Hamilton’s account of the east indies.

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down. At a certain time, but God knows when, a fhip of Portugal coming to India ,got the length of Cabo de Bona Efperanza, and then met with fuch a violent ftorm,that drove the (hip fo violently before it that it was paft the pilots (kill to keep her torights in her courfe; and who foould come to their affiftance in that critical juncturebut Senhor Diabolo, who took the helm, and managed it very dexteroufly : and theVirgin Mary , to Ihew her kindnefs and fkill in navigation, flood a whole night on theforecaftle, directing the Devil how he fhould fleer, and behold, to the great admirationof all concerned, the fhip was high and dry in the morning, in a valley on the fouthfide of the river of Goa , about half a mile within the land. The fhip failed very well,for that in one night fhe ran, according to a moderate computation, 1500 leagues. Andin commemoration of this miracle, there is a fine church built where the fhip anchor-ed fo fafely, and the flruclure is juft the length, breadth, and height of the fhip.The church I have often feen as I palled up and down the river. And this ftory is fofirmly believed at Goa , that it is dangerous to make any doubt of it.

Of all the churches in or about Goa none is honoured with glafs-windows, but onein the city dedicated to St. Alexander, for the reft are all ferved with clear oyfter-fhelllights, which are far inferior to lights of glafs: all their ftately houfes are furnifhedwith oyfter-fhell lights.

The country about Goa is fterile in corn, but it produces fome excellent fruits. TheGoa mango is reckoned the largeft and moft delicious to the tafte of any in the world,and, I may add, the wholefomeft and belt tailed of any fruit in the world. Theirjambo Malacca is very beautiful and pleafant, and they have very good pine apples andmelons.

The little trade they have is moftly from their arrack, which is diftilled from toddyof the cocoa-nut tree, which grows in great abundance in the territories of Goa . TheEnglifh are their beft cuftomers, for they buy great quantities yearly for punch. It isfold by the candy, or two calks, about 45 gallons each, for 25 xerapheens per calk;but I have bought it for 20, when there was no great demand for it. They alfo makea great deal of fait in ponds made in low grounds, where they may convey thewater at fpring tides. It may be bought for a crown the tun, and fometimescheaper.

The river’s mouth is guarded, and the entrance defended by feveral forts and batteries,well planted with large cannon on both fides. On the ifland is the black fort, whichHands within half a mulket-fhot of the bar, which is fhut up by the fouth-fouth-wefl mon-foons, from April to September, when is St. Anthony’s new-moon, as they call thefirft new-moon in September. The frefhes coming down from the mountains, carry offthe fands, which choke the mouths of the rivers along all the coafts of India . And, withoutthe black fort, is a battery built clofe to the fea on a little promontory, called Nos Senhorde Cabo, about a mile without the black fort. And, juft over that battery, on alittle hill about 40 yards high, is a fine monaftery, always kept as white as fnow, andmay be feen a good diftance off at fea. The monaftery has a large pleafant gardentowards the land, and an orchard of excellent fruit trees. And, on the oppofite ofNos Senhor de Cabo, is a fort built on the face of a little hill, which commands thatfide of the river. And, without that, is the Aguada, fortified with a fort on its top,mid feveral batteries at the foot of its high grounds, which are alfo about 40 yardsNigh. In the caftle is placed a large lantern for a light-houfe, to ihew Clipping the^ay into the road about the beginning of September, when thick clouds obfcure theland, that it cannot be well known at fea. All boats that are bound to the city, areobliged to call at Aguada, to give an account from whence they came, and what theirbufmefs is$ and if any prefume to pafs without calling there, they, are fure of a

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