Neck and the Head is that Sea which lies out between Cape Guardafu and Cape Fartaque and the Point of the Tail reaches to the Town of Suez it lies N. N. W. and S. S. E. The length of it 350 Leagues the breadth where widest 40. The Channel is in the middle and has Water enough to carry the greatest Ships but the sides arâ—… shoal full of little Islands and Banks of Sand. No River of any note falls into it By the Moors it is called Bahar Corzu that is closed in by others the Sea of Meca by us the Red Sea from the Colour it takes of the Bottom as was experienced by the Viceroy Don Iohn de Castro who caused to be taken up in some places a matter Red like Corral in others Green and in others White and in each the Water seemed of that Colour but the most is Red and the Water taken up is as clear as any other There are some fisheries of small Pearl in many parts of this Sea it abounds not in Fish The Mouth lies between 12 and 13 degrees of North Latitude and is as it were locked up by seven small Islands the greatest called Mehun and Perantonomasiam Island From the Mouth of the streight till Suez along the Coast of Arabia for the first 44 Leagues are some Ports of small note till we come to the Island Camaran subject to King of Aden Thence to Gezan a great Town 60 Leagues where are seven considerable Ports From Gezan to Imbo 130 Leagues all the Dominion of Meca wherein are good Towns and Ports among which Ziden a famous Town then Ioda much known and Meca 15 Leagues up the Country 60 Leagues from Imbo is Toro where it is said the Children of Israel crossed the Red Sea which is here 3 Leagues over hence to Suez 40 Leagues and there ends the Coast of Arabia Let us now return from Suez to the streight where we began running along the opposite Coast of Egypt and Ethiopia 20 Leagues from Suez is Grand Cayr the vast Metropolis of Egypt but it lies upon the Nile not the Red Sea 45 Leagues from it to Alcozer thence 135 in which space are many Ports to the City Zuanquem 70 Leagues farther Mazua in a small Island as is the other and opposite to it Arquico hence 85 Leagues to the Mouth of the Sea Behind a ridge of Mountains that runs along this Coast lies the Empire of Prester Iohn which has always preserved Christianity after their manner and has of late been much supported therein by the Portugues Arms. 2. Albuquerque sailing along this Sea arrived at the Island Camaran abandoned by its Inhabitants for fear of his coming Here he took four Ships richly laden one belonging the Soldan of Cayr two more he had taken by the way From this Island he visited others and now appeared in the Sky visibly to all a Red Crols very bright seeming to be about a Fadom athwart and of a proportionable length They all knelt and Albuquerque made a devout Prayer and the Vision was Celebrated with Joy and sound of Musick and Cannon till by degrees it was covered by a bright Cloud He returned to Camaran designing to winter there the Wind having failed him to sail to Ioda as he had designed 3. Here they suffered extreamly by Famine and after many died by sickness caused by the ill Food Albuquerque parted hence when the Weather would permit which was in Iuly resolving to appear again before Aden He touched at the Island Mehun at the Mouth of the Streight and called it Vera Cruz because he erected there a very high Cross on an Eminence He dispatched two Ships to discover the City Zeyla where they burnt two Vessels in the Harbour and joyned him again at Aden 4. Albuquerque found this City newly fortified The Cannon on both sides was plaid with almost equal damage Nothing considerable was performed but some Ships taken and burnt and then sailed for India 5. About the middle of August he anchored off of Diu the Lord of it Melique Az more out of Fear than affection sent him some Provisions and a courteous Message Albuquerque knowing him dealt cautiously and demanded leave to raise a Fort there he excused himself with the King of Cambaya at the same time advising him to deny it if asked However it was agreed a Factor and some others should be left there to settle Trade and at parting Melique treated Albuquerque with such civility and cunning that he after said he had not seen a more perfect Courtier or fitter to deceive and at the same time please an understanding man Afterwards leave was obtained of the King of Cambaya to raise a Fort at Diu upon condition he might build another at Malaca and other reasonable Proposals which were admitted 6. Now arrived in India two Ships from Portugal a third being cast away but the men saved and taken up by the others at Melinde the Captain of her was after lost in a Boat Albuquerque went to Goa and sent his Nephew Noronha to dispatch these two and three other Ships homewards These Ships carried an Embassador from Zamori to King Emanuel he being now in amity with us and having permitted a Fort to be erected where it was desired They carried also the offers of several Princes and many Captives taken in War as Testimonies of what he had acted There went also a Portugues Jew an Inhabitant of Ierusalem sent by the Guardian of the Franciscans there to acquaint Albuquerque that the Soldan of Cayr threatned the destruction of all the Holy Places CHAP. IX A Continuation of the Conquests the Year 1513 till the Year 1514 the same King Reigning in Portugal and the same Governour Ruling India 1. THat Powerful Native of Iava Pate Quitir who had been honoured and preferred at Malaca by Albuquerque and at the time of his departure was in Rebellion improved his absence to carry on his Treason One Night he killed a Captain of ours and took some Cannon and fortified himself therewith and with what he had before and 6000 Men and two Elephants Ferdinando Perez and Alfonso Pessoa with 320 Men attacked him one by Land the other by Water after a vigorous defence many of his men being slain he fled to the Woods In his Fort was found much Artillery Ammunition and other Riches and all that part where he lived was burnt to the ground 2. Pate Quitir having received succour from Iava and King Mahomet who lost Malaca begins to raise another Fort in a convenienâ—… place appearing Powerful by Sea and Land in hopes to usurp the Dominion of the City Ferdinando Perez went again to oppose him but though he fought with the same resolution had not the same success as before being forced to retire with loss of three Captains and four private men Lacsamana a Commander of King Mahomet now enters the River with many Men and much Cannon in several Vessels Ferdinando Perez goes to meet him with three
pass but Ixora commanding her to give it way the Wind flying the more impetuous for having been detained tore up a Mountain which falling into the Sea formed the Island Ceylon Other Islands are encompassed with Seas they call of Sugar Milk Butter and sweet-Sweet-Water Happy the Sailers that could find such pleasant Seas 6. The Bases or Grounds of the Elements are of several matters that of the Earth of Copper that of the Water of Silver that of the Fire of Gold that of the Air of a Pretious Stone that of Heaven of another Stone of more value They are Gods and move on the first waits the Bird Anam on the second Guereram on the third a Cart on the fourth an Ox on the fifth a Horse 7. There are seven large Subterranean dwellings called Padalas where live People who have no other light but that of certain bright Stones which Snakes have in their Foreheads One Day of ours is a Year in Heaven and one of our Years Three hundred and sixty five there The Days of the Week as among us take their names from the Planets and one of them is a Festival They believe the transmigration of Souls 8. The God Givem or Ixora is of the colour of Milk besides the usual two he has one Eye in the Forehead which being of Fire consumes all things his Body of such a length that Brama though he endeavoured it could never find the beginning or end of it The other Brother Vistnu who is God of the Transmutations converted himself into a Hog and turned up the Earth with his snout but could never find his Feet He is so thick that the Snake that girts the World cannot encompass one of his Arms â—…e has Sixteen Hands all employed with Deer Chairs a Guitar a Bell a Bason a Trident a Rope a Hook an Ax Fire a Drum Beads a Staff a Wheel a Snake on his Forehead a horned Moon his Apparel skins of Beasts laid down with Snakes he has two Wifes the Goddess of the Water and Chati who has already dyed One and twenty times and because every time she dies he puts one of her Bones upon his Neck he now wears One and twenty Bones there Having shared his Body with his Wife and she hers with him he is halfe Man halfe Woman his care is to finish all things Bramâ—… to Create and Vistnu's to govern them 9. The God Ixora lives in Calaya a most delicious Mountain for Woods Gardens Fountains Birds and Nymphs among them there is nothing but Harmony The desert parts of it are inhabited by Riâ—…is Hermits much esteemed for sanctity in a private and most pretious Tabernacle is the Silver Rose with two Musical white Nymphs and among them the Linga or Eternal God placed on a Lion of inestimable value and invisible 10. Brama and Vistnu envying Ixoras's greatness set themselves against him he said if they could find his beginning or end they should be his Superiors Vistnu looked for his Feet and Brama and for his Head the first was deterred by a Snake the second disswaded by Roses he brib'd them to testifie he had seen his Head which they did Vistnu sensible of the fraud turn'd them into Beasts and cut off one of his Heads of his Blood sprang a Man with Five hundred Heads and One thousand Hands Ixora did penance for this crime and travelling came to a place where they threw several Beasts at him he catched â—…ead them and cloathed himself with their Skins being over-powered Vistnu came to his Aid in the shape of a beautiful Maid and his Enemies were astonished at her form Ixora having to do with her a Son was born Ixora and Vistnu differed about whom it should belong too and a Heavenly Spirit reconciled them taking it to himself He bred him an expert Archer and kept him as his guard against Sagatracavaxem the Giant of Five hundred Heads and One thousand Hands sprung from Bramas Head cut off by Ixora This pilgrimage of Ixora gave the Original to the Pilgrims called Iogues who wander about living upon Charity wearing Periwigs and strewed with Ashes 11. Ixora has four Children the first has the Face of an Elephant the second of a Monkey the third is Superbenia with six Faces and twelve Arms the fourth a young Woman called Patracali The Father and his Wife Chati converted into Elephants begot a Son with an Elephant's Head and four Arms he is wonderful big and rides on a Mouse The first fruits of all that is sowed are offered to him 12. The Bramones who are the Masters of their Ceremonies abstain from Fish Flesh Eggs and Wine of other things they Eat and Drink without measure they celebrate the Aniversaries of their Dead with great Banquets they are so much afraid of the Moon on the fourth Day after the full that they shun seeing even the reflection of her in the Water 13. Chati washing her self in the time of her courses produced a Man Her Husband cut of his Head which rowling to the foot of his Mountain Calaya brought forth the Tree on which grow the Coco's which therefore have the resemblance of Eyes Nose and Mouth But the Wife complaining Ixora cut of an Elephants Head and put it to the Body which remained Man and Elephant Then both converting themselves into Monkeys begot one but she ashamed to bring it forth desired the Wind to translate it to another Womb and it was removed to that of the Wife of the Heavenly Spirits She was delivered of and Ixora gave him great power calling him Anuman This is the Reason the Indians adore Monkeys 14. Patracali Ixoras's Daughter is black she has eight Faces and sixteen Arms great round Eyes Hogs Teeth two Elephants for pendants she is cloathed with Snakes her Hair like the Peacocks Tails has several things in her hands particularly Arms the Devil Medala waits on her she seeing her Father could not overcome the Giant Daridabaxada Conquered him by Policy Ixora to deliver her from Enemies sent her to live invisible among Men. At Sea she overcame some Fishermen and landed at Coulam and marryed the Prince of Coulett who being falsly accused of stealing the Queen of Pande's Bracelets was impaled Patracali brought him to Life caused Sacrifice to he offered to him and thus freed from the bands of wedlock remained a Virgin 15. Ixora in a passion threw his Wig on the ground which became an Armed fierce Man who cut off the Head of Lecxaprazava King of the Peringales and the Hand of the God of Fire and the Sun's Teeth Ixora put on a Goats-head upon Lecxaprazava's Shouldiers instead of his own CHAP. II. The Metamorphoses or Transformations 1. THE God Vistnu is black he has four Hands and always lies sleeping on his back in the Sea of Milk yet so he governs the whole World his Bed is the Snake Ananta which has five Heads on four he lays his Hands on the other his Head the Snake asked him in case she had
the two famous Rivers Gambea or rather Rio Grande and Zanaga so called by the Portugueses from a Prince of that Name whom they spoke with when they discovered it it has other names in the several Countries it runs through and makes many Islands most as being uncooth inhabited only by Wild Beasts It is navigable 150 Leagues up where a ridge of perpendicular Rocks crosses it in such manner that the Water falling down forms an Arch under which Travellers pass dry and pleasant to behold but makes a hideous noise with the fall The Gambea or Rio Grande runs 180 Leagues and carries more Water it is not all Navigable but runs with less noise though filled with many Rivers that water the Country Mandinga Both these Rivers flow out of the famous Niger and may as well be esteemed but so many Mouths thereof There is great variety of Fish in these Rivers and several other Creatures along them as Horses Crocodiles and Serpents with Wings the other Beasts that abound are Elephants Ounces Wild Boars and a many more Great are the numbers of them and wonderful their variety and different forms The Waters of the two Rivers mixt cause Vomiting yet each asunder does not In this part is that great Cape called Cabo Verde by Ptolome C. Assinarium in about 14 degrees of North Latitude The Country runs 170 Leagues Eastward is most fruitful and has many populous Cities To Tombotu the Mart of Mandingo Gold resort the Merchants of Grand Cair Tunez Oran Tremisen Fez Morocco and other places This trade moved King Iohn to build the Fort on the River Zanaga The 20 Caravels were commanded by Peter Vaz de Cunna who landing with D. Iohn Bemoi the King and beginning to raise the Fort in the place assigned either suspecting that he deceived him or fearing to die in that Country basely killed the King endeavouring with that Foul Crime to hide another not so hainous which was to return without finishing the Work and in fine he came back without any effect 9. The Congo Embassador being well instructed in the Faith was sent home with three Ships Sono was the first Land they made and arrived safe at Congo They were joyfully received by an Old Lord called Manisono Uncle to that King who desired to be baptized An Altar was erected in the Field and he was admitted to this Sacrament by the name of Manuel and his Son by that of Antony in the presence of 25000 of their People this being the first time that Sacrament was there administred The King of Congo Nephew to this Lord hearing what he had done added to his Estate and caused all the Idols within his Dominions to be destroyed The King made his residence at Ambasse Congo 50 Leagues distant where he received Ruy de Sousa the Portugal Commander on an Ivory Chair placed on a Lofty Throne From the Waste upwards he was naked the lower part wrapt in Sky-colour Damask on the Left Arm a Bracelet of Brass from his Shoulder hung a curious Horse-tail a Royal Badge among them on his Head a thing like a Miter of a delicate Webb made of Palm which resembles wrought Velvet After the Ceremonies he desired to see the Holy Vestments He viewed them with deliberation and respect in presence of his Queen Children and the Chief of the Court. Then he gave leave to build a Church which was done in few days of the invocation of the Holy Cross because begun the day of that Feast in May. In this Church was baptized the King and some of his People there being above 100000 present as well for that they flocked to see the Novelty as because they were