The History of the Royal Society of London/Chapter 7
ANSWERS
RETURN'D BY
Sir PHILBERTO VERNATTI
Resident in Batavia in Java Major,
To certain Inquiries sent thither by Order of the Royal Society, and recommended by
Sir ROBERT MORAY.
Q.1.WHether Diamonds and other precious Stones grow again, after three or four Years, in the same Places where they have been digged out?
A. Never, or at least as the Memory of Man can attain to.
Q.2. Whether the Quarries of Stone in India, near Fetipoca, not far from Agra, may be cleft like Logs, and sawn like Planks, to ceil Chambers, and cover Houses.
A. What they are about the Place mentioned, I have not as yet been well inform'd; but in Persia not far from Cyrus where the best Wine groweth, there is a sort of hard Stone which may be cleft like Firwood, as if it had a Grain in it; the same is at the Coast Cormandel about Sadraspatuam; where they make but a mark in the Stone, set a Wedge upon it, with a wooden Hammer, as thick and thin as they please; it is used commonly for Pavement in Houses, one Foot square, and so cheap, that such a Stone finely polish'd costs not above six Pence.
Q. 3. Whether there be a Hill in Sumatra, which burneth continually, and a Fountain which runneth pure Balsam?
A. There is a Hill that burneth in Sumatra near Endrapeor; but I cannot hear of any such Fountain; and I believe that the like Hill is upon Java Major opposite to Batavia; for in a clear Morning or Evening, from the Road a Man may perfectly perceive a continual Smoak rise from the top, and vanish by little and little. I have often felt Earthquakes here, but they do not continue long. In the Year 1656, or 57, (I do not remember well the Time) Batavia was cover'd in one Afternoon, about two of the Clock, with a black Dust, which being gather'd together, was so ponderous, that it exceeded the Weight in Gold. I, at that Time, being very ill, did not take much Notice of it, but some have gathered it, and if I light upon it, I shall send you some. It is here thought, it came out of the Hill: I never heard of any that had been upon this Hill's top. Endrapeor is counted a mighty unwholesome Place, as likewise all others where Pepper grows; as Jamby, Banjar, Balingtoan, &c. though some impute it to the Hill's burning.
As for the Fountain, it is unknown to us, except Oleum Terræ is meant by it, which is to be had in Sumatra, but the best comes from Pegu.
Q. 4. What River is that in Java Major that turns Wood into Stone?
A. There is none such to our Knowledge; yet I have seen a Piece of Wood with a Stone at the End of it; which was told me, that was turned into Stone by a River in Pegu; but I took it but for a Foppery; for divers Arbusta grow in Rocks, which being appropriated curiously, may easily deceive a too hasty Believer.
Q. 5.Whether it be true, that upon the Coast of Achin in Sumatra, the Sea, though it be calm, groweth very high when no Rain falls, but is smooth in Rain, though it blows hard?
A. Sometimes, but not always; the Reason is this, that Achin lyeth at the very End and Corner of Sumatra, as may be seen by the Map, open in the main Ocean, so that the Sea comes rowling from the Cabo de bona Esperanza, and all that way unto it, and it is natural to the Sea to have a continual Motion, let it be ever so calm; which Motion cannot be called a Wave, neither have I any English for it at present, but in Dutch we call it, Deyninge van Dee Zee, and the calmer it is, the higher; the natural Motion of the Sea elevates very slowly the Water; so that I have seen Ships and Junks tossed by these Deynings in a calm, (when there is scarce Wind enough to drive a Bubble) that a Man can scarce stand in them; some say this Motion proceeds from boisterous Winds at Sea far distant. That Rain beats down the swelling of these Deynings (especially if it be vehement) proceeds naturally from its Weight and Impetuosity. And it is observed, that about Achin the Mountains are high and steep, from whose Tops boisterous Winds, called Travant, come suddenly (like a Granado-cast) falling into the Sea, are accompanied commonly with a great Shower of Rain, and last not above a Quarter, or at the most, half an Hour, which is too short a Time to disturb the Sea, or to cause a contrary Motion in it, being shelter'd by these Mountains.
