ABSTRACT
T HE Gulfe of Bengala1 (famous for its dimensions) extendeth itselfe from the Cape called Comorijne, lying in 8 degrees of North latitude, unto Chatigan the bottome
thereof, which, being in 22 degrees, is not lesse as the coast lyeth then a 1000 English miles, and in breadth 900, limited on the other side by Cape Singapura, which lyeth in 1 degree of South [North] latitude; washeth the coast of these great and fertile kingdomes, viz., Ziloan, Bisnagar, Golchonda, Bengala, Arreccan, Pegu and Tanassery; and receiveth into its # bosome many navigable rivers, which lose their note and names in the eminent neighbourhood of the famous Ganges; whose unknowne head, pleasant streames, and long extent, have amongst those heathen inhabitants (by the tradition of their forefathers) gained a beliefe of clensing all such sinnes as the bodies of those that wash therein brought with them ; for which cause many are the pilgrimes that resort from farre to this lasting jubilee,3 with some of whom I
1 In modem conventional spelling the names in this sentence are : the Bay of Bengal, Cape Comorin, Chittagong, Cape Singapore, Ceylon, Vijayanagar, Golconda, Bengal, Arakan, Pegu, Tenasserim. At this time Singapore was merely a geographical term; the modern city had not been founded. Methwold’s figures of distances are too low; the British India S.N. Co. reckon 1320 nautical miles from Chittagong, and 1567 from Singapore, to Colombo, the nearest large seaport to Cape Comorin.