preparing for a Neighbouring War The King was called Iohn and the Queen Ellenor in honour of our Sovereigns Afterwards were baptized the greatest part of those had flocked thither The New Christian King went to meet his Enemy relying more on his Conversion and the Cross in the Colours he had received from Ruy de Sousa than in 80000 men he had in Arms nor were his hopes vain he returned with Victory and Ruy de Sousa to Portugal with the honour of having compleated one of the most famous undertakings of this Crown leaving in that Kingdom People capable to labour the New Vineyard 10. Afterwards was baptized the Prince who had been absent in the Wars and called Alfonso Panso Aquitimo the King 's Second Son would not receive the Faith and the Father falling off because as a Christian he could be allowed but one Wife resolved to leave the Crown to the Heathen Aquitimo in wrong of the Prince who continued constant in the Faith Alfonso was abroad in banishment when his Father died but returning to Court was received as King Aquitimo having recourse to the Sword fell upon him when he had but thirty seven Christians as well-Portugueses as Blacks yet under the Banner of the Cross Alfonso overcame a vast multitude of Infidels Aquitimo being taken and then slain A Gentleman that accompanied Aquitimo desired to be baptized immediately declaring they had been overcome by a Glorious Army that was lead by a Cross and not by the thirty seven Christians Alfonso established in peace destroyed all Idols and propagated the Faith with great zeal He sent his Sons Grandsons and Nephews to Portugal to study Two of them were worthily afterwards Bishops in those parts In memory of that Victory and of the first Colours sent this King as also that the Faith was first planted on the day of the invention of the Cross he took for his Arms Gules a Cross Fleury Argent between two Crosses Pattee charged with the Arms of Portugal 11. The beginning of the Year 1493 came into the River of Lisbon Christopher Columbus who brought from an Island guessed to be that of Sipango some Men Gold and great tokens of Riches This Great Man some time before had offered his service to King Iohn who having slighted him then looked on him now with some regret and he provoked him with some extravagant words in revenge of the small regard made of him There were some who offered to kill him as well to punish his Boldness as to conceal from Spain his Discoveries But the King sent him away with honour Columbus was a Genoese and learned Navigation in Portugal he was employed by the King of Spain and he had sent him to the Discovery he now came from King Iohn did not envy the Fortune of Spain but feared that Discovery was part of what the Portugueses had been so long in quest of This caused him to fit out a Fleet commanded by D. Francisco de Almeyda in order to oppose those proceedings judging he had right on his side but it proved not so Several Embassies passed on both sides to agree the business and at last came to a conclusion 12. Though Prince Bemoi was dead the hopes of making a farther progress in that Country about Zanaga died not with him
Gold after loading the Vessels with one of the richest Booties that had been taken in Asia He lost not one Man in this Action He spent eight days destroying all on both sides Indus The Fort of Bandel made some Resistance but being taken was demolished 13. Gaspar de Monterroyo a Souldier of Note going accidentally into a Wood met some Blacks who bid him go no farther for hard-by there was a Serpent had just then devoured a Bullock He desiring to see such a Monster as they described went on till he discovered the Head which was of a wonderful bigness and not satisfied came so near as to touch it with the Point of his Sword and the Monster lifted up its Head and he gave it such a fortunate stroak on a soft place that it soon after died It was thirty Foot long and proportionable in bigness Barreto returned thus Victorious over Men and Monsters to Chaul There he found Orders to go to Dabul where he would find Antony Pereyra Brandam Admiral of that Coast. They were to joyn in order to destroy that City in part of Revenge for the damage Hidalcan did us Being joyned they attacked the City and though vigorously defended it was taken and wholly reduced to a heap of Rubbish Then they did the same to all the Villages upon the shoar of that River CHAP. XIII The End of the Government of Francis Barreto 1. HIdalcan's General Nazer Maluco entred the Lands of Salsete and Bardes with 2000 Horse and 18000 Foot The Governour with 3000 Portugueses 1000 Canara's and 200 Horse met him in the Fields of Ponda having then but 17000 Men and a Mountain on his back He furiously attacked put him to flight and returned victorious to Goa D. Peter de Meneses who Commanded the Fort of Rachol did what he could which was not much because the Enemy was too numerous Iohn Peixoto vigorously opposed Moratecan in the Lands of Bardes A Renegado Portugues who had fortified himself doing him much harm he assaulted and routed him twice killing 200 of his Men and 〈◊〉 Captain Nazer Maluco intrenched himself again at Ponda 2. Five Ships arrived now from Portugal three of them were Cast-away in their Return home one at Tierra del Natal another at the Island St. Thomas and the third at Madagascar The arrival of these Ships and some damage we had done Hidalcan obliged him to conclude a Peace which we sued for yet was not dishonourable 3. D. Duarte Deça Commander of Ternate was not idle He was harsh and covetous so easily falling out with the King he Unchristian-like Imprisoned him his Mother and Brother Cachil Guzarate using them very unworthily and to compleat his Cruelty ordered they should have nothing to eat Publick Complaints obliged him to consent the Hospital of Misericordia should maintain them and his desire of killing them made him so base as to poison their Water which was discovered by a Stone the King had in a Ring The Ternatenses took Arms and called in the Tidores so that the Fort was in great danger 4. D. Duarte having received Relief ventured to fight at Sea with as good success as if Justice had been on his side But the Portugueses themselves no longer able to endure his Obstinacy put him into Custody and discharged the Prisoners which put an end to that Discord No Man would take upon him the Command of the Fort till Antony Pereyra Brandam was forced by the People to accept of it in Trust till the Governour disposed of it Whilst some Portugueses in the Maluco's by their Actions appeared most barbarous Heathens some Infidels became Christians a thing to be admired having such ill Examples before them The King of the Island Bacham was converted by F. Antony Vaz a Jesuit 5. The War continued at Goa A Moor with Five hundred Men waded over the Ford of Zacorla in the Island Choram and surprizing those few Portugueses that were in it gained some advantage till others coming in from several Parts drove them headlong into the Water where many of them were drowned The Governour hearing of this marched to their Relief and sent before George Mendoça Commander of the City with some Gentlemen who behaved themselves well and brought many Heads of Moors to the Governour All was kept quiet afterwards by D. Francis Mascarenhas who was left in the Island with 300 Men. 6. The Governour desiring to secure the Promontory of Chaul asked leave of the King Nizamuxa to fortifie it He not only refused it but secured the Messenger and sent 30000 Men who began to build an impregnable Fort there The Governour sent Alvaro Perez de Sotomayor with some Ships to keep the Mouth of the Port till he came which was soon after He brought 4000 Portugueses besides Natives The Enemy better advised proposed a Peace which was concluded to our content on Condition the Work of the Fort should not advance The Governour returned home A Miracle was seen here which was That the Moors could never cut down or remove with force of Elephants a small Wooden-Cross that was fixed upon a Stone 7. The Governour having setled Affairs at Goa was wholly employed in fitting out a mighty Fleet against the King of Achem who is the only Terrour of Malaca In a few Months he provided 25 Galleons 10 Gallies and 80 Galliots all so well furnished it renewed the hopes of fixing our Empire in India But all this Industry falls to nothing for now a new Governour comes and the New ones never prosecute the designs of the Old However this Force was well employed though not as our Governour designed 8. Francis Barreto brought to Lisbon a Jewel wrought by the hand of Nature A Portugues Souldier on the Coast of the Island Ceylon met a Iogue that is a sort of Penitent Heathen who among other things had picked up a brown Pebble of the shape and bigness of an Egg on which were represented the Heavens in several Colours and in the midst of them the Image of our Blessed Lady with our Saviour in her Arms. The Souldier gave him some small thing for this Stone and afterwards it came to the hands of Francis Barreto who presented it to Queen Catherine and by virtue of it God wrought several Miracles in India and Portugal 9. Francis Barreto was a couragious discreet and generous Gentleman and such a Governour as India now mourns for He afterwards returned as Governour and Conquerour of the Empire of Monomotopa where he died as shall be seen in its proper place He had a stately Presence his Complexion tawny and black Hair He Governed three years was the 19th Governour and second of the Name CHAP. XIV The Government of the Vice-Roy D. Constantine de Braganza from the Year 1558 till 1561 in the Reign of King SEBASTIAN 1. ABout the End of the Government of Francis Barreto died King Iohn the Third In him ended the good Fortune of Portugal as did that of India in the Vice-Roy
three hours Fight took her Of the Enemy 8 were killed some burned others got ashore with the Captain and 40 were taken On our side 8 were slain whereof one was the Commander 16. The Hollanders took a Portugues Ship bound for Brasil and cast into the Sea 20 of the Men their Hands and Feet bound The rest they carried to Iacatra to serve that Place but they run away to the English who had a Factory 20 leagues off and sent them to Malaca They said one of the English had told them they had lost a Ship at Sunda that carried the Money given by D. Christopher de Noronna to save fighting and that they had several times fought the Dutch by Sea and Land always worsting them and lastly that the Dutch had taken the Governour sent from Portugal for Angola and carried him to Iavs 17. Augustin Lobato sailed from Malaca with two Ships and a Galliot At Ioatume he fought and worsted a Hollander then hearing the Dutch had a Factory at Bima 7 leagues distant assaulted it with 14 Men slew 4 took 3 whereof one was the Factor he distributed 600 Crowns among the Soldiers having done damage to the value of 20000. Having burnt the Factory he retired and burnt seven Towns about Ende 18. At Solor he landed with 40 Men and fought many thousand Enemies killing 200. but lost 10 or 12 to the great admiration of the Adversaries who thought them to be Sons of the Sun and consequently Immortal This encouraged them to press on and it was much the 30 escaped Lobato being ready to imbark was killed by a Iaponese 19. Malaca feared to be besieged by the King of Achem but he armed to defend himself against the Viceroy who 't was said would go thither in Person Fifteen English Ships at Sunda fought 20 Hollanders and defeated them killing 1500 Men. At Patane the Dutch had better success taking two of the Victors and killing a Captain who was a Portugues and was visiting the Factories of that Nation At Iava they took a Dutch Ship another was lost in a Storm It was reported the Governour of Manila took five in one Fight At this time there were in the South 35 Ducth Ships and above 20 English The French had Factories at Macassa and Iava 20. The Viceroy sent Gaspar de Melo with a Squadron to succour Mangalor and destroy a Fort built by the Canara's The little King coming on while he battered the Fort was twice defeated and many of his Men made Prisoners This Year sailed from Lisbon for India four Ships two Galleons and three Flyboats CHAP. XVII Several wonderful Accidents during the two Years Government of the Viceroy the Count De Redondo 1. IN May 1618 there was a general and doubtless Diabolical Storm whereof it is convenient to give some account On the 15th of that Month it began at Baçaim the Portugues Ninive so terrible that the People hid themselves in Cellars not doubting the Houses would be torn to pieces but an Earthquake beginning at two in the morning many Houses fell The Sea though remote from the Town was brought into it by the Wind. 2. The noise of the Waves overcame that of the Ruins notwithstanding the tops of Churches were blown off and vast Stones flew a great distance Two thousand were killed in the Town and adjacent Parts The Fish died in the Ponds and corrupted the Waters Most of the Churches were laid even with the ground as if God had shewed there was no need of them among such wicked People A Lamp remained burning before the Blessed Sacrament in the Church of St. Dominick when the Wind overthrew Buildings 3. Many Vessels were lost in the Port. Some Cattle was seen to fly and the Birds to fall The Woods were torn up by the Roots Men fled to the Mountains for shelter and the wild Beasts to the Town Nature seemed reversed the People rent the Skies with Cries for Mercy which at last obtained the Storm ceased 4. There were strange Prodigies before and during this Storm as Giants seen in the Air throwing great Globes of Fire one at the other A confusion of Human Voices was heard there trampling of Horses and the sound of Warlike Instruments A Troop of furious Horsemen was seen to attack the City and a Man cloathed in Skins to oppose them those were concluded to be Devils and he St. Iohn Baptist. 5. At Bombaim the Sea swallowed above 60 Sail some Men and much Riches At Agacaim a Boat flew out of the Sea into a House where it killed a Woman and her Child At Tana a Beast taken up by the Wind fell upon a Tree that was torn up by the Roots and a Branch struck through the Body of it A Woman seeing a Giant-like Man carrying a Pan of burning Coals asked him for one and he blowing it burnt her Face Much of this nature happened at Salsete and other Places 6. D. Luis de Gama coming from Ormuz where he had Commanded for Goa in a Ship full of Riches was cast away on the Coast of Bombaim A new married Couple being upon a Plank the Bridegroom fell off and the Bride for grief cast her self after him he came up again and was saved without Wife or Goods A Maid that went to be a Nun escaping was ravished by the Moors and then killed Thus several Ships belonging to Captains who came from their Commands perished perhaps a Judgment for their unjust heaping of Wealth 7. The City Goa seeing this destruction had recourse to Heaven All the Religious Orders made Processions and performed great Acts of Mortification The Women rent the Clouds with Cries of Mercy All lay down in the Churches to be trampled upon This lasted some days and nights the Churches were continually open the Streets full yet in all the Concourse the least noise was not heard 8. This Example was followed at Cochim The Bishop of this City had excommunicated any that should buy Timber of the Queen of Coulam A Portugues presumed to build a Ship there when it should be Launched no Force or Art could move it The Portugues confesses his Crime with Repentance and returning to the Ship it was Launched without the least difficulty 9. There reigned through all India a new Distemper which caused great Pains over all the Body and contraction of Sinews so that some lost the use of their Limbs Many with Anguish ran mad whole Families sickned at once The only Remedy was found to be Bleeding A Chirurgeon being no way able to stanch the Blood of a sick Man laid upon it a Cross he had in which was believed to be a piece of that of our Saviour and it stopped immediately 10. A Cafre fled from a Widow whose Slave he was to a Fidalgo or Nobleman's House and afterwards returned to his Mistress The Fidalgo sent to demand the Slave of her as if he had been his own She refusing he sent some Soldiers to take him by force but she received them with