Q. 6.Whether in the Island of Sambrero, which lyeth Northwards of Sumatra, about eight Degrees northern Latitude, there be found such a Vegetable as Mr. James Lancaster relates to have seen, which grows up to a Tree, shrinks down, when one offers to pluck it up, into the Ground, and would quite shrink, unless held very hard? And whether the same, being forcibly pluck'd up, hath a Worm for its Root, diminishing more and more, according as the Tree groweth in Greatness; and as soon as the Worm is wholly turned into the Tree, rooting in the Ground, and so growing great? And whether the same plucked up young turns, by that time it is dry, into a hard Stone, much like to white Corral?
A. I cannot meet with any that ever have heard of such a Vegetable.
Q. 7. Whether those Creatures that are in these Parts plump, and in Season at the full Moon, are lean and out of Season at the new, and the contrary, at the East Indies?
A. I find it so here, by Experience at Batavia, in Oysters and Crabs.
Q. 8. What ground there might be for that Relation, concerning Horns taking Root, and growing about Goa?
A. Inquiring about this, a Friend laught, and told me it was a Jeer put upon the Portuguese, because the Women of Goa are counted much given to Lechery.
Q. 9. Whether the Indians can so prepare that stupifying Herb Datura, that they make it lye several Days, Months, Years, according as they will have it, in a Man's Body, without doing him any hurt, and at the end kill him, without missing half an Hour's time?
A. The China Men in this Place have formerly used Datura as a Fermentation, to a sort of Drink much beloved by the Soldiers and Mariners, called xxxxbier, which makes them raging mad, so that it is forbidden strictly under the Penalty of a great Pain to make use of the same.
Q. 10. Whether those that be stupifed by the Juice of this Herb Datura, are recovered by moistning the Soles of their Feet in fair Water?
A. No. For I have seen diverse Soldiers and Mariners fall into the Rivers and Ditches, being stupified by their Drink aforesaid, who were rather worse after they were taken out, than better.
Q. 11. Whether a Betel hath such a Contrariety to the Durion, that a few Leaves thereof put to a whole Shopful of Durions, will make them all rot suddenly? And whether those who have surfeited on Durions, and thereby overheated themselves, do by laying one Leaf of Betel cold upon the Heart, immediately cure the Inflammations and recover the Stomach? This Betel being thought to preserve those Indians from Tooth-ach, loose Gums and Scurvy, and from stinking Breath, some of it is desired to be sent over with the Fruit Arcica, and the other Ingredients, and Manner of preparing it.
A. I have seen that Betel Leaves in a short time will spoil a Durion, take away its Nature, and turn a fat creamy Substance into Water. Commonly those that eat great Quantities of Durions, eat a Betel afterwards as a Correctorium, but of laying a Leaf upon the Heart, I have never heard. As for the other Qualities of the Betel, I believe they are good, if not abused; as most of the Indians do, who never are without it in their Mouths, no not sleeping, which corrodes their Teeth, and makes them as black as Jet: It draws from the Head the phlegmatick Humours, which are voided by spitting; so we use it; but the Indians swallow down their Spittle, together with the Juice of the Betel, and the Areica. The Manner of preparing it is easy, being nothing but the Nut, Leaf and Calx viva, of which last each one adds as much as pleaseth his Palate. There is a Sort of Fruit called Sivgboa, which is used with the Areica, instead of Betel, and can be dried and transported as well as the Areica, and hath the same Force, but a great deal more pleasant to the Palate.
Q. 12. Whether the Papayas, that beareth Fruit like a Melon, do not grow, much less bear Fruit, unless Male and Female be together?
A.They grow, as I have seen two in the English House at Bantam, and bear little Fruit, which never comes to Perfection; but if the Male and Female be together, the one bears great Fruit, the other nothing but Flowers.
Q. 13. Whether the Arbor Triste sheds its Flowers at the rising of the Sun, and shoots them again at the setting of the Sun? And whether the distill'd Water thereof (call'd Aqua di Mogli by the Portugals) may not be transported to England? And whether at the rising of the Sun the Leaves of the Arbor Triste drop off as well as the Flowers?
A.There are two sorts of the Arbor Triste; one is called by the Portugals Triste de Die, the other Triste de Nocte; the one sheds its Flowers at the rising, the other at the setting of the Sun; but neither of them shed their Leaves. There is no Body here that understands the distilling of Waters; some say this Aqua di Mogli is to be had at Malaca, for which I have writ, and shall send it if procurable.
