Madagascar, THE RICHEST And most frvitfull ISLAND In the WORLD. WHEREIN The Temperature of the climate, the Nature of the Inhabitants, the Commodities of the country, and the facility and benefit of a Plantation by our people there, are compendiously and truly described. DEDICATED To the Honourable John BOND, governor of the Island, whose proceeding is Authorized for this Expedition, both by the KING and PARLIAMENT,  
By WALTER HAMOND.  
LONDON: Printed for Nicolas Bourne, and are to be sold at his Shop, at the South Entrance of the royal Exchange. 1643.   

To the Honourable JOHN BOND, governor, and captain general of MADAGASCAR.  
GReat Actions are not enterprised by vulgar Spirits: without eminent virtue, man seldom riseth above private Interests: in this design, you have given the World a Testimony of what Latitude your thoughts are, how not to be circumscribed within the common narrow Limits. The Romans, in that glorious Age (which remains an Envy to all succeeding) employed their most famed Generals; in discovery of remotest Islands, and our own had the Honour to be invaded by the greatest Caesar: and when he made his attempt here, the Indies can afford no people more divided in itself then we were; more weak in fortresses on land or ships at Sea: but time hath reformed us to the Excellency we now so much glory in. The nobleness of his Example serves you for encouragement; and I am certain, the largeness and fertility of the Island of Madagascar, promiseth you a far more rich return: And it may be possible something of his Honour. Before you could set sail, you met with a rough storm at Land, and your Fleet was in danger of Wrack, before it launched forth: but the opposition became your advantage, and who laboured the ruin of your expedition, raised it up, and confirmed it on that height, that no Envy now can undermine it, nor can it lie open to any future question. The Parliament after full debate found how Just and Honourable to the kingdom was his majesty's Favour to you, and by their approbation added a second kind of seal to your Patent. I here present you with the Island you aim at, drawn in a little Tablet, the cloth course, and the colours poor, and ill laid, but it may challenge the better reception, in regard it was taken to the life by me an eye witness, in whom the memory of that fruitful and pleasant country so far prevails, that it makes me ambitious to forsake my Native, and wait upon you thither: if you will please to admit me  
Sir, most devoted to yourself and the Service WALTER HAMOND.   

To the Reader.  
NAture imprisons the Natives of our Country within the Seas: but Art revengeth the injury, and by the Invention of Shipping, makes us free of the whole World, and joins our Island to the remotest continent; The Sun doth neither set nor rise, but where we are addmitted, or make ourselves free denizens; and farthest Nations acknowledge us either with veneration or terror. And however the scornful folly of our Neighbours reproacheth us with the name of Islanders; yet have we enlarged our victories on the main Land, and by being immured with the water, gained the privilege to be Chief Masters of that Element. Our forefathers in their discoveries, left us a noble envy of their fortunate attempts: And captain Bond (to whom I dedicate this weak Description of the Island, as I am confident the Island shortly will itself) is now following their glorious track, and may arrive to be an equal wonder to after History. For if we value the riches of the Land he is bound for, either natural, or to be gained by Industry, It assures the Adventurers the most plentiful return, being furnished with such Commodities as no other Plantation ever afforded. If we regard the whole wholesomeness of the air, and pleasure of the soil, It promiseth the Planters health and delight. And if we look on the nature of the people we are to deal with, they, how ever not civilised into our manners, retain the first incorrupt innocence of man. An Earth, like that of Eden, pleasant without artifice, and plentiful without labour: a people approaching in some degree near Adam, naked without guilt, and innocent, not by a forced virtue, but by ignorance of evil, and the creatures as humble, and serviceable to man as they were before his transgression. But what particularly persuades us to this Honourable Expedition, nature hath engrafted in their souls a strange affection towards our nation, & by their submiss entertaining us, seems to prophesy the easiness of that victory we are even courted to: But we intend not to betray them to servitude, though conquest lies open to us: Religion and the Arts we shall instruct them in, will be sufficient gain to them, for whatsoever riches their Country shall afford us. But how happy soever our fortune may be, they will share at least with us, and perhaps preceded us: For what will be our wealth, will no way impoverish them; and what will enable us at our return, cannot make their treasure one grain the lighter.  
Since opinion is the Common judge of Riches, and what in the West is of highest value, as gold and precious gems, among them are esteemed trifles, as our beads and other low-prized vanities, are their riches. But what serves as the most powerful Adamant to draw us to this Adventure, we sail not to this Island to plant, but to reap, and no sooner shall we arrive but we shall find our harvest, so many wealthy Commodities there attending only the leisure of the happy Adventurer, and perishing for want of the judicious, who know how to distinguish what Nature hath so liberally enlarged.  
