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diff --git a/old/13225.txt b/old/13225.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..61cd10f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13225.txt @@ -0,0 +1,20418 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A General History and Collection of Voyages +and Travels, Volume VI, by Robert Kerr + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume VI + Early English Voyages Of Discovery To America + +Author: Robert Kerr + +Release Date: August 19, 2004 [EBook #13225] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GENERAL HISTORY, VI. *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Connal, Graeme Mackreth and PG Distributed +Proofreaders. This file was produced from images generously made +available by the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions. + + + + + + + +A GENERAL HISTORY AND COLLECTION OF VOYAGES AND TRAVELS. + +ARRANGED IN SYSTEMATIC ORDER: + +FORMING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF NAVIGATION, +DISCOVERY, AND COMMERCE, BY SEA AND LAND, FROM THE EARLIEST AGES TO THE +PRESENT TIME. + +BY + +ROBERT KERR, F.R.S. & P.A.S. EDIN. + +ILLUSTRATED BY MAPS AND CHARTS. + +VOL. VI. + +CONTENTS OF VOL. VI. + +PART II. BOOK II. CONTINUED. + + +CHAP. XI. Early English voyages of discovery to America. Introduction. + +SECT. I. Discovery of Newfoundland by John and Sebastian Cabot in 1497, +in the service of Henry VII. of England. + +II. Discourse by Galeacius Butrigarius, Papal Legate in Spain, +respecting the Discoveries in America, by Sebastian Cabot. + +III. Notice concerning Sebastian Cabot by Ramusio, in the Preface to the +third Volume of his Navigations. + +IV. Notice respecting the voyage of Sebastian Cabot to the north-west, +from Peter Martyr ab Angleria. + +V. Testimony of Francisco Lopez de Gomara, concerning the discoveries of +Sebastian Cabota. + +VI. Note respecting the discoveries of Sebastian Cabot; from the latter +part of Fabians Chronicle. + +VII. Brief notice of the discovery of Newfoundland, by Mr Robert +Thorne. + +CHAP. XI SECT. VIII. Grant by Edward VI. of a Pension and the Office of +Grand Pilot of England to Sebastian Cabot. + +IX. Voyage of Sir Thomas Pert and Sebastian Cabot about the year 1516, +to Brazil, St Domingo, and Porto Rico. + +X. Brief note of a voyage by Thomas Tison to the West Indies, before the +year 1526. + +CHAP XII. The Voyages of Jacques Cartier from St Maloes to Newfoundland +and Canada, in the years 1534 and 1535. + +Introduction. + +SECT. I. The first voyage of Jacques Cartier to Newfoundland and Canada, +in 1534. + +II. The second voyage of Jacques Cartier, to Canada, Hochelega, +Saguenay, and other lands now called New France; with the Manners and +Customs of the Natives. + +III. Wintering of Jacques Cartier in Canada in 1536, and return to +France in 1537. + +BOOK III. Continuation of the Discoveries and Conquests of the +Portuguese in the East; together with some account of the early voyages +of other European Nations to India. + +CHAP. I. Discoveries, Navigations, and Conquests of the Portuguese in +India, from 1505 to 1539, both inclusive, resumed from Book I. of this +Part. + +SECT. I. Course of the Indian Trade before the Discovery of the Route by +the Cape of Good Hope, with some account of the settlement of the Arabs +on the East Coast of Africa. + +CHAP. I. + +SECT. II. Voyage of Don Francisco de Almeyda from Lisbon to India, in +quality of Viceroy, with an account of some of his transactions on the +Eastern coast of Africa and Malabar. + +III. Some Account of the state of India at the beginning of the +sixteenth Century, and commencement of the Portuguese Conquests. + +IV. Continuation of the Portuguese Transactions in India, during the +Viceroyalty of Almeyda. + +V. Transactions of the Portuguese in India under the Government of Don +Alfonso de Albuquerque, from the end of 1509, to the year 1515. + +VI. Portuguese Transactions in India, under several governors, from the +close of 1515, to the year 1526. + +VII. Continuation of the Portuguese Transactions in India; from 1526 to +1538. + + +CHAP. II. Particular Relation of the Expedition of Solyman Pacha from +Suez to India against the Portuguese at Diu, written by a Venetian +Officer who was pressed into the Turkish Service on that occasion. +Introduction. + +SECT. I. The Venetian Merchants and Mariners at Alexandria are pressed +into the Turkish service, and sent to Suez. Description of that place. +Two thousand men desert from the Gallies. Tor. Island of Soridan Port of +Kor. + +II. Arrival at Jiddah, the Port of Mecca. The islands of Alfas, Kamaran, +and Tuiche. The Straits of Bab-al-Mandub. + +III. Arrival at Aden, where the Sheikh and four others are hanged. +Sequel of the Voyage to Diu. + +CHAP. II. SECT. IV. The Castle of Diu is besieged by the Moors. The +Turks plunder the City, and the Indian Generals withdraw in resentment. +The Pacha lands. A man 300 years old. Women burn themselves. The Fleet +removes. + +V. A Bulwark Surrenders to the Turks, who make Galley-slaves of the +Portuguese Garrison; with several other incidents of the siege. + +VI. Farther particulars of the siege, to the retreat of the Turks, and +the commencement of their Voyage back to Suez. + +VII. Continuation of the Voyage back to Suez, from the Portuguese +factory at Aser, to Khamaran and Kubit Sharif. + +VIII. Transactions of the Pacha at Zabid, and continuation of the Voyage +from Kubit Sarif. + +IX. Continuation of the Voyage to Suez, along the Arabian Shore of the +Red Sea. + +X. Conclusion of the Voyage to Suez, and return of the Venetians to +Cairo. + +CHAP. III. The Voyage of Don Stefano de Gama from Goa to Suez, in 1540, +with the intention of Burning the Turkish Gallies at that port. Written +by Don Juan de Castro, then a Captain in the Fleet; afterwards +governor-general of Portuguese India. + +Introduction. + +SECT. I. Portuguese Transactions in India, from the Siege of Diu by the +Turks, to the Expedition of Don Stefano de Gama to Suez. + +II. Journal of the Voyage from Goa to the Straits of Bab-el-Mandub. + +III. Continuation of the Voyage, from the Straits of Bab-el-Mandub to +Massua. + +CHAP. III. SECT. IV. Digression respecting the History, Customs, and +State of Abyssinia. + +V. Continuation of the Journal of De Castro from Massua to Swakem. + +VI. Continuation of the Voyage from Swakem to Comol. + +VII. Continuation of the Voyage from the Harbour of Comol to Toro or Al +Tor. + +VIII. Continuation of the Voyage from Toro or Al Tor to Suez. + +IX. Return Voyage from Suez to Massua. + +X. Return of the Expedition from Massua to India. + +XI. Description of the Sea of Kolzum, otherwise called the Arabian Gulf, +or the Red Sea. Extracted from the Geography of Abulfeda. + +POSTSCRIPT.--Transactions of the Portuguese in Abyssinia, under Don +Christopher de Gama. + +CHAP. IV. Continuation of the Portuguese transactions in India, after +the return of Don Stefano de Gama from Suez in 1541, to the Reduction of +Portugal under the Dominion of Spain in 1581. + +SECT. I. Incidents during the Government of India by Don Stefano de +Gama, subsequent to his Expedition to the Red Sea. + +II. Exploits of Antonio de Faria y Sousa in Eastern India. + +III. Transactions during the Government of Martin Alfonso de Sousa, from +1542 to 1543. + +IV. Government of India by Don Juan de Castro, from 1545 to 1548. + +V. Transactions of the Portuguese in India, from 1545 to 1564, under +several Governors. + +VI. Continuation of the Portuguese Transactions in India, from 1564 to +the year 1571. + +VII. Portuguese Transactions in India from 1571 to 1576. + +CHAP. IV. SECT. VIII. Transactions of the Portuguese in Monomotapa, +from 1569 to the end of that separate government. + +IX. Continuation of the Portuguese Transactions in India, from 1576 to +1581; when the Crown of Portugal was usurped by Philip II. of Spain on +the Death of the Cardinal King Henry. + +X. Transactions of the Portuguese in India, from 1581 to 1597. + +XI. Continuation of the Portuguese Transactions in India, from 1597 to +1612. + +XII. Continuation of the Portuguese Transactions, from 1512 to 1517. + +A GENERAL HISTORY AND COLLECTION OF VOYAGES AND TRAVELS. + + + +PART II. BOOK II. CONTINUED. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +EARLY ENGLISH VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY TO AMERICA. + +INTRODUCTION. + + +Although we have already, in the Introduction to the _Second_ Chapter of +this Book, Vol. III. p. 346. given some notices of the voyages of John +and Sebastian Cabot to America in the service of Henry VII. and VIII. it +appears proper on the present occasion to insert a full report of every +thing that is now known of these early navigations: As, although no +immediate fruits were derived from these voyages, England by their means +became second only to Spain in the discovery of America, and afterwards +became second likewise in point of colonization in the New World. The +establishments of the several English colonies will be resumed in a +subsequent division of our arrangement. + +It has been already mentioned that Columbus, on leaving Portugal to +offer his services to Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain for the discovery +of the Indies by a western course through the Atlantic, sent his brother +Bartholomew to make a similar offer to Henry VII. King of England, lest +his proposals might not have been listened to by the court of Spain. +Bartholomew, as has been formerly related, was taken by pirates; and on +his arrival in England was forced to procure the means of living, and of +enabling himself to appear before the king, by the construction and sale +of sea-charts and maps, in which he had been instructed by his brother. +Owing to this long delay, when he at length presented himself to King +Henry, and had even procured the acceptance of his brothers proposals, +so much time had been lost that Isabella queen of Castille had already +entered into the views of his illustrious brother, who had sailed on his +second voyage to the West Indies, while Bartholomew was on his journey +through France to announce to him that Henry King of England had agreed +to his proposals. + +The fame of the astonishing discovery made by Columbus in 1591, soon +spread throughout Europe; and only four years afterwards, or in 1595, a +patent was granted by Henry VII. to John Cabot, or Giovani Cabota, a +Venetian citizen, then resident in England, and his three sons, Lewis, +Sebastian, and Sancius, and their heirs and deputies, to sail to all +parts countries and seas of the east west and north, at their own cost +and charges, with five ships; to seek out discover and find whatsoever +islands, countries, regions, or provinces belonging to the heathen and +infidels, were hitherto unknown to Christians, and to subdue, occupy, +and possess all such towns, cities, castles, and islands as they might +be able; setting up the royal banners and ensigns in the same, and to +command over them as vassals and lieutenants of the crown of England, to +which was reserved the rule, title, and jurisdiction of the same. In +this grant Cabot and his sons, with their heirs and deputies, were bound +to bring all the fruits, profits, gains, and commodities acquired in +their voyages to the port of Bristol; and, having deducted from the +proceeds all manner of necessary costs and charges by them expanded, to +pay to the king in wares or money the fifth part of the free gain so +made, in lieu of all customs of other dues; of importation on the same. +By these letters patent; dated at Westminster on the 5th of March in the +eleventh year of Henry VII. all the other subjects of England are +prohibited from visiting or frequenting any of the continents, islands, +villages, towns, castles, or places which might be discovered by John +Cabot, his sons, heirs, or deputies, under forfeiture of their ships and +goods[1]. + +[Footnote 1: Hakluyt, III. 26.] + +No journal or relation remains of the voyages of Cabot and his sons in +consequence of this grant, and we are reduced to a few scanty memorials +concerning them; contained in the third volume of _Hakluyt's Collection +of the Early Voyages, Travels, and Discoveries of the English Nation_. +We quote from the new edition, _with additions_, published at London in +1810. + +Two years after the before-mentioned letters patent, or on the 18th of +February 1497, a licence was granted by the same king of England, Henry +VII. to John Cabot, to take six English ships in any haven or havens of +England, being of 200 tons burden or under, with all necessary +furniture; and to take also into the said ships all such masters, +mariners, or other subjects of the king as might be willing to engage +with him. + +It would appear that the patent of 1495 had never been acted upon; but +in consequence of this new licence, John Cabot and his son Sebastian +proceeded from the port of Bristol and discovered an island somewhere on +the coast of America to which they gave the name of _Prima Vista_, +probably the island of Newfoundland. The short account of this voyage of +discovery left to us by Hakluyt, is said to have been inserted in Latin +on a map constructed by Sebastian Cabot, concerning his discovery in +America, then called the West Indies; which map, engraved by Clement +Adams, was to be seen in the time of Hakluyt in the private gallery of +Queen Elizabeth at Westminster, and in the possession of many of the +principal merchants in London. This memorandum, translated into English, +is as follows[2]. + +[Footnote 2: Id. III. 27.] + + +SECTION I. + +_Discovery of Newfoundland by John and Sebastian Cabot in 1497, in the +service of Henry VII. of England._ + + +"In the year 1497, John Cabot a Venetian and his son Sebastian, +discovered on the 24th of June, about five in the morning, that land to +which no person had before ventured to sail, which they named _Prima +Vista_[3], or, _first-seen_, because as I believe it was the first part +seen by them from the sea. The island which is opposite[4] he named St +Johns Island, because discovered on the day of St John the Baptist. The +inhabitants of this island use the skins and furs of wild beasts for +garments, which they hold in as high estimation as we do our finest +clothes. In war they use bows and arrows, spears, darts, clubs, and +slings. The soil is sterile and yields no useful production; but it +abounds in white bears and deer much larger than ours. Its coasts +produce vast quantities of large fish, among which are _great seals_, +salmons, soles above a yard in length, and prodigious quantities +especially of cod, which are commonly called _bacallaos_[5]. The hawks, +partridges, and eagles of this island are all black." + +[Footnote 3: Presuming that this discovery was Newfoundland, a name +nearly of the same import, perhaps the land first seen was what is now +called Cape Bonavista, in lat. 48 deg. 50' N. long. 62 deg. 32' W. from London. +In the text, there is every reason to believe that it is meant to +indicate, that Cabot named the island he discovered St Johns, and only +the first seen point of land Prima-Vista.--E.] + +[Footnote 4: By this phrase is probably to be understood, the island +behind this first-seen cape named _Prima-Vista_.--E.] + +[Footnote 5: _Vulgari Sermoni_, is translated by Hakluyt, _in the +language of the savages_; but we have given it a different sense in the +text, that used by Hakluyt having no sufficient warrant in the +original.--E.] + +Besides the foregoing memorandum on the ancient map, Hakluyt gives the +following testimonies respecting the discovery of the northern part of +America, by Cabot. + + +SECTION II. + +_Discourse by Galeacius Butrigarius, Papal Legate in Spain, respecting +the Discoveries in America, by Sebastian Cabot_[6]. + + +Do you know how to sail for the Indies towards the northwest, as has +been lately done by a Venetian citizen, a valiant man and so learned in +all things pertaining to navigation and cosmography, that no one is +permitted to sail as pilot to the West Indies who has not received his +licence, he being pilot-major of Spain? This person, who resides in the +city of Seville, is Sebastian Cabot, a native of Venice, who is most +expert in these sciences, and makes excellent sea-charts with his +own-hands. Having sought his acquaintance, he entertained us in a +friendly manner, showing us many things, and among these a large map of +the world containing sundry navigations, both those of the Spaniards and +Portuguese. On this occasion he gave us the following information. + +[Footnote 6: Hakluyt, III. 27. from the second volume of Ramusio.] + +His father went many years since from Venice to England, where he +followed the profession of a merchant, taking this person his son along +with him to London, then very young, yet having received some tincture +of learning, and some knowledge of the sphere. His father died about the +time when news was spread abroad that Don Christopher Columbus, the +Genoese, had discovered the coasts of the Indies by sailing towards the +west, which was much admired and talked of at the court of King Henry +VII. then reigning in England, so that every one affirmed that it was +more attributable to divine inspiration than human wisdom, to have thus +sailed by the west unto the east, where spices grow, by a way never +known before. By these discourses the young man, Sebastian Cabot, was +strongly incited to perform some notable and similar action; and +conceiving by the study of the sphere that it would be a shorter route +for going to India, than that attempted by Columbus, to sail by the +north-west, he caused the king to be informed thereof, who accordingly +gave orders that he should be furnished with two ships, properly +provided in all things for the voyage. He sailed with these from England +in the beginning of summer 1496, if I rightly remember, shaping his +course to the north-west, not expecting to find any other land +intervening between and Cathay or Northern China. He was much +disappointed by falling in with land running toward the north, the coast +of which he sailed along to the lat. of 56 deg. N. and found it still a +continent. Finding the coast now, to turn towards the east, and +despairing to find the passage to India and Cathay of which he was in +search, he turned again and sailed down the coast towards the +equinoctial line, always endeavouring to find a passage westwards for +India, and came at length to that part of the continent which is now +called Florida[7]. And his victuals running short, he bore away for +England; where he found the country in confusion preparing for war with +Scotland, so that no farther attention was paid to his proposed +discoveries. + +[Footnote 7: Florida is here to be taken in the extended sense as at +first applied to the whole eastern coast of North America, to the north +of the Gulf of Mexico. The commencement of this voyage appears to have +been in search of a north-west passage; but Sebastian must have gone far +above 56 deg. N. to find the land trending eastwards: He was probably +repelled by ice and cold weather.--E.] + +He went afterwards into Spain, where he was taken into the service of +Ferdinand and Isabella, who furnished him with ships at their expence, +in which he went to discover the coast of Brazil, where he found a +prodigiously large river, now called the _Rio de la Plata_, or Silver +River, up which he sailed above 120 leagues, finding every where a good +country, inhabited by prodigious numbers of people, who flocked from +every quarter to view the ships with wonder and admiration. Into this +great river a prodigious number of other rivers discharged their waters. +After this he made many other voyages; and waxing old, rested at home +discharging the office of chief pilot, and leaving the prosecution of +discovery to many young and active pilots of good experience. + + +SECTION III. + +_Notice concerning Sebastian Cabot by Ramusio, in the Preface to the +third Volume of his Navigations._[8] + + +In the latter part of this volume are contained certain relations of +Giovani de Varanzana of Florence, of a certain celebrated French +navigator, and of two voyages by Jacques Cartier a Breton, who sailed to +the land in 50 deg. north latitude, called New France; it not being yet +known whether that land join with the continent of Florida and New +Spain, or whether they are separated by the sea into distinct islands, +so as to allow of a passage by sea to Cathay and India. This latter was +the opinion of Sebastian Cabota, our countryman, a man of rare knowledge +and experience in navigation, who wrote to me many years ago, that he +had sailed along and beyond this land of New France in the employment of +Henry VII. of England. He informed me that, having sailed a long way to +the north-west, beyond these lands, to the lat. of 67-1/2 deg. N. and +finding the sea on the 11th of June entirely open and without +impediment, he fully expected to have passed on that way to Cathay in +the east; and would certainly have succeeded, but was constrained by a +mutiny of the master and mariners to return homewards. But it would +appear that the Almighty still reserves this great enterprise of +discovering the route to Cathay by the north-west to some great prince, +which were the easiest and shortest passage by which to bring the +spiceries of India to Europe. Surely this enterprise would be me most +glorious and most important that can possibly he imagined, and would +immortalize him who succeeded in its accomplishment far beyond any of +those warlike exploits by which the Christian nations of Europe are +perpetually harassed. + +[Footnote 8: Hakluyt, III. 28.] + + +SECTION IV. _Notices respecting the voyage of Sebastian Cabot to the +northwest, from Peter Martyr ab Algeria_[9]. + + +These northern seas have been searched by Sebastian Cabot, a Venetian, +who was carried when very young to England by his parents, who, after +the manner of the Venetians, left no part of the world unsearched to +obtain riches. Having fitted out two ships in England at his own +expence, with three hundred men, he first directed his course so near +the north pole, that on the 11th of July he found monstrous heaps of ice +swimming in the sea, and a continual day, so that the land was free from +ice, having been thawed by the perpetual influence of the sun. By reason +of this ice he was compelled to turn southwards along the western land, +till he came unto the latitude of the Straits of Gibraltar[10]. In the +course of this north-west voyage he got so far to the west as to have +the island of Cuba on his left hand, having reached to the same +longitude[11]. While sailing along the coast of this great land, which +he called _Baccalaos_[12], he found a similar current of the sea towards +the west[13] as had been observed by the Spaniards in their more +southerly navigations, but more softly and gently than had been +experienced by the Spaniards. Hence it may be certainly concluded that +in both places, though hitherto unknown, there must be certain great +open spaces by which the waters thus continually pass from the east to +the west; which waters I suppose to be continually driven round the +globe by the constant motion and impulse of the heavens, and not to be +alternately swallowed and cast up again by the breathing of Demogorgon, +as some have imagined on purpose to explain the ebb and flow of the sea. +Sebastian Cabot himself named these lands _Baccalaos_, because he found +in the seas thereabout such multitudes of certain large fishes like +tunnies, called _baccalaos_ by the natives, that they sometimes stayed +his ships. He found also the people of these regions clothed in the +skins of beasts, yet not without the use of reason. He says also that +there are great numbers of bears in those countries, which feed on fish, +and catch them by diving into the water; and being thus satisfied with +abundance of fish, are not noisome to man. He says likewise that he saw +large quantities of copper among the inhabitants of these regions. Cabot +is my dear and familiar friend, whom I delight to have sometimes in my +house. Being called out of England by the Catholic king of Castille, on +the death of Henry VII. of England, he was made one of the assistants of +our council respecting the affairs of the new found Indies, and waits in +daily expectation of being furnished with ships in which to discover +these hidden secrets of nature. + +[Footnote 9: Hakluyt, III. 29. quoting P. Martyr, Dec. III. Ch. vi.] + +[Footnote 10: The Straits of Gibraltar are in lat. 36 deg. N. which would +bring the discovery of the eastern coast of North America by Cabot, all +the way from 67-1/2 deg. N. beyond Hudsons Bay, to Albemarle Sound on the +coast of North Carolina--E.] + +[Footnote 11: The middle of the island of Cuba is in long. 80 deg. W. from +Greenwich, which would have carried Cabot into the interior of Hudsons +Bay, to which there is no appearance of his having penetrated, in the +slight notices remaining of his exploratory voyage.--E.] + +[Footnote 12: We have before seen that he named the country which he +discovered, the island of St John, and that he gave the name in this +part of the text, _baccalaos_, to the fish most abundant in those seas, +which we name cod.--E.] + +[Footnote 13: It is probable this applies to the tide of flood setting +into the Gulf of St Lawrence or Hudsons Bay or both; which led Cabot to +expect a passage through the land to the west--E.] + + +SECTION V. + +_Testimony of Francisco Lopez de Gomara, concerning the discoveries of +Sebastian Cabota_[14]. + + +Sebastian Cabota, who came out of England into Spain, brought most +certain information of the country and people of Baccalaos. Having a +great desire to traffic for spices, like the Portuguese, he fitted out +two ships with 300 men, at the cost of Henry VII. of England, and took +the way towards Iceland from beyond the Cape of Labradore, until he +reached the lat. of 58 deg. N. and better. Even in the month of July, the +weather was so cold and the ice in such quantities, that he durst not +proceed any farther. The days were so long as to have hardly any night, +and what little there was, was very clear. Being unable to proceed +farther on account of the cold, he turned south; and, having refreshed +at Baccalaos, he sailed southwards along the coast to the 38 deg. of +latitude[15], from whence he returned into England. + +[Footnote 14: Hakluyt, III. 30. quoting Gomara, Gen. Hist. of the W. +Indies, Book II. Ch. iv.] + +[Footnote 15: By this account the progress of Cabot to the south along +the eastern coast of North America, reached no farther than coast of +Maryland.--E.] + + +SECTION VI. + +_Note respecting the discoveries of Sebastian Cabot; from the latter +part of Fabians Chronicle_[16]. + + +IN the 13th year of Henry VII. by means of John Cabot, Venetian, who was +very expert in cosmography and the construction of sea-charts, that king +caused to man and victual a ship at Bristol, to search for an island +which Cabot said he well knew to be rich and replenished with valuable +commodities. In which ship, manned and victualled at the kings expence, +divers merchants of London adventured small stocks of goods under the +charge of the said Venetian. Along with that ship there went three or +four small vessels from Bristol, laden with slight and coarse goods, +such as coarse cloth, caps, laces, points, and other trifles. These +vessels departed from Bristol in the beginning of May; but no tidings of +them had been received at the time of writing this portion of the +chronicle of Fabian. + +[Footnote 16: Hakluyt, III. 30. quoting from a MS. in possession of Mr +John Stow, whom he characterizes as a diligent collector of +antiquities.] + +In the 14th year of the king however, three men were brought from the +New-found-Island, who were clothed in the skins of beasts, did eat raw +flesh, and spoke a language which no man could understand, their +demeanour being more like brute beasts than men. They were kept by the +king for some considerable time; and I saw two of them about two years +afterward in the palace of Westminster, habited like Englishmen, and not +to be distinguished from natives of England, till I was told who they +were; but as for their speech, I did not hear either of them utter a +word. + + +SECTION VII. + +_Brief notice of the discovery of Newfoundland, by Mr Robert +Thorne._[17] + + +As some diseases are hereditary, so have I inherited an inclination of +discovery from my father, who, with another merchant of Bristol named +Hugh Eliot, were the discoveries of the Newfoundlands. And, if the +mariners had followed the directions of their pilot, there can be no +doubt that the lands of the West Indies, whence all the gold cometh, had +now been ours; as it appears by the chart that all is one coast. + +[Footnote 17: Hakluyt, III. 31. quoting a book by Mr Robert Thorne, +addressed to Doctor Leigh.] + + +SECTION VIII. _Grant by Edward VI. of a Pension, and the Office of Grand +Pilot of England to Sebastian Cabot_[18] + + +Edward the Sixth, by the Grace of God king of England, France, and +Ireland, to all believers in Christ to whom these presents may come, +wisheth health. Know ye, that in consideration of the good and +acceptable service, done and to be done to us by our well-beloved +servant Sebastian Cabot, we of our special grace, certain knowledge and +goodwill, and by the councel and advice of our most illustrious uncle +Edward Duke, of Somerset, governor of our person, and protector of our +kingdoms, dominions, and subjects, and by advice of the rest of our +councillors, have given and granted, and by these presents give and +grant to the said Sebastian Cabot a certain annuity or yearly revenue of +_one hundred and sixty-six pounds, thirteen shilling and fourpence +sterling_[19], to have, enjoy, and yearly to receive during his natural +life from our treasury at the receipt of our exchequer at Westminster, +by the hands of our treasurers and chamberlains for the time being, by +equal portions at the festivals of the annunciation of the blessed +virgin, the nativity of St John the Baptist, of St Michael the +Archangel, and the nativity of our Lord. And farther, as aforesaid, we +grant by these presents so much as the said annuity would amount to from +the feast of St Michael the Archangel last past unto this present time, +to be received by said Sebastian from our foresaid treasurers and +chamberlains in free gift, without account or any thing else to be +yielded, paid or made to us our heirs or successors for the same. In +witness whereof, &c. Done by the King at Westminster on the 6th of +January 1548, in the second year of his reign. + +[Footnote 18: Hakluyt, id. ib. Supposing Sebastian to have been sixteen +years of age in 1495, when he appears to have come to England with his +father, he must have attained to seventy years of age at the period of +this grant--E.] + +[Footnote 19: At the rate of six for one, as established by the +Historian of America for comparing sums of money between these two +periods, this pension was equal to L.1000 in our time.--E.] + + +SECTION IX. + + +_Voyage of Sir Thomas Pert and Sebastian Cabot about the year 1516, to +Brazil, St Domingo, and Porto Rico_. + + +That learned and painefull writer Richard Eden, in a certain epistle of +his to the Duke of Northumberland, before a work which he translated out +of Munster in 1553, called _A Treatise of New India_, maketh mention of +a voyage of discoverie undertaken out of England by Sir Thomas Pert and +Sebastian Cabota, about the _eighth_ year of Henry VIII. of famous +memorie, imputing the overthrow thereof unto the cowardice and want of +stomack of the said Sir Thomas Pert, in manner following: + +If manly courage, saith he, (like unto that which hath bene seene and +proved in your Grace, as well in forreine realmes, as also in this our +country) had not bene wanting in others in these our dayes, at such time +as our souereigne lord of famous memorie king Henry VIII. about the same +yeere of his raigne, furnished and sent out certaine shippes under the +governance of Sebastian Cabot yet living, and one Sir Thomas Pert, who +was vice-admiral of England and dweleth in Poplar at Blackwall, whose +faint heart was the cause that the voyage took none effect. If, I say, +such manly courage, whereof we have spoken, had not at that time beene +wanting, it might happily have come to passe, that that rich treasurie +called Perularia, (which is nowe in Spaine in the citie of Seville, and +so named, for that in it is kept the infinite riches brought thither +from the newfoundland kingdom of Peru) might long since have beene in +the tower of London, to the kings great honour and the wealth of this +realme. + +Hereunto that also is to bee referred which the worshipfull Mr Robert +Thorne wrote to the saide king Henry VIII. in the yeere 1527, by Doctor +Leigh his ambassador sent into Spaine to the Emperour Charles V. whose +worries bee these: + +Now rest to be discovered the north parts, the which it seemeth unto me +is onely your highnes charge and dutie; because the situation of this +your realme is thereunto neerest and aptest of all other: and also, for +that already you have taken it in hand. And in mine opinion it will not +seeme well to leave so great and profitable an enterprise, seeing it may +so easily and with so little cost, labour, and danger be followed and +obteined. Though hitherto your grace have made thereof a proofe, and +found not the commoditie thereby as you trusted, at this time it shal be +none impediment: for there may be now provided remedies for things then +lacked, and the inconveniences and lets remooved, that then were cause +your graces desire tooke no full effect: which is the courses to be +changed, and to follow the aforesayd new courses. And concerning the +mariners, ships, and provision, an order may be devised and taken meete +and convenient, much better than hitherto: by reason whereof, and by +Gods grace, no doubt your purpose shall take effect. + +And where as in the aforesayd wordes Mr Robert Thorne sayth, that he +would have the old courses to bee changed, and the new courses [to the +north] to be followed: It may plainely be gathered that the former +voyage, whereof twise or thrise he maketh mention, wherein it is like +that Sir Thomas Pert and Sebastian Cabot were set foorth by the king, +was made towards Brazil and the south parts. Moreover it seemeth that +Gonzalvo de Oviedo, a famous Spanish writer, alludeth unto the sayde +voyage in the beginning of the 13. chapter of the 19. booke of his +generall and natural historie of the West Indies, agreeing very well +with the time about which Richard Eden writeth that the foresayd voyage +was begun. The authors wordes are these, as I finde them translated into +Italian by that excellent and famous man Baptista Ramusio[21]. + +[Footnote 21: At this place Hakluyt gives the Italian of Ramusio; we are +satisfied on the present occasion with his translation.--E.] + +In the year 1517, an English rover under the colour of travelling to +discover, came with a great shippe unto the parts of Brazill on the +coast of the firme land, and from thence he crossed over unto this +island of Hispaniola, and arrived near unto the mouth of the haven of +this citie of San Domingo, and sent his shipboate full of men on shoare, +and demaunded leave to enter into this haven, saying that hee came with +marchandise to traffique. But at that very instant the governour of the +castle, Francis de Tapia, caused a tire of ordinance to be shot from the +castle at the shippe, for she bare in directly with the haven. When the +Englishmen sawe this, they withdrew themselves out, and those that were +in the shipboate got themselves with all speede on shipboard. And in +trueth the warden of the castle committed an oversight: for if the +shippe had entered into the haven, the men thereof could not have come +on lande without leave both of the citie and of the castle. Therefore +the people of the shippe seeing how they were received, sayled toward +the Island of St John de Puerto Rico, and entering into the port of St +Germaine, the Englishmen parled with those of the towne, requiring +victuals and things needful to furnish their ship, and complained of the +inhabitants of the city of St Domingo, saying that they came not to doe +any harme, but to trade and traffique for their money and merchandise. +In this place they had certain victuals, and for recompence they gave +and paid them with certain vessels of wrought tinne and other things. +And afterwards they departed toward Europe, where it is thought they +arrived not, for we never heard any more news of them. + +Thus farre proceedeth Gonzalvo de Oviedo, who though it please him to +call the captain of this great English ship a rover, yet it appeareth by +the Englishmens owne words, that they came to discover, and by their +traffique for pewter vessels and other wares at the town of St Germaine +in the iland of San Juan de Puerto Rico, it cannot bee denied but they +were furnished with wares for honest traffique and exchange. But +whosoever is conversant in reading the Portugal and Spanish writers of +the East and West Indies, shall commonly finde that they account all +other nations for pirats, rovers and theeves, which visite any heathen +coast that they have once sayled by or looked on. Howbeit their +passionate and ambitious reckoning ought not to bee prejudiciall to +other mens chargeable and painefull enterprises and honourable travels +in discoverie. + + +SECTION X. + +_Brief note of a voyage by Thomas Tison to the West Indies, before the +year 1526[22]._ + + +It appears from a certain note or memorandum in the custody of me +Richard Hakluyt, taken out of an old ledger-book formerly belonging to +Mr Nicholas Thorne senior, a respectable merchant of Bristol, written to +his friend and factor Thomas Midnall and his servant William Ballard, at +that time residing at San Lucar in Andalusia; that before the year 1526, +one Thomas Tison an Englishman had found his way to the West Indies, and +resided there as a secret factor for some English merchants, who traded +thither in an underhand manner in those days. To this person Mr Nicholas +Thorne appears to have sent armour and other articles which are +specified in the memorandum or letter above mentioned--This Thomas +Tison, so far as I can conjecture, appears to have been a secret factor +for Mr Thorne and other English merchants, to transact for them in these +remote parts; whence it is probable that some of our merchants carried +on a kind of trade to the West Indies even in those ancient times; +neither do I see any reason why the Spaniards should debar us from it +now. + +[Footnote 22: Hakluyt, III. 595.] + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE VOYAGES OF JACQUES CARTIER FROM ST MALOES TO NEWFOUNDLAND AND +CANADA, IN THE YEARS 1534 AND 1535[23]. + +INTRODUCTION + + +These voyages are to be considered as among the early discoveries of the +New World, and are therefore inserted in this place. The only edition of +them which we have been able to procure, is that which is inserted in +the ancient and curious collection of voyages by Hakluyt, which appears +to have been abridged from the original in French, published at Rouen in +8vo 1598[24]of this voyage, the author of the Bibliotheque des Voyages +gives the following notice. "So early as the year 1518, the baron _De +Levi_ had discovered a portion of Canada, and Jacques Cartier not only +added to this first discovery, but visited the whole country with the +judgment of a person well instructed in geography and hydrography, as is +apparent in the relation of his voyages; which contain an exact and +extended description of the coasts, harbours, straits, bays, capes, +rivers, and islands which he visited, both in his voyages on the river +St Lawrence, and in his excursions by land into the interior of Canada. +To this day navigators use most of the names which he affixed to the +various parts which he explored with indefatigable industry." In the +present edition, the only freedom used is reducing the antiquated +language of Hakluyt to the modern standard.----Ed. + + + +[Footnote 23: Hakluyt, III. 250.] + +[Footnote 24: Bibl. Univ. des Voy. VI. 15.] + + +SECTION I. + +_The first Voyage of Jacques Cartier to Newfoundland and Canada, in_ +1534. + + +The Chevalier de Mouy lord of Meylleraye and vice-admiral of France, +having administered the oaths of fidelity to the king, and of obedience +to M. Cartier, to the captains, masters, and mariners of the ships +employed in this expedition, we left the port of St Maloes on the 20th +of April 1534, with two ships of 60 tons, and having sixty-one chosen +men. Having prosperous weather, we reached Newfoundland on the 10th of +May, making Cape _Bonavista_, in lat. 48 deg. 30' N[25]. Owing to the great +quantities of ice on the coast, we were obliged to go into port St +Catherine [26], which is about five leagues S.S.E. from the harbour of +Cape Bonavista, in which we remained ten days waiting fair weather, and +employed ourselves in repairing and fitting out our boats. + +[Footnote 25: In our most recent maps Cape Bonavista is laid down in +lat. 48 deg. 58' N.--E.] + +[Footnote 26: Named in English charts Catalina Harbour, in lat. 48 deg. 44' +N.--E.] + +On the 21st of May we set sail with the wind at west, steering N. and by +E. from Cape Bonavista till we came to the Isle of Birds, which we found +environed by ice, but broken and cracked in many places. Notwithstanding +the ice, our two boats went to the island to take in some birds, which +are there in such incredible numbers that no one would believe unless he +had seen them. The island is only a league in circuit, and so swarms +with birds as if they had been strewed on purpose; yet an hundred times +as many are to be seen hovering all around. Some of these are black and +white, as large as jays, and having beaks like crows, which lie always +on the sea, as they cannot fly to any height on account of the smallness +of their wings, which are not larger than the half of ones hand; yet +they fly with wonderful swiftness close to the water. We named these +birds _Aporath_, and found them very fat. In less than half an hour we +filled two boats with them; so that, besides what we eat fresh, each of +our ships salted five or six barrels of them to aid our sea stock. +Besides these, there is another and smaller kind, which hovers in the +air, all of which gather themselves on the island, and put themselves +under the wings of the larger birds. These smaller birds we named +_Godetz_. There was also another kind, which we called _Margaulx_, +considerably larger and entirely white, which bite like dogs. Although +this island is 14 leagues from the main[27], yet the bears swim off to +it to eat the birds, and our men found one there as large as an ordinary +cow, and as white as a swan. This monstrous animal leapt into the sea to +avoid our men; and upon Whitson Monday, when sailing towards the land, +we fell in with it swimming thither as fast almost as we could sail. We +pursued in our boats, and caught it by main strength. Its flesh was as +good eating as a steer of two years old. On the Wednesday following, the +27th of May, we came to the _Bay of the Castles_; but, on account of bad +weather and the great quantities of ice, we were obliged to anchor in a +harbour near the entrance of that bay, which we named Carpunt. We were +forced to remain there till the 9th of June, when we departed, intending +to proceed beyond Carpunt, which is in lat. 51 deg. N[28] + +[Footnote 27: This island of birds, judging by the course steered and +its distance from the main of Newfoundland, appears to be that now +called _Funk_ Island, in lat. 50 deg. N. 15 leagues N.E. from Cape +Freels.--E.] + +[Footnote 28: From the latitude in the text, Carpunt appears to have +been what is now called Carouge Harbour, and the Bay of the Castles may +be that now named Hare Bay, 6-1/2 leagues farther north.--E.] + +The land between Cape _Razo_ and Cape _Degrad_[29], which lie N.N.E. and +S.S.W. from each other, is all parted into islands so near each other, +that there are only small channels like rivers between them, through +most of which nothing but small boats can pass; yet there are some good +harbours among these islands, among which are those of Carpunt and +Degrad. From the top of the highest of these islands, two low islands +near Gape Razo may be seen distinctly; and from Cape Razo to Port +Carpunt, the distance is reckoned 25 leagues. Carpunt harbour has two +entries, one of which is on the east side of the island, and the other +on the south. But the eastern entrance is very unsafe, as the water is +very shallow and full of shelves. The proper entry is to go about the +west side of the island, about a cables length and a half, and then to +make the south entrance of Carpunt. It is likewise necessary to remark, +that there are three shelves under water in this channel, and towards +the island on the east side in the channel, the water is three fathoms +deep with a clear bottom. The other channel trends E.N.E. and on the +west you may go on shore. + +[Footnote 29: Capes Rouge and De Grat. The former being the north head +land of Carouge Bay, the latter the north-eastern extremity of +Newfoundland, in lat. 51 deg. 40' N.--E.] + +Going from Point Degrad, and entering the before-mentioned Bay of the +Castles, we were rather doubtful of two islands on the right hand, one +of which is 3 leagues from Cape Degrad and the other seven. This last is +low and flat, and seemed part of the main land. I named it St Catherines +Island. Its north-east extremity is of a dry soil, but the ground about +a quarter of a league off is very foul, so that it is necessary to go a +little round. This island and the Bay of the Castles trend N.N.E. and +S.S.W. 15 leagues distant from each other. The port of the Castles and +Port Gutte, which is in the northern part of the bay, trend E.N.E and +W.S.W. distant 12-1/2 leagues. About two leagues from Port Balance, or +about a third part across the bay, the depth of water is 38 fathoms. +From Port Balance to _Blanc Sablon_, or the White Sands, it is 15 +leagues W.S.W. but about 3 leagues from the White Sands to the S.W. +there is a rock above water like a boat. The _White Sands_ is a +road-stead quite open to the S. and S.E. but is protected on the S.W. by +two islands, one of which we called the Isle of Brest, and the other the +Isle of Birds, in which there are vast numbers of Godetz, and crows with +red beaks and red legs, which make their nests in holes under ground +like rabbits. Passing a point of land about a league beyond the White +Sands, we found a port and passage which we called the _Islets_, which +is a safer place than the White Sands, and where there is excellent +fishing. The distance between the Islets and a port named Brest is about +10 leagues. The port of Brest is in lat. 51 deg. 55'[30]. Between it and the +Islets there are many other islands, and the said port of Brest is among +them, being surrounded by them for above three leagues farther. All +these small islands are low, and the other lands may be seen beyond +them. On the 10th of June we went into the port of Brest, to provide +ourselves with wood and water; and on St Barnabas Day, after hearing +divine service, we went in our boats to the westwards, to examine what +harbours there might be in that direction. + +[Footnote 30: If right in the latitude in the text, Cartier seems now to +have got upon the coast of Labradore, to the north-west of Newfoundland; +yet from the context he rather appears to have been on the north-end of +Newfoundland, about Quirpon Harbour, the Sacred Isles, or Pistolet +Bay.--E.] + +We passed through among the small islands, which were so numerous that +they could not be counted, as they extended about 10 leagues beyond that +port. We rested in one of them all night, where we found vast +quantities of duck eggs, and the eggs of other birds which breed there. +We named the whole of this group the _Islets_. Next day, having passed +beyond all these small isles, we found a good harbour which we named +Port St Anthony. One of two leagues beyond this we found a little river +towards the S.W. coast, between two other islands, forming a good +harbour. We set up a cross here, and named it St Servans Port. About a +league S.W. from this port and river there is a small round island like +an oven, surrounded with many little islands, and forming a good mark +for finding out Port St Servan. About two leagues farther on we came to +a larger inlet, which we named James River, in which we caught many +salmon. While in this river we saw a ship belonging to Rochelle, which +intended to have gone a fishing in Port Brest, but had passed it as they +knew not whereabout they were. We went to her with our boats, and +directed them to a harbour about a league west from James River, which I +believe to be one of the best in the world, and which therefore we named +James Cartiers Sound. If the soil of this country were as good as its +harbours, it would be a place of great consequence: But it does not +deserve the name of the New-found-_land_, but rather the new stones and +wild crags, and is a place fit only for wild beasts. In all the north +part of the island I did not see a cart load of good earth, though I +went on shore in many places. In the island of White Sand there is +nothing growing but moss and stunted thorn bushes scattered here and +there, all dry and withered. In short, I believe this to have been the +land which God appointed for Cain. There are however, inhabitants of +tolerable stature, but wild and intractable, who wear their hair tied +upon the top of their heads, like a wreath of hay, stuck through with a +wooden pin, and ornamented with birds feathers. Both men and women are +clothed in the skins of beasts; but the garments of the women are +straiter and closer than those of the men, and their waists are girded. +They paint themselves with a roan or reddish-brown colour. Their boats +are made of birch bark, with which they go a fishing, and they catch +great quantities of seals. So far as we could understand them, they do +not dwell all the year in this country, but come from warmer countries +on the main land, on purpose to catch seals and fish for their +sustenance. + +On the 13th of June we returned to our ships, meaning to proceed on our +voyage, the weather being favourable, and on Sunday we had divine +service performed. On Monday the 15th, we sailed from Brest to the +southwards, to explore some lands we had seen in that direction, which +seemed to be two islands. On getting to the middle of the bay, however, +we found it to be the firm land, being a high point having two eminences +one above the other, on which account we called it _Double_ Cape. We +sounded the entrance of the bay, and got ground with a line of 100 +fathoms. From Brest to the Double Cape is about 20 leagues, and five or +six leagues farther on we had ground at 40 fathoms. The direction +between Port Brest and Double Cape is N.E. and S.W. Next day, being the +16th, we sailed 35 leagues from Double Cape S.W. and by S. where we +found very steep and wild hills, among which we noticed certain small +cabins, resembling what are called granges in our country, on which +account we named these the _Grange Hills_. The rest of the coast was all +rocky, full of clefts and cuts, having low islands between and the open +sea. On the former day we could not see the land, on account of thick +mists and dark fogs, but this evening we espied an entrance into the +land, by a river between the Grange Hills and a cape to the S.W. about 3 +leagues from the ships. The top of this cape is blunt, but it ends +towards the sea in a sharp point, on which account we named it _Pointed_ +Cape. On its north side there is a flat island. Meaning to examine if +there were any good harbours at this entrance, we lay to for the night; +but on the next day we had stormy weather from the N.E. for which reason +we stood to the S.W. till Thursday morning, in which time we sailed 37 +leagues. We now opened a bay full of round islands like pigeon-houses, +which we therefore named the _Dove-cots_. From the Bay of St. Julian to +a cape which lies S. and by W. called Cape _Royal_, the distance is 7 +leagues; and towards the W.S.W. side of that cape there is another, the +lower part of which is all craggy, and the top round. On the north side +of this cape, which we called Cape Milk, there is a low island. Between +Cape Royal and Cape Milk there are some low islands, within which there +are others, indicating that there are some rivers in this place. About +two leagues from Cape Royal we had 20 fathom water, and found cod in +such abundance, that, while waiting for our consort we caught above a +hundred in less than an hour. + +Next day, the 18th, the wind turned against us with such fury that we +were forced back to Cape Royal; and, sending the boats to look for a +harbour, we found a great deep gulf above the low islands, having +certain other islands within it. This gulf is shut up on the south, and +the low islands are on one side of the entrance, stretching out above +half a league to seawards; it is in lat. 48 deg. 30' N. having an island in +the middle of the entrance. The country about is all flat, but barren. +Finding we could not get into any harbour that night, we stood out to +sea, leaving Cape Royal towards the west. From that time to the 24th of +the month, being St Johns Day, we had such stormy weather, with contrary +winds and such dark mists, that we could not see the land; but on that +day we got sight of a cape, about 35 leagues S.W. from Cape Royal, which +we named Cape St John. On that day and the next the weather still +continued so foggy and dark, with wind, that we could not come near the +land; yet we sailed part of the 25th to the W.N.W. and lay too in the +evening, about 7-1/2 leagues N.W. and by W. of Cape St John. When about +to make sail, the wind changed to the N.W. and we accordingly sailed +S.E. After proceeding about 15 leagues in that direction, we came to +three islands, two of which are as steep and upright as a wall, so that +it is impossible to climb them, and a small rock lies between them. +These islands were closely covered over with birds, which breed upon +them; and in the largest there was a prodigious number of those white +birds we named Margaulx, larger than geese. Another of the islands, +which was cleft in the middle, was entirely covered with the birds +called Godetz; but towards the shore, besides Godetz, there were many +_Apponatz_[31], like those formerly mentioned. We went ashore on the +lower part of the smallest island, where we killed above a thousand +godetz and apponatz, putting as many as we pleased into our boats; +indeed we might have loaded thirty boats with them in less than an hour, +they were so numerous and so tame. We named these the Islands of +_Margaulx_. About five leagues west from these islands, we came to an +island two leagues long and as much in breadth, where we staid all night +to take in wood and water, which we named _Brions_ Island. It was full +of goodly trees, verdant fields, and fields overgrown with wild-corn +and pease in bloom, as thick and luxuriant as any we had seen in +Brittany, so that it seemed to have been ploughed and sown; having +likewise great quantities of gooseberries, strawberries, roses, parsely, +and many other sweet, and pleasant herbs; on the whole it had the best +soil of any we had seen, and one field of it was more worth than the +whole of Newfoundland. The whole shore was composed of a sandy beach, +with good anchorage all round in four fathom water; and the shore had +great numbers of great beasts, as large as oxen, each of which have two +large tusks like elephants teeth[32]. These animals live much in the +sea. We saw one of them asleep on the shore, and went towards it in our +boats in hopes of taking it, but as soon as he heard us, he threw +himself into the sea and escaped. We saw also wolves and bears on this +island, and there were considerable lakes about it towards the S.E. and +N.W. As far as I could judge, there must be some passage between this +island and Newfoundland, and if so it would save much time and distance, +if any useful purpose is to be had in these parts. + +[Footnote 31: This word has not been used before, but is probably meant +for the same bird formerly called _Aparath._ These names of birds in +Newfoundland are inexplicable.--E.] + +[Footnote 32: Probably the Morse, vulgarly called the sea-horse.--E.] + +About four leagues W.S.W. from Brions Island we saw some other land +surrounded by small isles of sand, which we believed to be an island, +and to a goodly cape on this land we gave the name of Cape Dauphin, as +the good grounds begin there. We sailed along these lands to the W.S.W. +on the 27th of June, and at a distance they seemed to be composed of low +lands with little sand-hills; but we could not go near, as the wind was +contrary. This day we sailed 15 leagues. Next day we went about 10 +leagues along this land, which is all low, till we came to a cape +composed of red and craggy rocks, having an opening which fronts to the +north, and we noticed a pool or small lake, having a field between it +and the sea. About 14 leagues farther on we came to another cape, the +shore between forming a kind of semicircular bay, and the beach was +composed of sand thrown up like, a mound or dike, over which the whole +country appeared nothing but marshes and pools of water as far as the +eye could reach. Just before coming to the first of these capes, which +we named St Peter, there are two small islands, very near the main land. +About 5 leagues from the second cape toward the S.W. there is a high +pointed island which we named _Alezai_. From Brions Island to Cape St +Peter there is a good anchorage on a sandy bottom in 25 fathoms water +five leagues from shore; a league off the land the depth is 12 fathom, +and 6 fathom very near the shore, seldom less, and always good ground. +Next day, the 29th of June, with the wind S. and by E. we sailed +westwards, till the following morning about sunrise without being able +to see any land, except that about sunset we saw some land about 9 or 10 +leagues W.S.W. which we believed to be two islands. All next day we +sailed westwards about 40 leagues, when we discovered that what we had +taken for islands was the main land; and early next morning we came to a +good point of land, which we named Cape _Orleans_; the whole of the land +being low and plain, full of fine trees and meadows, and very pleasant +to behold. This coast trends S.S.E. and N.N.W. but on this great extent +of coast we could find no harbour, it being everywhere full of shelves +and sand-banks. We went on shore in many places with our boats, and in +one place we entered a fine river, very shallow, which we named Boat +River, because we saw some boats full of savages crossing the river. We +had no intercourse with these people; for the wind came from the sea, +and beat our boats in such a manner against the shore, that we were +forced to put off again to the ships. Till next morning, the 1st July, +at sunrise, we sailed N.E. when we struck our sails in consequence of +thick mists and squalls. The weather cleared up about two in the +afternoon, when we got sight of Cape Orleans, and of another about 7 +leagues N. and by E. from where we were, which we named Cape _Savage_. +On the north side of this cape, there is a very dangerous shelf and a +bank of stones about half a league from shore. While off this cape and +our boats going along shore, we saw a man running after the boats and +making signs for us to return to the cape; but on pulling towards him he +ran away. We landed and left a knife and a woollen girdle for him on a +little staff, and returned to our ships. On that day we examined nine or +ten leagues of this coast for a harbour, but found the whole shore low +and environed with great shelves. We landed, however, in four places, +where we found many sweet-smelling trees, as cedars, yews, pines, +white-elms, ash, willow, and many others unknown, but without fruit. +Where the ground was bare of trees, it seemed very fertile, and was fall +of wild-corn, pease, white and red gooseberries, strawberries, and +blackberries, as if it had been cultivated on purpose. The wild-corn +resembled rye. This part of the country enjoyed a better temperature +than any we had seen, and was even hot. It had many thrushes, +stock-doves, and other birds, and wanted nothing but good harbours. + +Next day, 2d July, we had sight of land to the north, which joined the +coast already mentioned, having a bay which we named _St Lunario_, +across which our boats went to the north cape and found the bay so +shallow that there was only one fathom water a league off shore. N.E. +from this cape, and 7 or 8 leagues distant, there is another cape, +having a triangular bay between, compassed about with shelves and rocks +about ten leagues from land. This bay has only 2 fathoms water, but +appeared to penetrate far into the land towards the N.E. Passing this +cape, we observed another head-land N. and by E. All that night we had +very bad weather and heavy squalls, so that we could carry very little +sail. Next morning, 3d July, the wind was from the west, and we sailed +north that we might examine the coast, where we found a gulf or bay +about 15 leagues across, and in some places 55 fathoms deep. From the +great depth and breadth of this gulf, we were in hopes of finding a +passage through, like that of the _Castles_ before mentioned. This gulf +lies E.N.E. and W.S.W. The land on the south side of this gulf is of +good quality and might be easily cultivated, full of goodly fields and +meadows, quite plain, and as pleasant as any we had ever seen. The north +side is altogether hilly, and full of woods containing large trees of +different kinds, among which are as fine cedars and firs as are to be +seen anywhere, capable of being masts for ships of three hundred tons. +In two places only of this side we saw open meadows, with two fine +lakes. The middle of this bay is in lat. 47 deg. 30' N. We named the southern +cape of this bay Cape Esperance, or the Cape of Hope, as we expected to +have found a passage this way. + +On the 4th of July we went along the northern coast of this bay to look +for a harbour, where we entered a creek which is entirely open to the +south, having no shelter from the wind when in that quarter. We named +this _St Martins_ Creek, in which we remained from the 4th to the 12th +of July; and on the 6th, going in one of our boats to examine a cape or +head-land on the west side, about 7 or 8 leagues from the ships, and +having got within half a league of the point, we saw two fleets of +canoes of the savages, 40 or 50 in all, crossing over from one land to +another, besides which there were a great number of savages on shore, +who made a great noise, beckoning to us to come to land, and holding up +certain skins on pikes or poles of wood, as if offering them for barter. +But as we had only one boat and they were very numerous, we did not +think it prudent to venture among them, and stood back towards the +ships. On seeing us go from them, some savages put off in two canoes +from the shore, being joined by five other canoes of those which were +crossing, and made towards us, dancing and making many signs of joy, as +if inviting us to their friendship. Among other expressions we could +distinctly make out the following words, _Napeu tondamen assurtah_, but +knew not what they meant. We did not incline to wait their civilities, +as we were too few in case they chose to assail us, and made signs +therefore for them to keep at a distance. They came forwards +notwithstanding, and surrounded our boat with their canoes; on which we +shot off two pieces[33] among them, by which they were so much alarmed +that they immediately took to flight towards the point, making a great +noise. After remaining there some time, they came again towards us and +surrounded our boat as before. We now struck at them with two lances, +which again put them in fear and put them to flight, after which they +followed us no more. Next day, a party of the savages came in nine +canoes to the point at the mouth of the creek, where our ships were at +anchor; on which we went ashore to them in our boats. They appeared much +alarmed at our approach, and fled to some distance, making signs as if +they wished to traffic with us, holding up to our view the skins of +which they make their apparel, which are of small value. We likewise +endeavoured to explain by signs that we had no intention to injure them; +and two of our men ventured to land among them, carrying some knives and +other iron ware, and a red hat for their chief. Encouraged by this +confidence, the savages likewise landed with their peltry, and began to +barter with them for our iron wares, which they seemed to prize much, +and shewed their satisfaction by dancing and many other ceremonies, +throwing at times sea-water from their hands on their heads. They gave +us every thing they had, so that they went away almost naked, making +signs that they would return next day with more skins. + +[Footnote 33: The nature of these is not explained, but they must have +been fire-arms of some kind.--E.] + +On Thursday the 8th of July, as the wind was contrary for using our +ships, we proceeded in our boats to explore the bay, and went that day +25 leagues within it. As the next day was fine, with a fair wind, we +sailed till noon, in which time we had explored most part of this bay, +the shore of which consisted of low land, beyond which were high +mountains. Finding no passage through the bottom of the bay, we turned, +back along the coast, and at one place saw a good many of the savages on +the shore of a lake among the low grounds, where they had kindled some +fires. As we proceeded, we noticed that a narrow creek or channel +communicated between the bay and the lake, into which creek our boats +went. The savages came towards us in one of their canoes, bringing some +pieces of boiled seals flesh, which they laid down on pieces of wood, +and then retired, making signs that they gave them to us. We sent two +men to them with hatchets, knives, beads, and such wares, with which +they were much pleased; and soon afterwards great numbers of them came +to where we were in canoes, bringing skins and other things, to barter +for our commodities. There were at least 300 of them collected at this +place, including women and children; some of the women who remained on +the other side of the inlet, were seen up to their knees in the water, +singing and dancing; while other women, who were on the same side with +us, came up to us in a friendly manner, rubbing our arms with their +hands, and then holding up their hands towards heaven, as if in token of +admiration and joy. So much confidence was established on both sides, +that the savages bartered away every thing they possessed, which was +indeed of small value, and left themselves entirely naked. These people +might easily be converted to our religion. They wander about from place +to place, subsisting entirely by fishing, for which they have stated +seasons. The country is warmer even than Spain, and exceedingly +pleasant, being entirely level, and though sandy, it is everywhere +covered with trees. In some places where there are no trees, it is +luxuriantly covered with wild corn or pease. The corn resembles oats, +but with an ear like that of rye; and the pease are small, but as thick +as if the ground had been ploughed and sown. It produces, likewise, +white and red gooseberries, strawberries, blackberries, white and red +roses, and many other sweet-smelling flowers. The whole country is +interspersed with fine grass meadows, and lakes abounding in salmon. In +their language, a hatchet is named _cochi_ and a knife _bacon_. We named +this fine bay, _Baye de Chaleur_, or the Warm Bay[34]. + +[Footnote 34: Chaleur Bay on the north-eastern coast of Nova Scotia is +probably meant; though, from the changes of names, we have not been able +to trace the course of Cartier from the northern extremity of +Newfoundland to this part of the Gulf of St Lawrence. He probably +returned to the south, along the eastern coast of Newfoundland, and then +sailed west, along the south coast of that island into the Gulf of St +Lawrence, probably in search of a passage to the Pacific.--E.] + +Having ascertained that there was no passage through this bay, we +set sail from St Martins Creek on Sunday the 12th July, to proceed on +farther discoveries beyond, going eastwards about 18 leagues along the +coast, till we came to Cape _Prato_, where we found shallow water, with +a great tide and stormy sea, so that we had to draw close in shore, +between that cape and an island about a league to the eastwards, where +we cast anchor for the night. Next morning we made sail to explore the +coast to the N.N.E. But the wind, which was contrary, rose almost to a +storm, and we were forced to return to our former anchorage. We sailed +again next day, and came to a river five or six leagues to the northward +of Cape Prato, where the wind became again contrary, with thick fogs, by +which we were obliged on the 14th to take shelter in the river, where we +remained till the 16th. On that day, the wind became so boisterous that +one of our ships lost an anchor, and we had to run 7 or 8 leagues up the +river for shelter, where we found a good harbour, in which we remained +till the 25th July. While there, we saw many of the savages fishing for +mackerel, of which they caught great numbers. They had about 40 boats or +canoes, and after some time they became so familiar with us as to come +with their canoes to our ships in perfect confidence receiving knives, +combs, glass-beads, and other trifles from us, for which they were +exceedingly thankful, lifting up their hands to heaven, and dancing and +singing in their boats. These people may truly be called savages, as +they are the poorest wretches that can be imagined; as the value of +every thing they had among them all, besides their canoes and nets, was +not worth five farthings. They go entirely naked, except their parts of +shame, over which they had small pieces of skin; besides which they only +had a few old pieces of skin to shelter their bodies from the weather. +They differ entirely both in language and appearance from those we had +seen before. Their heads are close shaven, except one lock on the crown, +as long as a horse tail, which they bind up into a knot with leather +thongs. Their only dwelling-places are their boats or canoes turned keel +upwards, under which they sleep on the bare ground. They eat their fish +and flesh almost raw, only heating it a little on the embers. We went +freely on shore among these people, who seemed much pleased with our +company, all the men singing and dancing around, in token of joy; but +they made all their women retire into a wood at some distance, two or +three excepted, to each of whom we gave a comb and a small tin bell, +with which they were much delighted, shewing their gratitude to our +captain by rubbing his breast and arms with their hands. The reception +of these presents occasioned all the other women to return from the +wood, that they likewise might participate; for which purpose they +surrounded the captain, to the number of about twenty, touching and +rubbing him with their hands, as soliciting him for such trinkets as he +had given the others. He accordingly gave each of them a small bell, on +which they all fell a singing and dancing. We here found great +quantities of mackerel, which they take on the shore by means of nets +which they construct of a species of hemp. This grows in the part of the +country where they principally reside, as they come only to the sea side +during the fishing season. So far as I could understand, they have +likewise a kind of millet, or grain, as large as pease, like the maize +which grows in Brasil, which serves them instead of bread. Of this they +have great abundance, and it is called _kapaige_ in their language. They +have also a kind of damsin plumbs, which they call _famesta_. They +possess likewise, figs, nuts, apples, and other fruits, and beans which +they call _sahu_; their name for nuts is _cahehya_. When we shewed them +any thing which they had not or were unacquainted with, they used to +shake their heads, saying _nohda! nohda_! implying their ignorance or +want of that article. Of those things which they had, they explained to +us by signs how they grew, and in what manner they used to dress them +for food. They use no salt, and are very great thieves, stealing every +thing they could lay their hands on. + +On the 24th of July, we made a great cross thirty feet high, which we +erected on a point at the entrance of our harbour, on which we hung up a +shield with three flowers de luce; and inscribed the cross with this +motto, _Vive le roy de France_. When this was finished in presence of +all the natives, we all knelt down before the cross, holding up our +hands to heaven, and praising God. We then endeavoured to explain to +these savages by means of signs, that all our salvation depended only on +him who dwelleth in the heavens; at which they shewed much admiration, +looking at one another, and then at the cross. After our return to the +ships, their chief came off in a canoe accompanied by his brother and +two sons. Keeping at an unusual distance, he stood up in the canoe, +where he made a long oration, pointing frequently to our cross, and +making a cross with his two fingers; he then pointed out to all the +country round about, as if shewing that all was his, and that we must +not erect any more crosses without his leave. When he concluded his +speech, we shewed him an axe, making him believe that we would give it +to him for an old bears skin which he wore; on which he gradually came +near our ship, and one of our men who was in the boat along side, took +hold of their canoe; into which he, and three or four more of our men +leapt, and obliged them all to come on board our ship, to their great +astonishment and dismay. Our captain immediately used every means to +assure them of being in perfect safety, and entertained them in a +friendly manner, giving them to eat and drink. After this, we +endeavoured to explain to them by signs, that the sole use of the cross +we had erected was to serve as a land mark for finding out the harbour, +and that we should soon return to them with great plenty of iron wares +and other commodities; but that in the mean time we would take two of +his sons along with us, whom we would bring back again to the same +place. We accordingly clothed two of the lads in shirts and coloured +coats, with red caps, putting a copper chain round each of their necks, +with which they seemed much pleased, and remained willingly along with +us, giving their old garments to the rest who went back to the land. We +gave to each of the three who returned, a hatchet and some knives, with +which they seemed well content. When these had told their companions on +shore what had happened in the ship, six canoes came off to us in the +afternoon, having five or six men in each, who came to take farewell of +the two lads we had detained, and brought them some fish. They spoke a +great deal that we did not understand, making signs that they would not +remove our cross. + +The weather becoming fair next day, the 25th July, we left that +port[35], and after getting out of the river, we sailed to the E.N.E. +the land forming a semicircular bay, the extremities lying S.E. and N.W. +From Monday the 27th of the month, we went along this land, till on +Wednesday the 29th we came to another cape, after which the land turned +to the east for about 15 leagues, and then turned to the north. We +sounded about three leagues from this cape, and had ground at 24 +fathoms. The land on this part of the coast seems better and freer of +woods, than any we had seen, having fine green fields and fair meadows. +We named this land Cape St Alvise, because first seen on the day of that +saint. It is in lat. 49 deg. 30' N. On Wednesday morning, being to the east +of that cape, whence we sailed N.W. till night, keeping near the land, +which trends from south to north for about 15 leagues to another cape, +which we named _Memorancie_, after which the coast trends to the N.W. +About 3 leagues from this cape we tried soundings, but had no bottom +with a line of 150 fathoms. We went along this coast to the lat. of 50 deg. +N. At sunrise of Saturday 1st August, we had sight of other land lying +north and north-east, which was high, craggy, and mountainous, having +low land interposed, with woods and rivers. We continued along this +coast, still trending N.W. to look for a gulf or passage, till the 5th +of the month; but we had great difficulty to advance five miles in all +that time, the wind and tide being both adverse. At the end of these +five miles, we could plainly see land on both sides, which appeared to +spread out; but as we were unable to work up to windward, we proceeded +to another cape to the southward, being the farthest out to sea within +sight, and about five leagues from us. On coming up to this head-land, +we found it nothing but rocks, stones, and craggy cliffs, such as we had +not seen the like of since leaving Cape St Johns. The tide being now in +our favour carried our ships to the westwards against the wind, when +suddenly one of our boats struck on a rock and overset, so that our +people had to leap out and set it to right again. After going along this +coast for two hours, the tide turned against us, so that it was +impossible to advance any farther with all our oars. We went therefore +to land, leaving 10 or 12 of our people to keep the boats, and going by +land to the cape, we observed the land beyond to trend S.W. After this +we returned to our boats, and then to the ships, which had drifted four +leagues to leeward of the place where we left them. + +[Footnote 35: In a side-note, Hakluyt expresses an opinion that this +harbour is what is now called Gaspay, or Gaspe Bay in lat. 48 deg. 44' N., +near Cape Rosiers, the south cape of the river St Lawrence.--E.] + +On our return to the ships, we convened a council of all the officers +and experienced mariners, to have their opinion of what was best for us +to do in the farther execution of our instructions. The general opinion +was, considering that the east winds seemed now set in, and that the +currents were so much against us, we could not expect to advance to any +purpose in exploring the coast; and as storms and tempests began to +prevail in Newfoundland, where we were so far from home, we must resolve +either to return to France immediately, or to remain where we were +during the winter. Having duly weighed the various opinions, we resolved +to return home. The place where we now were, we named St Peters +Straits[36], in which we found very deep water; being in some places 150 +fathoms, in others 100, and near the shore 60, with clear ground. From +thence for some days we had a prosperous gale of wind, _so that we +trended the said north shore east, south-east, west-north-west_[37], for +such is the situation of it, except one cape of low land, about 25 +leagues from St Peters Strait, which bends more towards the south-east. +We noticed smoke on that cape, made by the natives; but as the wind blew +fresh toward the coast, we did not venture to approach them, and twelve +of the savages came off to us in two canoes. They came freely on board, +and gave us to understand that they came from the great gulf under a +chief named _Tiennot_, who was then on the low cape, and were then about +to return loaded with fish to their own country, whence we had come with +our ships. We named the low head land Cape Tiennot, after the name of +their chief. The land in this place was all low and pleasant, with a +sandy beach for about 20 leagues, intermixed with marshes and shallow +lakes. After this it turned from west to E.N.E. everywhere environed +with islands two or three leagues from shore; and as far as we could +see, many dangerous shelves extended above four or five leagues out to +sea. + +[Footnote 36: Cartier seems now to have returned to the south coast of +Newfoundland, but the relation of his voyage is too vague to be followed +with any tolerable certainty.--E.] + +[Footnote 37: The sentence in italics is given in the precise words of +Hakluyt, probably signifying that the coast extended from E.S.E. to +W.N.W.