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Hamilton’s account of the east indies.

civilly; and all the while I ftaid, he paffed jokes on his deputy about the fright I had -put him into.

The King’s cuftoms are very eafy, being but 3 per cent, from Europeans, and 5 onGentiles; and the cuftom-houfe as eafy, for they only defire to fee the mufters ofgoods, and the quantity of goods in each parcel or bale, and fo caufe fome, that theychoofe, to be opened ; and if they find the quantity and quality agree with the invoicegiven in, the remainder of the cargo is carried direftly from the landing place to thewarehoufes without more trouble; and after fale, they receive an account from thefeller, and rate the cuftoms accordingly.

They are very ignorant in hiftory and natural philofophy; for they tell, that Alex-ander the Great was Mahomet’s general , though they lived about 900 years diftant fromone another; and that, having a mind to transport his army over the mouth of the RedSea, from Babelmandel to Zeyla, in order to conquer Ethiopia , he went about build*ing a bridge there ; and, there being feven illands in thefe ftreights, called the SevenStones, he placed them there for a foundation to build on : and they are of opinion,that the world is fupported on the horns of a great bull, who foinetimes fiiakes hishead, which they aflign to be the caufe of earthquakes, which frequently are feltthere.

There are abundance of beggars in Mocha, and in moil other towns in Arabia, whobrag of the fancHty and verity of their religion ; and, for proof, when they pafs in theftreets, they are always bawling out, there is but one God , and Mahomet his prophetand beft beloved fervant; and carrying a piece of iron like the tooth of an harrow intheir right hand, they ftrike it with great force into the cavity of the eye, and yet theeye is not blemifhed, nor the eye-lids, or Ikin about the eye, feem to be hurt; andthey often let the iron hang down, as if the point was fattened to the corner of the eyenext the nofe. As for mad people of either fex, they venerate them, believing them tobe infpired, or actuated by a prophetick fpirit.

Their religion is Mahometifm, and are fuperftitioufly rigid in their way, but abo-minable hypocrites j for in their promifes, which they feldom keep, with lifted up eyesthey call on God to be witnefs to their fincerity : but in no part of the world is jufticebought and fold more publickly than here ; and the judge, who generally is the gover-nor of the place, whilft he is palling unjuft fentences, looks as grave as an old cat, de-claiming againft partiality.

In anno 1716, I faw juftice executed on a notorious criminal, guilty of no lefs thanrobbery and murder. A poor peafant had raifed a ftock of 500 dollars amongft hisfriends and neighbours, and was on his way to Mocha, to lay it out in merchandize pro-per for the parts he lived in. A villain, who knew of his journey, and the ftock he carriedwith him, way-laid him, and cut his throat from ear to ear, and then ftabbed him inthe breaft with his dagger, and fo poffeft the money and went off with it. Some paf-fengers coming that way foon after, found the mangled corps not quite cold, went andinformed the neighbourhood of the tragedy. On information, they went and viewedthe carcafe, and knew it. They gave the account to the murdered perfon’s relations,who lived but a little way off, and they buried the corps.

Some months after, one of the relations being at Mocha, chanced to fee his dead kinf-man’s ring on the murderer’s finger, and challenged it; for it is the cuftom of all theeaftern countries, both Mahometans and Gentiles, to wear rings. They wear no gold rings,but filver among the Mahometans, and the Gentiles commonly wear gold. The per-fon who knew the ring, informed the Cadjee or Judge what had paft, and the Cadjeeordered the murderer to be apprehended, and brought before him j and ordering him

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