In a word, as it was said of Thebes, so may I trulier say of this Island, That the Sun in all his progress doth not not behold a richer and sweeter country.  
W. H.   

A brief and most True Description, of the Rich and flourishing Island of MADAGASCAR.  
MAdagascar, as it is generally called in all our Maps, and Chartes, (though by the Natives called by a different name) is an Island situate on the South of the Equator, 
The general Description of the Island.  and extendeth itself North and South, from 12. degrees, to 26. degrees of latitude, in length 14. degrees, that is 280. leagues, or 840. English miles, and is the greatest known Island in the world, having on the West the main Land of Africa, on the North the Islands of Comoro, on the East the Island of the Mauritius, and on the South the main Ocean.  
Here in the Bay of Augustine, 
Augustine Bay.  is the place where the English Ships bound for India, do usually put in both outward and homeward, to take in their Wood, Water, and other Provisions; chiefly to refresh and Cure their sick people, where commonly their longest stay is but for five or six days, in which time they are perfectly cured. This Bay lieth on the West side of the Island, in the latitude of 23. degrees ½ under the tropic of Capricornus.  
In this Bay we arrived in Anno 1630. in the Charles and Jonah, captain Weddell Commander, on the first of July, and stayed there till the beginning of October following, which time we spent in coasting along the Country, and in observing the customs and qualities of the people.  
For the Island itself, on the East side it showeth to be a low Champion Country, with many large creeks and inlets, but on the West it is more mountainous and woody, the valleys yielding large plains for pasture, full of Navigable Rivers, the soil is generally a kind of Red earth. 
White Marble.  here I observed that for the most part all the Rocks and Stones are white Marble.  
For the Season, when we arrived there, it was in the depth of Winter, the Sun then being in the tropic of Cancer, at which time we found the Trees and Plants in their full verdure, 
The wholsomenes of the air,  all loaden with green fruit of several kinds, the air so temperate and wholesome, that although our people as they did oftentimes sleep on the bare earth, yet in all the time of our stay there; (as divers can justify) we never had any man sick.  
To particularize of the nature and qualities of the Trees, fruits, and Plants of the Island, would rather require an herbal, then to be epitomised in my Relation, and would be impossible for me to perform, seeing that Almighty God doth dispose to each Country and climate, their particular plants and fruits, to our Nation unknown, yet some of them I will describe as best known of us.  
As for Timber, there is great variety, their whole Woods consisting of many kinds, fitting both for Mast and Planck, 
Tamarind Tree.  the chiefest of them is the Tamarind tree, whereof there are abundance of that growth, that we sawed some of them into Planck, that carried four foot Diameter. 
ebony black and white. Redwood.  Of Ebony there is great store, both white and black, Trees of a kind of redwood like Brasill, and as hard, whereof the Natives make their Darts, which I have to show; other trees there are whereof our men made their mathematical Instruments, and by them preferred before walnut tree or Box, 
Box:  besides infinite other kinds serving for Planck, clap-board, and pipestaves, whereof we made trial.  
One thing I observed, that not one tree but bore fruit, though unknown to us, yet the monkeys were our tasters, for if they did eat of them, we durst boldly adventure.  
All the valleys near the Sea, and along the fresh Rivers, 
Palmito, or wild Datetree.  are full of Palmito trees, from whence by making a small incision with a Knife or Hatchet, in a quarter of an hour and less doth issue forth a most pleasant and wholesome liquour, 
Palmito Wine.  in taste like white Wine, and will inebriate as soon, and this being kept, in two days doth become excellent Vinegar.  
Besides the Palmito there is an other kind of them that can be hardly distinguished, but that it doth bear a fruit which we called the Sea-Cocus, 
The Portugals call this Fruit Coco dimar.  whereof I have some to show, the kernel whereof is esteemed to be of equal virtue with the Bezar-stone.  
I may not forget that admirable tree which we named the Flesh-tree, 
The Flesh Tree.  whereon I would have all those that desire to try their blades and to glut their eyes with the effusion of human blood, to be exercised, for it is so like to material Flesh, that if you strike at it and wound it with your Sword, it showeth like an incision made in flesh, and bleedeth forth a Crimson sap like very blood, we supposed the Sanguis Draconis, 
Sanguis Draconis,  whereof they brought us a great quantity, to be made of the juice of this tree.  
