ABSTRACT
Theire buyldinges are for the most parte of tymber, for the mediterranean countreys hath almost no stonne, and it aboundeth with trees very fytte for buyldinges, amongst which there are cedars that growe to a marvelous height and bignesse.2 At Falcata there is a wood of pine trees neere about three mile square, which is all the summer time swept and kept so cleane, that you shall hardly see any small twig, boughe, or leafe, under the trees, and the trees stand so close together, that you may solace and recreate yourselfe there at all houres of the day without any hurt or heate of the sunne. In the midst of it there is a great pagod, or church, very richly adorned with gilded images, and all sortes of curious carved workes. Yet be they cunninge workers in stone. # Ozechya, the most famous castle that the emperour hath, or that is within the empire, is of an extraordinarie bignesse, and compassed round with three severall walls. The castle of Edo is likewise walled and moated, having some few ordnance on it. At Crates and Falcata there are likewise castles, both walled and moated; the circumference of each of them beinge neere about two miles. The chiefe noble men of those kyngdomes have houses within the castle Avails to come and live there, either at the king's or their own pleasures. 'Within each of those castles there is a storehouse
kept ordinarily full of ryce, which may serve for their provi sion at all occasions and needs. *
Every one may change his name three times d when he is a childe; when he is a young m an; and when he is ould. Some change their names more often. Every one as he pleaseth may make choyce of his owne name; and they are commonly named either by the king, or else by some noble or great-man with whom they are chiefly in favour. They have the use of writing and printing, and have had, the space of many years : no man knowes certeinely how long. They have seven sorts of letters, each single letter serving for a word, and many of them in their placing serve for six or seven, and each alphabet hath eight and fortie letters; and yet with all these letters they have not the true pronunciation of h , b , t, and some other letters.