--E.] + +During the three following days we had a strong gale from the S.W. which +obliged us to steer E.N.E. and on the Saturday we came to the eastern +part of Newfoundland, between the _Granges_ and _Double_ Cape[38]. The +wind now blew a storm from the east, on which account we doubled that +cape to the N.N.W. to explore the northern part, which is all environed +with islands, as already stated. While near these islands and the land, +the wind turned to the south, which brought us within the gulf, so that +next day, being the 9th of August, we entered by the blessing of God +within the _White Sands_. Thus ended our discoveries in this voyage. On +the feast of the Assumption of our Lady, being the 15th of August, after +hearing divine service, we departed from the White Sands with a +prosperous gale, directing our course across the sea which lies between +Newfoundland and Brittany. In this passage we were much tossed during +three days by a heavy tempest from the east, which we weathered by the +blessing of God. After this we had fair weather, and arrived on the 5th +of September in the port of St Maloes. + +[Footnote 38: Probably that now called _Mistaken Points_, near Cape +Race, which latter is the south-eastern point of Newfoundland--E.] + + + +_Specimen of the language of Newfoundland._ + + The sun, _isnez_ Heaven, _camet_ + Night, _aiagla_ Water, _ame_ + Sand, _estogaz_ A sail, _aganie_ + The head, _agonaze_ The throat, _conguedo_ + The nose, _hehonguesto_ The teeth, _hesangue_ + The nails, _agetascu_ The feet, _ochedasco_ + The legs, _anoudasco_ A dead man, _amocdaza_ + A skin, _aionasca_ That man, _yca_ + A hatchet, _asogne_ A cod fish, _gadagoursere_ + Good to be eaten, _guesande_ Almonds, _anougaza_ + Figs, _asconda_ Gold, _henyosco_ + An arrow, _cacta_ A green tree, _haveda_ + An earthen dish, _undaco_ Brass, _aignetaze_ + The brow, _ausce_ A feather, _yco_ + The moon, _casmogan_ The earth, _conda_ + Wind, _canut_ Rain, _ocnoscon_ + Bread, _cacacomy_ The sea, _amet_ + A ship, _casaomy_ A man, _undo_ + The hairs, _hoc hosco_ Red cloth, _caponeta_ + The eyes, _ygata_ A knife, _agoheda_ + The mouth, _heche_ A mackarel, _agedoneta_ + The ears, _hontasco_ Nuts, _caheya_ + The arms, _agescu_ Apples, _honesta_ + A woman, _enrasesco_ Beans, _sahe_ + A sick man, _alouedeche_ A sword, _achesco_ + Shoes, _atta_ + + +SECTION II. + +_The second voyage of Jacques Cartier, to Canada, Hochelega, Saguenay, +and other lands now called New France; with the Manners and Customs of +the Natives_. + + +On Whitsunday, the 16th of May 1535, by command of our captain, Jacques +Cartier, and by common consent, we confessed our sins and received the +holy sacrament in the cathedral of St Maloes; after which, having all +presented ourselves in the Quire, we received the blessing of the lord +bishop, being in his robes. On Wednesday following, the 19th of that +month, we set sail with a favourable gale. Our squadron consisted of +three ships. The great _Hermina_ of an hundred to an hundred and twenty +tons, of which Jacques Cartier was captain and general of the +expedition, Thomas Frosmont chief master, accompanied by Claudius de +Pont Briand, son to the lord of Montceuell cupbearer to the Dauphin, +Charles de Pomeraies, John Powlet, and other gentlemen. In the second +ship of sixty tons, called the Little Hermina, Mace Salobert and William +Marie were captains under the orders of our general. The third ship of +forty tons, called the Hermerillon, was commanded by William Britton and +James Maingare. The day after we set sail, the prosperous gale was +changed into storms and contrary winds, with darksome fogs, in which we +suffered exceedingly till the 25th of June, when our three ships lost +sight of each other, and never rejoined again till after our arrival at +Newfoundland. We in the generals ship continued to be tossed about by +contrary winds till the 7th of July, when we made the island of +Birds[39], 14 leagues from the main of Newfoundland. This island is so +full of birds that our ships might have been loaded with them, and the +quantity taken away not missed. We took away two boat loads, to increase +our sea stores. The Isle of Birds is in lat. 49 deg. 40' N. + +[Footnote 39: Already supposed to be that now called Funk Island, in +lat. 50 deg. N.--E.] + +We left this island with a fair wind on the eighth of July, and came to +the harbour of White Sands, or Blanc Sablon, in the Grand Bay or Baye +des Chateaux, where the rendezvous of the squadron had been appointed. +We remained here till the 26th of July, when both of the other ships +joined us, and we then laid in a stock of wood and water for enabling us +to proceed on our voyage. Every thing being in readiness, we set sail +from the White Sands early in the morning of the 29th, and sailing along +the northern coast, which runs from S.W. to N.E. we passed by two +islands, lying farther out than the others, which we named St Williams +Islands, being twenty leagues or more from the port called Brest. All +the coast from the Bay of Castles to that place, _lies E. and W.--N.E. +and S.W._ off which there are sundry small islands, the whole being +stony and barren, without soil or trees, except in a few narrow vallies. +Next day, we sailed twelve leagues and a half westwards, in search of +other islands, among which there is a great bay towards the north, all +full of islands and great creeks, among which there seemed to be many +good harbours. We named these the Islands of St Martha, off which, about +a league and a half farther out to sea, there is a dangerous shallow, +and about seven leagues from the islands of St Martha, _on the east and +on the west_, as you pass to these islands, there are five rocks. We +passed these about one in the afternoon; and from that time till +midnight, we sailed about 15 leagues, passing to the south-eastwards of +a cape of the lower islands, which we named St Germans Islands; about +three leagues from which cape there is a very dangerous shallow. +Likewise between Cape St Germans and Cape St Martha, about two leagues +from the before-mentioned islands, there is a bank of sand on which the +water is only four fathoms deep. On account of the dangerous nature of +this coast, we struck sail and came to anchor for the rest of the night. + +Next day, being the last of July, we went along all that part of the +coast which runs east and west, or somewhat south-easterly, all of which +is beset with islands and dry sands, and is consequently of very +dangerous navigation. The distance from Cape St Germans to these islands +is about 17-1/2 leagues, beyond which is a _goodly plot of ground_[40], +surrounded by large tall trees; but all the rest of the coast is +encompassed with sand-banks, without any appearance of harbours till we +come to Cape _Thiennot_, about 7 leagues north-west from these islands. +Having noted this cape in our former voyage, we sailed on all this night +to the west and west-north-west till day; and as the wind then became +contrary, we looked out for a harbour in which to shelter our ships, and +found one for our purpose which we named Port St Nicholas. This port +lies amid four islands off the main-land, and we set up a cross on the +nearest of these islands as a land-mark or beacon. In entering Port St +Nicholas, this cross must be brought to bear N.E. and passed on the left +hand of the steersman, by which means you find six fathom water in the +passage, and four within the port. Care must be taken however to avoid +two shelves which stretch out about half a league to seawards. + +[Footnote 40: From the context, I suspect the author here means that +there was good anchorage at this place.--E.] + +The whole of this coast is full of dangerous shoals, yet having the +deceitful appearance of many good havens. We remained at Port St +Nicholas till Sunday the 7th of August, when we made sail and approached +the land southwards by Cape Rabart, which is twenty leagues from Port St +Nicholas S.S.W. Next day the wind became boisterous and contrary, and as +we could not find any haven to the southward, we coasted along northward +about ten leagues beyond Port St Nicholas, where we found a goodly great +gulf, full of islands, passages and entrances, answerable for any wind +whatever. This gulf may easily be known by a great island resembling a +cape, stretching somewhat farther out than the other islands, and about +two leagues inland there is a hill which resembles a corn rick. We named +this the Gulf of St Lawrence. On the 12th of the month, we sailed +westwards from this gulf, and discovered a cape of land toward the +south, about 25 leagues W. and by S. from the Gulf of St Lawrence. The +two savages whom we took with us on our former voyage, informed us that +this cape formed part of the great southern coast; and that, by the +southern part of an island which they pointed out, was the way to Canada +from Honguedo, whence we took them last year. They said farther, that at +two days journey from this cape and island the Kingdom of _Saguenay_ +began. On the north shore of this island, extending towards Canada, and +about three leagues off this cape, there are above 100 fathoms water; +and I believe there never were as many whales seen at once as we saw +that day around this cape. Next day, the 15th of August, having passed +the strait, we had notice of certain lands which we had left towards the +south, which are full of extensive high hills. We named the +before-mentioned cape the Island of Assumption; from which one cape of +the before-mentioned high country trends E.N.E. and W.S.W. distant 25 +leagues. The northern country, for more than thirty leagues in length, +is obviously higher than that which is to the southwards. We coasted +along the southern lands till noon of the 17th, when the wind came round +to the west; after which we steered for the northern coast which we had +before seen, and found it low toward the sea, and the northern range of +mountains within this low land stretch from east to west one quarter +south. Our two savages informed us that Saguenay began here, which is an +inhabited land producing copper, which they call _caignetdaze_. The +distance between the southern and northern lands is about 30 leagues, +and the gulf between is above 200 fathoms deep. The savages informed us +likewise that the great river _Hochelega_[41] began here, by which was +the direct way to Canada; and which river becomes always narrower as we +approach towards Canada, where the water is fresh. They said farther +that it penetrates so far inland that they had never heard of any one +who had reached its head. On considering their account, our captain +resolved to proceed no farther at this time, more especially as they +said there was no other passage, meaning to examine in the first place +the northern coast between the Gulf of St Lawrence and this great river, +to see if any other passage could be discovered. + +[Footnote 41: The river now called the St Lawrence.--E.] + +We accordingly turned back on Wednesday the 18th of August along the +northern coast, which trends from N.E. to S.W. like half of a bow, and +is very high land, yet not so high as the southern coast. Next day we +came to seven high round islands, which we named the _Seven Isles_, +which stretch 3 or 4 leagues out to sea, and are 40 leagues from the +southern shore of the gulf. Over against these, the northern shore +consists of good low grounds full of fine trees, having various +sand-banks almost dry at low water, and reaching two leagues from shore. +At the farther extremity of these low lands, which, continue for ten +leagues, there is a river of fresh water which runs with such rapidity +into the sea that the water is quite fresh a league from its mouth. +Entering this river with our boats, we had about a fathom and half water +at its mouth. In this river we found many _fishes_ resembling horses, +which our savages told us lay all day in the water and went on shore at +night. We set sail at day-break of the 21st, continuing our progress +along the northern coast of the gulf which we traced the whole of that +day to the north-east, and then stood over to the Island of +Assumption[42], being assured that no passage was to be found in that +direction. Returning to the harbour at the Seven Islands, which has 9 or +10 fathoms water, we were detained there by mists and contrary winds +till the 24th, when we stood over to the southern coast, and came to a +harbour about 80 leagues from these islands. This harbour is over +against three flat islands in the middle of the river, between which +islands and the harbour there is a very great river which runs between +high and low lands. For more than three leagues out to sea there are +many dangerous shelves, leaving not quite two fathoms water, so that the +entrance is very dangerous; yet near these shelves the water is from 15 +to 20 fathoms deep from shore to shore. All the _northern_[43] coast +runs from N.E. and by N. to S.W. and by S. This haven is but of small +value, as it is only formed by the tide of flood, and is inaccessible at +low water. We named the three small flat islets _St Johns Isles_, +because we discovered them on the day of St John the Baptists +decapitation. Before coming to this haven, there is an island about 5 +leagues to the eastward, between which and the land there is no passage +except for small boats. The best station for ships in this harbour is to +the south of a little island and almost close to its shore. The tide +here flows at least two fathoms, but ships have to lie aground at low +water. + +[Footnote 42: The island here called Assumption, certainly is that now +called Anticosti, a term formed or corrupted from the native name +Natiscotec.--E.] + +[Footnote 43: It is probable that we should here read the _southern_ +coast.--E.] + +Leaving this harbour on the 1st of September, we proposed sailing for +Canada; and at about 15 leagues W.S.W. we came to three islands, over +against which is a deep and rapid river, which our two savages told as +leads to the country and kingdom of Saguenay[44]. This river runs +between very high and steep hills of bare rock, with very little soil; +yet great numbers of trees grow among these rocks, as luxuriantly as if +upon level and fertile land, insomuch that some of them would make masts +for vessels of 30 tons. At the mouth of this river we met four canoes +full of savages, who seemed very fearful of us, and some of them even +went away. One of the canoes however, ventured to approach within hail, +when one of our savages spoke to the people, telling his name, on which +they came to us. Next day, leaving that river we proceeded on for +Canada; and in consequence of the rapidity of the tide, we found the +navigation very dangerous; more especially as to the southward of that +river there are two islands, around which for above three leagues there +are many rocks and great stones, and only two fathoms water. Besides the +direction of the tide among these islands and rocks is very uncertain +and changeable; so that if it had not been for our boats, we had been in +great danger of losing our pinnace. In coasting along, we found above 30 +fathoms water just off shore, except among these rocks and islands. +About 5 leagues beyond the river Saguenay, to the S.W. there is another +island on the north side containing high land, where we proposed to have +come to anchor in waiting for the next tide of flood, but we had no +ground with a line of 120 fathom only an arrow-shot from shore; so that +we were obliged to return to that island, where we had 35 fathoms. We +set sail again next morning to proceed onwards; and this day we got +notice of a strange kind of _fish_ which had never been seen before, +which are called _Adhothuys_ by the natives. They are about the bigness +of a porpoise, but no way like them, having well proportioned bodies and +heads like a greyhound, their whole bodies being entirely white without +spot. There are great numbers of them in this river, and they always +keep in the water, the natives saying that they are very savoury and +good eating, and are nowhere else to be found but in the mouth of this +river. On the 6th of September we proceeded about 15 leagues farther up +the river, where we found an island having a small haven towards the +north, around which there were innumerable large tortoises. There are +here likewise vast numbers of the _fish_ called _Adhothuys_, already +mentioned; and the rapidity of the tide at this place is as great as it +is at Bourdeaux in France. This island is about three leagues long and +two broad, all of rich fertile soil, having many fine trees of various +kinds; among which were many filbert trees, full of nuts, which we found +to be larger and better than ours but somewhat harder, on which account +we named it _Isle aux Condres_, or Filbert Island. + +[Footnote 44: The Saguenay river runs into the north-west side of the St +Lawrence, in lat. 48 deg. 7' N. long. 69 deg. 9' W.--E.] + +On the 7th of the month we went seven or eight leagues up the river from +Filbert Island to 14 other islands, where the country of Canada begins. +One of these islands is ten leagues long and five broad, thickly +inhabited by natives who live entirely by fishing in the river[45]. +Having cast anchor between this island and the northern coast, we went +on shore accompanied by our two savages, whose names were Taignoagny and +Domagaia. At first the inhabitants of the island avoided us, till at +length our two savages got speech of some of them, telling who they +were, on which the natives seemed much rejoiced, dancing and singing and +shewing many other ceremonies; many of their chief men came now to our +boats, bringing great numbers of eels and other fishes, likewise two or +three burdens of _great millet_ or maize, and many very large +musk-melons. On the same day many canoes filled with natives, both men +and women, came to visit our two savages, all of whom were received in a +kindly manner by our captain, who gave them many things of small value +with which they were much gratified. Next day the lord of Canada came to +our ships with twelve canoes and many people; but causing ten of his +canoes to go back again, he came up to our ships with only two canoes +and sixteen men. The proper name of this person was Donnacona, but his +dignified name, as a lord or chief, was Agouhanna. On coming near the +smallest of our ships, he stood up in his canoe and made a long oration, +moving his body and limbs in an extraordinary manner, which among them +pass for signs of friendship and security. He then came up towards the +generals ship, in which were Taignoagny and Domagaia, with whom he +entered into conversation. These men related to him all that they had +seen in France, and what good treatment they had received in that +country, at all which Agouhanna seemed much pleased, and desired our +captain to hold out his arm for him to kiss. Our captain now went into +Agouhannas canoe, and made bread and wine be handed down to him, which +he offered to the chief and his followers, with which they were much +gratified. When all this was over, our captain came again on board, and +the chief went with his canoes to his own abode. + +[Footnote 45: Obviously the Isle of Orleans.--E.] + +The captain ordered all the boats to be made ready, in which we went up +the river against the stream for ten leagues, keeping close to the shore +of the island, at which distance we found an excellent sound with a +small river and haven, in which there is about three fathoms water at +flood tide. As this place seemed very pleasant and safe for our ships, +we brought them thither, calling it the harbour of St Croix, because +discovered on Holy Cross Day. Near this is a village named Stadacona, of +which Donnacona is lord, and where he resides. It stands on a piece of +as fine fertile ground as one would wish to see, full of as goodly trees +as are to be seen in France, such as oaks, elms, ashes, walnut-trees, +maples, cydrons, vines, and white thorns which bear fruit as large as +damson plumbs, and many other sorts of trees. Under these there grows +great abundance of fine tall hemp, which springs up spontaneously +without cultivation. Having examined this place and found it fit for the +purpose, the captain proposed returning to the ships to bring them to +this port; but we were met, when coming out of the river, by one of the +chiefs of Stadacona, accompanied by many men, women, and children. This +chief made a long oration to us, all the women dancing and singing for +joy up to the knees in water. The captain caused the canoe to come along +side of his boat, and presented them all with some trifles, such as +knives, glass beads, and the like, with which they were so much +delighted that we could hear them singing and dancing when we were three +leagues off. + +After returning to the ships, the captain landed again on the island to +examine and admire the beauty, variety, and luxuriance of its trees and +vegetables. On account of the great number of vines which it produced +everywhere in profusion, he named it the Island of Bacchus, but it is +now called the Isle of Orleans. It is in length twelve leagues, +exceedingly pleasant and fruitful, and everywhere covered with trees, +except in some places where there are a few huts of fishers, around +which some small patches are cleared and cultivated. We departed with +our ships next day, and on the 14th of September we brought them up to +Port St Croix, and were met on the way by the lord Donnacona, +accompanied by our two savages, Taignoagny and Domagaia, with 25 canoes +full of natives; all of whom came to our ships with every sign of mirth +and confidence, except our own two savages, who would on no account come +on board though repeatedly invited, on which we began to suspect some +sinister intentions. On the next day, the captain went on shore to give +directions for fixing certain piles or stakes in the water for the +greater security of our ships, and Donnacona with a considerable number +of the natives came to meet him; but our two savages kept aloof under a +point or nook of land at some distance, and would on no account join our +company. Understanding where they were, our captain went towards them, +accompanied by some of our men; and, after the customary salutations, +Taignoagny represented that Donnacona was much dissatisfied because the +captain and his men were always armed, while the natives were not. To +this the captain answered, that he was sorry this should give offence; +but as they two who had been in France knew that this was the custom of +their country, he could not possibly do otherwise. Yet Donnacona +continued to converse with our captain in the most friendly manner, and +we concluded that Taignoagny and Domagaia had invented this pretence of +their own accord; more especially as Donnacona and our captain entered +into the strictest bonds of friendship, on which all the natives set up +three horrible yells, after which the companies separated, and we went +on board. On the following day, we brought the two largest of our ships +into the harbour within the mouth of the small river, in which there are +three fathoms water at flood tide, and only half a fathom at the ebb. +The pinnace, or smallest vessel, was left at anchor without the harbour, +as we intended to use her for exploring the Hochelega.[46] As soon as +our ships were placed in safety, we saw Donnacona coming towards us, +accompanied by Taignoagny, Domagaia, and above 500 natives, men, women, +and children. Donnacona and ten or twelve of the principal persons came +on board the captains ship, where they were courteously received by the +captain and all of us, and many gifts of small value were given them. +Then Taignoagny informed our captain, that Donnacona was dissatisfied +with our intention of exploring the Hochelega, and would not allow any +one to go with us. The captain said in reply, that he was resolved to go +there if possible, as he had been ordered by his sovereign to penetrate +the country in that direction as far as was practicable: That if +Taignoagny would go along with him, as he had promised, he should be +well used, and should be rewarded to his satisfaction on their return. +This was refused by Taignoagny, and the whole of the savages immediately +retired. + +[Footnote 46: The native name of the river St Lawrence is Hoshelega or +Hochelega, sometimes called the river of Canada.--E.] + +Next day, the 17th September, Donnacona and his company came back to us, +bringing many eels and other fishes, which they procure in great +abundance in the river. On their arrival at the ships, all the savages +fell a dancing and singing as usual, after which Donnacona caused all +his people to stand off on one side; then, making our captain and all +our people stand within a circle which he drew on the sand, he made a +long oration, holding a female child of ten or twelve years old by the +hand, whom he presented to our captain at the end of his speech; upon +which all his people set up three loud howls, in token of joy and +friendship, at least so we understood them. Donnacona afterwards +presented two boys successively, who were younger than the girls, +accompanied by other ceremonies, among which were very loud shrieks or +yells as before. For these presents our captain gave many hearty thanks. +Then Taignoagny told the captain that one of the boys was his own +brother, and that the girl was daughter to a sister of Donnacona; and +that the presents had been given on purpose to induce him not to go to +Hochelega. To this the captain answered, that he would certainly return +the children, if that were the purpose of the gift; as he could on no +account desist from going where he had been commanded by his king. But +Domagaia, the other savage who had been in France, told the captain that +the children had been presented as a token of friendship and security, +and that he Domagaia was willing to accompany us to Hochelega. On this +high words arose between Taignoagny and Domagaia, by which we inferred +that the former was a crafty knave, and intended to do us some +treacherous act of mischief as indeed sufficiently appeared from his +former conduct. The captain sent the children to our ships, whence he +caused two swords and two brass basons to be brought, which he presented +to Donnacona, who was much gratified and expressed great thankfulness, +commanding all his people to sing and dance. The chief then expressed a +desire to have one of our cannons fired off, as our two savages had told +him many wonderful things respecting them. He accordingly ordered twelve +cannons, loaded with ball, to be fired off into the woods close by, at +which all the savages were greatly astonished, as if heaven had fallen +upon them, and ran away howling, shrieking and yelling, as if all hell +had broke loose. Before we went on board, Taignoagny informed us that +our people in the pinnace, which we had left at anchor without the +harbour, had slain two men by a shot from one of their cannons, on which +all the natives had fled away. This we afterwards found to be false, as +our men had not fired any that day. + +The savages still endeavoured to hinder us from going to Hochelega, and +devised the following stratagem to induce us not to go. They dressed up +three men like devils, in black and white dogs skins, having their faces +blackened, and with horns on their heads a yard long. These men were put +secretly into a canoe, while all the savages lay hid in the wood waiting +the tide to bring the canoe with the mock devils. On the approach of +that canoe, all the savages came out of the wood, but did not come so +near us as usual. Taignoagny came forwards to salute our captain, who +asked if he would have a boat sent to bring him on board; but he +declined to do so then, saying he would come on board afterwards. At +this time the canoe with the three devils made its appearance, and on +passing close by the ships, one of these men stood up and made a long +oration, without ever turning round to look at us. The boat floated past +us towards the land, on which Donnacona and all his people pursued them +and laid hold of the canoe, on which the three devils fell down as if +dead, when they were carried out into the wood, followed by all the +savages. We could hear them from our ships in a long and loud conference +above half an hour; after which Taignoagny and Domagaia came towards us, +holding their hands joined above their heads, and carrying their hats +under their upper garments, as if in great astonishment. Taignoagny, +looking up to heaven, exclaiming three times Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! +Domagaia in the same manner cried out, Jesus Maria! Jacques Cartier! On +seeing these gestures and ceremonies, our captain asked what was the +matter, and what had happened. They answered that they had very ill news +to tell, saying in French _Nenni est il bon_, or it is not good. On +being again asked what all this meant; they said, that their god +Cudruaigny had spoken in Hochelega, and had sent these three men to say +there was so much ice and snow in that country, that who ever ventured +there would surely die. On this we laughed mocking them, saying that +their god Cudruaigny was a fool, and knew not what he said; and desired +them to shew us his messengers, saying that Christ would defend them +from all cold if they believed in him. They then asked the captain if he +had spoken with Jesus; who answered no, but the priests had, who had +assured him of fair weather. They then thanked the captain for this +intelligence, and went into the wood to communicate it to the rest, who +all now rushed from the wood as if glad of the news, giving three great +shouts, and then fell to dancing and singing as usual. Yet our two +savages declared that Donnacona would not allow any one to accompany us +to Hochelega, unless some hostage was left for his safe return. The +captain then said, if they would not go willingly they might stay, and +he would go without them. + +On the 19th of September, we hoisted sail in the pinnace accompanied by +two of our boats, the captain taking most of his officers and fifty +mariners along with him, intending to go up the river towards Hochelega +with the tide of flood. Both shores of the river, as far as the eye +could see, appeared as goodly a country as could be desired, all +replenished with fine trees, among which all along the river grew +numerous vines as full of grapes as they could hang, which, though quite +natural, seemed as if they had been planted. Yet, as they were not +dressed and managed according to art, their bunches were not so large, +nor their grapes so sweet as ours. We also saw many huts along the +river, inhabited by fishers, who came to us with as much familiarity and +kindness as if we had been their countrymen, bringing us great +quantities of fish and such other things as they had, for which we paid +them in trifles to their great contentment. We stopped at the place +named Hochelay, 25 leagues above Canada,[47] where the river becomes +very narrow with a rapid current, and very dangerous on account of +certain stones or rocks. Many canoes came off to us, in one of which +came the chief man of the place, who made us a long oration, explaining +by signs and gestures that the river became more dangerous the higher we +went, and advising us to take good care of ourselves. This chief +presented two of his own children to our captain, one of which only he +received, being a girl of 7 or 8 years old, returning the boy who was +too young, being only 2 or 3 years of age. The captain entertained this +chief and his company as well as he could, presenting them all with some +trifles, with which they returned to the shore well pleased. This chief +and his wife came down afterwards to Canada to visit their child, and +brought with them some small presents for our captain. + +[Footnote 47: By Canada in the text, the lordship belonging to Donnacona +seems meant, which appears to have been what is now called the Isle of +Orleans.--E.] + +From the 19th to the 28th of September, we sailed up this great river, +never losing an hour of time, finding the whole land on both sides as +pleasant a country as could be desired, full of fine tall trees, as oak, +elm, walnut, cedar, fir, ash, box, willow, and great store of vines +loaded with grapes, so that when any of our people went on shore, they +brought back as many as they could carry. There were likewise, cranes, +swans, geese, ducks, pheasants, partridges, thrushes, blackbirds, +finches, redbreasts, nightingales, sparrows, and many other birds like +those of France in vast abundance. On the 28th of September we came to a +wide lake, or enlargement of the river, 5 or 6 leagues broad and 12 +long, which we called the Lake of _Angoulesme_[48], all through which we +went against the tide, having only two fathoms water. On our arrival at +the upper extremity of the lake, we could find no passage, as it seemed +entirely shut up, and had only a fathom and a half water, a little more +or less. We were therefore obliged to cast anchor here with our pinnace, +and went with our two boats to seek out some passage; and in one place +we found four or five branches which seemed to come from the river of +Hochelega into the lake; but at the mouths of these branches, owing to +the great rapidity of the currents, there were bars or shallows having +only six feet water. After passing these shallows, we had 4 or 5 fathoms +at flood tide, this being the season of the year when the water is +lowest; for at other times the tide flows higher by three fathoms. All +these four or five branches of the river surround five or six very +pleasant islands, which are at the head of the lake; and about 15 +leagues higher up, all these unite into one. We landed on one of these +islands, where we met five natives who were hunting wild beasts, and who +came as familiarly to our boats as if they had always lived amongst us. +When our boats were near the shore, one of these men took our captain in +his arms, and carried him to the land with as much ease as if he had +been a child of five years old. We found that these people had taken a +great number of wild rats which live in the water, which are as large as +rabbits and very good to eat. They gave these to our captain, who gave +them knives and glass-beads in return. We asked them by signs if this +were the way to Hochelega, to which they answered that it was, and that +we had still three days sail to go thither. + +[Footnote 48: Now called St Peters Lake, between which and _Trois +Rivieres_, the St Lawrence river is narrow with a rapid current.--E.] + +Finding it impossible to take the pinnace any higher, the captain +ordered the boats to be made ready for the rest of the expedition, +taking on board as much ammunition and provisions as they could carry. +He departed with these on the 29th September, accompanied by Claudius de +Pont Briand, Charles de Pommeraye, John Govion, and John Powlet, with 28 +mariners, intending to go up the river as far as possible. We sailed +with prosperous weather till the 2d of October, when we arrived at +Hochelega, which is 45 leagues above the head of the lake of Augoulesme, +where we left the pinnace. At this place, and indeed all the way up, we +met with many of the natives, who brought us fish and other provisions, +always dancing and singing on our arrival. To gratify them and keep them +our friends, the captain always rewarded them on these occasions with +knives, beads, and such trifles to their full satisfaction. On +approaching Hochelega above 1000 natives, men, women and children came +to meet us, giving us as friendly and hearty welcome as if we had been +of their own nation come home after a long and perilous absence, all the +men dancing in one place, the women in another, and the children in a +third; after which they brought us great abundance of fish and of their +bread made of maize, both of which they threw into our boats in +profusion. Observing their gentle and friendly dispositions, our captain +went on shore well accompanied, on which the natives came clustering +about us in the most affectionate manner, bringing their young children +in their arms, eager to have them touched and noticed by the captain and +others, and shewing every sign of mirth and gladness at our arrival. +This scene lasted above half an hour, when the captain got all the women +to draw up in regular order, to whom he distributed many beads and +baubles of tin, and gave some knives among the men. He then returned to +the boats to supper and passed the night on board, all the people +remaining on the shore as near as possible to the boats, dancing merrily +and shouting out _aguiaze_, which in their language is an expression of +joy and satisfaction. + +Very early next morning, 3d October, having dressed himself splendidly, +our captain went on shore to see the town in which these people dwelt, +taking with him five of the principal officers and twenty men, all well +armed, leaving the remainder of the people to take care of the boats. +The city of Hochelega is six miles from the river side, and the road +thither is as well beaten and frequented as can be, leading through as +fine a country as can be seen, full of as fine oaks as any in France, +the whole ground below being strewed over with fine acorns. When we had +gone four or five miles we were met by one of the chief lords of the +city accompanied by a great many natives, who made us understand by +signs that we must stop at a place where they had made a large fire, +which we did accordingly. When we had rested there some time, the chief +made a long discourse in token of welcome and friendship, shewing a +joyful countenance and every mark of good will. On this our captain +presented him with two hatchets and two knives, and hung a cross from +his neck, which he made him kiss, with all which the chief seemed much +pleased. After this we resumed our march, and about a mile and a half +farther we found fine large fields covered with the corn of the country, +resembling the millet of Brasil, rather larger than small pease. In the +midst of these cultivated fields the city of Hochelega is situated, near +and almost joined to a great mountain, which is very fertile and +cultivated all round, to which we gave the name of _Mount Royal_[49]. + +[Footnote 49: Montreal, whence the island and city of the same +name.--E.] + +The city of Hochelega is circular, and encompassed all round with three +rows of ramparts made of timber, one within the other, "framed like a +sharp spire but laid across above, the middlemost is made and built as a +direct line but perpendicular, the ramparts are framed and fashioned +with pieces of timber laid along the ground, well and cunningly joined +together[50]." This inclosure is about two roods high, and has but one +gate of entrance, which is shut when necessary with piles, stakes, and +bars. Over the gate, and in many other parts of the wall, there are +scaffolds having ladders up to them, and on these scaffolds there are +large heaps of stones, ready for defending the place against an enemy. +The town consisted of about fifty large houses, each of them about fifty +paces long and twelve broad, all built of wood and covered with broad +strips of bark, like boards, nicely joined. These houses are divided +within into many rooms, and in the middle of each there is a court or +hall, in which they make their fire. Thus they live in communities, each +separate family having a chamber to which the husband, wife, and +children retire to sleep. On the tops of their houses they have garrets +or granaries, in which they store up the maize of which their bread is +made, which they call _caracouny_, and which is made in this manner. +They have blocks of wood hollowed out, like those on which we beat hemp, +and in these they beat their corn to powder with wooden beetles. The +meal is kneaded into cakes, which they lay on a broad hot stone, +covering it up with other heated stones, which thus serve instead of +ovens. Besides these cakes, they make several kinds of pottage from +their maize, and also of beans and pease, both of which they have in +abundance. They have also a variety of fruits, such as musk-melons and +very large cucumbers. They have likewise large vessels in all their +houses, as big as butts or large hogsheads, in which they store up their +fish for winter provision, having dried them in the sun during summer +for that purpose, and of these they lay up large stores for their +provision during winter. All their victuals, however, are without the +smallest taste of salt. They sleep on beds made of the bark of trees +spread on the ground, and covered over with the skins of wild beasts; +with which likewise their garments are made. + +[Footnote 50: This description of the manner in which the ramparts of +Hochelega were constructed, taken literally from Hakluyt, is by no means +obvious or intelligible. Besides it seems rather ridiculous to dignify +the village of a horde of savages with the name of city.--E.] + +That which they hold in highest estimation among all their possessions, +is a substance which they call _esurgny_ or _cornibotz_, which is as +white as snow, and which is procured in the following manner. When any +one is adjudged to death for a crime, or when they have taken any of +their enemies during war, having first slain the person, they make many +deep gashes on the buttocks, flanks, thighs, and shoulders of the dead +body, which is then sunk to the bottom of the river, in a certain place +where the _esurgny_ abounds. After remaining 10 or 12 hours, the body is +drawn up, and the _esurgny_ or _cornibotz_ is found in the gashes. Of +this they make beads, which they wear about their necks as we do chains +of gold and silver, accounting it their most precious riches. These +ornaments, as we have proved by experience, have the power to staunch +bleeding at the nose[51]. This nation devotes itself entirely to +husbandry and fishing for subsistence, having no care for any other +wealth or commodity, of which they have indeed no knowledge, as they +never travel from their own country, as is done by the natives of Canada +and Saguenay; yet the Canadians and the inhabitants of eight or ten +other villages on the river, are subject to the people of Hochelega. + +[Footnote 51: It is impossible to give any explanation of this +ridiculous account of the _esurgny_, any farther than that the Frenchmen +were either imposed upon by the natives, or misunderstood them from not +knowing their language. In a subsequent part of the voyages of Cartier, +this substance is called _Esnoguy_.--E.] + +When we came near the town, a vast number of the inhabitants came out to +meet us, and received us in the most cordial manner, while the guides +led us to the middle of the town, in which there is a large open square, +a good stones throw from side to side, in which they desired us by signs +to remain. Then all the women and girls of the place gathered together +in the square, many of whom carried young children in their arms; as +many of them as could get forwards came up and rubbed our faces, arms, +and bodies, giving every token of joy and gladness for having seen us, +and requiring us by signs to touch their children. After this, the men +caused the women to withdraw, and all sat down on the ground round about +us, as if they meant to represent some comedy or shew. The women came +back, each of them carrying a square matt like a carpet, which they +spread out on the ground and caused us to sit down on them. When this +was done, _Agouhanna_, the king or lord of the town, was brought into +the square on the shoulders of nine or ten men. He sat upon a large deer +skin, and was set down on one of the matts near our captain, all the +people signifying to us by signs that this was their king. Agouhanna was +apparently about fifty years old, and no way better clothed than any of +the rest, except that he had a kind of red wreath round his head instead +of a crown, which was made of the skins of hedgehogs. He was full of +palsy, and all his limbs were shrunk and withered. After he had saluted +our captain and all the company, welcoming us all to his town by signs +and gestures, he shewed his shrunk legs and arms to the captain, +desiring him to touch them, which he did accordingly, rubbing them with +his hands. Then Agouhanna took the crown or fillet from his own head, +and gave it to our captain; after which several diseased men were +brought before the captain, some blind and others cripple, lame or +impotent of their limbs, that he might touch them, as they seemed to +think that God had come down from heaven to heal them. Some of these men +were so old that the hair of their eyebrows grew down over their cheeks. +Seeing the misery and devotion of these ignorant people, our captain +recited the commencement of the gospel of St John, "_In the beginning +was the word_," &c. touching all the diseased persons, and prayed to God +that he would open the hearts of these deluded people, making them to +know his holy word, and to receive baptism and the Christian faith. He +then opened a service-book, and read over the passion of Christ with an +audible voice; during which all the natives kept a profound silence, +looking up to heaven and imitating all our gestures. He then caused all +the men to stand orderly on one side, the women on the other, and the +young people on a third, giving hatchets to the chiefs, knives to the +others, beads and other trifles to the women, and rings, counters, and +broaches of tin to the children. He then caused our trumpets and other +musical instruments to be sounded, which made the natives very merry. We +then took leave of them to return to our boats, on which the women +placed themselves in our way, offering us of their provisions which they +had made ready for us, such as fish, pottage, beans, and other things; +but, as all their victuals were dressed without salt, we did not like +them, and gave them to understand by signs that we were not hungry. + +When we left the town, many of the men and women followed us, and +conducted us to the top of Mount Royal, which is about a league from the +town, and whence we had a commanding view of the country for thirty +leagues round. To the north we saw many hills stretching east and west, +and a similar range to the south, between which the whole country was +exceedingly pleasant, being level and fit for husbandry. In the midst of +these pleasant plains, we could see the river a great way farther up +than where we had left our boats; and at about fifteen leagues from us, +as far as we could judge, it came through the fair round mountains to +the south in a great rapid fall, the largest, widest, and swiftest that +ever was seen. The natives informed us that there were three such falls +besides; but as we did not understand their language, we could not learn +the distance between these. They likewise informed us by signs, that +after passing above these three falls, a man might sail three months +continually up the river, and that along the hills to the north, there +is another great river coming from the west, which we believed to be +that which runs through the country of Saguenay. One of the natives, +without any sign or question made to him, took hold of the silver chain +of our captains whistle, and the dagger haft of one of the mariners, +which was of gilt brass, giving us to understand that such metals came +from that river, where there were evil people named _Agouionda_, armed +even to their finger ends, shewing us the way in which their armour was +made, being wrought of cords and wood very ingeniously. They gave us +also to understand that these _Agouionda_ were continually at war among +themselves, but we could not learn how far their country lay, for want +of understanding their language. Our captain shewed them some copper, +which they call _caignetadize_, and asked them by signs if any came from +thence. They answered _no_, shaking their heads, but intimated that it +came from Saguenay, which is in quite a different direction. We now +proceeded towards our boats, accompanied by great numbers of the people, +some of whom, when they noticed any of our men weary, took them up on +their shoulders and carried them along. As soon as we got to the boats, +we set sail to return to our pinnace, being afraid lest any accident +might have happened in our absence. Our departure seemed to grieve these +friendly natives, who followed us along the shore as far as they were +able. We went so fast down the river, that we came to our pinnace on +Monday the 4th October; and set off next day with the pinnace and boats +to return to the port of the Holy Cross in the province of Canada, where +our ships lay. On the 7th of the month we came to a river running from +the north, having four small islands at its mouth, overgrown with fine +large trees, which we named the Fouetz River. Entering this river, we +found one of the islands stretched a great way up. Our captain caused a +large cross to be set up at the point of this river, and went up the +river with the tide as far as possible; but finding it very shallow and +of no importance, we soon returned and resumed our voyage down the Great +River. + +On Monday the 11th October, we came to the port of the Holy Cross, where +we found that the masters and mariners who were left there had +constructed a stockade before the ships, of large timber set upright and +well fastened together, having likewise planted several cannon, and made +all other needful preparations for defence against the natives, in case +of any attack. As soon as Donnacona heard of our return, he came to +visit us, accompanied by Taignoagny and Domagaia and many others, +pretending to be very glad of our arrival, and making many compliments +to our captain, who entertained them in a friendly manner, although they +had not so deserved by their former conduct. Donnacona invited our +captain to come and see Canada, which he promised to do next day, being +the 13th of the month. He accordingly went, accompanied by all the +gentlemen and fifty mariners well armed. Their place of abode, named +Stadacona, was about a league from the ships; and when we were arrived +within a stones throw of the place, many of the inhabitants came to meet +us, drawing up in two ranks, the men on one side and the women on the +other, all dancing and singing. After mutual salutation, the captain +distributed knives and other trifles among them, giving a tin ring to +each of the women and children, with which they were much pleased. After +this, Donnacona and Taignoagny conducted the captain to see the houses, +which were very well provided with victuals for winter use. Among other +things, they shewed us the _scalps_ of five men spread on boards as we +do parchment, which Donnacona told us were taken from a people called +_Toudamani_, dwelling to the south, who are continually engaged in war +against his nation. They told us that, about two years ago, as they were +going to war in _Hognedo_, having 200 persons, men, women, and children, +and were all asleep in a fort which they had made in an island over +against the mouth of the Saguenay River, they were assaulted during the +night by the _Toudamans_, who set their fort on fire, and as they +endeavoured to come out, their enemies slew the whole party, five only +making their escape. They were greatly grieved at this loss, but +signified by signs that they hoped to be amply revenged at some future +opportunity. + +This nation has no knowledge of the true God, but believe in one whom +they call _Cudruaigni_, who they say often informs them of future +events, and who throws dust into their eyes when angry with them[52]. +They believe that they go to the stars after death, and thence descend +gradually towards the earth, as the stars do to the horizon; after which +they inhabit certain pleasant fields, abounding in precious trees, sweet +flowers, and fine fruits. We endeavoured to convince them, of their +erroneous belief, telling them that Cudruaigni was only a devil or evil +spirit, who deceived them; and affirmed that there is only one God of +heaven, the creator of all, from whom we have all good things, and that +it is necessary to be baptised, otherwise they would all be damned. They +readily acquiesced in these and other things concerning our faith, +calling their Cudruaigni _agouiada_, or the evil one, and requested our +captain that they might be baptised; and Donnacona, Taignoagny, +Domagaia, and all the people of the town came to us hoping to receive +baptism. But as we could not thoroughly understand their meaning, and +there was no one with us who was able to teach them the doctrines of our +holy religion, we desired Taignoagny and Domagaia to tell them that we +should return to them at another time, bringing priests and the chrysm +along with us, without which they could not be baptised. All of this was +thoroughly understood by our two savages, as they had seen many children +baptised when in Brittany, and the people were satisfied with these +reasons, expressing their great satisfaction at our promise. + +[Footnote 52: This seems a figurative expression, implying that he keeps +them in ignorance of what is to happen when displeased.--E.] + +These savages live together in common, as has been already mentioned +respecting the inhabitants of Hochelega, and are tolerably well provided +with those things which their country produces. They are clothed in the +skins of wild beasts, but in a very imperfect and wretched manner. In +winter they wear hose and shoes made of wild beasts skins, but go +barefooted in summer. They observe the rules of matrimony, only that +every man has two or three wives, who never marry again if their +husbands happen to die, wearing all their lives after a kind of mourning +dress, and smearing their faces with charcoal dust and grease, as thick +as the back of a knife, by which they are known to be widows. They have +a detestable custom with regard to their young women, who are all placed +together in one house as soon as they are marriageable, where they +remain as harlots for all who please to visit them, till such time as +they may find a match. I assert this from experience, having seen many +houses occupied in this manner, just as those houses in France where +young persons are boarded for their education; and the conduct of the +inhabitants of these houses is indecent and scandalous in the extreme. +The men are not much given to labour, digging the ground in a +superficial manner with a wooden implement, by which they cultivate +their corn resembling that which grows in Brazil, and which they call +_effici_. They have also plenty of melons, pompions, gourds, cucumbers, +and pease and beans of various colours, all different from ours. They +have likewise a certain kind of herb of which they lay up a store every +summer, having first dried it in the sun. This is only used by the men, +who always carry some of this dried herb in a small skin bag hanging +from their necks, in which they also carry a hollow piece of stone or +wood like a pipe. When they use this herb, they bruise it to powder, +which they put into one end of the before-mentioned pipe, and lay a +small piece of live coal upon it, after which they suck so long at the +other end that they fill their bodies full of smoke, till it comes out +of their mouth and nostrils, as if from the chimney of a fire-place. +They allege that this practice keeps them warm and is conducive to +health, and they constantly carry some of this herb about with them for +this purpose. We have tried to use this smoke, but on putting it to our +mouths it seemed as hot as pepper. The women among these savages labour +much more than the men, in tilling the ground, fishing, and other +matters; and all of them, men, women, and children, are able to resist +the extremity of cold better even than the wild beasts; for we have seen +them in the extremest cold, which is most amazingly severe, come stark +naked to our ships over the ice and snow, which must appear incredible +to those who have not witnessed such hardiness. During winter, when the +whole country is covered with ice and snow, they take great numbers of +wild beasts; such as stags, fauns, bears, martins, hares, foxes, and +many other kinds, the flesh of which they eat almost raw, being only +dried in the sun or in smoke, as they do their fish. So far as we were +acquainted with these people, it were an easy matter to civilize them +and to teach them any thing whatever: May God of his great mercy give a +blessing to this, in his good time. Amen! + + +SECTION III. + +_Wintering of Jacques Cartier in Canada in 1536, and return to France +in 1537_. + + +The great river of Canada or Hochelega, begins at the sea or gulf of St +Lawrence below the Island of Assumption, or Anticosti. Over against the +high mountains of Hognedo and the Seven Islands, the breadth of this +river is from 35 to 40 leagues, being 200 fathoms deep in the mid +channel. The surest way to sail up this river is on the south side[53]. +On the north side, at about seven leagues distance from the Seven +Islands, there are two considerable rivers which come from the hills of +Saguenay, and occasion several very dangerous shoals. At the entrance of +these rivers we saw vast numbers of whales and sea-horses; and near +these islands a small river runs in through marshy grounds, which is +frequented by immense numbers of water-fowl. From these Seven Islands to +Hochelega or Montreal, the distance is about 300 leagues[54]. The +original beginning of this great river may be considered as at the mouth +of the Saguenay river, which comes from high and steep hills, from +whence upwards is the province of Canada on the north side. That river +is high, deep, and straight, wherefore it is dangerous for any vessel to +navigate it. Beyond that river upwards is the province of Canada, in +which are abundance of people who inhabit villages or open towns. In +this river there are many islands great and small, among which is one +ten leagues long[55], full of large tall trees and many vines. This +island maybe passed on both sides, but the safest way is on its south +side. To the westwards, on the shore or bank of the river there is an +excellent and pleasant bay or creek, in which ships may safely ride. +Near this, one part of the river for about the third part of a league is +very narrow and deep with a swift current, opposite to which is a goodly +piece of high land on which a town stands. The country around is of +excellent soil and well cultivated. This place is called Stadacona, and +is the abode of Donnacona and of the two men we took in our first +voyage, Domagaia and Taignoagny. Before coming up to it there are four +other towns, named Ayraste, Starnatay, Tailla on a hill, and Scitadin. +And near Stadacona to the north is the harbour of St Croix, in which we +wintered from the 15th September 1535 to the 16th May 1536, during all +which time our ships remained dry. Beyond Stadacona, going up the river, +is the habitation of the people called Teguenondahi, on a high mountain, +and the valley or champain country of Hochelay, all of which for a great +extent on both sides of the river is as fine a plain as ever was seen. +There are mountains to be seen at a distance from the great river, +whence several rivers descend to join the Hochelay. All the country is +over-grown with many different kinds of trees and many vines, except +around the towns, where the inhabitants have grubbed up the trees to +admit of cultivating the ground, and for the purpose of building their +houses. This country abounds in stags, deer, bears, rabbits, hares, +martins, foxes, otters, beavers, weasels, badgers, and rats of vast +size, besides many other kinds of wild beasts, in the skins of which the +inhabitants clothe themselves, having no other materials. It abounds +also in a variety of birds, as cranes, swans, bustards, geese both white +and grey, ducks, thrushes, black-birds, turtles, wild-pigeons, linnets, +finches, redbreasts, stares, nightingales, and many others. No part of +the world was ever seen producing greater numbers and varieties of fish, +both these belonging to the sea and to fresh water, according to their +seasons. Among these many whales, porpoises, sea-horses, and a kind +named Adhothuis which we had never seen or heard of before. These are as +large as porpoises, as white as snow, having bodies and heads resembling +grey-hounds, and are accustomed to reside between the fresh and salt +water about the mouth of the Saguenay river. + +[Footnote 53: Modern navigators prefer the north side, all the way from +the Seven Islands to the Isle of Orleans, where they take the southern +channel to Point Levi, at which place they enter the bason of +Quebec.--E.] + +[Footnote 54: The distance does not exceed 135 marine leagues.--E.] + +[Footnote 55: The Isle of Orleans, the only one which can be here +alluded to, is only 6 1/2 marine leagues in length; Cartier seems to use +the small French league of about 12 furlongs, and even not to have been +very accurate in its application.--E.] + +After our return from Hochelega or the Isle of Montreal, we dwelt and +trafficked in great cordiality with the natives near our ships, except +that we sometimes had strife with certain ill-disposed people, much to +the displeasure of the rest. From Donnacona and others, we learnt that +the river of Saguenay is capable of being navigated by small boats for a +distance of eight or nine days journey; but that the most convenient and +best way to the country of Saguenay is to ascend the great river in the +first place to Hochelega, and thence by another river which comes from +Saguenay, to which it is a navigation of a month[56]. The natives +likewise gave us to understand that the people in that country of +Saguenay were very honest, were clothed in a similar manner to us +Frenchmen, had many populous towns, and had great store of gold and red +copper. They added, that beyond the river of Hochelega and Saguenay, +there is an island environed by that and other rivers, beyond which and +Saguenay the river leads into three or four great lakes, and a great +inland sea of fresh water, the end whereof had never been found, as they +had heard from the natives of Saguenay, having never been there +themselves. They told us likewise that, at the place where we left our +pinnace when we went to Hochelega or Montreal, there is a river which +flows from the south-west, by which in a months sailing they reach a +certain other land having neither ice nor snow, where the inhabitants +are continually at war against each other, and which country produces +abundance of oranges, almonds, nuts, apples, and many other kinds of +fruit, the natives being clad in the skins of beasts. On being asked if +there were any gold or red copper in that country, they answered no. So +far as I could understand their signs and tokens, I take this country to +be towards Florida[57]. + +[Footnote 56: The meaning of these routes are not explicable, as we are +unacquainted with what is meant by Saguenay. The river of that name +flows into the north-west side of the St Lawrence 150 miles below +Quebec, in a nearly east course of about 150 miles from the lake of St +John. The _other_ river, said in the text to come from Saguenay, is +probably that of the Utawas; but there does not appear to be any common +direction or object attainable by the navigation of these two rivers. +The subsequent account of the inhabitants of Saguenay is obviously +fabulous, or had been misunderstood by the French adventurers.--E.] + +[Footnote 57: The river from the south-west must have been the Chambly, +and its series of lakes towards Hudson river. The rest of these vague +indications refer to the great Canadian lakes.--E.] + +In the month of December, we learnt that the inhabitants of the +neighbouring town of Stadacona were infected by a pestilential disease +by which above fifty of them had been cut off before we got the +intelligence. On this account we strictly enjoined them not to come to +our fort or ships, or to have any intercourse with us; notwithstanding +which precaution this unknown sickness began to spread among us in the +strangest manner that ever was seen or heard of. Some of our men lost +their strength so completely that they could not stand, their legs +being excessively swelled and quite black, and their sinews shrunk up. +Others also had their skins spotted all over with spots of a dark purple +or blood colour; which beginning at the ankles, spread up their knees, +thighs, shoulders, arms and neck: Their breath did stink most +intolerably; their gums became so rotten that the flesh fell off even to +the roots of their teeth, most of which fell out[58]. So severely did +this infection spread among us, that by the middle of February, out of +110 persons composing the companies of our three ships, there were not +_ten_ in perfect health to assist the rest, so that we were in a most +pitiable case, considering the place we were in, as the natives came +every day to the outside of our fort and saw but few of us. Eight were +already dead, and fifty more so extremely ill that we considered them +past all hopes of recovery. In consideration of our misery, our captain +commanded all the company to prepare by devout prayer in remembrance of +Christ our Saviour, and caused his holy image to be set upon a tree +about a musquet-shot from the fort, giving us to understand that divine +service was to be performed there on the Sunday following, every one who +could possibly do so attending in solemn procession, singing the _seven_ +psalms of David and other litanies, and praying most heartily to our +Lord Christ Jesus to have compassion upon our wretched state. Service +being accordingly performed as well as we could, our captain made a vow, +if it should please God to permit his return into France, that he would +go on pilgrimage to the shrine of our Lady of Rocquemado. + +[Footnote 58: The author clearly describes the scurvy, long so fatal to +mariners on long voyages, now almost unknown in consequence of superior +attention to articles of diet and cleanness.--E.] + +On that day Philip Rougement died, being 22 years old; and because the +nature of the sickness was utterly unknown, the captain caused his body +to be opened, to see if by any means the cause of the disease could be +discovered, or any thing found out by which to preserve the rest of the +people. His heart was found to be white, but rotten, with more than a +quart, of red water about it. The liver was tolerably sound; but the +lungs were black and mortified. The blood was all collected about the +heart; so that a vast quantity of rotten blood issued from thence when +opened. The milt or spleen was rough and somewhat perished, as if it had +been rubbed against a stone. One of his thighs being very black was +opened, but it was quite sound within. The sickness increased, to such a +pitch that there were not above three sound men in the whole company; +all the rest being unable to go below hatches to bring up victuals or +drink for themselves or others. We were sometimes obliged to bury such +as died under the snow, being unable to dig graves for them, as the +ground was frozen quite hard, and we were all reduced to extreme +weakness. To add to our distress, we were sore afraid that the natives +might discover our weakness and misery. To hide this, our captain, whom +it pleased God always to keep in health, used to make his appearance +with two or three of the company, some sick and some well, whenever any +of the natives made their appearance, at whom he threw stones, +commanding them to go away or he would beat them: And to induce the +natives to believe that all the company were employed in work about the +ships, he caused us all to make a great noise of knocking, with sticks, +stones, hammers, and such like, as if caulking and repairing the ships. +At this time we were so oppressed with this horrible sickness that we +lost all hope of ever returning to France, and we had all died +miserably, if God of his infinite goodness and mercy had not looked upon +us in compassion, and revealed a singular and most excellent remedy +against our dreadful sickness, the best that was ever found on earth, as +shall be related hereafter. + +From the middle of November till the middle of March, we were dwelling +among ice above two fathoms in thickness, and the snow lay above four +feet thick on our decks; and so great was the frost that all our liquors +were frozen. Even the inside of our ships below hatches was covered with +ice above the thickness of a hand-breadth. In that period twenty-five of +our best men died, and all the rest were so exceedingly ill, three or +four only excepted, that we had not the smallest hopes of their +recovery. At this time it pleased God to cast an eye of pity upon our +forlorn state, and to send us knowledge of a remedy which restored us to +health in a most wonderful manner. Our captain happened one day to walk +out upon the ice beyond the fort, when he met a company of Indians +coming from Stadacona, among whom was Domagaia, who only ten or twelve +days before had his knees swollen like the head of a child two years +old, his sinews all shrunk, his teeth spoiled, his gums all rotten and +stinking, and in short in a very advanced stage of this cruel disease. +Seeing him now well and sound, our captain was much rejoiced, being in +hopes to learn by what means he had healed himself, so that he might in +the same manner cure our sick men. Domagaia informed him, that he had +taken the juice of the leaves of a certain tree, which was a sovereign +remedy against that disease. Our captain then asked him if that tree was +to be found thereabout, and desired him to point it out, that he might +cure one of his servants who had got the disease when up at Canada with +Donnacona. He said this that it might not be known how many of us were +sick. Domagaia sent immediately two women, who brought ten or twelve +branches of that tree, and shewed the manner of using it; which was to +boil the bark and leaves of the tree in water, to drink of this +decoction every other day, and to put the dregs upon the legs of the +sick. He said likewise that this tree was of great efficacy in curing +many other diseases. This tree is called _Ameda_ or _Hanneda_ in their +language, and is thought to be that which we call Sassafras. Our captain +immediately caused some of that drink to be prepared for his men; but at +first only one or two would venture to use it, who were followed by the +rest, and in a short time they were all completely cured, not only of +this dreadful sickness, but even of every other with which any of them +were at that time afflicted. Some even who had been four or five years +diseased with the _Lues_ became quite cured. After this medicine was +found to be effectual, there was so much eagerness to get it that the +people were ready to kill each other as to who should be first served. +Such quantities were used, that a tree as large as a well grown oak was +completely lopped bare in five or six days, and the medicine wrought so +well that if all the physicians of Montpelier or Louvain had been to +attend us, with all the drugs of Alexandria, they could not have done so +much for us in a whole year as that tree did in six days, all who used +it recovering their health by the blessing of God. + +While the disease lasted among us, Donnacona, Taignoagny, and many +others of the natives went from home, pretending that they went to catch +stags and deer, called by them _Aiounesta_ and _Asquenoudo_. They said +that they were only to be away a fortnight, but they staid away above +two months, on which account we suspected they had gone to raise the +country against us while we were so weak. But we had used so much +diligence in fortifying ourselves, that the whole power of the country +could only have looked at us, without being able to have done us any +harm. While they were away, many of the natives used to come daily to +our ships with fresh meat, such as stags, deer, fishes and other things; +but held them at a high price, and would often take them away again, +rather as sell them moderately. It must be allowed however that the +winter that year was uncommonly long, and there was even some scarcity +of provisions among the natives. + +On the 21st of April 1536, Domagaia came to the shore accompanied by +several strong men whom we had not seen before, and told us that the +lord Donnacona would come next day to visit us, and was to bring +abundance of venison and other things along with him. Next day Donnacona +came to Stadacona with a great number of men, for what purpose we know +not; but as the proverb says, "He who takes heed of all men may hap to +escape from some." Indeed we had great cause to look about us, being +much diminished in numbers, and those who remained being still very +weak; insomuch that we were under the necessity to leave one of our +ships at the port of St Croix. Our captain was informed of the arrival +of that great number of men along with Donnacona, as Domagaia came to +tell him, yet dared not to cross the river between us and Stadacona as +he used to do, which circumstance made us suspect some intended +treachery. Upon this our captain sent one of his servants along with +John Poulet, who was much in favour among the natives, to endeavour to +discover their intentions towards us. Poulet and his companion pretended +only to come on a visit to Donnacona, to whom they carried some +presents; but as soon as Donnacona heard of their approach he went to +bed, feigning himself very sick. After visiting the chief, they went to +the house of Taignoagny, and wherever they went they saw a prodigious +number of people, so that they could hardly stir for each other, most of +whom they had not been used to see before. Taignoagny would not allow +our men to go into any other house in the town, always keeping company +with them wherever they went; and while accompanying them back to the +ships, desired them to ask our captain to carry off with him to France, +a native chief named Agouna, from whom he had received some injury, and +that if our captain was pleased to do him this service he would esteem +it a great favour and would do in return whatever he was desired; +requesting that the servant might be sent back next day with the answer. + + +When our captain learnt that so great a number of natives were collected +apparently with some evil intentions towards us, he proposed to make +prisoners of Donnacona, Taignoagny, Domagaia and some others of the +principal men, that he might carry them into France, to shew them to our +king along with other rarities from this western part of the world. +Donnacona had formerly told us that he had been in the country of +Saguenay, in which were infinite riches in rubies, gold, and other +precious things. He said also that there were white men in that country, +whose dresses were of woollen cloth like that we wore. He likewise said +that he had been in another country inhabited by a people called +_Picquemians_[59], and other tribes. Donnacona was an old man, who +even from his childhood had been accustomed to travel into distant +regions, both by means of the rivers and by land. When Poulet and the +other told their message to our captain from Taignoagny, he sent back +the servant desiring Taignoagny to come and visit him, promising him +good entertainment, and a compliance with his request. Taignoagny sent +back word that he would wait upon our captain next day, bringing +Donnacona and Agouna along with him; yet he staid away two days, during +which time none of the natives came from Stadacona to our ships as they +were wont, but seemed anxiously to avoid us, as if we had meant to slay +them, which added much to our suspicions. + +[Footnote 59: A tribe named Picquagamies still inhabits around Lake St +John at the head of the Saguenay river. The people in woollen dresses, +with the rubies and gold, must be fabulous, or misunderstood by the +French.--E.] + +At this time the natives of Stadacona, understanding that we were +visited by the inhabitants of Sidatin, and that we were pulling one of +our ships to pieces to get out the old nails and other iron work, +meaning to leave it behind, came to visit us on the third day, crossing +the river in their skiffs and seeming to have laid aside their former +shyness. Taignoagny and Domagaia remained however above an hour on the +other side of the river, conversing across the stream, before they would +come over. At length they came to our captain, whom they requested to +order the before mentioned chief, Agouna, to be apprehended and carried +over to France. The captain refused to do this, saying that he had been +expressly forbidden by the king to bring over any men or women; being +only permitted to take over two or three young boys to learn French +that they might serve as interpreters, but that he was willing to carry +Agouna to Newfoundland and leave him there. Taignoagny was much rejoiced +at this, being satisfied that he was not to be carried back to France, +and promised to bring Donnacona and all the other chiefs with him to the +ships next day. Next day being the 3d of May or Holyrood Day, our +captain caused a goodly fair cross to be erected in honour of the day, +thirty-five feet in height, under the cross tree of which he hung up a +shield of the arms of France, with this inscription in antique letters, + +_Franciscus primus Dei gratia Francorum Rex_. + +About noon, according to the promise of Taignoagny, a great number of +men, women, and children came from the town of Stadacona, saying that +their lord Donnacona was coming to visit our captain attended by +Taignoagny and Domagaia. They came accordingly about two o'clock in the +afternoon, and when near our ships, our captain went to salute +Donnacona, who endeavoured to assume a cheerful countenance, yet his +eyes were ever and anon bent towards the wood as if in fear. As +Taignoagny endeavoured to dissuade Donnacona from going on board, our +captain ordered a fire to be kindled in the open air; but at length +Donnacona and the others were prevailed upon to go on board, when +Domagaia told the captain that Taignoagny had spoken ill of him and had +endeavoured to dissuade Donnacona from going to the ships. Seeing +likewise that Taignoagny was sending away the women and children, and +that the men only remained, which indicated some hostile intentions, our +captain gave a signal to his men who immediately ran to his assistance, +and laid hold on Donnacona, Taignoagny, Domagaia, and two more of the +principal natives. On seeing their lord taken, the Canadians immediately +ran away, some crossing the river towards Stadacona and others taking to +the woods; whereupon we retired within our bulwarks, and placed the +prisoners under a secure guard. During the ensuing night great numbers +of the natives came to the river side near our ships, crying and howling +like so many wolves, and continually calling upon _Agouhanna_, being the +name of office or dignity of Donnacona, whom they wished to speak with, +but our captain would not allow of this. Next day about noon the natives +indicated by signs that they supposed we had killed their chief. About +this time, the natives in the neighbourhood of the ships were in +prodigious numbers, most of them skulking about the edge of the forest, +except some who continually called with a loud voice on Donnacona to +come and speak to them. Our captain then commanded Donnacona to be +brought up on high to speak to his people, and desired him to be merry, +assuring him that when he had spoken to the king of France, and told him +all that he had seen in Saguenay and other countries through which he +had travelled, that he should be sent back to his own country in ten or +twelve months with great rewards. Donnacona rejoiced at this assurance, +and communicated the intelligence to his people, who made three loud +cheers in token of joy. After this Donnacona and his people conversed +together for a long time; but for want of interpreters we could not know +the subjects of their discourse. Our captain then desired Donnacona to +make his people come over to our side of the river, that they might talk +together with more ease, and desired him to assure them of being in +perfect safety; which Donnacona did accordingly, and a whole boatful of +the principal people came, over close to the ships, where they renewed +their conversation, giving great praise to our captain, to whom they +presented twenty-four chains _esurgney_[60], as the most precious +thing they possess, and which they hold in higher estimation than gold +or silver. After a long talk, as Donnacona saw that there were no means +of avoiding the voyage to France, he commanded his people to bring him +some victuals to serve him during the passage. At this time our captain +gave Donnacona two frying pans of copper, eight hatchets, with several +knives, strings of beads, and other trifles, with which he seemed highly +pleased, and sent them to his wives and children. Our captain also made +similar presents to the chiefs who had come to speak with Donnacona, who +thanked him for the gifts and retired to their town. + +[Footnote 60: A very unintelligible account of the manner in which this +article, so precious in the eyes of the Canadians, is procured, has been +already given in this chapter; but there are no data on which even to +conjecture what it is. Belts of _wampum_, a kind of rudely ornamented +ribbons or girdles, are universally prized among the North American +Indians, of which frequent mention will occur in the sequel of this +work.