Oranges and lemons are here in abundance, 
Oranges and lemons.  where although our Countrymen have known and frequented this Island above 30. years; 
George Gosnell Purser.  yet we were the first that discovered them, for showing them by chance a dried Limon which one of our company had in his Pocket, the next day we had more brought unto us than we knew what to do withal; we showed them Pepper, Cloves, 
Pepper, Cloves. & Nutmegs.  and Nutmegs, which they knew, and made signs to us by their gesture, that they grew up in the Country four or five sleeps, which we interpreted nights.  
Their cattle here, 
Their cattle.  I mean their Oxen and Kine, are the goodliest and largest for size that the world affords, 
Oxen.  and as fat, their Oxen having a great bunch of flesh on the top of their shoulder as a camel hath on his back; some of them I have seen weigh above 30. lib. being so curiously interlarded, that we esteemed that part to be the daintiest part of the beast.  
For sheep they have likewise in great abundance, 
sheep.  which are both larger and fatter than ours, but of a courser wool the tails of some of them weighing above 20. lib. Goats they have in great plenty, 
goats.  all which cattle are exceeding tame because they do live among them and are in a manner bred up together. Of all which cattle they brought them down to us every day in whole droves, so that we were compelled to buy more than we could spend, which we committed to them to keep, who at our departure did faithfuly restore them to us again.  
Hogs they have wild in the woods, 
hogs.  whereof we killed some, but they nourish none amongst them. As for Lions, 
No Lions, or Tigers, nor wolves.  Tigers, and other ravening beasts, we neither saw nor heard of any, and I believe there are none, for their cattle feed abroad day and night in the plains in safety, the greatest enemy their cattle have, is the Crocodile or Alligator, who being in the fresh rivers, meets with them sometimes when they come to water, but of these there are not many, and those might soon be destroyed if the Natives had either wit or skill to do it.  
Of fowl they have of all kinds both wild and tame, 
Their fowl. Hens. Ginny Hens. Peacocks. Partridge: Swans. Geese. Ducks. Passula flamingoes Great store of Fish.  as well of those kinds best known to us as of others that I cannot name, but of those we knew are these, Cocks and Hens, Guinea Hens, Peacocks, parrots of divers kinds, partridges both wild and tame, wild Swans, Geese and Ducks, Herons, Cranes, Passula flemingoes, whereof we have killed a dozen at one shot, Curlewes, and infinite other kinds to us unknown.  
For fish their Rivers abound with great store of all kinds, tedious it were for me to reckon them, we have taken ordinarily above 500 Mullets at a draught, and the like of all other kinds.  
Now concerning the quality and disposition of the People, 
Nature & disposition of the people.  they are generally of a very loving and affable condition, for in that three months that we lived amongst them, we had as much freedom and lived as securely as if the Country had been our own, 
Their affability.  and if at any time our people by wandering abroad had lost their way, they would carefully bring them to us in safety without offering them the least injury. 
Their Equity.  They are just in all their dealings, whereof we had good experience: For example, during the time of our abode amongst them, they bringing down daily such an abundance of cattle, which being sold to us for small prices, we bought every day more than we could spend, to the number of an hundred head of cattle, 
An example of their fidelity.  which we committed to one of their own people to keep for us, not greatly caring whether we had them again or no, yet at our coming away when we had cleared ourselves of the shore, and all our men and provisions were aboard, our grazier brought down to the Marine all our cattle to a hoof, and did help us to get them aboard, and in all our trading with them we never sustained so much as the loss of one Bead. 
Their justice.  For theft they punish it with death, the father having that power over his own children, for there we saw the father danced his own child, a Maiden of some ten years of age, for stealing of some two or three Beads.  
For their persons, 
Constitution of their bodies, and ornaments▪  they are a lusty ●all people both Men and Women, the most part exceeding us in stature, of a brown or Chestnut colour; as well the Men as the Women wear their hair about a foot long, which they braid up as we do an Horses main. In their hair and ears the Women chiefly wear Beads, shells, or pieces of Copper, also bracelets about their arms, either of sweet Wood, or of shells, the better sort of Copper or brass. Every Man for the most part wears about his neck his Razor, picktooth, and Mullets, to pluck out the hair, (for you must note they wear no beards) also his sticks to kindle fire, all which I have to show. The Women likewise wear necklaces of Beads, sweet Wood, or shells, or what their fancy best pleases. They go generally all naked as well the Men as the Women, except a small piece of Cotton of their own making, 
apparel.  some two hardfulls broad and ten long, which coming about their waste they cross it betwixt their legs and so make it fast behind them, and this is the ornament of the Married, the rest go naked.  