Ialof took four Blacks who were fishing in an Almadie or Boat Sailing forward he discovered the famous Cabo Verde and returned satisfied with this exploit and having killed a great many Goats in an Island 10. Antony Gonzales Garcia Mendez and Iames Alonso though separated by a Storm met again in the Islands of Arguim Falling upon a Village they took 25 Moors they flying he that ran best took most as Laurence Diaz who took seven whilst others took but one and some none They called this Point Cabo del Resoate or Cape of Ransom because some Blacks were ransomed there The joy was the more for that they found Iohn Fernandez who was left there the last Voyage he was fat and in health though rough like the Inhabitants He told them that the Country being all plane and open they often lost their way and therefore were guided as at Sea by the Stars the Winds and by Birds That the Inhabitants lived miserably feeding on a certain Grain which the Earth produces without tilling on some Herbs Lizards and Locusts all scorched in the Sun which is predominant that place lying under the Tropick of Cancer That they used much Milk not only as Meat but Drink by reason of the scarcity of Water and therefore when they eat any Meat they never kill the Female because of the Milk those near the Sea eat some Fish When they were acquainted with our People and they gave them Corn they eat it whole The Land is Barren being all Sand bears a few Palm and Wild Fig-trees they have no Houses but Tents their Cloaths are Skins and the better and neater sort wear Alhaiques which is not unlike our Crape and the best some better sort of Cloath but none good their Employment is the care of Cattle their Language and Writings the same with those of the Coasts of Barbary with only about as much difference as is between the Castillians and those of Gallicia they have no King and live by Hords or Companies Returning home with this Account of Iohn Fernandez at Cabo Blanco they killed some Moors and took 55. 11. Dinisianez da Gram Alvaro Gil and Mafaldo de Setubal with each a Caravel landed in the Island Arguim where they took seven Moors and by the help of them forty seven afterwards They ran along the Coast of the Continent eighty Leagues and at several times took fifty Slaves losing seven Portugueses whose Boat being left dry by the Ebb in the Island de las Garzas they were all killed Lancelot who once before had commanded a small Fleet sailed from Lagos again towards Arguim as Admiral of fourteen Vessels At the same time set out from Madera Alvaro and Dinis Fernandez and Iohn de Castilla and others who all together with the former fourteen made up twenty seven Sail Nine of the fourteen of Lagos came to Arguim where Dinisianez was who persuaded them to destroy the Island in revenge of the seven that had been killed but the Moors understanding the danger fled so that only twelve were found whereof only four could be taken the rest killed as also one of our men Alvaro de Freytas returned with his three Ships Lancelot with his sailed to the Island Tider landed and finding no People returned aboard where seeing some Moors from the Shoar jearing our men because they could not find them two of our men were so provoked that they leaped into the Water with their Arms and swam to shoar to the Moors who ran down to receive them Others of our men seeing the danger those two were in leaped after them and on the shoar was a sharp skirmish many of the Moors were killed and sixty taken This done Suero da Costa and three more returned home In a Village at Cape Blanco they took nine Moors among them a Woman who promising a great Ransom deceived Suero for at the Island Tider the bold Woman who could swim very well leaped over-board and gained her liberty by swimming ashoar Lancelot and others unwilling to return without some Loading as light as they came out designed to sail to Zahara of the Azanagi and Guinea but after some small attempts resolved for the Island of Palma They touched at Gomera and were received by two Commanders Piste and Brucho in acknowledgment of some kindness they had received from Prince Henry They discovered to them the design and taking them along landed in Palma all they got was seventeen Prisoners but among them was a very large Morish Woman who was said to be Queen of part of that Island They returned to Gomera and Iohn de Castilla dissatisfied with the small Prize base and ingratefully carried away Captives about twenty Islanders who were his Friends and had assisted him Which wrong the Prince amended by sending them back well cloathed 12. Gomera and Palma are of the number of the Canary Islands The Canaries were discovered for King Henry the Third of Spain by Iohn de Betancour a Frenchman among them he conquered those called Lancarote Fuerteventura and Ferro In them he left Masiot de Betancour his Nephew who conquered Gomera and exchanging them with Prince Henry for some Land in Madera he went and lived there And because the Islands being twelve in number there remained eight not conquered viz. Gran Canaria Palma Graciosa Infierno Alegranca Santa Clara Roche and Lobos the Prince sent a Fleet in which were 2500 Foot and 120 Lances commanded by Don Fernando de Castro who landing there converted many Infidels But there being complaints made from Spain to whom that Conquest appertained it was given over Afterwards King Henry the Fourth of Portugal gave them to D. Martin de Ataide Count of Atonguia And lastly in the Treaty between Alfonso of Portugal and Ferdinand of Castile it was agreed they belonged to Castile The Inhabitants of these Islands were governed by a certain number of Persons they varied in their Worship in Fight they used no Weapons but Sticks and Stones their Cloathing upwards was Skins the lower part a covering made of Palm-leaves of divers Colours they took off their Beard with sharp Stones their Governours had the Maidenheads of all Women that married they feasted their Guests with them at their visits the Children sucked Goats their common food Wheat and Barley Milk Herbs Mice Lizards and Snakes 13. Lancelot being homeward bound discovered the River Ovedec which he called Sanaga because a Black of that name was released there It was then believed to be one of the Branches of Nile because they were informed it ran far to the Eastward Stephen Alonso in a small Boat went up the River and took two Blacks with considerable opposition made by their Father Roderick Anez and Dinis Diaz were here separated from the rest by a great Storm and arrived in Portugal Lancelot steering toward Cape Verde went ashore upon an Island where he found nothing but Goats and these words cut on the Bark of a Tree TALENT DE BIEN FAIRE This was
Weather and one lost but the men saved He entred that Port and saluted as usual but was not answered whereupon he complained to the King He at first framed excuses and avoided coming to a Conference though Don Francisco attended in the place appointed which set him upon studying revenge After a Council held it was resolved to erect a Fort in that place as was desired by King Emanuel Having promised some description of all such places as we took possession of it will be fit to insert here that of the Country City and Fort of Quiloa 4. From Cape Guardafu the most Western point of Africk to Mocambique are 550 Leagues a hollow Coast like a Bow when bent From Cape Mozambique to Cape Corrientes 170 Leagues thence to the Cape of Good Hope 340 Leagues hence the Coast runs bowing to the Westward as far as the Borders of the Kingdom of Congo but by reason of its great length appears to the Eye to run strait to the Northward Drawing a Line from the Southern borders of Congo cross the Continent Eastward there remains to the Southward that great portion of Africk to which the Barbarous Inhabitants have given no name but was called by the Persians Caffaria and the Inhabitants Cafres which signifies a Rude People without Law or Government and our late Geographers call it Ethiopia Inferior Above this on the East runs for above 200 Leagues that Coast which we call Zanguebar but the Arabians and Persians give this name to all the Coast as far as the Cape of Good Hope Above Zanguebar as far as Point Guardafu and Mouth of the Red Sea is that which the Arabs call Aiam or Aiana inhabited by the same Arabs and the Inland by Heathen Blacks Most of this Coast is very low and subject to inundations covered with impenetrable Woods which made it excessive hot and unhealthy The Natives are black of curled Hair Idolaters so gi-given to Superstition that upon frivolous motives they give over the most important Designs as it hapned to the King of Quiloa at this time who because a Black Cat crossed him at his coming out failed of meeting Don Francisco de Almeyda The Cattle Fruit and Grain is answerable to the wildness of the Country The Moors who inhabit the Coast and adjacent Islands are little given to Tilling and feed upon Wild Beasts and some loathsom things those who live in the Inland and have commerce with the Barbarous Cafres make use of some Milk Nature has stored the Country with much Gold that those People might inhabit it and our Covetousness though at such distance find them out It was Covetousness that first drew thither the Arabs called Emozaydii that is subjects of Zayde who built two considerable Towns only sufficient to secure them against the Cafres These continued so till great numbers of other Arabs who were Neighbourers of the City Laçab 40 Leagues from the Island Baharem in the Persian Gulph came over thither whose first Plantation was Magadoxa and after Brava the former became the Metropolis The first Arabs separated from these and mixing with the Cafres were called Baduiis The first that had the Trade of the Mine of Zofala were those of Magadoxa who discovered it accidentally Thence they spread themselves but never durst pass Cape Corrientes a Point opposite to the Westermost part of the Island Madagascar or St. Laurence and takes its name from the violent Current of Water which often endangers Ships there But along these Coasts they possessed themselves of Quiloa Monbaça Melinde the Isles of Pemba Zanzibar Monfia Comoro and others Quiloa was the chief of all their Plantations and thence many were spread particularly on the Coast of Madagascar The Sea by degrees wearing away both sides made Quiloa an Island It bears many Palm and Thorn-trees and divers Herbs and Plants Cattle Wild Beasts and Birds much after the same manner as Spain the Buildings also after our manner flat at the Top with Gardens and Orchards behind On one side is the Royal Palace built in the manner of a Fort the Gate to the Sea opposite to the Anchoring place where ours at that time were 5. Don Francisco de Almeyda having resolved to land was the first that touched the Shoar with 500 men He and his Son Laurence at the same time attacked the City in two places Our men had enough to do to cover themselves with their Shields from the showers of Arrows that flew yet they advanced but finding the greatest damage they received was from the tops of the Houses they entred and gained some of them and thereby so much advantage that the King fled and set up in the Field Portugues Colours which stopt the Current of the Conquerors till he had got over to the Continent with his Wives and Riches The City was plundered and not one man lost in this Action though a considerable number of the Enemies was killed 6. Mir Abraham now overcome was but an Usurper but the 44th Possessor of that Island of which number many were Tyrants like him A Kinsman of this Abraham called Mahomet Anconii had been very faithful and serviceable to the Portugueses to requite him Don Francisco ordered when the City was plundered that nothing appertaining to him should be touched And after all was setled sent for and declared him King of that place putting a Crown of Gold upon his Head with much Pomp and Ceremony It was a wonderful act of Moderation in this Barbarian that as soon as the Crown was on his Head he declared that had the lawful King Alfudail murdered by the late Usurper been living he would have resigned that Crown to him but since he could not do it he desired the Son of the said Alfudail might be sworn hereditary Prince though he himself had Children for whom he might covet that Inheritance This Example in a Heathen might confound the inhuman insolence and barbarity in Christians at least those who pretend to the name who wade through Seas of Blood â—…end the most Sacred Bonds of Consanguinity and Alliance spoil Provinces oppress the Good exalt the Wicked make Honesty Treason and Perjury Duty and Religion a property to work their ambitious cursed ends to wit to snatch Scepters and Crowns from the Hands and Heads where the Eternal Providence has most worthily placed them 7. All things being again setled Don Francisco in twenty days raised a Fort the Gentlemen Captains and he himself working at it He put into it 550 men and left a Caravel and a Brigantine to cruise there The 8th of August he set sail for Mombaça and arrived there with 13 Sail. The City Mombaça is seated in an Island which is about 14 Leagues in circumference it is beautiful and strong before it is a large Bay capable of many Ships Before he entred two Vessels were sent to sound the Bar which is commanded by a Platform with eight Pieces of Cannon which began to play upon them that were fadoming but they
undertake what does not belong to his profession There were two ways to the Mines the one through Monomotapa the other by Zofala Barreto was for this Monclaros for the other and carryed it notwithstanding all the Votes to the contrary and so the first step they gave was to their ruin 5. Now the Governor enters upon this Conquest let us say somthing of its Climate quality and extent The Coast from Cape Delgado to Mozambique is in the form of a bow it begins in 9 deg of S. lat and ends in 14 d. 3 m. in which space are the Islands Pajaros Mesa one at the Mouth of the River Paudagi Mocoloe Matemo Queriba Cobra near the River Menluane Quisve and Cabras or Del Açotado Then follow the Rivers Mâ—…cutii Mucululo Situ Habe Xanga Samoco Veloso Pinda Quizimaluco Tintagone Between these last are the Bays of Xanga and Fuego and the Sands of Pinda From Mocambique to the Port of the Bay of Cauea in 21 deg and half of S. lat The Continent runs to the Westward gathering the Waters where appears the Parcel de Zâ—…fala the dangerous Scylla and Caribdis of those Seas into which falls these Rivers Moeugo Bayones Mâ—…ge Mojuncoale Sangage Ambuzi here lie the three Islands of Angoxa Monca Macolonga with three other Islands Tondamaje Corombeca Quesungo Loranga Chimani Mogundo Mafusa between the last are the Ports of Quilimane and Luabo with the Island Chimgoma Tendicalu Quiloe Sabam Bagoe Miave Zofala with the opposite Island called Inbansato Quiloane Mambony Molimon Quilamancohi Between Cape Bâ—…siqua in 32 deg of S. lat and Cape Correntes in 23 is the great Bay of Sauâ—…a Into this Bay falls the River Inhambane where is the Trade of Ivory From these names I infer the Language of those People cannot be harsh being mostly compounded of the soft Letters L. and M. 6. The Empire of Monomotapa from the Mouth of Cuama in the East runs 250 Leagues is divided by the great River Zambere which falls into that of Chiri running through the Country of Borero where are many other large Rivers and on their banks many King 's some absolute some Subjects of Monomotapa the greatest of the first is Mongas bordering on Câ—…ama and Zambere which falls into the Sea between Mozambique and Zofala to the S. E. by four Mouths The first that of Quilimane 90 Leagues from Mozambique The second Cuama 25 to the Southward The third Luabo 5 Leagues lower and the fourth Luaboel 15 more to the South Between them are fruitful and large Islands whereof one is 60 Leagues in compass The River is Navigable the same number of Leagues up to the Town of Sena inhabited by Portugueses and as many more to Tete a Colony of theirs also The richest Mines are those of Musapa called Anfur the Ophir where the Queen of Saba had her Riches when she went to Hierusalem In these Mines has been found a lumâ—… of Gold worth 12000 Ducats and another of the value of 400000. It is not only found among Stones but grows up within the bark of several Trees to the top where the branches spread The Mines of Mancbica and Butica are not much inferior to these There are many others not so considerable There are three Fairs or Markets whither our People Trade for this Gold from the Castle of Tete on the River Zambeze 120 â—…ngues from the Sea the first is Luane four Days journey up the inland The second Buento farther distant and Masapa the third yet farther of This Gold was purchased for Cloth glass-beads and other things of no value among us At Masapa resides a Portugues Officer appointed