--E.] Very early on the 5th of May, a great number of the people +came back to speak with their lord, on which occasion they sent a boat, +called _casnoni_ in their language, loaded with maize, venison, fish, +and other articles of provision after their fashion, and lest any of +their men might be detained, this boat was navigated by four women, who +were well treated at our ships. By the desire of Donnacona, our captain +sent a message on shore by these women, to assure the natives that their +chief would be brought back by him to Canada at the end of ten or twelve +months: They seemed much pleased at this intelligence, and promised when +he brought back Donnacona that they would give him many valuable +presents, in earnest of which each of the women gave him a chain of +_esurgney_. Next day, being Saturday the 6th of May 1536, we set sail +from the harbour of St Croix, and came to anchor at night in another +harbour about twelve leagues down the river, a little below the Isle of +Orleans. On Sunday the 7th we came to the Island of Filberts, or +_Coudres_, where we remained till the 16th of the month, waiting till +the great flood in the river had spent its force, as the current was too +violent to be safely navigated. At this time many of the subjects of +Donnacona came to visit him from the river Saguenay, who were much +astonished upon being told by Domagaia that Donnacona was to be carried +to France, but were reassured by Donnacona who informed them he was to +come back next year. They gave their chief on this occasion three packs +of beaver skins and the skins of sea wolves or seals, with a great knife +made of red copper which is brought from Saguenay, and many other +things. They also gave our captain a chain of _esurgney_, in return for +which he presented them with ten or twelve hatchets, and they departed +well pleased. + +On the 16th of May we departed from the Isle of Filberts, and came to +another island about fifteen leagues farther down the river, which is +about five leagues in length, where we remained the rest of that day and +the following night, meaning to take advantage of the next day to pass +by the river Saguenay, where the navigation is very dangerous. That +evening we went ashore on the island, where we took such numbers of +hares that we called it Hare Island. But during the night the wind +became quite contrary and blew so hard that we were forced back to the +Isle of Filberts, where we remained till the 21st of the month, when +fine weather and a fair wind brought us down the river. On this occasion +we passed to _Honguedo_, which passage had not been seen before. Passing +Cape _Prat_, which is at the entrance into the bay of _Chaleur_; and +having a fair wind we sailed all day and night without stopping, and +came next day to the middle of _Brions_ Islands. These islands lie +north-west and south-east, and are about fifty leagues asunder, being +in lat. 47-1/2 deg. N[61]. On Thursday the 26th of May, being the feast of +the Ascension, we coasted over to a _land and shallow of low sands_, +about eight leagues south-west from Brions Island, above which are large +plains covered with trees, and likewise an enclosed lake or sea into +which we could find no entrance. On Friday following, being the 27th of +the month, in consequence of the wind becoming foul, we returned to +Brions Island, where we remained till the beginning of June. To the +south-east of this island we saw land which we supposed another island, +which we coasted for two or three leagues, and had sight of three other +high islands towards the sands, after which we returned to the cape of +the said land, which is divided into two or three very high capes[62]. +At this place the water is very deep and runs with a prodigiously swift +current. That day we came to Cape Lorain _which is in 47 1/2 degrees +toward the south_. This cape is low land, and has an appearance as of +the mouth of a river, but there is no harbour of any worth. At a short +distance we saw another head-land toward the south, which we named Cape +St Paul. + +[Footnote 61: These geographical indications are so obscure as not to be +intelligible, unless perhaps the passage between Cape Breton Island and +Newfoundland is here meant under the name of Honguedo.--E.] + +[Footnote 62: The text here is either corrupt, or so vaguely expressed +as not to admit of any reasonable explanation or conjecture.--E.] + +Sunday following, being the 4th of June, we saw other lands at about +twenty-two leagues east-south-east from Newfoundland, and as the wind +was contrary we went into a harbour which we named the Bay of the Holy +Ghost. We remained there till the Tuesday following, when we sailed +along the coast to St Peters Islands, passing many very dangerous rocks +and shoals, which lie east-south-east and west-north-west, stretching +about twenty-three leagues out to sea. While at St Peters Islands, we +saw many French and British ships, and remained there from the 11th to +16th of June, after, which we sailed to Cape _Race_, where we went into +a harbour named _Rognoso_, where we took in a supply of wood and water +to serve us on the voyage home, and at this place we left one of our +boats. We left that harbour on Monday the 19th of June, and had such +excellent weather and fair winds, that we arrived in the Port of St +Maloes upon the 6th of July 1536. + + * * * * * + +In Hakluyts Collection, III. 286-289, there is a short imperfect +fragment of a _third_ voyage by Jacques Cartier to Canada, Hochelega, +and Saguenay in 1540; but as it breaks off abruptly and gives hardly any +additional information respecting the country and its inhabitants or +productions, beyond what is contained in the two voyages already +inserted, it has not been deemed necessary to adopt it into the present +collection.--E. + + _Specimen of the language of Hochelega and Canada_. + + 1. _Secada. 2. Tigneni. 3. Hasche. 4. Hannaion. 5. Ouiscon. + 6. Indahir. 7. Aiaga. 8. Addigue. 9. Madellan. 10. Assem_. + + _Aggonzi_, the head. _Atha_, shoes. + _Hegueniascon, the brow. _Amgoua,_ a shirt. + _Higata_, the eyes. _Castrua_, a cap. + _Abontascon_, the ears. _Osizi_, corn. + _Esahe_, the mouth. _Carraconny_, bread. + _Esgongay_, the teeth, _Sahe_ beans. + _Osnache_, the tongue. _Ame_, water. + _Agonpon_, the throat. _Quahouascon_, flesh. + _Hebelim_, the beard. _Honnesta_, damsons. + _Hegouascon_, the face. _Absconda_, figs. + _Aganiscon_, the hair. _Ozoba_, grapes. + _Aiayascon_, the arms. _Quahoya_, nuts. + _Aissonne_, the flanks. _Esgueny_, an eel. + _Aggruascon_, the stomach. _Undeguezi_, a snail. + _Eschehenda_, the belly. _Hueleuxima_, a tortoise. + _Hetnegradascon_, the thighs. _Sahomgahoa_, a hen. + _Agotschinegodascon_, the knees. _Zisto_, a lamprey. + _Agouguenehondo_, the legs. _Ondacon_, a salmon. + _Onchidascon_, the feet. _Ainne-honne_, a whale. + _Aignoascon_, the hands. _Sadeguenda_, a goose. + _Agenuga_, the fingers. _Aionnesta_, a stag. + _Agedascon_, the nails. _Asquenondo_, a sheep. + _Aguehum_, a man. _Saurkanda_, a hare. + _Agrauste_, a woman. _Agaya_, a dog. + _Addegesta_, a boy. _Achide_, to-morrow. + _Agniaquesta_, a girl. _Cudragny_, God. + _Exiasta_, a child. _Quenhia_, heaven. + _Conda_, woods. _Damga_, the earth. + _Hoga_, leaves. _Ysmay_, the sun. + _Cabata_, a gown. _Assomaha_, the moon. + _Caioza_, a doublet. _Stagnehoham_, the stars. + _Hemondoha_, stocking. _Copoha_, the wind. + _Adogne_, a hatchet + _Ahencu_, a bow. + _Quaetan_, a dart. + _Canada_, a town. + _Agogasy_, the sea. + _Coda_, the waves. + _Cohena_, an island. + _Agacha_, a hill. + _Hounesca_, ice. + _Camsa_, snow. + _Athau_, cold. + _Odazani_, hot. + _Azista_, fire. + _Quea_, smoke. + _Canoca_, a house. + _Addathy_, my father. + _Adauahoe_, my mother. + _Addagrim_, my brother. + _Adhoasseue_, my sister. + + _Quaza hoa quea_, Give me some drink. + _Quaza hoa quascaboa_, Give me my breakfast. + _Quaza hoa quatfriam_, Give me my supper. + + _Casigno agnydahoa_, Let us go to bed. + _Casigno donnascat_, Let us go a hunting. + _Casigno caudy_, Let us go to play. + _Casigno casnouy_, Let us go in the boat. + _Assigni quaddadia_, Come speak with me. + + _Quagathoma_, Look at me. + _Aignag_, Good morrow. + _Aista_, Hold your peace. + _Buazahca agoheda_, Give me a knife. + + + + +A GENERAL HISTORY AND COLLECTION OF VOYAGES AND TRAVELS. + + +PART II. CONTINUED. + + +BOOK III. + +CONTINUATION OF THE DISCOVERIES AND CONQUESTS OF THE PORTUGUESE IN THE +EAST; TOGETHER WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE EARLY VOYAGES OF OTHER EUROPEAN +NATIONS TO INDIA. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +DISCOVERIES, NAVIGATIONS, AND CONQUESTS OF THE PORTUGUESE IN INDIA, FROM +1505 TO 1539, BOTH INCLUSIVE: RESUMED FROM BOOK I. OF THIS PART[63]. + + +We have formerly in the _First_ BOOK of this _Second_ PART of our +general arrangement, given a historical account of the Portuguese +Discoveries along the Coast of Africa, with their Discovery of and early +Conquests in India, from the glorious era of DON HENRY prince of +Portugal in 1412, down to the year 1505. Necessarily called off from +that interesting subject, to attend to the memorable Discovery of the +_NEW WORLD_ by the immortal COLUMBUS, we have detailed at considerable, +yet we hope not inconvenient length, in the III. IV. and V. Volumes of +our Collection, the great and important Discovery of America, and the +establishment of the principal Spanish colonies in that grand division +of the world, with some short notices of the earliest American +Discoveries by the Portuguese, English, and French nations. We now +return to a continuation of the early Discoveries and Conquests in +India, taking that word in its most extensive signification as +comprehending the whole of southern Asia, from the Persian Gulf to Japan +and Eastern China. In the present portion of our Collection, we propose +chiefly to direct our attention to the transactions of the Portuguese; +adding however such accounts as we may be able to procure of the early +Voyages to India made by other European nations. + +[Footnote 63: Portuguese Asia, by Manuel de Faria y Sousa-Astleys +Collection of Voyages and Travels, I. 58. et sequ.] + +It is not necessary to particularize the various sources from which the +different articles to be contained in this _Book_ or division of our +work has been collected, as these will be all referred to in the several +chapters and sections of which it is composed. Indeed as the +introductions we prefix, on the present and other similar occasions, are +necessarily written _previous_ to the composition of the articles to +which they refer, contrary to the usual practice, it would be improper +to tie ourselves too strictly on such occasions, so as to preclude the +availment of any additional materials that may occur during our +progress, and therefore we here beg leave to notify that we reserve a +power of including the earliest voyages of other European nations to the +Atlantic and eastern coasts of Africa, together with Arabia and Persia, +among the _early voyages to India_, if hereafter deemed necessary; which +is strictly conformable to what has been already done in PART II. BOOK +I, and what must necessarily be the case on the present occasion. It may +be proper however to mention, that the present chapter, containing a +continuation of the early Discoveries, Navigations, and Conquests of the +Portuguese in India, is taken from the PORTUGUESE ASIA, of _Manuel de +Faria y Sousa_, taking that author up in 1505, where we had to lay down +_Castaneda_ at the end of our _Second BOOK_. _Faria_[64], who is +designated as a member of the Portuguese military order of Christ, was a +celebrated historian among his countrymen, and his work, entitled ASIA +PORTUGUEZA, contains an account somewhat in the form of Annals, of the +Transactions of his countrymen in _India_, from their first going there +in 1497, to the year 1646. This work contains all the Portuguese Voyages +and Discoveries, from their first attempt to extend along the western +coast of _Africa_, to their final discovery of the farthest parts of +_China_ and _Japan_: All their battles by sea and land, with their +expeditions, sieges, and other memorable actions: The whole interspersed +with descriptions of the places and countries they discovered, visited, +or conquered; including accounts of the manners, customs, government, +and religion of the natives. This author is remarkable for a concise and +clear narrative, and for judicious reflections on the conduct of the +Portuguese kings, ministers, governors, and commanders, as well as for +his remarks on many other occasions. These are always just, and have +often an air of freedom that might not have been expected under an +arbitrary government: But in matters regarding religion, he often +discovers a surprising reverse of character, full of weak and puerile +credulity, the never-failing consequence of education and publication +under the influence of that eternal and abominable stain of the +peninsula, the _Inquisition_. + +[Footnote 64: Astley, I. 87.] + +This work of De Faria has gone through various impressions in Portugal, +where it is esteemed a curious and accurate performance, though on some +occasions it is alleged that he has placed too much reliance on _Mendez +Pinto_, a dealer in bare-faced fiction. The first impression of the +Portuguese Asia was printed at Lisbon in 1666, in 3 vols. small folio, +and it has been often reprinted, and translated into Spanish, Italian, +French, and English. + +The English translation used on the present occasion, and we know of no +other or later edition, was made by Captain John _Stevens_, and +published at London in 1695, in 3 vols. 8vo. dedicated to Catherine of +Portugal, Queen Dowager of England. In his Preface, Mr Stevens informs +the reader, that he had reduced the work to considerably less size than +the _Spanish original_, yet without omitting any part of the history, or +even abridging any material circumstances; having cut off long speeches, +which were only added by the author as rhetorical flourishes, and +omitted many tedious lists of the names of officers who were present at +the principal actions, and extended reflections of the author which +were only useful to increase the size of the work. In this account of +the work by the translator, the _Spanish_ is mentioned as the original. +Indeed the Portuguese and Spanish original editions appear to have both +appeared contemporaneously in 1666.[65] + +[Footnote 65: Bibl. Univ. des Voy. IV. 576.] + +In the employment of Faria we have followed the example of Astleys +Collection of Voyages and Travels, of which Mr John Green is said to +have been the Editor. But although in that former Collection, published +at London in 1745, an absolutely verbal and literal transcript is used +so far as the Editor has been pleased to follow the translation of +Stevens, many very curious and important particulars contained in that +author are omitted, or slurred over by a hasty and careless abridgement. +From where we take up Faria, in consequence of the loss of Castaneda, +_we have given his work nearly entire_, only endeavouring to reduce the +language of Captain Stevens to the modern standard, and occasionally +using the freedom to arrange incidents a little more intelligibly, and +to curtail a few trifling matters that seemed to possess no interest for +modern readers. We have however availed ourselves of many valuable notes +and illustrations of the text by the Editor of Astleys Collection, all +of which will be found acknowledged and referred to in their proper +places. And we have adopted from the same source some valuable additions +to the text of Faria, intimately connected with the subject, which are +likewise carefully acknowledged. Thus, like many former articles in this +Collection, we trust that the present, as being greatly fuller, will be +found more satisfactory and informing than any similar account in former +Collections of Voyages and Travels. + +After so considerable an interval employed on the Discoveries in +America, it may be proper to remark that the former Account of the +Discovery of the maritime route to India by the Cape of Good Hope, and +the commencement of the Portuguese Conquests in the East, as contained +in the _Second_ Volume of this Work, Part II. Chap. VI. _Sections I. to +IX_. pp. 292-505, comprises only a period of _nine_ years, from the +setting out of _Vasco de Gama_ in July 1497, on his adventurous Voyage, +by which he completed the discovery of the way by sea to India from +Europe, projected by Prince Henry in 1412, _eighty-five_ years before. +On that former occasion, following the narrative of Hernan Lopez de +Castaneda, we brought down the Transactions of the Portuguese in India +to the year 1505; including the almost incredible defence of Cochin by +the intrepid Pacheco against the immensely more numerous forces of the +Zamorin of Calicut; the relief of the chivalric besieged, by the arrival +of Lope Suarez de Menezes in September 1505; and the voyage of Suarez +back to Portugal in 1505, leaving Manuel Telez de Vasconcelles as +captain-general of the Portuguese possessions in India. It has been +formerly mentioned, Vol. II. p.500, note 5, that Castaneda names this +person Lope Mendez de Vasconcelles, and that he is named Manuel Telez de +Barreto by the editor of Astleys Collection, in which we now find that +he had followed the author of the Portuguese Asia. The difference +between these authorities is irreconcileable, but is quite immaterial to +the English reader.--E. + + +SECTION I. + +_Course of the Indian Trade before the Discovery of the Route by the +Cape of Good Hope, with some account of the settlement of the Arabs on +the East Coast of Africa_[66]. + + +Before the Discovery of the Route to India by the Cape of Good Hope, +formerly related in PART II. CHAPTER VI. the spices and other +productions of India were brought to Europe with vast trouble and at +great expence, so that they were necessarily sold at very high prices. +The cloves of the Moluccas, the nutmegs and mace of Banda, the +sandal-wood of Timor, the camphor of Borneo, the gold and silver of +Luconia, with all the other and various rich commodities, spices, gums, +perfumes, and curiosities of China, Japan, Siam, and other kingdoms of +the continent and islands of India, were carried to the great mart of +Malacca, a city in the peninsula of that name, which is supposed to have +been the _Aurea Chersonesus_ of the ancients. From that place the +inhabitants of the more western countries between Malacca and the Red +Sea procured all these commodities, dealing by way of barter, no money +being used in this trade, as silver and gold were in much less request +in these eastern parts of India than foreign commodities. By this trade, +Calicut, Cambaya, Ormuz, Aden, and other cities were much enriched. The +merchants of these cities, besides what they procured at Malacca as +before mentioned, brought rubies from Pegu, rich stuffs from Bengal, +pearls from _Calicare_[67], diamonds from _Narsinga[68]_, cinnamon and +rich rubies from Ceylon, pepper, ginger, and other spices, from the +coast of Malabar and other places where these are produced. From Ormuz +these commodities were conveyed up the Persian gulf to Basorah at the +mouth of the Euphrates, and were thence distributed by caravans through +Armenia, Trebisond, Tartary, Aleppo, and Damascus; and from these latter +cities, by means of the port of Barat in Syria, the Venetians, Genoese, +and Catalonians carried them to their respective countries, and to other +parts of Europe. Such of these commodities as went up the Red Sea, were +landed at Tor or Suez at the bottom of that gulf, whence they were +conveyed over land to Cairo in Egypt, and thence down the Nile to +Alexandria, where they were shipped for Europe. + +[Footnote 66: De Faria, Portuguese Asia, I. 82.] + +[Footnote 67: Named Kalekare by Astley; and probably alluding to some +place in the neighbourhood of the great pearl fishery in the Gulf of +Manar, between Ceylon and the Carnatic.--E.] + +[Footnote 68: Now called Golconda. But the dominions of Narsinga seem +then to have included the whole southern peninsula of India, except the +coasts of Canara and Malabar, from Visiapour and the Deccan to Cape +Comorin.--E.] + +Many princes apprehending vast loss to their revenues, by this new +course which the Portuguese had discovered for carrying on a direct +trade by sea between Europe and India, used their endeavours to drive +them from that country. For this purpose, the Soldan of Egypt[69], who +was principally affected by this new trade, gave out that he would +destroy the holy places in Jerusalem, if the Portuguese persisted in +trading to Malabar. Believing him in earnest, Maurus, a monk of Mount +Sinai, went to Rome with a letter from the Soldan to the pope, +signifying his intention to destroy those places, sacred in the +estimation of the Christians, in revenge for the injury done to his +trade by the Portuguese. The pope sent Maurus into Portugal, where the +purport of his message was known before his arrival, and such +preparations made for driving the Moors from the trade of India, that +Maurus returned to Cairo with more alarming intelligence than he had +brought. The king of Portugal informed his holiness by letter, that his +intentions in prosecuting these eastern discoveries were to propagate +the holy faith, and to extend the papal jurisdiction over the countries +of the heathen, by which the pope was entirely reconciled to his +proceedings. + +[Footnote 69: This last mameluke Soldan of Egypt was Almalec al Ashraf +Abul Nasr Sayf oddin Kansu al Gauri, commonly called Campson Gauri, the +24th of the Circassian dynasty, who reigned from 1500 to 1516, when he +was slain in battle near Aleppo by Selim Emperor of the Turks.--Astley, +I. 58. b.] + +Along the eastern coast of Africa, the Moors or Arabs had several +settlements. From Cape Guardafu, the most eastern point of Africa, to +Mozambique, is a hollow coast like a bent bow, extending 550 leagues. +From Cape Mozambique to Cape Corrientes is 170 leagues, and thence to +the Cape of Good Hope 340 leagues. Hence turning again to the northwards +and a little towards the west, the western coast of Africa reaches to +Congo. Drawing a line east across the continent, there remains a large +peninsula or promontory, to which the Arabs have given the name of +Kafraria, naming the inhabitants Kafrs or unbelievers; an appellation +bestowed by the Mahometans on all who are not of their religion, but +chiefly those who worship images, whence they call most of the +Christians by the opprobrious name of Kafrs. To the north of this line +on the east coast of Africa is the maritime country of Zanguebar, or +more properly Zenjibar, so named from a Negro nation called the Zenji, +who had formerly conquered all that coast before the settlement of the +Arabs. From Zanguebar all the way to Cape Guardafu and the mouth of the +Red Sea, the coast is called Ajam or Ajen, signifying in Arabic the +country of the barbarians; the maritime parts being occupied by the +Arabs, and the inland country by heathen Negroes. Most of this coast is +very low, covered by impenetrable woods, and subject to inundations, so +that it is excessively hot and unwholesome. The Negroes of this country +are black with crisp curled hair, and are wonderfully addicted to +superstition, being all idolaters; insomuch that upon the most frivolous +motives they will give over the most important enterprises: Thus the +king of Quiloa failed to meet Don Francisco de Almeyda, because a black +cat crossed his way when going out. The cattle, fruit, and grain are +answerable to the wildness of the country. The Moors or Arabs, who +inhabit this coast and the adjacent islands, seldom cultivate the +ground, and mostly subsist on wild beasts and several loathsome things. +Such as live more towards the interior, and have intercourse with the +barbarous Kafrs, use milk as a part of their diet. + +As this country has been endowed by nature with much gold, an eager +desire to procure that precious metal has induced, first the Arabs, and +afterwards the Europeans, to possess themselves of various parts along +the coast. The first of the Arabs who came here were called Emozadi, +which signifies subjects of Zayde, who built two inconsiderable towers, +merely sufficient to defend them against the barbarous Kafrs. Afterwards +still greater numbers came from the ports about the city of Lazah, forty +leagues from the island of Baharem[70] in the Persian gulf, who settled +first Magadoxa and afterwards Brava. The first Arabs separated from +these, new comers, and mixing with the Kafrs became Bedouins, or Badwis, +signifying people of the desert. Those Arabs who first possessed +themselves of the gold trade of Sofala were from Magadoxa, and +discovered the gold mines by accident. From thence they spread +themselves farther towards the south, but durst never venture to +navigate beyond Cape Corrientes, which is opposite to the +south-wester-most part of the Island of St Lawrence or Madagascar. Along +this coast the Arabs had possessed themselves of Quiloa, Mombaza, +Melinda, and the islands, of Pemba, Zanzibar, Monfia, Comoro, and +others; Quiloa being the principal of their settlements, from whence +many others had been formed, particularly on the coast of Madagascar. +Quiloa had been originally a peninsula, but by the encroachments of the +sea it had become an island. The soil produces many palms and thorn +trees, and various herbs and plants; and the wild beasts, cattle, and +birds resemble those of Spain. The buildings in the places possessed by +the Arabs resemble those in Spain, having flat roofs, with gardens and +orchards behind. + +[Footnote 70: More properly Bahrayn, which signifies _the two seas_, +being the Arabic dual of Bahr, the sea.--Astl. I. 59. e.] + + +SECTION II. + +_Voyage of Don Francisco de Almeyda from Lisbon to India, in quality of +Viceroy, with an account of some of his transactions on the Eastern +coast of Africa, and Malabar._ + + +On the 25th of March 1505, Don Francisco de Almeyda sailed from Lisbon +with a fleet of twenty-two ships, carrying 1500 soldiers, being bound +for India of which he was appointed viceroy. Eleven of these ships were +to return with merchandize to Portugal, and other eleven were to remain +in India. On the 2d of July the fleet met with a terrible storm, by +which it was separated. In one of the ships commanded by Diego Correa, +the sails were split to pieces and three men washed overboard, two of +whom perished; but the third, named Fernando Lorenzo, called out that he +would keep above water till morning, and begged of them to keep an eye +upon him, and on the storm abating next morning he was taken on board. +Owing to the separation of the fleet by the storm, Almeyda arrived at +Quiloa with only eight vessels; and on saluting the port without +receiving any answer, he called a council of his officers to deliberate +upon his proceedings, as he had orders from the king to erect a fort at +this place, which was accordingly resolved upon. He landed therefore +with 500 men, accompanied by his son Don Lorenzo, and attacked the town +in two places. Amir Ibrahim fled over to the continent with his wives +and riches, having previously hoisted the Portuguese standard, by which +device he stopped the pursuit and gained time to escape. The city was +taken and plundered, without any loss on the side of the Portuguese, +though a great number of the inhabitants were slain. Ibrahim though the +forty-fourth successive sovereign, was an usurper, who had murdered the +former king, and Almeyda raised Mohammed Ankoni, a relation of the +former king and who had espoused the Portuguese interests to the throne, +placing a crown of gold on his head with great pomp and solemnity. On +this occasion Mohammed declared that if the former king _Alfudail_ had +been alive he would have refused the crown; and he actually appointed +the son of Alfudail to be his successor, though he had children of his +own. This rare example in an unbeliever may put to shame the inhumanity +and barbarism of the Christians, who wade through seas of blood, contemn +the most sacred bonds of consanguinity and alliance, spoil provinces, +oppress the good, exalt the wicked, convert loyalty to treason, perjury +into duty, and religion into a cloak to work out their accursed +purposes, and to bereave of their crowns and sceptres those to whom +Providence had been pleased to confide them as most worthy of rule. + +Having settled every thing to his mind, and constructed a fort in twenty +days, Almeyda left a garrison of 550 men, together with a caravel and +brigantine, and sailed on the 8th of August with thirteen sail for +Mombaza, which is seated like Quiloa in an island about fourteen leagues +in circumference. This city is beautiful and strong, having a large bay +before it capable of containing many ships. Before entering the bay, two +vessels were sent to sound the bar, which is commanded by a battery of +eight cannons, which fired upon these vessels; but a ball from the +Portuguese happening to fall among the powder belonging to the enemy, +blew it up and did great injury to the natives, so that they were +obliged to abandon the work. Two smaller works being likewise abandoned, +the fleet entered the bay without farther resistance. Being informed +that the king of Mombaza had hired 1500 Kafr archers to assist in +defending the place, Almeyda sent him a message demanding submission; +but the answer was, that the Moors of Mombaza were not to be frightened +by the noise of cannon like those of Quiloa, and he might do his worst. +Enraged at this contemptuous answer, and because several of his men had +been wounded, while attempting to burn some ships in the port belonging +to Cambaya, Almeyda landed his men on the 15th of August and attacked +the city. He succeeded in the assault, driving the enemy out at the +other side of the town, and their king along with them, whose palace he +took possession of, on which he planted a cross. Immediately after +gaining possession of the town, he received notice that his ships had +succeeded in their attack on those belonging to the Moors of Cambaya, +all of which were burnt. In this action the Portuguese lost only five +men; while of the Moors 1513 were slain and 1200 made prisoners, of +which only 200 were retained and all the rest set free. Having plundered +the city of every thing worth carrying off or which his ships could +contain, Almeyda burnt Mombaza to the ground. + +At this place Almeyda was joined by most of the remaining ships, and +continuing his voyage for India, he stopped by the way at a bay called +Angra de Santa Elena, where he found Juan Homem, who had been separated +along with other ships, and had discovered some islands. Sailing from +thence in continuation of his voyage, the first place he came to in +India was the island of Anchediva[71], where according to orders from +the king he constructed a fort in which he placed a garrison of 80 men, +leaving two brigantines to protect the trade. While at this place he was +visited by ambassadors from the king or rajah of Onore, a small kingdom +of Malabar, who brought presents and a friendly message from their +sovereign. Several considerable merchants also waited upon him, assuring +him of the good will of their prince towards the Portuguese; and several +Moors from Cincatora brought him considerable presents. All this however +was the effect of fear, as they had heard of his successes at Quiloa and +Mombaza. He was informed at this place that the prince Saboga had built +a fort at no great distance on the banks of the river Aliga on the +borders of Onore, which was garrisoned by 800 men. Meaning to make +himself master of this place, he sent his son Don Lorenzo under pretence +of a friendly visit to take a view of the fort, which he effected and +remained there some days. Having completed the fort at Anchediva, he +sailed to the port of Onore, and being ill received, he determined to +shew himself as terrible there as he had done at Quiloa and Mombaza. The +inhabitants however amused him with excuses and pretended submission, +till they had removed their wives, children, and effects to a +neighbouring mountain, and then stood upon their defence. On this +Almeyda landed most of his forces to attack the town, sending his son +Lorenzo with 150 men in boats to set some ships on fire which were in +the port. Though the natives defended themselves with much bravery, and +discharged prodigious flights of arrows, by one of which Almeyda was +wounded, both the town and ships were set on fire; and as the wind blew +the smoke in the faces of the Portuguese they were much incommoded for a +time; but Don Lorenzo by taking a compass got away from the smoke, and +fell in with a body of 1500 of the enemy, whom he immediately attacked. +In this engagement Lorenzo had like to have been defeated, his men +falling into disorder; but was fortunately succoured by his father, when +the enemy fled to the mountain. At this time, Timoja, who was governor +of the city and proprietor of some of the ships which were destroyed, +waited on Almeyda making excuses for the conduct of the king; and being +a man of graceful manners and appearance, and engaging for his master to +become vassal to the king of Portugal, Almeyda was pacified and agreed +to a treaty of peace. + +[Footnote 71: Anchediva or Anjediva is I small island in lat. 14 deg. 33' N. +near the northern part of the Malabar coast, between Carwar and +Meerjee.--E.] + +Leaving Onore, Almeyda went to Cananor, where he had an interview on +shore with the rajah, who was attended by 5000 men well armed. He +informed the rajah that he was to reside for some time in India, in +consequence of the troubles which had arisen between the Portuguese and +the zamorin of Calicut, and desired permission to build a fort at this +place for protecting the Portuguese trade against the Moors. This being +granted and the fort begun, he left Lorenzo de Brito in the command with +150 men, and two vessels to cruize along the coast. Going from thence to +Cochin, he received intelligence that the Portuguese factor at Coulan +and all his men had been killed by the Moors. He sent however his son +Don Lorenzo with three ships and three caravels, with orders to +endeavour to procure loading for the vessels without taking any notice +of what had happened; but in case loading were denied he was to take +ample revenge for the murder of the factor and his people. The messenger +sent upon this occasion was answered by a flight of arrows, and +twenty-four ships belonging to Calicut and other places put themselves +in readiness to oppose the Portuguese. After a short resistance Lorenzo +burnt them all, only a very small number of the Moors saving themselves +by swimming to the shore. Don Lorenzo then went to load at another port, +after which he rejoined the viceroy at Cochin. + +It had been the intention of Almeyda, according to his orders from the +king of Portugal, to crown Triumpara in a solemn manner, with a golden +crown richly adorned with jewels, brought on purpose from Lisbon, as a +recompence for the gallant fidelity with which he had protected the +Portuguese against the zamorin and their other enemies. But as Triumpara +had abdicated in favour of his nephew Nambeadora[72], Almeyda thought +proper to confer the same honour upon him, and he was accordingly +crowned with great pomp, as a mark of the friendship of the Portuguese, +and a terror to others. From this place Almeyda sent home six ships +richly laden for Lisbon. + +[Footnote 72: This name mast certainly be erroneous. In the former part +of the history of the Portuguese transactions in India, _Nambea daring_ +is mentioned as brother to the zamorin of Calicut, whereas the prince of +Cochin is repeatedly named Naramuhin.--E.] + + +SECTION III. + +_Some Account of the state of India at the beginning of the sixteenth +Century, and commencement of the Portuguese Conquests_[73]. + + +As the viceroyalty of Don Francisco de Almeyda laid the foundation of +the Portuguese dominion in India, once so extensive and powerful, it may +be proper in this place to give a general view of its principal ports +and provinces along the sea-coast. Asia is divided from Europe by the +river Don, anciently the Tanais, by the Euxine or Black Sea, and by the +Bosphorus and Dardanelles, or Straits of Constantinople. It is parted +from Africa by the Red Sea, and a line drawn from Suez at the head of +that gulf to the Mediterranean, across a narrow neck of land measuring +only twenty-four leagues in breadth, called the Isthmus of Suez. Its +principal religions are four, the Christian, Mahometan, Pagan, and +Jewish. That portion of Asia which principally belongs to our present +purpose, may be divided into _nine_ parts, following the coast from the +west to the east. + +[Footnote 73: From the Portuguese Asia, Vol. I. 93. This account is +omitted in Astley's Collection, but inserted, here as a curious record +of the geographical knowledge of the Portuguese in those times. There +are numerous errors in this short geographical sketch, especially in the +names, measures, and latitudes; but it would load this portion of our +work too much with notes, and induce great confusion, to comment upon +every step of this survey.--E.] + +The _first_, commencing at the mouth of the Red Sea in the west, reaches +to the mouth of the gulf of Persia, being the oceanic coast of Arabia. +From the mouth of the Red Sea in lat. 12 deg. 40' N. to the city of Aden, is +44 leagues: Thence to Cape Fartaque in lat. 12 deg. 30' N. is 100 leagues, +containing the towns of Abian, Ax, Canacan, Brun, Argel, Zebel which is +the metropolis, Herit, Cayem, and Fartach. Thence to Curia Muria is 70 +leagues of coast, on which is the city of Dolfor, famous for +frankincense, and Norbate 20 leagues farther east. From Curia Muria to +Cape Ras-Algate, in lat. 22 deg. 30' N. is 120 leagues all barren and +desert. Here begins the kingdom of Ormuz, and hence to Cape Mozandan are +90 leagues, having the cities or towns of Colagate, Curiate, Mascate, +Soar, Calata, Orfacam, Doba, and Lima, 8 leagues from Monbazam which +Ptolomey calls Cape Assaborum in lat. 26 deg. N. All this track is called +Ayaman or Yemen by the Arabians, and was the Arabia Felix of the +ancients, because the most fertile and best inhabited country of all +Arabia. + +The _second_ division, from Cape Jacques or Jask to the mouth of the +river Indus, is 200 leagues in extent, called Chirman or Kerman, and is +divided into the two kingdoms of Macran and Madel, with these towns, +Guadel, Calara, Tibique, Calamate, Goadel, and Diul. This coast is +barren and most of it desert, and cannot be approached on account of the +shallowness of the sea near the shore. + +The _third_ division contains 150 leagues, of which 38 from Diu[74] to +Cape Jaquete or Jigat, whence to Diu in the kingdom of Guzerat are 50 +leagues, having these towns, Cotinna, Mangalor, Chervar, Patan, and +Corinar[75]. From Diu to Cambaya is 50 leagues, with these towns +Madrafavat, Moha, Talica, Goda, and Gundin[76]. Between Cambaya and Cape +Jaquete or Jigat, is included a part of the kingdom of Guzarate and the +mountainous region of the Resboutos, or Rajputs. + +[Footnote 74: Perhaps Debil, near the western mouth of the Indus.--E.] + +[Footnote 75: Those names of sea port towns in the Guzerate are +miserably corrupted in the text: Only Puttan can be recognised among +them, and Mangalor must be a mistake; as that place is far to the south +of Guzerat on the coast of Canara.--E.] + +[Footnote 76: The sea ports on this part of the coast now are Jaffrabad, +Cuttapour, Toolafee, Manuah, Gogo, Eawnagur, and Iotian.--E.] + +The _fourth_ division measures 290 leagues, being the most valuable part +of India and the most frequented by the Portuguese. This is subdivided +into three portions by two rivers which run from east to west. The first +of these separates the kingdom of the Decan from Guzerate on the north, +and the second divides the Decan from Canara which is to the south. +There are other rivers, all of which have their sources in the mountains +called _Gaut_; the chief among them being the Ganga, or Gangue, which +falls into the sea near the mouth of the Ganges, between the cities of +Angali and Pisolta, in about lat. 22 deg. N [77]. The river Bate, rising in +the Gauts, falls into the sea near Bombaim, dividing the kingdoms of +Guzerate and Decan, the mouth of that river being 70 leagues from the +city of Cambaya. From Chaul south of that river to the river Aliga, the +south boundary of the Decan, is 75 leagues, with these towns Bandor, +Dabul, Debitele, Cintapori, Coropatan, Banda, Chapora, and Goa the +metropolis and archiepiscopal see of Portuguese India. + +[Footnote 77: The Guaga or Godavery is probably here meant, which falls +into the Bay of Bengal in lat. 16 deg. 16' N. at the S.W. extremity of the +Circars. The latitude indicated in the text gets beyond the Bay of +Bengal, and the cities between which the Ganga is said to fall into the +sea have no representatives in our best maps.--E.] + +The _fifth_ division begins where Canara parts from the Decan and ends +at Cape Comorin, containing above 140 leagues. From the Aliga to Mount +Delli or Dilly is about 46 leagues, with these towns, Onor, Baticale, +Barcalor, Baranor, and others of the province of Canara which is subject +to the king of Bisnagar. Below or south from Mount Delli to Cape Comorin +is Malabar, extending 93 leagues, and divided into three kingdoms which +own no superior. The kingdom of Cananor has 20 leagues of coast, in +which are the towns of Cota, Coulam, Nilichilam, Marabia, Bolepatam, +Cananor the metropolis in lat. 12 deg. N. Tremapatam, Cheba, Maim, and +Purepatam. At this place the kingdom of Calicut begins and extends 27 +leagues, of which Calicut the metropolis is in lat. 11 deg. 17' N. besides +the following towns Coulete, Chale, Parangale, Tanor, the last of which +is the capital of a small kingdom subject to the zamorin of Calicut, and +Chatua the last in this kingdom. Next to Calicut to the south is the +small kingdom of Cranganor, which borders on Cochin, after which is +Coulan, and last of all Travancore, which is subject to Narsinga. Near +Travancore is the famous Cape Comorin, the southernmost point of the +continent of Indostan or India on this side the Ganges, in lat. 7 deg. 30' N +[78]. at which place the coast of Malabar ends, being the _fourth_ of +the nine districts into which I have divided the coast of Asia. + +[Footnote 78: The latitude of Cape Comorin is 7 deg. 54' N, or nearly +so.--E.] + +From Cape Comorin in the west to Cape Cincapura in the east, which is +the southernmost point of the _Aurea Chersonesus_ or Malacca, the +distance is 400 leagues, within which line is contained the great bay of +Bengal, sometimes called the _Sinus Gangeticus_, because the river +Ganges falls into this bay in about the lat. of 22 deg. N. after watering +the kingdom of Bengal. This river discharges a prodigious quantity of +water, and is esteemed holy by the neighbouring nations, who believe +that its water conduces to their salvation when at the point of death, +and are carried therefore that they may die with their feet in its +water, by which means the king of Bengal derives a considerable revenue, +no one being allowed to bathe in that river without paying a certain +tax. This river has many mouths, the two most remarkable of which are +Satigan on the west and Chatigan[79] on the east, near 100 leagues from +each other, and here ends the _fifth_ of the nine districts, which may +be divided into three subordinate parts. In the first place the kingdom +of Bisnagar[80] contains 200 leagues, and the following towns, +Tarancurii, Manapar, Vaipar, Trechendur, Caligrande, Charcacale, +Tucucurii, Benbar, Calicare, Beadala, Manancort, and Cannameira, giving +name to a cape which stretches out into the sea in lat. 10 deg. N.[81] then +Negapatnam, Hahor, Triminapatnam, Tragambar, Trimenava, Colororam, +Puducheira, Calapate, Connumeira, Sadraspatnam, and Meliapour, now +called St Thomas because the body of that apostle was found there. From +St Thomas to Palicata is 9 leagues, after which are Chiricole, Aremogan, +Caleturo, Caleciro, and Pentepolii, where the kingdom of Bisnagur ends +and that of Orixa begins. The second part of this district, or Orixa, +contains 120 leagues and reaches to Cape Palmiras, with these towns, +Penacote, Calingan, Visgapatan, Bimilepatan, Narsingapatan, Puacatan, +Caregare and others. Here begins the third part of this district, or the +kingdom of Bengal, the coast of which extends about 100 leagues. + +[Footnote 79: The western branch of the Ganges is now called the Hoogly +River. Satigan in the text may have some reference to what is now called +Sagar roads or anchorage. Chatigan certainly means what is now called +Chitigong: But the most easterly mouth is properly that of the great +Barhampooter, or Bramah-putra River, long confounded among the mouths of +the Ganges. The breadth of the Sunderbunds, or Delta of the Ganges and +Barhampooter, is about 195 English miles.--E.] + +[Footnote 80: The kingdom of Bisnagar in the text, appears to have +contained the entire Carnatic above and below the Gauts, with Mysore and +Golconda.--E.] + +[Footnote 81: Now called Cape Calymere: It is next to impossible to +identify the other names in the text; and the attempt would lead to very +inconvenient length without correspondent utility.--E.] + +The _sixth_ district of the nine begins at the east mouth of the Ganges, +called Chatigan or Chittagong, and ends at Cape Cincapura, in little +more than 1 deg. N. Along this coast from. Chittagong to Cape Negrais or +Diamond Point, the southwestern point of Pegu, in lat. 16 deg. N. is 100 +leagues, with these towns, Sore, Satalolu, Arracan the capital of a +kingdom of the same name, and Dunadiva on the cape. Hence to Tavay in +the lat. 13 deg. is 16 leagues[82], being the extent of the kingdom of Pegu. +From Tavay to Cincapura is 220 leagues, the chief towns on this part of +the coast being Martaban, Lugor, Tanacerim, Lungar, Pedam, Queda, +Salongor, and Malacca the capital of the kingdom of that name. + +[Footnote 82: It is difficult to correct this egregious error, not +knowing the kind of leagues used by Faria. At 17-1/2 to the degree, the +difference of latitude in the text would give 52-1/2 leagues. Perhaps it +is a typographical error for 60 leagues, using the geographical measure, +20 to the degree.--E.] + +The _seventh_ district begins at Cape Cincapura or Sincapure, and ends +at the great river of Siam, which falls into the sea in lat. 14 deg. N.[83] +and has its rise in the lake of Chiammay, called by the natives Menam, +signifying the source of two rivers. Upon this coast are the towns of +Pam, Ponciam, Calantaon, Patane, Ligor, Cuii, Perperii, and Bamplacot at +the mouth of the Siam river. + +[Footnote 83: The river of Siam falls into the great gulf of the same +name, in lat. 18 deg. 30' N. But De Faria seems to overlook the gulf.--E.] + +The _eighth_ district contains the kingdom of Cambodia, through which +runs the river Mecon, otherwise called the Japanese river, which has its +rise in China; the kingdom of Champa or Tsiompa, whence comes the true +aloes-wood; next to that is the kingdom of Cochin-China;[84] and last of +all the great empire of China, divided into fifteen provinces of +governments, each of which is equal to a great kingdom. The provinces of +this vast empire on the sea-coast are Quantung, Fokein, and Chekiang, +where ends the eighth district[85] + +The _ninth_ district begins with the province of Nanking, and extends to +the farthest discovered land on the coast of Tartary. + +[Footnote 84: De Faria omits the kingdom of Tonkin or Tonquin, which +intervenes between Cochin-China and China: Perhaps at that time Tonkin +may have been: De Faria is incorrect in his account of the provinces of +China. Those on the coast are, Quantung, Footchien, Tchetchiang, +Kiangnan, Shantang, Petcheli; or _six_ maritime provinces, instead of +_three_ only in the text. The others are, Yunnan, Quangsee, Kaeitchou, +Hooquang, Setchuen, Sifan, Honan, Shensee, and Shansee; or _nine_ inland +provinces; making _fifteen_ in all, as in the text.--E.] + +[Footnote 85: Or Nizam-al-mulk, and Adel-khan.--E.] + +I shall speak in the sequel concerning the many islands along this +extensive coast of Asia, as they came to be discovered in the +navigations of the Portuguese; but the principal of them may be here +mentioned by name, as the Maldives, Ceylon, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, +Banda, Timor, Celebes, the Moluccas, Mindanao, Luconia, and Japan. +Having thus given a sketch of the Asian coast, we proceed to consider +its inhabitants. Although there are many and various modes of worship in +Asia, the chief religions may be mentioned under four heads, the +Christian, Jewish, Mahometan, and Pagan; the two first of which are for +the most part under the slavery of the other two, against which the +Portuguese waged war. The power of the Mahometans and Pagans is thus +divided. All the coast from the river Cintacora opposite the island of +Anchediva, to the north and west is subject to the Mahometans, and all +to the eastwards to the Pagans; except the kingdom of Malacca, part of +Sumatra, and some parts of Java and the Moluccas, which are held by the +Mahometans. In that tract are the following sovereign princes. The kings +of Aden, Xael, and Fartaque, who have many ports of great trade, and +their subjects, the Arabs, are brave and warlike. Next is the king of +Ormuz, greater than the other three put together. Then the king of +Cambaya, equal in grandeur and warlike power to Xerxes, Darius, or +Porus. From Chaul to Cincatora belong to Nizamaluco and Hidalcan[85], +two powerful princes, who maintain great armies composed of sundry +warlike nations well armed. The Moors[86] of Sumatra, Malacca, and the +Moluccas were well disciplined, and much better provided with artillery +than we who attacked them. The heathen sovereigns were the kings of +Bisnagar, Orixa, Bengal, Pegu, Siam, and China, all very powerful, but +chiefly the last, so that it is difficult to express and scarcely +credible the prodigious extent of his power. Siam extends above 500 +leagues, and has seven subject kingdoms, which are Cambodia, Como, +Lanchaam, Cheneray, Chencran, Chiamay, Canibarii, and Chaypumo. The king +of Siam has 30,000 elephants, 3000 of which are armed for war, and he +has 50,000 soldiers in _Udia_ alone, the metropolis of his kingdom. The +kingdom of China exceeds them all in extent, and the king of that +country is as powerful as all the sovereigns in Europe together. His +empire is above 700 leagues in extent, possessing abundance of metals, +and far exceeds Europe in manufactures, some of which seem to exceed +human art, and the silks, provisions, and luxuries with which it abounds +are beyond computation. + +[Footnote 86: These are unquestionably the Malays, called Moors by +Faria, merely because they were Mahometans.--E.] + +All the heathens of India, particularly between the Indus and Ganges, +write without ink on palm leaves, with pens or stiles rather of wood or +steel, which easily cut the letters on the leaves. Some of these I have +seen in Rome curiously folded. What they intend to be lasting is carved +on stone or copper. In writing they begin at the left hand and write +towards the right, as we do in Europe. Their histories are extremely +fabulous. About 600 years before the arrival of the Portuguese in India, +there reigned in Malabar a powerful monarch, from, whose reign the +people begin their era or historical computations, as they did +afterwards from our arrival. This king was persuaded by the Moors who +traded to his port to turn Mahometan, and gave them liberty to build +houses at Calicut. When he grew old, he divided his kingdom among his +kindred, giving Coulam to the chief, where he placed the principal seat +of his religion of the Bramins, and gave him the title of Cobritim, +which signifies high-priest. To his nephew he gave Calicut, with the +tide of Zamorin, which means emperor. This dignity continues in the +sovereign of Calicut, but the other has been removed to Cochin. Having +disposed of his dominions, he resolved to die at Mecca, but was drowned +by the way. Calicut is a plain country well watered, and abounds in +pepper and ginger; but all the other spices are procured from other +neighbouring countries. The inhabitants are wonderfully superstitious, +and do not suffer those of one trade or profession to marry with those +of a different occupation, or to put their children to learn any other +trade but that of their fathers. The _Nayres_, who are their nobles, if +they chance to touch any of the common people, purify themselves by +ablution, as was done by the Jews and Samaritans. The women among the +Nayres axe common to all, but chiefly those, of the Bramin cast, so that +no one knows his father, nor is any one bound to maintain the children. +These Nayres are wonderfully expert in the use of their weapons, in +which they begin to exercise themselves at seven years of age. They are +prone to all the ancient superstitions of augury and divination. + + +SECTION IV. + +_Continuation of the Portuguese Transactions in India, during the +Viceroyalty of Almeyda_. + + +Besides the forts already erected on the eastern coast of Africa at +Quiloa and Mozambique, and the factory at Melinda, King Manuel +determined to build a fort at Sofala to secure the trade in gold at that +place; for which purpose he sent out Pedro de Annaya with six ships in +the year 1506: three of these ships being destined to remain on the +African coast, and the other three to proceed to India. This fleet was +separated in a storm, during which one of the captains was washed +overboard and drowned, and another lost sixteen men who were slain by +the natives of an island on which they landed. The squadron rejoined in +the port of Sofala, where Annaya found twenty Portuguese mariners in a +miserable condition. The ship to which they had belonged, commanded by +Lope Sanchez, was forced to run on shore at Cape Corientes, being so +leaky as to be in a sinking condition. After landing, the crew refused +obedience to their officers, and separated into different parties, +endeavouring to make their way through the unknown countries and +barbarous nations of Africa; but all perished except these twenty, and +five who were found at the river Quiloma by Antonio de Magelhaens, who +brought them to Sofala. + +According to his orders, and by permission of the sheikh or king of +Sofala, Annaya erected a strong wooden fort at that place. The king soon +afterwards repented of his concession, and was for some time in hopes +that the Portuguese would be soon obliged to abandon the place on +account of its unhealthiness. About this time, three of the ships were +dispatched for India, and two of these which were destined for +protecting the coast from the attempts of the Moors were sent off upon a +cruise to Cape Guardafu, both of which were lost; the captains and part +of their crews saving themselves in the boats: In consequence of the +unwholesomeness of Sofala, the Portuguese garrison became so weakened by +sickness that it required six of them to bend a single cross-bow. +Encouraged by these disasters and instigated by his son-in-law, the king +collected a force of 5000 Kafrs with which he invested the fort, filled +up the ditch with fascines, and made a violent assault, darkening the +sun with incessant clouds of arrows. Though only 35 Portuguese were able +to stand to their arms, they made such havock among the assailants with +their cannon, that the part of the ditch which had not been filled up +with wood was levelled with dead bodies. The enemy being thrown into +confusion Annaya made a sally at the head of fifteen or twenty men[87], +with whom he drove the Kafrs before him to a grove of palms, and thence +into the town, crying out in consternation that their king had sent them +to contend against the gods. In the ensuing night, Annaya attacked the +town, and even penetrated into the house where the king resided, who, +standing behind a door, wounded Annaya in the neck with his cymeter as +he entered, but was soon killed with many of his attendants. Next day +the two sons of the slain king made a new assault on the fort, but +without success, many of the garrison who were sick, being cured by the +alarm, joined in the defence, and the Moors were again repulsed with +great slaughter. The two sons of the deceased King of Sofala fell out +about the succession, and one of them named Solyman made an alliance +with Annaya to procure his aid to establish himself in the sovereignty. + +[Footnote 87: In the translation of De Faria by Stephens these are +called _Moors_; but it is not easy to conceive how Annaya should have +had any of these on his side.--E.] + +The kingdom of Sofala, now called Sena by the Portuguese who monopolize +its whole trade, is of great extent, being 750 leagues in circumference; +but the inland parts are all subject to the Monomotapa, who is emperor +of this southern part of Africa, his dominions being likewise known by +the same name of Monomotapa, called by the ancients _Ethiopia Inferior_. +This country is watered by two famous rivers, called Rio del Espiritu +Santo and Cuama, the latter of which is navigable 250 leagues above its +mouth. These and many other rivers which fall into them, are famous for +their rich golden sands. Most part of this country enjoys a temperate +climate, being pleasant, healthy, and fertile. Some parts are covered +with large flocks of sheep, with the skins of which the natives are +clothed to defend them from the cold south winds. The banks of the Cuama +river are covered with wood, and the interior country rises into hills +and mountains, being abundantly watered with many rivers, so that it is +delightful and well peopled, being the ordinary residence of the +Monomotapa or emperor. Its woods contain many elephants, and +consequently produces much ivory. About 50 leagues southwest from Sofala +are the gold mines of Manica, in a valley of 30 leagues circumference, +surrounded by mountains on the tops of which the air is always clear and +serene. There are other gold mines 150 leagues farther inland, but which +are not so much valued. + +In the interior of the country there are some buildings of wonderful +structure, having inscriptions in unknown characters; but the natives +know nothing respecting their origin. The natives of Monomotapa believe +in one God, whom they name _Mazimo_, and have no idols. Witchcraft, +theft, and adultery are the crimes most severely punished among them. +Every man is permitted to have as many wives as he pleases or can +maintain. The monomotapa has a thousand, but the first wife commands +over all the rest, and her children only are entitled to inherit the +throne. Their houses are built of wood; their apparel is made of cotton, +those of the better sort being mixed with gold threads; their funerals +are very superstitious. The attendance on the monomotapa is more +ceremonious than grand, his usual guard being 200 dogs, and he is always +attended by 500 buffoons. His dominions are ruled over by a great many +princes or governors, and to prevent them from rebelling he always keeps +their heirs about him. They have no law-suits. Their arms are bows and +arrows, javelins, daggers, and small sharp hatchets, and they all fight +on foot. The women of this country are used with so much respect, that +even the kings sons when they meet a woman, give way to her and stand +still till she has gone past. The Moors of Magadoxa were the first who +possessed the mines of Sofala, after which they were seized by the King +of Quiloa: But Yzuf, one of their governors, rebelled and usurped the +government to himself, assuming the title of king. This was the same +person with whom Annaya had now to contend, and whose son Solyman he +established in the sovereignty, under the protection and vassalage of +Portugal. + +While these things happened at Sofala, the zamorin of Calicut was using +every exertion to raise up enemies to the Portuguese, even entering into +alliance with the Mameluke Soldan of Egypt, hoping by his assistance to +drive the Christians from the Indian seas. His measures and preparations +however became known to the Rajah of Cochin, who communicated the +intelligence to the viceroy Almeyda. He accordingly sent his son Lorenzo +with eleven vessels to endeavour to counteract the designs of the +zamorin by destroying the fleet he had prepared. Learning that the +Calicut fleet was in the port of Cananor, consisting of 260 paraos, 60 +of which were larger than the Portuguese ships, Lorenzo sailed thither +and put them to flight after a severe engagement. In the pursuit, some +of the paraos were taken, but many were sunk and run aground, by which +the enemy sustained great loss, while only five or six of the Portuguese +were slain. The principal booty taken on this occasion was four ships +loaded with spice. Almost immediately after this victory, Don Lorenzo +received notice that the fort of Anchediva was beset by 60 vessels +belonging to the Moors and Malabars, well armed and manned with a number +of resolute men under the command of a renegado. On this occasion the +besieged behaved with great gallantry, and the besiegers pressed their +attacks with much bravery, but several of their vessels having been +destroyed and others much damaged by the cannon of the fort, and hearing +of the approach of Lorenzo, the enemy withdrew in all haste. + +Finding their trade almost destroyed by the Portuguese, the Moors +endeavoured to shun their cruisers by keeping out to sea in their +voyages from Cambaya and the ports of the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, +passing through the Maldive Islands, and keeping to the south of Ceylon +in their way to Sumatra and Malacca. The viceroy on learning this new +course of the Moorish trade, sent his son Lorenzo with nine ships to +intercept the trade of the enemy. While wandering through seas unknown +to the pilots, Lorenzo discovered the island of Ceylon, formerly called +Taprobana, and came to anchor in the port of _Gale_, where many Moors +were taking in cinnamon and elephants for Cambaya. To induce Lorenzo not +to molest or destroy them, the Moors made him an offer of 400 bahars of +cinnamon in the name of the king of Ceylon; and although he well knew +this proceeded only from fear, he thought it better to dissemble and +accept the present, contenting himself with the discovery of the island, +on which he erected a cross with an inscription of the date of his +discovery. On his return to Cochin, he attacked the town of Biramjam or +Brinjan, which he burnt to the ground and put all the inhabitants to the +sword, in revenge for the slaughter of the factor and his people at +Coulam, as this place belonged to that kingdom. + +While Cide Barbudo and Pedro Quaresme were coming out from Portugal with +two ships, they arrived after many misfortunes at Sofala, where they +found Annaya and most of his men dead, and the rest of the Portuguese +garrison sick. Quaresme remained there to defend the fort; and Barbudo +proceeding towards India found Quiloa in as bad a condition, of which he +carried intelligence to Almeyda. The viceroy sent immediately Nunno Vaz +Pereyra to relieve the forts of Quiloa and Sofala[88]. But that of +Quiloa was soon afterwards abandoned and destroyed, after having lost +many lives, owing to the ill usage of the Portuguese to the natives, +whom they treated with insufferable pride, and boundless avarice. + +[Footnote 88: De Faria does not give any dates to the particular +transactions in his text, merely noticing the successive years in the +titles of the various sections into which his work is loosely divided, +and occasionally on the margin: Even this has been neglected by the +editor of Astley's Collection. These last transactions on the coast of +Africa seem to have taken place towards the end of 1506.--E.] + +Having been informed by Diego Fernandez Pereyra that the island of +Socotora near the mouth of the Red Sea was inhabited by Christians who +were subject to the Moors, the king of Portugal ordered Tristan de Cunna +and Alfonso de Albuquerque to direct their course to that island, and to +endeavour to possess themselves of the fort, that the Portuguese ships +might be enabled to winter at that island, and to secure the navigation +of the Arabian Gulf against the Moors; for which purpose they carried +out with them a wooden fort ready to put up. De Cunna was destined to +command the trading ships which were to return to Europe, and +Albuquerque to cruise with a small squadron on the coast of Arabia +against the Moors. These two commanders sailed from Lisbon on the 6th of +March 1507, with thirteen vessels in which were 1300 soldiers, some of +whom died by the way, having been infected by the plague then raging in +Lisbon; but when they came under the line, the sickness left them. +Having come in sight of Cape Augustine in Brasil, they took a new +departure from thence to cross the Southern Atlantic for the Cape of +Good Hope; but in this course De Cunna held so far to the south that he +discovered the islands still called by his name. At this place the ships +were parted in a storm, each following a separate course till they met +again at Mozambique. Alvaro Tellez, however, who commanded one of these +ships, overshot Mozambique and proceeded to Cape Guardafu, where he took +six ships belonging to the Moors, so laden with all kind of goods, that +he made a sort of bridge from them to his own vessel, consisting of +bales thrown into the sea, over which his men passed as on dry land. + +During this part of the voyage likewise, Ruy Pereyra put into the port +of Matatama in the island of Madagascar; and being informed that this +island abounded in spice, especially ginger, Tristan de Cunna was +induced to go there, and anchored in a bay which his son Nunno named +_Angra de Donna Maria_, after a lady whom he courted. By others it is +named the bay of _Santa Maria delta Conception_. As some Negroes +appeared on the coast, De Cunna sent a Moor to converse with them; but +when he mentioned that the ships belonged to Christians, they +endeavoured to kill him, and had to be driven away by the Portuguese +cannon. About three leagues farther on, they came to a village, the +_xeque_ or sheikh of which carried them to another town on an island in +a well sheltered bay into which the great river Lulangan discharges its +waters. This town was inhabited by Moors[89] somewhat civilized, who, +being afraid of the fleet made their escape to the main-land, but so +overloaded their boats that many of them perished by the way. The +Portuguese surrounded the island and took 500 prisoners, only twenty of +whom were men, among whom was the _xeque_ or chief, an aged man of a +respectable appearance. Next morning the sea was covered with boats, +bringing over 600 men to demand the release of their wives and children. +After some negociation, the Portuguese commander restored the prisoners +to their liberty. He here learnt that the island of Madagascar was +chiefly inhabited by negro _cafrs_, and produced but little ginger. He +afterwards wished to have entered a town on this island called _Zada_, +but the inhabitants set it on fire. + +[Footnote 89: By Moors in the writings of the early Portuguese, +Mahometans are always to be understood. The Moors of Madagascar were a +mixed breed between the Arabs and Negroes.--E.] + +From this place, De Cunna sent on Alfonso de Albuquerque with four ships +to Mozambique, with orders to reduce some places on the coast of +Melinda; while he went himself with three ships to Matatama in +Madagascar, where he was told that cloves, ginger, and silver were to be +had. On this expedition however, he lost one of his ships, only the +pilot and seven men being saved; on which account he steered for +Mozambique, but was forced by stress of weather into the island of +Angoza. At night he discovered the lights of the ship St Jago which he +had left at Mozambique, and soon after Juan de Nova arrived from Angoza, +where he had wintered[90], laden with pepper. At Mozambique he rejoined +Albuquerque, whom he sent on before him to Melinda; and meeting two +other ships of his squadron at Quiloa, he proceeded to Melinda. To +oblige the king of Melinda, the Portuguese attacked the city of Oja, the +king of which place, aided by the king of Mombaza, made war on the king +of Melinda. In this country, which is inhabited by Arabs, there are some +ancient and wonderful structures. Each city, and almost every village +has a separate king, whom they call _xeque_ or sheikh; but the principal +among these are the sheikhs of Quiloa, Zanzibar, and Mombaza, while the +sheikh of Melinda pretends to be the most ancient, deducing his pedigree +from the sheikhs of Quitau, which, though in ruins, shows evident marks +of ancient grandeur, having been superior to all its neighbours. These +are Luziva, Parimunda, Lamon, Jaca, Oja, and others. This country is +watered by the river Gulimanja, up which George Alfonso sailed for the +space of five days, finding the banks every where covered with +impervious woods, and the river inhabited by a prodigious number of sea +horses or _hippopotami_. + +[Footnote 90: This wintering, being in the southern hemisphere, probably +refers to June and July 1507.--E.] + +Having now only six ships out of thirteen with which he left Portugal, +one being lost, some separated by storms, and others sent away, Tristan +de Cunna appeared before the city of Oja, on an open shore seventeen +leagues from Melinda, and defended by a wall towards the land, to +protect it against the Kafrs. De Cunna sent a message to the sheikh +desiring an interview, as having some important matters to arrange with +him; but the sheikh answered, that he was subject to the soldan of +Egypt, caliph or head of the Musselmans, and could not therefore treat +with a people who were enemies to the prophet. Considering delay +dangerous, Tristan resolved upon an immediate attack, and dividing his +men into two parties, one commanded by himself and the other by +Albuquerque, made for the shore as soon as day light appeared. The Moors +were drawn up on the shore to resist the landing, but were soon forced +to take shelter behind their walls; and, not trusting to them for +protection, no sooner entered at the sea gate but they ran out at the +gate opposite. Nunno de Cunna and Alfonso de Noronha pursued the sheikh +and his people to a grove of palm trees, in which the sheikh and many of +his attendants were slain. At this time, George Silveyra observed a +grave Moor leading a beautiful young woman through a path in the wood, +and made towards them. The Moor turned to defend himself, desiring the +woman to make her escape while he fought; but she followed him, +declaring she would rather die or be taken along with him, than make her +escape alone. Seeing them thus strive who should give the strongest +demonstration of affection, Silveyra allowed both to go away unhurt, +unwilling to part so much love. The town was plundered and set on fire, +and burnt with such fury that some of the Portuguese perished in the +flames while in anxious search of plunder. + +On being informed of what had happened at Oja, the sheikh of Lamo, +fifteen leagues distant, came to make his submission, and to render +himself more acceptable offered to pay a tribute of 600 meticals of gold +yearly, about equal to as many ducats, and paid the first year in +advance. From hence De Cunna proceeded to Brava, a populous town which +had been formerly reduced, but the sheikh was now in rebellion, trusting +to a force of 6000 men with which he opposed the landing of the +Portuguese. But De Cunna and Albuquerque landed their troops next day in +two bodies, in spite of every opposition from showers of arrows, darts, +and stones, and scaled the walls, routing the Moors with prodigious +slaughter. The city was plundered, and burnt; but in this enterprise the +Portuguese lost forty-two men; not the half of them by the sword, but in +consequence of a boat sinking which was overloaded with spoil. Those who +were drowned had been so blinded with covetousness while plundering the +town, that they barbarously cut off the hands and ears of the women to +save time in taking off their bracelets and earrings. Sailing from +Brava, Tristan de Cunna was rejoined off Cape Guardafu by Alvaro Tellez, +who had been in great danger in a storm of losing his ship with all the +rich booty formerly mentioned. Having got sight of Cape Guardafu, De +Cunna now stood over for the island of Socotora, according to his +instructions. + +Socotora, or Zakatra is an island twenty leagues long and nine broad, +stretching nearly east and west, in lat. 12 deg. 40' N. and is the largest +of the islands near the mouth of the Red Sea, but has no ports fit for +any great number of ships to ride in during winter. Through the middle +of this island there runs a chain of very high hills, yet covered over +with sand blown up by the north winds from the shore to their tops, so +that they are entirely barren and destitute of trees or plants, +excepting some small valleys which are sheltered from these winds. It is +30 leagues from Cape Guardafu, and 50 leagues from the nearest part of +the Arabian continent. The ports principally used by us are Zoco or +Calancea to the westwards, and Beni to the east, both inhabited by +Moors, who are very unpolished. In those valleys that are sheltered from +the sand, apple and palm trees are produced, and the best aloes in the +world, which from its excellence is called Socotorine aloes. The common +food of the people is maize, with milk and tamarinds. The inhabitants of +this island are Christians of the Jacobite church, similar in its +ceremonies and belief to that which is established in Ethiopia[91]. The +men generally use the names of the apostles, while most of the women, +are named Maria. They worship the cross, which they set up in all their +churches, and wear upon their clothes, worshipping thrice a-day in the +Chaldean language, making alternate responses as we do in choirs. They +have but one wife, use circumcision, pay tythes, and practice fasting. +The men are comely, and the women so brave that they go to war like +Amazons. They are clothed mostly in skins, but some of the better sort +use cloth; their weapons are stones, which they sling with much +dexterity, and they live mostly in caves[92]. This island was subject to +the sheikh or king of Caxem[93] in Arabia. + +[Footnote 91: Abyssinia is obviously here meant.--E.] + +[Footnote 92: Though not distinguished in the text, Faria seems here to +confine himself to the barbarous Christian natives, inhabiting the +country; as the towns appear to have been occupied by Mahometan +Arabs.--E.] + +[Footnote 93: Cashen or Cassin.--Astley, I. 63.] + +At this place[94] De Cunna found a tolerable fort, not ill manned, and +decently provided for defence. He sent a friendly message to the sheikh, +but receiving an insolent answer he resolved to attack the place, +though the attempt seemed dangerous. He and Albuquerque went towards the +shore with the troops, but Don Alfonso de Noronha, nephew to De Cunna, +leapt first on shore, determining to shew himself worthy of the choice +which the king had made of him to command in Socotora, if gained. +Noronha immediately advanced against the sheikh with a few brave men. +The sheikh defended himself with great resolution, and had even almost +repulsed the assailants, when he was struck down by the lance of +Noronha. The Moors endeavoured with much valour to rescue their wounded +chief, but he and eight more were slain, on which the rest fled to the +castle. This was immediately scaled by a party of the Portuguese, who +opened the gate for the rest, who now rushed into the large outer court. + +[Footnote 94: By a marginal note in Faria, it appears to have been now +the year 1508; but the particular place or town in Socotora attacked by +De Cunna is not mentioned. I am disposed however to believe that date an +error of the press, for 1507.--E.] + +The Moors bravely defended their inner fort to the last man, so that of +eighty-three men only one was taken alive, besides a blind man who was +found hidden in a well. Being asked how he had got there, being blind, +he answered that blind men saw only one thing, which was the way to +liberty. He was set free. In this assault the Portuguese lost six men. +During the assault the natives of the island kept at a distance, but now +came with their wives and children, joyfully returning thanks to the +Portuguese commander for having delivered them from the heavy yoke of +the infidels; and De Cunna received them to their great satisfaction +under the protection of the crown of Portugal[95]. The Mosque was +purified by the solemnities of the Catholic church, and converted into a +church dedicated to the _Invocation of Neustra Sennora della Vittoria_, +in which many were baptised by the labours of Father Antonio of the +order of St Francis. De Cunna gave the command of the fort, now named +San Miguel, to Don Alfonso de Noronha, his nephew, who had well deserved +it by his valour, even if he had not been nominated to the command by +the king. Noronha was provided with a garrison of an hundred men, with +proper officers; after which De Cunna wintered at the island of +Socotora, though very ill accommodated, and then sailed for India, +sending Albuquerque, according to the royal orders, to cruise on the +coast of Arabia[96]. + +[Footnote 95: Little did these poor Jacobite Christians suspect, that in +exchanging masters they were subjected to the more dreadful yoke of the +Portuguese Inquisition! The zeal of the Portuguese for the liberty of +the Christian inhabitants of Socotora soon cooled, when it was found +unable to pay the expence of a garrison, and it was soon abandoned to +the milder oppression of its former Mahometan masters.