Nor did their nakedness any way tempt us to any uncivil action, 
nakedness no motive to incivility.  at the first our curiosity made our eyes unchaste, but after one week they conversed with us, with the same observation as we behold ordinarily our cattle, and I do believe that apparel and the dress of Women, allures more than their nakedness. They are generally of a lazy condition, for they neither plant nor sow, 
Their disposition.  for in the summer time they feed on those fruits which the earth naturally produceth, and on milk all the year long, 
Their diet.  which for want of vessels the most part of them like great Calves suck from the cows, a thing ordinary with them. For bread they have some Cuscus and gravances which I believe grow naturally; they kill no Beast without the allowance of the King or governor, who divideth to every one his part according to his family, wherein I noted both their community and Justice.  
They are in continual Wars one against another, which is chiefly for warring places, for whilst we stayed amongst them we desired them to show us the manner of their fight, 
Their manner of Fight.  which they did to make us sport, their Skirmishes are on this manner; They divided themselves into two Companies, some fifty on a side with lances and Darts without heads, and so betwixt running and leaping with a terrible hubbub or cry, they traverse their ground and so deliver their Darts, which the adverse party either avoideth or catcheth, and returns back to them again; Their Women and children in the mean time employ themselves in gathering up of the enemies weapons, wherewith they supply their husbands and fathers.  
A● our first coming a shore when they beheld us set up our Tents and had planted a couple of Fowlers, they imagined that we came to inhabit there, 
Their behaviour at our first landing.  whereupon their King Andrapela with his Company, to the number of an hundred came to our captain, 
captain Weddell.  submissively laying their lances at his feet and kissed them, offering himself and his people unto his subjection, praying him to receive them, their Wives, Children, and cattle under his protection, and to defend them from their Enemies, which the captain accepted; he told us of the mortal wars they had with the Massagores 
The Massagores.  their next borders, but before we departed we left them good friends.  
Upon a time, I know not whether upon policy or necessity they came to our captain with a lamentable cry, 
A policy of Andrapela.  that the Massagores were come down upon them and had drove away their cattle, & that unless we came speedily to rescue them, they should be either all slain or Captived. Whereupon in half an hour's time we had at least 200. of our men in arms, with our Drum, and Colours flying, to look out for this supposed Enemy, having Marched thus a mile or two into the Woods, they brought us at length unto a place where the King had provided three or four fat sheep and other things to feast us, and this was all the Enemy we found.  
When our People first discovered this Island, which was about 37. years since, 
In Anno 1606.  we had no commodity to trade with them for their cattle, royals of Eight they refused, 
Our first trade with them.  at length having espied the boatswains whistle and chain they had a great mind to the chain, so that for a foot of chain we bought an ox, whereupon the next Voyage we carried over silver chains on purpose to trade with them; afterward when our men showed them red agate Beads they became in love with them, and would trade with us for chains no longer, so that for a few Samsams or round small Beads, we bought up all our silver chains again. Every morning during our abode there they brought us down at least two or three hundred head of cattle of all kinds, as Oxen, 
Great plenty of cattle, and good cheap.  sheep, and Goats, of which the largest and fattest ox we bought for five or six long Beads, called by them arangoes, which cost us in India not two pence the Bead, and the smaller cattle after that rate, and these are the Jewels they most esteem, for as I said before being a naked people, and having no settled Habitations, they affect nothing but what they can hang about their necks and arms, wherein they take a great pride, and is indeed all the wealth they have. As for their Kine they do not willingly part with them but keep them for breed, and for their milk for the sustenance of them and their children.  
When we came first among them we could never see above four or five hundred of them, 
Not above 500 at the most live together.  Men, Women, and Children, that lived together under one Raiae or governor, nor could we see more all the time of our stay, and these came to us armed with Lances and Darts neatly and artificially made, for other weapons they know none, 
A good policy of Master Richard Wild 〈◊〉 our Pre●●dent.  but by the policy of Master Richard Wild our precedent, we bought up all their weapons for a few Beads and so disarmed them, so that for two months after we could scarcely see twenty Lances amongst them all, for although all their employments be about the making of them, yet for want of tools they cannot make one in a fortnight's time.  