Q. 14. Whether the Arbor de Rays, or Tree of Root, propagate itself in a whole Forest, by shooting up and letting fall Roots from its Branches into the Ground, that spring up again, and soon?
A.This is true. And we have diverse Trees about Batavia, and the like adjacent Islands, above fifty Foot in the Diameter.
Q. 15. What kind of Fruit is that in Jucca, which grows immediately out of the Trees's Body, and is said to breed the Plague if eaten immoderately?
A.It is a Fruit much like to Durion, which groweth in the same Manner; hath a faint Smell, and sweet waterish Taste; for my part I do not affect them: The Plague is a Disease unknown amongst the Indians; but this Fruit, as most others do, immoderately eaten, causes a Diarhea, which easily degenerates to a Tenesmus, by us called Peirsing, a dangerous Sickness, and worse than the Plague.
Q. 16. What Poison is it the King of Macassar in Colebees is said to have particular to himself, which not only kills a Man immediately, that hath received the slightest Wound by a Dart dipt therein, but also within half an Hour's time, makes the Flesh, touched with it, so rotten, that it will fall like Snivel from the Bones, and whose poysonous Steam will soon fly up to a Wound made with an unpoisoned Dart, if the Blood be only in the slightest Manner touch'd with a Dart infected with the Poison? What Certainty there is of this Relation?
A.That there is such a Poison in this King's Possession is most certain; but what it is, no Christian hitherto ever knew right. By the Government of Arnold de Flamminge Van Outshorn diverse have been tortured; yea, killed.
Some say it is the Gall of a venomous Fish, others say it is a Tree which is so venomous, that those who are condemned to die, fetch the Poison, but not one of an Hundred scapes Death; the Roots of this Tree are held an Antidote against the Poison; but our People, when we had War with Macassar, found no Antidote like to their own or other's Excrements; as soon as they felt themselves wounded, they instantly took a Dose of this same, which presently provoked to vomit, and so, by Repulsion, (as I perceive) and Sweat, freed the noble Parts from farther Infection. That a Wound should be infected by this Poison, tho' not inflicted by an impoisoned Weapon, is not strange to those who study Sympathy; and set Belief in that much renowned sympathetical Powder of Sir Kenelm Digby. Yet such Effects of the Macassars Arts are unknown to us.
Q. 17. Whether in Pegu and other Places in the East-Indies, they use a Poison that kills by smelling, and yet the Poison-Smell is hardly perceived?
To this no Answer was return'd.
Q. 18. Whether Camphire comes from Trees? What kind of Trees they are in Borneo, that are said to yield such excellent Camphire, as that one Pound thereof is said to be worth an Hundred of that of China and other Places?
A.Camphire comes from Trees of an excessive Bulk, as you may see by the Chests which come from Japan into Europe, made of the same Wood of Borneo; it comes likewise from Trees, which are said to stand in sandy Ground, and drop like a Gum.
But of late an Experiment is found in Ceylon, that the Root of a Cinnamon Tree yields as good Camphire, as either Japan, or China, of which I shall send you a Pattern, being now to be had at present here; as also an Oil extracted from the same Roots, which reserves something of the Cinnamon smell; but that may be the Fault of the Distiller.
Q. 19. Whether some of that rare Wood, call'd Palo d'Aquila and Calamba, of an extraordinary Value, even in the Country where it groweth, as in Siam about San, and Patan, and in Cochinchina, may not be brought over; as also some of those strange Nests of Cochinchina, made by Birds upon Rocks, of a certain viscous Froth of the Sea, which Nests grown dry and hard, are said to become transparent, and when dissolved in Water, serve excellently to season all their Meats?
A.If the Question be made, whether these Things may be brought over by Permission of the Company? I answer; as first, that their Laws forbid the Transportation of all whatsoever, whether necessary to the Conservation of Health, or Acquisition of Wealth, or Rarities, &c. but if the Query be concerning the Nature and Substance of the Wood and Nests; they are transportable, and can subsist without decaying many Years. Lignum Aquilæ is far inferior to Calamba, though not easy to be discerned. A Pound of Calamba is worth in Japan thirty, and sometimes forty Pounds Sterling; the best comes from Cambodia, and seems to be the Pith of the Tree Aquila in Japan, it is used as Incense to perfume Clothes, and Chambers. It is held for a great Cordial, and commonly us'd by that Nation, as also the Chinese, in Defectione spirituum vitalium; as in Paralysi & Nervorum laxatione & impotentia: They rub it with Aqua Cynamomi upon a Stone, till the Substance of the Wood is mixt, sicut pulpa, with the Water, and so drink it with Wine, or what they please. The Bird's Nests are a great Restorative to Nature, and much used by the lecherous Chinese.