--E.] + +[Footnote 96: From an after part of the text of Faria, we learn that +this fort in the island of Socotora was taken on the 20th of August, +probably of the year 1507.] + +While these things occurred at Socotora, the zamorin of Calicut was +arming afresh against the Portuguese, relying on the promises of his +wizards and soothsayers; who, finding that the succours under Tristan de +Cunna were long delayed, assured him of success in that lucky +opportunity, and predicted a great change of affairs, as indicated by an +earthquake and a great eclipse of the sun, so complete that the stars +were seen at noon for a considerable time, and which they pretended was +a sure sign of the approaching destruction of the Portuguese. But on the +viceroy Almeyda receiving notice of the preparations at Calicut, he sent +his son Don Lorenzo thither with a squadron of ten ships. At this time +Gonzalo Vaz was in Cananor with his ship, taking in water; and on his +voyage to join Don Lorenzo he fell in with a ship belonging to Cananor +having a Portuguese pass, which he sunk with all her moorish crew sewed +up in a sail that they might never be seen. But this wicked action was +afterwards discovered, for which Vaz was broke; a very incompetent +punishment for so great a crime, owing to which the Portuguese +afterwards suffered severe calamities, as will appear in the sequel. + +On his way towards Dabul in search of the Calicut fleet, Don Lorenzo +cast anchor at the entrance of the port of Chaul, into which seven +vessels belonging to the Moors entered without making any return to his +salute. On this Lorenzo followed them in his boats, and the Moors leaped +overboard to escape on shore, but many of them were slain by the +Portuguese in the water. Lorenzo then took possession of the ships, +which were laden with horses and other goods; and as the Moors +endeavoured to overreach him with regard to ransoming their vessels, +greatly underrating their cargoes, he ordered them all to be burnt. +Going thence to Dabul, where he found the Calicut fleet, he anchored off +the mouth of the river, and called a council of his officers to consult +on the proper measures for an attack; but owing to the narrowness of the +river it was carried in the council not to attack, contrary to the +opinion of Lorenzo, who was eager to destroy the enemies ships. Passing +on therefore to a river four leagues beyond Dabul, a brigantine and +parao which led the van saw a ship sailing up the river, and pursued the +vessel till it came to anchor over against a town, where there were many +other vessels. Seeing the two vessels in pursuit of the ship Lorenzo +sent a galley after them, and the three began to clear the shore with +their shot of many Moors who flocked thither to defend their ships. +Supposing from the noise of firing that his assistance was necessary, +Lorenzo made all possible haste up the river; but before his arrival the +others had taken all the vessels in the harbour, and had burnt a house +on shore full of valuable commodities. All the ships in this harbour +were burnt, except two from Ormuz having very rich cargoes, which were +carried away. On his return to Cochin with victory and rich spoil, +expecting to be received by his father with applause, he was astonished +to find himself threatened with severe punishment for not having fought +with and destroyed the Calicut fleet. He was however excused, as it +appeared he had been overruled by the votes of the other captains, +contrary to his own opinion. The viceroy broke them all therefore, and +sent them home in disgrace to Portugal. By this severity, Don Lorenzo +was much troubled, and in afterwards endeavouring to restore himself to +the esteem of his father, he lost his life in rashly displaying his +valour. + +The body of one of the Moors who had been basely destroyed by Vaz, as +formerly mentioned, was washed on shore, and discovered to be the nephew +of _Mamale_, a rich merchant of Malabar. Founding on this circumstance, +the zamorin prevailed upon the rajah of Cananor to break with the +Portuguese; and as it was not known who had been guilty of that +barbarous act, the blame fell upon Lorenzo de Brito, captain of the fort +at Cananor, who got notice of his danger, and not being in sufficient +force to defend himself, sent intelligence to the viceroy. This message +was delivered to Almeyda while in church assisting at the service on +_Maunday_ Thursday; and was of so pressing a nature that he immediately +left the church, to give orders for the immediate shipment of provisions +and men to succour Brito; and these orders were executed with such +speed, that those who had lent their arms to others _to watch the +sepulchre_, as the custom is, had to go to the church to get them back. +Don Lorenzo was appointed to command this relief of Cananor, with orders +on his arrival at that place to put himself under the command of Brito, +who insisted that as son to the viceroy and an officer of reputation and +experience he should take the command: But Lorenzo was positive that he +would not take the command over Brito, pursuant to the orders of his +father; and being unable to prevail, he left the relief at Cananor, and +returned to Cochin. + +By this time the rajah of Cananor had drawn together a force of 20,000 +men, with which he besieged the Portuguese fort, which Brito determined +to defend to the last extremity, and used every possible means to +strengthen the place. Much blood was spilt about the possession of a +well, which the Portuguese at length made themselves masters of by means +of a mine. After this loss, the enemy retired to a wood of palm-trees, +meaning to prepare engines to batter the fort, of which circumstance +intelligence was conveyed to Brito by a nephew to the rajah of Cananor, +who wished to acquire the friendship of the Portuguese, so that Brito +was prepared to receive the intended assault. Having completed their +preparations, the enemy moved on to fill up the ditch and assault the +fort; but were opposed with so much energy, at first by incessant +discharges of cannon, and afterwards by means of a sally, that the ditch +was filled with dead bodies instead of fascines. After losing a +prodigious number of men, the enemy retreated to the wood; and next +night, which was cold and rainy, Brito sent out eighty men to beat up +their quarters under the command of a Spanish officer named Guadalaxara, +who was next in command. This enterprise was so vigorously executed, +that after the discharge of a few small pieces of artillery, the enemy +fled in every direction to save themselves, leaving 300 of their men +slain. The joy for this victory on the side of the Portuguese was soon +miserably abated in consequence of the destruction of their entire +magazine of provisions by fire, by which they were reduced to the +extremity of famine, and under the necessity of feeding on all kinds of +vermin that could be procured. In this extreme distress, they were +providentially relieved by a rough sea throwing up vast quantities of +crabs or lobsters on the point of land where the chapel of the Virgin +stands, which was the only food which could be procured by the garrison +for a long while. While in this situation, in consequence of powerful +assistance from the zamorin, the rajah of Cananor made a fresh assault +upon Brito with 50,000 men, and was again repulsed with prodigious +slaughter, without the loss of one man on the side of the Portuguese. +Immediately after this exploit, Tristan de Cunna arrived at Cananor with +a reinforcement and a supply of provisions, by which and the noble +defence made by Brito the rajah of Cananor was so much intimidated that +he sued for peace, which was granted upon conditions highly honourable +and advantageous to the Portuguese. + +As Tristan de Cunna was now ready to depart for Portugal with the +homeward bound ships, the viceroy went along with him to Paniani, a town +belonging to Calicut which he proposed to destroy, as it was much +frequented by the Moors, who took in loadings of spices at that place +under the protection of four ships belonging to the zamorin commanded by +a valiant Moor named Cutiale[97]. The viceroy and Tristan, having +anchored off the bar, held a council of war to deliberate upon a plan of +attack, when it was determined to send their two sons in two barks and +several boats to attack the place, while the viceroy and admiral should +follow in a galley. When the foremost of the Portuguese assailants were +attacking the trenches, on which some of them had mounted, Pedro Cam +having even planted the colours of Lorenzo Almeyda on the summit, the +viceroy on coming up observed his son climbing up with some difficulty. +He immediately called out, "How comes it Lorenzo that you are so +backward?" When the young man answered, "I have given way, Sir, to him +who has gained the honour of the day." At this moment a gigantic Moor +assailed Lorenzo and even wounded him; but in return he cleft the head +of the Moor down to the breast. The town was now carried by storm, and +all its defenders put to the sword, after which all the ships in the +port were burnt. In this exploit the Portuguese lost only eighteen men, +none of whom were of any note; but above 500 of the enemy were slain. +Though the plunder of this place was of great value, it was all burnt +along with the town and ships, the artillery only being carried off. + +[Footnote 97: In an after part of De Faria, this officer is said to have +been a Chinese.--E.] + +After this the fleet and army returned to Cananor where De Cunna +completed his lading, and then set sail for Portugal. At Mozambique, on +his way home, he met several ships belonging to a squadron of twelve +sail sent from Lisbon in the former year; seven of which were to return +with goods, and the other five to cruise on the eastern coast of Africa, +under the command of Vasco Gomez de Abreu, who was likewise to command +in the fort of Sofala. There were also two other ships in this fleet, +destined to reinforce the squadron of Albuquerque on the coast of +Arabia. Of this fleet, the ship commanded by Juan Chanoca was lost in +the river Zanaga, that of Juan Gomez in another place, and Abreu was +lost with four vessels while going to Mozambique. Other vessels of this +fleet were driven to various parts, after enduring terrible storms and +imminent dangers; yet these dire misfortunes were insufficient to damp +the boldness of our nation in quest of riches, so prevalent is +covetousness over every consideration of difficulty or danger. + +We must now return to Alfonso de Albuquerque, who parted from De Cunna, +after the taking of Socotora on the 20th of August, as formerly related, +being bound for the coasts of Arabia and Persia, pursuant to the +commands of the king, having with him seven ships and 460 soldiers. He +came first to Calayate, a beautiful and strong place in the kingdom of +Ormuz, built after the manner usual in Spain, but which had once been +more populous. Sending a message to the governor, he received supplies +of water and provisions, and entered into a treaty of peace. Proceeding +to Curiate, ten leagues farther on, he was very ill received, in revenge +for which he took the place by storm, losing only three of his own men, +while eighty of the defenders were slain. After plundering this place, +it was destroyed by fire along with fourteen vessels which were in the +harbour. From thence he sailed for Muscat, eight leagues farther, which +was stronger than the two former, and well filled with people, who had +resorted there from all quarters on hearing of the destruction of +Curiate. Being afraid of a similar disaster, the governor sent great +supplies of provisions to Albuquerque, and entered into a treaty of +peace; but while the boats were ashore for water, the cannon of the town +began unexpectedly to play upon the ships, doing, considerable damage, +and obliged them hastily to haul farther off, not knowing the cause of +these hostilities; but it was soon learnt that 2000 men had arrived to +defend the town, sent by the king of Ormuz, and that their commander +refused to concur in the peace which had been entered into by the +governor. Although Albuquerque had received considerable damage from the +smart cannonade, he landed his men early next morning, and attacked the +place with such resolution that the Moors fled at one gate, while the +Portuguese entered at another. The town was given up to plunder, all +except the residence of the governor, who had received the Portuguese in +a friendly manner, and had very honourably given them notice to retire, +when the troops of Ormuz arrived; but he was slain during the first +confusion, without being known. + +After the destruction of Muscat, Albuquerque proceeded to Soar, all the +inhabitants of which fled, except the governor and some of the principal +Moors, who offered to surrender the town; but Albuquerque gave it back +to them, on condition of holding it in vassalage from the crown of +Portugal, and payment of the same tribute which used to be given to the +king of Ormuz. Fifteen leagues farther he came to Orfucam, which was +deserted by the inhabitants. Albuquerque sent his nephew, Don Antonio, +to pursue them at the head of 100 men; who, though he brought back +twenty-two prisoners, received almost as much damage from the Moors as +he did, as they were very numerous and fought bravely in defence of +their wives and children. The deserted town of Orfucam was plundered for +three days, during which time Albuquerque disposed all things in +readiness for proceeding against Ormuz, which was the chief object of +his voyage, deeming these previous exploits only a prelude to his grand +enterprise, and accounting them but trifles, though they might appear +considerable to others. + +The city of Ormuz or Hormuz is situated on the small island of Jerun at +the mouth of the Persian Gulf, only three leagues in compass, and so +barren that it produces nothing but salt and sulphur. The buildings of +the city are sumptuous. It is the great mart for all the goods of +Africa, Arabia, and India; by which means, though having nothing of its +own, it abounds in all things. It is plentifully supplied with +provisions from the province of Mogostan or Laristan in Persia, and from +the islands of Kishom, Kissmis, or Kishmish, Larek, and others. About +the year 1273, Malek Kaez possessed all the land from the isle of Jerun +to that of Bahrayn, bordering on the kingdom of Gordunshah of the +province of Mogostan[98]. This king by subtile devices prevailed upon +Malek to give him the island of Jerun, being a place of no value +whatever; after which he fortified himself there, and transplanting the +inhabitants of the ancient city of Ormuz on the coast, where the king +used to reside to that island, the king of Persia, fearing he would +refuse the accustomed tribute, prepared to invade him: But the king of +Gordunshah diverted him from his purpose, by engaging to be responsible +for the tribute, and by doing homage by his ambassadors once in every +five years. By these means the city and kingdom of Ormuz was +established, which continued to be ruled over by the heirs of the first +possessor and others, mostly by violence[99]. + +[Footnote 98: The expression in the text is obscure. It appears that +Malek Kaez, ruled over the sea coast of the kingdom or province rather +of Mogostan, of which Gordunshah was king or governor.--E.] + +[Footnote 99: The account in the text is unintelligible and +contradictory: But we fortunately have one more intelligible from the +editor of Astley's Collection, I. 65. c. which being too long for a +note, has been placed in the text between inverted commas.--E.] + +"This account of the origin of the kingdom of Ormuz or Harmuz is related +differently in a history of that state written by one of its kings, and +given to us by Teixeira at the end of his history of Persia, as +follows.--In the year of _Hejirah_ 700, and of Christ 1302, when the +Turkomans, or Turks from Turkestan, overran Persia as far as the Persian +Gulf, _Mir Bahaddin Ayaz Seyfin_, the fifteenth king of Ormuz, resolved, +to leave the continent where his dominions then were, and to retire to +some of the adjacent islands. He first passed over with his people to +the large island of _Brokt_ or Kishmish[100], called Quixome by the +Portuguese, and afterwards removed to a desert isle two leagues distant +eastward, which he begged from _Neyn_ king of _Keys_, and built a new +city, calling it _Harmuz_ after the name of his former capital on the +coast, the ruins of which are still visible to the east of _Gamrun_ or +Gambroon. By the Arabs and Persians, this island is called _Jerun_, from +a fisherman who lived there at the time when Ayaz first took possession. +In the course of two hundred years, this new city and kingdom advanced +so much in wealth and power, that it extended its dominion over a great +part of the coasts of Arabia and Persia, all the way to _Basrah_ or +Basora. It became the chief mart of trade in all these parts, which had +formerly been established at Keys; but after the reduction of Ormuz, by +the Portuguese, its trade and consequence declined much, owing to their +tyranny and oppression. Ayaz Seyfin, was succeeded by Amir Ayas Oddin +Gordun Shah. Thus it appears distinctly, that the Malek Kaes in the text +of Faria, ought to have been called the Malek or king of Kaes or Keys; +and that instead of the kingdom of Gordunshah of the province of +Mogostan, it should have been Gordun Shah king of Mogostan; besides, the +island was not granted to him, but to his predecessor Ayaz. As a mark of +their sense of the riches of Ormuz, the orientals used to say +proverbially, if the world were considered as a ring, Ormuz was its +jewel." + +[Footnote 100: In a plan of Ormuz given in Astley's Collection, the isle +of Kishoma or Kishmis is placed at a small distance from that of Ormuz +or Jerun, and is said to be the place whence Ormuz is supplied with +water. In fact the island of Kismis or Kishom is of considerable size +and some fertility, though exceedingly unhealthy, while that of Jerun on +which Ormuz was built, though barren and without water, was +comparatively healthy. It was a commercial garrison town of the Arabs, +for the purpose of carrying on the trade of the Persian Gulf, and at the +same time withdrawing from the oppressive rule of the Turkoman +conquerors of Persia.--E.] + +When Albuquerque arrived at Ormuz about the end of September 1507, Sayf +Oddin a youth of twelve years of age was sovereign, under the +guardianship of a slave named Khojah Attar, a man of courage but of a +subtile and crafty disposition. Hearing what had been done by +Albuquerque at the towns upon the coast, Attar made great preparations +for resisting the new enemy. For this purpose he laid an embargo on all +the ships in the port, and hired troops from all the neighbouring +countries, so that when the Portuguese entered the port there were +30,000 armed men in the city, of whom 4000 were Persians, the most +expert archers then in the world. There were at that time 400 vessels in +the harbour, 60 of which were of considerable size, the crews of which +amounted to 2500 men. Albuquerque was not ignorant of the warlike +preparations which had been made for his reception; but to shew his +determined resolution, he came immediately to anchor in the midst of +five of the largest ships riding in the harbour, firing his cannon as he +sailed along to strike a terror into the inhabitants, and the shore was +soon lined by 8000 troops. As no message was sent to him by the king, he +commanded the captain of the largest ship, which seemed admiral over the +rest, to repair on board of him, who immediately complied, and was +received with much civility, but in great state. He then desired this +man to go on shore and inform the king of Ormuz, that he had orders from +the king of Portugal to take him under the protection of that crown, and +to grant him leave to trade in the Indian seas, on condition that he +submitted himself as vassal to the crown of Portugal, and agreed to pay +a reasonable tribute: But if these proposals were rejected, his orders +were to subdue Ormuz by force of arms. It was assuredly no small +presumption to offer such degrading terms to a king who was at the head +of above 30,000 fighting men, and 400 ships, while all the force he had +against such prodigious force, was only 460 soldiers and seven ships. +The Moorish captain, who was from Cambaya, went on shore and delivered +this insolent message to the king and his governor Attar; who +immediately sent Khojah Beyram with a message to Albuquerque, excusing +them for not having sent to inquire what the Portuguese wanted in their +port, and promising that the governor should wait upon him next day. +Attar however did not perform this promise, but endeavoured to spin out +the time by a repetition of messages, in order to strengthen the +fortifications of the city, and to receive farther supplies. Albuquerque +immediately perceived the purport of these messages, and told Beyram +that he would listen only to the acceptation of peace on the terms +proposed, or an immediate declaration of war. To this insolent demand, +Beyram brought back for answer, that Ormuz was accustomed to receive, +and not to pay tribute. + +During the night, the noise of warlike instruments, and the shouts of +the troops collected in Ormuz were heard from all parts of the city; and +when morning came, the whole walls, the shore, and the vessels in the +harbour were seen crowded with armed men, while the windows and flat +tops of all the houses were filled with people of both sexes and all +ages, anxious to behold the expected events. Albuquerque immediately +began to cannonade the city and the large Moorish ships, and was +spiritedly answered by the enemy, who took advantage of the obscurity +occasioned by the smoke to send a large party of armed men in 130 boats +to attack the ships, and did some damage among the Portuguese by +incessant and prodigious discharges of arrows and stones. But as many of +the boats were sunk by the Portuguese artillery, and numbers of the men +slain and drowned, they were forced to retire. They returned again to +the charge with fresh numbers; but after a severe conflict were again +obliged to retreat with prodigious loss, the sea being dyed with blood, +and great numbers of them slain. By this time, Albuquerque had sunk two +of the largest ships in the port and taken a third, not without +considerable opposition on the part of the enemy, forcing the surviving +Moors to leap into the sea; and the other captains of his squadron had +captured three ships, and had set above thirty more on fire. The crews +of these cut their cables and drifted over to the Persian shore to +enable themselves to escape; but by this means communicated the +conflagration to other vessels that were lying aground. These disasters +struck such terror into the people of Ormuz that they all fled in dismay +within their walls, and Khojah Attar sent a message to Albuquerque +offering to submit to his proposals; on which he put a stop to farther +hostilities, yet suspecting the governor of treachery, he threatened to +inflict still heavier calamities on the city unless the terms were +performed with good faith. Thus, with the loss only of ten men on the +side of the Portuguese, most of the numerous vessels belonging to the +enemy, full of various rich commodities, were taken, burnt, sunk, or +torn to pieces, and above seventeen hundred of the Moors were slain, +numbers of whose bodies were seen floating in the harbour. Many of these +were seen to have ornaments of gold, which the Portuguese anxiously +sought after, and on this occasion it was noticed that several of the +enemy had been slain by their own arrows, none being used by the +Portuguese. + +Khojah Attar, dismayed by the prodigious injury sustained in the +conflict, and afraid of still heavier calamities, called a council of +the chief officers of the kingdom to deliberate on what was best to be +done, when it was agreed to submit for the present to the demands of +Albuquerque; after which articles of pacification were drawn up and +sworn to between the parties. The two principal articles were, that the +king of Ormuz submitted to pay a tribute to the king of Portugal of +15,000 _Xerephines_ yearly[101], and that ground should be allowed for +the Portuguese on which to build a fort. The fort was accordingly +immediately commenced, and considerable progress was made in its +construction in a few days. On purpose to avoid the payment of the +tribute, Khojah Attar dressed up a pretended embassy from the king of +Persia demanding payment of the usual tribute, and required that +Albuquerque should give them an answer, as the king of Ormuz was now +subject to the crown of Portugal. Albuquerque penetrated into this +design, and desired Attar to send some one to him to receive the answer. +The pretended Persian ambassador accordingly waited upon him, to whom he +gave some spears and bullets, saying such was the coin in which the +tribute should be paid in future. Finding this contrivance fail, Attar +endeavoured to corrupt some of the Portuguese, and actually prevailed on +five seamen to desert, one of whom had been bred a founder, who cast +some cannon like those belonging to the Portuguese. Being informed by +these deserters that Albuquerque had only about 450 soldiers, Attar +began to pick up fresh courage, and entered into contrivances for +breaking the peace, pretending at the same time to lay the blame on +Albuquerque, and refused to deliver up the deserters. + +[Footnote 101: A Xerephine being worth about half a crown, this tribute +amounted to about L. 1875 sterling.--Astl. I. 66. a.--According to +Purchas a Xerephine is worth 3s. 9d; so that the yearly tribute in the +text is equal to L. 2812 20s. sterling.--E.] + +The high spirit of Albuquerque could not brook this conduct, and +determined upon taking vengeance, but had little success in the attempt +being badly seconded by the officers serving under him. Taking advantage +of this spirit of insubordination, of which he had ample intelligence as +it was occasioned by his own intrigues, Attar one night set fire to a +bark which the Portuguese were building on the shore; and at the same +time one of the deserters called aloud from the wall on Albuquerque, to +defend his boat with his 400 men, and he should meet 7000 archers. At +this time some of the Portuguese captains gave intelligence to the +enemy, and had even assisted the five renegades to desert. Enraged at +this affront in burning his bark, Albuquerque endeavoured to set some +ships on fire which were building or repairing in the arsenal of Ormuz, +but failed in the attempt. He next undertook to besiege the city; and +having taken several persons who were carrying provisions thither, he +cut off their hands, ears, and noses, and sent them into the city in +that miserable condition, to the great terror of the inhabitants. About +this time there was a hot dispute between the Portuguese and the +garrison of Ormuz, about some wells which supplied the inhabitants with +water, which Albuquerque endeavoured to fill up, in which the Moorish +captain and the guard over the wells were all slain, and the wells +filled with the carcasses of their men and horses. The young king and +his governor sallied out from the city to drive the Portuguese away, and +actually cut off the retreat of Albuquerque; but a lucky cannon-ball +opened the way, by throwing the cavalry of the enemy into confusion. + +In these actions with the Ormuzians, Albuquerque was ill seconded by his +people, three of his captains having resolved to leave him and to sail +for India. These men drew up a letter or remonstrance, assigning reasons +why he should desist from his present enterprise; which Albuquerque +ordered one of the masons to lay beneath a stone in the wall of the +fort, saying that he had there deposited his answer, and would be glad +to see if any one dared to remove the stone to read what he had written. +Though much offended by this, these captains did not venture to make any +reply; yet jealous about the command of the fort, when it should be +built, the three captains actually sailed away for India. Though much +troubled at this shameful desertion, Albuquerque determined upon +continuing his enterprise, notwithstanding that two other captains who +still remained opposed him, and were desirous to follow the example of +the other three; but by proper severity he deterred them from executing +their designs. Learning that a fleet was on its way from Bahrayn for +Keyshom with a reinforcement of men and provisions, Albuquerque +endeavoured ineffectually to intercept it. After failing in this, he +fell upon a country palace belonging to the king which was guarded by +three hundred foot and sixty horse, whom he defeated with the loss of +one man, killing eighty of the enemy. He then fell upon Keyshom or +Queixome, which was defended by five hundred archers sent to Ormuz by +the king of Lar or Laristan in Persia under the command of two of his +nephews, both of whom were slain with most of their men, and the bodies +of the two slain princes were sent by Albuquerque as a present to Attar. +The town of Keyshom was plundered and burnt. Among the plunder was taken +a large Persian carpet, which the soldiers were going to cut in pieces +to divide among them, and for the greater convenience of removal, which +Albuquerque purchased from them, and sent afterwards to the shrine of St +Jago in Gallicia. + +Having but few men left who were much harassed, and winter approaching, +Albuquerque resolved to go to Socotora, and gave leave to Juan de Nova +to sail for India, where he had formerly had the command of a fleet. He +accordingly wintered at Socotora, where he relieved the Portuguese +garrison, then much distressed by famine; for which purpose he went in +his own ship to Cape Guardafu, and sent others to Melinda and Cape Fum, +to seize some ships for the sake of their provisions. When winter was +over, be resolved to return to Ormuz, though too weak to carry his +designs into execution, yet to see in what disposition were the young +king and his governor. On his way thither he determined to take revenge +upon the town of Kalayat, for some injury that had been done there to +the Portuguese. Kalayat is situated on the coast of Arabia beyond Cape +Siagro, called also Cape Rasalgat, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. +Behind this town there is a rugged mountain, in which are some passes +which open a communication with the interior; and by one of these +opposite the town almost all the trade of Yemen or Arabia Felix, which +is a fertile country of much trade and full of populous cities, is +conveyed to this port. Immediately on his arrival, Albuquerque landed +his troops and took possession of the town, most of the inhabitants +escaping to the mountains and some being slain in the streets. He +remained here three nights, on one of which a thousand Moors entered the +town by surprise and did considerable damage before the Portuguese could +be collected to oppose them, but were at length put to flight with great +slaughter. Having secured all the provisions of Kalayat, which was the +principal booty, Albuquerque set the place on fire and proceeded to +Ormuz, where he arrived on the 13th of September[102]. He immediately +sent notice of his return to the king and governor; on which Attar sent +him a message, saying they were ready to pay the tribute of 15,000 +Xerephins, but would on no account consent to the erection of the +intended fort. Albuquerque therefore determined to recommence the siege +of Ormuz, and ordered Martin Coello to guard with his ship the point of +_Turumbaka_[103], where the wells are situated, and Diego de Melo to +prevent intercourse with the island of Keyshom; while he and Francisco +de Tavora anchored before the city. He there observed that Khojah Attar +had completed the fort formerly begun by the Portuguese. In this new +attempt the success was no greater than it had been formerly. On one +occasion Diego de Melo and eight private men were slain; and on another +Albuquerque was himself in much danger. Finding himself unable to +effectuate any thing of importance, he returned to India, having taken a +ship in which was a great quantity of valuable pearls from Bahrayn, and +Francisco de Tavora took another ship belonging to Mecca. + +[Footnote 102: No year is mentioned in the text of Faria, which is +throughout extremely defective in dates; but from the context it was now +probably the year 1508--E.] + +[Footnote 103: Turumbaka, in the plan of Ormuz mentioned in a former +note, is a palace belonging to the king of Ormuz, in the same island +with the city. The Isle of Keyshom has already been stated as the place +whence Ormuz was supplied with water; but there may have been tanks or +cisterns at Turumbaka.--E] + +During the time when Albuquerque was employed before Ormuz, the Soldan +of Egypt fitted out a fleet of twelve sail with 1500 Mamelukes, which he +sent under the command of Mir Husseyn to oppose the Portuguese in India. +While on his voyage up the Red Sea, Husseyn attacked the towns of Yembo +and Jiddah, putting the sheikhs of both places to death, and making +great plunder. He then sailed for Diu, where Malek Azz commanded for the +king of Cambaya, with whom he was ordered to join his forces to oppose +the Portuguese. The timber of which these ships were built was cut in +the mountains of Dalmatia, by procurement as it was said of the +Venetians, as the Soldan and the Turks were then at variance. It was +conveyed from Dalmatia to Egypt in twenty-five vessels, commanded by a +nephew of the Soldan, who had a force of 800 Mamelukes on board, besides +mariners. At this time the gallies of Malta were commanded by a +Portuguese knight, Andrea de Amarall; who, learning that the timber was +designed to be employed against his countrymen in India, attacked the +Egyptian fleet with six ships and four gallies, in which he had 600 +soldiers. After a sharp engagement of three hours, he took seven ships +and sunk five; but the rest escaped to Alexandria, whence the timber was +carried up the Nile to Cairo, and thence on camels to Suez. + +At this time the viceroy Almeyda was on the coast of Malabar, and had +sent his son Don Lorenzo with eight ships to scour the coast as far as +_Chaul_, a town of considerable size and importance seated on the banks +of a river about two leagues from the sea, and subject to the +Nizam-al-Mulk[104], by whose orders Don Lorenzo was well received. They +had some intelligence of the fleet of the Soldan, but believed it an +unfounded rumour, till it appeared in sight while Don Lorenzo was on +shore with most of his officers. They hastened immediately on board, +giving such orders as the time permitted, and were hardly on board when +the enemy entered the harbour, making great demonstrations of joy at +having so opportunely found the enemy of whom they were in search. +Husseyn thought himself secure of victory, as he had surprised the +Portuguese ships, and determined himself to board the ship commanded by +Don Lorenzo. For this purpose he ran her on board, pouring in balls, +arrows, hand-grenades, and other fireworks; but was answered with such +determined bravery, that he gave over his intention of boarding, though +the Portuguese vessel was much smaller than his. The other Egyptian +vessels had no better success; and as night approached, both parties +gave over the engagement to prepare for its renewal next morning. + +[Footnote 104: Called Nizamaluco by De Faria.] + +As soon as day appeared Don Lorenzo gave the signal to renew the fight; +and in his turn endeavoured to board the Egyptian admiral, in which he +was imitated by the other captains: Only two of them succeeded in +capturing two gallies belonging to the enemy, all the men on board which +were put to the sword. The battle was carried on with much bravery on +both sides, and the Portuguese seemed fast gaining the superiority; when +Malek Azz, lord of Diu, made his appearance with a great number of small +vessels well manned, coming to the assistance of Husseyn. Don Lorenzo +immediately dispatched two gallies and three caravels to hinder the +approach of this reinforcement to his enemies, which executed their +orders so effectually that Azz was obliged to flee for shelter to +another place. The battle still continued between Lorenzo and Husseyn +till night again parted them, both endeavouring to conceal their loss +from the other. In the evening after the cessation of the battle, the +Portuguese captains met in council on board the admiral to deliberate on +what was best to be done; and were unanimously of opinion that it was +rash to continue to defend themselves in the river of Chaul, especially +as Malek Azz was so near with such a powerful reinforcement, and +strongly recommended that they should go out to the open sea, where they +might fight with less disadvantage, and would have it in their power to +escape if circumstances rendered it necessary. But, remembering the +displeasure of his father for not having attacked the fleet of Calicut +in the river of Dabul, and fearing his retreat into the open sea might +be construed as flight, Lorenzo determined resolutely to await the +events of the next morning, only making some change in the disposition +of his force, in order to protect some ships belonging to Cochin which +were much exposed to the enemy. + +Next morning, on observing the change of posture in the Portuguese +ships, Malek Azz conceived that they meant to retreat; he immediately +came out therefore from the place where he had taken shelter, and boldly +charged them, undismayed at the havock which was made among his small +vessels by the Portuguese cannon. Most unfortunately at this time the +ship of Don Lorenzo ran foul of some stakes in the bed of the river, and +let in so much water that she was in danger of sinking. The brave +Lorenzo exerted himself to the utmost in this perilous situation, till a +ball broke his thigh; then ordering himself to be set up leaning against +the main-mast, he continued to encourage his men till another ball broke +his back and killed him. His body was thrown below deck, where it was +followed by his page Gato, who lamented the fate of his master with +tears mixed with blood, having been shot through the eye by an arrow. +After a vigorous resistance, the Moors boarded the ship, and found Gato +beside his masters body. He immediately rose and slew as many of the +Moors as covered the body of Lorenzo, and then fell dead among them. At +length the ship sunk, and of above an hundred men who belonged to her +only nineteen escaped. In all the Portuguese ships an hundred and forty +men were slain, while the enemy lost upwards of six hundred. The other +captains got to Cochin, where the viceroy then was, and who received the +intelligence of his sons glorious death with wonderful resolution. + +Soon after the defeat of the Portuguese fleet at Chaul, Almeyda received +a letter from Malek Azz. This man was born in slavery, being descended +of heretic Christian parents of Russia, and had risen by degrees to the +rank he now held. The origin of his advancement was owing to the +following trivial incident. One day a kite flying over the king of +Cambaya, muted on his head, on which the king was so enraged that he +declared he would give all he was worth to have the kite killed. Malek +Azz who heard this, was an excellent bowman, and immediately let fly an +arrow which brought down the kite. The king of Cambaya rewarded this +lucky shot so bountifully, that the archer soon rose to be lord of Diu, +a famous sea-port in Guzerat, seated on a triangular peninsula, which is +joined to the continent by so small an isthmus that it is generally +reputed an island. In this letter to the viceroy, Malek Azz craftily +endeavoured to secure himself at the same time both in the favour of the +king of Cambaya, and to conciliate the Portuguese, though he mortally +hated them for the injury they had done to the trade of Diu. While he +pretended to condole with the viceroy on the death of his son, whose +bravery he extolled in exalted terms, he sent him the nineteen men saved +from his sons ship, who had been made prisoners in the late battle; +endeavouring by this conciliatory conduct to appease his wrath for +having aided Mir Husseyn and occasioned the defeat of the Portuguese. + +In this same year 1508, seventeen vessels sailed for India from Lisbon +about the beginning of April, which were all separated by bad weather, +but all rejoined at Mozambique, except one which was lost on the Islands +of Tristan de Cunna. These ships, with those of the former year, coming +all together to India about the close of the year 1508, greatly raised +the courage of the Portuguese, which had been much depressed by their +defeat at Chaul. By this fleet an order came from the king for Don +Francisco de Almeyda to resign the government of India to Don Alfonso de +Albuquerque, and to return to Portugal in one of the trading ships. But +Almeyda took upon him to suspend the execution of this order, under +pretence that he had already made preparations for taking revenge upon +Mir Husseyn, and the Rums or Turks[105] who had slain his son. Owing to +this a controversy arose between Albuquerque and Almeyda, the former +demanding possession of the government, which the latter refused to +demit; which became a precedent for succeeding governors to protract the +time of their command. Albuquerque, much offended by this conduct of +Almeyda, retired to Cochin, where he appears to have lived in private +till the departure of Almeyda from India. + +[Footnote 105: The Turks, as having conquered the eastern Roman empire, +have succeeded in India to the name of Rums, Rumi, or Romans. The +Circassian Mamelukes of Egypt are here named Turks, because so soon +afterwards conquered by that nation.--E.] + +Having dispatched the homeward bound ships under the command of Fernando +Soarez and Ruy de Cunna, who perished by the way, Almeyda sailed on the +12th of November, 1508 from Cananor towards Diu in pursuit of Mir +Husseyn. On this expedition he had nineteen vessels of different sizes, +with 1600 soldiers and mariners, 400 of whom were native Malabars. All +western India was alarmed at this armament, but chiefly the zamorin and +Malek Azz, who had used every precaution in his power to ward off the +danger. Having landed with his officers in the delightful island of +Anchediva, Almeyda called a council of war, in which it was unanimously +determined to attack Dabul in the first place. This city was one of the +most noted on the coast[106], seated on a navigable river at the +distance of two leagues from the sea. Its buildings were then +magnificent and stately, and it enjoyed considerable trade, the +inhabitants being a mixture of Pagans and Moors, subject to Sabay king +of the Decan. It was always defended by a considerable garrison, which +was at present augmented by 6000 men, being in fear of an attack from +the Portuguese, and new works had been raised for its defence, which +were planted with cannon. On the approach of the Portuguese fleet, the +inhabitants began to remove their families and goods into the country, +but were forbidden by the governor under pain of death; and the more to +encourage them he brought his own wife into the town, in which example +he was followed by many of the principal inhabitants, whose wives were +brought in from their country-houses. + +[Footnote 106: Dabul is on the coast of Canara, in lat. 17 deg. 46' N. in +that part usually called the Pirates coast, which is occupied by a +number of half independent Mahratta chieftains, who often plunder +defenceless trading ships, by means of armed grabs full of +desperadoes.--E.] + +On the 30th of December 1508, the fleet entered the harbour, and the +troops immediately landed with the utmost promptitude, dividing into +three bodies to attack three several gates at once. The Moors made a +brave resistance at each attack, but the works being high, their shot +flew over the heads of the assailants, who were more obstructed by the +dead bodies than by the defenders or their works. Nunno Vaz Pereyra, who +was sent with a detachment to force an entrance at another place, put +the numerous troops who resisted him to flight after a brave resistance; +but they now fled in such haste towards the mountain, though pursued by +ten Portuguese only, that they tumbled over each other in their haste, +and retarded their own escape. In this fight, which lasted five hours, +fifteen hundred of the enemy were slain with the loss only of sixteen +Portuguese. Having gained possession, Almeyda distributed his men in +several quarters of the streets, with orders to keep strict guard, lest +the enemy might return; which they accordingly did by stealth in the +night, in order to recover their wives, children, and goods. In the +morning, the viceroy gave permission to his troops to plunder the town; +but this was speedily prevented by the houses taking fire, which in a +few hours reduced the whole to ashes, so that the booty did not exceed +150,000 ducats. In fact the town was purposely set on fire by the +private orders of the viceroy, lest the men might have been so satiated +by the riches of the place as to retard his ulterior designs. The ships +in the harbour were likewise destroyed by fire, to the no small risk of +the Portuguese ships which were very near. + +In fitting out for this expedition, the viceroy had not laid in any +considerable store of provisions, as he expected to have got supplies on +the coast; but on sending to the neighbouring villages none was to be +had, as the last crop had been utterly eaten up by locusts, many of +which were found preserved in pots for food by the natives, and being +tasted by the Portuguese were found palatable, and not unlike shrimps. +This made them conclude that there were land shrimps, as in some places, +particularly in the vineyards about Rome, there are crabs found not +unlike those of the sea. Hence if locusts were not so numerous and +destructive, so as to blast the hopes of harvest and to be dreaded like +a plague, they might be useful as food; and we know from Scripture that +St John fed upon them in the desert. + +Leaving Dabul, the viceroy proceeded for Diu, expecting to procure +provisions along the coast. Payo de Sousa, having seen some cattle +feeding on the banks of a river, went up the stream in his galley in +hopes of procuring some; but was opposed by the natives, and he and +George Guedez were both slain. Diego Mendez succeeded in the command of +that galley, and while continuing the voyage towards Diu he met one of +the Mameluke galleys going from Diu to Dabul, which was well manned and +commanded by a courageous and experienced Turk; who, on discovering the +Portuguese galley ordered all his soldiers to conceal themselves, so +that Mendez immediately boarded without suspecting any danger, on which +the Turks rushed out from their concealment and had almost gained the +Portuguese galley; but the Portuguese recovered from their surprise, and +made themselves masters of the Turkish galley, slaying every one of the +enemy without losing a single man on their side. The chief booty taken +on this occasion consisted of a young and beautiful Hungarian lady of +noble birth, who was brought to the viceroy, and given by him to Gaspard +de la India, who gave her to Diego Pereyra, who afterwards married her. +Farther on, they took in the river of Bombaim, now called Bombay, a bark +with twenty-four Moors belonging to Guzerat, by whose means they +procured a supply of sheep and rice, while some cattle were procured in +other places, and a farther supply was got at the fort of Maim, all the +people flying to the mountains from terror of the Portuguese, having +heard of what had happened at Dabul. + +On the 2d of February 1509, the viceroy arrived at Diu, which from the +ships appeared a grand and spacious place, girt with strong walls and +lofty towers, all handsomely built and well laid out like towns in +Portugal, which recalled in the men the memory of their own country, and +animated their courage to achieve the conquest. Malek Azz the lord of +Diu was at this time with his army about twenty leagues distant, making +war upon the Rajaputs; but immediately on receiving notice of the +approach of the Portuguese fleet, he hastened to his capital with all +possible celerity. He had already used such precautions as not to excite +suspicions in Husseyn of his fidelity, though little inclined to assist +him, and he was now anxious not to exasperate the viceroy in case of his +proving victorious. Taking into consideration the strength of the place, +the courage and conduct of Azz and Husseyn, and above all that there +were above two hundred vessels well manned and armed, he thought it +necessary to proceed with the greatest circumspection, and accordingly +it was settled in a council of war, that Nunna Vaz Pereyra should lead +in with his ship, in which there were 120 fighting men, many of them +gentlemen of tried valour. Pereyra was to be seconded by George de Melo, +whose crew was equally numerous; after which the rest of the ships were +to follow in succession, having from 80 down to 25 men in each according +to their size. The night was spent by the Portuguese in anxious +preparation for the approaching conflict, by exercises of religion and +putting their arms of all kinds in order. + +Between nine and ten next morning, when the tide had risen sufficiently +to float the ships over the bar, the viceroy gave the signal for +entering the port in the appointed order, and the fleet moved on amid +the noise of loud shouts and the din of warlike instruments from both +sides. The vessels belonging to Malek Azz made haste to oppose the +entrance of the Portuguese, and poured in a shower of bullets and arrows +into the galley commanded by Diego Perez who led the way for Nunno Vaz, +by which ten men were slain; yet Nunno courageously continued his +course, pouring his shot among the large ships of the enemy and sunk one +of them. Vaz was in great danger between two ships of the enemy, when +Melo came up gallantly to his rescue, and ran so furiously upon one of +these ships that he drove it up against the ship commanded by Vaz, so +much disabled that it was immediately boarded and taken by the next ship +in succession commanded by Sebastian de Miranda. All the ships having +penetrated into the harbour, pushed on in emulation of each other who +should do most damage to the enemy; while the viceroy, placing himself +in the midst of the enemy, directed his shot wherever it seemed most +calculated to annoy the enemy and to aid his own ships. In this manner +the action continued to rage for some time with reciprocal courage and +violence, till at length the paraos belonging to Calicut fled along the +coast, giving out every where that the _Rumis_ or Mamelukes were +victorious. + +On the flight of the Moors of Calicut, and seeing many of his fleet +destroyed, Mir Husseyn, who was wounded, went on shore in disguise; and +mounting on horseback, went in all haste to the king of Cambaya, being +no less fearful of the fury of the Portuguese than of the treachery of +Malek Azz, against whom he made loud complaints, that though he had +given aid in the battle with his vessels, he had not assisted in person. +Yet did not the absence of Husseyn discourage his men, for those of his +own vessel being boarded disdained to yield, and fought valiantly till +they were all slain. The Portuguese now attempted to carry a large ship +belonging to Malek Azz by boarding, but being unable to succeed, the +ship commanded by the viceroy in person sunk her by repeated broadsides. +Antonio de Campo boarded and took a large galleon. Ruy Soarez, who was +next in order to enter the harbour, dashed boldly through the thickest +of the enemies ships and placed his vessel in front of the city, where +he fought his ship in so gallant a style, forcing the crews to abandon +two gallies, which he took, that being noticed by the viceroy he +exclaimed, "Who is this who so nobly excels the rest? I wish I were he!" +The victory was now complete, and the viceroy and all the captains +assailed the smaller vessels, whose crews endeavoured to escape by +swimming; but the gallies and boats of the Portuguese being sent among +them, killed such numbers that the sea was dyed in blood. In this great +battle, the enemy lost above 1500 men, and the Portuguese only 40. Vast +riches were acquired by plunder in the captured vessels; and by the +great variety of books which were found in different languages, it was +concluded that the crews were made up of various nations. Some of these +books were in Latin, some in Italian, and others in Portuguese.[107] The +colours of the Soldan and of his admiral Mir Husseyn were taken, and +afterwards sent to the king of Portugal. Of all the vessels taken in +this glorious and decisive victory, four ships and two gallies only were +preserved, all the rest being ordered to be burnt by Almeyda. This great +victory would have much more redounded to the honour of the Portuguese +arms, had not the conquered been treated with barbarous cruelty: owing +to which, many persons very reasonably considered the unhappy end of +Almeyda and other gentlemen, as a just punishment for their crimes on +this occasion.[108] + +[Footnote 107: It is hardly necessary to observe that these books +belonged in all probability to Christian galley slaves serving under the +Mamelukes.--E.] + +[Footnote 108: Though not called upon to vindicate the conduct of +Albuquerque and the Portuguese on this occasion; it may be noticed that +the almost interminable war which subsisted for many centuries between +the Christians and Moors of the Peninsula, and after the expulsion of +the latter, with the states of Barbary; joined to the hellish +Inquisition on the one side, and the most degrading slavery inflicted on +both by their enemies, long nourished the most rancorous spirit of +enmity and hatred, now farther exalted by commercial rivalship.--E.] + +Next morning Malek Azz sent a message to Almeyda by one of his principal +officers, in which he congratulated the Portuguese viceroy on his +glorious victory, with which he pretended to be well pleased. It was +reported in the Portuguese fleet that the city of Diu was in the utmost +consternation, being afraid of an assault from the victors; and when the +Portuguese saw that Almeyda seemed inclined to accept the congratulatory +compliments of Azz in good part, they complained of him for checking +them in the career of fortune. On being informed of these murmurs, the +viceroy convened his principal officers, and represented to them that he +did not act on the present occasion from any regard to Malek Azz, but +out of respect for the king of Cambaya who was still the friend of the +Portuguese, and to whom the city of Diu belonged. He requested them +likewise to consider that the city was strongly fortified, and defended +by a numerous garrison; That they were already fatigued by the exertions +of the late battle; and that between the men who had been slain and +wounded, and those who were sick, out of 1200 there were now only 600 +fit to carry arms in the assault of Diu: Even supposing they were to +succeed in capturing the place, it would be utterly impossible to +maintain possession of it; and that they might easily revenge themselves +of Malek Azz by the capture of his trading ships. All the officers being +completely satisfied by these reasons, the viceroy received the envoy of +Malek Azz very graciously, and told him that two motives had principally +induced him to make the late assault on Diu; one of which was to be +revenged on the _Rumi_ or Mamelukes, and the other to recover the +Portuguese prisoners who had been taken by them at Chaul, as he +considered them in the same light as the son he had lost on that former +occasion. The first object he had already completely attained, and he +demanded immediately to obtain the second, by having all the Portuguese +prisoners in the power of Malek Azz delivered up to him. He demanded in +addition to these, that all the artillery and ammunition which had +belonged to the _Rumi_, still remaining in such of their ships as had +been hawled on shore, should be delivered up, and these ships burnt; and +that Malek Azz should supply the Portuguese fleet with provisions. + +All these conditions were readily agreed to by Malek Azz, and executed +with the utmost readiness and punctuality; in consequence of which a +treaty of peace and friendship was settled between Azz and the viceroy. +Almeyda left one of the liberated Portuguese prisoners at Diu, to load +two ships with such articles as were in request at Cochin and Cananor; +and besides supplying his own fleet with provisions, he dispatched +Norenha with a supply of provisions, and some of the booty procured in +the late battle, to his brother Don Alfonso at Socotora. These important +affairs being dispatched, the viceroy left Diu and proceeded to Chaul, +where the king was so much intimidated by the accounts he had received +of the late victory, that he submitted to pay an yearly tribute. Passing +thence to Cananor, he was received in the most honourable manner; and +entered afterwards into Cochin in triumph. Even before he had laid aside +his festive ornaments, Albuquerque pressed him to resign the government, +pursuant to the royal orders; but the viceroy begged he would give him +time to divest himself of his present heavy robes, after which there +would be sufficient opportunity to talk of those matters. Evil +councillors fomented the dispute on both sides, some persuading the +viceroy to retain the government in his hands, while others incited +Albuquerque to insist upon his resignation. The rajah of Cochin even +became in some measure a party in these dispute, insomuch that he +delayed loading two homeward bound ships with pepper, till Albuquerque +should be installed in the government. Disputes at length rose so high, +that Almeyda sent Albuquerque as a prisoner to Cananor, where he was +courteously received by Lorenzo de Brito who commanded there; and to +whom Almeyda wrote a few days afterwards to conduct himself towards the +prisoner as one who was soon to be viceroy of India. + +Some considerable time before this, the king of Portugal having been +informed of the preparations which were making by the Soldan of Egypt, +resolved to send a powerful reinforcement to India. This consisted of +fifteen sail of ships commanded by Don Fernando Coutinno, who had an +extraordinary power given him to regulate all matters that might happen +to be amiss, as if the king had even surmised the probability of a +disagreement between Almeyda and Albuquerque. Coutinno arrived safely at +Cananor, whence he carried Alfonso de Albuquerque along with him to +Cochin as viceroy. At first Coutinno treated Almeyda with much civility, +but afterwards thwarted him, as he refused to let him have a ship which +he had purposely prepared and fitted out for his return to Lisbon, and +was obliged to put up with another which he had no mind to. + +Don Francisco de Almeyda, now divested of the viceroyalty which indeed +he had for some time unlawfully retained, sailed from Cochin on the 19th +of November 1509, with two more ships in company. Before leaving Cochin +some of the sorcerers or astrologers of that place predicted that he +would not pass the Cape of Good Hope. He did pass the Cape however, but +was slain and buried at the Bay of Saldanna only a few leagues beyond +that place. Having passed the Cape of Good Hope with fine weather, he +observed to some of his attendants, "Now God be praised! the witches of +Cochin are liars." Near that place, he put into the Bay of Saldanna to +procure a supply of water; and as some of the people went on shore to +exchange goods with the natives for provisions, a servant belonging to +the ex-viceroy treated two of the Hottentots so ill that they knocked +out two of his teeth and sent him away bleeding. Some of the attendants +upon Almeyda thought proper to consider this as an affront which ought +to be avenged, and persuaded him to go on shore for that purpose, when +they ought to have counselled him to punish the servant for abusing +people among whom they sought relief. Almeyda yielded to their improper +suggestions, though against his inclination, being heard to exclaim as +he went into the boat, "Ah! whether and for what end do they now carry +my old age?" Accompanied by about 150 men, the choice of the ships, they +went to a miserable village, whence they carried off some cattle and +children. When on their return to the boats, they were attacked by 170 +natives, who had fled to the mountains, but now took courage in defence +of their children; and though these naked savages were only armed with +pointed stakes hardened in the fire, they soon killed fifty of the +Portuguese and Almeyda among them, who was struck through the throat, +and died kneeling on the sea-shores with his hands and eyes raised to +heaven. Melo returned with the wounded men to the ships, and when the +natives were withdrawn from the shore, he again landed with a party and +buried Almeyda and the others who had been slain. This was a manifest +judgment of God, that so few unarmed savages should so easily overcome +those who had performed such heroic actions in India. + +Don Francisco de Almeyda was the seventh son of Don Lope de Almeyda, +Count of Abrantes, and was a knight of the order of St Jago. He was +graceful in his person, ripe in council, continent in his actions, an +enemy to avarice, liberal and grateful for services, and obliging in his +carriage. In his ordinary dress, he wore a black coat, instead of the +cloak now used, a doublet of crimson satin of which the sleeves were +seen, and black breeches reaching from the waist to the feet. He is +represented in his portrait as carrying a truncheon in his right hand, +while the left rests on the guard of his sword, which hangs almost +directly before him[109]. + +[Footnote 109: De Faria uniformly gives some description, as here, of +the persons and dress of the successive viceroys and governors of +Portuguese India; which however has been generally omitted in the +sequel.--E.] + +Among the ships which were dispatched from Lisbon for India in 1508, +were two squadrons under the command of Duarte de Lemos and Diego Lopez +de Sequeira, which were sent upon separate services, and which could not +be conveniently taken notice of in their proper place. After +encountering a storm, Lemos arrived at a place called _Medones de Oro_, +whence he went to Madagascar, and thence to Mozambique, where he was +rejoined by the rest of the squadron, except one ship commanded by +George de Aguilar, which was lost. He now assumed the government of the +coasts of Ethiopia and Arabia, according to his commission from the +king. From Mozambique he sailed for Melinda, whence he proceeded to +visit the several islands and towns along the eastern coast of Africa to +compel payment of the tribute they had been in use to pay to Quiloa, and +which was now considered as belonging of right to the crown of Portugal +by the conquest of that place. Monfia submitted. Zanzibar resisted, but +the inhabitants were driven to the mountains and the town plundered. +Pemba acted in a similar manner, the inhabitants taking refuge in +Mombaza, and leaving their houses empty; but some plunder was taken in a +small fort in which the sheikh had left such things as he had not been +able to remove. Returning to Melinda, he gave the necessary orders for +conducting the trade of Sofala. + +Lemos departed from Melinda for the coast of Arabia with seven ships, +one of which was separated from the rest in the night on the coast of +Magadoxa, and carried by the current to the port of Zeyla near the mouth +of the Red Sea, and there taken by the Moors. In his progress along the +Arabian coast, Lemos managed the towns more by cunning than force. Using +the same conduct at Ormuz, he was well treated by the king and Khojah +Attar, and received from them the stipulated tribute of 15,000 +xerephines. From this place he dispatched Vasco de Sylveyra to India, +who was afterwards killed at Calicut. He then went to Socotora, of which +he gave the command to Pedro Ferreira, sending Don Antonio Noronha to +India, who fell in with and took a richly laden ship belonging to the +Moors. Noronha manned the prize with some Portuguese; but she was cast +away in a storm between Dabul and Goa and the men made prisoners. His +own ship was stranded in the Bay of Cambaya, where he and some others +who attempted to get on shore in the boat were all lost, while about +thirty who remained in the ship were made prisoners by the Moors and +sent to the king of Cambaya. On his return to Melinda, Lemos took a +Moorish vessel with a rich loading. When the winter was passed, he +returned to Socotora, where he found Francisco Pantaja, who had come +from India with provisions, and had made prize of a rich ship belonging +to Cambaya; the great wealth procured in which he generously shared with +Lemos and his men, saying they had a right to it as being taken within +the limits of his government. Finding himself now too weak for any +farther enterprises, Lemos sailed for India, where he was received with +much civility by Albuquerque, who was now in possession of the +government. + +Diego Lopez de Sequeira, the other captain who sailed from Lisbon at the +same time with Lemos, was entrusted with the discovery of Madagascar and +Malacca. Arriving at the port of St Sebastian in the island of +Madagascar, he run along the coast of that island, using a Portuguese as +his interpreter, who had been left there[110] and had acquired the +language. In the course of this part of his voyage he had some +intercourse with a king or prince of the natives named _Diaman_, by whom +he was civilly treated; but being unable to procure intelligence of any +spices or silver, the great object of his voyage, and finding much +trouble and no profit, he proceeded to India in the prosecution of the +farther orders he had received from the king. He was well received by +Almeyda, then viceroy, who gave him an additional ship commanded by +Garcia de Sousa, to assist in the discovery of Malacca. In the +prosecution of his voyage, he was well treated by the kings of Pedir and +Pacem[111], who sent him presents, and at both places he erected crosses +indicating discovery and possession. He at length cast anchor in the +port of Malacca, where he terrified the people by the thunder of his +cannon, so that every one hastened on board their ships to endeavour to +defend themselves from this new and unwelcome guest. + +[Footnote 110: Probably a malefactor left on purpose, as has been +formerly mentioned from Castaneda in our _second_ volume.--E.] + +[Footnote 111: Pedier and Pisang; as called by the English.--Astl. I. +70. b.] A boat came off with a message from the town, to inquire who +they were and what they wanted, to which Lopez sent back for answer that +he brought an ambassador from the king of Portugal, to propose entering +into a treaty of peace and commerce advantageous for the king and city +of Malacca. The king sent back a message in dubious language, such as is +usual among the orientals when they mean to act treacherously, as some +of the Moorish merchants, from enmity to the Portuguese, had prevailed +upon him and his favourite Bandara, by means of rich presents, to +destroy Lopez and the Portuguese. On the third day, Lopez sent Hierom +Teixeyra in the character of ambassador, attended by a splendid retinue, +who was well received on shore, and conducted on an elephant to the +king, from whom he returned well pleased. All this was only a bait to +entrap the Portuguese to their destruction; and in addition, the king +sent an invitation to Lopez to dine with him in public. Lopez accepted +this invitation, but was informed by a friend of _Jao-Utimuti-rajah_, +that the king intended to murder him, on which he sent an excuse under +pretence of indisposition. Credit was now given to an advice sent by a +Persian woman to Duarte Fernandez, after she had been prevented by +Sequeira from coming on board under night, thinking she came on an +amorous errand, but which contributed to save the ships. Another +contrivance was put in practice to destroy Lopez and his ships, by +offering a lading of spice, and pretending that it was requisite to send +for it to three several places. This succeeded in part; as while thirty +men were sent on shore according to agreement, a fleet of small vessels +was secretly prepared under cover of a point of land, ready to assault +the ships, while the thirty men were to be murdered in the town. At this +time likewise, a son of Utimuti-rajah came on board under pretence of a +visit to Lopez, and finding him engaged at draughts requested him to +continue his game, that he might have the better opportunity of +assassinating him unobserved; and in fact he frequently put his hand to +his dagger for that purpose, but waited till the other branches of the +intended treachery should begin. At this time, a seaman on one of the +tops who was on the outlook, seeing a throng in the town and hearing a +considerable noise, called out 'Treachery! Treachery! they kill our +men.' Lopez instantly threw away the draught board, calling out to arms; +and the son of Utimuti, perceiving the treacherous designs discovered, +leapt into his boat with his attendants in great consternation. The +fleet of boats now came round the point and attacked the Portuguese, who +exerted themselves as well as possible in their defence, considering the +suddenness of the attack; and after sinking many of the enemies boats, +forced the rest to retire. Not having a sufficient force to take +vengeance for this treachery, Lopez was under the necessity of quitting +Malacca, where he left sixty of his men in slavery, who were made +prisoners on shore, and having eight slain. On his way back he took two +Moorish ships bound for Malacca; and, having arrived at Cape Comorin, he +sent on Teixeyra and Sousa with their ships to Cochin; resolving, though +ill provided, to return alone to Portugal, being afraid of Albuquerque, +as he had sided with Almeyda in the late disputes respecting the +government of India. He reached the island of Tercera with much +difficulty, and from thence proceeded to Lisbon. + + +SECTION V. + +_Transactions of the Portuguese in India under the Government of Don +Alfonso de Albuquerque, from the end of 1509, to the year 1515_. + + +Being put into possession of the government of India in November 1509, +Albuquerque prepared for an expedition against Calicut, in conjunction +with Fernando Coutinno. The design was kept secret, yet the zamorin and +all the other princes along the coast provided for their defence, on +hearing that the Portuguese were making preparations for war. Setting +out from Cochin with thirty vessels of various sizes and 1800 land +forces, besides several boats full of Malabars who followed in hopes of +plunder, he arrived at Calicut on the 2d of January 1510; and consulting +on the difficulties attending the enterprise, it was determined that the +division of the fleet belonging to Albuquerque should be left in charge +of Don Antonio de Noronha, while that belonging to Coutinno was to be +commanded by Rodrigo Rabelo. Every one strove to be so posted as to land +first, and the men were so eager for landing that they were under arms +all night, and so tired in the morning that they were fitter for sleep +than fighting, yet soon recovered when the signal was given and the +cannon began to roar. + +The troops landed in two divisions; that under Coutinno consisting of +800 men with some field-pieces, and that commanded by Albuquerque of the +same number of Portuguese troops, together with 600 Malabars. They +marched in strange confusion, each striving to be foremost. The first +attack was made on the bulwark or bastion of Ceram by De Cunna and De +Sousa, who were bravely resisted by 600 men, till on the coming up of +Albuquerque, the defenders fled and the Portuguese got possession of the +bulwark. Being fearful of some disastrous event from the confusion of +his men, Albuquerque sent notice to Coutinno, who came with all speed to +his assistance. On seeing the Portuguese colours flying on the bulwark, +Coutinno believed he had been called back by a contrivance of the +viceroy to prevent him from acquiring honour, and addressed him in the +following terms. "Were you ambitious, Sir, that the rabble of Lisbon +should report you were the first in storming Cochin, that you thus recal +me? I shall tell the king that I could have entered it with only this +cane in my hand; and since I find no one to fight with, I am resolved to +proceed to the palace of the zamorin!" Without waiting any reply from +Albuquerque, Coutinno immediately marched his men to the palace. Being +above five leagues from the shore, and the road much encumbered with +palm trees, and having met some opposition by the way, Coutinno and his +people were tired by their long march, and rested some time in a plain +before the palace. He then attacked it, and though well defended, the +Moors[112] were forced to fly to the woods and mountains. The Portuguese +soldiers being now possessed of the palace, quitted their ranks and +began plundering in a disorderly manner, as if they had been close to +the shore under protection of their ships, and had no enemy to fear. But +the enemy having procured reinforcements, returned to the palace, and +fell upon the disordered Portuguese, many of whom they killed while +loaded with plunder, and did much harm to Coutinno and his men, though +Vasco de Sylveira signalized himself by killing two of three chiefs +called _Caymals_. + +[Footnote 112: The author here very improperly calls the Nayres, or +Malabar soldiers of the zamorin, Moors; though in all probability there +might be some Mahometans among the defenders of Calicut.--E.] + +In the meantime Albuquerque had got possession of the city of Cochin, +which he set on fire; and finding no enemy to oppose him, he thought +proper to march to the palace to see what Coutinno was about. On his +arrival he found the palace surrounded by armed men, and that Coutinno +was within in the most imminent danger. Having cleared the way from the +enemy, he sent word to Coutinno that he waited for him; and after the +third message, Coutinno sent back word that Albuquerque might march on +and he would follow, being busy in collecting his men who were dispersed +over the palace. Albuquerque accordingly began his march, much pressed +upon by the enemy, and had not marched far when he received notice that +Coutinno was in great danger. He immediately endeavoured to return to +his relief, but was impeded by the multitude of the enemy, who slew +many of his men, and he was himself so severely wounded by a dart in the +throat, and a stone on the head, that he was carried senseless to the +shore. + +By this time Coutinno and many more were slain in the palace, and +several others on their way back to the shore; being oppressed by the +multitude of the enemy, spent with labour and heat, and almost stifled +by the great dust. The whole of Coutinnos division had certainly been +cut off, if Vasconcelles and Andrada, who had been left in the city with +a reserve of 200[113] men had not checked the fury of the enemy and +forced them to retire. There was now as keen a contest about who should +get first on board, as had been about landing first, not considering +that all their misfortunes had been occasioned by hurry and confusion. +At length they got on board and sailed on their return to Cochin, having +lost 80[114] men in this ill conducted enterprise, among whom were +Coutinno and many persons of note. On recovering his senses while at +sea, Albuquerque gave orders for the dispatch of the homeward bound +ships; and on his arrival at Cochin, immediately made preparations for +an attempt to reduce Ormuz. + +[Footnote 113: In Paris, this reserve is stated at 2000 men, obviously a +typographical error, yet copied in Astley's Collection, without +considering that the whole original force was only 1800.--E.] + +[Footnote 114: The loss acknowledged in the text is ridiculously small +for so disastrous an enterprise, and we are almost tempted to suspect +the converse of the error noticed in the preceding note, and that the +loss might have been 800.--E.] + +Being recovered from his wounds, all the preparations made for his +expedition to Ormuz, and the homeward trading ships dispatched, +Albuquerque set sail from Cochin with 1700 troops in 21 vessels of +various sorts and sizes. On arriving at the river of Onor, he sent for +the pirate _Timoja_, who being powerful and desirous of acquiring the +friendship of the Portuguese, came immediately and supplied Albuquerque +with provisions. Being skilful in the political affairs of India, +Albuquerque consulted Timoja respecting his intended enterprise against +Ormuz; but he endeavoured to dissuade him from that attempt, +endeavouring to shew that Goa would be a more advantageous conquest, and +might be easily taken as quite unprovided for defence. This advice +pleased Albuquerque, and it was resolved upon in a council of war to +change the destination of the armament, for which Timoja agreed to +supply twelve ships, but gave out that he meant to accompany the +Portuguese to Ormuz, that the governor of Goa might not be provided for +defence. Timoja had been dispossessed of his inheritance and ill treated +by his kindred and neighbours, and the desire of vengeance and of +recovering his losses caused him to embrace the alliance of the +Portuguese against the interest of his own countrymen. + +The small island of Ticuari, in which the city of Goa stands, is +situated in lat. 15 deg. 30' N. in a bay at the mouth of the river Gasim on +the coast of Canara, being about three leagues long and one broad. It +contains both hill and level ground, has good water, and is fertile, +pleasant, and healthy. The city of Goa, now seated on the northern part +of the island, was formerly in its southern part. The present city was +built by a Moor named Malek Husseyn about 40 years before the arrival of +the Portuguese in India. It is not known when the old city was founded, +but some authentic writings mention that _Martrasat_, king of that city +above 100 years before, believed in one God, the incarnation of the Son, +and the Trinity in Unity; besides which, a copper crucifix was found +affixed to a wall when the city was taken. These Christians may have +been descendants from the converts to the true faith through the +ministration of the holy apostle Thomas. + +About the year 1300 the Mahometans began to conquer India[115]. The +first who attempted this with great power was Shah Mahmud +Nasraddin[116], king of Delhi, who came down with a powerful army from +the north, and conquered all the gentiles as far as the kingdom of +Canara. He returned to Delhi, leaving Habed Shah to prosecute the +conquest, who became so powerful by his valour and conduct that he coped +with his master; and his nephew Madura prosecuting his enterprise after +the decease of Habed, cast off his allegiance to the king of Delhi, and +having possessed himself of the kingdom of Canara, called it the Deccan, +from the various nations composing his army, this word having that +import in their language[117]. Too great an empire is always in danger +of falling to pieces. Mahmud Shah[118], being aware of this, used every +possible precaution for his safety, which was effectual for some time; +but at length several of the governors of this extensive empire erected +their provinces into independent sovereignties. The greatest of these +was he of Goa, the sovereign of which about the time of the Portuguese +coming into India was named Sabayo, who died about the time that +Albuquerque went against Goa; upon which Kufo Adel Khan, king of +Bisnagar possessed himself of Goa, and placed it in the hands of his son +Ismael. The other princes were Nizamaluco, Mudremaluco, Melek Verido, +Khojah Mozadan, Abexeiassado, and Cotemaluco, all powerful but some of +them exceedingly so[119]. Sabayo was born of very mean parentage at Saba +in Persia, whence his name; but having long served the king of the +Deccan with great fidelity, had a grant of the city of Calberga, whence +he extended his conquests over the Pagans of Bisnagar, and reduced Goa +which had belonged to the Moors of Onor, killing Malek Husseyn its +prince or ruler who defended it with a garrison of twelve hundred men. +Goa had several dependencies, with which and the other territories he +had acquired Sabayo, became the most powerful prince in these parts, and +was consequently hated by them all. He maintained himself however +against all his neighbours while he lived, sometimes by means of force, +and at other times by profound policy; but his death produced great +alteration. + +[Footnote 115: From various circumstances in the context, the word +India, is here evidently confined to the peninsula to the south of the +Nerbudda, called generally Deccan, or the south.--E] + +[Footnote 116: He was the sixth king of a dynasty of Turks from Persia, +which founded the kingdom of Delhi in 12O2, or rather usurped it from +the family of Ghaur, who conquered it in 1155 from that of Ghazni, which +had subdued all India in 1001 as far as the Ganges. Mahmud Shah Nasr +Addin began his reign in 1246, so that the conquests mentioned in the +text must have happened considerably before 1300.--Astl. I. 71. 2.] + +[Footnote 117: Deccan or Dakshin signifies the _south,_ and is properly +that portion of India which lies between the Nerbudda and Kistna river. +It would far exceed the bounds of a note to illustrate the Indian +history, which is very confusedly, and imperfectly stated in the +text.--E.] + +[Footnote 118: In the text of Faria named Mamud-xa, and probably the +same person named immediately before Madura.--E.] + +[Footnote 119: These names are strangely corrupted in the Portuguese +orthography of Faria, and the princes are not well distinguished. Only +three of them were very considerable: Nizam Shah, or Nizam-al-Mulk, to +whom belonged Viziapour; Koth, or Kothb-shah, or Kothb-al-Mulk, the same +with Cotamaluco of the text, who possessed Golconda; and Kufo Adel Khan, +called Cufo king of Hidalcan in Faria, who held Bisnagar.--Astley, I. +71. d.--The great king of Narsinga is here omitted; which Hindoo +sovereignty seems at that time to have comprised the whole of southern +India, from the western Gauts to the Bay of Bengal, now the high and low +Carnatic with Mysore.