The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 3.2.1

3.2.1

Soldanya is, as I suppose, an Island, on the South end wherof is the Cape of Good hope, deuided from the Mayne by a deepe Bay on the S.E. side and due E. by a riuer which wee discerne vpon the table. The land is fructfull, bearing short thicke grasse. The Mayne is deuided with most high and steepe rocky Mountaynes couered with snow, and vnaccessable, except it be scearched by the riuer of Dulce, which doubtlesse is veary great, falling into the Bay on the East syde. There is on the Island 5 or 600 people, the most barberous in the world, eating Carrione, wearing the gutts of sheepe about their Necks for health, and rubbing their heads (curled like Negroos) with dung of beasts and durte. They have noe other Cloathing then beastes skins wrapt on their shoulders, the skinne next the body in heate, in could the hairy syde. Theyr howses are but one matt concaued like an Ouen, into which they Creepe, and turne them about as the wynde Chainges, for they haue no doores to keepe it out. They have lefte their stealinge by trading with vs, and by signes make showe their harte is good. They knowe noe kind of God or religion. The ayer and water is veary wholsome, and both of them subtile and searching. There is on the Island Bulls, Cowes, Antelops, Babones, Mowles of great bignes, Fezants, partriches, larckes, wildgoose, duckes, Pascer flamingos and many others.