by the Commander of Moçambique by consent of the Emperor of Monomotapa but upon condition not to go into the Country without his leave upon pain of Death He is Judge of the differences that arise there There are Churches of the Dominicans at Massapa Bocuto and Luanze 7. The Original number and time of the Reign of the Kings is not known it is believed there were several in the time of the Queen of Saba and that they were subject to her for thence she had her Gold In the Mountain Afur near Masapa are seen the ruins of stately buildings supposed to be Pallaces and Castles in Process of time the Empire was divided into three Kingdoms Quiteve Sabanda and Chiganga this last the most powerful as possessing the Mines of Manchica Butua and others its believed the Blacks of Butua of the Kingdom of Chicanga are those that carry the Gold to Angola because 't is thought there are but 100 Leagues distance between those two places this Country bears Rice and what we call Indian-wheat has abundance of all sorts of Cattle Fowl and Gardening Their chief care is Pastorage and Tillage this Empire is divided into 25 Kingdoms which are Mongas Baroe Manica Boesa Macingo Remo Chique Chiria Chidima Boquizo Inbanzo Chiruvia Condesaca Daburia Macurumbe Mungussi Antiovaza Cbove Chungue Dvia Romba Rassini Chirao Mocaranga and Remo de Beza there are many Lordships that have not the Title of Kings 8. The Emperor has a great Palace though of Wood the chief Apartments of it are three one for himself another for his Wife and a third for his menial Servants it has three Doors into a Court one for the Queen to go in and out at another for him and the Servants that attend his Person and are Sons of his Noblemen the third for the Cooks who are two great Men and his Relations and the under-Cooks who are also Men of Quality None of these must be above 20 Years of Age for till that Age they do not believe they have to do with Women and if any do they are severely punished after that time they are preferred to great imployments Those within Doors are governed by a Captain and those without by another as formerly in Spain the Alcalde de los Donçeles 9. The Principal Officers about the King are Ningomoxa Governor of the Kingdoms Mocomoaxa Captain General Ambuya great Steward to him it belongs when the Mazarira or the King 's Principal Wife dies to name another in her stead but it must be one of the King's Sisters or nearest Relations Inbantovo the head Musitian who has many under him and is a great Lord Nurucao Captain of the Van-guard Bucurumo which signifies the King's Right-hand Magande the chief Conjurer Netambe the Apothecary that keeps the Ointments and utencils for Sorcery Nebono chief Porter All these Offices are executed by Lords there is no delicacy in Cookery used they only Eat boyl'd and roasted they Eat the same as is usual among us with the addition of mice which they esteem as good as Partridge or Rabbet 10. The King has many Wives only nine called great Queens which are his Sisters or near Relations the others the Daughters of Nobles The chiefest is called Mazarira and Mother of the Portugueses who often present her because she sollicites their business with the King
follows is more His Men seeing the Portugueses come loaded with Riches advised him to make use of that Opportunity and not show too much Weakness or Pity And he fearing lest Covetousness should make them Disobedient laboured with soft Expressions and sweet Words to disswade them from their wicked Design 12. They all submitted themselves to their Officer's Reasons and with kind Usage much comforted the Disconsolate Portugueses who continued there till Alibec being gone they returned to Mascate always relating and admiring how honourably that Moor treated them without suffering the least wrong to be offered to their Persons or Goods 13. The News of the Ruine of Mascate being brought to Ormuz The Commander D. Gonçalo de Meneses caused the Gallies to be closely watched and Ships to be fitted out immediately to follow them He made Luis de Almeyda Commander in chief giving him a Galleon a Galley and six other vessels with Four hundred good Men. But he not observing the Orders of Meneses that were to follow the Galleys fell into the Coast of the Naytaques where they intended to Surprize the beautiful and rich City Pesani But Francis Machado having given the Alarm by falling upon some People that were passing in two Boats the Inhabitants all fled 14. They plundered the City without Honour or Danger and after burnt it and near Fifty Sail that were in the Bay The very same Fate attended the City Guadel not inferior to Pesani and that of Teis of the Abindos a barbarous and fierce Nation the last of Gedrosia on the Banks of the River Calamen the People of it join with the Naytaques in their Piracies 15. All these Things were begun though not absolutely transacted when D. Francis de Mascarennas arrived in India with the Title of Viceroy being the first sent by our first King Philip who was second of Spain Ferdinand Tellez left the Government in a peaceable Condition and the Sea of Goa well furnished with good Ships He was the last Governor appointed by the Portugues Authority in Number the Thirtieth held it Six Months the First of the Name and Fourth of the Sirname The End of the Third Part. THE PORTUGUES ASIA TOM II. PART IV. CHAP. I. Of the Gods Surpestitions and Opinions of the Asiaticks particularly the Indians and among them the Malabars 1. I Have purposely omitted giving so particular an Account and Description of the People and Countries mentioned in this History as will be expected from me to avoid interrupting the series of Affairs and connexion of Matter reserving it still for a more proper place The grand Revolution of the Kingdom of Portugal now brought under a foreign Prince puts a Period to the Proceedings of our own that we may begin again with what was transacted under our new Sovereigns Here then it will not be amiss to give the Curious the Satisfaction of some further Information touching the Indians Ethiopians Chineses and Iapans but still with my usual brevity dividing among them this Fourth Part of this Second Volume As Asia is divided into several Empires so it is inhabited by many very different sorts of People and each People distinguished by very opposite Customs Yet those that are of one Belief agree in the essential Part though they differ in Form It is so in India as well as any other considerable Portion of the World and therefore the Malabars one of the Nations thereof may inform us of the Religion and Government of all the rest 2. As to the Frame of the World they believe it had a beginning and will have an end but then begin again and in that manner will be everlasting that all things after having encreased diminish that in the beginning as One thousand and Animals were produced One thousand died but now for One thousand produced One thousand and one die that the reason why more die is because the heat of the Sun increases that in the end a violent Wind shall dissolve all things that nothing shall then remain but the Deity Ixoreta as in the first Chaos that he shall be reduced to the bigness of an Egg and this to the quantity of a Dew drop scarce discernable that after it has sounded like a Cricket it shall increase by the same measure it diminished and shall produce within it self the five Elements for they reckon the Heaven the fifth that their increasing shall burst the Egg in the middle that there shall appear in it seven shels put together like an Onion that the Egg being divided into two unequal parts the biggest will be the Heavens and the lesser the Earth that the Gods were and shall be so formed again The Egg being open the Deity will be placed in the upper part on the Earth will appear a Mountain of Silver on the top whereof will be seen the instruments of Generation which they call the true Ixoreta or Deity the true God and Causa Causarum because all things in the World proceed from the Union of the instruments of Generation therefore they particularly adore the noblest that it is the Male and place its Image in their Pagods and on their ways This they reign to have three Rines from which proceed the three Gods Bramá Vistâ—… and Givem or Ixora 4. Of the superior and inferior productions this is their Opinion Ixora with this instrument of Generation which was of a prodigious bigness plowed up the Earth for the space of Seven hundred thousand loxenas each of these when greatest is four Leagues and when least a League and a halfe from the Furrows sprung seven Seas and seven Lands the ridges were the Mountains the furrows the Vales and Waters Then from Ixoras back came the Woman called Cbati this has some resemblance with Eve's being made of Adams Rib and was separated from it by virtue of some words and they resolved to have copulation The length of the Generating Instrument called Linga wherewith Ixora had plowed the Ground hindred he cut it into eighteen pieces whereof were made the Weapons they use as the Spear Sword Bow and Buckler Then Ixora with his Finger opened the way of Generation in Chati which shed much Blood he received it in his Hands and throwing it up into the Air suddenly of it were produced the Sun Moon Stars Roses Flowers Sweet-herbs and Snakes which they use in their Ceremonies both being then fit for Copulation by them the World was Peopled the Beasts and Devils produced and Heaven filled with Spirits which they say are Thirty three Millions 5. The Heaven is fixt upon the Earth not the Earth the Center of it The Sun and Moon move like the Fish in the Water by Day from East to West by Night they run about the Northward not under the Earth but along the edge of the Horrizon they doubt whether the Earth be supported upon a Bulls-horns or upon the Snake called Ananta their Paradize is in some Mountain The Snake Bassagui fighting with the Wind would not let it
and Tucks 4. In a bottom at the foot of the wall and Mountain lies the City not the third part of what it has been girt with a wall and Towers at convenient distances it is divided rather into lanes than streets there are wells the Water whereof is brackish but used when Rain Water fails the inhabitants are Arabs and strangers Moors descended from those who were once masters of it and Jews who are in all parts of the World and here live meanly 5. Provisions are brought from the inland on Camels their Money pieces of Eight and another of the same value called Cabres or Xamies There are no Thieves and therefore no Locks to the Doors their weapons Swords Semiters Poniards and Bucklers hanging by straps about their Necks Their cloath ing black the better sort wear a thing like a like a shirt down to the Ancles the Poor a clout tyed about the waste reaching half way down the thigh the Gallants add a Fota or loose cloak hanging down or under the Arm only the Xarises wear Veils on their Heads The Women use the same sort of shirt or cassack as the Men except that before it reaches only to their Knees and behind sweeps the Streets with a train a Yard long The best sort wear a kind of silk Petticoat of several colours they cover themselves to the Knees with a kind of Veil and have only one Eye uncovered in the street The Arabs easily took this Town from the Turks and it might as easily be taken from them if any would attempt it by way of surprise A Portugues Gentleman after being possessed of it shamefully quitted it 7. The Emperors of Ethiopia since the Queen Saba or Maqueda for she was so called are these her Son Solomon Amna Sahacam Baremgabo Sabacio Thoasca Adona Ausayo Omacio Cboa Luvo Antata Bahaca Savads Adina Gotolea Sasalea Elgabul Bautaul Bavares the first Bavares the second Mahase Nalque Baisol in whose time Christ was born Chempas Gado Bhur Sagad Grima Casar Sarado Cucii Bacheon Sargay Zeray Sona Aogad Gheona Gaya Macugna Safaâ—…da Agdar Abraha and Cabaha who Reigned together in whose time went thither a Patriarch called Minatas and Pantaleâ—… who we said Preached the Gospel there Hâ—…pba Aâ—…sid Anci Arada Asadadora Amamid in whose time two Christian Kings sailing through the red Sea landed with some religious Men and Reign'd there and then the descendants of the former were restored and were Saba Thazena Caleb Gabra Masael Constantine Bâ—…gar Zansagad Frey Senay Adoraza Aidar Madai Calaudamo Grima Affar Zergaza Digna Micael Bud Gaza Arma Asbanani Digna Zana Ambusao Demo Delnaad hitherto the line of Saba those that follow are of another branch Himnamale Agba Acheon Bhar Sagad Hesta Sarad Cama Asgad Vdaâ—… Arad Anda Cheon Caifa Arad Vd Doma David Theadros Isac Andreas Astbinavi Anda Iesus Bad Linavi Iarai Acob Beda Mâ—…riad or Zeriaco Hescander or Alexander he that Peter de Covillam saw when Vasco de Gama was discovering the Indian Sea Andacheon or Nant David Oena Saged whom D. Christopher de Gama went to assist Claudius or Athana Saged to whom went the first Embassador from Portugal In all 86 Emperors from Queen Saba till the Year â—…600 or thereabouts 8. We have already at the time it happen'd spoke of the introduction of a Catholick Patriarch into this Country and shall in its proper place in the third Tome speak of the banishment of them It is very remarkable that this Emperor who so joyfully received an Apostical Prelate and submitted to the Holy See should after be so cruel an Enemy to it and that these People who called themselves Christians were the backwardest in receiving the true Catholick Doctrine the chief cause hereof is their great inclination to Judaism as descended from Solomon's Son Therefore they so rigarously adhere to Circumcision that not only the Men but Women are Circumcised they observe strictly the Saturday they take the liberty of being divorced only for their pleasure and have several Wives without regarding whether they have been their own Father's Brother's or other Mens This obstinacy is not a little helped by the Pontifical Power usurped by their Emperor and by a Prophecy they have that the Franguis or Europeans shall become Masters of their Country and they fear the Preaching the Faith may be an Introduction to it They have also another Prophecy that they assisted by the Franguis shall destroy the House of Meca which they desire as much as any other Christians But let this suffice for Ethiopia CHAP. X. Of the Islands of Japan 1. WE have already in the Eleventh Chapter of the First Part of this Tome spoke of the Situation Extent Names and some other particulars of these Islands which will be needless to repeat and shall therefore proceed to what has not yet been related 2. The Country though not void of large Plains is very mountainous some so high they are much above the Clouds Two are most remarkable that of Fiyenoyama four Leagues from Miaco and that of Letchu which continually casts out terrible Flames and among them sometimes the Devil comes out to perswade the People to cast themselves in there affirming it is the shortest cut to Heaven About this Mountain are many Silver Mines The Fields are water'd with many Rivers which together with the Summer Rains and Winter Snow make them Fruitful if the continual Wars did not hinder all Tillage which is the Reason that Land is undeservedly accounted barren It bears Rice and Wheat of which they do not make Bread but use it after their own manner all sorts of Fruit usual among us and many others abundance of Wood both on the Hills and Plains It is plentiful of all sorts of Cattle and abundantly furnished with Fish Their Water is thin the Air wholesom the Natives are generally long-liv'd and vigorous to the last they apply themselves to the use of Arms at 15 Years of Age and give it not over till sixty 3. Their Countenance is agreeable well-shaped generally large and they value the greatest Bodies very strong and inured to Labour and Hardship As soon as born they dip the Children in the Water to make them hardy and as soon as grown to any strength the Boys hunt wild Beasts in the Woods They are more ready at Handy-crafts than the Europeans and their Countâ—…y People more polished this makes them the more tenacious of the Christian Faith because they admit it not till sufficiently convinced 4. Honour is no less Worshipped among them than their Idols and they will endure any thing rather than abate in any point of it this makes them very courteous they show the same civility to Friends and Enemies they never swear Princes punish Subjects and Masters Servants in such manner as neither has cause to complain all Differences though between near Relations are composed by a third hand to avoid Animosities To speak ill of the absent is a Crime to them unknown so is Play