--E.] + +Having sailed from Onor accompanied by Timoja, Albuquerque came to +anchor off the bar of Goa on the 25th of February 1510. As it was +necessary to sail up the northern arm of the bay or river, on the bank +of which the city was situated, Albuquerque sent his nephew Antonio de +Noronha, accompanied by Timoja, to sound the channel. A light vessel of +easy draught of water which led the way gave chase to a brigantine +belonging to the Moors, which took shelter under protection of a fort or +blockhouse, erected for protecting the entrance of the harbour, which +was well provided with artillery and garrisoned by 400 men, commanded by +Yazu Gorji, a valiant Turk. Seeing the other vessel in chase, Noronha +pressed after him; and though the fort seemed strong, they attacked and +took it after a stout resistance, during which the commandant lost +greater part of one of his hands, yet persisted to defend his post till +deserted by his men, when he too retired into the city. In the mean +time, in emulation of his new allies, Timoja attacked and took another +blockhouse on the continental shore of the channel leading to Goa, which +was defended by some artillery and forty men. After these exploits the +channel was sounded without any farther obstruction. + +Next day, as Albuquerque was sailing up the channel to proceed in his +enterprise, he was met by Mir Ali and other chief men of the city, who +came to surrender it to him, only stipulating, that their lives, +liberties, and goods should be secured. The reason of this surrender was +because Gorji had terrified them by his account of the astonishing and +irresistible prowess of the Portuguese, and because a _Joghi_, or native +religious saint, had predicted a short time before, that Goa was soon to +be subjected by strangers. Albuquerque readily accepted the surrender on +the terms proposed, and having anchored before the town on the 27th of +February, was received on shore by the inhabitants with as much honour +and respect, as if he had been their native prince. Mounting on a +superbly caparisoned horse which was brought for his use, he received +the keys of the city gates, and rode in great pomp to the palace which +had been built by Sabayo, where he found a great quantity of cannon, +arms, warlike ammunition, and horses. Having issued orders and +regulations which were much to the satisfaction of the inhabitants, he +dispatched several messages or embassies to the neighbouring sovereigns, +the only effect, of which was to shew his high spirit. Such of the +neighbouring towns as were dependent upon God, sent deputations without +delay to proffer their obedience and submission. The command of the +fort or castle was given to Don Antonio de Noronha, the government of +the infidels to Timoja, and the other offices were disposed of to the +general satisfaction. Understanding that several ships belonging to +Ormuz and other places on the Arabian coast, were lading in the port of +Baticala, four Portuguese vessels were sent thither, which took and +carried them to Cochin, and sent an ample supply of provisions to Goa. + +About four months after the easy conquest of Goa, the fortune of +Albuquerque began to change its appearance, as those persons in Goa on +whose fidelity he had reposed most confidence, in spite of the +remonstrances of Timoja, entered into plots to deliver up the place to +its former master Ismael. They had submitted so easily to Albuquerque, +because unprovided for effectual resistance, to save their properties, +and to gain time till Ismael Adel Khan was prepared to come to their +relief. Having at length completed his preparations, he sent on before +him in June 1510 his general-in-chief Kamul Khan with 1500 horse and +8000 foot, on which Albuquerque took proper measures to defend his +recent acquisition. Having detected a conspiracy of the Moors to deliver +up the city, his first step was to secure and punish the chief +conspirators; among these were Mir Cassem and his nephew, to whom he had +confided the command of four hundred Moors, whom he caused to be hewed +in pieces by his guards; several others were hanged in the most public +places of the city, and the rest were rigorously imprisoned, above 100 +being convicted of participating in the plot. By these rigid measures +the city was terrified into submission. + +Soon afterwards Kamul Khan approached with the van of the army of +Ismael, and attempted to pass over into the island by means of boats +which he had provided for that purpose. He was courageously opposed by +Noronha, who captured twelve of the boats; many of the enemy were killed +by the Portuguese, and many others devoured by the alligators which +swarmed in the channel round the island; but at length Kamul Khan +effected a landing in force on the island, and the Portuguese were +obliged to take refuge within the walls of the city. Kamul Khan then +invested the city with his army, which he began to batter with his +cannon, and Albuquerque used every possible effort to defend the place. +Ismael Adel Khan now came up to second his general, at the head of +60,000 men, 5000 of whom were cavalry. Part of this great army passed +over into the island to strengthen the besiegers, and the rest took post +in two divisions on the continent to prevent the introduction of +provisions, one of these being commanded by an officer of reputation, +and the other by the mother and women belonging to Ismael, who +maintained their troops by _the gain from 4000 prostitutes_, who +followed the camp. By the arrival of this vast army the city of Goa was +completely surrounded, and no opportunity was left for Albuquerque to +execute any enterprise against the numerous assailants. Making what was +necessary prudent, he and his officers resolved to abandon the city +before day, which was accordingly executed though with much hazard, the +way being occupied by the troops of the enemy, and Albuquerque had his +horse killed under him; yet he got off all his men without loss after a +siege of twenty days. + +After this retreat, it was resolved to spend the winter in these seas, +for which purpose the fleet came to anchor in a bay, which although not +commodious was the best that could be had on this part of the coast; and +being incommoded by a fort named _Pangi_ which had a considerable number +of cannon, it became necessary to gain possession[120]. Accordingly 300 +Portuguese troops were appointed for the assault, while Noronha had the +command of a body of reserve, and Albuquerque guarded the shore. While +the Portuguese prepared during the night to assail the fort next +morning, 500 men marched by order of Ismael to reinforce the garrison; +and when the Portuguese marched to the assault, both the Moorish +garrison and the relief, being all drunk, mistook the Portuguese for +friends; the garrison believing them to be the reinforcement, and the +relief conceiving them to have been the garrison coming out to meet +them. They were soon however fatally undeceived by the attack of the +Portuguese, in which 340 of them were slain, and the rest put to the +rout, while the Portuguese only lost one man who was drowned +accidentally. A similar circumstance happened at the bulwark which had +been formerly won by Timoja at _Bardes_. By these two severe defeats of +his people, Ismael was so excessively alarmed that he left Goa, and his +fear was much increased as some conjurer had foretold that he was to be +killed by a cannon-shot near some river. He sent several ceremonious +messages to Albuquerque, on purpose to discover what was doing on board +the ships, and by the threatening answers he received his fears were +materially augmented. In consequence of this intercourse of messages, +Ismael was prevailed on to exchange some Portuguese, who had necessarily +been left behind when Goa was abandoned; for the Moors engaged in the +late conspiracy who remained prisoners with Albuquerque. + +[Footnote 120: From the context it is obvious that this bay and the fort +of Pangi were in the close neighbourhood, of Goa; in fact the bay +appears to have been the channel leading to Goa, and the fort one of +those bulwarks on the continental shore which defended the navigation of +that channel.--E.] + +About this time Albuquerque received intelligence that some vessels were +preparing at Goa to set his ships on fire, on which he anticipated the +intentions of the Moors by sending a force up the river to burn these +vessels, which was effected, but Don Antonio de Noronha was slain in +this enterprise; Noronha used to moderate the violent passions of his +uncle Albuquerque, who after his death allowed the severity of his +temper to proceed to extremities. Having detected a soldier in an amour +with one of the female slaves he used to call his daughters, and whom he +was accustomed to give away in marriage, he ordered him immediately to +be hanged; and as some of his officers demanded to know by what +authority he had done this arbitrary and cruel deed, he ordered them all +below deck, and flourishing his sword said that was his commission for +punishing all who were disobedient, and immediately cashiered them all. +During the continuance of this winter, the Portuguese fleet suffered +extreme hardships, especially from scarcity of provisions; and on +sailing from thence after the cessation of winter[121], they discovered +four sail which they supposed to have been Turks, or Mamelukes rather, +but on coming nearer, they were found to be a squadron from Portugal +under the command of Diego Mendez. Besides these, the king had sent out +this year other seven ships, under Sequeira, who arrived at Cananor soon +after Albuquerque; and a third armament of two ships to settle a trade +at Madagascar. + +[Footnote 121: By winter on the coast of Malabar, must only be +understood, the period of storms and excessive bad weather which occurs +at the change of the monsoons, when it is imminently perilous to be at +sea.--E.] + +On the return of Albuquerque from Goa to Cananor, he was much rejoiced +at the prospect of such powerful succours, and communicated his +intentions of immediately resuming his enterprise against Goa, but was +overruled in the council by Sequeira, on which Albuquerque went to +Cochin, and obtained a victory over the Malabars of Calicut, who +endeavoured to obstruct the Portuguese from loading pepper. Having +dispatched Sequeira with the homeward bound ships, and soon afterwards +Lemos with four more, he determined to resume the enterprise upon Goa. +As Diego Mendez, who had formerly been favourable to this design, and +several other captains, now opposed it, because it interfered with their +intentions of going to Malacca, as directed by the king, Albuquerque +commanded them all under the severest penalties not to quit the coast +without his orders. Though much dissatisfied, they were obliged to obey. +Accordingly, having fitted out twenty-three ships at Cananor, in which +he embarked with 1500 soldiers, he proceeded to Onor to join his ally +Timoja, whom he found busied in the celebration of his marriage with the +daughter of a queen; and being anxious to have the honour of the +viceroys presence at the wedding he invited him to land, which proved +very dangerous, as they were kept on shore for three days in consequence +of a storm, and when Albuquerque returned to the ships a boat with +thirty men was lost. On leaving Onor for Goa, Timoja sent three of his +ships along with Albuquerque, and promised to join him at Goa with 6000 +men. + +Albuquerque anchored for the second time before the bar of Goa on the +22d of November 1510. Impressed with a strong recollection of the +dangers he had escaped from on the former attempt, and anxious to sooth +the discontent which he well knew subsisted among some of his principal +officers on account of having been reluctantly compelled to engage in +this expedition, he addressed them in a conciliatory harangue by which +he won them over entirely to concur with him in bringing the hazardous +enterprise in which he was engaged to a favourable issue. Having made +the proper dispositions for the assault, the troops were landed at early +dawn on the 25th of November, and attacked the enemy who defended the +shore with such determined intrepidity that they were put to flight with +great slaughter, and without the loss of a man on the side of the +Portuguese. The enemy fled and endeavoured to get into the city by one +of the gates, and being closely pursued by the Portuguese who +endeavoured to enter along with them, the fight was there renewed, till +at length many of the Portuguese forced their way into the city doing +prodigious execution, and the battle was transferred to the streets. +These were successively cleared of the enemy by dint of hard fighting +all the way to the palace, in which time the Portuguese had lost five +officers of some note, and the fight was here renewed with much valour +on both sides. Albuquerque, who had exerted himself during the whole +action with equal courage and conduct, now came up with the reserve, and +the Moors were completely defeated, flying in all directions from the +city and endeavouring to escape to the continent, but through haste and +confusion many of them perished in the river. After this decisive +victory, it was found that of 9000 men who defended the city, 6000 had +perished, while the Portuguese lost fifty men. _Medeorao_[122], or +_Melrao_, nephew to the king of Onore, who commanded the three ships +sent by Timoja, behaved with great courage and fidelity on this +occasion; Timoja came himself to Goa with a reinforcement of 3000 men, +but too late to assist in the attack, and was only a witness to the +carnage which had taken place. The booty in horses, artillery, arms, +provisions, and ships, was immense, and contributed materially to enable +Albuquerque to accomplish the great designs he had in contemplation. + +[Footnote 122: This person is afterwards named by Faria _Melrao_, and is +said to have been nephew to the king of Onore; the editor of Astley +calls him _Melrau_. Perhaps his real name might have been _Madeo row_, +and both he and Timoja may have been of the Mahrana nation.--E.] + +The Portuguese who were slain in this brilliant exploit were all +honourably interred; those of the enemy were made food for the +alligators who swarmed in the river. All the surviving Moors were +expelled from the city, island, and dependencies of Goa, and all the +farms were restored to the gentiles, over whom Timoja was appointed +governor, and after him Medeorao, formerly mentioned. While employed in +settling the affairs of his conquest, ambassadors came from several of +the princes along the coast to congratulate Albuquerque on his brilliant +success. Both then and afterwards, many of the officers of Adel Khan +made inroads to the neighbourhood of Goa, but were always repelled with +loss. At this time, Diego Mendez and other two captains belonging to his +squadron, having been appointed by the king of Portugal for an +expedition to Malacca, stole away from the port of Goa under night in +direct contravention of the orders of Albuquerque, intending to proceed +for Malacca. Albuquerque sent immediately after them and had them +brought back prisoners; on which he deprived them of their commands, +ordering them to be carried to Portugal to answer to the king for their +conduct, and condemned the two pilots who had conducted their ships from +the harbour to be immediately hung at the yard-arm. Some alleged that +Albuquerque emulously detained Diego Mendez from going against Malacca, +which enterprise he designed for himself, while others said that he +prevented him from running into the same danger which had been already +met with by Sequeira at that place, the force under Mendez being +altogether inadequate to the enterprise. + +To provide for the future safety of Goa, Albuquerque laid the +foundations of a fort, which he named _Manuel_, after the reigning king +of Portugal. On this occasion, he caused the names of all the captains +who had been engaged in the capture of Goa to be engraven on a stone, +which he meant to have put up as a monument to their honour; but as +every one was desirous of being named before the others, he turned down +the stone so as to hide all their names, leaving the following +inscription, + +_Lapidem quem reprobaverant aedificantes_. + +Thus they were all pleased, rather wishing their own individual praises +to be forgotten, than that others should partake. Albuquerque assuming +all the powers of sovereignty in his new conquest for the king of +Portugal, coined money of gold, silver, and copper, calling the first +_Manuels_, the second _Esperas_, and the third half esperas. Resolving +to establish a permanent colony at this place, he engaged several of the +Portuguese to intermarry with the women of the country, giving them +marriage portions in lands, houses, and offices as an encouragement. On +one night that some of these marriages were celebrated, the brides +became so mixed and confounded together, that some of the bridegrooms +went to bed to those who belonged to others; and when the mistake was +discovered next morning, each took back his own wife, all being equal in +regard to the point of honour. This gave occasion to some of the +gentlemen to throw ridicule on the measures pursued by Albuquerque; but +he persisted with firmness in his plans, and succeeded in establishing +Goa as the metropolis or centre of the Portuguese power in India. + +The king of Portugal had earnestly recommended to Albuquerque the +capture of the city of Aden on the coast of Arabia near the entrance of +the Red Sea; and being now in possession of Goa, he thought his time +mispent when not occupied in military expeditions, and resolved upon +attempting the conquest of Malacca; but to cover his design, he +pretended that he meant to go against Aden, and even sent off some ships +in that direction the better to conceal his real intentions. Leaving Don +Rodrigo de Castel Branco in the command of Goa with a garrison of 400 +Portuguese troops, while the defence of the dependencies and the +collection of the revenue was confided to Medeorao with 5000 native +soldiers, Albuquerque went to Cochin to prepare for his expedition +against Malacca. + +The city of Malacca is situated on the peninsula of that name, anciently +called _Aurea Chersonesus_, or the Golden Peninsula, and on the coast of +the channel which separates the island of Sumatra from the continent, +being about the middle of these straits. It is in somewhat more than two +degrees of north latitude[123], stretching along the shore for about a +league, and divided in two nearly equal parts by a river over which +there is a bridge. It has a fine appearance from the sea, but all the +buildings of the city are of wood, except the mosque and palace which +are of stone. Its port was then frequented by great numbers of ships, +being the universal mart of all eastern India beyond the bay of Bengal. +It was first built by the _Celates_, a people who chiefly subsisted by +fishing, and who united themselves with the _Malays_ who inhabited the +mountains. Their first chief was Paramisora, who had been a person of +high rank in the island of Java, whence he was expelled by another chief +who usurped his lordship, on which occasion he fled to Cincapura, where +he was well received by the lord of that place and raised to high +employment. But having rebelled against his benefactor, he was driven +from thence by the king of Siam, and was forced to wander about Malacca, +as a just punishment for his ingratitude. Having drawn together a number +of the before-mentioned natives, with whom he established a new colony, +he gave the name of _Malacca_ to the rising city, signifying in the +language of the country _a banished man_, as a memorial of his own +fortunes. The first king of Malacca was _Xuque Darxa_, or sheikh +Dar-shah, called by some authors _Raal Sabu_, or Ra-el-Saib, who was the +son of Paramisora, and was subject to the kings of Siam; but from whom +his successors revolted. The country of Malacca is subject to +inundations, full of thick woods, and infested by dangerous and savage +beasts, particularly tigers, so that travellers are often forced to pass +the nights on the tops of high trees, as the tigers can easily take them +off from such as are low by leaping. The men of Malacca are courageous, +and the women very wanton. At this time the city of Malacca was rich and +populous, being the centre of trade between the eastern and western +parts of India, Mahomet was then king of Malacca, against whom the king +of Siam had sent an army of 40,000 men, most of whom perished by sundry +misfortunes, but chiefly through similar treacherous devices with those +which had been put in practice against Sequeira. But now Albuquerque +approached to revenge them all. Mahomet, fearing to meet the reward of +his former treachery to the Portuguese, had procured the assistance of +the king of _Pam_[124], who brought an army of 30,000 men with a great +number of pieces of artillery[125]. + +[Footnote 123: In lat. 2 deg. 25' N.] + +[Footnote 124: Named Pahang or Pahan, by the editor of Astleys +Collection.] + +[Footnote 125: In the text of Faria, and following him in Astley, the +number of cannon is said to have been 8000; a number so incredible that +we have used a general expression only on this occasion in the +text.--E.] + +On the 2d of May 1511, Albuquerque sailed from Cochin on his expedition +against Malacca, with 19 ships and 1400 soldiers, 800 of whom were +Portuguese, and 600 Malabars. While off the island of Ceylon he fell in +with and captured five vessels belonging to the Moors, which were bound +for Malacca. On arriving at the island of Sumatra, the kings of Pedier +and Pisang sent friendly messages to Albuquerque, on which occasion Juan +de Viegas, one of the men left behind by Sequeira was restored to +freedom, he and others having made their escape from Malacca. About this +time likewise, Nehoada Beguea, who had been one of the principal authors +of the treachery practiced against Sequeira, fled from Pedier and being +taken at sea by Ayres Pereira, to the great astonishment of every one +shed not one drop of blood, though pierced by several mortal wounds; but +on taking off a bracelet of bone from his arm the blood gushed out. The +Indians, who discovered the secret, said this bracelet was made from the +bone of a certain beast which is found in Java, and has this wonderful +virtue. It was esteemed a great prize and brought to Albuquerque. After +this, they fell in with another ship in which were 300 Moors[126] who +made so resolute a defence, that Albuquerque was obliged to come up in +person to assist in the capture, which was not accomplished without +considerable danger. In this vessel was _Geniall_, the rightful king of +Pisang; who had been banished by an usurper. Three other vessels were +taken soon after, from one of which a minute account was procured of the +military preparations at Malacca. + +[Footnote 126: All are Moors with Faria, particularly Mahometans. The +crew of this vessel were probably Malays, perhaps the most ferociously +desperate people of the whole world.--E.] + +On the 1st of July 1511, the Portuguese fleet cast anchor in the roads +of Malacca, infusing terror and dismay among multitudes that covered the +whole shore, by the clangour of their warlike instruments, and the noise +of repeated discharges of cannon; being sensible of their guilty conduct +to Sequeira and conscious that the present armament was designed for +their condign punishment. Next day a Moor came off in great state with a +message from the king, and was received with much courtesy and +ceremonious pomp by Albuquerque[127], to whom he said that if he came +for trade, the king was ready to supply whatever merchandise he wanted. +Albuquerque made answer that the merchandise he sought for was the +restitution of the Portuguese who had been left there by Sequeira, and +when they were restored, he should then say what farther demands he had +to make from the king. On his return to the city, the Moor spread +universal consternation by this answer, and it was agreed to endeavour +to avert the threatened danger, by restoring the Portuguese, and by +paying a large sum of money. But Prince Al'oddin, the son of the king of +Malacca, and his brother-in-law the king of Pahang opposed this, and +made ready for defence. Upon this Albuquerque began some military +execution, and the king restored the captives. After this some farther +negotiations ensued, as the king was desirous of peace, which +Albuquerque offered to agree to, on condition of having permission to +build a fortress at Malacca, and that the king should repay the entire +charges incurred by Sequeira and the present armament, all the damage +having been occasioned by his own treachery and falsehood; but he +demanded to have an immediate answer; whether the king chose peace or +war. The king was willing to have submitted to the terms demanded by the +Portuguese viceroy, but his son and the king of Pahang opposed him, and +it was at length determined to stand on their defence. + +[Footnote 127: On this occasion, Faria mentions that Albuquerque wore +his beard so long that it was fastened to his girdle; having made a vow +when he was forced to retreat from Ormuz, that it should never be +trimmed till he sat on the back of Khojah Attar for that purpose.--E.] + +On the 24th of July, being the eve of St James the apostle, every thing +being disposed in order for attack, the signal was given for landing, by +the discharge of artillery, and immediately the Portuguese leapt on +shore and charged the enemy with loud shouts. The hottest of the battle +was about gaining and defending the bridge, which enterprise Albuquerque +undertook in person, and where the enemy after a vigorous defence, in +which great numbers of them were slain, were forced to leap into the +river, where many of them were drowned. The prince and the king of +Pahang bravely opposed another party of the Portuguese who endeavoured +to force their way to the bridge to join the viceroy, and at the same +time King Mahomet came out on a large elephant, attended by two others +having castles on their backs, whence numbers of darts were launched +against the Portuguese. But the elephants being soon severely wounded, +turned and fled through among their own men, trampling many of them to +death and making way for the Portuguese to join those who had possession +of the bridge. At this place Albuquerque fortified himself, and as +considerable harm was done to his men by poisoned arrows discharged from +the tops of the adjoining houses, he caused them to be set on fire. +After bestowing great praises on his captains for their courageous +behaviour, and perceiving that his people began to grow faint by long +exertions, excessive heat, and want of food, he withdrew to the ships +towards night. Ten of the Portuguese died in consequence of their wounds +from the poisoned arrows. The loss of the enemy was not known. The king +of Pahang withdrew to his own country, under pretence of bringing a +reinforcement, but never returned. + +While Albuquerque rested and refreshed his men on board, Mahomet was +busily employed in making every possible preparation for defending the +city. For this purpose he undermined the streets in several places, in +hopes to blow up the assailants, and strewed poisoned thorns in the way, +covering them over to prevent their being observed. He likewise +fortified the bridge, and planted cannon in many places. As a prelude +to the second assault, Albuquerque sent Antonio de Abren in a vessel +well manned to gain possession of the bridge. On his way thither he had +to pass through showers of bullets from both sides of the river and from +the battlements of the bridge, and though desperately wounded, refused +to be brought off, when Deniz Fernandez Melo, who came up to his rescue +proposed sending him to the ships to have his wounds dressed, saying, +"Though he neither had strength to fight nor voice to command, he would +not quit his post while life remained." Floats of wildfire were sent +down the river to burn the vessel; but at length Albuquerque in person +gained possession of the bridge, and the vessel being freed from the +fire rafts, had liberty to act against the enemy. Having rested his men +a short time on the bridge, Albuquerque penetrated the city, through +showers of bullets, darts, and arrows; and having been apprised of the +mines in the principal street, he took, another way and gained the +mosque. At length, after a prodigious slaughter of the enemy, he gained +entire possession of the city, having only with him in this action 800 +Portuguese and 200 Malabars. + +At the end of nine days every one of the Moors who inhabited this great +city were either slain or driven out, and it was repeopled with +strangers and some Malays, who were permitted to take possession of the +vacant houses. Among these last was Utimuti rajah, whose son had +formerly endeavoured to assassinate Sequeira. Utimuti was a rich and +powerful native of Java, of whom more hereafter. The soldiers were +allowed to plunder the city during three days. There were found 3000 +pieces of _great cannon_, out of 8000[128] which King Mahomet had relied +upon for the defence of his city, the rest having been carried off to +_Bintang_, where the king and prince Al'oddin had fortified themselves. +As it might have been of dangerous consequence to permit these princes +to establish themselves so near the city of Malacca, Albuquerque sent a +force to dislodge them, consisting of 400 Portuguese, 400 Malays +belonging to Utimuti, and 300 men belonging to the merchants of Pegu who +resided in Malacca. On the approach of these troops, the king and prince +took flight, leaving seven elephants with all their costly trappings, +and the Portuguese returned to Malacca. Now reduced to wander in the +woods and mountains of the interior, Mahomet so severely reflected upon +the obstinacy of his son and the king of Pahang, that he and his son +quarrelled and separated, each shifting for himself. + +[Footnote 128: This prodigious train of artillery is quite incredible, +though, twice repeated in the same terms, but it is impossible to form +any rational conjecture for correcting the gross error or exaggeration +in the text.--E.] + +To secure this important conquest, Albuquerque built a fort or citadel +at Malacca, which from its beauty was called _Hermosa_. He likewise +built a church, which was dedicated to the _Visitation of our Lady_; and +coined money of different values and denominations, which was ordered to +pass current by proclamation, and some of which he caused to be +scattered among the populace. By these and other prudent measures he +gained the hearts of the people, attracted strangers to settle in +Malacca, and secured this important emporium of trade. Although +Albuquerque was perfectly conscious of the deceitful character of +Utimuti rajah, yet considering it to be sometimes prudent to trust an +enemy under proper precautions, he gave him authority over all the Moors +that remained in Malacca. It was soon discovered however, that Utimuti +carried on a private correspondence with Prince Al'oddin, under pretence +of restoring him to the sovereignty of Malacca, but in reality for the +purpose of using his remaining influence among the people to set himself +up. On receiving authentic information of these underhand practices, +Albuquerque caused Utimuti with his son and son-in-law to be +apprehended, and on conviction of their treason, he ordered them to be +publicly executed on the same scaffold which they had formerly destined +for Sequeira. This was the first public exertion of sovereign justice +which was attempted by the Portuguese in India, but was soon followed by +others. _Pate Quitir_, another native of Java, whom Albuquerque +appointed to succeed Utimuti in the government of the Moors in Malacca, +was gained by the widow of Utimuti, by promise of her daughter in +marriage with a portion of 100,000 ducats, to revenge the death of her +husband on the Portuguese, and to assassinate Albuquerque. Quitir +accepted her offer, meaning to seize the city for himself. About the +same time also, the king of Campar formed a similar design, for the +attainment of which purpose he sent a congratulatory embassy to +Albuquerque, from whom he demanded the office which had been conferred +on Quitir. These plots having no consequences at this time, shall be +farther explained in the sequel. + +During his residence at Malacca, Albuquerque received embassies from +several princes, particularly from the king of Siam; and he sent +likewise embassies in return, to the kings of Siam and Pegu. He sent +also two ships to discover the Molucca islands and Banda[129], and gave +orders to let it be known in all quarters that Malacca was now under the +dominion of Portugal, and that merchants from every part of India would +be received there on more favourable terms than formerly. Having now +established every thing in Malacca to his mind, Albuquerque determined +upon returning to Cochin, leaving Ruy de Brito Patalim to command the +fort with a garrison of 300 men. He left at the same time Fernando Perez +de Andrada with ten ships and 300 soldiers to protect the trade, and +carried four ships with himself on his return to Cochin. + +[Footnote 129: According to some authors these were commanded by Lopez +de Azevedo and Antonio de Abreu, who set out in 1511 and returned in +1513; but according to others Antonio de Abreu, Francisco Serrano, and +Ferdinand Magalhaens were the officers employed on this occasion, during +which Magalhaens projected his circumnavigation of the globe.--Astley, +I. 74. 2.] + +During these transactions at Malacca a rebellion broke out among the +natives at Goa, taking advantage of which, _Pulate Khan_, an officer in +the service of Kufo Adel Khan king of Bisnagar passed over into the +island of Goa with considerable army, and laid siege to the city. One of +the principal exploits during this siege was a sally made by Rodrigo +Robello de Castello Franco the governor, in which the besiegers suffered +considerable loss. But Rodrigo was soon afterwards slain, and Diego +Mendez de Vasconcellos was chosen to take the command by the universal +suffrages of the besieged. At this time Adel Khan became jealous that +his general Pulate Khan intended to usurp the sovereignty over the +territory of Goa, on which account he sent his brother-in-law, Rotzomo +Khan to supersede him, who entered into a treaty with Diego Mendez, by +whose assistance he got the mastery over Pulate Khan. Finding himself at +the head of 7000 men, while there were not above 1200 troops in the city +of Goa, 400 only of whom were Portuguese, Rotzomo resolved to endeavour +to drive them out, and resumed the siege. Being short of provisions, the +besieged began to suffer severely from famine, and several of the men +deserted to the enemy, some of whom repented and returned to the city. +In this critical situation, Emanuel de la Cerda who had wintered at +Cochin fortunately arrived with succours, and was followed soon after by +Diego Fernandez de Beja, who had been sent to demolish the fort at +Socotora, and to receive the tribute at Onnuz. By these the besieged +were abundantly relieved and succoured with recruits and provisions when +almost reduced to extremity. Soon afterwards arrived Juan Serram who had +gone from Portugal the year before with Peyo de Sa, in order to settle a +trade in the island of Madagascar, but ineffectually; and Christopher de +Brito, who happened to be at Cananor with a large ship and four smaller +vessels, where he heard of the distressed situation of Goa, went +immediately thither with a strong reinforcement and an ample supply of +provisions. + +On his voyage from Malacca to Cochin, the ship in which Albuquerque was +embarked struck during the night on a rock off Cape Timia in the kingdom +of _Aru_ on the coast of Sumatra. Being completely separated a midships, +the people who had taken refuge on the poop and forecastle were unable +to communicate with each other, and the night was so exceedingly dark +that no assistance could be sent from the other vessels. When day-light +appeared next morning, Albuquerque was seen holding a girl in his arms, +whom chance had conducted to him during the confusion. Pedro de Alpoem +came up to his relief, though with much difficulty and danger. On this +occasion some of the men were lost, and much valuable commodities, but +what Albuquerque most regretted was the wonderful bone which prevented +the wounded Moor from bleeding, and some iron lions of curious +workmanship, which he had intended for supporters to his tomb. +Albuquerque continued his voyage after this disaster in the ship +commanded by Alpoem; and on his way back took two Moorish ships, which, +though rich did not make amends for the loss he had sustained in the +wreck of his own. Immediately on his arrival at Cochin, being informed +of the distress of Goa, he dispatched eight vessels to that place with +men and provisions, promising soon to repair thither in person. There +were then in the town 1000 men, who were besieged by an army of 20,000 +natives. + +It being now the year 1512, six ships arrived in India from Portugal, +having spent a whole year on the voyage without touching at any port; +and though the men were tired and sick, they relieved several places. At +this time likewise a fleet of thirteen ships arrived from Portugal, one +of which was lost on the island of _Angoxa_. This fleet, which carried +1800 soldiers, anchored off the bar of Goa on the 15th of August 1512. +They immediately drove the enemy from a fort which they had constructed +at Benistarim; after which Don Garcia and George de Melo passed on with +their squadrons, accompanied by Juan Machado and others, who had been +recently delivered from slavery in Cambaya. Albuquerque was much +rejoiced at the great reinforcements brought out by his nephew Don +Garcia and Melo, and by the relief of the captives, as they enabled him +to proceed in the enterprises which he had in contemplation. His +satisfaction was much increased by the arrival of Antonio de Saldanna +with the garrison of Quiloa, which had been abandoned as a place of +small importance. About the same time there arrived ambassadors from +Persia and Ormuz, the latter of whom had orders from his master to +proceed to Portugal. + +Having arranged everything at Cochin, and appointed Melo to the command +of Cananor, Albuquerque proceeded to Goa, where he was received with +every demonstration of joy and respect. After visiting the +fortifications, he endeavoured to concert measures for driving Rotzomo +Khan from the works which he had constructed for besieging Goa. On the +sixth day after his arrival, being on an eminence with several officers +taking a view of the works of the enemy, 4000 Moors, 200 of whom were +horse, were seen sporting on the plain, it being Friday, which is the +sabbath of the Mahometans. On this occasion, a detachment of the +Portuguese made a sudden attack on the Moors, and after a hot skirmish +drove them for shelter to their works, having slain above an hundred of +the enemy, with the loss of one officer and one private, and several +wounded. Having resolved to take possession of a strong fort which the +enemy had erected near Goa for the protection of their camp, Albuquerque +caused it to be attacked both by sea and land at the same time; and +thinking that the sea attack was not conducted with sufficient vigour, +he went himself in a boat to give orders, and came so near that a +cannon-shot struck the head of a Canara who steered his boat, dashing +the blood and brains on his beard. Enraged at this incident, he offered +a high reward to any one who should destroy that cannon; on which one of +his gunners aimed a shot so exactly that it struck the muzzle of the +cannon which flew in pieces, and killed the Moorish cannoneer. By this +fortunate circumstance, the Portuguese were able to get farther up the +river and to get close to the fort. At this time _Zufolari_, one of the +generals of the Moors, appeared with 7000 men on the continental shore +to relieve the fort; but being unable to effectuate his purpose, was +forced to retire after sustaining some loss by a distant cannonade. +Albuquerque now closely invested the fort with 4000 men, 3000 of whom +were Portuguese. He divided these into two bodies, one under his own +immediate command, and the other under the charge of his nephew Don +Garcia. At first the Portuguese received some damage; but in the end +Rotzomo Khan agreed to surrender the fort with all its cannon and +ammunition, to deliver up all the Portuguese prisoners and deserters, +and to evacuate the island of Goa and its dependencies. The Portuguese +deserters were severely punished by order of Albuquerque, having their +ears, noses, right hands, and the thumbs of their left cut off, in which +mutilated condition they were sent home to Portugal. One of these, named +Ferdinando Lopez, as a penance for his crimes, voluntarily remained with +a negro at the island of St Helena, where he began some cultivation, and +was afterwards serviceable to several ships that called in there, by +furnishing them with refreshments. + +Having thus completely relieved Goa, Albuquerque endeavoured to gain +over Rotzomo Khan to the Portuguese service, but unsuccessfully; but his +good fortune made a great impression on many of the native princes, +several of whom sent pacific embassies to the viceroy. The king of +Calicut, terrified at the growing power of the Portuguese, concluded a +treaty of peace with Don Garcia, whom his uncle had sent to take the +command at Cochin[130]. The kings of Narsinga, Visiapour, Bisnagar, and +other districts of India, sent ambassadors to the viceroy; who +endeavoured in his answers to impress them powerfully with the value of +amity with the Portuguese, and dread of encountering their arms, and +sent back envoys of his own to these princes, to acquire intelligence +respecting their power and resources. There arrived likewise at Goa an +ambassador from the Christian sovereign of Abyssinia, whom the +Europeans denominate Prester John[131], who was destined to go over to +Portugal, carrying a piece of the _true cross_, and letters for the king +of Portugal from the queen-mother _Helena_, who governed Abyssinia +during the minority of her son David. The purport of this embassy was to +arrange a treaty of amity with the king of Portugal, and to procure +military aid against the Moors who were in constant hostility with that +kingdom. This ambassador reported that there were then three Portuguese +at the Abyssinian court, one of whom, named Juan, called himself +ambassador from the king of Portugal; and two others, named Juan Gomez +and Juan Sanchez, who had been lately set on shore at Cape Guardafu, by +order of Albuquerque, in order to explore the country. + +[Footnote 130: The editor of Astleys Collection adds, _with liberty to +build a fort_; but this condition is not to be found in the text of +Faria, which is followed in that work literally on most occasions, +though often much abridged.--E.] + +[Footnote 131: In our early volumes it will be seen that this imaginary +_Prete Jani_, Prester John, or the Christian Priest-king, had been +sought for in vain among the wandering tribes of eastern Tartary. The +Portuguese now absurdly gave that appellation to the Negus of Habesh, or +Emperor of the Abyssinians; where a degraded species of Christianity +prevails among a barbarous race, continually engaged in sanguinary war +and interminable revolution.--E.] + +Every thing at Goa being placed in order, the viceroy now determined +upon carrying the enterprise against Aden into execution, which had been +formerly ordered by the king of Portugal. Without communicating his +intentions to any one, he caused twenty ships to be fitted out, in which +he embarked with 1700 Portuguese troops, and 800 native Canaras and +Malabars. When just ready to sail, he acquainted the captains with the +object of his expedition, that they might know where to rendezvous in +case of separation. Setting sail from Goa on the 18th of February 1513, +the armament arrived safe at Aden. This city, called Modocan by Ptolemy, +is situated on the coast of Yemen or Arabia Felix, in lat. 12 deg. 45' N. +near the mouth of the Red Sea, and looks beautiful and strong from the +sea, being rich and populous owing to the resort of many nations for +trade. But Immediately behind are the barren and rocky mountains of +Arzira, which present numerous cliffs and precipices. The soil is arid, +having very little water, which is procured from a few wells and +cisterns, as this part of the country is scarcely watered from the +heavens above once in two or three years. Hence it is devoid of all +trees, and has neither gardens nor orchards. + +Immediately on the arrival of the Portuguese fleet, Miramirzan the +governor sent a complimentary message to the viceroy with a present of +provisions; but as there was no prospect of voluntary submission or +surrender, Albuquerque resolved upon carrying the place by assault, but +found the enterprise more difficult than he expected. Having landed his +men early in the morning, the troops advanced to the walls with scaling +ladders: but after a considerable number had got up to the top of the +wall, the ladders broke under the weight of the multitudes who pressed +to get up; so that Albuquerque was obliged to order down those who had +already ascended, by means of a single ladder constructed out of the +broken fragments of the rest. Thus, after four hours engagement, the +Portuguese were forced to desist from the attack with some loss, +occasioned more by the insufficiency of the ladders than by the prowess +of the enemy. George Sylveyra and five men were killed on the spot, but +several others died afterwards of their wounds, and some from bruises +occasioned by falling from the walls and ladders. Submitting to his bad +fortune, and by the persuasion of his officers, Albuquerque resolved to +abandon this enterprise, that he might have sufficient time remaining to +sail for the month of the Red Sea. But before leaving Aden, he took a +redoubt or bulwark which defended the entrance into the harbour, where a +great many Moors, or Arabs rather, were slain, and 37 pieces of cannon +taken. Having plundered the ships in the harbour, they were all burnt; +and on the fourth day after arriving at Aden, the fleet set sail for the +mouth of the Red Sea, on their arrival at which great rejoicings were +made by Albuquerque and the Portuguese, as being the first Europeans who +had ever navigated that celebrated sea. + +The form of the Red Sea is not unlike that of a crocodile, having its +mouth at the narrow Straits of Mecca or Babelmandeb, the head being that +sea which lies between Cape Guardafu and Fartaque, and the extremity of +the tail at the town of Suez. Its general direction is from N.N.W. to +S.S.E. being 530 leagues long, and 40 over where broadest[132]. The +channel for navigation is about the middle, where it has sufficient +depth of water for the largest ships, but both sides are very shallow, +and much encumbered by sand banks and numerous small islands. No river +of any note falls into it during its whole extent. It is called by the +Moors or Arabs, _Bahar Corzu_ or the Closed Sea, and by others the Sea +of Mecca; but by Europeans the Arabian Gulf or the Red Sea, owing to the +red colour it derives from its bottom, as was proved by a subsequent +viceroy, Don Juan de Castro, who caused some of the bottom to be dragged +up in several places, when it was found to consist of a red coralline +substance; while in other places the bottom was green, and white in +some, but mostly red. The water itself, when taken up, is as clear as in +any other part of the sea. The Red Sea does not abound in fish, but it +produces small pearls in many places. The mouth of the Red Sea, called +the Straits of Mecca or of Bab-al-mandeb, is in lat. 12 deg. 40' N. and is +as it were locked up by seven small islands, the largest of which, now +_Mehun_, was called by Ptolemy _Perantonomasiam_. On going from the +straits towards Suez along the eastern or Arabian shore, there are only +a few small ports of no note for the first 44 leagues, till we come to +the island of _Kamaran_, which is subject to the king of Aden. At 60 +leagues from thence we come to _Gezan_ a large town; thence 130 leagues +to _Yambo_, all in the dominions of Mecca, having several good towns and +harbours. Among these are the famous and well known ports of _Ziden_ and +_Juddah_, or _Joda_; _Mecca_ being 15 leagues inland from the latter. +From Yambo it is 60 leagues to _Toro_, where the children of Israel are +said to have crossed the Red Sea, which at this place is 3 leagues +across. Thence to _Suez_ is 40 leagues, and there ends the Arabian +shore. On sailing back to the straits along the western shore of Egypt +and Ethiopia, from Suez which is 20 leagues from Grand Cairo the vast +metropolis of Egypt, it is 45 leagues to Al-cosier; thence 135 to the +city of Suakem, in which space there are many ports: From thence 70 +leagues farther on is the island and port of Massua, and opposite to it +Arkiko; and thence other 85 leagues bring us back to the Straits of +Bab-el-mandeb. Behind a ridge of mountains which runs close along the +whole coast of Ethiopia, lie the dominions of Prester John, which has +always preserved Christianity after its own manner, and has of late been +much supported therein by the Portuguese arms. + +[Footnote 132: The extreme length of the Red Sea is 400 geographical +leagues, 20 to the degree, or about 1380 statute miles, and its greatest +breadth 65 of the same leagues, about 225 miles.--E.] + +Entering into the Red Sea, Albuquerque sailed along the coast to the +island of Kamaran, which he found abandoned by its inhabitants from +dread of his approach. He took two vessels by the way, and found four +others at this place, one of which belonged to the Soldan of Egypt. From +this island he visited several others; and one day there appeared in +the sky to the whole persons in the fleet a very bright red cross, +seemingly about six feet broad, and of a proportional length. All the +Portuguese knelt down and worshipped the heavenly sign, Albuquerque +making a devout prayer; after which the happy omen was joyfully hailed +by the sound of music and cannon, till at length it was covered over by +a bright cloud and disappeared. As the trade wind failed for carrying +him to Judduh, Albuquerque returned to Kamaran where he wintered, and +where his people suffered extreme misery from famine and sickness. In +July 1513, as soon as the weather would permit, he sailed again for +India, meaning to appear again before Aden, and touched at the island of +Mehun, in the middle of the straits, to which he gave the name of Vera +Cruz, in memory of the miraculous vision with which they had been +favoured, and erected a very high cross upon an eminence. From thence he +sent two ships to examine the city and port of Zeyla, on an island in a +bay of the coast of Adel, where they burnt two ships belonging to the +Moors, and joined the fleet again before Aden. He found the +fortifications of this place repaired and strengthened; and after +exchanging a cannonade which did little damage on either side, and +burning some ships in the harbour, he sailed for India. + +Albuquerque arrived at Diu about the middle of August 1513, and was +immediately supplied, with some provisions accompanied by a courteous +message from Malek Azz the lord of that city under the king of Cambaya, +more from fear than affection. Being aware of his duplicity, Albuquerque +dealt cautiously with this chief, and demanded permission to erect a +fort at Diu; but Malek Azz excused himself, referring Albuquerque to the +king of Cambaya, whom he secretly advised to refuse if asked. However it +was agreed to settle a Portuguese factor at this place to conduct the +trade; and at parting Azz treated Albuquerque with so much artful +civility, that he said he had never seen a more perfect courtier, or one +more fitted to please and deceive a man of understanding. Some time +afterwards, the king of Cambaya gave permission for the Portuguese to +erect a fort at Diu, on condition that he might do the same at Malacca. +At this time there arrived two ships from Portugal, a third having been +cast away in the voyage, but the men saved. Albuquerque went to Goa, and +sent his nephew Noronha to Cochin to dispatch the homeward bound trade, +along with which an ambassador was sent from the zamorin to the king of +Portugal, peace being now established with that sovereign, who permitted +a fort to be erected at his capital. By these ships likewise were sent +the presents of many of the Indian princes to the king of Portugal, +together with many captives taken in war. There went also a Portuguese +Jew, who had been an inhabitant of Jerusalem, and had been sent by the +guardian of the Franciscans to acquaint Albuquerque that the Soldan of +Egypt threatened to destroy all the holy places at Jerusalem. + +Pate Quitir, the native of Java, who had been preferred by Albuquerque +to the command of the native inhabitants of Malacca, continued to carry +on measures for expelling the Portuguese, and having strengthened +himself secretly, at last broke out into rebellion. Having slain a +Portuguese captain and several men, and taken some pieces of cannon, he +suddenly fortified the quarter of the city in which he resided, and +stood on his defence with 6000 men and two elephants. Ferdinando Perez +and Alfonso Pessoa went against him with 320 men, partly by land and +partly by water, and after a long contest forced him to flee for refuge +into the woods after many of his men were slain. A considerable quantity +of artillery and ammunition was found in that part of the city which he +had fortified, which was burnt to the ground after being plundered of +much riches. Having received succour from Java and Mahomet, the expelled +king of Malacca, Quitir, erected another fort in a convenient place at +some distance from the city, where he became powerful by sea and land, +being in hopes of usurping the sovereignty of Malacca. Perez went out +against him, but though he fought as valiantly as before, he was forced +to retreat after losing three captains and four soldiers. At this time +_Lacsamana_, an officer belonging to Mahomet, entered the river of +Malacca with a great number of men and many cannon on board several +vessels. Perez attacked him with three ships, and a furious battle took +place which lasted for three hours, with much advantage on the side of +the Portuguese, but night obliged the combatants to desist, and Perez +took a position to prevent as he thought the Malayans from escaping out +of the river during the darkness. But Lacsamana threw up an intrenchment +of such respectable appearance during the night, that it was thought too +dangerous to attempt an attack, and Perez retired to the fort. At this +time three ships entered the port from India, bringing a supply of +ammunition and a reinforcement of 150 soldiers; but Lacsamana had +established himself so advantageously, that he intercepted all the +vessels carrying provisions for Malacca, which was reduced to such +straits that many fell down in the streets from famine. The same plague +attended Pate Quitir in his quarters.[133] + +[Footnote 133: It is probable that Mr Stevens has mistaken the sense of +Faria at this place, and that the famine in Malacca was occasioned by +the joint operations of Lacsamana and Pate Quitir, holding the city in a +state of blockade.--E.] + +When the season became fit for navigation, Perez set out with ten ships +and a galley in quest of provisions. While sailing towards Cincapura, +the galley discovered a sail, and stuck by it till the fleet came up. It +was found to be laden with provisions and ammunition for Pate Quitir. +Perez brought the captain and other head men on board his own ship, +where they attempted to slay the Portuguese, even Perez being stabbed in +the back by a cris or dagger. Being foiled in this attempt, most of them +leapt into the sea, but some were taken and put to the rack who +confessed there was a son of Quitir among them, and that they were +followed by three other vessels similarly laden. These were likewise +captured and carried to Malacca. At the same time Gomez de Cunna arrived +with his ship laden with provisions from Pegu, where he had been to +settle a treaty of amity and commerce with the king of that country. The +famine being thus appeased, and the men recovered, Perez attacked Pate +Quitir by sea and land; and having fortunately succeeded in the capture +of his fortified quarters, which were set on fire, that chieftain was +forced to retire to Java, and Lacsamana, on seeing this success of the +Portuguese, retired with his forces. + +Java is an island to the south-east of Sumatra, from which it is divided +by a strait of fifteen leagues in breadth. This island is almost 200 +leagues in length from east to west, but is narrow in proportion to its +breadth, being divided by a long range of mountains through its whole +length, like the Apennines of Italy, which prevents intercourse between +the two coasts. It has several ports and good cities, and its original +inhabitants appear to have come from China. In after times the Moors of +Malacca[134] possessed themselves of the sea coast, obliging the natives +to take shelter in the forests and mountains of the interior. At this +period a Malay chief named _Pate Unuz_ was lord of the city of Japara, +who became afterwards king of Sunda. Indignant that the metropolis of +the Malayan territories should he possessed by the enemies of the +Mahometan faith, he had been seven years preparing a powerful armament +of 90 sail to attempt the conquest of Malacca, during all which time he +kept up a secret correspondence with the Javan Malays who inhabited that +city. Several of his ships were equal in size to the largest Portuguese +galleons, and the one destined for himself was larger than any ship then +built by the Europeans. Having completed his preparations, he embarked +with 12,000 men and a formidable train of artillery, and appeared +suddenly before the city. Ferdinando Perez immediately embarked with 350 +Portuguese and some native troops in 17 vessels, and attacked the Javan +fleet, with which he had an obstinate engagement, doing considerable +damage to the enemy, but night parted the combatants. Next morning Pate +Unuz endeavoured to get into the river Maur with his fleet; but Perez +pursued him, and penetrating into the midst of the enemy plied his +cannon and fireworks with such success, that many of the Javan ships +were sunk and set on fire. After a furious battle of some endurance, +Unuz fled and was pursued all the way to Java, where he preserved his +own vast vessel as a memorial of his escape and of the grandeur of his +fleet, and not without reason, as a merchant of Malacca engaged to +purchase it of Perez for 10,000 ducats if taken. This victory cost the +Portuguese some blood, as several were slain, and few escaped without +wounds. From this time forwards, the natives of Java were for ever +banished from Malacca. + +[Footnote 134: Faria perpetually confounds all Mahometans under the +general denomination of Moors. These possessors of the coast of Java +were unquestionably Malays.--E.] + +Soon after this brilliant victory, Ferdinando Perez sailed from Malacca +to Cochin with a valuable cargo of spice, accompanied by Lope de Azevedo +and Antonio de Abreu, who came from the discovery of the Molucca islands +with three ships. After their arrival at Cochin, Antonio de Miranda +arrived there from Siam, to the great joy of Albuquerque, who thus +reaped the rich fruits of his care and labour for the acquisition of +Malacca, and the happy return of those whom he had sent upon other +discoveries. + +King Mahomet had not yet lost all hope of recovering Malacca, to which +he now drew near; and having in vain attempted to succeed by force, had +recourse to stratagem. For this purpose he prevailed on a favourite +officer named Tuam Maxeliz, to imitate the conduct of Zopirus at +Babylon. Being accordingly mutilated, Tuam fled with some companions to +Malacca, giving out that he had escaped from the tyrannical cruelty of +his sovereign. Ruy de Brito, who then commanded in the citadel of +Malacca, credited his story and reposed so much confidence in his +fidelity that he was admitted at all times into the fortress. At length, +having appointed a particular day for the execution of his +long-concerted enterprise, on which Mahomet was to send a party to +second his efforts or to bring him off, he and his accomplices got +admittance into the fort as usual, and immediately began to assassinate +the Portuguese garrison by means of their daggers, and had actually +slain six before they were able to stand to their defence. Brito, who +happened to be asleep when the alarm was given, immediately collected +his men and drove the traitor and his companions from the fort, at the +very moment, when a party of armed Malays came up to second their +efforts. The commander of this party, named Tuam Calascar, on learning +the miscarriage of Tuam Maxeliz, pretended that he came to the +assistance of Brito, and by that means was permitted to retire. + +Soon after this Pedro de Faria arrived at Malacca from the Straits of +Sabam, bringing with him _Abdela_ king of Campar, who being no longer +able to endure the insolence of his father-in-law Mahomet, came to +reside in security under the protection of the Portuguese in Malacca. +This was in the month of July [135], shortly after the arrival of George +de Albuquerque from Goa to command at Malacca. By instructions from the +viceroy, Abdela was appointed _Bendara_, or governor, of the natives, +which office had till then been enjoyed by _Ninachetu_, who was now +displaced on account of some miscarriage or malversation. Ninachetu, who +was a gentile, so much resented this affront, that he resolved to give a +signal demonstration of his fidelity and concern. He was very rich, and +gave orders to dress up a scaffold or funeral pile in the market-place +or bazar of Malacca, splendidly adorned with rich silks and cloth of +gold, the middle of the pile being composed of a vast heap of aromatic +wood of high price. The entire street from his dwelling to the pile was +strewed with sweet-scented herbs and flowers, and adorned with rich +hangings, correspondent to the magnificence of the pile. Having +collected all his friends, and clad himself and family in splendid +attire, he went in solemn procession to the bazar, where he mounted the +scaffold and made a long harangue, in which he protested his innocence +and declared that he had always served the Portuguese with the utmost +zeal and fidelity. Having ordered the pile to be fired, and seeing the +whole in flames, he declared that he would now mount to heaven in that +flame and smoke, and immediately cast himself into the flaming pile, to +the great admiration of all the beholders. + +[Footnote 135: Faria omits any mention of the year, but from the context +it appears to have been in 1513.--E.] + +At this time the king of Campar had gone home, intending to return to +assume his office of Bendara, but was hindered by Mahomet and the king +of Bintang, who fitted out a fleet of 70 sail with 2500 men under the +command of the king of _Linga_, and besieged Campar, in the harbour of +which town there were eight Portuguese vessels and some native _proas_, +under the command of George Botello. Observing this squadron to be +somewhat careless, the king of Linga fell suddenly with his galley on +the ship commanded by Botello, followed by the rest of his fleet; but +met with so warm a reception that his galley was taken, so that he had +to leap overboard, and the rest of the enemies fleet was put to flight. +The siege was now raised, and Botello conveyed the king of Campar to +Malacca, where he exercised the office of Bendara with so much judgment +and propriety, that in four months the city was visibly improved, great +numbers of people resorting thither who had formerly fled to Mahomet to +avoid the oppressions of Ninachetu. Perceiving the growth of the city +under the wise administration of Abdela, Mahomet determined to put a +stop to this prosperity by means of a fraud peculiar to a Moor. He gave +out secretly, yet so that it might spread abroad, that his son-in-law +had gone over to the Portuguese at Malacca with his knowledge and +consent, and that the same thing was done by all those who seemed to fly +there from Bintang, with the design to seize upon the fort on the first +opportunity, and restore it to him who was the lawful prince. This +secret, as intended by Mahomet, was at length divulged at Malacca, where +it produced the intended effect, as the commandant, George de +Albuquerque, gave more credit to this false report than to the honest +proceedings of the Bendara, who was tried and condemned as a traitor, +and had his head cut off on a public scaffold. In consequence of this +event, the city was left almost desolate by the flight of the native +inhabitants, and was afterwards oppressed by famine. + +During the year 1513, while these transactions were going on at Malacca, +the viceroy Albuquerque visited the most important places under his +charge, and gave the necessary, orders for their security. He dispatched +his nephew Don Garcia to Cochin, with directions to expedite the +construction of the fort then building at Calicut. He appointed a +squadron of four sail, under the command of his nephew Pedro de +Albuquerque, to cruise from the mouth, of the Red Sea to that of the +Persian Gulf, with orders to receive the tribute of Ormuz when it became +due, and then to discover the island of Bahrayn, the seat of the great +pearl-fishery in that gulf. He sent ambassadors well attended to several +princes. Diego Fernandez de Beja went to the king of Cambaya, to treat +about the erection of a fort at Din, which had been before consented to, +but was now refused at the instigation of Maluk Azz. Fernandez returned +to Goa with magnificent presents to Albuquerque, among which was a +Rhinoceros or _Abada_, which was afterwards lost in the Mediterranean on +its way from king Manuel to the pope along with other Indian rarities. +Juan Gonzalez de Castello Branco was sent to the king of Bisnagar, to +demand restitution of the dependencies belonging to Goa, but with little +success. + +In September 1513, five ships arrived at Goa from Portugal under the +command of Christopher de Brito, one of which bound for Cambaya was +lost. Having dispatched these ships with their homeward cargoes, +Albuquerque prepared for a military expedition, but was for some time +indetermined whether to bend his course for Ormuz or the Red Sea, both +expeditions having been ordered by the king. In order to determine which +of these was to be undertaken, he convened a council of all his +captains, and it was agreed that Ormuz was to be preferred, which was in +fact quite consonant to the wishes of the viceroy. He accordingly set +sail on the 20th of February 1514, with a fleet of 27 sail, having on +board a land force of 1500 Portuguese and 600 native Malabars and +Canaras. The fleet anchored in the port of Ormuz on the 26th of March, +and an immediate message of ceremony came off from the king with rich +presents; but Albuquerque was better pleased with finding that Michael +Ferreyra, whom he had sent on an embassy to Ismael king of Persia, to +negociate a treaty of amity and commerce, had strong hopes of success. + +_Seif Addin_ king of Orrauz and his governor Khojah Attar were now both +dead, and Reis Hamet now possessed the entire favour and confidence of +the new king. Among other things, Albuquerque sent to demand being put +immediately in possession of the fort which he had formerly begun to +build at Ormuz, and that some principal persons should be sent to ratify +and confirm the submission which the former king Seif Addin had made of +the kingdom to the supremacy of the king of Portugal. All was consented +to, as there was no sufficient power for resistance; and Reis Noradin +the governor came to wait upon Albuquerque accompanied by his nephew, to +make the desired ratification. The viceroy made rich presents on the +occasion, and sent a splendid collar of gold to the king, with the +Portuguese standard, as a mark of the union between the two nations. +Public rejoicings were made on both sides on account of this amicable +arrangement; and Albuquerque took possession of the fort, which had been +formerly begun, and by using every exertion it rose in a few days to a +great height, so that the viceroy and his principal officers took up +their residence in some houses in its neighbourhood. Albuquerque now +made splendid preparations to receive the ambassador from the king of +Persia, who brought a magnificent present from his sovereign, consisting +of rich brocades, precious stones, splendid golden ornaments, and many +fine silks. The ambassador was honourably received, and the treaty +concluded to mental satisfaction. This ceremony took place on a scaffold +erected in public near the residence of the viceroy, and had been +delayed for a considerable time on purpose to be exhibited in great +splendour to the people of Ormuz, that they might see that the +Portuguese friendship was sought after by so powerful a sovereign. The +king of Ormuz was at a window to see the procession. + +Reis Hamet[136], formerly mentioned, had come to Ormuz from Persia with +the design of seizing the city and delivering it up to the Sophi. He had +insinuated himself so effectually into the favour of the king as to +govern him in all respects, and nothing was done but by his directions. +The better to carry on his enterprise, he had gradually introduced a +number of his dependents into the city, and was actually preparing to +kill the king and seize the government, but deferred his intentions to +a more favourable opportunity. Albuquerque was fully informed of all +these secret practices, and that the king was anxious to be delivered +from the influence of Hamet; he therefore endeavoured to devise means +for effectuating the purpose, and fortune soon gave him an opportunity. +An interview had been appointed to take place between the king and +Albuquerque; but prompted by his fears, Hamet endeavoured to shun this +danger, by proposing that Albuquerque should wait upon the king, lest if +the king went to visit the viceroy, he might be obliged to attend him. +But Albuquerque insisted upon receiving the visit of the king, which was +at last agreed to, on condition that neither party was to be armed. Some +of the attendants upon Hamet were however secretly armed, and Hamet came +armed himself, and pressed foremost into the room with much rudeness, on +which Albuquerque made a concerted signal to his captains, who. +instantly dispatched him. After this the king came, and a conference +began between him and the viceroy, which was soon interrupted by a +violent clamour among the people, who supposed their king was slain. But +the people belonging to Hamet, knowing that their master had been +killed, ran and fortified themselves in the kings palace. Albuquerque +proposed immediately to have dispossessed them by means of his troops; +but the king and governor found other means of expelling these men from +the city, who to the number of 700 men went to Persia. + +[Footnote 136: Reis or Rais signifies a chief, and is commonly given on +the coasts of Arabia and Persia to sea captains: In Faria it is +Raez.--Astl I. 75. 2.] + +When this tumult was appeased, the people of Ormuz were much gratified +at seeing their king conducted back to his palace in great pomp, +attended by Albuquerque and all his officers, more especially as he was +now freed from the tyranny of Hamet, and restored to the majesty of a +king[137]. Albuquerque now dispatched the Persian ambassador, +accompanied by Ferdinando Gomez, carrying a present of double the value +of that he had received, and having orders to give a proper account of +the late transactions at Ormuz, especially in regard to Reis Hamet. +Gomez was well received, and brought back a favourable answer. It would +require more room than can be spared in this history to give an account +of the affairs of Persia; it may therefore suffice to say that the +valiant prince who reigned over Persia at this time was engaged in war +with the Turks, and was desirous of taking advantage of the Portuguese +assistance against his enemy. + +[Footnote 137: It is scarce possible to conceive how Faria could gravely +make this observation, when the Portuguese had imposed an annual tribute +on the king of Ormuz, and were actually building a fortress to keep the +capital under subjection.--E.] + +While the fort of Ormuz was building, or rather finishing, Albuquerque +persuaded the king that it would contribute to the safety of the city to +put all their cannon into the fort to defend them against their enemies, +but in reality to disable them from resisting the Portuguese domination. +Security is a powerful argument with those who are in fear, so that the +king and his governor reluctantly consented to this demand. Thus the +rich and powerful kingdom of Ormuz was completely subjected to the +Portuguese dominion, yet more to the advantage than detriment of its +native princes; who were more oppressed before by the tyranny of their +ministers, than afterwards by the tribute they had to pay to the +Portuguese, besides the security they enjoyed under protection of the +Portuguese arms. Yet liberty is sweeter than all other conveniences. + +Albuquerque dispatched his nephew Don Garcia de Noronha with most of the +fleet to Cochin, with orders to send home the ships of the season with +the trade to Portugal, remaining behind to conclude such arrangements as +seemed to require his presence. He soon afterwards fell sick, and was +persuaded by his attendants to return to India for the recovery of his +health, which he consented to, and left Pedro de Albuquerque in the +command of the fort at Ormuz. His departure gave great concern to the +king, who loved him as a father. While on the voyage to Goa, he got +notice that 12 ships were arrived in India from Portugal with orders for +his return to Europe, Lope Soarez who commanded that fleet being +appointed his successor. He was likewise informed that Diego Mendez and +Diego Pereyra, both of whom he had sent home as prisoners for heinous +crimes, had come back to India, the one as governor of Cochin and the +other as secretary to the new viceroy. These news gave him much +dissatisfaction, and he is reported to have vented his distress on the +occasion to the following purpose. "It is now time for me to take +sanctuary in the church, having incurred the kings displeasure for the +sake of his subjects, and their anger for the sake of the king. Old man! +fly to the church! Your honour requires that you should die, and you +have never yet omitted any thing in which your honour was concerned!" +Then raising his hands and eyes to heaven, he gave God thanks that a +governor had come out so opportunely, not doubting that he should soon +die. He fell into a profound melancholy, and arrived at Dabul almost in +the arms of death, at which place he wrote the following letter to the +king. "This, Sir! is the last letter your highness will receive from me, +who am now under the pangs of death. I have formerly written many to +your highness full of life and vigour, being then free from the dread +thought of this last hour, and actively employed in your service. I +leave a son behind me, _Blas de Albuquerque_, whom I entreat your +highness to promote in recompence of my services. The affairs of India +will answer for themselves and me." + +Having arrived on the bar of Goa, which he called his _Land of Promise_, +he expired on the 16th of December, 1515, in the sixty-third year of his +age, retaining his senses to the last, and dying as became a good +Christian. Alfonso de Albuquerque was second son to Gonzalo de +Albuquerque lord of Villaverde, by Donna Leonora de Menezes, daughter of +Alvaro Gonzalez de Atayde, first count of Atouguia. He had been master +of the horse to King John the Second. He was of moderate stature, having +a fair and pleasing countenance, with a venerable beard reaching below +his girdle to which he wore it knotted. When angry his looks were +terrible; but when pleased his manners were merry, pleasant, and witty. +He was buried in a chapel which he built near the gate of the city of +Goa, dedicated to _Our Lady of the Mountain_, but, after a long +resistance from the inhabitants of Goa, his bones were transferred to +the church of _Our Lady of Grace_ at Lisbon. + +The dominion of the Portuguese in India was founded by three great men, +Duarte Pacheco, Francisco de Almeyda, and Alfonso de Albuquerque; after +whom scarcely was there a single successor who did not decline from +their great character, having either a mixture of timidity with their +valour, or of covetousness with their moderation, in which the vices +predominated. In gaining this Indian crown, Pacheco alone acted with +that fiery heat which melted the arms and riches of the zamorin; only +_Almeyda_ could have filed and polished it, by his own and his sons +sword, bringing it into form by humbling the pride of the Egyptian +Soldan while _Albuquerque_ gave a finish to its ornaments, by adorning +it with three precious jewels, _Goa, Malacca_ and _Ormuz_[138]. + +[Footnote 138: Portuguese Asia, II. vii. This rhetorical flourish by De +Faria, gives a specimen of what was perhaps considered fine writing in +those days; but it strongly marks the important services of Albuquerque, +and is therefore here inserted.--E.] + + +SECTION VI. + +_Portuguese Transactions in India, under several governors, from the +close of 1515, to the year 1526_. + + +While the great Alfonso de Albuquerque was drawing towards the last +period of his life, Manuel, as if he had foreseen that event, sent out +Don Lope Soarez de Albergaria to succeed him in the government, with a +fleet of 13 ships, carrying a force of 1500 soldiers, many of whom were +gentlemen by birth, and still more so by their actions. Among them was +Duarte Galvam, a person of learning and judgment, who was sent +ambassador to Abyssinia with considerable presents, some for _Prester +John_, and some for the church. On his arrival at Cochin, the new +governor offended many by the reservedness of his carriage and manners, +and became particularly disagreeable to the rajah, who had been +accustomed to the discreet and easy civility of Albuquerque. Don Garcia +de Noronha took charge of the homeward bound ships, and went away after +no small disagreement with Soarez. Till this time, the Portuguese +gentlemen in India had followed the dictates of honour, esteeming arms +their greatest riches; but henceforwards they gave themselves entirely +up to trade, those who had been captains becoming merchants; insomuch +that command became a shame, honour a scandal, and reputation a +reproach. Having entered upon the exercise of his government, he visited +the forts, in which he placed new captains, gave out orders, and +transacted other affairs of small moment, which serve rather to fill the +page than to advance the dignity of history. + +In the year 1515, five ships sailed from Lisbon under the command of +Juan de Sylveira, three of which arrived in Lisbon, and the other two +were lost on the sands of St Lazarus. By orders from the king, +proceeding on information that the Soldan was fitting out a great fleet +at Suez, Soarez sailed from Goa on the 8th of February 1516, with 27 +sail of vessels of various sizes and descriptions, having 1200 +Portuguese and 800 Malabar soldiers on board, besides 800 native seamen, +and directed his course for the Red Sea in order to oppose the Mameluke +fleet. On arriving at Aden, Miramirzan the governor immediately offered +to surrender the place, declaring he would have done so to Albuquerque +if that officer had not at the very first proceeded to hostility. The +real state of the matter was that the place was indefensible, as Reis, +Soliman, the admiral of the Egyptian fleet of which Soarez was in search +had beaten down a part of the wall so that the town was defenceless. +Lope Soarez was so much pleased by this flattering offer that he trusted +Miramirzan and declined taking possession of the city till his return +from the Red Sea, and went away in search of Reis Soliman; but he +neither met with him, nor did he take Aden on his return. While on his +voyage up the Red Sea, Don Alvaro do Castro with forty men was lost +through covetousness, as he so overloaded his ship with goods from some +captured vessels that she became water-logged and went to the bottom. +Some other ships of the fleet received damage during this part of the +voyage. Hearing that Soliman was driven by stress of weather to Jiddah, +where he had no means of defence, Soarez determined to sail to that +place. + +Jiddah or Juddah, the sea-port of Mecca, is a town and harbour of Arabia +on the eastern shore of the Red Sea in about 22 deg. of north latitude, +situated in a most barren soil composed of deep loose sand, being more +calculated for commerce than delight. The buildings are good, but the +harbour very bad, and its inhabitants consist partly of native Arabs and +partly of foreign merchants. It was fortified by Mir Husseyn after his +defeat by Almeyda, under pretence, of defending the sepulchre of +Mahomet, but in reality for his own security as he was afraid to return +defeated to the Soldan. While he was occupied in constructing the +fortifications, Reis Soliman a low born Turk of Mitylene in the +Archipelago, but a bold and successful corsair, offered his services to +the Soldan, and was appointed admiral of the Suez fleet of 27 sail, +which was fitting out for the attack of Aden. Mir Husseyn was +accordingly discarded and Soliman appointed in his place. After the +failure of his attempt on Aden, where he lost a considerable number of +men, Soliman made a descent on Zobeid in the Tehamah near the island of +Kamaran, where he acquired a considerable booty, from whence he +proceeded to Jiddah, where he slew Mir Husseyn: And learning that the +emperor of the Turks had slain the Soldan in battle, and subverted the +sovereignty of the Mamelukes in Egypt, he surrendered the Egyptian fleet +and the port of Jiddah to the conqueror. + +Finding the port dangerous, Soarez came to anchor about a league from +the city of Jiddah, yet so excellent were some of the cannon of the +place, that three or four pieces were able to carry that prodigious +distance. Soliman sent a message to the Christian fleet offering a +single combat man to man, which Gaspar de Silva and Antonio de Menezes +both offered to accept, but Soarez would not allow the combat. Soarez +now caused the channel leading up to Jiddah to be sounded, and at this +time the inhabitants were much alarmed by the fire of one of the +Portuguese vessels; but Soliman appeased the tumult, and made his +appearance without the walls with some of his men, while the walls were +filled by vast multitudes of the infidels, who rent the air with loud +cries. After two days of inaction, the Portuguese began to complain of +the delay; but Soarez appeased his officers by shewing his instructions, +in which he was ordered to fight the fleet of the Mamelukes, which could +not be accomplished, and not to attack the city, where there might be +much danger and little chance of profit. Though the votes differed in +the council of war, it was resolved by a majority to desist from the +enterprise against Jiddah, and accordingly Soarez and his armament +retired to Kamaran, whence he detached several ships to different parts +of the Red Sea. At this place died Duarte Galvam, a learned and +ingenious man, who had been employed in several embassies in Europe, and +though above seventy years of age was now going ambassador to _Prester +John_. At the time of his death, he told his attendants that his son +George and all his men had been cast away in their vessel, and that the +inhabitants of the island of Dalac had cut off the heads of Lorenzo de +Cosme and others that had been sent to that place. All this was +afterwards found true, yet it was utterly impossible that the +intelligence could have reached Duarte at Kamaran before his death. + +After suffering much distress from famine, of which several men died, +and losing seventeen Portuguese who were made prisoners by the Arabs, +and carried to Jiddah, Soarez set sail from Kamaran and appeared before +Zeyla in the kingdom of Adel, on the north-east coast of Africa, a +little way out from the mouth of the Red Sea. This place was called +_Emporium Avalite_ by Ptolemy, who describes it as a great mart in +ancient times. On the present occasion Zeyla was taken with little +opposition, being unprepared for defence, and was reduced to ashes. From +Zeyla, Soarez went to Aden on the coast of Arabia, but soon found he had +been to blame for not taking possession when formerly offered it; as +Miramirzan had repaired the wall, and now procrastinated the surrender +of his city by various affected delays. Soarez fearing to lose the +season of the trade winds for returning to India, set sail for Barbora +on the same coast with Zeyla, which he meant likewise to destroy; but +the fleet was dispersed in a storm, and on its being afterwards +collected, it was found that more than eight hundred men had perished, +from famine, disease, and shipwreck, in this disastrous and +ill-conducted expedition. + +While these disasters attended Soarez, the city of Goa, where Monroy +commanded, was threatened with destruction. According to orders from +Soarez, some ships had been taken from the enemy, but with more profit +than reputation, though not without danger. One Alvaro Madureira, who +had married at Goa, fled to the enemy and turned Mahometan. He +afterwards repented and returned to Goa; but again fled to the Moors and +brought them to attack the Portuguese ships, which were in imminent +danger of being captured. About this time likewise, one Ferdinando +Caldera, who was also married at Goa, fled from that city to avoid +punishment for some crime he had committed, and joined the Moors; though +some say that he was forced to desert by Monroy, who was in love with +his wife. However this may have been, Caldera went to serve under +_Ancostan_ an officer of the king of Bisnagar. Don Gutierre de Monroy +demanded of Ancostan to deliver him up, which was refused; after which +Monroy suborned another person to go over to the enemy to assassinate +Caldera; which was done, but the assassin was instantly slain by the +Moors. On the return of Soarez to Goa, being informed of these +incidents, he left Monroy to take what satisfaction he thought proper +from Ancostan. Monroy accordingly sent out his brother Don Fernando at +the head of 150 Portuguese, 80 of whom were horse, and a considerable +body of natives, to attack Ancostan. Fernando defeated the Moors at +_Ponda_; but the Moors having rallied defeated him in his turn, and +obliged him to retire with the loss of 200 men killed and taken +prisoners. On these hostilities, the whole country was up in arms, and +Adel Khan the king of Bisnagar ordered his general _Sujo Lari_ to +besiege Goa. Lari accordingly endeavoured to cross over into the island +at the head of 4000 horse and 26,000 foot, but was repulsed. In the mean +time, as all intercourse was cut off between the island and the +continent, the besieged became distressed by want of provisions; but on +the arrival of three ships, one from Portugal, one from Quiloa, and the +third from China, Lari raised the blockade and the former peace was +renewed. + +Similar misfortunes took place at Malacca, through the misrule of George +de Brito and others, which occasioned all the native inhabitants to +desert the city to avoid oppression. In this situation, Mahomet, the +exiled king, sent a considerable force to attempt recovering his +capital, under the command of _Cerilege Rajah_ his general. Cerilege +intrenched his army, and so pressed the besieged that the Portuguese had +assuredly been driven from Malacca, had not Don Alexius de Menezes +arrived to assume the government with a reinforcement of 300 men. + +Antonio de Saldanna arrived in India in 1517 with six ships. In this +fleet one Alcacova came out as surveyor of the king's revenue, invested +with such power as greatly curtailed the influence of Soarez, and having +the inclination to encroach still farther on his authority than he was +warranted. This occasioned great dissensions between the governor and +surveyor; who finding himself unable to prevail, returned into Portugal +where he made loud complaints against the administration of affairs in +India. Hence began the practice of listening to complaints at home +against the governors and commanders employed in India; and hence many +took more care in the sequel to amass riches than to acquire honour, +knowing that money is a never-failing protection from crimes. Soarez +sent Juan de Sylveira to the Maldive islands, Alexius de Menezes to +Malacca, Manuel de la Cerda to Diu, and Antonio de Saldanna with six +ships to the coast of Arabia by orders from the king. The only exploit +performed by Saldanna was the capture and destruction of Barbora, a town +near Zeyla but much smaller, whence the inhabitants fled. Saldanna then +returned to India, where he found Soarez about to sail for the island of +Ceylon. + +The island of Ceylon, the southernmost land in India, is to the east of +Cape Comorin. It is sixteen leagues distant from the continent[139], to +which some imagine that it was formerly joined. This island is about 80 +leagues from north to south, and about 45 leagues from east to +west[140]. The most southerly point, or Dondra Head, is in lat. 5 deg. 52' N. +The most northerly, or Point Pedro, in 9 deg. 48'. In the sea belonging to +this island there is a fishery of the most precious pearls. By the +Persians and Arabs it is called _Serendib_[141]. It took the name of +_Ceylon_ from the sea by which it is surrounded, owing to the loss of a +great fleet of the Chinese, who therefore named that sea _Chilam_, +signifying danger, somewhat resembling _Scylla_; and this word was +corrupted to Ceylon. This island was the _Taprobana_ of the ancients, +and not Sumatra as some have imagined. Its productions are numerous and +valuable: Cinnamon of greatly finer quality than in any other place; +rubies, sapphires, and other precious stones; much pepper and cardamoms, +Brazil wood, and other dyes, great woods of palm-trees, numbers of +elephants which are more docile than those of other countries, and +abundance of cattle. It has many good ports, and several rivers of +excellent water. The mountains are covered with pleasant woods. One of +these mountains, which rises for the space of seven leagues, has a +circular plain on the top of about thirty paces diameter, in the middle +of which is a smooth rock about six spans high, upon which is the print +of a man's foot about two spans in length. This footstep is held in +great veneration, being supposed to have been impressed there by a holy +man from Delhi, who lived many years on that mountain, teaching the +inhabitants the belief in the one only God. This person returned +afterwards to his own country, whence he sent one of his teeth to the +king of the island as a token of remembrance, and it is still preserved +as a holy relick, on which they repose much confidence in time of +danger, and many pilgrims resort thither from places a thousand miles +distant. The island is divided into nine kingdoms, _Columbo_ on the west +being the chief of these. The others are _Gale_ on the south, _Jaula, +Tanavaca, Cande, Batecalon, Vilacem, Trinquinimale,_ and +_Jafanapatam_[142]. + +[Footnote 139: The distance between Ceylon and the Carnatic across Palks +Bay is about 63 English miles; but at Jafnapatnam and Ramiseram, this +distance is lessened to 43, by two capes, at the former projecting from +the island, and at the latter from the continent.--E.] + +[Footnote 140: From Point Pedro in the north to Dondra Head in the south +are 265 miles, and its widest part from Negombo in the west to Poukiri +Chene in the east is 143 statute miles.--E.] + +[Footnote 141: More properly Selan-dib, or the Isle of Selan. The +derivation of the name of Ceylon in the text does not admit of +commentary.--E.] + +[Footnote 142: All of these except _Cande, Candi_, or _Kandi_, the +central mountainous region, still occupied by the native Hindoo race, +appear to have been small sovereignties of the Moors or Malays; and have +been long under European rule, having been conquered by the Portuguese, +Dutch; and British in succession. The topography of Ceylon will be +illustrated hereafter, and does not admit of being explained in the +compass of a note--E.] + +Albuquerque had established a treaty of amity and commerce with the king +of Columbo, who furnished the Portuguese with cinnamon; and Soarez went +thither at this time, by order of the king of Portugal, to construct a +fort at Columbo, and to reduce the prince of that country to pay +tribute. On this occasion his fleet consisted of seven gallies, two +ships, and eight small vessels, carrying materials and workmen for +building the fort, and 700 Portuguese soldiers. At first the king +consented to have the fort built, but changed his mind at the +instigation of the Moors, and put Soarez to considerable difficulty; but +in the end the Moors were put to flight, the fort built, and the king +constrained to become a tributary vassal of Portugal, by the yearly +payment of 1200 quintals of cinnamon, twelve rings of rubies and +sapphires, and six elephants. + +At this time Juan de Sylveira returned from the Maldives, where he had +taken two ships belonging to Cambaya, and had got permission of the king +of the Maldives to erect a fort at the principal harbour. Sylveira went +upon a similar mission to Bengal, where he was in great danger; as a +young man of Bengal who sailed there with him, gave notice of his having +taken these two ships, so that he was considered as a pirate. He had +fared worse than he did, but for the arrival of Juan Coello from Pisang, +sent by Andrada to the king of Bengal. After passing the winter in +Bengal with great difficulty on account of famine, Sylveira set sail, +being invited by the king of Aracan to come to his port of Chittagon by +a messenger who brought him a valuable present; but all this kindness +was only intended to decoy him to his ruin, at the instigation of the +king of Bengal. He escaped however from the snare, and arrived at Ceylon +as Soarez had finished the fort of Columbo, of which he appointed +Sylveira to the command, leaving Azevedo with four ships to guard the +sea in that neighbourhood. + +About the same time Menezes secured the safety of Malacca, as mentioned +before, by supplying it with men and ammunition, and appointed Alfonso +Lopez de Costa to the government, in place of Brito who was dying. +Duarte de Melo was left there with a naval force; and Duarte Coello was +sent with an embassy and present to the King of Siam, to confirm a +treaty of peace and amity, and to request of him to send a colony of his +subjects to inhabit the city of Malacca, so that the Moors whom he hated +as much as the Portuguese, might be for ever excluded from that place. +All this was agreed to, and as a testimonial of his friendship to the +Christians, he caused a great cross, ornamented with the arms of +Portugal, to be erected in a conspicuous part of the city of Hudia, +where he then resided. Having thus succeeded in his mission, Coello was +forced by stress of weather upon the coast of Pahang, where he was +received in a friendly manner by the king, who voluntarily submitted to +become a vassal to the crown of Portugal, and to pay a cup of gold as an +annual tribute. This was done more from hatred to the king of Bintang, +than from love to the Portuguese. + +The kingdom of Siam was at this time one of the greatest in the east, +the two others of greatest consequence being China and Bisnagar. The +great river _Menam_ runs through the middle of the kingdom of Siam from +north to south, having its source in the great lake of _Chiamay_ in lat. +30 deg. N. and its mouth in 13 deg., so that the length of this kingdom is 330 +leagues. On the west it joins Bengal, on the south Malacca, on the north +China, and on the east Cambodia. Its territory contains both mountains +and plains, and it is inhabited by many different races of people, some +of whom are extremely cruel and barbarous, and even feed on human flesh. +Among these the _Guei_ ornament themselves with figures impressed by hot +irons[143]. Siam abounds in elephants, cattle, and buffaloes. It has +many sea-ports and populous cities, _Hudia_ being the metropolis or +residence of the court. The religion of the Siamese agrees in many +considerable points with Christianity, as they believe in one God, in +heaven and hell, and in good and bad angels that attend upon every +person[144]. They build sumptuous temples, in which they have images of +vast size. They are very religious, sparing in their diet, much given to +divination, and addicted to the study of astrology. The country is +exceedingly fertile, and abounds in gold, silver, and other metals. The +memorable services of the subjects are recorded that they may be read to +the kings. When the king of Siam takes the field, he is able to set on +foot a force of 300,000 men and 10,000 elephants. + +[Footnote 143: Perhaps tattooing may be here alluded to.--E.] + +[Footnote 144: It is hardly possible to conceive how it could enter into +the conception of any one to compare the stupid polytheism of the +worshippers of Budda with the Christian religion: In one thing indeed +the Catholic church has contrived to establish a resemblance, by the +subordinate worship of innumerable idols or images.--E.] + +About this time, Fernan Perez de Andrada arrived at Pisang, where he was +well received, but lost his largest ship, which was set on fire by the +careless management of a lighted candle, so that he was forced to return +to Malacca. From that place Juan Coello[145], was sent to China, meeting +with furious storms and other dangers by the way. While on the coast of +Tsiompa, taking in fresh water, he was nearly lost. At Patane and other +places he established commercial treaties with the native princes, and +spent the winter without being able to reach China, being obliged to +return to Malacca to refit. After which he again resumed his voyage for +China with eight ships. The empire of China is the most eastern in Asia, +as Spain is the most westerly in Europe; and opposite to China is the +island of Hainan, as that of Cadiz is to Spain. It is almost as large as +all Europe, being divided from Tartary by a wonderful wall which runs +from east to west above 200 leagues, and ends at a vast mountain or +promontory which is washed by the eastern sea of Tartary. This vast +empire is divided into fifteen provinces. Along the coast are those of +_Quantung, Fokien, Chekiang, Nanking, Xantung_, and _Leaotung_; those of +the inland country are _Queichieu, Junnan, Quangsi, Suchuen, Huquang, +Xensi, Kiangsi, Honan_, and _Xansi_, in all of which there are 244 +cities. Its riches are prodigious, and its government admirable above +all others. The natives allege that they alone have two eyes, the +Europeans one, and that all the other nations are blind. They certainty +had both printing and cannon long before the Europeans. The city of +Quantung or Canton, which is the principal sea-port, is remarkable for +its size, the strength of its fortifications, and the prodigious resort +of strangers for trade. + +[Footnote 145: It will appear from the sequel that Fernan Perez de +Andrada commanded on this voyage, not Coello as stated in the text.--E.] + +After some considerable difficulties and dangers, Fernan Perez arrived +at Canton, where he had a conference with the three governors of the +city, to whom he presented Thomas Perez as ambassador to the emperor +from the king of Portugal, and requested them to forward him and the +present he was charged with. Perez settled a commercial treaty with the +governors of Canton, and having concluded his traffic there and at the +neighbouring parts, he returned to Malacca, loaded with riches. He was +no less welcome there than Menezes had been formerly, as it was reduced +to a dangerous situation in consequence of war with the king of Bintang, +of which we shall have occasion to give an account in the sequel. + +In 1518 Diego Lopez de Sequeira was sent out as governor of India, in +reward for his services in Africa and for having discovered Malacca. One +of his ships was in danger of perishing at the Cape of Good Hope in +consequence of being run against by a great fish, which stuck a long +horn or beak two spans length into her side. It was afterwards found +that this was a fish called the _needle_. Soarez immediately resigned +the government to Sequeira, and set sail for Portugal with nine ships. +On taking possession of the government, Sequeira sent Alonson de Menezes +to reduce Baticala in the island of Ceylon, the king of which place had +neglected to pay the stipulated tribute; and Juan Gomez was sent to +build a fort at the Maldive islands. Sequeira then went from Cochin to +Goa, whence he dispatched Antonio de Saldanna to the coast of Arabia, +and Simon de Andrada to China. + +About this time the king of Bintang attacked Malacca by land with 1500 +men and many elephants, while 60 vessels blockaded the harbour. The +Portuguese garrison consisted only of 200 men, many of whom were sick, +but the danger cured them of their fevers, and every one ran to repel +the enemy. After a severe encounter of three hours the enemy was +repulsed with great loss: He continued however before the town for three +weeks and then retired, having lost 330 men, while 18 of the Portuguese +were slain. On the arrival of reinforcements, having been much injured +by frequent inroads from the fort of _Maur_ not far from Malacca, the +Portuguese took that place by assault, killing most of the garrison +which consisted of 800 Moors, and after securing the spoil burnt Maur to +the ground. There were 300 cannon at this place, some of which were +brass. Nothing more of any note happened this year, except that Diego +Pacheco with most of his men were lost in two ships, which went in +search of the _Island of Gold_[146]. + +[Footnote 146: Possibly Japan is here meant.--E.] + +In the year 1519, Antonio Correa concluded a treaty of amity and +commerce with the king of Pegu, which was mutually sworn to between him +and the kings ministers, assisted by the priests of both nations, +Catholic and Pagan. The heathen priest was called the grand _Raulim_, +who, after the treaty or capitulation was read, made according to their +custom _in the golden mine_[147], began to read from a book, and then +taking some yellow paper, a colour dedicated to holy purposes, and some +sweet-smelling leaves impressed with certain characters, set both on +fire; after which, holding the hands of the minister over the ashes, he +pronounced some words which rendered the oath inviolable. By way of a +parallel to this solemnity, Correa ordered his priest to attend in his +surplice with his breviary; but that was so tattered and torn that it +was unfit to be seen by these heathens, on which he ordered a book of +church music to be brought, which had a more creditable appearance, +being larger and better bound; and opening at the first place which +appeared, the priest began the lesson _Vanity of Vanities_, which +answered among these ignorant people as well as if it had been the +gospel[148]. The metropolis of the kingdom is called _Bagou_, corruptly +called Pegu, which name is likewise given to the kingdom. It has the Bay +of Bengal on the west, Siam on the east, Malacca on the south, and +Aracan on the north. This kingdom is almost 100 leagues in length, and +in some places of the same breadth, not including the conquered +provinces. The land is plain, well watered, and very fertile, producing +abundance of provisions of all kinds, particularly cattle and grain. It +has many temples with a prodigious multitude of images, and a vast +number of ceremonies. The people believe themselves to have descended +from a Chinese _dog_ and a woman, who alone escaped from shipwreck on +that coast and left a progeny; owing to which circumstance in their +opinion, the men are all ugly and the women handsome. The Peguers being +much addicted to sodomy, a queen of that country named Canane, ordered +the women to wear bells and open garments, by way of inviting the men to +abandon that abominable vice. + +[Footnote 147: This singular expression may have been some court phrase +of the court of Pegu, meaning the royal presence.--E.] + +[Footnote 148: On this trifling incident, the editor of Astley's +Collection gives the following marginal reference, _A merry passage_. +Ludere cum sacris is rather a stale jest, and perhaps the grand Raulim +was as ingenious as Correa and his priest, to trick the ignorant +unbelievers in their sacred doctrines of Bhudda.--E.] + +On the arrival of Antonio Correa with relief at Malacca, Garcia de Sa +resolved to take revenge on the king of Bintang. He therefore gave +Correa the command of 30 ships, with 500 soldiers, 150 of whom were +Portuguese, with which armament Correa proceeded to the place where the +king had fortified himself, which was defended by a fort with a great +number of cannon and a numerous garrison. The access to this place was +extremely difficult and guarded by a great number of armed vessels; yet +Correa attacked without hesitation and carried the fort, which had 20 +pieces of cannon, the garrison being forced to retire to the town, where +the king still had a force of 2000 men and several armed elephants. The +Portuguese, following up their first success, pushed up the river +clearing away all that obstructed them; after which they landed and took +the town, killing many of the enemy, and put the rest to flight, the +king among the rest fled on an elephant, and never stopped till they +came to Bintang. The town above mentioned was plundered and burnt by the +Portuguese; and the discomfited king remained long at Bintang unable for +any new enterprise against the Portuguese. The successes of the king of +Bintang in the beginning of this war had encouraged the kings of Pisang +and Acheen to commit some outrages against the Portuguese; for which +reason being now victorious, Garcia de Sa determined to be revenged upon +them. Having some success, he fitted out a ship commanded by Manuel +Pacheco to take some revenge for the injuries, he had sustained; and +Pacheco had occasion to send a boat for water rowed by Malays, having +only five Portuguese on board, which fell in with three ships belonging +to Pisang each having 150 men. Finding it impossible to escape, they +boarded the commander with such resolute fury that they soon strewed the +deck with the dead bodies of the enemy, and the remainder of the crew +leapt overboard, followed by their captain, who was seen hewing them +with his cymeter in the water in revenge for their cowardice. The _five_ +Portuguese thus obtained possession of the ship, and the other two fled, +on which Pacheco returned to Malacca with his prize in triumph, and the +captured ship was long preserved as a memorial of this signal exploit. +The king of Pisang was so much terrified by this action that he sued +for peace, and offered ample reparation of all the injuries he had done +to die Portuguese. + +In this same year 1519 Diego Gomez went to erect a fort at the principal +island of the Maldives; but behaved himself with so much arrogance that +the Moors lulled ten or twelve of his men. This is the chief of _a +thousand isles_ which lie in clusters in that sea, and such is the +signification of _Male-dive_. They resemble a long ridge of mountains, +the sea between being as valleys and serving for communications from +isle to isle; and about the middle of the group is the large island, in +which the king resides. The natives of these islands are gentiles, but +the government is in the hands of the Moors. They are so close together, +that in many of the channels the yard-arms of ships passing through rub +against the shores, or on the trees on both sides. Their chief product +is cocoa-nut trees, the kernel of these nuts producing a pleasant and +nutritive fruit, while the outer rhind or husk is useful for making +cables. There is another sort of these trees _growing at the bottom of +the sea_, having larger fruit than the land cocoa-nut, and which is a +more powerful antidote against poison than even the _Bezoar_ stone[149]. + +[Footnote 149: This submarine cocoa-nut tree is utterly inexplicable. +--E.] + +During this same year 1519, a fleet of 14 ships was sent from Portugal +to India, which was dispersed to several parts. Some fell in with the +coast of Brazil, where fifty men were slain; and Don Luis de Guzman, one +of the captains, turned pirate and became very rich, but afterwards met +with his deserts. Six staid at Mozambique. George de Albuquerque the +admiral reached India with only four sail. One was driven back to +Lisbon. Another watering at _Matira_ lost some men, and six more at +_Oja_, whom the king long kept with kind entertainment; but their ship +which left them was lost on a sand bank off Quiloa, and the Moors of +that place and of Monfia and Zanzibar slew them all except one man. + +After Sequeira had dispatched the homeward bound trade of the season, +under the command of Fernan Perez de Andrada, he sailed on the 13th of +February 1520, from Goa with 24 sail of ships of various sizes, having +on board 1800 Portuguese soldiers, and about an equal number of Malabars +and Canarins, bound for the Red Sea. Off the coast of Aden his ship +struck on a rock and split in pieces; but the men were all saved, and +Sequeira the governor went into the galleon of Pedro de Faria. A Moorish +ship was taken at the entrance into the Red Sea, from which they learnt +that there were six Turkish gallies at Jiddah with 1200 men, intending +to proceed against Aden.. The weather prevented the Portuguese from +going in quest of the Turkish squadron, and in fact it would have been +to no purpose; as on hearing that the Portuguese were in these seas, the +Turks hauled their gallies on shore. While Sequeira was on his voyage +for Massua, a small black flag was seen on the disk of the sun towards +evening on the 9th of April being Easter Sunday. On arriving at Massua +they found all the inhabitants had fled, yet they found some vessels in +the port which they captured. The inhabitants of Massua had fled to the +neighbouring port of _Arkiko_ in the dominions of _Prester John_, and +the governor of the town sent a messenger with a letter to Sequeira +desiring that he would make peace with the people who had fled to him +for protection; at the same time he asked nothing for the town where he +commanded, because they were all Christians, and because they had a +prophecy among them which foretold the coming of Christians to settle a +correspondence with them, and which he now believed to be fulfilled on +seeing the Christian colours. Sequeira sent a courteous answer, and drew +nearer the shore, on which several Christians came on board. They told +him that their prince had sent several years before an ambassador named +Mathew, to a king at the other end of the world whose fleet had +conquered India, on purpose to become acquainted with these remote +Christians and to demand succour against the Moors; but that the +ambassador had never returned. On hearing this, Sequeira was satisfied +that they dealt ingeniously with him, as he had actually brought that +ambassador along with him, and had orders from the king of Portugal to +land him safe in the dominions of _Prester John_. On this, the +ambassador of whom they spoke of was brought before them, to their great +mutual joy, as he had been ten years absent from his country. Next day +ten monks came from a neighbouring convent of _the Vision_ to visit +Mathew, and were received in great ceremony by the priests of the fleet +dressed in their surplices. Great rejoicings were made on occasion of +this meeting between two such distant nations agreeing in the same +faith; and the consequence of this meeting was, that those who from the +beginning had not acknowledged the supremacy of the Roman pontiff, now +submitted to his authoritye[150]. + +[Footnote 150: The submission of the Abyssinian church to the Roman +pontiff was a mere pretence, which afterwards produced long and bloody +civil wars, and ended in the expulsion of the Portuguese from the +country.--E.] + +The kingdom of _Prester John_, now first visited by Sylveira, is mostly +known by this appellation but improperly, as its right name is the +empire of Abyssinia, Abassia, Habesh, or the higher Ethiopia. It +received the former appellation from the great king _Jovarus_, who came +to it from the Christians of Tartary, having a cross carried before him +like our bishops, and carrying a cross in his hand, with the title of +_Defender of the Faith_, as being a Jacobite Christian[151]. The +dominions of this prince are situated between the rivers _Nile, +Astabora_, and _Astapus_. To the east they border on the Red Sea for 120 +leagues, this being the smallest side, as their whole extent is 670 +leagues. On the west it borders on those Negroes who possess the great +mines of gold, and who pay tribute to the sovereign of Abyssinia. On the +north it is divided from the Moors by a line drawn from the city of +_Suakem_ to the isle of _Meroe_ in _Nubia_. On the south it borders on +the kingdom of _Adel_, from the mountains of which country the river +_Obi_ descends, and falls into the sea at the town of _Quilimane_ in the +kingdom of _Melinda_. + +[Footnote 151: It is not worth while to inquire whence this ridiculous +legend of king or Saint Jovarus has been derived. The origin of +Christianity in Abyssinia will be considered on an after occasion, when +we come to the particular travels in that country.--E.] + +The kings of Abyssinia pretend to descend from King Solomon by the queen +of _Sheba_ or _Saba_; who being delivered by the way, named her son +_Melech_, and sent him to his father, to be by him declared king of +Ethiopia. Whereupon Solomon anointed him, and gave him the name of +_David_, after his grandfather. Solomon likewise appointed him a +household, giving him officers of his own, and sent with him as high +priest, Azaria the son of Zadoc, who stole the tables of the law from +the temple of Jerusalem, and carried them along with his new prince. It +is affirmed that the descendants of these original officers still +possess the same employments. The Abyssinians had some knowledge of the +law of Christ from Queen _Candace_, in whom they glory as being of their +country: But their true apostles were St Philip and St Mathew. In memory +of his descent, the king or emperor of Abyssinia begins the enumeration +of his many titles in this manner: "_David_, beloved of God, pillar of +the Faith, descendant of Judah, grandson of David, son of Solomon, son +of the pillar of Sion, son of the progeny of David, son of the hand of +Mary, &c. Emperor of the higher Ethiopia," &c. He dwells for the most +part in a camp, resembling a populous city, and is frequently removing +from one part of the country to another. In his messages, he uses a +style similar to that of the kings of Portugal and Spain, beginning "_I +the king_." The people are very religious, having many churches and +great numbers of monasteries which belong only to two religious orders, +that of St Anthony, and the Canons regular. Those religious persons who +live in convents wear long cotton garments; but all the others, and +their priests and nuns, are dressed in skins, hardly covering so much as +modesty requires. They have no considerable towns, have little learning, +no skill in mechanics, and are very rude in their diet and clothing. In +such houses as assume any degree of grandeur, all the furniture is +brought from other countries. There are as expert thieves in this +country as our gypsies are in Europe. This is the substance of what +could be gathered by the first discoverers of Abyssinia. + +On the news of the arrival of the Portuguese fleet at Massua, and of the +return of Mathew the ambassador, the Baharnagash[152] or governor of the +province in which Arkiko is situated came there attended by 200 horse +and 2000 foot. After some difference about a proper place of meeting +between him and Sequeira, they at length agreed to meet on the +sea-shore, and were seated on chairs on the sand, under the burning heat +of the sun. At this meeting, Sequeira delivered Mathew the Abyssinian +ambassador to the Baharnagash, and recommended to his protection Don +Rodrigo de Lima who was sent ambassador from King Manuel to the emperor +of Abyssinia. They treated likewise about building a fort as a +protection against the Moors, either at Kamaran or Massua, and both +swore to the sincerity of their friendly intentions on a cross, after +which they separated and presents were mutually interchanged. Don +Rodrigo de Lima set forwards on his journey unaccompanied by Mathew, who +soon afterwards died in the monastery of the Vision. Sequeira erected a +great cross in that port, in memory of the arrival of the Portuguese +fleet, and caused many masses to be said in the mosque of Massua. From +that port he went to the island of Dalac, where he burnt the town, +previously abandoned by its inhabitants. He then stood over to the coast +of Arabia, where one galley was cast away in a storm and most of her men +lost. Leaving the Red Sea and sailing along the coast of Yemen, the +fleet arrived at Cape Kalayat, towards the entrance of the Persian Gulf, +where George Albuquerque waited its arrival. Going from thence to +Muscat, Albuquerque was left to winter there with all the ships, and +Sequeira went on to Ormuz with the gallies. + +[Footnote 152: In Faria called Barnagux.] + +In this same year 1520, during the expedition of Sequeira to the Red +Sea, _Chrisna-rao_ king of Bisnagar collected together a vast army of +35,000 horse, 733,000 foot, and 686 armed elephants, each of which +carried a castle on its back with four men. In this army there were +12,000 water-bearers, that all might be supplied without any being under +the necessity of dispersing to seek for it. The baggage was immense and +the followers numberless, among whom were above 20,000 common women. +This prodigious army was collected for the purpose of taking the city of +_Rachol_ then under the power of Adel Khan king of Visiapour, but which +had belonged to the ancestors of Chrisna-rao, who had left it in charge +to their successors to attempt its recovery. The city of Rachol was +naturally almost impregnable, being situated on a high mountain and +fortified by several stone walls, with large deep ditches and strong +towers, well stored with artillery and other means of defence, and +having a garrison of 400 horse, 8000 foot, 20 elephants, and a +sufficient quantity of provisions and ammunition to tire out the most +patient besiegers. Chrisna-rao encamped his vast army around the city, +to which he gave many fruitless assaults during three months. At length +Adel Khan approached to relieve the siege, having an army of 18,000 +horse, 120,000 foot, 150 elephants, and many large pieces of cannon. +After many skirmishes, the two armies at last joined battle, in which at +the beginning Chrisna-rao received much damage; but rallying his +innumerable forces, made such havoc among the troops of Adel Khan, that +only those escaped from the sword or from captivity who at last moved +pity even in their enemies. Besides great riches in the camp of Adel +Khan, the victor got 100 elephants, 4000 horses, 400 large cannons, and +a great many small ones. Adel Khan made his escape on an elephant; but +forty Portuguese who served in his army were all slain after behaving +themselves with great valour. + +After this great victory, Chrisna-rao resumed the siege of Rachol, but +was unable to make any impression on its walls. At this tine one +_Christopher de Figueredo_ came to his camp, attended by twenty other +Portuguese, bringing some Arabian horses for sale to the king. In +discourse with Chrisna-rao respecting the siege, Figueredo asked +permission to view the place, and to try what he could do with his +Portuguese, which was granted. Figueredo gave two assaults, and being +seconded in the latter by the troops of Chrisna-rao, he gained +possession of the place. Soon afterwards, Adel Khan sent an embassy to +Chrisna-rao, begging the restoration of the prisoners and plunder which +had been taken in the late battle and in the captured city. Chrisna-rao +offered to restore the whole, on condition that Adel Khan would +acknowledge his supreme authority, as emperor of Canara, and come to +kiss, his foot in token of submission and vassalage. This degrading +condition was accepted, but its performance was prevented by several +accidents. In the mean while, however, Ruy de Melo, who commanded in +Goa, taking advantage of the declining situation of the affairs of Adel +Khan, possessed himself of those parts of the continent adjoining to the +Isle of Goa, with a force only of 250 horse and 800 Canara foot. + +In the same year 1520, Lope de Brito went to succeed Juan de Sylveira in +the command of the fort of Columbo in Ceylon, and carried with him 400 +soldiers and many workmen, by whose means he made the fort so strong +that it raised the jealousy of the natives of Columbo, who at the +instigation of the Moors gave over trade with the Portuguese, and +besieged the fort for five months, during which the garrison suffered +great hardships. At length Antonio de Lemos arrived with a reinforcement +of fifty men; with which small additional force Brito ventured to attack +the vast multitude of the enemy, whom he completely routed, and matters +were immediately restored to their former quiet. + +On the change of the monsoon, Sequeira set sail from Ormuz and joined +Albuquerque at Muscat, where he found one ship from Lisbon of nine that +sailed together, but all the rest came safe afterwards. One of the ships +of this fleet, while sailing before the wind beyond the Cape of Good +Hope, was stopped all of a sudden. On examining into the cause, it +appeared that a sea monster bore the ship on its back, the tail +appearing about the rudder and the head at the boltsprit, spouting up +streams of water. It was _removed by exorcisms_, no human means being +thought sufficient. By the sailors it was called the _Sambrero_, or the +_hat-fish_, as the head has some resemblance to a hat. A similar fish, +though less, had been seen on the coast of Portugal near _Atouguia_, +where it did much harm. + +As the king had sent orders to the governor to build forts at the +Moluccas, Sumatra, Maldive, Chaul, and Diu, Sequeira determined upon +attempting the last first. Having dispatched the homeward ships from +Cochin, he collected a fleet of 48 vessels of various kinds and sizes, +on board of which he embarked 3000 Portuguese and 800 Malabars and +Canarins. With this great force he appeared before Diu on the 9th of +February 1521. Malek Azz, being suspicious that this armament was +destined against him, had fortified and intrenched the city with great +care. At the arrival of the Portuguese, Malek Azz was at the court of +Cambaya, but had left his son Malek Saca with a strong garrison and +three experienced commanders. Observing the strength of the place, +Sequeira called a council of war to consult upon what was proper to be +done, when it was concluded to desist from the enterprise. The officers +of the fleet, though they had all concurred in this decision, and even +privately allowed its prudence and necessity, accused the governor of +cowardice on this occasion, though his valour was well known. Sequeira +accordingly retired to Ormuz for the winter, sending Alexius de Menezes +to Cochin with full power to conduct the government during his absence, +and several of the other captains went to different ports to trade. +Menezes dispatched the homeward trade from Cochin, and sent other ships +to various parts of India, some of which went to Sumatra. + +The island of Sumatra extends in length from the north-west to the +south-east, for about 220 leagues, by 70 in its greatest breadth, and is +cut nearly in two equal parts by the equinoctial line. It is separated +from Malacca by a narrow strait, and its most southern point is parted +from Java by one still narrower. Java is above 100 leagues long by +twelve in breadth. To the east of Sumatra is the great island of Borneo, +through which likewise the equinoctial passes, leaving two-thirds of the +island on the north side of the line. The maritime parts of Sumatra are +flat, but the interior is full of mountains, pervaded by many large +rivers, and covered by impenetrable woods which even the rays of the sun +are unable to pierce. Owing to these circumstances Sumatra is very +unhealthy, yet is much resorted to for its rich and valuable +productions, and particularly on account of its abounding in gold. +Besides gold, it produces white sandal-wood, benzoin, camphor, pepper, +ginger, cinnamon[153], abundance of silk, and abounds in fish and +cattle. It has in one part a spring of petroleum or rock oil, and one of +its mountains is a volcano. The original natives of the island are +pagans; but the Moors who came there first as merchants, have possessed +themselves of the island as lords ever since the year 1400. Among the +inland tribes is one called _Batas_, who are of most brutal manners, and +even feed on human flesh. The Moors who dwell on the coast, use several +languages, but chiefly the _Malay_. Their weapons are poisoned arrows +like the natives of Java from whom they are descended, but they likewise +use fire-arms. This island is divided into nine kingdoms; of which +_Pedier_ was once the chief; but now that of _Pacem_ or _Pisang_ is the +most powerful, yet its kings only continue to reign so long as it +pleases the rabble. + +[Footnote 153: Probably cassia.] + +At this time George Albuquerque was sent to Sumatra, on purpose to +restore a king of Pisang who had been expelled and had fled to the +Portuguese for protection and aid. On his arrival, having secured the +co-operation and assistance of the neighbouring king of Ara, Albuquerque +sent a message to the usurper desiring him to resign the kingdom to the +lawful prince, who had submitted to the king of Portugal, _Genial_, the +usurper, offered to make the same submission, if allowed to retain +possession, but this offer was refused. Albuquerque then attacked Genial +in his fort, which was scaled and the gate broke open; yet the usurper +and thirty men valiantly defended a tower over the gateway, till Genial +was slain by a musket-shot, on which the others immediately fled. The +Portuguese troops, about 300 in number, were opposed by 3000 Moors in +the market-place, assisted by some elephants. Hector de Sylveira +endeavoured to strike one of these in the trunk with his lance, which +the beast put aside, and laying hold of Sylveira threw him into the air, +yet he had the good fortune to survive. Two other Portuguese soldiers +had better success, as one of them killed the rider and the other +wounded the elephant, on which he turned among his own party whom he +trampled to death without mercy. The Moors now returned to another +post, but with the aid of the king of Ara, they were completely defeated +by the Portuguese, 2000 of them being slain. In this battle Albuquerque +received two wounds in his face, and four or five persons of note were +killed on the side of the Portuguese, besides a great many wounded. Next +day the dispossessed prince of Pisang was reinstated with much ceremony, +being made tributary to the king of Portugal, and a fort was erected at +his capital, as at other places, to keep him under subjection. + +At this time Antonio de Brito arrived at Pisang from, Acheen, where his +brother George de Brito had been slain by the Moors with a great number +of men, in a scandalous attempt to rob the sepulchres of the kings of +that country of a great quantity of gold they were said to contain. +Antonio was now left by Albuquerque in the command of the new fort of +Pisang, with three ships which were afterwards of great service against +a Moor who infested the coast. On his return to Malacca, of which he had +the command, Albuquerque prepared to make war upon the king of Bintang. +That island, about 40 leagues from Malacca, is forty leagues in +circumference, having two strong castles, and its rivers staked to +prevent the access of ships, so that it was considered as almost +impregnable. Albuquerque went from Malacca with 18 vessels and 600 men, +and finding it impossible to get his ships up, he endeavoured to land +his men from boats to attack one of the forts; but the water being up to +their middles, and the enemy making a brave resistance, they were forced +to retire after losing twenty men, besides a great number wounded. + +In the same year 1521, Antonio de Brito sailed for the Molucca islands. +These islands are in the middle of a great number of others under the +equator, about 300 leagues east from Malacca. There are five principal +islands to which the general name of Moluccas is applied, about 25 +leagues distant from each other, the largest not exceeding six leagues +in circumference. The particular names of these are _Ternate_, _Tidore_, +_Mousell_, _Macquein_ and _Bacham_[154]. They are covered with woods and +subject to fogs, and are consequently unhealthy. These five islands +produce cloves, but no kind of food; and the large island of +_Batochina_, which is 60 leagues long, produces food but no cloves. In +some of these islands, particularly Ternate, there are burning +mountains. Their chief subsistence is of a kind of meal made from the +bark of certain trees resembling the palm[155]. There are certain canes +that have a liquor in their hollows between the joints, which is +delightful to drink. Though the country abounds in animals, the natives +eat very little flesh, but live chiefly on fish which their seas produce +inexhaustibly. They are very warlike and by no means affable, and are +most expert both in running and swimming. Their religion is idolatrous, +but we have no account whatever respecting their original. The Moors had +possessed themselves of this country not long before the coming of the +Portuguese, as a Mahometan priest who had come along with the first of +the Moorish invaders was still alive at the arrival of Brito. + +[Footnote 154: The principal island of the Molucca group is Gilolo; +those in the text being small islands to the west of Gilolo. The large +island mentioned in the text under the name of Batochina, can be no +other than Gilolo.--E.] + +[Footnote 155: This is obviously an erroneous account of _Sago_, an +alimentary substance procured from the _pith_ of a tree of the palm +tribe, not from the _bark_.--E.] + +Antonio de Brito was sent on this occasion to build a fort in the island +of Ternate, which had been long desired by its king _Boylefe_. His force +consisted of six ships and 300 soldiers, and was increased at the island +of Agacim by four sail under the command of Garcia Enriquez. On arriving +at Ternate, the old king Boylefe was dead, and the king of Tidore had +admitted the Spaniards to settle on his island; yet seeing that the +queen who governed Ternate during the minority of her son gave a +friendly reception to Brito, the king of Tidore visited him and offered +to deliver up the Spaniards to him if he would build the fort on Tidore +instead of Ternate. But Ternate was preferred as the most convenient, +Brito laying the first stone on the festival of St John the Baptist, the +28th of December 1521. + +At this time a private correspondence was carried on between Francis +Serram, who resided in Ternate and Ferdinando de Magallanes in Portugal, +which turned to the advantage of Spain and the detriment of Portugal. +Magalanes, otherwise named Magellan, was a man of note and a knight of +St Jago, who had served with reputation at Azamor in Africa and in +several parts of India. Having solicited for a small allowance usually +given in reward of service, and which was refused, he left Portugal and +entered into the service of Spain. From his skill in sea affairs, and +the correspondence he held with Serram at Ternate, he concluded there +might be another way to India; and as the Spaniards had already tasted +the fruits of these islands, he wrote to Serram that he hoped soon to be +his guest at Ternate going thither by a new way[156]. He accordingly got +the command of five ships with 250 men, some of whom were Portuguese. +Sailing from the port of San Lucar de Barameda on the 20th of September +1519, after having renounced his country by a solemn act, he sailed +toward the south along the eastern coast of South America. When past Rio +de Janeiro on the coast of Brazil, the men began to grow mutinous, and +still more so when they had gone beyond the river of St Julian on the +coast of Patagonia, where they did not immediately find the strait of +passage to the Pacific Ocean, and found themselves pinched by the cold +of that inhospitable climate. As they proceeded to hold disrespectful +discourses against Magellan, both reflecting upon his pretended +knowledge, and espousing doubts of his fidelity, which came to his +knowledge, he called together all the principal people in his squadron, +to whom he made a long and learned discourse. Yet a conspiracy was +entered into to kill Magellan, by three of his captains, named +Cartagene, Quixada, and Mendoza. Their design however was discovered, on +which Mendoza was immediately stabbed, and the other two arrested and +punished as traitors; Quixada being quartered _alive_, while Cartagene +and a priest concerned in the plot were set ashore on the barbarous +coast. Most of the men were engaged in the conspiracy, but it was +necessary to pardon them that there might be seamen for prosecuting the +voyage. + +[Footnote 156: From the text, coupled with a consideration of the +infallible grants of his holiness, who had given every part of the world +to the west of a certain meridian to the Spaniards and all eastwards to +the Portuguese, or all to both, those Spaniards who had been at the +Moluccas must have come from the western coast of Mexico. Magellan +proposed a new route by the southwest, to evade the grant of the +sovereign pontiff, which was actually accomplished, though he lived not +to enjoy what may in some measure be termed the treasonable honour.--E.] + +Magellan wintered at this place[157], and some men who were sent about +twenty leagues into the interior brought a few natives to the ships, who +were of a gigantic stature, being above three yards high. After +suffering much through cold, hunger, and continual fatigue, they at +length reached the _Cabo de las Virgines_, in lat. 52 deg. S. so named +because discovered on the day of the 11,000 virgins. Below this cape, +they discovered the strait of which they were in search, being about a +league wide.[158] In their progress, the strait was found in some places +wider and in others narrower than its mouth. The land on both sides was +high, partly bare, and part covered with wood, among which were many +cypress trees. The mountains were covered with much snow, which made +them appear very high. Having advanced about 50 leagues into this +strait, another was seen and Magellan sent one of his ships to explore +it; but after waiting much beyond the time appointed for her return, _he +ordered the astrologer_, Andrew Martin _to erect a figure_, who answered +that she was gone back to Spain, and that the crew had confined the +captain, Alvaro de Mesquita, for opposing that measure. This was +actually the case, and they were eight months on the voyage. After this +event, which gave much vexation to Magellan, he continued his voyage +through the straits much against the inclination of his people, and at +length got out into the southern Pacific Ocean with three ships, that +commanded by Juan Serrano having been wrecked and the men saved with +much difficulty. + +[Footnote 157: Though not directly so expressed in the text, Magellan +appears to have wintered at Port St Julian.--E.] + +[Footnote 158: Now called the Straits of Magellan from its +discoverer.--E.] + +To escape from the excessive cold of the southern extremity of America, +Magellan now shaped his course W.N.W. and when about 1500 leagues from +the straits, he found an island in lat. 18 deg. S. and another 200 leagues +further on. Having lost his computation for the Moluccas, he discovered +several islands in lat. 15 deg. 30' N. and at length came to the island of +_Subo_ in lat. 10 deg. N. being about 12 leagues in circumference. He was +hospitably received here, and found the natives of so tractable a +disposition, that the king and queen of the island, with their children +and above 800 of the inhabitants were baptised. This prince was at war +with a neighbour, and was assisted by Magellan. After two victories, +Magellan was slain in a third battle on the 27th of April 1521, together +with his astrologer and some others. The baptised king now entered into +an agreement with his enemies, and poisoned all the Christians who were +on shore. Those who remained on board, being too few in number to +navigate the three ships, burnt one, and set sail with the other two, +one of which was the famous _Victory_, commanded by Juan Sebastian +Cano, _being the first ship that circumnavigated the globe_. They +arrived at the Moluccas, where they were well received by the king of +Tidore, who was much dissatisfied by the Portuguese having given the +preference to Ternate in forming their establishment. At this place they +took in a loading of spice, and went thence to _Banda_, where they +completed their cargo by the assistance of a Portuguese named Juan de +Lourosa. One of the Spanish ships returned to Ternate, many of the crew +having died of a contagious disease, and the small remnant being unable +to continue the voyage. They were hospitably received by Antonio de +Brito, who relieved and sent them to India, whence they returned to +Europe in the Portuguese ships. + +The _famous ship Victory_ returned in triumph to Spain, after performing +that wonderful _Voyage round the World_. Her arrival occasioned new +contests between the courts of Spain and Portugal, Charles V. and John +III. then reigning, because the Molucca islands were considered as +belonging to Portugal, according to the former agreement respecting the +discoveries of the globe. In the year 1524, a congress of civilians and +geographers was held to determine this affair, at a place between +Badajos and Elvas; but it was not settled till the year 1526.[159] + +[Footnote 159: As this first circumnavigation will fall to be related +more at large, in a division of our arrangement devoted expressly to +that subject, it has not been deemed necessary to elucidate this short +incidental account from De Faria, by any geographical commentary.--E.] + +In one of the former years, Fernan Perez de Andrada had established a +trade at Quantung or Canton in China, which was so exceedingly +profitable that every one was eager to engage in it. In the present year +1521, Simon de Andrada was sent by Sequeira to China with five ships, +and cast anchor in the port of the island of _Tamou_ opposite to Canton, +where his brother had been formerly. The Portuguese ambassador to the +emperor of China still remained at that place, but set out soon +afterwards up a large river with three vessels splendidly decorated with +Portuguese colours, it being a received custom that none but those of +China should be seen there, which are gules a lion rampant.[160] In this +manner he arrived at the foot of a mountain from which that great river +derives its source. This mountainous ridge, called _Malexam_, beginning +at the bay of Cochin-China in the province of Fokien,[161] runs through +the three southern provinces of China, Quangsi, Quantung, and Fokien, +dividing them from the interior provinces, as Spain is divided from +France by the Pyrenees. Thomas Perez, leaving the vessels at this place, +travelled northwards to the city of Nanking, where the king then was, +having spent four months in the journey without stopping at any place. +The emperor however thought proper to appoint his audience at Peking, a +city far distant, to which place Perez accordingly followed. While on +the journey, Simon de Andrada behaved himself so improperly in the +island of Tamou that an account of his proceedings was sent to court, +and Thomas Perez and his companions were condemned to death as spies. +The rigour of this sentence was mitigated, but the embassy was not +received, and Perez was sent back as a prisoner to Canton, with orders +that the Portuguese should restore Malacca to its native king, who was a +vassal to China, in which case the embassy would be received; but +otherwise the ambassador and his suite were to be put to death, and the +Portuguese for ever excluded from China as enemies. Simon de Andrada +conducted himself with a high hand, as if he had been king of Tamou, +where he raised a fort, and set up a gallows to intimidate the people. +He committed violence against the merchants who resorted to the port, +and bought young people of both sexes, giving occasion to thieves to +steal them from their parents. These extravagant proceedings lost +nothing in their transmission to court, and were the cause of the severe +orders respecting Perez and his followers. + +[Footnote 160: The text seems irreconcileably contradictory, perhaps +from mistranslation; but the circumstance is not important.--E.] + +[Footnote 161: This account of the ridge of Malexam is considerably +erroneous. The ridge of mountains in the text begins in the west of +China on the borders off the province of Yunnan, between Koeitchoo and +Quansee, and ends in the east at the province of Foo-tchien.--E.] + +At this time Diego Calva arrived with one ship from Lisbon, and several +others from Malacca, and in consequence of this addition to their +strength, the Portuguese acted still more insolently than before, and so +exasperated the governors of the province that they apprehended several +of them, and even contrived to take the last arrived ship. At the +commencement of hostilities Duarte Coello arrived from Malacca with two +ships well manned and armed. The _Itao_, or Chinese admiral in these +seas, attacked the Portuguese with fifty ships, and though he did them +some damage, he was so severely handled by the artillery that he was +forced to retire and to remain at some distance, keeping up a strict +blockade. After matters had remained in this state for forty days, +Ambrose del Rego arrived with two additional ships from Malacca, and the +Portuguese determined upon forcing their way through the Chinese fleet. +The battle on this occasion was very bloody; but in consequence of a +gale of wind dispersing the Chinese fleet, the Portuguese were enabled +to get away from the island of Tamou. The Itao revenged himself upon +such of the Portuguese as had fallen into his hands, and particularly +upon Thomas Perez and his companions, who were all slain, and their +baggage robbed of the present intended for the emperor, and of all the +commodities which Perez had purchased during his residence in China. +Such was the profitableness of the China trade at this time, that Perez +though only an apothecary of mean parentage, had by this time acquired +2000 weight of rhubarb, 1600 pieces of damask, 400 pieces of other +silks, above 100 ounces of gold, 2000 ounces of silver, 84 pounds of +loose musk, above 3000 purses or cods of that perfume, called _Papos_, +and a great deal of other commodities. + +As _Mocrim_ king of _Lasah_ refused to pay the tribute which was due to +the king of Ormuz for the islands of Bahrayn and Catifa on the coast of +Arabia, the king of Ormuz was backward in paying the tribute to the +Portuguese, alleging his inability on account of not receiving payment +from his vassal. On this account a force had been already sent against +the king of Lasah, accompanied by some Portuguese auxiliaries, but had +been unsuccessful. The king of Ormuz, wishing effectually to humble his +vassal, applied to Sequeira for assistance, who consented on purpose to +secure the tribute due to the Portuguese. Accordingly in the year 1521, +an armament of 200 vessels belonging to the king of Ormuz, having on +board 3000 Arabs and Persians, sailed for Bahrayn under the command of +Reis Xarafo or Sharafo, accompanied by seven Portuguese ships with 400 +soldiers commanded by Antonio Correa. On their arrival at Bahrayn, +Mocrim was found well prepared for their reception, having 300 Arab +horse, 400 Persian archers, 20 Turkish musketeers besides some natives +armed with firelocks, and above 11,000 native troops armed with +different weapons. He had besides thrown up strong intrenchments and +redoubts, well provided with cannon, and these formidable military +preparations were under the charge of experienced commanders. + +The Persian Gulf, which intervenes between Arabia and Persia, takes its +name from the latter, as the more noble country. This famous gulf begins +at Cape _Jasques_ or _Carpela_, in lat. 26 deg. N. and ends at the mouth of +the river Euphrates, having many cities, rivers, woods, and islands +along its northern or Persian shores. On the other or Arabian shore, +beginning at Cape _Mozandan_ or _Musaldon_, named _Assaborum_ by the +ancients, and ending where it meets the other side at the Euphrates, +there are only four towns. One of these, _Catifa_ or Al Katif, is +opposite the island of Bahrayn, where is the pearl-fishery. This island +is 30 leagues in circumference, and seven leagues long, and is 110 +leagues from Ormuz. The principal product of this island is tamarinds, +but it has likewise all the other fruits that grow in Spain. The largest +town is of the same name with the island, besides which there are about +300 villages, inhabited by Arabs and Moors[162]. The air is very +unhealthy. The pearls found here, though not in such abundance, are more +valuable than those of Ceylon in India, or of Hainan in China. On the +continent of Arabia, opposite to Bahrayn is the city of _Lasah_[163], of +which Mocrim was king. + +[Footnote 162: It is difficult to comprehend the distinction; and +perhaps we ought to read Arabs _or_ Moors.--E.] + +[Footnote 163: Lasah may have been the name of the territory, and +perhaps applied likewise to the capital which is named _Al Katif_ in our +maps, and the territory _Bahrayn_. These are two islands of Bahrayn, one +of which from the text appears to have been named Catifa.--E.] + +Having formed his dispositions of attack, Correa landed at the head of +170 Portuguese, giving orders to Reis Xarafo to send assistance wherever +he might see it necessary. Ayres Correa, the brother of the Portuguese +commander, led the van or forlorn hope of fifty men, all of whom were +knee deep in water. The Portuguese assaulted the trenches with great +bravery, and were opposed with much resolution by the enemy, headed by +the king; and after some time both parties were so much fatigued by the +heat as to be under the necessity of taking some respite, as by mutual +consent. After a short rest, the attack was renewed, and the king being +shot through the thigh, of which wound he died six days afterwards, his +men lost heart, and great numbers of them being killed and wounded, they +fled leaving a complete victory to the Portuguese. During the whole +engagement, Reis Xarafo looked on from his vessel as an unconcerned +spectator; but when afterwards the body of the deceased king was carried +over to Lasah for interment, he went there and cut off his head, which +he sent to Ormuz. In this engagement the Portuguese had seven men killed +and many wounded, but the island was effectually reduced. For this +exploit, Correa had the title of Bahrayn added to his name, and was +authorized to bear a kings head in his coat of arms, which is still +borne by his descendents. + +In this same year 1521, the zamorin of Calicut made war against Cochin +at the head of 200,000 men; and although only forty Portuguese were in +the army of Cochin, and but thirty of these armed with muskets, the +enemy retired in dismay. At this time likewise Diego Fernandez de Beja, +who had been left before Diu, came to join Sequeira at Ormuz, having +been attacked by some vessels belonging to Malek Azz, whose double +dealing was now apparent. To prevent certain frauds that had been +practised by the native officers of the customs at Ormuz, Sequeira +thought proper to appoint Portuguese officers in that charge, which so +exasperated the natives that they endeavoured to shake off the yoke, as +will appear hereafter. + +Being determined to resume the plan of establishing a fort at Diu, +Sequeira sent back Beja to that place with four stout vessels, with +orders to hinder all ships from entering the port. Beja executed these +orders for some time effectually, and even took some vessels; but Malek +Azz came against him with a number of ships well armed with cannon, sunk +one of the Portuguese galleons and did much damage to the others which +were becalmed; but on the wind springing up, the vessels of the enemy +were forced to retire. While Sequeira was on his voyage from Ormuz +against Diu, he captured a vessel by the way, and divided the Moorish +crew among his ships. Those who were put on board the ship commanded by +Antonio Correa, set fire to the powder-room, by which the poop was blown +into the air and the vessel sunk; in which miserable catastrophe the +brave conqueror of Bahrayn perished. [164]. Owing to these misfortunes, +Sequeira desisted from the enterprise against Diu, and went to _Chaul_ +where he found Ferdinando Camelo, who had brought permission from Nizam +al Mulk to build a fort at that place, chiefly to favour the importation +of horses for his own use, as that trade was then confined to Goa. The +building of the fort was accordingly begun without delay. As Malek Azz +suspected that the establishment of the Portuguese at this place might +lessen greatly the trade of Diu, he made his appearance off Chaul with +above fifty vessels, and sunk a large Portuguese ship just come from +Ormuz. Azz continued to blockade the port of Chaul for three weeks, +doing much damage to the squadron which was opposed to him; yet the +construction of the fort went on with all diligence. Learning that his +successor was arrived at Cochin, which rendered his presence necessary +at that place, Sequeira forced his way through the enemy, leaving his +nephew Henry de Menezes to command the fort, and Antonio Correa with the +charge of the ships. + +[Footnote 164: Yet only a few lines afterwards, Antonio Correa is found +to be alive and commanding a squadron off Chaul. Having no means to +correct this contradiction, the text is left as published by +Stevens.--E.] + +After the departure of Sequeira for Cochin, Aga Mahomet who commanded +the fleet belonging to Malek Azz did every thing in his power to hinder +the construction of the fort. To secure the entrance of the river, the +Portuguese had erected a redoubt or bulwark on the side opposite the +fort, which was commanded by Pedro Vaz Permeo with a garrison of thirty +men. Mahomet sent 300 of his men by night to surprise this bulwark, but +they were so valiantly opposed by the small garrison, though the captain +and several men were slain, that they maintained their ground till +relieved by Ruy Vaz Pereira with a reinforcement of sixty men, who put +the enemy to flight after having lost a hundred men. By this success the +enemy were much daunted, and particularly one Sheikh Mamud, a great man +in the city, who pretended to be a friend to the Portuguese, yet did +every thing in his power secretly to molest them. On occasion of the +defeat of Aga Mahomet, the sheikh sent to congratulate Antonio Correa; +who well knowing his treachery, sent him back the heads of his +messengers, and hung up their bodies along the shore. The sheikh was +astonished at this act, and now proceeded to open hostilities, +encouraging Aga Mahomet to persevere in the blockade, giving him +intelligence that the Portuguese were in want of ammunition. But Don +Luis de Menezes arrived with reinforcements and a supply of ammunition +and provisions, to whom Correa resigned the command. + +Don Duarte de Menezes entered upon the government of India on the 22d of +January 1522, John III. being then upon the throne of Portugal. Having +dispatched his predecessor with the homeward trade, and sent off +commanders to the different establishments in India, he began to +experience the bad effects of Sequeira having appointed Portuguese +officers to the custom-house at Ormuz; as he received advice that the +Moors of that place had taken arms and killed some men, and had even +besieged the fort. He immediately sent his brother with relief, and +appointed Simon de Andre to command at Chaul, who began his career by +taking two Turkish gallies, and gaining a victory over the people of +Dabul, by which that city was reduced to pay tribute. Malek Azz was +terrified by these successes, and withdrew his fleet from before Chaul. + +As formerly mentioned, the late governor Sequeira had appointed +Portuguese officers to collect the revenue of Ormuz, which in fact had +been done contrary to his own private judgment, but by command of the +king of Portugal. These officers conducted themselves oppressively to +the natives, from whom they made many undue exactions to satisfy their +own cupidity, and behaved to them with much insolence and violence, even +forcing from them their wives and daughters. Unable to endure these +oppressions, the inhabitants of Ormuz and its dependencies formed a +conspiracy against the Portuguese, and broke out into open insurrection +against them suddenly at Ormuz, Bahrayn, Muscat, Kuriat, and Zoar[165], +all in one night by previous concert, by a private order from the king +of Ormuz. This attack was so sudden and well concerted, that above 120 +of the Portuguese were slain on that night, and one _Ruy Boto_ was put +to the torture by the Moors in defence of the faith. The Portuguese at +Ormuz, where Don Garcia Coutino then commanded, exerted themselves as +well as they could to defend themselves, and secured the ships which +happened to be at that place under the protection of the fort, which was +immediately besieged. Of these events immediate intelligence was sent by +Don Garcia to Cochin and other places for relief, fearing he might be +constrained to surrender for want of provisions and water; and in fact +two of the Portuguese vessels were burnt by the Moors under the guns of +the fort. + +[Footnote 165: These three last mentioned places are all on the +north-eastern point of Arabia, near Cape Rasaigat, and appear to have +been then dependent on the kingdom of Ormuz.--E.] + +Tristan Vaz de Vega and Manuel de Souza happened to be then at Muscat in +their ships, and immediately made sail to the relief of Ormuz. Tristan +Vaz arrived first, and made his way to the fort through 160 sail of +Moorish vessels by which it was blockaded. Two days afterwards the ship +commanded by Manuel de Souza was seen at anchor at the distance of two +leagues. It was very dangerous for those at the fort to assist him, and +yet it was absolutely necessary for the common safety that he should be +relieved; wherefore Tristan Vaz adventured with his ship to his aid, +forcing his way as before through the vast Moorish fleet, eighty of +which pursued him in full sail, and even De Souza, thinking him at first +an enemy did him some harm. The king of Ormuz, to inspire his people to +exert themselves in the capture of these two ships, exhibited a large +heap of gold as his intended reward for such of his subjects as should +take Tristan and Manuel prisoners; while at the same time he set apart a +heap of female attire, to be worn in disgrace by those who might not +behave valiantly. Actuated at the same time by desire of reward and fear +of disgrace, the Ormuzians manned 130 of their vessels, with which they +furiously assailed the two Portuguese ships: yet they both made their +way through showers of bullets and arrows to the fort, to the great joy +and relief of the governor and garrison. Despairing of being able to +shake off the Portuguese yoke, and dreading the punishment of his +revolt, the king of Ormuz abandoned his city and retired to _Kishom_ or +_Queixome_, an island about 15 leagues in length and 3 leagues from +Ormuz, close to the shore of Persia. This island is sufficiently fertile +but very unhealthy. On his retreat, he gave orders for all the +inhabitants of Ormuz to follow him, and to set their city on fire, which +burnt furiously for four days and nights. Even at this time some of the +Portuguese gentlemen in the fort of Ormuz were in private correspondence +with the king, giving him instructions how to conduct himself with the +succeeding governor, so as to ensure his restoration; which they did on +purpose to enrich themselves by exacting presents from the king in +recompence of their services. + +Don Luis de Menezes, as already mentioned, was sent by his brother +Duarte, the governor-general, with ten sail to relieve and take the +command of Ormuz. On arriving at Zoar, he destroyed the town with fire +and sword, and then gave the sovereignty of it to Sheikh Husseyn, to +hold it in direct vassalage of Portugal, instead of being dependent upon +Ormuz as hitherto. In the mean time the king of Ormuz was murdered at +Kishom by his own officers, who crowned his son Mamud Shah, a youth of +thirteen. On the arrival of Don Luis, a treaty was entered Into with the +new king, by which it was agreed that the king and inhabitants were to +return to Ormuz; that the former tribute of 20,000 _Xerephines_ should +be continued, and all arrears paid up; and that the Portuguese officers +should not interfere in the government of the city or its revenues. On +the conclusion of this treaty, the king sent a present of gold, jewels, +pearls, and silks for the king of Portugal, and another for Don Luis, +but which he publicly ordered to be sent along with the other. + +Some time after this, but in the same year 1522, Don Duarte went to +Ormuz to examine into the cause of the late troubles; but he punished +those who had least influence, and overlooked the most guilty. _Reis +Xarafo_, a person of great power, who had been the most active +instigator in the late troubles, was rewarded; and _Reis Xamexir_, who +had killed _Reis Xahadim_ at the instigation of Don Luis, was banished +instead of the promised reward. Duarte augmented the tribute by adding +35,000 Xerephines to the former 25,000[166], which could not be paid +when the city was in a flourishing condition, and yet 60,000 were now +demanded when it lay in ruins and its trade was destroyed. + +[Footnote 166: It was only called 20,000 a few lines before.--E.] + +At this time Don Luis was sent with nine ships to the Red Sea. At +Socotora he lost one of his ships. He took and burnt the town +_Zaer_[167] on the coast of Arabia, because the sheikh refused to +restore the goods of a Portuguese merchant or factor who had died there. +At _Veruma_[168] he burned some ships, and then battered the city of +Aden, after which he entered the Red Sea, where he did nothing worthy of +notice, and returned to his brother at Ormuz, but was much dissatisfied +with the conduct of Duarte at that place. + +[Footnote 167: Perhaps _Shahr_ near Makulla on the coast of Yemen.--E.] + +[Footnote 168: This place was probably near Aden on the coast of +Arabia.--E.] + +That part of the continent of India adjoining to Goa, belonging to Adel +Khan king of Visiapour, which had been seized by Ruy de Melo during the +war with the king of Narsinga, was now lost by Francisco Pereyra +Pestana. Pestana was a brave officer, and exerted himself to the utmost; +but as Adel Khan had now no other object to employ his arms, his power +was not to be resisted. Ferdinando Rodriguez Barba indeed obtained a +signal victory over the forces of Adel Khan; and after this Pestana and +Sotomayor, with only thirty horse and a small number of foot, defeated +5000 foot and 400 horse. But in the end numbers prevailed, and the +country was reduced to the obedience of Adel Khan, and afterwards +confirmed to him by treaty. + +About this time the governor Duarte made particular inquiry respecting +St Thomas the apostle, in consequence of orders to that effect from the +king of Portugal; and the following is the substance of the information +he transmitted. In the year 1517, some Portuguese sailed in company with +an Armenian, and landed at Palicat on the coast of Coromandel, a +province of the kingdom of Bisnagar, where they were invited by the +Armenian to visit certain ruins of many buildings still retaining the +vestiges of much grandeur. In the middle of these was a chapel of +indifferent structure still entire, the walls of which both outside and +in were adorned with many crosses cut in stone, resembling those of the +ancient military order of Alcantara, which are _fleuree_ and +_fitched_[169]. A Moor resided there who pretended to have miraculously +recovered his sight by a visit to this holy place, and that his +ancestors had been accustomed to entertain a light in the chapel. There +was a tradition that the church, of which this small chapel was all that +remained entire, was built by St Thomas, when he preached Christianity +to the Indians, and that he and two of his disciples were here interred, +together with a king who had been converted by his miracles. In +consequence of this information, Don Duarte sent Ernanuel de Faria, with +a priest and a mason to repair this chapel. On digging about the +foundation on one side which threatened to fall, they found about a yard +below ground a tomb-stone with an inscription implying "That when St +Thomas built this church the king of Meliapour gave him the duties of +all merchandize imported, which was the tenths[170]." Going still +deeper, they came to a hollow place between two stones, in which lay the +bones of a human body with the butt and head of a spear, which were +supposed to be the remains of the saint, as those of the king and +disciple were also found, _but not so white_. They placed the bones of +the saint in a _China chest_, and the other bones in another chest, +and hid both under the altar. On farther inquiry, it appeared by the +ancient records of the kingdom, that Saint Thomas had come to Meliapour +about 1500 years before, then in so flourishing a condition that it is +said by tradition to have contained 3300 stately churches in its +environs. It is farther said that Meliapour was then twelve leagues from +the coast, whereas its ruins are now close to the shore; and that the +saint had left a prediction, "That when the sea came up to the scite of +the city, a people should come from the west having the same religion +which he taught." That the saint had dragged a vast piece of timber from +the sea in a miraculous manner for the construction of his church, which +all the force of elephants and the art of men had been unable to move +when attempted for the use of the king. That the _bramin_ who was chief +priest to the king, envious of the miracles performed by the saint, had +murdered his own son and accused the saint as the murderer; but St +Thomas restored the child to life, who then bore witness against his +father; and, that in consequence of these miracles, the king and all his +family were converted. + +[Footnote 169: Heraldic terms, implying that the three upper arms of the +cross end in the imitation of flowers, while the lower limb is +pointed.--E.] + +[Footnote 170: The strange expression in the text ought probably to have +been the tenths of the duties on importation.--E.] + +An Armenian bishop who spent twenty years in visiting the Christians of +that part of India which is near _Coulam_[171], declared on oath that he +found what follows in their writings: That, when the twelve apostles +were dispersed through the world, Thomas, Bartholomew, and Judas +Thaddeus went together to Babylon where they separated. Thaddeus +preached in Arabia, since possessed by the Mahometans. Bartholomew went +into Persia, where he was buried in a convent of Armenian monks near +_Tebris_. Thomas embarked at Basrah on the Euphrates, crossed the +Persian Gulf, to Socotora, whence he went to Meliapour, and thence to +China where he built several churches. That after his return to +Meliapour and the conversion of the king, he suffered martyrdom through +the malice of the bramins, who counterfeited a quarrel while he was +preaching, and at length had him run through by a lance; upon which he +was buried by his disciples as formerly related in the church he had +built at Meliapour. It was likewise affirmed by a learned native of +Coulam, that there were two religious houses built in that part of the +country by the disciples of St Thomas, one in Coulam and the other at +Cranganor; in the former of which the _Indian Sybil_ was buried, who +advised King _Perimal_ of Ceylon to meet other two Indian kings at +Muscat, who were going to Bethlem to adore the newly born Saviour; and +that King Perimal, at her entreaty, brought her a picture of the Blessed +Virgin, which was kept in the same tomb. Thus was the _invention_ of the +holy relics of the apostle of India; which gave occasion to the +Portuguese to build the city of St Thomas, in the port of Palicat, seven +leagues from the ruins of the ancient Christian city of Meliapour. + +[Footnote 171: Coulam is on the coast of Travancore; in which country a +remnant of the ancient Indian Christians has been recently visited by Dr +Buchannan, which will fall to be particularly noticed in a future +division of this collection--E.] + +In the year 1522, Antonio Miranda de Azevedo was commander of the fort +at Pisang in the island of Sumatra. On the west coast of that island +there are six Moorish kingdoms of which Pedier was the chief, and to +which those of Achem and Daga were subordinate. But in consequence of +war among themselves, Achem gained the superiority, and the king of +Pedier retired to the fort for the protection of the Portuguese[172]. On +coming to the city of Pedier with a great force, the king of Achem +endeavoured to inveigle the king of that place into his hands, and +prevailed on some of the leading men of the city to write their king +that he might come there in safety as his enemies were expelled, and he +might easily destroy them by the assistance of the Portuguese. He +accordingly went to the city, aided by eighty Portuguese soldiers and +two hundred Moors, which went by sea in small row boats, while the king +himself went along the shore with above a thousand armed elephants[173]. +He was received at Pedier with feigned joy, but with a determination to +make him prisoner, which was only deferred till the arrival of the +Portuguese, that they likewise might be secured; but being apprized of +his danger, the king fled next day to the mountains with two elephants +and a few faithful followers. The Portuguese thus left on the shore +unsupported were attacked by the enemy with showers of darts and arrows, +when their commander Don Emanuel Enriquez and thirty-five soldiers were +slain, and the rest fled. Don Andres Enriquez, after this loss, found +himself unequal to defend the fort, and sent for relief to Raphael +Perestello who was at _Chittigon_ the chief port of Bengal. Perestello +immediately sent a ship for this purpose under the command of Dominick +Seixas, who landed at _Tenacari_ to procure provisions; but one _Brito_ +who had succeeded _Gago_ as captain of a band of thirty Portuguese +pirates, ran away with the vessel from that port after she was laden, +and left Seixas with seventeen other Portuguese on shore, who were +reduced to slavery by the Siamese. Such is the fate of those who trust +persons who have violated all human and divine laws[174]. Don Andreas +Enriquez, being reduced to great extremity, requested the +governor-general to send him a successor, who accordingly sent Lope de +Azevedo; but Enriquez changed his mind, as the situation was very +profitable, and refused to surrender the command, on which Azevedo +returned to India. In the mean time the king of Achem overran the whole +country with fire and sword, and took possession of the city of Pisang +with fifteen thousand men, summoning Enriquez to surrender the fort. +Enriquez having sustained and repelled these assaults, set sail for +India that he might save the great riches he had acquired, leaving the +command to Ayres Coello, who valiantly undertook the dangerous service. + +[Footnote 172: At first sight this appears to have been the fort of +Pisang, but from the sequel it would rather seem to have been another +fort at or in the neighbourhood of Pedier.--E.] + +[Footnote 173: It is hardly possible that the lord of a petty state on +the coast of Sumatra should have so large a number of elephants, more +perhaps than the Great Mogul in the height of the sovereignty of +Hindustan. Probably Capt. Stevens may have mistaken the original, and we +ought to read "With above a thousand men and several armed +elephants."--E.] + +[Footnote 174: Though obscurely expressed in the text, these thirty +pirates appear to have been employed in the ship commanded by Seixas; +probably pardoned after the punishment of their former leader Gago.--E.] + +While on his voyage to India, Enriquez met two ships commanded by +Sebastian Souza and Martin Correa, bound for the Island of Banda to load +with spices; who learning the dangerous situation of Pisang, went +directly to that place. Ayres Coello had just sustained a furious +assault with some loss; and on seeing this relief the enemy abated +their fury. Eight days afterwards, Andres was forced back by stress of +weather to Pisang. One night, above 8000 of the enemy surrounded the +fort, in which there were 350 Portuguese, some of whom were sick and +others disabled by wounds, but all much spent with continual watching +and fatigue. The enemy advanced in profound silence and applied seven +hundred scaling ladders to the walls, on which they immediately mounted +with loud shouts. The dispute was hotly maintained on both sides for +some time; but some ships being set on fire enabled the Portuguese to +point their cannon with such accuracy, that many of the enemy were +slain, and the rest obliged to desist from the assault. Next morning +above two thousand of the enemy were found slain around the walls, with +two elephants; while on the Portuguese side only one woman was slain in +her chamber by an arrow. The remaining six thousand of the enemy +immediately retired, leaving half their ladders and large quantities of +fireworks. Yet taking into consideration the difficulty and expence of +maintaining this port, it was resolved to ship off all the men and +goods, and to set it on fire, leaving the large cannons filled with +powder, that they might burst when the fire reached them. Greater part +of the fort was destroyed; but the enemy saved some of the cannon, which +were afterwards employed with considerable effect against the +Portuguese. Some goods were lost in shipping, as the Portuguese were in +a great fright, and embarked up to the neck in water. By this +abandonment of their post, the Portuguese lost more reputation with the +natives of Sumatra than they had gained by their former valiant defence. +They were fully sensible of this, as they met a powerful reinforcement +at sea under Azevedo; and learnt that the king of Aru was marching by +land to their assistance with 4000 men. The king of Achem followed up +his good fortune, and rendered himself all-powerful in Sumatra, beyond +even his hopes. + +About this time[175] Malacca was much straitened by the king of Bintang, +who sent a powerful armament against it, to oppose which. George +Albuquerque sent a naval force under Don Sancho Enriquez; but in a +violent storm 70 out of 200 Portuguese were lost. Till now the king of +Pahang had sided with the Portuguese; but seeing the tide of fortune had +turned against them, he too became their enemy. Ignorant of this change, +Albuquerque sent three-ships to his port for provisions, where two of +his captains and thirty men were killed: The third made his escape, but +was slain with all his men at Java. Simon de Abreu and his crew were +slain on another occasion; and two vessels sent to prevent provisions +from getting into Bintang were lost. + +[Footnote 175: De Faria is often defective in dates, and always +confused. The events about this time are only vaguely stated as having +happened during the government of Duarte Menezes, between the years 1522 +and 1524, both inclusive. Among the confused mass of ill-digested and +often indistinctly related events, many of which possess hardly any +interest, we have now deemed it proper, in the farther prosecution of +this History of the Portuguese transactions in India, to omit many +trivial and uninteresting events, confining our attention to those of +some importance, and which appear worth recording. The Portuguese Asia +of DeFaria minutely relates every consecutive squadron sent to or from +India, and every trifling commercial adventure; the insertion of which +in our collection would be needlessly tedious.--E.] + +In 1524, the memorable DON VASCO DE GAMA, now count of Vidugueyra, went +out to India as viceroy with 14 ships and 8000 soldiers. During the +voyage, two caravels were lost with all their men, and a third was lost +but the men saved. Gaspar Mossem, one of the captains, was basely killed +by his crew, merely because he was not a Portuguese. While at sea near +Cambaya in a dead calm, the sea tossed so violently all of a sudden that +all the people thought they were lost: But the viceroy perceiving it was +caused by an earthquake, called out, "Courage my friends, the sea +trembles for fear of you." One great ship of Mecca, worth 60,000 crowns, +was taken, and the fleet arrived at Goa. Having visited some of the +forts, and issued the necessary orders, Gama sent three gallies from +Cochin to Calicut, as the subjects of the zamorin began to be +troublesome. One of these fought for three hours with fifty large +_paraos_ and lost three men; but on the coming up of the others, the +enemy were put to flight. The new viceroy had intended to execute +several important enterprises; but he soon fell sick, and finding his +end fast approaching, he appointed Lope Vaz de Sampayo to act as his +successor till Don Enrique de Menezes, then at Goa, who was next in +nomination by the king, might arrive. Vasco de Gama died on Christmas +eve 1524, having been only three months viceroy. He was of middle +stature, somewhat gross, and had a ruddy complexion. He had a natural +boldness for any great undertaking, and was well fitted for every thing +entrusted to him, as a sea captain, as discoverer, and as viceroy; being +patient of fatigue, prompt in the execution of justice, and terrible +when angry. + +Immediately after the death of the viceroy, Lope Vaz de Sampayo +dispatched Francisco de Sa to Goa, to carry information to Don Enrique +de Menezes that he had succeeded to the government of Portuguese India. +Leaving De Sa to command in Goa, Menezes went immediately to Cochin to +assume his new situation; having first sent his nephew George Zelo with +a galliot and five armed paraos against a fleet which infested the +coast. Zelo met 38 vessels laden with spice commanded by _Cutiale_, four +of which were taken and the rest driven on shore. These four were +brought in barbarous triumph to Goa, having many of the enemies hung +upon the shrouds. The Canarin rowers carried thirty heads, in token of +the victory, and twelve prisoners alive, _who were given up to the boys +to be stoned to death_. Zelo had similar success afterwards against a +ship and nine paraos. He sailed after that to Cochin with his uncle, +who, being accidentally joined by George de Menezes, defeated 36 paraos +belonging to Diu, 17 of which were taken. When at Cananor be hanged a +Moor of quality, on which many of his relations left the city and took +to robbing on the river. But, with consent of the king of Cananor, Don +Enrique sent Hector de Sylveira against them with two gallies and a +brigantine, who destroyed four _towns_[176] and took all their cannon, +not without considerable difficulty. About the same time Christopher de +Brito went with fourteen row-boats and about an hundred men to scour the +coast of Canara, where he destroyed some of the Moors; but those of +Dabul sent two galliots and seven other vessels against him, with above +three hundred men. In the commencement of the engagement Brito was +slain; but his people exerted themselves so valiantly to revenge the +death of their commander, that after four hours hard fighting most of +the Moors were slain, and their commander and all the rest taken. The +Moorish captain died afterwards of his wounds at Goa, being first +converted to the Christian faith. + +[Footnote 176: Perhaps instead of _towns_ we ought to read _tonys_, a +species of vessel then need by the inhabitants of the Malabar +coast.--E.] + +The fort at Calicut was at this time much straitened by the Nayres, yet +the small garrison of fifty Portuguese maintained their post with much +honour. Don Enrique, to punish the hostilities of the Moors of Calicut, +fitted out fifty sail of vessels from Cochin, to which were added other +fifty belonging to the inhabitants of that city, twenty-seven of which +belonged to one individual named Arel de Porca[177]. With these vessels, +carrying 2000 soldiers, the governor arrived at Paniani, one of the +principal towns in the territory of Calicut, which was well fortified +and stored with cannon under the command of a Portuguese renegado. +Besides these fortifications on the land, the river was defended by a +number of armed vessels drawn up in order of battle. After a severe +contest, the fortifications of Paniani were carried, and the enemy fled +into the woods. The town and all the vessels in the fort were burnt. +Next day twelve ships were burnt in the port of Calicut, and several +more in some creeks near the town. The armament proceeded in the next +place to _Coulete_, which was fortified in a similar manner to Paniani, +with a prodigious number of artillery, an hundred and fifty armed ships, +and a garrison of 20,000 men. The Portuguese proceeded to the attack, +and after a long and obstinate contest, drove the enemy from their works +with great slaughter, and took fifty-three vessels, most of which were +laden with pepper, with the loss of fifty-four Portuguese killed and +many wounded. The other vessels belonging to the enemy, being much +shattered in the engagement, were all burnt, and the town was destroyed. + +[Footnote 177: These hundred vessels were probably _paraos_, or small +native craft, considering that they only carried 2000 soldiers, only at +the rate of 20 for each vessel--E.] + +Shortly after this, the zamorin of Calicut besieged the Portuguese fort +at that place with an army of 12,000 men, and surrounded it with a broad +and deep trench. Don Juan de Lima commanded in the fort with 300 men, +and did every thing in his power to obstruct the besiegers in the +construction of their lines; but they were at length finished and +planted with a vast number of cannon, some of which were so large as to +carry balls of two spans diameter. On receiving advice of this siege, +Don Enrique sent a reinforcement of 150 men in two caravels commanded by +Christopher Jusarte and Duarte Fonseca. They succeeded in forcing their +way into the fort in spite of a violent opposition by sea and land. +Immediately afterwards, the enemy endeavoured to take the fort by +escalade, but were repulsed with great slaughter. A farther +reinforcement of 500 men from Cochin being unable to reach Calicut, Don +Enrique went there with all the naval force he could collect, being +unwilling that his government should suffer the disgrace of allowing +this fortress to be taken by the enemy. Having thrown some strong +reinforcements into the fort, Don Enrique landed with the remainder of +his troops, after clearing the shore of the enemy, by means of his guns +assisted by grenadoes and other fireworks. All the intrenchments and +redoubts of the besiegers were successively carried, with prodigious +slaughter of the Moors and Nayres, of whom above 3000 were slain, +besides many others burnt in their wooden forts and bulwarks. In this +engagement Don George de Menezes made great slaughter of the enemy with +a two-handed sword; till losing his right hand, he took a smaller sword +in his left, and continued to fight with great valour. + +Don Enrique remained master of the field, in which he encamped for some +days: But as the fort was not considered important in proportion to its +expence, it was stripped of every thing of value with great care and +privacy, and mines and trains laid to blow it up; after which the whole +army retired to the ships. On seeing the fort evacuated, the Moors +rushed in to plunder in vast numbers; but the mines suddenly taking +fire, blew up the whole fabric with a vast explosion, in which great +numbers of the enemy perished miserably. + +In the year 1526, Hector de Sylveira went with a squadron to the Red +Sea, and on his way thither assaulted and took the city of Dhofur on the +coast of Yemen in lat. 17 deg. N. He then entered the Red Sea, where he +reduced the islands of Massua and Dallac to pay tribute; after, this he +went to _Arkiko_ on the coast of Abyssinia, where he received Don +Rodrigo de Lima who had been on an embassy to the king of Abyssinia, and +was there waiting for a passage along with an ambassador from _Prester +John_ to the king of Portugal. + +In this same year 1526, a small vessel was sent from Ternate to discover +the islands of Celebes, which were said to abound in gold. The +discoverer easily found the islands but no gold. Being on his return to +the Moluccas, he was carried away by a storm to the eastward till he +lost his reckoning, and unexpectedly fell in with a large and beautiful +island, inhabited by a simple race of men who treated the Portuguese +with much civility. They were strong made and of a comely appearance, +with their complexion inclining to fair, having long lank hair and long +beards, and their clothing was of fine mats. Their food consisted +chiefly of roots, cocoa nuts, and figs. Their language was not +understood, but by signs they gave the Portuguese to understand that +there was gold in the mountains, but of which they made no use. They had +no knowledge of iron or any other metal. Leaving this island, which they +named after the pilot Diego Lopez Sequeira, they returned to Ternate, +after an absence of eight months. + +Don Enrique de Menezes, died at Cananor about the end of January 1526, +in the thirtieth year of his age. He was a man of large stature, with a +pleasing countenance, just in all his actions, continent, free from +covetousness, a true patron of merit, and of the most unblemished +honour. During his government he refused uniformly to accept any of the +numerous presents offered him by the eastern princes; and conducted +himself with such perfect integrity in every transaction, that at his +death his whole treasure amounted only to thirteen rials and a half; and +he had even expended the whole of his patrimonial estate during the +short continuance of his government of Portuguese India, chiefly in +rewarding the merits of his officers. + + +SECTION VII. + +_Continuation of the Portuguese Transactions in India, from_ 1526 _to_ +1538. + + +At his death in January 1526, Don Enrique de Menezes left a paper sealed +up, by which the succession to him in the government was to be +regulated, in case the person nominated for that purpose by the king +should happen to be absent. That paper was lost, yet it was known that +he had named Francisco de Sa, then commanding in Goa, as his provisional +successor. The second royal nomination was now opened, in which Pedro de +Mascarenas was appointed successor to Don Enrique; but Mascarenas +commanded at Malacca, which was at a great distance, and the season of +the year did not admit of that navigation. On opening the third patent, +Lope Vaz de Sampayo was the person there named, who was accordingly +invested in the government, having, engaged on oath to resign to +Mascarenas on the arrival of that officer from Malacca. + +At this time George Zelo and Pedro de Faria blockaded the port of +Cananor, in which lay a fleet belonging to the zamorin. Sampayo +immediately sent orders to Antonio de Sylveria and Christopher de Souza, +then at Goa, to join the other two officers at Cananor to prevent the +escape of the enemy, and went in person with seven ships and a +considerable land force to endeavour to destroy them. _Cutiale_, the +admiral of this fleet belonging to the zamorin, used every effort to +defend himself, both by disposing his ships in formidable order, and by +intrenchments and batteries on shore, where he had a land force of +10,000 men. Having made proper dispositions, Sampayo landed with about +1300 soldiers, leaving orders with Pedro de Faria to set the _paraos_ +belonging to the enemy on fire. The trenches of the enemy were carried +after an obstinate resistance, and with great slaughter of the Moors, +and seventy paraos were destroyed. By this signal victory, above eighty +brass cannon were gained; but Sampayo spared the town, as it belonged to +the king of Narsinga, with whom the Portuguese were then in peace. + +Having dispatched several officers on command to different places, +Sampayo sailed for Ormuz with five ships and 300 men. In his way thither +he reduced the towns of Kalayat and Muscat, which had revolted owing to +the exactions of Diego de Melo. His only transaction at Ormuz was to +compose some differences that had arisen between Melo and Reis Xarafo, +to receive the tribute due by the king of Ormuz, and to take along with +him the ambassador whom George de Lima had brought from Abyssinia. From +Ormuz, Sampayo dispatched Hector de Sylveira to cruise off Diu, on +purpose to intercept the ships of the Red Sea that traded with Cambaya, +of which three were taken. Sylveira then went to Diu, where he remained +a long time at the request of Malek Saca, who made use of him to, secure +himself against the tyranny of the king of Cambaya. + +Reis Soliman, the Turk who killed Mir Husseyn at Juddah, as formerly +related, recovered the favour of Sultan Selim who had conquered Egypt +from the Mamelukes, having acquired the favour of that prince by +delivering up to him the city of Juddah which he had gained in the +service of the Soldan, and by means of a considerable present: for even +princes, though they have no need of receiving gifts, are apt to be won +like other men by their means; and as Soliman promised to perform +wonders in India for his service, Selim ordered twenty gallies and five +galleons which were then at Suez to be added to the fleet under Reis +Soliman. In the mean time Selim died at Cairo, and was succeeded by his +son Soliman, who sent that large reinforcement, under the command of +Hayraddin, to Reis Soliman, who was then fortifying the island of +Kamaran. Upon some disgust, Hayraddin killed Reis Soliman; and in his +turn was slain by Mustapha the nephew of Soliman. Mustapha, being afraid +of the consequences of this action, sailed from Kamaran with a small +number of vessels, the greater part of the fleet refusing to join him. +He went first to Aden and thence to Diu, where he put himself under the +protection of the king of Cambaya. An account of these revolutions in +the Turkish fleet, which had given great apprehensions to the Portuguese +in India, was carried to King John by Antonio Tenreyro over land, to the +great admiration of every one; being the first who had performed that +journey, till then thought impossible. + +At this time Mascarenas, who waited in Malacca for the proper season of +sailing to Cochin to assume the government, went against Bintang with +twenty-one ships and 400 Portuguese soldiers, having likewise 600 Malays +commanded by Tuam Mahomet and Sinai rajah. Although the capital of +Bintang was well fortified and defended by 7000 men, Mascarenas +surmounted every opposition and took the place. Of the enemy 400 were +slain and 2000 made prisoners. A vast booty was made on this occasion, +among which were nearly 300 pieces of cannon, and the Portuguese lost +only three men in this glorious exploit. The king of Bitang died of +grief, and Mascarenas restored it to the lawful heir under vassalage to +Portugal, the former king having been an usurper. + +The island of Sunda is divided on the south from Java by a very narrow +channel. It produces pale gold with abundance of pepper and provisions. +The natives are numerous but unwarlike, yet are curious in adorning +their arms. They worship idols, and often sell their children to supply +their necessities. The women are beautiful, those of the higher ranks +being chaste, contrary to what is usual in most parts of the world. They +have convents, as in Spain and Portugal, in which they reside while +virgins; and the married women kill themselves on the death of their +husbands. This were a good custom to shew their duty and affection, were +it not contrary to the law of nature, and therefore a barbarous error. +Enrique Leme happening to go there, drawn by the plenty and goodness of +its pepper, he was well received by the king of _Samiam_, who offered +ground for a fort, and to pay an yearly tribute of 351 quintals of +pepper, to purchase the friendship and support of the Portuguese against +the Moors, by whom he was much infested. But when Francisco de Sa came +to build the fort, he met with such opposition from the Moors that he +was obliged to return to Malacca. + +In the same year 1526, Martin Iniguez de Carchisano arrived in the port +of Kamafo in Tidore with a Spanish ship, one of six which had been sent +the year before from Spain to those parts which belonged of right to the +Portuguese. Don Garcia Enriquez, who then commanded at the Moluccas, on +learning the arrival of these Spaniards, and finding that they +occasioned the spice to rise in price, went in person to expel them, but +was obliged to retire with considerable damage from the Spanish cannon; +yet the Spanish ship afterwards sunk. At this time Don George de +Menezes, formerly mentioned as having lost his hand in the glorious +action at Calicut, arrived at the Moluccas, having discovered the island +of Borneo and many other islands by the way. Soon afterwards two ships +were sent to Borneo with presents for the king, among which was a piece +of tapestry adorned with figures of men. On seeing these, the ignorant +barbarian cried out _that they were enchanted men, who would kill him in +the night_; and no persuasions could convince him of his error, nor +would he receive the presents or permit the Portuguese to remain in his +port. + +In the year 1527, it being understood at Cochin that Pedro de Mascarenas +was on his way from Malacca to assume the government, Lope Vaz de +Sampayo who acted _ad interim_, held a council of the principal +officers, at which it was resolved not to admit Mascarenas to that high +office. After this determination, Sampayo sailed for Goa, leaving +Alphonso Mexia to command at Cochin, with orders to execute the +resolutions of the council. On landing unarmed at Cochin, Mascarenas was +opposed and wounded by Mexia; and proceeding afterwards to Goa, be was +made prisoner and put in irons by order of Sampayo. These violent +proceedings had nearly occasioned a civil war among the Portuguese in +India; but at length, in the end of December 1527, Sampayo was confirmed +in the government, and Mascarenas went home to Portugal, where he was +appointed to the command of Azamor in Africa. + +In the year 1528, Don Joan Deza was sent to cruise on the coast of +Calicut, where in several rencounters he took fifty vessels laden with +various commodities. He burnt the town of Mangalore; and falling in with +the fleet of Calicut, consisting of seventy paraos well manned and armed +under the command of the _Chinese_ admiral Cutiale, Deza took most of +them killing 1500 Moors, and taking nearly as many prisoners, among whom +was Cutiale. + +Antonio Miranda de Azevedo was sent in the end of January 1528 to the +Red Sea, with twenty ships and above 1000 soldiers, to endeavour to burn +the Turkish gallies in the port of Kamaran which had formerly belonged +to Reis Soliman. After taking some prizes by the way, be met with +Enrique de Macedo in the mouth of the Red Sea, who had engaged a large +Turkish galleon. The Turks had boarded him, and threw a burning dart +which stuck in his main-sail and began to set it on fire; but in +consequence of a strong gust of wind shaking the sail, the dart fell +back into the Turkish vessel, where it set fire to the powder and the +ship and all her crew were blown up. Several other valuable ships +belonging to the Moors were taken, but the main object of this +expedition completely failed, as the wind did not allow the fleet to get +up the Red Sea to Kamaran. + +In consequence of the civil discord among the Portuguese, the Moors had +been enabled to annoy their trade in different parts: And as Lope Vaz +understood that a successor to the government was on his way from +Portugal, he prepared to be revenged on the Moors, wishing to deliver up +the government in prosperity, by clearing the sea from pirates. With +this view he fitted out eighteen ships at Cochin, with which he +encountered 130 armed paraos at Cananor; and as the wind did not allow +his large ships to get into action, he went against that numerous fleet +with only thirteen paraos. Even with this disproportionate force he did +considerable damage to the Malabar fleet. On seeing two paraos coming +from Cananor to the aid of Sampayo, and that the large Portuguese ships +were enabled to make sail by means of a breeze springing up, the +Malabars fled as fast as possible. In the pursuit eighteen of them were +sunk and twenty-two taken, in which were fifty pieces of cannon. Eight +hundred of the enemy were slain, and many made prisoners. Those that +fled, and others who joined them, fell afterwards into a snare near +Cochin. + +With the same fleet, Sampayo went immediately in search of _Arel_, lord +of _Porca_. In this expedition, Simon de Melo burnt twenty-six ships +belonging to the enemy, and set the town of _Chatua_ on fire. Afterwards +with a thousand men he assaulted Porca; and though Arel was not there at +the time, the inhabitants made a brave but unavailing defence, as the +place was taken, plundered, and destroyed. At this place the wife of +Arel was taken, with a great spoil in gold, silver, jewels, silks, and +other valuables, and thirteen considerable vessels. On his return to +Cochin, as his successor was not yet arrived, Sampayo went back to +Cananor, whence he dispatched his nephew Simon de Melo against _Marabia_ +and Mount _Dely_, both of which places were taken, plundered, and, +destroyed, with many piratical paraos. About this time, the king of +Cambaya fitted out a fleet of eighty barks, under the command of a +valiant Moor named _Alexiath_, who did much injury to the subjects of +Nizam-al-mulk, and to the Portuguese trade at Chaul, in consequence of +which aid was demanded from Sampayo by both. Sampayo accordingly set +sail with forty vessels of different kinds, in which were 1000 +Portuguese soldiers, besides a considerable force of armed natives. In +this expedition Hector de Sylveira commanded the small vessels that +rowed[178], while Sampayo took charge of the sailing vessels. On +arriving at Chaul, Sampayo sent eighty Portuguese to the assistance of +Nizam-al-Mulk, under the command of Juan de Avelar, and then sailed for +Diu, as he understood the eighty barks of Cambaya were gone thither. Off +Bombay that fleet belonging to Cambaya of which he was in search was +descried, on which part of the ships were detached to secure the +entrance of the river Bandora, to prevent the enemy from escaping, while +Sylveira with his brigantines or row-boats bore down upon Alexiath. +After a furious cannonade, the Portuguese gallantly boarded the enemy, +and Alexiath fled with seven only of his barks, all the rest being +taken. Of the 73 vessels captured on this occasion, 33 were found +serviceable and were retained, all the rest being set on fire. In this +glorious exploit, a vast number of prisoners, much artillery, and +abundance of ammunition were taken, and the Portuguese did not lose one +man. + +[Footnote 178: Such is the expression in the translation of the +Portuguese Asia by Stevens. They were probably Malabar vessels, which in +the early writers are named paraos, tonys, and caturs, and might perhaps +be called row-boats.--E] + +Juan de Avelar, who had been detached with eighty Portuguese to the +assistance of Nizam-al-Mulk against the king of Cambaya, acquired great +honour in that service by his gallantry. Assisted by 1000 of the native +subjects of Nizam-al-Mulk, he scaled a fort belonging to the king of +Cambaya, till then thought impregnable, being the first who entered; and +having slain all the defendants, he delivered it up to the Nizam. + +It was now about the beginning of the year 1529. Lope Vaz de Sampayo was +much elated by the last-mentioned success against the fleet of Cambaya, +and believed that in the present state of dismay Diu would surrender on +the first summons: He was therefore eager to have gone against that +place, but as all his captains except Sylveira were of a contrary +opinion, he was obliged to lay aside that intention and to return to +Goa, leaving the valiant Hector with twenty-two row-boats to cruise +against the pirates in the north. In the south, or on the Malabar coast, +Antonio de Miranda was employed in similar service, where, he destroyed +twelve paraos. Being joined by six brigantines and a galley, with 100 +chosen men, commanded by Christopher de Melo, the united squadron took a +very large ship laden with pepper in the river _Chale_, though defended +by numerous artillery and 800 men. Near _Monte-Hermosa_, they defeated +50 sail of vessels belonging to Calicut, taking three paraos with a +considerable number of cannon and many men. Hector de Sylveira, who had +been left on the coast of Cambaya, did much damage to the enemy. Going +up the river _Nagotana_ of _Bazain_, he landed and burnt six towns +belonging to the king of Cambaya. The commander of _Nagotana_ took the +field against him with five hundred horse and a large force of infantry, +endeavouring to intercept Sylveira on his way to reimbark. An engagement +took place, in which the enemy were repulsed with some loss, and +Sylveira was enabled to embark. Going afterwards to _Bazain_, on a +river, of the same name, he found that place well fortified and defended +by a considerable number of cannon. He entered the river however during +the night, and next morning stormed the fortifications of Bazain, +killing many of the defendents. After this success, he was unexpectedly +attacked by Alexiath at the head of 3500 men; but he bravely repelled +and defeated that vastly superior force with great slaughter, after +which he plundered and burnt the city of Bazuin. Terrified by these +exploits, the lord of the great city of Tana, not far distant, +submitted to become tributary to Portugal, and Sylveira retired to +Chaul. + +While these things were doing on the coast of Hindostan, Simon de Sousa +Galvam, on his way to the Moluccas in a galley with seventy men was +driven by a storm to take shelter, in the port of Acheen. Several +vessels flocked immediately about him, on pretence of giving assistance, +but the natives were no sooner on board than they fell upon the seventy +Portuguese, with all kinds of weapons. Recovering from their first +surprise, the Portuguese bravely drove the enemy from their ship, +although not more than twenty were left that could stand to their arms. +The king of Acheen gave orders to his admiral to attack the Portuguese +galley next morning; when, after a desperate resistance, most of the +Portuguese were slain and Galvam among them; only those being spared who +were so severely wounded as to be unable to resist. Don George de +Menezes, who commanded at the Moluccas, sent a party to Tidore against +the Spaniards; but on the rout of that party, Menezes collected a +considerable allied force, consisting of the people of Ternate, the +_Sangages_, and the subjects of Cachil Daroez king of _Bacham_. With +these and a small number of Portuguese, Menezes landed in Tidore, where +he defeated the Spaniards and troops of Tidore, obliging the former to +retire into their fort after losing six men, two of whom were slain and +four taken. Menezes then assaulted and took the city of Tidore, which he +plundered and burnt; after which he invested the Spanish fort, and +summoned Ferdinando de la Torre the Spanish commander to surrender. +Being unable to resist, the Spanish captain agreed to evacuate Tidore, +retiring to the city of Comafo, and engaging to commit no hostilities +upon the Portuguese or their allies, and not to trade to any of the +islands producing cloves. After this the king of Tidore was made +tributary to the Portuguese, and Menezes returned victorious to Ternate. + +During his absence, _Bohaat_ king of Tidore had died, not without +suspicion of having been poisoned by _Cachil Daroez_, and was succeeded +by his brother _Cachil Daialo_. The new king being suspicious of _Cachil +Vaiaco_, fled to the fort; but afraid that Menezes might give him up to +his enemy, threw himself from a window. All Ternate now mutinied against +Menezes; and as he imagined that _Cachil Vaideca_, a noble of Tidore, +had caused the death of a Chinese sow belonging to him, he imprisoned +that nobleman, after which he set him free, having first anointed his +face with bacon, which among that people is reckoned a most heinous +affront. Not contented with this violence, he sent to rob the houses of +the _Moors_ of their provisions, and became suddenly most outrageous and +tyrannical. The _Moors_ stood upon their defence, and treated some of +the Portuguese as they now deserved. Menezes seized the chief magistrate +of the town of _Tabona_ and two other persons of note. These two he set +at liberty after cutting off their hands; but he let loose two fierce +dogs against the magistrate, which tore him in pieces. Becoming odious +to all by these cruelties, _Cachil Daroez_ stirred up the natives to +expel the Portuguese; but being made prisoner, Menezes caused him to be +beheaded. Terrified by this tyranny, the inhabitants of Ternate fled to +other places, the city becoming entirely deserted. Don George de Menezes +was afterwards sent a prisoner to India for these enormities, whence he +was sent to Portugal, where he was condemned to banishment. Any reward +was too small for his former services, and this punishment was too +slight for his present offences. + +Nuno de Cuna, appointed governor-general of India, arrived in May 1529 +at Ormuz. Setting out too late from Lisbon in the year before with +eleven ships, he had a tedious voyage. One of his ships was lost near +Cape Verd, when 150 men perished. After passing the line, the fleet was +dispersed in a violent storm. Nuno put in at the port of St Jago in +Madagascar, where he found a naked Portuguese soldier, who had belonged +to one of two ships commanded by Lacerda and Abreu, which were cast away +in 1527 at this place. The people fortified themselves there, in hopes +that some ships passing that way might take them up. After waiting a +year, one ship passed but could not come to their assistance; and being +no longer able to subsist at that place, they marched up the country in +two bodies to seek their fortunes, leaving this man behind sick. In +consequence of intelligence of these events sent home to Portugal by +Nuno, Duarte and Diego de Fonseca were sent out in search of these men. +Duarte perished in Madagascar; and Diego found only four Portuguese and +one Frenchman, who had belonged to three French ships that were cast +away on that island. These men said that many of their companions were +still alive in the interior, but they could not be got at. From these it +was thought had sprung a people that wore found in Madagascar about +eighty years afterwards. This people alleged that a Portuguese captain, +having suffered shipwreck on the coast, had conquered a district of the +island over which he became sovereign; and all his men taking wives from +among the natives, had left numerous issue, who had erred much in +matters of faith. _Great indeed must have been their errors, to have +been discovered by the atheistical Hollanders!_ Doubtless these people +did not descend from that shipwreck only, but might have sprung likewise +from the first discoverers, _who were never heard of_, and among others +from three ships that sailed from Cochin in 1530 along with Francisco de +Albuquerque. + +While Nuno was at Madagascar, his own ship perished in a storm. The men +were saved in the other two ships, but much goods and arms were lost. +Sailing thence to Zanzibar, he landed 200 of his men who were sick, +under the care of Alexius de Sousa Chichorro, with orders to go to +Melinda when the people were recovered. Being unable to continue his +voyage to India, on account of the trade wind being adverse, he +determined upon taking revenge upon the king of Mombaza, who infested +those of Melinda and Zanzibar from hatred to the Portuguese. If +successful, he proposed to have raised _Munho Mahomet_ to the throne, +who was son to him who had received De Gama on his first voyage with so +much kindness. Mahomet however objected to this honour, saying, "That he +was not deserving of the crown, being born of a Kafr slave: But if Nuno +wished to reward the friendship of his father, he might confer the crown +on his brother _Cide Bubac_, a younger son of his father by a legitimate +wife, and who was therefore of the royal blood of the kings of Quiloa." +Nuno set off on this expedition with 800 men, accompanied by Mahomet and +Bubac, each of whom had sixty followers. On the way he was joined by the +sheikh of _Otonda_, a neighbouring town, who offered to accompany him +with a well appointed vessel. This prince had silver chains on his legs, +which he wore as a memorial of having been wrongfully imprisoned by the +king of Mombaza, and had sworn never to take them off till revenged, +having been so used merely because he had shewn friendship to the +Portuguese. + +Having been apprized of the intended attack, the king of Mombaza had +provided for his defence, by planting cannons on a fort or bulwark at +the mouth of the river, and brought 600 expert archers into the city. +Though opposed by a heavy cannonade from the bulwark, Nuno forced his +way up the river and anchored in the evening close to the city, whence +the archers shot continual flights of arrows into the ships, and were +answered by the Portuguese cannon. Next morning early the troops were +landed under Pedro Vaz, brother to Nuno, who carried all before him, and +planted the Portuguese colours, after killing many of the Moors and +driving the rest from the city, without losing a single Portuguese +soldier. To secure and repeople the city, Nuno sent for a nephew of the +king of Melinda, who came with 500 men, many of whom were of some rank; +and these were followed by the prince of Montangue with 200 more. Many +likewise of the former inhabitants came in and submitted, so that the +island began to reassume an appearance of prosperity. The expelled king, +sensible of the desperate situation of affairs, sent one of his +principal men to propose an accommodation, offering to pay a ransom to +preserve his city from destruction, and to become tributary. An +agreement was accordingly entered into to this effect, and the king +began to make the stipulated payments; but finding sickness to prevail +among the Portuguese of whom two hundred soon died, and many more were +incapacitated from service, he began to fall off from the completion of +the agreement, and as the prince of Melinda durst not undertake to +defend the place without a considerable force of Portuguese, Nuno +destroyed the city by fire and returned to Melinda, carrying with him +those he had formerly left sick at Zanzibar. Leaving Melinda, he left 80 +of his men there sick, to be carried to India on their recovery by +Tristan Homem: who afterwards defended Melinda with these men against +the king of Mombaza, who endeavoured to revenge himself there for the +injury he had sustained from the Portuguese. + +It has been formerly mentioned that Nuno de Cuna arrived at Ormuz in May +1529, into which he made a formal and pompous entry, to the great +admiration of the natives. He immediately issued a proclamation at that +place and its dependencies, "That all who had cause of complaint against +the Portuguese should appear before him for redress." Many complainers +accordingly came forwards, and the offenders were obliged to make +restitution, to the great astonishment and satisfaction of the Moors, +who had not been accustomed to see justice executed on their behalf. He +found that _Reis Xarafo_; great _guazil_[179] or rather arch tyrant over +the king and people of Ormuz, though restored to that situation by +Sampayo, was by no means clear of the great crimes he had been formerly +accused of, particularly of rapine and murder. On a representation of +this to the king of Portugal, Manuel de Macedo had orders to bring him +prisoner to Lisbon, and accordingly had him arrested by the assistance +of Nuno, who waited upon the king of Ormuz to justify this procedure. +The king readily acquiesced, and presented the governor with a rich +present of jewels and cloth of gold, together with a fine horse richly +caparisoned in the Persian manner. As the reigning king was implicated +in the murder of his predecessor Mahomet, Nuno imposed upon him a fine +of 40,000 Xerephines, in addition to the tribute of 60,000 which he had +to pay yearly; that crime being used as a pretence to overburthen him +with a tribute equal to a third part of the yearly revenue of +Ormuz[180]. Xarafo, or Ashraf, was sent to Portugal with examinations +respecting the crimes laid to his charge; but he carried such riches +along with him, that he was not only able to purchase a remission of +punishment, but was actually reinstated in his former employment. While +Nuno still remained at Ormuz, Tavarez de Sousa came there, who had been +with forty men to assist the king of _Basrah_ against the lord of +_Gizaira_[181]; having been the first Portuguese who went up the rivers +Tigris and Euphrates. Basrah or Bazora, in about the lat. of 30 deg. N. is +about 30 leagues from the mouth of the great river Euphrates, and +received its name in commemoration of the more ancient city of Basrah, +eight leagues higher up, the ruins of which are said by eye-witnesses to +be twice as extensive as the city of Grand Cairo. The island of Gizaira, +or Jazirat, is formed by the two rivers Tigris and Euphrates, being +about 40 leagues in circumference, and is said to contain 40,000 +archers. The river Tigris rises among the _Curds_ in the greater +Armenia, and the springs of the Euphrates are in Turkomania. The king +of Basrah received Sousa with much state, and appeared greatly satisfied +at his assistance. Sousa accompanied him on his expedition against the +lord of Jazirat, the infantry of Basrah amounting to 5000 men, 600 of +whom carried firelocks, were conveyed up the river in 200 _dalacs_ or +large boats, accompanied by seven vessels full of Turks with a +considerable number of cannon. The king went along with his infantry by +water, while his nephew marched by land at the head of 3000 horse. The +king established his camp on the right or Arabian side of the river, +opposite to the encampment of the lord of Jazirat, who was, posted on +the island with 12,000 men. By order of the king of Basrah, Sousa wrote +to the lord of Jazirat, saying that he was sent by the Portuguese +commander of Ormuz, either to make peace between the contending parties +on reasonable terms, or in case of refusal to take part with the king of +Basrah. The king of Jazirat made answer, that as this was the first +request of the captain of Ormuz, and as Sousa was the first Portuguese +who had come into these parts, he agreed to comply with the terms +demanded, which were merely the restoration of certain forts belonging +to the king of Basrah which he had taken possession of. Persons were +accordingly appointed on both sides to treat for an accommodation, which +was satisfactorily concluded. But the king of Basrah now refused to +perform what he had promised to Sousa for his aid; which was to deliver +up the seven Turkish vessels, and not to admit any more of that nation +into his dominions, because enemies of the Portuguese. Enraged at this +breach of compact Sousa after embarking with his men, took one of the +large barks belonging to Basrah, after which he landed with thirty-six +of his men and burnt a town of 300 houses on the Arabian side of the +river, and a smaller one on the Persian side. + +[Footnote 179: In Astley, I. 80, this person is named Reis or _Raez +Ashraf, Wazir_ or Visier of Ormuz. The strange title in the text, _great +guazil_, is probably a translation of _Alguazil mayor_, giving a +Portuguese or rather a Spanish denomination to an Arab officer.--E.] + +[Footnote 180: On a former occasion, the Xerephine was stated as equal +in value to 3s. 9d. Hence the total revenue of Ormuz was only about +L.83,750 yearly: The tribute to Portugal L.11,250; and the fine L.7500. +It is true that the value of money was then much greater than now, and +these sums for comparison with our present money of account may perhaps +be fairly rated at L.837,500, L.112,500 and L.75,000 respectively, or +_ten_ times their numerical amount in 1529.--E.] + +[Footnote 181: Called Jazirat by the Editor of Astleys Collection.] + +In reward to Sousa for his gallantry, Nuno gave him the command in the +Persian Gulf, and sent him to Bahrayn at the request of the king of +Ormuz, to reduce Reis Barbadim who had revolted. But as Sousa had not a +sufficient force for this purpose, Simon de Cuna was sent there with +eight vessels and 400 men, besides a native force in the barks of the +country. Joining Sousa, the fort of Bahrayn was battered for three days; +but powder running short, they had to send to Ormuz for a supply, and in +the mean time the Portuguese sickened so fast, owing to the +unhealthiness of the climate that above an hundred of them died, and +even the Persian soldiers belonging to Ormuz, though accustomed to the +climate, were in very little better condition, insomuch that they had to +give up the siege and return to Ormuz, where Simon de Sousa died. + +In the mean time Nuno de Cuna, leaving Ormuz, arrived at Goa in the +latter end of October 1529, where he found four ships just arrived from +Lisbon after a prosperous voyage with a reinforcement of 1500 men all in +perfect health, not having lost a man by the way except one captain. +Nuno made a solemn entry into the city, where he found a powerful fleet +of 140 vessels, which had all been provided by the former governor, Lope +Vaz de Sampayo. The most considerable of these were six galleons, eight +royal gallies, six caravels, and fourteen galliots, all well provided +with cannon and military stores; for though Sampayo had usurped the +government, he had conducted it better than many of those who had +received regular appointments. Finding it necessary to proceed to +Cochin, to dispatch the homeward trade, he stopped at Cananor, where +Sampayo then was, who came on board and resigned the government with the +usual solemnities. Sampayo was inclined to have landed again at Cananor, +but Nuno ordered him to go along with him to Cochin, and published a +proclamation that all who had been wronged by Sampayo might repair to +the new governor, who would do them justice. Sampayo complained of this +as a libel against him, as those who had complaints to make needed not +to be invited by sound of trumpet. On arriving at Cochin, Nuno ordered +Sampayo to be imprisoned and an inventory to be taken of all his +effects, all of which were directed to be deposited in safe custody and +sent to Lisbon, to be there delivered as the king might direct. On being +taken into custody, Sampayo desired the officer to say to Nuno, "I +imprisoned others, you imprison me, and there will come one who will +imprison you." To this message Nuno answered, "Doubtless I may be +imprisoned; but the difference between us will be, that Sampayo deserves +it, and I shall not." Neither was Sampayo wrong, as Nuno had certainly +been taken into custody in Portugal on his return if he had not died by +the way. Sampayo was treated with much and improper severity: the worst +ship in the fleet being appointed for him, with only two servants, and +barely as much of his own wealth as sufficed for the expence of his +voyage. + +On his arrival at the Tercera islands an officer was in waiting to put +Sampayo in irons, with which he landed at Lisbon and was carried to a +dungeon in the castle, in which was confined at the same time Reis +Xarafo the visier of Ormuz. After two years confinement, the chief crime +alleged against him being his unjust proceedings in regard to Pedro de +Mascarenas, the duke of Braganza took pity on the misfortunes of this +brave gentleman, and prevailed on the king to give him a hearing in +council. Accordingly, the king being seated in council surrounded by the +judges, Sampayo was brought before him, having his face covered by a +long and thick white beard, and with such tokens of misery which he had +endured in almost three years imprisonment, counting from his arrest in +India, that even Mascarenas or any other of his enemies might have +thought themselves sufficiently revenged. Being put to the bar, after +receiving the kings permission, he made a copious and comprehensive +speech with an undaunted countenance, in his justification. After +enumerating the services of his ancestors and immediate progenitors to +the crown, he particularized his own from his early youth to the period +of his imprisonment, and commented upon the injuries which had been +since done to him. He exposed the malice of his accusers, and justified +his own proceedings. By many apt examples of others who had been guilty +even of greater crimes than those of which he was accused, and who had +been pardoned in consideration of their services, he drew a parallel +between himself and these persons, and concluded by throwing himself +entirely on the justice and mercy of his majesty; from one or other of +which he trusted to receive a discharge, and hoped to have more cause of +thankfulness for the future, than he had of complaint till then of the +hard usage he had been subjected to. + +Having listened to him attentively, the king examined him in regard to +each separate article of his impeachment, forty-three in all, to every +one of which he gave apt answers. The principal article alleged against +him related to Pedro Mascarenas, all the others being such as would +never have been thought of except to fill up the measure of accusation. +Being carried back to the castle, he sent in his defence in writing, as +is usual in such cases. In the end, he was sentenced to forfeit all his +allowances as governor; to pay Mascarenas a compensation of 10,000 +ducats; and to be banished into Africa. He contrived however to get into +Spain, where he disnaturalized himself, as had been done by the famous +Magellan; and wrote a letter from Badajos to the king, in which he +affirmed that his sentence was unjust, and declared his resolution to +try, by changing his country, to better his fortune and restore his +honour. In consequence of this he was restored to his country. + +We must now return to the affairs of India, where Diego Sylveira reduced +the people of Calicut to such straits that the zamorin was constrained +to sue to Nuno de Cuna for peace. This was granted on certain terms, +part of which the zamorin was willing to accept, but rejected the rest; +on which Sylveira reduced the city to extreme distress, by intercepting +all provisions. Some relief was received however from Cananor, and Simon +de Sousa being driven in his brigantine on shore, was blown up while +bravely defending himself against the Moors. + +Malek Saca[182] being expelled from Diu, found it expedient for +compassing his ends with the king of Cambaya, to employ similar +artifices with Nuno de Cuna as had been formerly practised with Hector +de Sylveira, by offering to deliver up the city to him. Accordingly he +wrote to Nuno, that although he could not now deliver up Diu, he would +assist him to reduce it; and as it was convenient that a meeting should +take place between the governor and Malek Saca, Nuno sent him a safe +conduct, and ships to transport him and his retinue, commanded by Gaspar +Paez, who had formerly been known to Malek Saca at Diu. On this occasion +Malek Saca granted every condition required, not meaning to perform any, +and made use of this sham alliance to get himself restored to the favour +of the king of Cambaya, putting off Paez with various artifices, under +pretence that the safe conduct was not securely expressed, and that +there were too few ships. In revenge of this deceit, Paez was only able +to burn nine small barks belonging to Malek Saca. Being much enraged at +the duplicity of Malek, Nuno began to make preparations for the +reduction of Diu. In the mean time, he visited and conciliated the rajah +of Cochin, who had been much displeased with the conduct of Lope Vaz +Sampayo and Alfonso Mexia. He went next to Goa, whence he visited the +king at _Chale_, and satisfied him in all things. About the middle of +February 1530 he came to Cananor, the king of which place he gratified +by conforming to the ceremonials of his court; and being offered a +present of jewels, he accepted them lest he should affront that prince, +but delivered them over to the officers of the revenue, as belonging to +the king of Portugal. + +[Footnote 182: He is stated on a former occasion to have been the son of +Malek Azz.--E.] + +At this time a rich merchant of Mangalore did great injury to the +Portuguese, as he favoured the zamorin of Calicut though living in the +dominions of the king of Narsinga who was in friendship with the +Portuguese. Diego de Sylveira was ordered to punish that man, and went +accordingly against him with a force of 450 men and sixteen vessels. He +accordingly entered the river of Mangalore, where he was opposed by a +great number of ships belonging to the Moorish merchant, which were put +to flight after a short contest. Sylveira then landed with 240 men and +entered the town without opposition, after which he took the fort whence +the merchant endeavoured to escape, but was slain by a musquet-ball. A +vast booty fell into the hands of the Portuguese, but Sylveira ordered +it all to be burnt, lest he might endanger his ships by overloading +them. As winter was coming on Sylveira dismissed half of his fleet, yet +afterwards had occasion for them all, as he soon after encountered _Pati +Marcar_, a commander belonging to Calicut, who was going to Mangalore +with sixty paraos. The weather prevented him from fighting at that time; +but Sylveira waited the return of the Calicut fleet, to which he gave +battle off Mount Dely, and sank six paraos, after which he returned to +Cochin. In the same year 1530, Antonio de Sylveira commanded on the +coast of Cambaya with fifty-one sail of vessels, three of which were +gallies and two galliots, in which were 900 Portuguese soldiers. With +this force he went up the river Taptee where he burnt Surat and Reyner, +the chiefest towns in that part of India. Surat on one side of the river +contained 10,000 families, mostly Banians[183] and handicrafts of no +courage; while Reyner on the other side of the river had six thousand +houses inhabited by a warlike race, and was well fortified. On sounding, +the river was found too shallow for the larger vessels, which were left +off the bar under the command of Francisco de Vasconcelles; while with +the smaller, Sylveira went up the river about four miles to Surat. He +there found 300 horse and nearly 10,000 foot drawn up to oppose his +landing, all well armed with bows and firelocks; but after one discharge +this vast multitude fled in dismay without waiting an attack. The city +of Surat was then entered without farther resistance, and being +plundered of every thing worth carrying off was set on fire with some +ships that were in its arsenal. The city of Reyner stood a little higher +up on the other side, and was inhabited by the _Nayteas Moors_, a race +of more courage and policy than the Banians; yet they fled almost at the +first fire, leaving all their property to the Portuguese, who had all +been enriched if they had been able to carry away the whole plunder. +Having removed all that their ships could carry, the town was set on +fire, together with twenty ships and many small vessels. In both actions +Emanuel de Sousa was conspicuously valiant, being the first to land with +much danger, especially in the latter, where he was opposed by a +numerous artillery. On returning to the mouth of the river, Sylveira +found, that Vasconcelles had taken six vessels bound with provisions for +Diu. After this, Antonio de Sylveira destroyed the towns of Daman and +Agazem on the coast, at the latter of which places 300 vessels belonging +to the enemy were burnt. + +[Footnote 183: Called Bancanes in the text of De Faria; perhaps an error +of the press for Banianes or Banzanes.--E.] + +On the 21st of January 1530, Hector de Sylveira sailed from Goa for the +Red Sea with ten ships and 600 men. Spreading his fleet across the mouth +of that sea, that no enemy might escape, several rich ships were +captured. Appearing afterwards before _Aden_, Hector induced the sheikh +of that place to submit to the crown of Portugal, and to an yearly +tribute of 12,000 Xerephines. The sheikh of _Zael_, who had only a short +time before accompanied _Mustapha_, a Turkish captain, with 20,000 men +to make war upon Aden, submitted to similar terms. + +Having completed his preparations for the expedition against Diu, Nuno +de Cuna sailed early in the year 1531 with a great fleet and army for +that place. In a general review at the Island of Bombay, the fleet +consisted of above 400 sail of all kinds of vessels, many of which were +large, more indifferent, and most of them small; some being only +_sutlers_, fitted out by the natives for private gain. On board this +fleet were 3600 soldiers and 1450 seamen all Portuguese, besides above +2000 Canara and Malabar soldiers, 8000 slaves, and about 5000 native +seamen. Landing at Daman, a fort belonging to the king of Cairibaya, +which was immediately evacuated by the Moors, advice was brought that +the Arabs, Turks, and others, to the number of 2000 men, had fortified +themselves in the Island of _Beth,_ seven leagues from Diu. This place +was so strong by art and nature, environed with rocks and +fortifications, that Nuno gave no credit to the accounts respecting it +till convinced by inspection. Coming before Beth on the 7th of February, +he summoned the garrison to surrender; but many of them shaved their +heads, as devoting themselves to death or victory, which they call +making themselves _amoucos[184]._ The commandant of the barbarians gave +a brutal example of determined and savage resolution, by throwing his +wife, son, and goods into a fire made on purpose, in which they were all +consumed; that if the Portuguese succeeded in the enterprise, they might +only gain a heap of ashes. His example was followed by others. Being +resolved to carry this place, Nuno made dispositions for an assault, +dividing his force into six bodies, which were ordered to attack in six +different places at the same time. After a desperate conflict the place +was taken, in which 1800 of the enemy were slain, and sixty cannons +taken. + +[Footnote 184: Corruptly called by the British in India running a +muck.--E.] + +Departing from Beth, Nuno appeared with his powerful armament before +Diu. This city is built upon rocks, and is entirely encompassed by rocks +and water. The entrance into the river or haven was shut up by massy +chains suspended upon vessels, behind which eighty vessels were drawn up +full of archers and musqueteers to defend the passage. The garrison +consisted of 10,000 men, with a prodigious number of cannon. On the 16th +of February, the signal was given for the attack, but after fighting the +whole day without gaining any advantage, and having suffered some loss, +it was determined in a council of war to desist from the enterprise as. +impracticable. It was agreed by all, that if so much time had not been +fruitlessly employed in the capture of Beth, Diu must have fallen; as it +had been reinforced only three, days before the arrival of the +Portuguese by a Turk named Mustapha, who was the principal cause of its +brave and effectual resistance. Nuno returned with the principal part of +his fleet and army to Goa, where he arrived on the 15th of March, +leaving Antonio de Saldanna with 60 vessels in the Bay of Cambaya to +annoy the enemy. + +After the departure of the Portuguese fleet, Mustapha presented himself +before _Badur_ king of Cambaya, who received him honourably, giving him +the command of _Baroach_ in the Bay of Cambaya, with the title of +Rumi-khan. He was called Kami, as having been born in Greece; as the +Moors of India, being ignorant of the divisions of the European +provinces, call the whole of Thrace, Greece, Sclavonia, and the adjacent +countries by the general name of _Rum,_ and the inhabitants _Rumi_ +though that term ought only to be applied to Thrace, the modern +_Romania._ The _Turks_ and _Rumes_ are different nations; the former +being originally from Turkistan, and the natives of Greece and Thrace +consider themselves as of more honourable descent than the Turks[185]. +The tide of _Khan_ now bestowed on Mustapha is a dignity among the +Tartars equivalent to that of _Duke_ in Europe, and is bestowed in the +east on persons of distinguished merit. + +[Footnote 185: On a former occasion, the name of Kami has been mentioned +as universally given in India to the Turks as coming in place of the +Romans. DeFaria therefore was mistaken in deriving it from the province +of Romania or Thrace.--E.] + +Antonio de Saldanna, who was left in command of the sea of Cambaya, with +60 vessels and 1500 men, took and burnt the town of _Madrefavat,_[186] +five leagues from Diu towards Beth. He then went against Gogo, +twenty-four leagues farther, formerly a strong and populous place of +great trade. There were fifteen of the largest paraos belonging to +Calicut at that time in the port laden with spice, which took shelter in +a creek, and were followed by Saldanna with 800 men in the smaller +vessels. Finding it necessary to land, he was opposed by 300 horse and +800 foot that came to defend the Makbars; but after a sharp encounter, +in which 200 of the enemy were slain, they were constrained to abandon +the vessels, which were all burnt; after which Saldanna destroyed the +town of Gogo and eight ships that were in the port He afterwards +destroyed the towns of Belsa, Tarapor, Mail, Kelme, and Agasim, and +lastly Surat, which was beginning to revive from its former destruction. +Having thus ravaged the coast of Cambaya, he returned to Goa. About this +time a brother of the king of Cambaya, who was rightful heir to that +crown, came into the hands of Nuno; who expected through his means to +obtain what had been so long desired, the possession of Diu, and the +command of the trade of Cambaya. + +[Footnote 185: On a former occasion, the name of Kami has been mentioned +as universally given in India to the Turks as coming in place of the +Romans. DeFaria therefore was mistaken in deriving it from the province +of Romania or Thrace.--E.] + +[Footnote 186: Perhaps that now called Jaffrabad.--E.] + +About this time the Portuguese cruisers had taken twenty-seven ships +belonging to the zamorin, all richly laden. Being perplexed by the great +losses he was continually sustaining through the Portuguese superiority +at sea, the sovereign of Calicut made overtures towards an +accommodation; and in a treaty of peace gave permission to the +governor-general to build a fort in the island of _Chale_, in a river +that falls into the sea about three leagues from Calicut, which is +navigable by boats all the way to the foot of the _Gaut_ mountains. +_Urinama_, a heathen, was at this time rajah of _Chale_, and both he and +the neighbouring rajah of Tanore, who were subjects to the zamorin, were +anxious to throw off their subjection to that prince, and to enter into +alliance with the Portuguese, in hopes of becoming rich by participating +in their trade. Immediately upon procuring the consent of the zamorin to +construct the fort, Nuno set out from Goa with 150 sail of vessels, in +which were 3000 Portuguese troops and 1000 native _Lascarines_. So much +diligence was used in carrying on the work, even the gentlemen +participating in the labour, that in twenty-six days it was in a +defensible situation, being surrounded by a rampart nine feet thick and +of sufficient height, strengthened by towers and bastions or bulwarks at +proper places. Within the fort a church was built, together with a house +for the commander, barracks for the soldiers, and store-houses for +trade. Diego de Pereira, who had negotiated the treaty with the zamorin, +was left in command of this new fortress, with a garrison of 250 men; +and Manuel de Sousa had orders to secure its safety by sea, with a +squadron of twenty-two vessels. The zamorin soon repented of having +allowed this fort to be built in his dominions, and used ineffectual +endeavours to induce the rajah of Chale, Caramanlii, and Tanore to break +with the Portuguese, even going to war against them, but to no purpose. + +About the end of February 1532, Emanuel de Vasconcelles was sent to the +Red Sea with two galliots and several brigantines to cruise against the +Turks. Off Xael he captured several Turkish vessels, among which, was a +large ship, named _Cufturca,_ which was sent to Muscat. The king of +Xael, fearful of danger, made his peace with Vasconcelles. Soon +afterwards Antonio de Saldanna arrived with ten ships to take the +command in the Red Sea, who was dissatisfied with the terms entered into +with the sheikh of Xael, on which that prince sent all the valuables +belonging to the town, together with the women and children into the +interior, that he might provide for defence; but being obliged to quit +the Red Sea on account of the weather, Saldanna sailed first to Muscat +and thence to Diu, where he took several vessels belonging to the enemy, +among which was one in which he got above 60,000 Venetian chequins. +About the same time Diego de Sylveira plundered and burnt Puttun, a city +twelve leagues from Diu, and destroyed four ships that were in the +harbour. He acted in a similar manner at Pate and Mangalore and other +places, and returned to Goa with above 4000 slaves and an infinite +booty. + +All this encouraged Nuno de Cuna to continue hostilities against Diu and +the king of Cambaya, in hopes of constraining him to allow of the +construction of a fort in that city. _Malek Tocam_[187], lord of Diu, +was then fortifying the city of Basseen, and as that place might prove +injurious to the designs of Nuno against Cambaya, he determined to +destroy it. For this purpose he fitted out a fleet of 150 vessels, in +which he embarked with 3000 Portuguese soldiers and 200 native Canarins. +Tocam on hearing of this expedition, left a garrison of 12,000 men in +Basseen and retired to Diu. Despising the danger of attacking such +superior numbers, Nuno landed his troops and took Basseen by assault, in +which action 600 of the enemy were slain, and only eight or nine on the +side of the Portuguese. Having ravaged the surrounding country and razed +the fortifications of Basseen, Emanuel de Albuquerque was sent with +twelve vessels and 300 men to destroy the fort of Daman, which he was +unable to accomplish. He burnt however all the towns upon the coast from +_Basseen_ to _Tarapor_, and reduced _Tanua_, _Bandora_, _Maii_, and +_Bombay_ to become tributary. About this time orders were sent from +Portugal that all the commanders of forts in India should make oath of +obedience to the governor-general, whence it appears that till then they +were in a great measure independent. + +[Footnote 187: The lord of Diu only a little before was named Malek +_Saca_; but De Faria gives no intimation of any revolution, except by +change of name. Yet from the sequel it is evident this person was the +son of Malek Azz.--E.] + +About this time Malek Tocam, lord of Diu, desired Nuno to send a proper +person to him with whom he might treat of an important affair, he being +at that time apprehensive that the king of Cambaya meant to deprive him +of his government. Vasco de Cuna was accordingly sent on this embassy, +with instructions to procure the surrender of Diu, but was unsuccessful. +At the same time Tristan de Ga pressed the king of Cambaya to allow of +building a fort at Diu, and Badur expressed a desire of conferring with +the governor-general on the subject, though his real design was to kill +him rather than grant permission to build a fort. Nuno went accordingly +to Diu with a fleet of 100 sail and 2000 Portuguese troops; but the king +who was then at Diu delayed the interview on various pretences, and +desired Nuno to send some of his principal captains to wait upon him. +They went accordingly richly dressed and were splendidly received. While +in discourse with the king, Emanuel de Macedo took the liberty, yet in a +respectful manner, to say "That he wondered much his majesty should +deprive Malek Tocam of the government of the city, who had not only +served him faithfully, but was the son of one who had performed many +signal services and had long enjoyed his favour, and that he should +bestow the command on _Mustapha Rumi Khan_, whose principal merit was +disloyalty to the _Grand Turk_, his natural prince." He added, that if +Mustapha denied this, he challenged him to combat, either hand to hand, +or in any other manner he might think fit. _Rumi Khan_ was present, but +made no answer, till the king looking angrily at him, he said his +silence proceeded from contempt. Macedo repeated the challenge, and the +Turk, no longer able to shun it with a good grace, agreed to fight him +at sea. But this challenge took no effect, as the parties could not +agree upon the terms of combat. Being unable to come to any agreement +with the king of Cambaya, Nuno de Cuna entered into a league with +_Humayun_[188] padishah, or emperor of the Moguls, and returned to Goa, +dispatching several of his captains with squadrons to different places. + +[Footnote 188: In De Faria called _Omaum Patxath_, king of the +Moguls.--E.] + +At this time, _Cunale Marcar_, a bold pirate, scoured the seas about +Calicut with eight vessels well equipped and full of men. One night off +Cape Comorin he surprised a Portuguese brigantine at anchor, in which +were twenty-one Portuguese, all so fast asleep that they were bound +before they waked. He caused their heads to be bruised to pieces, to +punish them for daring to sleep while he was at sea, _a merry cruelty_. +From thence _Cunale_ went to Negapatnam on the coast of Coromandel, +where there were forty Portuguese, who defended themselves to no +purpose, as the degar or governor of that place agreed with Cunale to +rob them. Khojah Marcar, though a relation of Cunale, used his +endeavours to deliver the Portuguese from this danger, by instilling +mutual jealousy into the Degar and Cunale, who however took some +Portuguese vessels then in the river at Negapatnam, and shot eight of +their men. Antonio de Silva was sent against him from Cochin with 200 +musqueteers in fifteen small vessels, on which Cunale took refuge in a +bay on the coast called _Canamnera_, where he fortified himself. But +Antonio forced him to make his escape in the habit of a beggar to +Calicut, leaving his vessels and cannon, with which Antonio returned to +Cochin. + +In 1534 Martin Alfonso de Sousa, Portuguese admiral in India, took the +fort of Daman; and Badur king of Cambaya, fearing still greater losses, +and finding his trade completely interrupted, made peace with Nuno, on +the following conditions. The fort of Basseen with all its dependencies +was ceded to the crown of Portugal: All ships bound from the kingdom of +Cambaya for the Red Sea, were to come in the first place to Basseen, and +to touch there on their return, paying certain duties to the crown of +Portugal: No ships belonging to Cambaya were to trade to any other parts +without licence from the Portuguese government: No ships of war were to +be built in any of the ports belonging to Cambaya: The king of Cambaya +was on no account to give any assistance to the _Rumes_ or Turks. There +were other articles in favour of the king of Cambaya, to render the +harshness of these more palatable; and even these were afterwards +moderated when he gave permission for building a fort at Diu. + +The kingdom of Guzerat, commonly called Cambaya from the name of its +metropolis, extends from Cape _Jaquet_ or _Jigat_ in the west, to the +river _Nagotana_ near _Chaul_, within which limits there is a large and +deep bay or gulf having the same name with the capital, in which bay the +sea ebbs and flows with wonderful rapidity, insomuch that any ship that +is caught in this tremendous _bore_ certainly perishes. To avoid this +danger, there is always a man stationed on an eminence, who gives notice +with a horn when he sees the approach of this torrent. The distance +between Cape _Jigat_ and the river of Nagotana is above 200 leagues. On +the west Guzerat borders on the _Resbuti_ or _Rajputs_, a people +dwelling in a mountainous country.[189] On the north it joins with the +kingdom of _Chitor_[190]: On the east with that of _Pale_.[191] The +coast is covered by numerous towns and cities. It is watered by two +famous rivers, the _Taptii_ and _Tapei_[192] by many creeks that form +several islands. Guzerat is all plain, so that they generally travel in +waggons, as in Flanders, but lighter made, which are easily drawn by +oxen, smaller than those of Spain. The country breeds cattle in great +abundance, and plenty of provisions of all sorts. The natives are of +four different kinds. The first called _Baneanes Baganzariis_, feed +after our manner: The second called simply _Baneanes_[193], who eat of +nothing that hath life. Their priests are called _Vertias_, who are +clothed in white, and never change their apparel till it falls in +pieces. These live altogether on charity; and, like the children of +Israel in the desert, they never keep any thing for the next day. They +place their greatest hope of salvation in abstaining from killing any +creature whatever, and even use no light at night, lest any moth should +fly into the flame; and always carry a broom to sweep the ground they +tread on, that they may not trample any worm or insect to death. The +third race consists of the _Resbuti_ or _Rajputs_, who are good +soldiers, and to whom formerly the kingdom belonged. These people +acknowledge _one God in three persons, and worship the blessed Virgin_, +a doctrine which they have preserved ever since the time of the +apostles[194]. The fourth and last class of inhabitants are the +Mahometans called _Lauteas_, consisting both of strangers who have +conquered the country, and natives who have embraced that religion. The +inhabitants of Guzerat are very ingenious mechanics in works of silk, +gold, ivory, mother-of-pearl, tortoise-shell, crystal, ebony, and other +articles. They follow the rules of Pythagoras, killing no creature; but +rather buy all, though even venomous, from those who take them, on +purpose to set them free. They have even a set of men whose only +employment is to go about the towns and fields looking out for sick +beasts, which are tended with great care in hospitals built on purpose. +Yet in spite of all this charity to the brute creation, they are devoid +of human kindness, and will not reach out their hand to help a fellow +creature in the utmost need. + +[Footnote 189: These mountains are in the middle of Guzerat, which they +pervade in a range of considerable length from N.E. to S.W.--E.] + +[Footnote 190: More properly _Agimere_, in which is the town or city of +_Cheitore_, whence the name in the text.--E.] + +[Footnote 191: Malwa, one of the kingdoms or _Soubahs_ of Hindostan is +to the east of Guzerat. The meaning of the name in the text is not +obvious.--E.] + +[Footnote 192: The Taptee is evidently one of these, but it is hard to +say what river is meant by the other. Next to the Taptee on the north, +the great river Nerbuddah flows into the Gulf of Cambay, dividing the +two great Subahs of Malwa and Candeish. The Mahie divides Guzerat from +Malwa; and the Mehindry and Puddar pervade Guzerat; which is bounded on +the west by the Cagger, dividing it from the great sandy desert of +_Sinde_ or Jesselmere, and from Cutch.--E.] + +[Footnote 193: _Banians_: It would much exceed the bounds of a note to +enter upon any explanation here of the Hindoo casts, which will be fully +illustrated in the sequel of this work.