17th Century Descriptions of Vietnam

Aquila, and Calamba, odoriferous wood
The most famous wood called Aquila, or Eagale-wood, and Calamba were exported to other countries. The Aquila is so to anybody, but the Calamba belongs only to the king, because of the high value of its perfume and vertue. The Calamba were very hard to be found and only grew on top of inaccessible mountains. The Calamba, where taken is worth five ducats a pound; but in the port of Cochin-China, where the trade is, it bears a much greater price, and is not sold under sixteen ducats a pound. In japana it i worth two hundred ducats a pound; but if there be a piece big enough for a man to lay his head on like a pillow, the Japanese will give after the rate of three or four hundred ducats a pound.

Great Wealth of Cochin-China
There were abundance of rice, oranges, bananas, and a fruit called Can that was not seen anywhere else. Can is similar to pomegranate in the outward form but within it contains a substance of almost liquid, which is taken out and eaten with a spoon. The taste is aromatic, and the colour like that of a ripe medlar. They also have gnoo which is similar to raisons, and watermelons that are large and delicate, and durion which is one of the most delicious fruit in the world.
To conclude, Cochin-China abounds in rich mines of the most precious metals, especially of gold, and to reduce to a few words, what might be said more are large on the plenty of this country, I will conclude with that which the European merchants trading thither commonly say of it; which is, that in some measure the wealth of Cochin-China is greater than that of China itself; but that might not dilate too much, I will only treat of the elephants and abadas, or rhinoceros, chiefly found here.

(He alo described the Ananas, Areca fruit, and plenty of cattle and fowl. ) There is so plenty of flesh, by reason of the great multitude not only of tame cattle, as cows, goats, swine, buffaloes, but of wild such as deer, much bigger than those of Europe. Hens both tame and wild, of which sort the fields are full, turtles, pigeons, ducks, geese, and cranes. Their fishery is very great, and fish so delicious that though I have traveled to so many countries, I do not think I have met with any to compare to that of Cochin-China. And the country lying all long upon the sea there are so many boats to go out a fishing, and they bring in so much fish to all parts of the kingdom, that it is really very remarkable to see the long rows of people continually carrying fish from the shore to the mountains.

Balachiam: And to the Cochin-Chinese, fish is more valued than flesh, because the furnish themselves with a king of sauce called balachiam; which is made of salt fish macerated and steeped in water. This is a sharp liquor, not unlike mustard, whereof everybody lays in such store, that they fill barrels and tubs of it, as many in Europe lay in their stocks of wine. This of itself is no food, but serves to sharpen the appetite to the rice, which they cannot eat without it. For this reason, though rice to be the general and most common sustenance in Cochin-China there must be vast quantities of balachiam. This is so peculiar to the Cochin-China that it is nowhere else to be found.

We have had nuoc mam since the 1700th century.

Their drink:
Cochin-China produces no grapes, and therefore instead of wine they drink a liquor distilled from rice, which taste like brandy. Graver persons mix that liquor with some other water distilled from calamba, which gives it a delicious smell, and is a delicate composition. Between meals they dirnk hot water, where they boil the root of an herb they call chia, or tra. The japanese and Chineses use such drink, only that in China, instead of the root, they boil the leaves of the herb, and in Japan, a powder made of the same leaves.

Physicians:
There are abundance of doctors. It is often experimentally known, that the country physicicans easily cure several diseases, which the European physicians know not what to do with it.

Ways of practice:
The physicians of the country use this sort of practice; being come to the patient's bedside, they stay a little to settle themselves after the motion of coming; then they feel the pulse for a long while together, very attentively, and with much consideration; after which they usually say," you have such a distemper; and if incurable, they honestly say, I have no cure for this disease; which is a sign the patient will die. If they find the disease curable, they say, I have a medicine that will cure him, and I will do it in so many day. The patient and physician agrees on the price and once cured the patient pay the physician the agreed amount.

Medicines:
The medicines they give are not like ours, which cause a loathing, are are laxative; but ehirs are palatable as their broths, and nourishing without any other sustenance, which makes them give the patient several doses in a day, as we give broath at so many hours interval; and these do not alter the course of nature, but only help the usual operations of nature, dispersing the peccant humours, without wracking the patient.

Bleeding is also used but not as much as in Europe, it is used with a goose-quills.
There are also surgeons, who have wonderful skills who have happened to practice on myself and a brother. I happened to fall from a very high place, with my breast against the corner of a stone, whereupon I presently begin to pit blood, and had a wound to my breast. I applied medication in a European manners, but it was useless. A surgeon of the country came and took a quantity of a certain herb like what we called mercury and made it into a plaster of which he applied to my breast. He boiled herb and had me drink it, and had me eat the same herb raw; a few days later he miraculously cured me. When I broke my leg he cured my leg in a similar manner and I was whole and sound again within a few days.
A poisonous scorpion bit a brother of ours, my companion in the neck. His throat swelled immediately, and we were about to give him an extreme unction. A surgeon was sent for who immediately set a boiling pot of rice, and clapping the pot to the brother's feet, covered him and it close with cloths, so that steam may not go out. As soon as the steam came to the place where the bit was, the brother pain subside, and the swelling in his throat stopped. Many other instances might be added, but I shall only say, that the medicine in those parts have a greater virtue than when they came to us.

Can fruit: (as described by Borri): the outward form and nature is like our pomegranate; but within it contains a substance almost liquid, which is taken out, and eaten with a spoon; the taste is aromatic, and the colour like that of a ripe medlar.

Gnoo:: It is like our cherries, but tastes like raisins, and is called gnoo.
Giacca: This is a huge fruit that is common in parts of Indian. It grows on a tree as high as the walnut or chestnut and has much longer prickles than the jubeb. The out-ring is like that of a pineapple but soft and tender within. The fruit is full of certain yellow round kernels, like a small piece of coin, that is round and flat; and in the middle of every one of them is a stone that is thrown away. (Sounds like Mit to me)

He also described the durian fruit. He said it was the most delicious fruit in the world.

Great heat of India:
This kingdom location produce a climate that is rather hot than cold; but not as hot as India. In contrast to India, there are four seasons of the yea. Summer consist of May, June, Jely and is violently hot. In September, October, and November, the autumn season, the heat ceases and the air becomes very temperate by reason of the continua rains. During the other three winter months, December, January, and February, there are cold northerly winds, bringing cool rains. To conclude March, April, and May the effects of spring appear, all things begin to green and blossomed.

Flood-Lut
IF any oxen, goats, swine or other beats are drowned, the owner loses them and they belong to he whoever take them first. This is considered a sport and jollity and occurred during Lut (flood). They all go out in a boats to seek the drowned cattle upon which the afterwards feast and treat one another. (Lut or flood occurred quite frequently and the people would sing "da dent lut, da den lut"). During the flood season, cattle will drowned and so a sport was made to catch cattles that drowned. Another sport that was beneficial was the shaking of trees, so that rats may fall and drown (helped with pest controlled). During Lut or flood markets and fairs would be on the water. This serve as an advantage as it was easier for people to navigate and trade and sell goods with one another. It was the time when people would easily convey from one city ot another, and when the greatest fairs and markets are held. Houses were built into high pillars and people lived on the upper floor.