Here beginneth the Voyage of Master Ralph Fitch, Merchant of London, by the way of Tripolis in Syria to Ormus, and so to Goa in the East India; to Cambaia and all the kingdoms of Zelabdim Echebar the Great Mogor; to the mighty river Ganges and down to Bengala 1 ; to Bacola and Chonderi 2 ; to Pegu; to Imahay in the kingdom of Siam and back to Pegu, and from thence to Malacca, Zeilan 3 , Cochin and all the coast of the East India. Begun in the year of our Lord 1583 and ended 1591; wherein the strange rites, manners and customs of those people, and the exceeding rich trade and commodities of those countries are faithfully set down and diligently described by the aforesaid Master Ralph Fitch

ABSTRACT

In the year of our Lord 1583, I, Ralph Fitch, of London, Merchant, being desirous to see the countries of the East India, in the company of Master John Newbery, Merchant (which had been at Ormus once before), of William Leedes, Jeweller, and James Story, Painter, being chiefly set forth ¹ by the right worshipful Sir Edward Osborne, Knight, and Master Richard Staper, Citizens and Merchants of London, did ship myself in a ship of London called the Tiger, wherein we went for Tripolis in Syria and from thence we took the way for Aleppo, which we went in seven days with the Caravan. Being in Aleppo and finding good company we went from thence to Birra, which is two days and an half travel with Camels.