In coasting along the shore to the Northwards in our Barge, 
A large River discovered to the north of Augustine Bay.  some twenty leagues from Augustine Bay where our Ships rode, we fell within a great fresh River as broad as the Thames at Lee, whereon we sailed some four or five leagues, where we saw the goodliest Country that ever eyes beheld. We sounded as we went, and found no less than four or five fathom water, and therefore Navigable for Ships. The Natives seeing us (whom they had never seen before) used all the means they could by calling to us, making wests and using other gestures to cause us to come on Land, which at the last we did, being not above twenty of us, every man having his musket, who entertained us with a great deal of respect, presenting us with their fruits, sweet gums, and the like, making signs to us to go with them to see their town which we yielded unto, near about 100 of them being our convoy armed after their manner, who brought us first through a great Wood at least half a mile through of Palmito and Tamarind Trees, than we came into a great large-plain or Pasture of as good grass and Herbage as ever I beheld in England, whereon a number of cattle were grazing.  
Beyond this plain in a little copse or wood were their houses, made like summer bowers of boughs and Mats, here they entertained us with songs and dances, bringing their young children to us to take in our arms, 
Their manner of entertaining  to whom we gave a few glass Beads, & they presented us with Lambs, milk, eggs, and the like. Here they offered us their Oxen, Goats, and Sheep, for Beads at half the rate we paid in Augustine Bay. And not only at this time but at another time we found out the cunning of Andrapela, 
Andrapela's subtlety.  for we had not been there a month but the rumor of our arrival coming up into the Country, they brought down great droves of cattle to us on the other side of the River to sell to us, but he would by no means have us to trade with them, making signs to us that they were Man-eaters, but when he saw that we were resolved to trade with them, he gets over to them before us and deals with them for half the profit, as we knew afterwards.  
In our Voyage back again, we fell into a deep Bay where we found abundance of excellent Oysters, 
Oysters growing on Trees.  growing or rather sicking to the roots and branches of Trees which you must conceive grew in salt water, which were both large and fat, and not much inferior to our English Oysters; this Bay or creek is not much above a league from Augustine Bay.  
For their Religion, 
Their Religion.  as far as we could trace them, we conceived them (if of any) to be Mahometans, which they have gotten by their affinity & near neighbourhood to the moors; that filthy Sect like a contagious leprosy hath generally infected almost all those Eastern and Southern parts of the world; for we observed them to be circumcised. Their Priests came often to us, 
Their Priests.  and were present sometimes at our Devotions, where they behaved themselves with a great deal of reverence. They showed us their books which were made of Parchment or sun-dried sheepskins; 
Their m●ner of writing  their characters were like the Egyptian hieroglyphics, some like a fish, a tree, a flower, a beast and the like, which they would read to us in a confused manner, being as they told us a prayer to God. We showed them one of our Books, which when they had well viewed and turned over, they delivered us b●ck again, requesting us to read therein, whereat they gave good attention, yet they understood us no more than we did them.  
Now for the Commodities & Riches of this Island, 
Commodities of the Cou●try.  which every one doth harken after, what greater wealth would any man desire to have then to have abundance of all good things that this present life doth require? 
Ecclesia●.  The Preacher saith, that the principal things for use of Man are Water, 
Chap, 3●. ver. 28.  Fire, Iron and Salt, Corn, Honey, Milk, Wine, oil, & clothing, all which this Country doth naturally even plentifully afford. For the Island itself, it lieth in a most temperate climate under the tropic, a Virgin never yet deflowered either by the plow or spade. Gold, Silver, 
Gold. Silver. Copper▪ brass. Iron.  Copper, brass & Iron, we have seen among them, which are therfound naturally, although they value them not except it be Iron, which necessity hath taught them to melt out of the hard Rocks for their Lances & Dart heads, & what other rich minerals and precious Stones they have are unknown to us, neither what rich gums and drugs those parts afford we know not. By chance those people brought us a kind of Red gum having the smell of balsam; 
Sangui draconi●  which being cast on the coals yielded a most excellent perfume better than Benjamin: We brought from thence a good quantity, whereof I have some to show, the powder thereof put into any wound or ulcer doth presently cure it as I have often experienced, it proved to be a kind of Sanguis-Draconis; 
●●oes.  the herb Aloes doth grow there in such abundance all along the Marine, that one of our men by my direction in three or four days made half a hundred weight, which was sold Master Sadler a Druggest in Buklersbury for a noble the pound, and by him preferred to be better than that which is brought us from Soccatore, from whom the next Voyage after I received instructions in writing how to refine it, and of this an hundred tun might be made in a year, if there were good vent for it, to speak nothing of Sugar and Ginger, 
●ugar. ●inger▪ ●ilke ●ormes.  which naturally grow there in abundance, and for the silk worms, I can testify upon my oath and produce witnesses, that in walking through the woods we have been entangled so fast with raw silk, that we have had some trouble to clear ourselves.  
