and they bring forth pepper in clusters, as our vines doe yeeld grapes, but being ripe, they are of a greene colour, and are gathered as we gather grapes, and then the graines are layed in the Sunne to be dried, and being dried are put into earthen vessels:  and thus is pepper made and kept.  Now, in the same wood there be many riuers, wherein are great store of Crocodiles, and of other serpents, which the inhabitants thereabout do burne vp with straw and with other dry fewel, and so they go to gather their pepper without danger. [Sidenote:  Polumbrum.] At the South end of the said forrest stands the city of Polumbrum, which aboundeth with marchandize of all kinds.  All the inhabitants of that countrey do worship a liuing oxe, as their god, whom they put to labour for sixe yeres, and in the seuenth yere they cause him to rest from al his worke, placing him in a solemne and publique place, and calling him an holy beast Moreouer they vse this foolish ceremonie:  Euery morning they take two basons, either of siluer, or of gold, and with one they receiue the vrine of the oxe, and with the other his dung.  With the vrine they wash their face, their eyes, and all their fiue senses.  Of the dung they put into both their eyes, then they anoint the bals of the cheeks therewith, and thirdly their breast:  and then they say that they are sanctified for all that day; And as the, people doe, euen so doe their King and Queene.  This people worshippeth also a dead idole, which, from the nauel vpward, resembleth a man, and from the nauel downeward an oxe.  The very same Idol deliuers oracles vnto them, and sometimes requireth the blood of fourtie virgins for his hire.  And therefore the men of that region do consecrate their daughters and their sonnes vnto their idols, euen as Christians do their children vnto some Religion or Saint in heauen.  Likewise they sacrifice their sonnes and their daughters, and so, much people is put to death before the said Idol by reason of that accursed ceremony.  Also, many other hainous and abominable villanies doeth that brutish beastly people commit:  and I sawe many moe strange things among them which I meane not here to insert. [Sidenote: