Bernier’s voyage to the east indies.

hh mind to his work, when he fees, that among the people, which is for the moft partbeggarly, or will appear fo, there is none that confiders the goodnefs and neatnefs ofhis work, every body looking for what is cheap ?- And that the grandees pay thembut very ill, and when they pleafe ? The poor tradefman often thinking himfelf happythat he can get clear of them without the Korrah, which is that terrible whip, that hangsnigh the gate of the Omrahs: further when he feeth that there is no help at all everto come to any thing, as to buy an office, or fome land for himfelf and children, andthat even he dares not appear to have a penny in caffi, or to wear good cloths, or toeat a good meal, for fear he ffiould be thought rich, and'indeed the beauty and exaft-nefs of arts had been quite loft in thofe parts long ago, if it were not that the kings andgrandees there did give wages to certain workmen, that work in their houfes, andthere teach their children, and endeavour to make themfelves able in order to be a littlemore confidered, and to efcape the Korrah ; and if alfo it were not, that thofe greatand rich merchants of towns, who are protected by good and powerful patrons, payedthofe workmen a little better: I fay, a little better; for, what fine fluffs foever we feecome from thofe countries, we muft not imagine, that the workman is there in anyhonour, or comes to any thing; it is nothing but mere neceflity or the cudgel, thatmakes him work, he never grows rich ; it is no fmall matter, when he hath wherewithto live and to cloath himfelf narrowly. If there be any money to gain of the work,that is not for him, but for thofe great merchants of towns I was juft now fpeakingof: and even thefe themfelves find it often difficult enough to maintain themfelves,and to prevent extortion.

’Tis from the fame caufe alfo, that a grofs and profound ignorance reigns in thofeftates. For how is it poffible there fhould be academies and colleges well founded,where are fuch founders to be met with? And if there were any, whence were thefcholars to be had ? Where are thofe that have means lufficient to maintain their chil-dren in colleges; and if there were, who would appear to be fo rich ? And if theywould, where are thofe benefices, preferments and dignities that require knowledgeand abilities, and that may animate young men to ftudy ?

Thence it is likewife, that traffic languifhes in all that country, in comparifon ofours. For how many are there that care to take pains, to run up and down, to writemuch, and to run danger for another, for a governor, that ffiall extort, if he be notin league with fome confiderable fword-man, whofe Have he in a manner is, and thatmakes his own conditions with him ?

It is not there, that the kings find for their fervice princes, lords, gentlemen, fons ofrich and good families, officers, citizens, merchants, and even tradeftnen well born,'veil educated, and well inftru&ed ; men of courage that have a true affedtion and re-fpedt for their king, that often live a great while at court and in the army at their ownexpences, entertaining themfelves with good hopes, and content with the favourable afpectof the prince ; and who upon occafion fight manfully, covetous to uphold the honour oftheir anceftors and families. Thofe kings, I fay, never fee about them but men of no-thing, flaves, ignorants, brutes, .and fuch courtizans as are raifed from the dull to dig-nities, and that for want of good education and inftruction almoft always retain fomewhat°f their offspring, of the temper of beggars, enriched, proud, unfufferable, heartlefs, infen-bble of honour, difingenuous, and void of affection and regard for the honour of theirking and country. Here it is, where thofe kings muft ruin all to find means to defraya *l thofe prodigious charges, which they cannot avoid for entertaining their great court,'vhich hath no other fource to fubfift but their coffers and treafure, and for maintainingconftantly the vaft number of foldiers, neceffary for them to keep the people in fubjec-voe. viii. u tion