and Theft and no less begging or borrowing Poverty nor any other Misfortune that depends not of the Will is not looked upon as disgraceful for they will no way allow Honour to depend upon Fortune 5. Withal there is no Faith among them even between Father and Son but it is a Disgrace for a Man to be open-hearted Hence it proceeds they commonly Murder one another in their Embraces Subjects do the same to their Princes and Servants to Masters Thus Rebels are caressed by their Sovereigns for all their study is conveniency Mothers instead of suckling strangle their Children some kill themselves to save receiving an Affront and the Sick have no Relief for all fly from them and when dead throw them like Beasts on a Dunghill They are not only given to Women but much more to Sodomy 6. If two happen to lie together each lays his Head at the other's Feet Neither Men nor Women wear any thing on their Heads only the great Men when they travel go under an Umbrello they mount on Horseback on our off-side Instead of bowing when they meet they draw back their Foot out of the slipper more or less when the Inferior sees a Superior he sits down They value pretious Stones no more than Straws any piece of Antiquity they esteem at extravagant Rates of what sort soever The King of Bango gave 13000 Crowns for a Vessel among us not worth a Groat They have the same value for any draught of a famous Master or for a Blade of a Sword or Hanger 7. Their Mourning is white and their festival Apparel black the same is used by the Chineses The Men varnish their teeth the Women their hair Our Musick to them is ungrateful they delight in those Instruments that make most noise Their Fish they eat raw and hate Milk or any thing made of it calling it unconcocted Blood Beef or Mutton is never eaten but in the utmost Extremities as loathsom Vermin among us the Wheat they make like the Italians into Vermicheli or Macaroli and drink Water boil'd with the Herb Cha hot sipping it this I believe is our Tea The Service of their Tables differs from ours the Vessels are all of Gold or Porcelane for the Silver is all coined into Money Our sweetest Perfumes are loathsom to them What would make us sick is the Diet of their Sick as Fish salt and raw Limons and other acids Bleeding is not used for they say 't is a madness to lavish the Treasure of Life so they call the Blood Their Purges are sweet and pleasant the others they say and with reason do but heap misery on the Patient 8. Though there are many Kingdoms the Language is the same but so various it sounds like many for they have great variety of Words upon all Occasions those that are used in serious Discourse serve not to jest those that are for great Men are not for the meaner those for the old are not for the young the same are not for Men as for Women In Writing they have fourteen different sorts of Characters all varying not only in form but signification The Gentry learn to read and write till twelve Years of Age in the Monasteries of the Bonços There is one sort of Character to write to Princes another to Nobles another to the meaner sort and another for Books of which they have great plenty in Prose and Rhime very elegant and ingenious Every Character is a Word Some of our People that understand the Language of Iapan and Latin avouch the former to be much more copious beautiful soft and compleat in all particulars 9. All their Buildings because of the Earthquakes the Island is subject to are of Wood but of such Structure they are no way inferior to the finest in the World They are whitened with a Plaster made of shells of Fish which preserves the Wood from the Weather and makes the Cities appear most beautiful at a distance The Tiling is black and of such a nature it will last Five hundred Years The Curiosity within it not to be parallelled Hangings are not used but all the Walls curiously painted with Landskips or Histories of their Ancestors The floors are covered with fine Mats and such as go on them wash their Feet first There are no Chairs nor Bedsteads On the Beds there are few Cloaths but what they wear by day but some have coverings of the same Straw as the Mats wrought with Gold 10. The Poor eat as they can but always with decency the Rich with such state of Servants Musick Plays and variety of Dishes that a whole night is spent in a Supper They use as many Tables as Dishes about a span and half high because they sit on the ground each Table about half a yard square curiously wrought of Cedar inlaid with Gold and several Colours There are no Napkins nor Table-cloaths because they never touch any thing but feed themselves with little Cipress sticks so artificially that never any thing drops The Meat is heaped in the Dishes like Pyramids strewed with Gold the Fowl whole the Beaks and Taloâ—…s gilt Their Entertainment is generous and friendly but so ceremonious it were better to endure hunger than their Complements 11. All the cloathing is Silk thin in Summer more substantial in Winter and a set time for all People to alter their Dress They take many Wives and are easily divorced yet Adultery is a capital Crime and the Woman's Relations resent it as hainously as the Husband The Children are bred as has been said and at Fifteen have their Sword put on by the Bonzos with much Ceremony Every Man is so absolute over his Children and Servants he may punish and kill them without being liable to any penalty for it CHAP. XI A further Account of Japan 1. TILL the Year One thousand there was but one Monarch over all Iapan he was called Huo or Dayri He had two Cucabo's or Generals of his Army At that time one of these killed the other and rebelled against his Prince Civil Wars ensuing several Kingdoms were erected Every Lord of a Province called himself Iaâ—…ta that is King They have four sorts of People as among us the Bonço's or Clergy the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty these two last pay great respect to the Nobles who are called Tonos and as among us have the Distinctions of Dukes Marqueses Earls c. The chief Trade is Silver and China Silks In Mechanicks they are excellent Their Cutlaces are so temper'd they cut through our Armour as if it were Wood. Their Lances are longer and lighter their Musquets and other Arms perfectly good as is their Powder their Horse Furniture curious beyond expression Printing among them as well as the Chineses is very ancient All the Land is the King 's and he gives Parcels of it to Noblemen and Gentlemen to serve him in War and Peace and they give Portions of it to their Servants 2. The King has power to recall his Grants
them all the Year some grow in the dead of Winter when the leaves are fallen off the Plants these are called Lamui and are more agreeable to the smell than sight being yellow like wax 11. Their Apparel Beds and other furniture is made of Wollen Linnen Silk and Cotton of which they have abundance and work it curiously China supplies strangers with the richest commodities of the East as Gold in thread beaten anâ—… in bars Rubies Zasires Pearl Musk Silk raw and wrought Porcelane Quick-silver Copper Tinn Tortoise-shell Vermillion Salt Peter and Sulphur Sugar and other things of less value Their gilding either for use or curiosity is well known the vilest things are not lost among them The Kingdom is rich but not private Persons there are not so many rich Men as in Europe nor so many Poor few possess very much many have plenty and scarce any want 12. Money is scarce as may appear by the price of all things Servants wages hire of Work-men and allowances to Ministers of State A pound of Mutton is worth a half penny a Pidgeon not a farthing a Man's wages not above a Crown a Year some things alter the Prizes but all are reasonable and much about these rates CHAP. XIII Of the Provinces into which China is divided 1. THis vast Empire is divided into two parts the Northern and the Southern and they into 15 Provinces To the Southern part belong 9 which are Quantung Quansi Yunnan Fokien Kiangsi Suchuen Huquang Chekiang and Nanking Quantung is the most Southerly and lies between 20 and 25 deg of lat it is large and Rich and abounds in Wheat and Rice of the latter though differing in kind the Earth gives two crops a Year Here is much Sugar Iron Copper and Tiâ—… all which are wrought with great perfection as also the works of Charam and gildings brought to us The People are very ingenious at handicrafts easily imitate what they see but are not good at invention Our Merchants repair twice a Year to the Capital City Quangcheu 75 Leagues distant from Macao and Macao is 18 from the Islands and is about 5 Leagues in circumference This is the most frequented Port of the whole Kingdom The Portugues alone export hence Yearly 53000 Chests of Silks 22000 bars of Gold each weighing 12 Ounces 7 Picos of Musk which is 8 Hundred and three quarters Pearl Sugar Porcelane China wood Reubarb and other lesser commodities in vast quantity The Island Haynan belongs to this Province about it is a great Fishery of Pearl it is well Peopled on the Northern Coast on the Southern is a Town that owns no subjection to any body It produces several sorts of precious Wood. 2. On the N. E. side of Quantung lies the Province of Quangâ—… between 23 and 27 deg of lat it differs not from the other in any thing considerable That of Yunnan to the Eastward in the same lat is the farthest from the Center of China 't is large but not rich its principal Commodity being Amber for Beads and such uses Here contrary to the custom of all the rest of the Kingdom the Women go abroad to buy and sell. On the other side of Quantung to the E. N. E. is the Province of Fokien between 24 and 28 deg of lat it is for the most part Mountanous the Natives contrary to the general Law travel and trade abroad It yields Gold Sugar Hemp and Paper of several soâ—…ts the goodness plenty and cheapness of it very remarkable Printing here is very â—…eap and as Ancient as shalâ—… be mentioned hereafter it is not done with loose letters as among us but cut in Wood so that the Original remains there are an infinite number of Printing Houses every one may Print what he pleases without a Licence and notwithstanding this liberty they never publish any scandalous or immodest Book This Province lies on the Sea and thence are exported infinite quantities of Merchandize for Manila Iapan and the Island Formosa which is in sight the Dutch trade here 3. The Province of Kiangsi lies North of Quantung between 25 and 30 deg of lat It is hemm'd in with great Mountains from which fall two Rivers one running to the Southward all the way Navigable another to the Northward which after running through great part of this Province receives another great one coming from the Province of Huquang and is the famous Kiang The feet of these Mountains are adorn'd with good Cities at convenient distances for travellers and carrying of goods which are generally on Men's backs and the concourse is incredible the Innkeepers give an account of all that comes in to their Houses and are obliged to give two Meals to all such Passengers having other ways to be payed every Man carries his own Bed for the lodgings find nothing but bedsteads In the Custom-house which is here very great they do not visit the goods but take everyMans word and the Duties are very easy a traveller that is no Merchant is Custom-free the strangers that come to Macao pay according to the Tunnage of their Vessels without searching 4. This Province is so populous they miscal it Laocha that is little Mice because they spread all over the Kingdom serving all sorts of Trades particularly Taylors they are very Poor the Province has abundance of Rice and Fish it is famous for large Soles but more for Porcelane The Clay 't is made of is only found in one Village and in another place the Water to work it for if they use any other it proves not so good In this work there is none of the mystery generally represented to us it is meer Clay but of a most rare quality it is wrought after the same manner as ours in the same time and of all colours This Province Fokien and Quantung meet in an Angle formed of many Mountains among which is a small Kingdom the King whereof owes no obedience to him of China they allow the use of Phisitians in sickness but of no Lawyers in their suits If any scarcity happen they go a Robbing in the nature of open War 5. The Province of Suchuen is much in the same Latitude and has nothing singular that of Huquang is in the same lat more plentiful of Rice than any has much Oyl and Fish in its great Rivers and Lakes like Seas The Province Chekiang lies between 27 and 32 deg upon the Sea is plain and fruitful and watered with many Rivers some whereof run through the Towns it is much Richer than the others particularly in Silk which is exported only from thence Hangcheu is the Metropolis the most populous of China so delicious and pleasant that it is a Proverb Glory in Heaven and Hangcheu on Earth Three things make it most famous the Lake called the rarest in the World about two Leagues in compass beset round with curious Pallaces and they with delightful Hills the Water runs in at one end and out at the other across it
before Christ a Heathen was King of Tenaçâ—…rii and lorded it over a great part of the East He banished his Son and Heir Vigia Raja for his depraved wicked Life The young Man took Ship with 700 Men like himself and put into the Port of Preature between Triquilimale Iafanapatan in the Island Ceylon then not inhabited but abounding in delightful Rivers Springs Woods Fruit-trees and sightly Birds and Beads whence the new Planters gave it the name of Lancao which signifies Paradise and is still held the delight of all the East 21. The first Town they built was Montâ—…ta opposite to Manar whence they traded with Cholca Raja the nearest King on the Continent he knowing who this Prince was gave him his Daughter to Wife and Women for his Companions with them he sent Labourers and Workmen to forward that Plantation the Prince when he saw his Power increase stiled himself Emperor of the Island Strangers call these People Galas that is banished Men because their Original was such 22. Vigia Raja dying without Children left the Crown to his Brother in whose line it continued 900 Years the fruitfulness of the Island and fame of its excellent Cinnamon drew thither the Chineses who marrying with the Galas brought another racâ—… which to this day are called Chingalas grown very powerful and most fit for Courtiers being most subtle and false 23. The first line being extinct the Kingdom fell to Dambadine Pandar Pracura Mabago who was treacherously taken by the Chineses after restored and then slain by Alagexere who in his absence had usurped the Crown this usurper held it 10 Years and dying without Issue and two Sons of Dambadine who were fled for fear of the Tyrant being found the eldest succeeded his Name was Maha Pracura Mahago he gave to his Brother the Dominion of the four Corlas and settled his Court at Cota which he built to that effect by a Daughter marryed to Cholca Raja of the antient blood Royal he had a Grandson who succeeded him Afterwards the line failing Queta Pâ—…rmal King of Iafanapatan inherited and called himself Boâ—…negaboa that is King by force of Arms for that he had overcome his Brother King of the Corlas 24. His Son Caypura Pandar succeeded him and the King of the Corlas having killed him possessed himself of the Crown and took the name of Iavira Procura Magabo these two Brothers were of the blood Royal and the King Maha Procura had given them those two Crowns after the Tyrant Reigned his Son Drama Procura Magabo then living when Vasco de Gama discovered India afterwards about the Year 1500 that Empire was divided between three Brothers into so many Kingdoms Boenegababo Pandar had Cota Reigam Pandar had Reigam and Maduze Pandar had Ceitavaca 25. In the Country of Dinavaca which is the Center of this Island rises that vast high Mountain called Pico de Adam because some believed our first Father lived there and that the print of a foot still seen upon a stone on the top of it is his the Natives call it Amala Saripadi that is the Mountain of the footstep Some Springs running down it at the bottom 〈◊〉 a Rivulet where Pilgrims wash and believe it purifies them The stone on the top is like a Tomb-stone the print of the foot seems not artificial but as if it had been made in the same nature as when one treads in Clay which makes it be looked upon as miraculous 26. The Pilgrims of all sorts who come from as far as Persia