gave the flesh of their dead to be eaten by the worms.”  Abhorring these savage manners, we returned to our ship not willing to tarry longer in that island.  While we were there, the Christian merchants, who were ever desirous to shew us strange things which we might relate at our return to our own country, made us remark that the sun at noon-day was to the north of us, which as they said is always the case in the month of July.  I must acknowledge however, that I hardly remember these things distinctly, as I had then almost forgot the names of our months.  At this island my companion bought two fine emeralds for 1000 pieces of gold, and likewise two children who were eunuchs, for two hundred pieces, as there are in that country certain merchants who deal solely in these young eunuchs.

After remaining fifteen days in Java, being weary of the barbarous manners of the inhabitants, and of the coldness of the country at that season of the year, we determined to prosecute our voyage back to India, as there were no other regions in these eastern parts worth seeing.  Wherefore, hiring a light bark, we departed from thence, and having sailed fifteen days to the north-west, we came to the city of Malacca, where we remained three days.  At this place we took our leave of the Christian merchants, with sorrowful minds and many friendly embraces.  Of this separation I was sore grieved, and had I been a single man without wife and children[104], I certainly would never have separated from such dear friends.  Leaving them therefore at Malacca, they remained at that place, whence they said they meant shortly to return to the city of Sana[105].  My Persian companion and I went on board a foist, in which we returned to Coromandel.  While on this voyage the pilot informed us that there were about seven thousand small islands in the eastern sea, beyond Sumatra and Java.  While at Malacca my companion bought as much spices, perfumes of various kinds, and silk, as cost him 5000 pieces of gold.  We were fifteen days on our voyage to Coromandel, and remained there twenty days.  Hiring another foist we sailed thence to the city of Coulan, where we found twenty-two Portuguese Christians.  Fearing they might seize me as a spy, I began to contrive how I might make my escape from thence; but as there were many Mahometans there who knew that I had been on the pilgrimage to Mecca, I changed my purpose, and we soon afterwards went to Calicut by way of the river, which took us twelve days.

[Footnote 104:  This oblique insinuation of having a wife and children, is rather contradictory to several circumstances in the early part of the itinerary of Verthema.—­E.]

[Footnote 105:  This is probably a mistake for Sarnau, whence the Christians are said to have come.—­E.]

SECTION X.

Continuation of the Author’s Adventures, after his Return to Calicut.