Q. 20. Whether the Animal call'd Abados, or Rhinoceros, hath Teeth, Claws, Flesh, Blood, and Skin, yea his very dung and Water, as well as his Horns, antidotal? And whether the Horns of those Beasts be better or worse, according to the Food they live upon.
A.Their Horns, Teeth, Claws, and Blood are esteemed Antidotes, and have the fame Use in the Indian Pharmacopeia as the Theriaca hath in ours; the Flesh I have eaten is very sweet and short. Some Days before the Receipt of your Letter, I had a young one no bigger than a Spaniel Dog, which followed me wherever I went, drinking nothing but Buffalo Milk, lived about three Weeks, then his Teeth began to grow, and he got a Looseness and died. 'Tis observed, that Children (especially of European Parents) at the breaking out of their Teeth are dangerously sick, and commonly die of the scouring in these Parts. His Skin I have caused to be dried, and so present it unto you, since Fate permits not to send him you living; such a young one was never seen before. The Food I believe is all one to this Animal, being that they are seldom seen but amongst withered Branches, Thistles and Thorns; so that the Horn is of equal Virtue.
Q. 21. Whether the falsifying of the China Musk is not rather done by mixing Oxen and Cow's Livers dried and pulverized with some of the putrified and concrete Flesh and Blood of the China Musk-cat, than by beating together the bare Flesh and Blood of this Animal, &c.
Not answer'd.
Q. 22. Whether there be two Sorts of Gumlac, one produced from a certain winged Ant, the other the Exudation of a Tree; the first had in the Islands of Suachan, the last in the Kingdom of Martaban?
A. We know of none but such as drop from Trees, and come from diverse Places in Siam, Cambodia, Pegu, &c.
Q. 23.If the best Ambergrease be found in the Islands Socotora and Aniana, near Java? To endeavour the getting of more certain Knowledge, what it is; being reported to be bred in the Bottom of the Sea like to a thick Mud?
A. The best that is in the World comes from the Island Mauritius: and is commonly found, after a Storm. The Hogs can smell it at a great Distance; who run like mad to it, and devour it commonly before the People come to it. It is held to be a Zeequal Viscosity, which being dried by the Sun, turns to such a Consistence as is daily seen. Father Myavines Isaac Vigny a French Man in Oleron, hath been a great Traveller in his Time; and he told me, he failed once in his Youth through so many of these Zeequalen, as would have loaden ten thousand Ships; the like having been never seen: His Curiosity did drive him to take up some of those, which being dried in the Sun, were perceived to be the best Ambergrease in the World. I have seen one Piece which he kept for a Memento, and another Piece he sold for a 1300 lib. sterl. This being discovered, they set sail to the same Place where these Zeequalen appeared, and cruised there, to and fro, for the space of six Weeks, but could not perceive any more. Where this Place is situated, I do not know; but Monsieur Gentillot, a French Captain in Holland, can tell you.
Q. 24.To enquire of the Divers for Pearls staying long under Water, whether they do it by the assistance of any thing they carry with them, or by long and often Use get a Trick of holding their Breath so long, at the Isle of Bahaaen near Ormus?
A. What they do at Baharen is unknown to me, but since we have had Tute Corein in Ceylon, where very good Pearls grow, I hear the Divers use no Artifice. The manner is thus, at a set time of the Year Merchants come from all Parts, as likewise Divers with their Boats; each Boat hath a certain Quantity of square Stones, upon which Stones the Divers go down, and give a Token to their Companions, when they think it time to be hal'd up; each Stone pays Tribute to the Company. The Oyster or Shell-Fish is not immediately open'd, but laid on Heaps, or in Holes at the Sea-side. When the diving Time is ended, the Merchants come and buy these Heaps, according as they can agree, not knowing whether they shall get any thing or no. So that this is a meer Lottery. This Pearl-fishing is dangerous, being the Divers commonly make their Will, and take Leave of their Friends, before they tread the Stone to go down.