and China being washed go up to the top near which hangs a bell which they strike and take the sounding of it as a sign of their being purified as if any bell being struck would not sound The opinion of the Natives is that Drama Raja Son of an ancient King of that Island doing Pennance in that Mountain with many Disciples when he was about to depart at their instance left that print there as a Memorial therefore they respect it as a relict of a Saint and generally call him Budam that is Wiseman 27. Some believe this Saint was Iosaphat but it is more likely it was St. Thomas who has left many Memorials in the East and in the West in Brasil and in Paraguay The natural Woods in this Island are like the curious Orchards and Gardens in Europe and produce Citrons Lemmons and sundry sorts of delicious fruits it abounds in Cinnamon Ginger Cordamom Sugar Canes Honey and Hemp of Metals Iron whereof they make the best Firelocks of all the East of precious Stones Rubies Zafires Cats-eyes Topaces Chrisolites Amethists and Berilus of valuable beasts Civet-Cats and the noblest of the Elephants of all the East there are excellent Rivers abounding with variety of Fish All round it are Ports fit for the largest Ships 28. In all parts of India there are Prodigious Wizards When Vasco de Gama sailed upon that discovery some of them at Calicut showed other People in basons of Water the three Ships he had with him When D. Francis de Almeyda the first Viceroy of India was coming for Portugal some Witches at Coehim told him he should not pass the Cape of Good Hope and there he was buryed At Mascate there are such Sorcerors that they Eat a thing inwardly only fixing their Eyes upon it with their sight draw the entrails of any Human body and so kill many One of these fixing his Eyes on a Bateca or Water-Mellon sucked out all the inside it being cut open to try the experiment was found hollow and he the more to satisfy the beholders vomitted it up 29. To conclude the description of these parts of Asia let us say something of the most exquisite production of Nature it affords doubtless the most wonderful thing in the World is a Tree there growing of which alone are built Ships and Houses the one loaded the other stored with all things necessary for Human Life and on it alone Men may feed and cloath themselves having seen no particular account hereof I will be the more plain in describing it The Tree is about 50 foot high on the top grow the leaves like that of a Palm or Date-tree in shape but more large and beautiful it bears about 50 of them and among them about 12 clusters each containing about 50 of those we call Cocos as big as good Pumpkins so that one Tree sometimes produces 600 never less than 400 of them 30. First on the outside is a thick tough shell or rhine as is over the Walnut-shell though not of that nature then a hard shell and within it a sweet kernel that outward rhine is spun and of it all manner of tackle and cordage is made of the inward shell Porrengers Salts Flasks Spoons and other curiosities besides being burnt it is a pleasant sort of Cole to this shell sticks the kernel which is hollow white as Snow about an inch thick juycy and sweet as Almonds it serves to season several things as Milk
Inhabitants called them the Bearded People not but those People have Beards but theirs are short and thin ours then were at their full growth and some reached to the Waste By them the Captain was informed that River was formerly called Tauralachim that is Great Stock to express its Greatness it is deep for Eighty Leagues up to Moncalor then shallower and wide where is a Country for Eight days Journey Unpeopled by a multitude of Birds 40 years before the great Kingdom of the Chintaleuho's In the middle of it is the great Lake Cunabetee or Chiamay whence spring four great Rivers It is 180 Leagues in compass beset with Mines of Silver Copper Tin and Lead 8. Hence he directed his Course for the Island Hainan passed in sight of Champiloo in the Latitude of 13 Degrees and at the entrance of the Bay of Cochinchina Farther on he discovered the Promontory Pulocampas whence is seen the Point of Hainan Westward is a River up which Borrallo was sent in a small Vessel with 16 Men who discovered at least Two thousand Sail and a large Walled Town On their Return they saw a large Vessel at Anchor The Captain thinking it was Coja Hazem fell upon and took it But among the Prisoners he found an ancient Christian of Mount Sinai who told him it belonged to Quiay Tayjam a Pyrat who had killed above a Hundred Portugueses and now laid hid in the Fore-Castle with six or seven others who were all killed there In that Vessel were found 70000 Quintals or Hundred weight of Pepper much other Spice Ivory Tin Wax and Powder all valued at 60000 Crowns besides good Cannon Baggage and some Plate In the Hold were nine Children the biggest about nine years of Age loaded with Irons and starving with Hunger 9. Coasting along the Island Hainan he met some Fishers of Pearâ—… whom he used courteously They told him the Island belonged to the King of China Hence he went to the River Tanaâ—…quir where two great Vessels suddenly fell upon Faria both which after a long Dispute he took having killed 80 of their Men and lost 14 whereof one Portugues After a while they heard lamentable Cries in the Hold of one of those Vessels where they sound seventeen Prisoners two of them Portugueses One of which said those Vessels belonged to Necoda Xicaulem who after turning Christian at Malaca and marrying a Portugues had killed her and many more of her Country His Body being found was cut in pieces The Booty was valued at 50000 Crowns One of the Vessels was burnt for want of Men to sail it in both were seventeen Brass Guns most of them with the Arms of Portugal 10. He Anchored forty Leagues farther at C. Tilaumere where came up with our four Vessels four others in which was the Bride of a Noble young Man who had promised to meet her there with a like number of Ships and this mistake brought them to our Vessels Three of them were taken and in one of them the Bride Some Seamen were chose the rest set ashoar They came to Mutipinam and found it a most convenient place to sell their Prizes The Governour of the City somewhat obstructed the Sale so they were obliged to hasten it the Goods were paid for in Silver uncoyned and amounted to Two hundred thousand Crowns This was the beginning of the Year 1541. CHAP. VI. Continues the Exploits of Antony de Faria 1. ANtony de Faria sailed on in search of the Port of Madel in the Island Hainan and by the way took some Prizes Here he met Hinymilau a bold Pyrat and a great Enemy to Christians whom he delighted to put to cruel Deaths They had a bloody Fight with and at length took him He gave a bold Relation of the Cruelties he had exercised against the Portugueses and was therefore with four more immediately killed The Prize was valued at 70000 Ducats 2. This Action struck such a Terrour into many of those that were there in that River that they sent a Message to Faria offering him 30000 Crowns to take them into his Protection calling him King of those Seas and desiring of him Passes for their safe Trading therein He received the Mony and gave the Passes by only Writing of which in Twelve days time a Servant of his got 6000 Ducats The Governour of the City offered to make him Admiral of those Seas for the King of China with a Pension of 9000 Crowns if he would serve Such a Name had he already got in those parts 3. They run all along this Coast without any remarkable Occurrence only saw many though not large Towns and a very fruitful Country and were informed there were there Mines of Silver Tin Salt-Peter and Brimstone The Souldiers now weary of looking after the Pyrat Coja Hazem demanded their shares of the Prizes to be gone They agreed and directed their Course for the Kingdom of Siam By a furious Storm they were wrecked upon the Island De los Ladrones where of Five hundred Men only Eighty six got ashoar naked of these Twenty eight were Portugueses Here they were fifteen days almost without any thing to eat A Bird flying over them with a Fish dropt it and afterwards they saw many others that frighted at their Shouts let fall their Prey this and a Deer they found killed by a Tyger kept them awhile but some died with Want Being thus in despair because the Island was not Inhabited they discovered a small Vessel making to the shoar where they cast Anchor and presently Thirty Men landed some carried Wood and Water and others diverted themselves They were Chineses Our Men agreeing together upon a sign run furiously and possessed themselves of the Vessel and with the same swiftness put to Sea The Chineses were astonished at that unexpected Misfortune and our Men overjoyed finding in the Vessel good Provision and much Silk In the Barque they found only an Old man and a Child whose Father was left ashoar 4. Sailing for Liampo in Port Xamoy they took a Vessel of Chineses and went to the Island Luxitay where they stayed fifteen days went over to the great Vessel and Refitted the small one and then went on Upon the Coast of Lamau they discovered a great Vessel which as it came near began to fire Fifteen great Guns it carried but coming closer they discovered Crosses and Portugues Habits on both sides so they hailed each other and the Vessel appeared to belong to Quiay Panjau a Chinese and great Friend to the Portugueses whereof he had Thirty Souldiers aboard He came to Farias's Vessel and brought a present of Amber Pearls Gold and Silver worth Two thousand Ducats After other Discourse our Captain told him he was bound for Liampo to furnish himself with Necessaries in order to attempt the Mines of Quamjaparu where he was told he might get a Treasure Quiay Panjau offered to accompany him demanding for himself only the Third part of what should be taken which was agreed 5. At
them and that in that of Coulam was the burying place of Sibila Indica by whose advice King Perimal of Ceylon went to the Coast of Mascate to meet the other two Kings that were going to adore Christ newly born at Bethlehem That the same King at the Intreaty of the Sibil brought her the Picture of the Blessed Virgin which was kept in the same Tomb. This was the Invention of the Relicts of that Heavenly Messenger in India And gave occasion to build the City at this time called S. Thomas a Portugues Colony in the Port of Paleacate seven Leagues from the Ruins of the most ancient Meliapor CHAP. VIII Continues the Government of D. Duarte de Meneses from the Year 1522 till the Year 1524 King John then reigning 1. ANtony de Miranda de Azevedo was this year Commander of the Fort of Pacem in the Island Sumatra On the Western Coast of this Island are six Moorish Kingdoms The chief was that of Pedir to which were subject those of Achem and Daga But falling to War that of Achem gained the Superiority He of Pedir took the protection of our Fort against his ill Fortune D. Andres Enriquez then commanded it sent to that Post from Portugal with D. Duarte de Meneses 2. The Tyrant of Achem scoured the Sea and Land with a great Power till coming to the City Pedir he endeavoured to draw to his snare the King who had taken the Portugues Protection To compass his Design he prevailed with the Men of that City to write a Letter to the King telling him he might safely come thither his Enemy being already expelled and that he might easily destroy him with the assistance of the Portuguses He gave credit to the letter desired the assistance of the Commander who gave him eighty Portugueses and two hundred Moors commanded by his Brother D. Emanuel in small Vessels of Oars The King marched along the Shore with above a thousand armed Elephants He was received at Pedir with feigned Joy and a Design to take him Prisoner that night which was deferred to secure the Portugueses The King being informed of the danger next day fled with two Elephants and some Men. The Portugueses were left on the Shore exposed to the Enemies Darts and Arrows D. Emanuel and thirty five of them were killed the rest fled With this loss D. Andres lost also the hopes of maintaining the Fort. He asked Provisions of Raphael Perestello who was at Charigam the chief Port of Bengala Dominick Seixas was immediately sent with a Ship who was stopped by thirty Portugueses who were turned Pirates in that Sea commanded by Games Iago Seixas landed at Tenacari to get Provisions and one Brito making himself Captain of the Pyrats Gago being dead and flying with a Vessel that was laden in the Port left Seixas and seventeen Portugueses ashore who were afterwards Slaves in the Kingdom of Siam Such is the Fate of those who trust them that have violated all human and divine Laws 3. D. Andres advertised the Governor of the Condition he was in desiring a Successor to command the Fort Lope de Azevedo was sent to whom he would not deliver the Post through Covetousness of acquiring more having already gained much there Azevedo returned to India The King of Achem over-runs all that Country with Fire and Sword enters the City Pacem with fifteen thousand Men and summons D. Andres to quit the Fort. He after sustaining three Assaults to save the Riches he had there withdraws leaving the Command to his Brother-in law Ayres Coello who couragiously took upon him this danger he saw the other shun But the Sea forced back D. Andres to the danger he avoided 4. D. Andres sailing for India met Sebastian de Sousa and Martin Correa with two Ships bound for the Island Banda to load Spices Sousa came from Madagascar whither he was sent by King Emanuel to build a Fort in Port Matatane which was not executed because the Ship wherein were the Materials for the Work was cast away These two Captains hearing by D. Andres the Condition of Pacem went directly to that Port. Ayres Coello had then stood a furious Assault with loss of a Post. The Enemy seeing this Relief abated of their heat and D. Andres after eight days resisting was forced back by the Weather Above eight thousand Enemies one night encompassed the Fort in which were three hundred and fifty Portugueses some sick some wounded and all spent with labour and watching With great silence they applied above seven hundred scaling Ladders and mounted with great Shouts The Dispute was hotly maintained on both sides till some Ships being fired gave light to each other and to level our Cannon which killed many of the Enemy and two Elephants The morning discovered two thousand Men slain about the Fort on our side only one Woman killed by an Arrow in her Chamber The remaining six thousand retired leaving half their scaling Ladders and Fire-works Nevertheless the Difficulties of maintaining the place considered it was resolved in counsel to abandon the Fort shipping all the Men and Goods and then giving fire to the rest The great Cannon were left full of Powder that when the Fire reached them they might burst Most of the Fort was destroyed but the Enemy coming in saved some Cannon which afterwards did us great harm The Portugueses lost some Goods in shipping and embarqued up to the Necks in Water with the Fright losing more Reputation by this Action than they had gained by the former This they were more sensible of when they met at Sea a more powerful Relief sent by our Friend the King of Aru who marched by Land with four thousand Men and Lope de Azevedo from whom D. Andres ill deserved it embarqued at Malaca with Ammunition to come to his Succour Sebastian Sousa prosecuted his Voyage to Banda and the Tyrant Achem followed the Fortune which had raised him above his own Hopes 5. At this time Martin Alfonso de Melo Coutino was gone for China not knowing what had been done by the Portugueses at Quantung He had four Ships and two joined them by the way They sent ashore for fresh Water and returned with Blood the Chineses being in Arms to receive them This drew them to a Battel in which most of the Portugueses perished some drowned some torn by the Cannon and some taken part whereof died miserably in the Prison at Quantung and twenty three were cut in peices as Spies and Robbers the last part of the Accusation being the truest Martin Alphonso and Duarte Coello returned to India 6. All things cannot be exactly related in order as they happened Malaca was streightned by the King of Bintam who sent a greater power against it and George de Albuquerque what he could against him under the Command of D. Sancho Enriquez whilst they prepared for a Sea-Fight there arose a violent storm which destroyed seventy Portugueses the whole being two hundred the Remainder escaped Let us
