The Government in the _Visiapore_ Country is better, their Agreement observ'd, Taxes easier, and no such Impositions on Provisions; the Merchants go handsomly Clad, among whom are several Persons of considerable Estates, which they are permitted to enjoy peaceably, by reason whereof their Mines are much more Populous and better employed than those of _Golconda_. It is observable, that notwithstanding the Agreement with the Adventurers of the Mines, that all Stones above a certain Weight shall be for the King's Use; yet in the Metropolis of either Kingdoms, as the Cities of _Golconda_ and _Visiapore_ are, there is no seizure, all Stones are free, and the late deceased King, _Abdull Cutopshaw_ of the former, and _Edelshaw_ of the latter, would not only give very great Prices for large Stones, but richly Vest, and present the Merchant that Sold them with Horses or something else of Value, thereby encouraging others to bring the like. But the present King of _Visiapore_ is a Child, and the King of _Golconda_'s Delights solely pleased on light Women-Dancers, and Trick-Showers, that he neither minds _Diamonds_, nor many things more necessary, committing the Government of his Kingdom to a _Tellinga Braminee_, which the _Musselmen_ not well resenting, does in some measure threaten the stability of his State. FOOTNOTES: [18] _A _Mangelin_ is 4 grains in weight, saith _Linschoten_._ [19] _A _Pagoda_ weight is _9 Mangelleens_._ _A Letter from the _East Indies_, of Mr. _John Marshal_ to Dr. _Coga_, giving an Account of the Religion, Rites, Notions, Customs, Manners of the Heathen Priests commonly called _Bramines_. Communicated by the Reverend Mr. _Abraham de la Pryme_._ _Worthy Sir_, The last time that I had the happiness to be in your good Company, and to partake of those Favours and Blessings that your Goodness was pleased liberally to bestow upon me and our Companions, at our departure, and as it were Exile from our Native Land, does so loudly call out for some recompence or other at our Hands, that I cannot without the greatest Ingratitude imaginable, let slip this (tho' sudden) opportunity of Writing unto you, and presenting of you at this time with what I understand you more value than all the Riches of the East; to wit, a few Specimens of the Knowledge of those People whom we stile Barbarians, Heathens and Idolaters, which I have read in their own Books, and gather'd from the mouths of those that have been the greatest Speakers and Preachers among them. I have always had a profound Veneration for the Dictates of Nature, and the universal Traditions of Nations, for hereby are Infinite Things to be learned, for the establishing of our Glorious Religion against Atheists, and the more easie propagation of the same among Infidels and Heathens.