Now how easily might there be a Plantation made upon this Island by our Nation, let the indifferent Reader judge, how honourable for the kingdom, 
●ncou●agemēts 〈◊〉 a plan●ation.  and how profitable for the Adventurers. And first for the facility thereof, they are a people with whom we have had trade and commerce near upon forty years, and therefore they are well acquainted with our conditions and friendly deportment towards them. And as for the length of the Voyage, 
the length ●f the Voyage four months.  it being near upon two thirds of the way to India. Consider that now by our anwall trading into those parts our Seamen are more skilful, and better experienced in those Voyages then formerly they were: For having past the Canaries you sail always before the wind, in a smooth and peaceable Sea out of the range of the Turkish pirates, 
●s the la●y Sher●y▪ the Lady Haw●ins, and many o●her 〈◊〉 women.  so that Ladies may and have often gone those Voyages, even to the utmost parts of India.  
And lastly, what an infinite Commodity would redound to our Country if we had a Plantation there, it being only fittest for us, and I do believe reserved for us in this latter Age. To which purpose that truly Noble Gentleman captain Bond our governor, 
captain John Bond.  what a sea of opposition hath he waded through to settle a Colony of English in that rich and plentiful Island, for the honour of his King and kingdom, and for the propagation of the Christian Faith, among those poor seduced souls?  
For the trade we have in India, let us consider upon what a tickle point it stands, subject to the tyranny of the ambitious moors, who upon every slight occasion quarrel with our Merchants that live among them, confiscating their goods, imprisoning their persons, and threatening them every hour with their terrible Chawbucks or Whips, 
The trade of India.  extorting from them infinite sums of money, for little or no cause at all. And then again to consider what a world of Treasure is every year transported to those Infidels, by the English and Hollanders, & nothing returned but leaves & blossoms, I mean Cotton & indigo; as for Cotton it doth grow there natura●ly, for indigo if it do not grow there as I think it doth, the seed may easily be brought thither Fronindia & Planted there, & workmen brought thither to work it. Aloes, as I said before, may be made there in abundance. 
Building of Ships & frigates.  Ships & Pinnaces may therebe built. Ships that are bound for India, may there be victualled both outward and homeward, which would be a great benefit for all those ships that go for India and Persia, 
For the Victualling of the Indian Fleets.  for if their beef be well killed, salted, pressed, and repackt again; it may be preserved in cask a twelve month and longer. For salt there is no want thereof, for besides that which you may find kirned on the Rocks, salt-pans may easily be made.  
But it may be here objected; 
An objection Answered▪  that i● this Island of Madagascar were of that worth, wealth, and so commodious as I would infer, the Portugals had long since planted upon it as they have done on many places both in afric and on the firm Land of India. To this I answer, that when the Portugals first passed the Cape of good Hope; to discover the kingdoms of Cambaia and Calicut, now named the East-India, they coasted along the main Land of Ethipia, and fell with Mosambique, where they planted a Colony for the relief of their ships coming out of Europe, where they take in fresh Provisions, and their wants supplied they proceed on their pretended Voyages to India, where they intended their conquests and plantations, using that other but as an Hostery or a place of relief for their Ships outward and homeward, not coming scarcely within the sight of Madagascar. Nor can either Spaniard or Portugal here claim any title, having had never any footing here, much less that they should any way oppose us, they having more Forts in India already then they are able to hold, and are almost beaten off of their Trades since the English and Dutch used those Seas.  
Consider withal, how that a few Portugals have for the space of near upon two hundred years fortified themselves on the main Land of India, as at Cambaia, Gogo, Daman, Muscat, Dabull, Goa, calicut, Mallacca, Macao, and others; and do hold them still in despite of the moors, a warlike and powerful Nation. I need not tell you of Ormus a barren Island, or rather a Rock of salt, yet by the industry of the Portugals in a few years; by forcing the Indian trade thither, it became the greatest Mart in the world.  
And to conclude, this Virgin Island of Madagascar, doth here by me friendly and lovingly invite our Nation to take some compassion of her nakedness, her Poverty, and her Simplicity, both Corporall, and spiritual, and doth earnestly and affectionately, even beg of us to redeem her out of her miserable thraldom, under the Tyranny of Satan, to be united with us into the fellowship of the Sons of God, by our Union in Christ Jesus.  
FINIS.