of them killed 9. This Relief could not reach Calicut but was forced back to Cochin The Governor joined two Squadrons he had prepared and they both appeared to the distressed Fort when Rage and Despair acted more in its Defence than Valour or Conduct Hector de Silveyra commanded one of the Squadrons containing seven Ships and Peter de Faria the other of twenty five and three hundred and thirty Men. They encouraged our Men and did harm to the Enemy from the Water because they could not land till the Governour arrived with twenty Sail and 1500 Men besides some Catures or small Craft and Antony de Miranda coming at the same time all the Sea of Calicut was covered with Ships A Council was held about landing all the Votes were in the negative D. Enrique spent four days in considering what to do then came to this Resolution 10. One night he put one hundred and fifty Men into the Fort under the valiant Hector de Silveyra and the next as many more under D. Iames de Lima. By break of day he landed clearing the Shore of throngs of Enemies with Shoâ—… Granados and all sorts of Weapons In some Intrenchments they burnt two hundred in others three hundred Moors Many Gentlemen particularly signalized themselves upon this Occasion Hector de Silveyra did wonders D. George de Meneses with a two handed Sword made great slaughter till losing the Right Hand he took a less Sword in the Left and went on without losing the Cutlace But who can recount the Actions of this day In fine three thousand of the Enemy were killed of ours thirty none of Note D. Enrique remained Master of the Field and pitched his Tents to give there the necessary Orders Zamori sent to desire peace the Treaty held four days and broke up without any effect The Fort was demolished as King Iohn had commanded because it was of no importance Having shipped all that was in it of Value with great care and privacy they laid Trains to blow it up and all drew off to the Ships The Moors finding the Coast clear and no Body in the Fort run in Clusters to pillage but the Powder suddenly taking fire blew up the whole Fabrick with great slaughter of them This shews how much must be ventured rather than hazard Reputation since all this Labour and Prepararation served only to raze that Fort because it should not be thought it was rather Fear than Conveniency forced us to quit it CHAP. X. Concludes the Government of D. Enrique de Meneses in the Year 1526 King John the Third Reigning 1. THE Fort of Calicut being demolished and Peter de Faria left with his Ships to scour the Coast of Malabar the Governor went to Cochin to dispatch the homeward bound trading Ships which were five and whereof two were lost two also of sour that came this year from Portugal perished After this Expedition D. Enrique designed to fall upon Diu. He sent out Hector de Silveyra upon other pretences to Ormuz with instructions that other things failing he should enter the Red Sea and take up at Arquico D. Rodrigo de Lima who by that time was returned from his Embassy to Prester Iohn On the Coast of Arabia he assaulted and took the strong City Dofar which he destroyed with the loss of two Men. Then he entered the Red Sea and reduced the Islands Maçua and Dalaca to pay Tribute Thence sailed to Arquico where the Governor delivered to him D. Rodrigo de Lima who was there waiting for a passage with an Embassador sent by Prester Iohn to Portugal They went to rest at Ormuz 2. Peter Mascarenas who the foregoing year went to succeed George de Albuquerque in the Command of Malaca found it in some distress after performing honorable Actions Martin Alfonso de Sousa scouring that Coast with six Ships and two hundred Men had done great execution among the Natives After returning to Malaca he again went out to meet Lacxemena who ravaged the Neighbourhood with thirteen hundred Moors after a bloody Fight they were defeated and Martin being mortally wounded died in the City The King of Linga our Ally had asked relief of George Albuquerque against the King of Bintam by whom he was besieged Eighty Men were sent who falling upon the Besiegers killed six hundred the rest fled This Victory cost but one Man 3. Here Peter Mascarenas heard of a Renegado Portugues who commanding three thousand Men of the King of Bintam had done much harm to the City in which there were but a hundred yet obliged him to retire with shame Two hundred and fifty solemnly vowed to carry the Head of George de Albuquerque or that of the Factor Garcia Chaino to the King of Bintam all Vows are easier to make than perform they lay in ambush in a close Wood six Portugueses whereof one was Francis Correa fell into it He seeing no possibility of escaping encouraged the other five and falling desperately upon the two hundred and fifty killed fourteen the others fled One of the six died 4. Antony de Brito at Maluco seeing he was not relieved desired the last year a Successor might be sent him D. Garcia Enriquez who then commanded the Cruisers upon the Coast of Malaca went thither 5. He arrived at Ternate where some Differences arose between him and Brito They agreed among themselves and by consent sent a Portugues with a small Vessel to discover the Islands called Celebes where they heard was great plenty of Gold The Discoverer found the Islands but not the Gold and being upon his return was carried away by a storm to the Eastward till he lost his Account and unexpectedly fell into a great and beautiful Island The Inhabitants most simple and treated them with great affection Of Colour more inclined to white of Body strong and comly lank Hair and long Beards their Cloaths of very fine Mats their Food Roots Cocos and Figs. Their Language was not understood but they dealt by signs By tokens they gave to understand that in the mountain there was Gold whereof they made no use they had no knowledge of Iron or any other Metal They left this Island which they called of Iames Lopez de Sequeyra the Name of the Pilot and returned to Ternate after eight months whence Antony de Brito was then departed leaving D. Garcia the Command of the Fort. 6. Peter Mascarenas at Malaca considering how much had been done by his Predecessors in defence of that place and that it was no less insupportable than dangerous to suffer the King of Bintam to lie safe in his Works and continue his hopes proposed to deprive him of both He immediately began to put in execution his Designs tho they proved unsuccessful 7. George de Albuquerque sailing from Malaca towards Cochin with only one Vessel met Arel de Porca with twenty five Barques of Calicut who was seeking Revenge for that D. Enrique had treated him as he deserved for his Cowardliness at the Assault
Hollanders out of Tidore and cut off their hopes of ever settling in those Islands which from that time forward remained subject to Spain 12. Though the Hollanders lost Tidore yet they aspired to greater Conquests To this purpose they made a League with seven of the Neighbouring Kings about Malaca thinking to gain that Place They gathered a Fleet of One hundred and fifty Sail in which were 16000 Men. There were but few above One hundred Portugueses in a condition to oppose this Power but they were Commanded by the Great Andrew Furtado de Mendoça He sent out several Parties to discover the Enemy's Designs The first was but of four Soldiers with Gaspar de Fonseca the Enemy thinking they Deserted gave them free Passage but were undeceived receiving considerable damage from only those five Men. Next Captain Ferdinand de Costa de Andria with Forty Men some of them Iaponeses cut off a good Party of them and retired without any loss 13. The Enemy having taken their Ground began to batter the City and those within to feel the Miseries of a Siege being in want of all Necessaries To this was added that the Master-Gunner was a Hollander who designedly burst many pieces of Cannon having under-hand Intelligence with the Enemy A Moor who commanded some Men acted no less treacherously but being discovered they were both hanged over the Wall Many of our Men signalized themselves by brave Actions and particularly Iohn Rodriguez Camelo who with great danger brought a number of Men and did good Service with them The Enemy lost so many Men during four Months the Siege lasted in which time they spent above Fifty thousand Cannon Balls that despairing of success they raised the Siege the Kings returning home and the Hollanders to their Ships 14. The News that D. Martin Alfonso de Castro our Viceroy was coming with twelve Galleons four Galleys and seventy other Vessels caused the Siege to be sooner raised He set out of Goa in May on St. Antony's Day in Iune came to Anchor at Achem where he took three of the Enemy's Ships loaden with Provisions and resolved to take Revenge on that King for receiving the Hollanders into his Ports contrary to a former Agreement On the 29th the Men landed the Enemy's opposed them in great numbers with many Elephants but after a brave resistance were forced to their Works Our Men mounted and planted their Colours and had they followed their Victory the City had been that day destroyed Yet the fight lasted all that and next day when the Viceroy perceiving no Benefit accrued shipped his Men much afflicted that he had slipped such an Opportunity 15. After suffering much for want of Water and loosing some Vessels by bad Weather the Fleet came before Malaca where Andrew Furtado acquainted the Viceroy the Siege was carried on by Sea and Land on the Sea were eleven Ships and seven Galliots of the Hollanders and Three hundred small Vessels of the Natives by Land eleven neighbouring Kings in their Persons with 14000 Men. Both of them during those four Months the Siege lasted had destroyed many Buildings and committed great Outrages against Images and other holy Things On the 17th of August the 〈◊〉 Ships went out to receive our Fleet playing their Cannon furiosly and were answer'd in like manner with equal loss till Night parted them 16. Morning appearing the Fight was renewed with great Fury but the Damage was greater on our side because the Enemies Ships exceeded us in strength swiftness number of Cannons and goodness of Gunners Sebastian Suarez boarded one and burnt it after having killed many Hollanders Alvaro de Carvallo would have done the like to another and Duarte de Guerra coming up to second him they all three were consumed by fire and none of the Men saved 17. D. Henry de Noronna boarded the Admiral Cornelius Madclif and being both in danger of being burnt they parted by consent promising if they met again they would not encounter Whereupon Noronna quitted his Command telling the Viceroy He had rather serve as a private Man than be obliged to perform the Promise he had made to the Enemy D. Peter Mascarennas succeeded him in the Command who did Wonders for the Dutch Admiral coming up to salute him supposing it had been Noronna they engaged furiously and after the fight Four hundred Cannon shot were found in the Galleon which had done no other harm than the killing one Cafâ—…e The Fleets were engaged eight Days and our Vessels very much disabled On the 24th of August the Viceroy again offered the Enemy Battel but they all fled 18. The Viceroy entred Malaca which had been ruined during the Siege Andrew Furtado was of Opinion the Fleet should be kept together lest the Enemy might destroy it being separated Others advised it should divide the worst Advice was followed D. Alvaro de Meneses had a Squadron of seven Galleons to go meet the Ships that were expected from Portugal at the Islands of Nicobar Nunno Alvarez Pereyra another of five to secure the Ships of Iava that brought Provisions to Malaca through the Streight of Singapura but having met the Enemy he returned into the Port. 19. The Hollanders having refitted and hearing our Fleet was divided came again before Malaca and finding there the five Galleons they began a desperate fight on the twenty-second of October Many Men of Note of our side were killed one of our Vessels blew up and only seven Men were saved In fine the whole Squadron was destroyed Of the Hollanders about Five hundred were killed The Viceroy soon after died at Malaca it was believed that of Grief for this Loss 20. The Hollanders met not with the like Success in the Bay of Polobutum where D. Alvaro de Meneses was with his Squadron of seven Galleons for after a bloody Fight they were forced to give way having lost three Ships But since the Viceroy is dead and we must enter upon a new Government it will be fit to mention what Ships sailed from Lisbon for India during his Life In the Year 1605 7 Ships Before them three Galleons which were with the Fleet at Malaca After the 7 Ships set out Belchior Rodriguez in a Caravel with some fresh Advice who overtaking them under the Line returned to Lisbon 21. In the Year 1606 3 Ships were to have gone but were prevented by a Dutch Squadron that lay at the mouth of the River till the Season was past Thus much of the Government of D. Martin Alfonso de Castro who was Viceroy two Years and a half the 19th of that Number and 37th Governour the second both of Name and Sirname Of Stature somewhat tall of Complexion sallow a good Christian a good Gentleman well beloved in India and Zealous of the Kings's Service a Thing now rare in the World CHAP. VII The Government of the Archbishop D. F. Alexius de Meneses who was Governour from the Year 1607 till 1609. 1. DOn Martin Alfonso de Castra the Viceroy being
were this Year very strong in those Seas One of the 3 Galleons was cast away near Sancham 60 Leagues from Macao the Sea then running so high that it drowned several Towns There were above 200 Men in that Vessel whereof about 60 Portugueses and 80 others escaped They chose Gonzalo Machado a noted Souldier to command them and having the good Fortune to be well treated cloathed and fed by the Chineses came to a City where they were so nobly entertained they had almost forgot the end of their Voyage Their common Food was three Pullets a day each they were feasted on the River in stately Boats like Palaces with several Apartments and garnished with Gold In fine on their way thence to Macao they were attended as if they had been Chinese Colaos or Mandarines At the Inns they were treated with a sort of Food most pleasant and delicious which afterwards they were informed was made of Toads and Worms What chiefly they admired after this Journey was the Chastity of the Chinese Women for tho' they are beautiful and Beauty be inclined to Wantonness and though our Men were long among them and familiarly entertained yet they could never by any means prevail with any of them to yield to their Desires At Macao they found the other two Galleons which had escaped the Storm having more Sea room 11. Near the end of this Year Luis de Brito Melo entred the Port of Goa from Cruizing in the Sea of Diu and brought with him a rich Ship of the Mogol's that came from Meca He took her off of Suratt after a vigorous resistance in which he lost some Men and was forced to send to Ruy Freyre for aid This provoked the Mogol to Besiege Damam and destroy the Country about it The King of Decan did the same about Chaul and Bacaim at the Instigation of the Mogol who thought to drive us out of Asia 12. A Letter writ by D. Luis de Gama from Ormuz with more Passion than Discretion moved the Persians on the other side to gather 300 Barques in order to take the Port of Bandel and stop the Course of the Water that goes to Ormuz Ferdinand de Silva Admiral of that Sea went to quell them and as he ingaged his Powder taking fire was blown up D. Nunno Alvarez Pereyra succeeded him who drove them away with such slaughter that the Xa of Persia excused himself to the viceroy saying that attempt was made only by the Sultan of Lara 13. Francis Lopez Calleyros brought into Malaca a Dutch Pink that had taken a rich Portugues Ship The News of the Hollanders taking that Prize was the occasion of his setting out in a Ship of his own with 28 Soldiers 14. This Year expired with great dissatisfaction in India tho' the like had happened other times for the Ships from Portugal which were expected with impatience the better to oppose the English and Hollanders were forced back to Lisbon after having been five Months abroad they were four 15. D. Hierome de Almeyda returning to Portugal with the Ships of the last Year in the Bay of St. Helena met four mighty Holland Ships They sought with much equal Courage and Loss The Dutch Admiral was sunk and ours beginning to take fire Emanuel de Prado Magallanes rowled himself upon it till he quenched it For this Action the Command of the Fort of Mascate was given him with the Privilege of leaving it to whom he pleased in his Will We shall see him hereafter serve well and die valiantly in fight CHAP. III. Continues the Government of D. Hierome de Azevedo in the Year 1614. 