Q. 25.Whether Cinnamon when first gathered hath no Taste at all, but acquires its Taste and Strength by fifteen Days sunning? And whether the Bark be gathered every two Tears in the Isle of Ceylon?
A. The Cinnamon Tree as it groweth is so fragrant, that it may be smelt a great Way off before it be seen. And hath even then, a most excellent Taste; so that by sunning it loseth rather than acquires any Taste or Force; the Tree being pill'd is cut down to the Root; but the young Sprigs after a Year or two give the best and finest Cinnamon.
Q. 26.To learn, if it may be, what Art the Master-workmen of Pegu have to add to the Colour of their Rubies? A. Not answered.
Q. 27.To inquire after, and get, if possible, some of the Bones of the Fish called Caballa, which are so powerful in stopping Blood.
A. 'Tis done, and they shall follow with the Dutch Ships.
Q. 28.Whether at Hermita, a Town in Ethiopia, there are Tortoises so big, that Men may ride upon them?
A. It is reported, that there be extraordinary great ones there; I have seen some Sea Tortoises here, of four Foot broad, in oval Form, very low leg'd, but of that Strength, that a Man may stand on one: The manner of catching them, is to turn them with a Fork upon their Backs.
Q. 29.Whether there be a Tree in Mexico, that yields Water, Wine, Vinegar, Oil, Milk, Honey, Wax, Thread and Needles?
A. The Cokos Tree yields all this and more; the Nut, while it is green, hath very good Water in it; the Flower being cut, drops out great Quantity of Liquor, called Sury, or Teywack, which drank fresh, hath the Force, and almost the Taste of Wine; grown sour, is very good Vinegar; and distilled, makes very good Brandy, or Areck: The Nut grated, and mingled with Water, tasteth like Milk; pressed, yields very good Oil: Bees swarm in these Trees, as well as in others; Thread and Needles are made of the Leaves and tough Twigs. Nay, to add something to this Description; in Amboyna, they make Bread of the Body of the Tree, the Leaves serve to thatch Houses, and likewise sails for their Boats.
Q. 30.Whether about Java, there be Oysters of that vast Bigness, as to weigh three hundred Weight?
A.I have seen a Shell Fish, but nothing like an Oyster, of such a Bigness, the Fish being salted, and kept in pickle, afterwards boiled, tasteth like Brawn in England, and is of an horny Substance.
Q. 31.Whether near Malacca, there be found in the Gall of certain Swine, a Stone esteemed incomparably above Bezoar?
A.In that Country, but very seldom, there grows a Stone in the Stomach of a Porkapine called Pedro Porco; of whose Virtue there are large Descriptions; and the Hollanders are now so fond, that I have seen 400 Dollars of 68 given for one no bigger than a Pigeon's Egg. There is Sophistication as well in that as Bezoar, Musk, &c. and every Day new Falshood, so that I cannot well set down here any Rules, but must be judged by Experience. A false one I send you, which doth imitate very near in Virtue the true one, but is a great deal bigger, and of another Colour.
As for the Observations desired of the Islands St. Helena, and Ascension, they may be better made by the English East-India Men, who commonly touch at both Places; but the Hollanders never, or very seldom.
Q. 32.Whether it be Winter at the East-side of the Mountain Gates, which come from the North to Cape Comoryn, whilst it is Summer on the West-side? and Vice versa.
A.Not only there, but likewise on the Island of Zeylon.
Q. 33.In what Country Lignum Aloes is found, whether it be the Wood of a Tree? or the Root of a Tree? How to know the best of the Kind?
A.Lignum Aloes, Lignum Paradisi, Calamba, are Synonyma, the same: and the same Wood comes most from Cambodia, and Siam; but they say it is brought by the People of Lawlan, a Country about Cambodia, whence Musk, and Benzoin, and most Aromata come; it is easily distinguished from other Wood by its strong Scent and Richness of Balm in it, which appears in its Blackness; it is of great Value, and hard to be gotten here.
The rest of the Queries are not answered, because the Time is short since I received them, and especially, because I cannot meet with any one that can satisfy me, and being unsatisfied my self, I cannot nor will obtrude any Thing upon you, which may hereafter prove fabulous, but shall still serve you with Truth.