1. THE King of Ova grown Proud with his success against the Portugueses at Siriam resolved to conquer all the neighbouring Princes He caused himself to be Crowned at Bagou and by the Conduct of his Brother with 50000 Men was soon Master of the Kingdom of Tavay This General moves to Tenasarim and Besieges it by Sea and Land Christopher Rabelo who had fled from his House at Cochim for some Crimes durst attack his Fleet of 500 Sail with only 40 Portugueses and 70 Slaves in 4 Galliots and put it to flight after burning many Vessels and killing 2000 Men. 2. The King of Siam to whom that Town belonged for joy of this Action highly honoured the Victorious Portugueses and offered them leave to build a Fort in any part of his Kingdom they would chuse to this intent sending for Iames de Mendoça Furtado who was in that Sea with a Squadron and offering him the Title of an Earl with a suitable Revenue but there being too much then on our hands these offers could not be accepted of Furtado in his way to Maâ—… destroyed the Towns of Queda and Paâ—… with Fire and Sword 3. D. Iames de Vasconcelos sailed from Gao with the Squadron for the North consisting of 17 Sail he had orders to take in D. Emanuel de Azevedo at Chaul and carry him to Diu being appointed Commander of that Place By the way landing at the River Sifardam in Melique's Lands he destroyed a Town abandoned by the Inhabitants 4. Azevedo being come to Diu. seized on the Goods of his Predecessor Sebastian de Macedo for the Money he was indebted to the King Next he resolved to fall upon the People of Por for the Damage the Trade of Diu sustained by their means Gaspar de Melo Sampayo was sent with a Squadron to this Expedition who came before that City 40 Leagues distant with much difficulty because our Vessels could go but one at a time up a narrow Creek that leads to it and the Enemy pour'd in showers of Bullets and Arrows from the Shore and from the Bastions killing 18 of our Men. The Walls were scaled on the one side whilst our Men entred at a Breach on the other notwithstanding the vigorous opposition of 4000 resolute Enemies whereof many were slain the rest fled some into the Fields and others to a Fort standing in the middle of the Town 5. Those in the Fort offered Forty thousand Crowns if we would not batter the Place It was denied they attacked to no purpose and our Men forced to depart with double dissatisfaction for refusing the offer and suffering the repulse The City was plundered 1000 killed and 300 taken the Houses then fired being full of Perfumes cast a delightful smell 6. Iames de Vasconcelos from Diu sailed with 9 Ships to the mouth of the River of Agaçaim where 16 Paraos of Malabars set upon him Without the Loss of one Man he slew many took several Prisoners and all the Paraos Vasconcelos himself took one of them thinking their Commander Porcasse had been in it but that Honour fell to Michael Ferran de Castellobranco 7. Ruy Freyre de Andrade went from Damam to Chaul to succeed in that Command to D. Emanuel de Azevedo who was gone to that of Diu. He was ordered by the Viceroy only to secure himself within the Walls and not attempt
done before another Because many were debarred thereby the Right to those Places they had purchased by long Service and the third Because by this means those who had Money though never so undeserving would get those Posts 5. The Ships that this Year sailed from Lisbon for India in which the abovesaid Order went were four D. Antony Tello Captain of one of them being ashore when they set sail and not able to get aboard though he followed in another Vessel as far as the Island Madera returned to Lisbon and taking with him Captain Emanuel de Prado de Magallanes travelled to India by Land found his Ship there and returned in her to Portugal Francis Lopez Carrasco Captain of another of those Ships was left behind through neglect at Goa when the Ships came away and Francis de Magallanes came in his Place Iohn Pereyra Cortereal a third Captain of the same Ships returned not without Trouble which he overcame like a good Commander for some of his Men mutinying he with his own hand slew one of them and caused two to be hanged for which good Service he was rewarded 6. This Year also set out from Goa another Ship commanded by Francis de Brito which was lost off of the Islands of Querimba where and at Moçambique the Men were saved with the Fatigues usual in those Shipwrecks D. Hierome Manuel who commanded the 4 Ships that came from Lisbon returned next Year when we shall speak of him 7. Abas Xa King of Persia desiring to settle some Trade with us to vend his Silks writ to our King telling him He was weary of receiving Friers as Ambassadors and desiring him to send some Gentleman of Note for he should better know how to treat with such a one and God and his Majesty would be better served because a Religious Man out of his Cell was like a Fish out of the Water D. Garcia de Silva Figueroâ—… a Spanish Gentleman well qualified for that Employment was sent to him He carried a rich and beautiful Present and of rare Workmanship in Silver and Gold set with precious Stones He went from Madrid to Lisbon thence to India where he was to receive further Instructions and 20000 Crowns consigned on the Custom-house of Ormuz for his expence besides what he had before received because his Equipage was very great Thus far we had an account of this Embassy hereafter we shall see that Ormuz was lost which was what the Persian coveted so that it seems the Embassy did not divert him from that Thought 8. The Blacks besieged the City of St. Thomas and raising a Fort they put in Ammunition and 600 Men spreading 20000 about the Town which they battered from the Pagod near St. Francis Captain Emanuel de Frias besieges the Fort which was surrendred to him for want of Water Among the Cannon found in it there was one Piece of 25 Spans that is 6 Yards and a quarter in length that carried a Ball of 50 Pounds weight 9. A Peace was concluded between the Mogul and us through the sollicitation of Hierome Xaverius of the Society of Iesus CHAP. V. Continues the Government of the Vice-Roy D. Hierome de Azevedo in the Year 1615. 1. DON Iohn de Silva commanded for the Spaniards at Manila who demanded Succors of the Portugueses to defend the Moluco Islands against the Rebellious Hollanders The Viceroy sitted out 4 Galleons for this Expedition under the Command of Francis de Miranda Enriquez It was easie to foresee they would be unfortunate because most of the Souldiers were Outlaws Men who have Courage to commit Villanies but in dangers of Honour are meer Cowards as has always been found by Experience and was at this time for many deserted as soon as they had received their Pay at Goa and many at Malaca the Admiral contrary to his Orders having touched there 2. Between the Islands of Nicobar they were some time becalmâ—…d Not far from those of Diu they met two Holland Ships coming from Paliacate our Admiral prepared to fight and they having made show of standing to it after some Cannon-shot exchang'd stood away Being pursued very close they threw many Goods overboard to be the lighter among other things they cast over some Pigeons the weight whereof could not much hinder them but in the Confusion they knew not what they did Our Galleons could not make up with them and in the morning they were not to be seen It was afterwards known they skulked behind the Island of Pulopinam 3. The Galleons being in the Road of Malaca the Admiral landed D. Gonçalo de Silva Bishop of that City whom he carryed to this intent and thought to hold on his Voyage having already been out above 2 Months and it being about the middle of Iuly Going out of the streight there arose a storm and the Vice-Admiral springing a Leak they were forced to put into Malaca where they all stayed resolving to prosecute their Voyage the next Year not knowing the ill Fortune that attended them there 3. When they came in Iames de Mendoça Furtado Commander in Chief by Sea and Land was ready to set out with 6 Galleons and 12 Jalia's or small Vessels They were manned by the Garrison of Malaca and went to meet the Ships that were expected from China and at the same time to discover whether any Fleet of Achem appear'd as was reported They discovered it about 〈◊〉 Leagues from the streight it consisted of above 500 Sail whereof above 100 Galleys greater than ours and above 150 less yet considerable The King came himself in this Fleet with his Wives the best of his Treasure and 60000 Men. He carried no Colours but Globes of massy Gold as was the Throne whereon he sate He was four Years in fitting out this Fleet. 5. Iames de Mendoça Furtado having well viewed that fleet designed to fight and in order thereto called all his Captains to Council it was resolved he should not fight but return to Malaca which was weak for want of those Men they had drawn out He stood thither sending Advice to the Galleons to prepare to fight The Admiral Fr. de Miranda Enriquez received the Advice and with Furtado's Squadron on the 4th day met that vast Fleet which was standing for Malaca Both Parties drew themselves into order of Battel and after Noon Miranda began to play his Cannon without losing a Shot the Enemy stood so thick and they received all his Fire without making any return as it were in contempt of him 6. Furtado and Ferdinand de Costa with their two Galliots attack 7 Galleys one they boarded and burnt another was blown up by a Ball that fell into their Powder Room Several of the Enemymade up to the Galliots our Galleons move to succour them and then the whole Enemies Fleet comes on This was towards Evening when a Storm rising so separated our small Vessels that they could not join the Galleons till next day at Noon Being joined they
the King of Mombaça saw the Coast clear he made use of his own and our two Ships left there to get away He imbarqued all the Artillery razed the Fort and City destroyed all Fruit-trees and then sailed with his Treasure some Moors and some Native Christians to the Coast of Arabia That Place lay 2 Months desolate before any of our People knew it and might have been so much longer had not some Moors advertised Peter Rodriguez Botello who was at Zanzibar and immediately went over to Mombaça where beginning to build he found 5 or 6 Servants of Portugueses that had lain hid in the Woods when that Destruction happened 15. Mean while at Goa the Viceroy was accused for sending D. Francis de Mourâ—… upon that Expedition and he for want of Conduct and coming away too soon The Viceroy excused himself and put the other upon his Tryal desiring Toral to take the Guilt upon himself by saying he had voted for coming away which he refused and was 2 Months in Prison without any cause shown At last he was released to accompany D. Roderick de Costa who towards the end of this Year was going to discover certain Islands but meeting two Dutch Ships about Damam had his Head struck off by a Cannon Ball the first Charge so the Fleet returned without doing any thing D. Francis de Moura was cleared of that Impeachment being honoured at Madrid 16. The Hollanders lying at Pulolaor intercepted most of our China Fleet which enabled them to relieve all their Forts and Factories This great Booty cost them no Blood because we had no fighting Ships on that Sea all being imployed at Mombaça and Ceylon 17. The Persecution of the Christians continued at Iapan but there were hopes it would cease the Emperor lying very ill In China they were alarmed by the Tartars Nababo Azafacan Father-in-Law to King Corran with the Army of the Mogol besieged Visapor and some time after drew off with great loss sustained by Want and Sickness The Mogol so highly resented this Misfortune that he removed Nababo though his Favourite and preferred to that place Mobatecan his Enemy a Man of great Repute among the Soldiers Thus ended this Year much dreaded in India without any known reason every Body saying before it came Ob that the Year 32 were past CHAP. XI Of the Recovery of Ceylon during the Government of the Viceroy the Count de Linnares 1. AFter the Natives had left but a small part of the Island Ceylon in our Possession the Kings of Matale Uva and Candea with 20000 Men came to Besiege Columbo the chief Place then in our hands The Besieged were reduced to that Extremity it is said they eat the Dead and some Mothers their own Children Then came in five Ships sent by the Viceroy rather to take up the Cinnamon was to be sent to Portugal than relieve the Place But the Besiegers thinking it was Relief raised the Siege D. Philip de Mascarennas went over from Cochin to Ceylon with a Pink loaden with Provisions and well manned at his own expence which was a great help to that Place 2. The Viceroy gave the Command of General of Ceylon to D. George de Almeyda who set out on the 19th of February 1631 in the great Galley taken by Nunno Alvarez Botello when he destroyed the Fleet of Achem This Vessel tho' large being not sound enough to endure any Storm might rise a Flyboat that went loaded with Provisions was ordered to keep close always with D. George which soon left him and was the cause that many perished 3. The Galley having coasted as far as Cape Comori and then striking over to Ceylon a Storm arose and it appeared impossible to save her D. George perceiving she must perish launched the Boat and got into it with 29 Persons whereof 4 were Religious This was done so late and with such precipitation that there was not in the Boat Provision for one meal The Night was spent in lading out the Water the Sea and Rain brought into the Boat In the Morning discovering a Sail at a distance tho' D. George assured them in 3 or 4 Days he would bring them to Maldivia they made towards it and coming near found it was their own Galley then sinking 4. With much trouble on the 4th Day they reached one of the Maldivia Islands about evening This was at a time that the Natives keep a Fast of 30 Days during which time they eat nothing between Sun and Sun and do nothing but gormandise all the Night Here D. George stayed 30 days spending what he had got to maintain his Men and got some Shipping to go over to the Coast of India The Men made a sort of Habitation but D. George lay in his Boat to be always the readier against the Moors who kept them always upon their Guard There was a vast number of Mosquitoes or Gnats that made the Blood run where they stung next followed a Sickness which none were free from and was cured by Bleeding two died of it one a Franciscan The King of the Islands writ to D. George condoling his Misfortunes and sending him a parcel of Rice 5. Being provided with all Necessaries they sailed to Cochim where D. George lay sick a long time When he was somewhat recovered there came to that Port 2 Pinks sent by the Viceroy to the Relief of Ceylon with 500 Cafres 800 Canaraes some Portugueses 40000 Xerasins which are worth about a piece of Eight each Provisions and Ammunition D. George embaâ—…qued with them having raised some more Men sailed from Cochim on the 17th of October and arrived at Columbo the 21th He marched not presently towards the Enemy though censured upon that account by reason the Season being wet that Country which is for the most part plain is boggy and overflowed Besides the Trees are full of Leeches which drop down upon Men as they pass and bleed them to Death 6. The Season being somewhat more favourable D. George marched on the 5th Day of Ianuary 1632 and passed the River Calane towards the North. Six Ships were ordered to go up the River with several Pieces of Cannon but only two could perform it The first day they could march but one League and quartered at Calane Next Morning having heard Mass they marched with great difficulty by reason of the Bogs and Waters through which they waded up to the Breast Besides the Enemies Musketiers endeavoured to hinder our Passage about the Fort called Tranqueyragrande but many of them were slain our General giving 3 or 4 Pistols for every Head that was brought him This Pass being cleared they advanced to another where the Enemy appeared again Our General went himself to view it and returning disposed his Men to attack those Works in which were almost 6000 Men. It was done with such fury that many of the Enemy being killed the rest fled firing all they left behind Our Army advanced to Maluana where they found only 3