--E.] + +[Footnote 194: It is most wonderful, that in the grossest, most +ridiculous, and most obscene of all idolatrous polytheism, the +Portuguese should have fancied any resemblance to the pure religion of +Christ! even under its idolatrous debasement of image worship, and the +invocation of legions of saints. The monstrous superstitions of the +bramins will be discussed in a future division of this work.--E.] + +In the year of God 1292, or according to the Mahometan account the 700, +a pagan king named _Galacarna_ ruled in peace in Guzerat; but involved +the country in war to deprive his brother of the kingdom of _hampanel_ +or _Champaneer_ which had been left him by their father. Galacarna +employed two generals in this war, one of whom named _Madana_ had to +wife one of the most beautiful women of the country, of the race of +_Padaminii_, who, besides their beauty, are said to have so sweet a +scent from their skin that they are esteemed beyond all other women. It +is said there are scarcely any of these women in Guzerat, but many in +Orissa. There is no mischief without a woman even with an ill savour, +how much more then for one of a good scent! King Galacarna fell in love +with the wife of Madana, and used every means to gain her but to no +purpose. But she being chaste, which was doubtless the sweet smell, gave +notice to her husband and brother of the dishonourable conduct of the +king; on which they called in _Shah Nasr Oddin_ king of Delhi, who +invaded the kingdom of Guzerat and slew Galacarna in battle; after which +he left his general Habed Shah to reduce the kingdom to subjection, +having in the first place rewarded the two brothers for their services, +and made the kings of _Mandou_ and _Cheitore_ tributary[195]. Shah Nasr +Oddin was soon afterwards killed by his nephew, and the kingdom of +Delhi was so much weakened by civil war, that Habed-shah revolted and +set himself up as king of Guzerat. + +[Footnote 195: Probably Malwa and Agimere are here meant.--E.] + +In 1330, _Hamet_ a Mahometan Tartar, who resided in the city of Cambay, +by the assistance of a number of Arabs, Persians, and _Rumes_ or Turks, +usurped a great part of Guzerat, then possessed by _Deosing-rao_. Ali +Khan succeeded Hamet, and left forty sons, three of whom became kings. +The eldest _Peru-shah_ succeeded in the kingdom of Guzerat. The second +_Azeide-khan_ got the kingdom of _Mandou_ or Malwa by his wife; and the +third named Ali-khan acquired the kingdom of _Agimere_ in the same +manner. Peru-shah followed the example of his father and grandfather in +securing his kingdom against foreign enemies, and built the city of Diu +in memory of a victory over a _Chinese_ fleet. Sultan Mahomet his son +succeeded, and reigned at the time when Vasco de Gama discovered India. +He left the kingdom to his son _Modafer_, as most worthy; but in +consequence of a civil war, Modafer was slain, and his youngest brother +_Mahomet Khan_ was raised to the throne. An elder brother _Latisa Khan_ +aspired to the kingdom, but without success; and after a succession of +civil wars it fell to _Badur_, or _Behauder Khan_, who was king of +Guzerat at this period. The former king _Modafer_ divided the +possessions belonging to Malek Azz who was lord of Diu among his three +sons, which destination gave great displeasure to his own sons who +coveted these territories. But _Badur_ was chiefly dissatisfied, and +even poisoned his father _Modafer Khan_. After this parricide, he fled +to the king of Chitore, where he killed a person even in the presence of +the king at an entertainment, and fled to Delhi. He there professed +himself a _Calendar_ or religious person, to shun the punishment due to +his crimes. These Calendars go about loaded with iron chains and live +abstemiously; yet with all their outward shew of religious austerity, +they practice all manner of lewdness and wickedness in secret. They +enter into no town, but blow a horn on the out-skirts, that people may +bring them alms. Sometimes they go about in bands of two thousand or +more, laying the country under contributions. + +After remaining some time among the Calendars, Badur got notice of the +distractions prevailing in Guzerat, and went there with his chains in +search of the crown, and acquired the favour of the people so strongly +by his pretended religious austerity, that he was proclaimed king. To +secure his ill-gotten power, he caused Madrem-al-Mulk to be flayed alive +for having raised his youngest brother Latisa Khan to the throne, and +put to death all his brothers. Being desirous to take off _Malek Saca_ +lord of Diu, Saca fled, and was succeeded by his brother _Malek Tocam_. +In the year 1527, one Stephen Diaz Brigas, a Portuguese who had fled his +country for some crime, came to India as captain of a French ship with +forty Frenchmen, and putting into Diu was there made prisoner with all +his men, who were cruelly put to death by order of Badur. + +While at Champaneer in 1527, ambassadors came from _Baber_, padishah or +emperor of Delhi, demanding homage and tribute for Guzerat, as part of +his dominions. At first Badur was disposed to have slain these unwelcome +messengers; but he dismissed them, saying that he would carry the answer +in person. He accordingly drew together an army of 100,000 men and 400 +elephants, with a great train of artillery. But he was prevented from +carrying his designs into execution, in consequence of a great town +called _Doitabad_ being taken by Nizam-al-Mulk; and though he recovered +it, he met with great loss of men, chiefly by the weather, it being +winter, some of his men being slain by a shower of stones as large as +oranges[196]. Certain men came to Badur, from the kingdom of the +_Colii_[197], who demanded tribute; but he flayed them alive. In 1529, +Badur marched with 70,000 horse and 200,000 foot into the dominions of +Nizam-al-Mulk, where he did much damage. In the same year Baber padishah +of the Moguls of Delhi, marched with an army for the reduction of +Guzerat; but met with so much loss in a battle with the king of +_Cheitore_ in Agimere that he was forced to retire to Delhi. + +[Footnote 196: The story in the text is difficultly intelligible. I am +apt to believe that the great army belonged to Baber, the Great Mogul, +designed for the reduction of Guzerat, but turned aside for the recovery +of _Dowlatabad_ in the Deccan, and that the shower of stones of the text +is to be understood of hail.--E.] + +[Footnote 197: Who these were does not appear.--E.] + +Badur invaded the kingdom of _Mandou_[198], and killed the king by +treachery. He then imprisoned all the kings sons, and distributed the +wives and daughters of the deceased king among his officers. +_Salahedin_, one of the principal officers of that kingdom fled to +_Raosinga_, a place almost impregnable by nature and art, but was +inveigled into the power of Badur and forced to turn Mahometan. Badur +then besieged the mountain fort of Raosinga, and commanded the women +belonging to Salahedin to come out; but they sent word that they would +not do so unless along with Salahedin, who was accordingly sent into the +fort for that purpose. His women, about 500 in number, exclaimed against +his becoming a Mahometan, saying they would rather be all burnt alive +than delivered to the enemy. Whereupon Salahedin, with 120 men who +guarded his _zenana_, slew them all upon a pile of wood, where they were +burnt with all his riches. After this Badur went against Chitore with an +army of 100,000 horse, an innumerable infantry, and 600 cannon, and +besieged Chitore for two months, at the end of which it surrendered. By +this conquest Badur was in possession of three considerable kingdoms. + +[Footnote 198: Probably Malwa.--E.] + +At this time Tristan de Ga, as formerly mentioned, was at the court of +Badur on an embassy from Nuno de Cuna to treat of peace, but which +negociation was delayed by sundry accidents, and in particular by the +death of the Great Mogul, of whom Badur was in great fear. Through +covetousness Badur discontinued the pay of many of those leaders who had +served him with great fidelity in his late conquests, on which account +4000 men of note deserted from him to the Mogul. One of his officers +named Mujate Khan endeavoured to convince him of the dangerous effects +this conduct might have upon his affairs; in reward for which Badur sent +him on some frivolous pretence to Diu, and at the same time sent secret +orders to Melek Tocam to put him to death; but Tocam disdained to +execute the tyrannical order, and advised the faithful Mujate Khan to +save himself by flight. Instead of following this advice, Mujate +returned to Badur and prostrated himself at his feet, delivering up his +scymeter with these words, "If I have deserved death from you, I here +present you the traitor and the instrument of his punishment. Kill me, +therefore, that I may have the honour of dying by your hand: Yet the +faithful services of my grandfather, father, and self, have merited a +better reward." Badur, struck with his fidelity and attachment, received +him again to favour; but turned his rage against Melek Tocam for +revealing the secret orders with which he had been entrusted, and sent +Mustapha Rume Khan to Diu to put him to death. Malek Tocam got notice of +this at a country house in which he occasionally resided, whence he fled +from Rume Khan. After this Badur came to Diu which he reduced, having +arrived there at the same time with Nuno de Cuna, when the interview +between the governor and him was proposed; but which Badur only intended +as a feint to ward off the danger which he apprehended from the padishah +of the Moguls; meaning, if he could patch up an agreement with that +sovereign, to break with the Portuguese. But the Mogul recalled his +ambassadors and commenced war upon Bader, of which hereafter. + +Those whom we name Moguls call themselves _Zagetai_, in the same manner +as the Spaniards call themselves Goths. Zagetai is the name of the +province which they inhabited in Great Tartary near Turkestan, and the +nobles do not permit themselves to be called Moguls. According to the +Persians, the Moguls are descended of Magog the grandson of Noah, from +whom they received the worship of the _one_ only God. Wandering through +many provinces, this nation established themselves in _Mogalia_ or +_Mongolia_, otherwise _Mogostan_, called Paropamissus by Ptolemy. At +this time they extend farther, and border upon the kingdom of _Horacam_ +or _Chorassan_, called _Aria_, or _Here_ by that ancient geographer. +From the extreme north, the Moguls extend to the river _Geum_ or +_Jihon_, which runs through _Bohara_ or _Bucharia_, the ancient +_Bactria_, so named from its capital, the celebrated seat of learning +from the time of _Zoroaster_, and where _Avicenna_ acquired the +knowledge which made him so famous. _Bucharia_, or _Bactria_ borders +upon _Quiximir_ or _Cashmire_ and Mount _Caucasus_, which divides India +from the provinces of Tartary in the north. This kingdom of the Moguls +now reaches to the mountainous regions of _Parveti_ and _Bagous_ which +they call _Angou_ [199]. As in this dominion there ace great mountains, +so there are likewise very large and fruitful plains, watered by five +rivers which compose the Indus. These are the _Bet, Satinague, Chanao, +Rave_, and _Rea_[200]. The cities of this country are numerous and, the +men courageous. + +[Footnote 199: De Faria becomes here unintelligible, unless he here +means the range of mountains which bound Hindostan, particularly on the +north-west, including Cashmir and Cabul; which seems probable as +immediately followed in the text by the _Punjab_, or country on the +_five rivers_ composing the Indus.--E.] + +[Footnote 200: These rivers are so strangely perverted in their +orthography as hardly to be recognisable, and some of them not at all. +The true _Punjab_ or five rivers is entirely on the east of the Indus, +Sinde or Nilab. Its five rivers are the Behut or Hydaspes, Chunab or +Acesinas, Rauvee or Hydraotes, Setlege or Hesudrus, and a tributary +stream of the last named the Hyphasis by the ancients. These two last +are the Beyah and Setlege of the moderns. The Kameh and Comul run into +the Indus to the west of the Punjab--E.] + +The Moguls are of the Mahometan religion, using the Turkish and Persian +languages. They are of fair complexions, and well made, but have, small +eyes like the Tartars and Chinese. Their nobility wear rich and gay +clothes, fashioned like those of the Persians, and have long beards. +Their military dress is very costly, their arms being splendidly gilt +and highly polished, and they are singularly expert in the use of the +bow. In battle they are brave and well disciplined and use artillery. +Their padishah is treated with wonderful majesty, seldom making his +appearance in public, and has a guard of 2000 horse, which is changed +quarterly. Both Moguls and Patans endeavoured to conquer India; but by +treachery and the event of war, the Patans and the kingdom of Delhi were +reduced by the Moguls at the time when Baber, the great-grandson of the +great Tamerlane was their padishah. + +At the period to which we have now proceeded in our history of the +Portuguese in India, _Omaum_ or _Humayun_, the son of Baber, was +padishah of the Moguls, and declared war against Badur king of Guzerat; +who immediately sent an army of 20,000 horse and a vast multitude of +foot to ravage the frontiers of the enemy. Ingratitude never escapes +unpunished, as was exemplified on this occasion. _Crementii_ queen of +_Chitore_, who had formerly saved the life of Badur, and who in return +had deprived her of the kingdom of Chitore, was required by him to send +her son with all the men he could raise to assist him in the war against +Humayun. The queen required he would restore her other son, whom he kept +as an hostage, that she might not be deprived of both, and in the mean +time raised all the forces she was able. Not aware of her intentions, +Badur sent her son to Chitore, on which she immediately put herself +under the protection of Humayun. Badur immediately drew together an army +of 100,000 horse, 415,000 foot, 1000 cannon, 600 armed elephants, and +6000 carriages, with which he besieged Chitore, and battered its walls +with great fury. While engaged in this siege, he received information +that the army he had sent to ravage the country of the Moguls had been +defeated with the loss of 20,000 men. He at length got possession of +Chitore by policy more than force, after losing 15,000 men during the +siege; but the queen made her escape with all her family and wealth. He +repaired the fortifications of Chitore, in which he left _Minao Husseyn_ +with a garrison of 12,000 men. He then marched to meet the army of the +Moguls, which was advancing through _Mandou_ or _Malwa_ in order to +relieve Chitore. On learning that Chitore had fallen, and that Badur was +intrenched with his army at Dozor, Humayun marched to that place and +took up a position with so much judgment that the army of Badur was +reduced to extremity for provisions. Being unable to extricate his army +from this state of difficulty, Badur fled with all speed to _Mandou_, or +_Mundu_ near the Nerbuddah on the southern frontier of Malwa, +accompanied by Mustapha Rumi Khan and a few Portuguese. His prodigious +army was utterly destroyed or dispersed, and his camp plundered by the +Moguls; he even escaping with difficulty from the pursuit of 10,000 +Mogul horse. + +Badur fortified himself in _Mundu_, giving the command of his remaining +force to Rumi Khan, who soon deserted to Humayun. The family and wealth +of Rumi Khan were at this time in the fortress of _Champaneer_, and both +Badur and Rumi Khan strove which of them should first be able to secure +that place, in which Badur had deposited one of his three tres, which +only in copper money was worth 30 millions[201], besides pearls, +precious stones, and other valuables. Badur got possession of +Champaneer, whence he immediately sent all the treasure, and the family +of Rumi Khan, under a strong escort to Diu; while he wasted the country +and destroyed all the artillery, that it might not fall into the hands +of Humayun, and even did the same at _Cambaya_ his own capital. Seeing +his women and riches in the hands of Badur, Rumi Khan obtained five +hundred horse from his new master, with which he pursued Badur so +expeditiously that he entered one of the gates of _Cambaya_ as Badur was +going out at the other. Finding himself so closely pursued, Badur left +the women and riches by the way, in hopes of stopping the pursuit, which +had the desired effect, as Rumi Khan immediately returned with them to +Champaneer, and Badur got safe to Diu, leaving his entire kingdom to +Humayun. + +[Footnote 201: No intimation is given by De Faria of the denomination of +money here alluded to.--E.] + +In this state of adversity, Badur at length consented to the erection of +a fort at Diu by the Portuguese. He had formerly given up Basseen to +them, to secure their friendship during his contest with Humayun, and +was now in hopes by their assistance to recover his dominions. Still +however his pride prompted him to temporize, and he sent an ambassador +to request assistance from the Turks to recover his territories. Hearing +that Humayun had taken Champaneer he gave himself up to despair and +resolved upon going to Mecca, to wait the answer of the grand Turk; but +his mother and friends dissuaded him, advising him to allow the +Portuguese to erect the fort at Diu, as by their aid his affairs might +be restored. He immediately sent notice to that effect to Martin Alfonso +de Sousa, then at Chaul, who communicated the event to Nuno de Cuna, and +went immediately to Diu at the request of Badur, arriving on the 21st of +September 1536. A league offensive and defensive was immediately entered +into between Badur and the Portuguese, in which the former treaty was +confirmed, except that the emporium of trade was to be transferred from +Basseen to Diu: The fort was to be built where and in what manner should +be judged best by the governor-general; and in the mean time a bulwark +or castle upon the sea, commanding the entrance of the port was to be +delivered up. There were many other articles, and among these that the +Portuguese were not to meddle with the kings revenues at Diu and other +places. The governor general on receiving notice of this treaty, came +immediately to Diu, where he was honourably received by Badur. + +A Jew and an Armenian were immediately sent off to carry intelligence of +this event to Portugal [202]. At this time there was a person named +Diego Botello residing at Diu who was in disgrace with the king of +Portugal, on account of it being reported that he intended to go over +to the French in hopes of high promotion, as he was very conversant in +the affairs of India. Knowing how earnestly King _Joam_ had desired the +establishment of a fort at Diu, he resolved upon endeavouring to be the +first messenger of this news. For this purpose, having procured a copy +of the treaty and a draught of the intended fort, he embarked in a small +vessel, only sixteen feet and a half long, nine feet broad, and four +feet and a half deep, manned by his own slaves, with three Portuguese +and two others, giving out that he was going to Cambaya. But when out at +sea, he informed his companions that he meant in this frail bark to +traverse the prodigious extent of ocean between India and Portugal, and +prevailed upon those along with him to concur in his design. Being +reduced to unspeakable miseries, the slaves, who were the only mariners +on board, entered into a conspiracy to kill him, and even killed one of +his servants, but were all slain. Being now without seaman or pilot, he +held on his course and arrived at Lisbon to the astonishment of every +one. Botello was restored to the royal favour for this wonderful action, +but received no other reward, and the bark was immediately destroyed, +that it might not be known so small a vessel was capable of performing +so great a voyage. + +[Footnote 202: Though not so expressed in the text, these messengers +were probably sent over land.--E.] + +Nuno de Cuna lost no time in erecting the fort at Diu, the command of +which was given to Emanuel de Sousa with 900 Portuguese troops, the +ramparts being furnished with sixty pieces of great cannon. Badur soon +found the benefit of his alliance with the Portuguese, as Nizam-al-Mulk +at the instigation of Nuno made peace with and aided him against +Humayun; and a Portuguese force under Vasco Perez recovered for him a +considerable place towards the Indus named _Varivene_[203]. Garcia de Sa +and Antonio Galvam defended Basseen against the Moguls, who were +constrained to retreat from that place; and Mirza Mahmoud, nephew to +Badur, recovered many places on the frontiers from the Moguls. Being +thus prosperous, solely by the assistance of the Portuguese, 500 of whom +served in his army under the command of Martin Alfonso de Sousa, Badur +repented of having allowed them to build a fort at Diu, and even began +to build a wall or fortification between the fort and the city, under +pretence of separating the Portuguese from the natives, to prevent +differences by too free communication. But after several strong +remonstrances this was desisted from. + +[Footnote 203: Perhaps Warwama on the Gulf of Cutch.--E.] + +In the year 1537, Badur became still more intent upon removing the +Portuguese from Diu, for which purpose he again sent to procure +assistance from the Turks, and in the mean time used his utmost +endeavours to take the fort and to destroy Nuno de Cuna, whom he invited +to Diu with that view. Though apprized of the treacherous designs of +Badur, De Cuna omitted to avail himself of an opportunity of securing +him while on a visit on board his ship, deferring it to a future +opportunity in a proposed conference in the fort. While Badur was going +on shore in his _katur_ or barge, Emanuel de Sousa the commandant of the +fort of Diu followed him in a barge and went on board the royal katur to +give the invitation from the governor-general. At this time another +Portuguese barge coming up hastily, Badur became suspicious of some evil +intention, and ordered his officers to kill De Sousa. One Diega de +Mosquita who had aided Badur in the late war and had acquired a perfect +knowledge of the language, understood what was said by Badur, whom he +immediately attacked and wounded, but De Sousa was slain by his +attendants. Upon this a bloody affray took place between the Portuguese +and the attendants on Badur, in which seven of the latter were slain. +Several other boats belonging to both parties came up, and Badur +attempted to escape in his barge to the city, but was stopped by a +cannon-shot which killed three of his rowers; on which he endeavoured to +escape by swimming, but being in danger of drowning he called out, +discovering who he was. Tristan de Payva reached out an oar for him to +take hold of, that he might get on board the boat; but a soldier struck +him on the face with a halberd, and then others, till he was slain. His +body sunk, and neither it nor the body of De Sousa could afterwards be +found for interment. + +Most of the citizens of Diu were witness to this scene from the walls, +and when the intelligence of the kings death reached the city, the +inhabitants began to abandon it in such haste and confusion that many +were trampled to death in the throng, being afraid that the Portuguese +would plunder them. The governor-general soon restored confidence by a +public proclamation, and the inhabitants returned quietly to their +houses. He even entered the town unarmed, to reassure the inhabitants +and to restrain the avarice of his people, so that no disorder was +committed. De Sousa being slain, as before mentioned, De Cuna gave the +command of the fortress of Diu to his brother-in-law Antonio de Sylveira +Menezes, and his gallant conduct afterwards shewed that he was worthy of +the station. The queen-mother had retired to _Navanaguer_[204], and Nuno +sent a message of condolence for the death of her son, endeavouring to +demonstrate that it had been occasioned by his own fault; but she +refused to receive or listen to the message. The treasure found in the +palace of Diu in gold and silver was of small value, not exceeding +200,000 _pardaos_[205], but the quantity of ammunition was exceedingly +great. The number of brass cannon was prodigious, those of iron not +being deemed worthy of account. Among the brass ordnance were three +_basilisks_ of prodigious size, one of which was sent by De Cuna as a +curiosity to Lisbon, which was placed in the castle of St Julian at the +mouth of the Tagus, where it is known by the name of the _Gun of Diu_. +Among the papers belonging to Badur and his treasurer _Abd' el Cader_ +letters were found from _Saf_ Khan, communicating the progress he had +made in his negociations for bringing the Turks upon the Portuguese, and +copies of others from the sheikhs of _Aden_ and _Xael_ to the same +purpose. Having collected these and other testimonies of the treachery +of the late king, Nuno caused _Khojah Zofar_, a man of great reputation +among the citizens both Mahometans and Gentiles, to convene a meeting of +the principal people, merchants, and _cazis_, or teachers of the +Mahometan law, to whom these letters and testimonials were produced, in +justification of the conduct of the Portuguese, and in proof of the +treacherous intentions of the late king. All the Moors and Pagans +acknowledged themselves satisfied by these documents, and accordingly +gave certificates to that effect in the Arabic and Persian languages, +which were signed by Khojah Zofar and all the leading people among the +Mahometans and Hindoos, which were communicated to the kings of the +Deccan, Narsinga, and Ormuz, and to all the sheikhs along the coast of +Arabia as far as Aden. + +[Footnote 204: Probably Noanagur on the east side of the Gulf of +Cutch.--E.] + +[Footnote 205: At 3s. 9d. each, worth L. 37,500 sterling.--E.] + +For the greater security and satisfaction of the people, Nuno gave +orders that the Mahometans should enjoy the free exercise of their +religion, and that the laws and regulations established by Badur for the +government of the city and its dependencies should continue to be +executed, even continuing all the salaries and pensions granted by the +late king. Among these was a Moor of Bengal who, by _authentic_ +information was 320 years old[206]. This man had two sons, one ninety +and the other only twelve years of age. He appeared to be only about +sixty, and it was said that his beard and teeth had fallen and been +renewed four or five times. He was rather under the middle size, and +neither fat nor lean. He pretended that before he was an hundred years +old, while herding cattle on the banks of a river, there appeared a man +to him clothed in a gray habit and girt with a cord, having wounds on +his hands and feet, who requested to be carried by him across the river +on his shoulders; which having done, this person said that as a reward +for his charity, he should retain all his faculties till he saw him +again. Going accordingly into one of the Portuguese churches in India, +this old man exclaimed on seeing the image of St Francis, This is he +whom I carried across the river so many years ago. + +[Footnote 206: Perhaps an error of the press for 120.--E.] + +Mir Mahomet Zaman, a descendant of the ancient kings of Guzerat, on +learning the death of Badur, went to condole with the queen-mother at +_Novanaguer_; but she, fearing he came to rob her, refused to see him +and even endeavoured to remove to another place. Offended at her +suspicions, Mahomet Zaman lay in wait for her with 2000 horse, and +robbed her of all her riches, amounting to above two millions of gold. +He then raised above 5000 horse, with which he seized Novanaguer, and +had himself proclaimed king of Guzerat. He then sent a messenger to Nuno +de Cuna, giving an account of the posture of his affairs and of his +title to the crown, desiring his assistance, in requital for which he +offered to cede to the Portuguese all the coast from Mangalore to +Beth[207], including the towns of Daman and Basseen with the royal +country house of Novanaguer, and other advantages. Nuno accepted these +offers, caused him to be proclaimed king in the mosque of Diu, and urged +him to raise forces and disperse the other pretenders. Fearing that this +advice was only given to deceive, Zaman procrastinated and took no +effectual steps to secure the crown to which he aspired, of which +misconduct he soon experienced the evil consequences; as the principal +people of Guzerat set Mahomet Khan, a nephew of the deceased Badur on +the Musnud, and made preparations to subdue Zaman. As Nuno was under the +necessity of leaving Diu early in 1538 to attend to the other affairs of +his extensive government, the Guzerat nobles in the interest of Mahomet +raised sixty thousand men, with which they marched against Zaman; and +having corrupted most of his officers, he was obliged to flee to Delhi, +where he was honourably received by the padishah of the Moguls, from +whom he received the kingdom of Bengal. The successful party in Guzerat +called Antonio de Sylveira who commanded in Diu to account for the death +of Badur, and being satisfied on that head proposed a treaty of peace; +but as they peremptorily refused to accede to the condition conceded by +Zaman, the negociations were broken off. + +[Footnote 207: This account if the matter is inexplicable. Mangalore is +on the coast of Malabar far to the south of Guzerat, Beth is not to be +found in any map of India in these parts, and Novanaguer or Noanagur is +at the other extremity of Guzerat on the Gulf of Cutch.--E.] + +The most inveterate enemies of the Portuguese in India were the Moors +upon the coast between Chaul and Cape Comorin, a space of about 200 +leagues, who had flocked thither in great numbers allured by the vast +and profitable trade in that part of India. About this time there lived +in Cochin a rich and powerful Moor named Pate Marcar, who being +irritated against the Portuguese for taking some of his vessels went to +reside in Calicut to have an opportunity of being revenged upon them by +the assistance of the zamorin, who furnished him with above 50 ships, +2000 men, and 400 pieces of cannon. With these he went to the assistance +of Madune Pandar who had revolted against his brother the king of Ceylon +who was the ally of the Portuguese. At Coulam Marcar attacked a large +Portuguese ship which was loading pepper, but was beat off after killing +the captain. In another port farther south he took a ship belonging to +the Portuguese and killed all her crew. Beyond Cape Comorin he destroyed +a town inhabited by native Christians. On hearing of these depredations, +Martin Alfonso went in 19 row-boats from Cochin in pursuit of Marcar, +whom he found in a creek where he offered him battle; but as Marcar +declined this, and Alfonso did not think his force sufficient to attack +him in that situation, he returned to Cochin for a reinforcement. +Setting out again with 28 row-boats and 400 men, Alfonso found Marcar +careening his vessels at a port or creek beyond Cape Comorin named +_Beadala_, where he gave the Moors a total defeat though they had +gathered a force of 7000 men to resist him. Alfonso took 23 barks, 400 +cannon, 1500 firelocks, and many prisoners, and set free a considerable +number of Portuguese slaves, having lost 30 men in the action, chiefly +through the mistake of a signal. After this great victory, Alfonso went +over to Columbo in Ceylon, the king of which place was besieged by his +rebellious brother Madune Pandar, who at first believed the Portuguese +fleet to be that of Marcar coming to his assistance; but hearing of the +destruction of his ally, he raised the siege and made peace. + +It is proper that we should give some account of the rich and fertile +kingdom of Bengal on the bay of that name, which receives the waters of +the famous river Ganges by two principal mouths and many subordinate +creeks. This river has its source in the mountains of Great Tartary, +whence it runs southwards near 600 leagues, dividing India into two +parts _infra et extra Gangem_, or on this side and the other side of the +Ganges. On the great eastern mouth of the Ganges stands the city of +_Chatigam_ or _Chittagong_, and on the western mouth the city of +_Satigam_[208]. On the east of the Ganges, which runs through the middle +of Bengal, _Caor, Camatii, Sirote, Codovascam, Cou,_ and _Tipora_ were +subject to that kingdom, but the two last uniting together had thrown +off the yoke. On the west of the river, the country of _Cospetir_, whose +plain is overflowed annually by the Ganges as the land of Egypt by the +Nile, had been conquered by the Patans. According to the Pagans, God +hath granted to the kingdom of Bengal an infinite multitude of infantry, +to Orixa abundance of elephants, to Bisnagar a people well skilled in +using the sword and buckler, to Delhi a prodigious number of towns, and +to _Cou_ innumerable horses. The kingdom of Bengal, reaching between the +latitudes of 22 deg. and 26 deg. 30' N. is well watered and exceedingly fertile, +producing abundance of fruit, with sugar and long pepper, great +quantities of cotton, which the inhabitants manufacture with much skill, +and has great abundance of cattle and poultry. The natives are heathens +of a pusillanimous character, yet false and treacherous; for it ally the +case that cowardice and treachery go together. + +[Footnote 208: It is impossible even to guess what place is meant in the +text by Satigam, unless it may have some reference to the river +Sagar.--E.] + +The king is universal heir to all his subjects. The capital city, named +_Gowro_, on the banks of the Ganges, is three leagues in length. It +contains 1,200,000 families, and is well fortified. The streets are +long, wide, and straight, with rows of trees to shelter the people from +the sun, and are sometimes so thronged with passengers that many are +trodden to death. + +About fifty years before the discovery of India by the Portuguese, an +Arabian merchant who dwelt in Gowro became very rich and powerful, and +having defeated the king of Orixa in a great battle grew so much in +favour with the king of Bengal that he was made captain of his guards. +But, ungrateful to his benefactor, he killed the king and usurped the +kingdom, leaving it as an inheritance to the Moors who have since +possessed this rich and fertile kingdom. The succession to this kingdom +proceeds upon no rule of hereditary descent; but is often acquired by +slaves who kill their masters, and whosoever acquires the government, +were it only for three days, is looked upon as established by Providence +and Divine right. Hence during a period of forty years this kingdom had +been ruled by 13 successive princes. At the time when Martin Alfonso +Melo de Jusarte was prisoner in Bengal, Mahomet Shah was king and held +his court in Gowro with such state that there were 10,000 women in his +Zenana, yet was he in continual apprehension of being deposed. Martin +and the other Portuguese prisoners did signal service to Mahomet in his +wars with the Patans; and Martin and his followers obtained their +liberty through the means of one _Khojah Sabadim_, a rich Moor, who +engaged to procure liberty for the Portuguese to build a fort at +Chittagong, if Nuno de Cuna would carry him to Ormuz. Nano being eager +to acquire an establishment in Bengal, granted all that was asked, and +sent Martin Alfonso with 200 men in five vessels to Bengal, and to +secure the friendship of the king sent him a magnificent present. +Thirteen men who carried the present to Gowro, and thirty others who +accompanied Martin Alfonso to an entertainment at Chittagong were made +prisoners. On learning this event, Nuno sent Antonio de Silva with 350 +men in nine vessels, to treat for the liberation of Martin Alfonso and +prisoners, by the assistance of Khojah Sabadim, to whose suggestions the +former unfortunate expedition was owing; and to secure the fidelity of +Sabadim, a ship belonging to him with a rich cargo was detained in +pledge. From Chittagong, Silva sent a messenger to Gowro with a letter +and a present; but as the answer was long in coming, Silva judged that +the king had detained his messenger along with the rest, on which he +rashly destroyed Chittagong and some other places; for which proceeding +the king confined the prisoners more rigidly than before. But his +necessities obliged him soon after to change his severity into kindness. + +_Xerchan_, or _Shir Khan_, a general of note among the Moguls, being in +disgrace with the padisbah or Great Mogul, fled from Delhi to Bengal +accompanied by his brother Hedele Khan, and both of them rose to eminent +rank in the service of Mahomet. Being now at the head of a large army, +Shir Khan resolved to avenge upon Mahomet the murder of the former +infant king of Bengal; for which purpose he revolted with his army to +Humayun the Mogul padishah, and turned his arms against Mahomet. In his +distress, Mahomet consulted with Martin Alfonso how best to oppose the +arms of Shir Khan. By his advice, some vessels commanded by Portuguese +were stationed in the Ganges at a pass near the fort of _Gori_ where the +Ganges enters Bengal. These effectually barred the passage of Shir Khan +in that direction; but having discovered another ford, he advanced to +Gowro, which he invested with 40,000 horse, 200,000 foot, and 1500 +elephants. Shir Khan likewise brought a fleet of 300 boats down the +river, to a place where Mahomet had 800 boats to oppose the enemy. At +this place Duarte de Brito did signal service in the sight of King +Mahomet, and among other things, accompanied by eight other Portuguese, +he took an elephant that was swimming across the river. The city of +Gowro being reduced to distress by the besiegers, Mahomet bought a +peace, and Shir Khan drew off with his army. Being now as he thought in +safety, Mahomet allowed Martin Alfonso to depart with the other +Portuguese, only retaining five as hostages for the assistance he had +been promised by Nuno. + +Shir Khan returned soon afterwards to Gowro, which he took by assault, +obliging the king, who was wounded in the assault, to abandon the city. +Mahomet died of his wounds on his way to ask assistance from Humayun. +Shir Khan drew off from Gowro, where he acquired treasure to the amount +of 60 millions in gold. Humayun brought the dead body of King Mahomet to +Gowro, where he appointed his own brother-in-law Mir Mahomet Zaman to +the vacant kingdom, who had been lately driven from Guzerat. But on the +return of Humayun towards Delhi, Shir Khan returned to Gowro and drove +out Mahomet Zaman. Humayun then marched against Shir Khan with 100,000 +horse and 150,000 foot, with above 200,000 followers. The two armies met +on the banks of the Ganges near the city of Kanoje when Shir Khan gained +so complete a victory that Humayun made his escape with only 25 +attendants, and never stopt till he arrived at Lahore. Shir Khan treated +the women belonging to Humaynn with great respect, and restored them to +the padishah. Finding himself too weak for the conquest of Bengal, +Humayun determined upon endeavouring to reduce Guzerat; but abandoned in +his distress by his own Omrahs, he went into Persia, where the Sophi +supplied him with an army of 12,000 horse, to which he was enabled to +add 10,000 volunteers. With these allies, added to the troops that +continued to adhere to him, he invested Candahar, where his brother +Astarii Mirza had proclaimed himself king of Mogostan. The city was +taken and given up to the Persians. In the mean time Shir Khan made +himself formidable in Bengal, having an army of 400,000 horse. He took +the city of Calijor belonging to the Rajputs, meaning to plunder a vast +treasure contained in the temple at that place; but pointing a cannon to +kill an elephant belonging to the temple, the piece burst and killed +himself. + +The present formerly mentioned, which was sent by the king of Guzerat to +the Grand Turk to obtain his assistance, was delivered at +Constantinople, where at the same time arrived news of the kings death. +But the great value of the present demonstrated the vast riches of +India, and made the Turkish emperor desirous of acquiring a footing in +that country, whence he thought the Portuguese might be easily expelled, +and their possessions reduced under his dominion. In this enterprise he +was greatly encouraged by a Portuguese renegado at Constantinople, who +asserted that the Turkish power might easily supplant that of the +Portuguese in India. For this purpose, the Turkish emperor ordered a +fleet to be fitted out at Suez, the command of which was given to the +eunuch Solyman Pacha, governor of Cairo. Solyman was a Greek janizary +born in the Morea, of an ugly countenance, short of stature, and had so +large a belly that he was more like a beast than a man, not being able +to rise up without the aid of four men. At this time he was eighty years +of age, and he obtained this command more by dint of his wealth than +merit, as he offered to be at the entire charge of the expedition. To +enable him to perform this, he put many rich men to death and seized +their wealth. Among others he strangled Mir Daud, king or _bey_ of the +Thebaid, and seized his treasure. It might be said therefore that this +fleet was equipped rather by the dead than the living. It consisted of +70 sail, most of them being large gallies, well stored with cannon, +ammunition, and provisions; on board of which he embarked 7000 soldiers, +part Turkish janizaries and part Mamelukes; besides a great number of +choice sailors and galley-slaves, many of the latter being taken from +the Venetian gallies then at Alexandria, which were seized in +consequence of a war breaking out between the Turks and the republic of +Venice. + +Solyman, who was both a tyrant and a coward, set out from Suez on the +22d of June 1538, ordering four hundred of the soldiers to assist at the +oars, and as they resisted this order as contrary to their privileges, +he put two hundred of them to death. At Jiddah he endeavoured to take +the sheikh, but knowing his tyrannical character, he escaped into the +interior. At _Zabid_, after receiving a rich present, he put the sheikh +to death. He did the same thing at Aden; and arrived at Diu about the +beginning of September 1538, losing six of his vessels by the way. + +When Badar king of Guzerat was killed, one _Khojah Zofar_ swam on shore +and was well received by the Portuguese, being the only one of the kings +retinue who was saved on that occasion. For some time he seemed grateful +for his safety; but at length fled without any apparent reason to the +new king of Guzerat, to whom he offered his services, and even +endeavoured to prevail upon him to expel the Portuguese from his +dominions, asserting that this might be easily done with the assistance +of the Turks. By his instigation, the king of Guzerat raised an army at +Champaneer of 5000 horse and 10,000 foot, to which Khojah Zofar added +3000 horse and 4000 foot in his own pay. Getting notice of these +preparations, Antonio de Sylveira who commanded in Diu, used every +precaution to provide against a long and dangerous siege. Khojah Zofar +began the war by attacking the town of the _Rumes_[209] near Diu. +Francisco Pacheco defended himself bravely in a redoubt at the place, +with only fourteen Portuguese, till relieved by Sylveira, and Zofar was +forced to draw off his troops, being himself wounded. Immediately +afterwards Ali Khan, general of the Guzerat army, joined Zofar with all +the army, and Sylveira thought proper to evacuate all the posts beyond +Diu, that he might be able to maintain the city and fort; but some +vessels and guns were lost in the execution of these orders. In +consequence of these losses, and because there were many concealed +enemies in the city who only waited an opportunity of doing all the evil +in their power to the Portuguese, Sylveira deemed it expedient to +evacuate the city, giving his sole attention to the defence of the fort. +Ali Khan and Zofar immediately took possession of the city, and began to +fire upon the fort with their cannon. Lope de Sousa, who guarded the +wood and water belonging to the garrison, had several rencounters, in +which he slew many of the enemy without any loss on his side, except +being himself severely wounded. + +[Footnote 209: This must have been some town or village inhabited by +Turks.--E.] + +Hearing that the Turkish fleet was approaching, Sylveira sent immediate +notice of it to Nuno de Cuna, who prepared with great diligence to go in +person to relieve Diu. Michael Vaz was sent to sea by Sylveira to look +out for the enemy, and falling in with their fleet came so near on +purpose to examine their force that several of their shot reached his +vessel. He got off however, and carried the news to the governor of Goa. +The Turkish fleet came at length to anchor in the port of Diu, where it +was formidable not only to the small Portuguese garrison in the fort, +but to the Moors even who had long expected their arrival. Next day +Solyman landed 600 well armed janizaries, who immediately entered the +city and behaved with much insolence. Drawing near the fort, they killed +six Portuguese; but 300 musqueteers attacked them from the fort and +drove them away with the loss of fifty men. In consequence of a storm, +Solyman was obliged to remove his fleet to _Madrefavat_, as a safer +harbour, where he remained twenty days, during which time Sylveira was +diligently occupied in strengthening the fortifications of the castle, +planting his artillery on the ramparts, and assigning every one his +proper post for the ensuing siege. At the same time, the Turks assisted +by Zofar commenced operations against the fort, by constructing +batteries, and endeavouring to ruin the defences of a bulwark at the +entrance of the harbour, which they battered with their cannon. With +this view likewise, they built a wooden castle on a large bark, which, +they filled with combustibles, meaning to send it against the bulwark +to set it on fire. But Francisco de Gouvea, who commanded the small +naval force then at Diu, went against this floating castle under night, +and contrived to destroy it by fire. At this time likewise some relief +was sent to the fort by Nuno de Cuna, and the garrison was much elated +by the assurance of his intention of coming speedily in person to raise +the siege. + +Returning from Madrefavat, Solyman commenced a heavy fire from his ships +against the sea bulwark in which Francisco de Gouvea commanded, but was +so well answered both from that work and the tower of St Thomas, that +one of his gallies was sunk and most of her men drowned. The greatest +harm suffered at this time by the Portuguese was from the bursting of +some of their own cannon, by which several men were killed. Two brothers +only were slain by the fire of the Turks. Zofar now so furiously +battered the bulwark in which Pacheco commanded, that it became +altogether indefensible, on which seven hundred janizaries assaulted it +and set up their colours on its ruined walls; but the Portuguese rallied +and dislodged them, killing an hundred and fifty of the enemy. The +assault of this bulwark was continued a whole day, and at night the +enemy were forced to retreat with much loss. Next day Pacheco deeming it +impossible to resist, surrendered upon promise of life and liberty to +himself and his men. Solyman did not perform the latter stipulation, but +he granted their lives for the present and clothed them in Turkish +habits. By one of these prisoners, Solyman sent a summons to Sylveira to +surrender, but the proposal was treated with contempt. Solyman now +planted his artillery against the fort, having among other cannon nine +pieces of vast size which carried balls of ninety pounds weight. His +artillery in all exceeded 130 pieces of different sizes, and his +batteries were continually guarded by 2000 Turks. This formidable train +began to play against the castle on the 4th of October 1538, and +continued without cessation for twenty days, doing great injury to the +defences of the fort, which could hardly do any injury in return to the +besiegers, neither could the garrison repair sufficiently the most +dangerous breaches, though they used every possible exertion for that +purpose. On the sixth day after the commencement of this violent +cannonade, perceiving that the bulwark commanded by Caspar de Sousa was +much damaged, the Turks endeavoured to carry it by assault, but were +repulsed with much slaughter, two only of the defenders being slain. +Every day there were assaults by the besiegers or sallies by the +garrison. In one of these Gonzalo Falcam lost his head; and Juan de +Fonseca being disabled by a severe wound of his right arm continued to +wield his lance with his left as if he had received no hurt. A youth of +only nineteen years old, named Joam Gallego, pursued a Moor into the sea +and slew him, and afterwards walked back deliberately to the fort +through showers of balls and bullets. Many singular acts of valour were +performed during this memorable siege. + +At length many brave officers and men of the besiegers were slain, +powder began to wax short and provisions shorter. The relief expected +from Non Garcia Noronha, now come out as viceroy of India, was long in +making its appearance. The remaining garrison was much weakened by a +swelling in their gums, accompanied by their teeth becoming so loose +that they were unable to eat what little food remained in the stores. +Yet the brave garrison continued to fight in defence of their post, as +if even misery and famine were unable to conquer them. Even the women in +the fort exerted themselves like heroines. Donna Isabella de Vega, the +wife of Manuel de Vasconcelles, had been urged by her husband to go to +her father Francisco Ferram at Goa, lest the fort might be taken and she +might fall into the hands of the Turks; but she refused to leave him. +During the distress of the garrison, as many of the men were obliged to +work in repairing the works, this bold-spirited lady called together all +the women who were in the fort, and exhorted them to undertake this +labour, as by that means all the men would be enabled to stand to their +arms. The women consented to this proposal, and continued for the +remainder of the siege to perform this duty. She was even outdone by Ann +Fernandez, the wife of a physician, who used to visit the most dangerous +posts by night, and even appeared at the assault to encourage the +soldiers. Her son happening to be slain in one of the attacks, she +immediately drew away his body, and returned to the place of danger, and +when the fight ended she went and buried her son. + +Perceiving that the Turks were undermining the bulwark which he +commanded, Gasper de Sousa made a sally with seventy men to prevent that +work and made a great slaughter of the enemy. When retreating he missed +two of his men and returned to rescue them; but being surrounded by the +enemy they cut the tendons of his hams, after which he fought upon his +knees till he was overpowered and slain. The mine was countermined; but +the continual labour to which the besieged were subjected became +insupportable, and they were utterly unable to repair the many breaches +in their works. At this conjuncture, four vessels arrived from the +viceroy Don Garcia, and landed only a reinforcement of twenty men. +Solyman was much concerned at this relief though small, and was +astonished the fort should hold out against so many assaults, more +especially as Zofar had assured him he might carry it in two. At the +beginning of the siege the garrison consisted of six hundred men, many +of whom were slain and several of the cannon belonging to the fort had +burst; yet Solyman began to lose confidence, and looked anxiously to the +sea, fearful of the Portuguese fleet which he had learnt was coming +against him. This induced him to press the siege more vigorously, +especially against the sea bulwark where Antonio de Sousa commanded, +which was furiously attacked by fifty barks, two of which were sunk by +the Portuguese cannon. The Turks made several attempts to scale this +bulwark, in all of which they were repulsed with great slaughter, yet +returned repeatedly to the charge with similar bad fortune. Sousa sent +off his wounded men from the rampart to have their wounds dressed. Among +these was a person named Fernando Ponteado, who waiting his turn heard +the noise of a fresh assault, and forgetting the dressing ran +immediately to his post where he received a fresh wound. Going back to +get dressed, a third assault recalled him before the surgeon had time to +attend to his wants, and he was a third time wounded, and at length +returned to get all his three wounds dressed at once. + +By this time, out of the original garrison of 600 men, only 250 remained +that were able to stand to their arms. Solyman was almost in despair of +success, yet resolved to make a desperate effort to carry the place. In +hopes of putting Sylveira off his guard, and to take the place by +surprise, he sent twelve of his gallies to sea, as if he meant to raise +the siege; but Sylveira was not to be lulled into security, and +continued to exert the utmost vigilance to provide against every danger. +One night some noise was heard at the foot of the sea-wall of the +castle, where it appeared that the enemy were applying great numbers of +scaling ladders. Every effort was made to oppose them during the +darkness of the night, and when morning broke, the place was seen beset +all round by at least 14,000 men. The cannon of the fort was immediately +directed against the assailants, and the garrison mounted the walls in +every part, but chiefly near the governors house where the defences were +weakest, but where Sylveira had placed such people as he could most +rely upon. Being repulsed from thence with great slaughter, the enemy +made an attempt on an adjoining bulwark, where Gouvea commanded, and +poured in prodigious showers of bullets and arrows. Fourteen gallies +came up against this bulwark, which they battered with their cannon; but +Gouvea obliged them to draw off, having sunk two of the gallies and +killed many of their crews. At length 200 Turks forced their way into +the bulwark and planted their colours on its rampart. Scarcely thirty +Portuguese remained to oppose them, yet they charged the enemy with +great fury, who were so thick that every shot told, and they were driven +out with much loss. Fresh men succeeded and regained the bulwark, on +which they planted four standards. Many Portuguese who were wounded and +burnt by the fireworks of the enemy ran and dipped themselves in jars of +salt water, where seeking ease they perished in dreadful torment. + +Sylveira went continually from place to place, encouraging all to do +their duty manfully and supplying reinforcements where most needed. The +enemy had much the better in the second assault on the bulwark commanded +by Gouvea, on which several gentlemen rushed upon them. At this time, +one Joam Rodrigues, a strongman of great bravery, ran forward with a +barrel of powder on his shoulder, calling out to clear the way, as he +carried his own death and that of many. He threw the barrel among the +enemy, which exploded and blew up above an hundred of them, yet +Rodriques came off unhurt, and performed other memorable deeds, so that +he merited the highest honours and rewards of those that were gained in +this siege. By other fireworks the four ensigns who set up the colours +were burnt to death, and two others who went to succeed them were slain. +Being again driven from the bulwark, the enemy made a third assault: But +their commander being slain, who was son-in-law to Khojah Zofar, his men +were dismayed and took to flight. These reiterated assaults lasted four +hours, during which a small number of exhausted Portuguese had to +withstand vast numbers of fresh enemies. At length, having 500 men slain +and 1000 wounded, the enemy retired; while on the side of the Portuguese +fourteen were killed, and 200 were disabled from wounds. Only forty +remained who were able to wield their arms, insomuch that no hope +remained of being able to withstand a fresh attack. The walls were +shattered and ruined in every part: No powder remained: In fact nothing +remained but the invincible courage of Sylveira, who still encouraged +the remnant of his brave garrison to persist in their defence. Not +knowing the desperate state to which the fort was reduced, and dismayed +by the bad success of all his efforts, Solyman raised the siege and set +sail with all his fleet on the 5th of November. + +When Sylveira saw the Turkish fleet weigh anchor and depart he thought +it was merely a feint preparatory for another assault, for which reason +he posted the forty men who still remained of his garrison, determined +to resist to the last man. He even made some of the wounded men be +brought to the walls, on purpose to make a shew of a greater number than +he really had. Many even who were so badly wounded as to be unable to +rise, made themselves be carried in their beds to the walls, saying that +it was best to die in an honourable place. Several even of the women +armed themselves and appeared on the walls. The whole night was spent in +anxiously waiting for the enemy; but the morning gave comfort to the +afflicted garrison, as Solyman was seen in full sail, and had no +thoughts of returning. Fear did much on this occasion, yet Zofar did +more towards inducing Solyman to go away. Zofar was weary of the +insupportable pride of the Turks, and had even received orders from the +king of Guzerat, in case it appeared that the Turks meant to keep the +city and fort of Diu, rather to endeavour that it might remain in the +hands of the Portuguese. Zofar accordingly framed a letter which fell +into the hands of Solyman, saying that the viceroy of India would be at +Diu next day with a vast fleet; on reading which letter Solyman thought +proper to hasten his departure. On the same night, Zofar set fire to the +town of Diu and marched away. Thus ended the first siege of Diu, which +added new lustre to the Portuguese fame, all due to the invincible +courage of the renowned Antonio de Sylveira, and those valiant gentlemen +who fought under his command, whose fame will last from generation to +generation. + +Solyman, on his voyage back to Suez, touched at several ports in Arabia, +where he took such Portuguese as happened to be there, to the number of +140, whose heads he cut off, salting their ears and noses to send to the +Grand Turk as memorials of his services against the Christians. Among +these was Francisco Pacheco, who had not the courage to die in his +bulwark, and had surrendered with some men at Diu, as formerly related. +On his return to Turkey, Solyman was not well received, and was reduced +to the necessity of killing himself, a fit end for such a tyrant. + +This famous siege was far advanced when Don Garcia de Noronha arrived as +viceroy in India, to whom Nuno de Cuna immediately resigned the +government. His arrival with a great reinforcement might well have +enabled him immediately to relieve the deplorable situation of Diu, yet +on the contrary contributed to augment its danger. For, if he had not +come, Nuna had certainly relieved Diu much sooner and prevented so many +miseries, and the death of so many brave men, as he had prepared a fleet +of eighty sail, and was ready to have gone to Diu when Don Garcia +arrived. Still fresh advices were brought of the extremity to which the +besieged were reduced, yet still Don Garcia wasted time in considering +of proper means for their relief, without putting any into execution, +and refusing to take the advice of De Cuna for his proceedings. By these +means the siege was raised before he could determine on the mode of +relief, for which purpose he had gathered 160 sail of vessels of all +sorts and sizes. Don Garcia did not want courage, of which he had given +sufficient demonstrations while under Alfonso de Albuquerque: But he +chose rather to commit an error through his own obstinacy, than rightly +to follow the advice of Nuno de Cuna. It soon appeared indeed, that he +was not at all disposed to take any advice from De Cuna, whom he treated +so disrespectfully at Goa, that he forced him to retire to Cochin to +arrange his affairs previous to his return to Portugal. When at Cochin, +he even refused him a convenient ship which he had chosen for his +accommodation; although he had authority from the king to continue to +act as governor while he remained in India, and liberty to choose any +vessel he thought proper, but Don Garcia forced him to hire a merchant +vessel for himself and family. If the viceroy treated De Cuna ill in +India, no less evil designs were entertained against him in Portugal; +and doubtless the knowledge Don Garcia had of the evil intentions of the +ministers of state, was the cause of the hard usage he gave him in +India. Nuno de Cuna fell sick and died on the voyage. He protested at +his death that he had nothing belonging to the king except five gold +medals found among the treasure of the late king Badur, which he had +selected for their beauty and meant to have presented to the king in +person. Being asked by a chaplain what he would have done with his body +after his death; he said, that since it had pleased God he was to die at +sea, he desired that the sea might be his grave. Nuno de Cuna, who was +an excellent governor of India, died at fifty-two years of age. He was +of large stature and well proportioned, but wanted an eye. Though of +stately manners, he was extremely courteous, not subject to passion, +easily reconciled, a strict observer of justice, loved to do good to all +around him, free from covetousness, prudent in council, and affable in +discourse. He governed for ten years, all but two months, and died in +the beginning of the year 1539. + +Don Garcia de Noronha assumed the government of India as viceroy in +November 1538, having arrived from Lisbon with 3000 soldiers, many of +whom were men of note. Although this great armament had been principally +intended for opposing the Turks who besieged the castle of Diu, yet the +viceroy permitted them to continue their operations before that place, +and merely sent hopes of relief to the oppressed garrison. At length +however he sent a second reinforcement under Antonio de Menezes in 24 +small vessels. Though this armament came late, yet Menezes contended in +some measure with the great Sylveira for the honour of having occasioned +the retreat of the Turks, as he valued himself much in having witnessed +their flight. The viceroy had indeed made ready to sail for Diu with a +fleet of 160 sail of vessels of different kinds, having 5000 soldiers +and 1000 pieces of cannon, when advice came that the Turks had abandoned +the siege. On this intelligence he dismissed all the trading ships from +his fleet, still retaining 90 sail, with which he set out for Diu, but +proceeded so slowly as if some evil omen had threatened his ruin at that +place, since he not only avoided it while environed with danger, but +seemed afraid to visit it in peace. Hearing that it was still infested +by Lur-Khan and Khojah Zofar, he sent Martin Alfonso de Melo against +them with his galley, together with the vessels that had been there +before under Antonio de Menezes. Melo was too weak to be able to do any +thing against the enemy, and had to seek protection under the guns of +the fort. + +At length the viceroy sailed for Diu on the first of January 1539; but +the fleet was dispersed by a storm to different ports, two gallies and +some other vessels being lost. He arrived however at Diu with 50 sail; +and having given all due praise to Antonio de Sylveira for his valiant +defence, he repaired the fort and confided it to the charge of Diego +Lopez de Sousa, who had been nominated to the command by the king. A +treaty of peace was set on foot with the king of Guzerat, which was +concluded, but very little to the advantage of the Portuguese, which was +attributed by common fame to the covetousness of the viceroy. + +During this year 1539, the viceroy sent Ferdinand de Morales with a +great galleon laden on the kings account to trade at Pegu. Morales was +induced by the king of Pegu to assist him against the king of Birmah, +who had invaded the kingdom of Pegu with so prodigious a power that the +two armies amounted to _two millions of men_ and 10,000 elephants. +Morales went in a galliot having the command of the Pegu fleet, and made +great havock among the ships of the enemy. The king of Birmah came on by +land like a torrent, carrying every thing before him, and his fleet was +so numerous that it covered the whole river, though as large as the +Ganges. Morales met this vast fleet with that which he commanded, at the +point of _Ginamarreca_; where, though infinitely inferior, he fought a +desperate and bloody battle. But overpowered by the multitude of the +Birmans, the Peguers deserted Morales, who was left alone in his galliot +amid a throng of enemies, against whom he performed wonders and long +maintained the battle, doing astonishing execution; but at last +oppressed by irresistible multitudes, he and all his followers were +slain: Yet the memory of his heroism was long preserved among these +people. + +The cause of this war and of the revolt of the king of Birmah, who was +tributary to Pegu, was as follows. Above 30,000 Birmans laboured in the +works of the king of Pegu, as that was one condition of their vassalage. +The king of Pegu used often to visit these labourers attended only by +his women, who were curious to see the foreigners and the great works +that were carrying on. The Birmans seized an opportunity on one of these +visits to murder the king, after which they plundered the women of every +thing they had of value, and fled to their own country. As many of the +subjects of _Dacha Rupi_, who succeeded to, the kingdom of Pegu, +rebelled against him, _Para Mandara_ king of the Birmans seized this +favourable opportunity to recover his independence and to enlarge the +bounds of his dominions. He accordingly reduced with astonishing +rapidity the kingdoms of the _Lanjaoes, Laos, Jangomas_, and others, who +like his own dominions were tributary to Pegu. By these means he +possessed himself of the whole ancient kingdom of _Ava_, which extends +to the length of two months of ordinary travelling, and contains 62 +cities. To the north-east of this, at the distance of a months journey +is _the kingdom of the Turks_, containing as many cities, which the king +of Pegu had conquered from the king of _Cathay_. The kingdom of _Bimir_ +is west from Ava, and is of similar extent, having 27 populous cities. +North of this is _Lanjam_, of equal size, with 38 cities and abounding +in gold and silver. On the east is the kingdom of _Mamfrom_, equally +large, but having only 8 cities. East again from this is _Cochin-China_; +on the south is _Siam_, which was afterwards conquered by the king of +Birmah; and east of Siam is the great kingdom of _Cambodia_. All the +inhabitants of these kingdoms are Pagans, and the most superstitious of +all the east: Yet they believe in one only God, but in time of need have +recourse to many idols, some of which are dedicated to the most secret +acts and necessities of nature, even in the very form in which they are +acted. They hold the immortality of the soul; are zealous in giving +alms, and hold their priests in great veneration. These are very +numerous, and live according to rules like those of the Catholics in +monasteries, subsisting from day to day upon what is given them, without +laying any thing up for the next. These priests and monks eat neither +flesh nor fish, as they kill no creature whatever. They observe _Lent_ +and _Easter_ after the manner of the Christians; whence some have +inferred that they are some remnant of the disciples of St. Thomas, +though mixed with many errors. They wear yellow cassocks and cloaks, +with hats of oiled paper. The whole natives of these countries are +white, and their women very beautiful; but their bodies are all over +wrought with blue figures down to the knees made with hot irons. In +their manners they are very uncivilized and even brutal. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +PARTICULAR RELATION OF THE EXPEDITION OF SOLYMAN PACHA FROM SUEZ TO +INDIA AGAINST THE PORTUGUESE AT DIU, WRITTEN BY A VENETIAN OFFICER WHO +WAS PRESSED INTO THE TURKISH SERVICE ON THAT OCCASION [210]. + +INTRODUCTION. + + +Following the PORTUGUESE ASIA of _Manuel de Faria y Sousa_, we have +given an account of the Portuguese transactions in India in the +preceding chapter, from the year 1505 to 1539. We might have extended +this article to a much greater length from the same source, as De Faria +continues this history to the year 1640; but his work after the year +1539 is generally filled with an infinite multiplicity of uninteresting +events, petty wars, arrivals and dispatch of trading ships, and such +minute matters, unconnected and tending to no useful information. We now +take up an original document of much interest, and most directly +connected with the object of our collection, as an actual journal of a +voyage. In a separate future division of our arrangement, we propose to +give an abridged extract from De Faria of every thing his work contains +worthy of notice, as tending to discovery, but leaving out all +uninteresting details. + +[Footnote 210: Astleys Collection of Voyages and Travels, I. 88.] + +There are two published copies of the voyage which constitutes the +essence of our present chapter. The earliest of these was published by +_Aldus_ at Venice in 1540, along with other tracts of a similar nature, +under the name of _A Voyage from Alexandria to India_[211]. The other +was given by _Ramusio_ in the first Volume of his Collection, under the +title of _A Voyage written by a Venetian officer_[212] of the _Gallies, +who was carried prisoner from Alexandria to Diu in India, &c_. These +copies differ in several respects besides the title. That by Ramusio is +altered in several places both in the substance and diction, which in +many parts of that edited by Aldus is obscure. Yet that edition is of +use to correct some errors of the press in Ramusio. Our translation is +from the text of Aldus, but we have marked the variations in that of +Ramusio, and have likewise divided the journal into sections, as done by +Ramusio. + +[Footnote 211: The title of the book published by Aldus in which this +voyage is contained is Viaggi alla Tana, Persia, India, &c.--Astley, I. +88. a.] + +[Footnote 212: The word designating the rank of this officer in Ramusio +is _Comito_, signifying Boatswain, or the officer who superintended the +galley-slaves.--Ast. I. 88. b.] + +Though not made by the Portuguese, this voyage certainly claims to be +inserted in this place, as having a near connection with their affairs; +besides which, it serves to complete the information contained in the +article next succeeding; as the present voyage was made along the +eastern side of the Red Sea, while the other was along its western side: +So that the two together give a tolerable account of the whole of that +sea; and they are in fact the more valuable, as being the only minute +journals or relations extant of voyages performed along the whole length +of the Arabian Gulf; except that by Mr Daniel in 1700, which is very +superficial. Yet geographers, with the exception of M. de Lisle, and one +or two since, seem to have made no use of these helps. It is however +very surprising that neither of these two journals take the smallest +notice of that great bay or arm at the head of the Red Sea, anciently +called the _Elanitic_, a little to the east of _Tor_ or _Al Tur_, which +passing by the foot of Mount Sinai, penetrates a great way into Arabia. +This has been described by the Arabian geographers, and confirmed by two +eminent travellers of our own country, Dr Shaw and Dr Pococke, both of +whom have delineated it in their maps[213]. + +[Footnote 213: The topography of the Red Sea has been much improved by +Bruce, in his Travels in Abyssinia, and since him by Lord Valentia in +his Travels in India.--E.] + +"The present voyage shews the way of sailing in these eastern seas by +the Turks, with whom we may join the Arabs and Indians; and it mentions +several particulars respecting the siege of Diu, and particularly +respecting the conduct of the Pacha, which could not be so well known to +the Portuguese; serving to rectify some things and elucidate others. It +must be observed that the soundings or depths of water, though expressed +in fathoms, which are reckoned at _six_ feet in the British marine +service, are here to be understood as paces of _five_ feet each. The +_time_ is expressed according to the Italian mode of reckoning; which +begins the day at sunset, and counts the hours successively round from +_one_ to _twenty-four_; instead of dividing the entire day into twice +twelve hours, as is customary with the English and other European +nations."[214]--_Astl_. + +[Footnote 214: The Editor of Astleys Collection does not seem aware that +in the British marine, the day begins at noon, instead of the civil day +which begins at midnight.--E.] + + +SECTION I. + +_The Venetian Merchants and Mariners at Alexandria are pressed into the +Turkish service, and sent to Suez. Description of that place. Two +thousand men desert from the Gallies. Tor. Island of Soridan. Port of +Kor_. + + +This voyage was performed by compulsion, having been forced to accompany +the eunuch Solyman Pacha, who was sent by Solyman Shah emperor of the +Turks on an expedition against the Portuguese in India. At the time when +the war broke out in 1537, between the republic of Venice and the Turks, +a fleet of trading gallies happened to be at Alexandria in Egypt, +commanded by Antonio Barbarigo, and remained there without opportunity +of trading or taking in goods till the 7th of September; on that day +Almaro Barbaro the Venetian consul, the captain Antonio Barbarigo, and +all the merchants and seamen, with every thing belonging to them, were +seized and lodged in the _tower of Lances_. After this, all of them that +belonged to the sea, and the author of this voyage among the rest, were +taken from the tower and sent by fifty at a time to Cairo; whence +Solyman Pacha, having selected the gunners, rowers, carpenters, +caulkers, and officers, sent them by companies to Suez to assist in +fitting out the fleet in that port against his own arrival. + +Suez stands in a desert place, where grows no herb of any kind. At this +place the ships are built which are designed for India. All the timber +of which they are built, with the iron work, and every kind of tackle, +are brought from Satalia and Constantinople to Alexandria; whence they +are carried on the Nile in jerbs or barks to Cairo, and thence on the +backs of camels to Suez, where Pharaoh was drowned. On the road from +Cairo to Suez, which is eighty miles, there is not a single habitation, +and no water or any thing whatever for eating is to be found, so that +the caravans before setting out must supply themselves with water from +the Nile. In former times, Suez was a great city well supplied with +cisterns for holding water, and had a _Kalij_ or canal cut all the way +from the Nile, by which these cisterns were annually filled at the +overflow of the river, which served them with water all the rest of the +year. Being afterwards destroyed by the Mahometans, the canal was filled +up, and all the water that is drank at Suez is brought upon camels from +certain ponds or wells six miles distant; which water, though very +brackish, they are obliged to drink; every fifty men being allowed as +much water as a camel can carry. All the timber, iron, rigging, +ammunition, and provisions for the fleet were brought from Cairo. Suez +stands on a bay of the Red Sea, and has a small fort with mud walls, +thirty paces square, which is guarded by twenty Turks. The fleet +destined for India consisted of seventy-six sail; of which six were +_Maons_, seventeen gallies, twenty-seven _foists_, two galleons, four +ships, and the rest small craft. + +On the 9th of March 1538, about 2000 men landed from the gallies with +their arms and marched off for the mountains, meaning to desert; but +when about six miles from the shore they were met by a Sanjiak, +accompanied by 27 horse[215], designed for the garrison of Suez. The +deserters were immediately surrounded by the horse, who killed about 200 +of them, and all the rest were stripped and carried on board the +gallies, where they were chained to the oars. On the 15th of June +Solyman Pacha arrived at Suez, where he pitched his tents and rested +eight days. In the mean time the fleet was got in readiness, and the +soldiers received their pay, being five gold ducats to each and ten +_maydins_, or 215 maydins in all. Part of the men belonging to the large +Venetian galley, in which the author of this journal served, were +distributed on board the fleet; seventy in one half galley, seventy in +another, and eighteen in the galley of the _Kiahya_, who likewise had +along with him the Venetian consul. The rest of these men were +distributed in two galleons which carried the powder, saltpetre, +brimstone, ball, meal, biscuit, and other necessaries for the fleet. +The Pacha likewise sent his treasure on board the gallies, which was +contained in forty-two chests, covered with ox hides and oil-cloth. On +the 20th, he issued orders for every one to embark in two days. On the +22d the Pacha embarked, and dropt down four miles below Suez to the +point of Pharaoh, where he anchored in four fathoms water on a good +bottom. This place is seven miles from the pits of Moses. Seven men died +here. + +[Footnote 215: This is surely some mistake, it being next to impossible +that so few men should surround and overpower so great a number of armed +soldiers.--Astl. I. 89. d.] + +On the 27th of June the whole fleet left Suez with the wind at N.W. and +before night cast anchor at a place called _Korondol_, 60 miles from +Suez; at which place Moses divided the sea by stretching out his rod, +and Pharaoh was drowned with all his host. At this place, which may be +considered the commencement of the Red Sea, we had 12 fathoms water, and +lay at anchor all night. Leaving Korondol on the 28th, we sailed 33 +leagues to the S.E. and cast anchor two hours before night at a place +called _Tor_, where there are many Fransciscan friars who supplied the +fleet with water. This place is a days journey and a half from Mount +_Sinai_, where is the church and monastery of St Catharine, in which the +body of that saint is reposited. We remained five days at Tor, in five +fathoms water. We departed from Tor on the 3d of July, and came behind a +dry sand bank about a mile from the shore and 40 miles from Tor, where +we cast anchor in 12 fathoms water at a place named _Kharas_, where we +remained two days to inspect the two ships which carried the stores. +Leaving Kharas on the 5th, we came to an island named _Soridan_ 40 miles +from the coast, the whole days course from sunrise to sunset being 100 +miles. Continuing our voyage all night to the S.E. we found ourselves at +sunrise of the 6th to windward of a mountain on the right hand shore, +named _Marzoan_, 100 miles beyond Soridan. Proceeding forward on the +6th, and still sailing S.E. we advanced 100 miles by sunrise, and saw +land on the right towards _Kabisa_[216]. We sailed 90 miles on the 7th +S.E. by E. Proceeding on the 8th at the rate of 8 miles an hour, we +sailed 100 miles by sunrise; and in the night, the wind being +south-westerly, we advanced 20 miles to the S.E. On the 9th the winds +were variable and rather calm. To the S.E. we found a shoal under water +50 miles from land. Our course during the day was only 10 miles to the +N.W. and in the ensuing night 20 miles S. by W. On the 10th we sailed 70 +miles S.E. and came to a port named _Kor_ in eight fathoms water, in a +very desert country. + +[Footnote 216: In Ramusio this is called the land of the _Abissini_. So +that instead of Kabisa or Kabisia, we should read in the text Habash or +Habashia, commonly called Abassia, Abissina, or Abyssinia.--Astl. I. 90. +a.] + + +SECTION II. + +_Arrival at Jiddah, the Port of Mecca. The islands of Alfas, Kamaran, +and Tuiche. The Straits of Bab-al-Mandub._ + + +Leaving Kor on the 11th of July, we sailed along shore till noon 30 +miles, when we came to a city named _Zidem_[217], which is the emporium +or landing place of all the spices from Calicut and other parts of +India. This place is a stage and a half from Mecca; and though there are +several shoals both above and under water, the port is good, and the +town has abundance of provisions: but no water is to be met with, except +from a few cisterns which are filled with rain water. This place abounds +in merchandize, and the country round produces dates, ginger of +Mecca[218], and other sorts. In a mosque on the outside of the town is a +tomb, which according to the Mahometans is the burial-place of Eve. The +inhabitants go almost naked, and are meagre and swarthy. The sea +produces abundance of fish. The natives tie three or four pieces of +timber together about six feet long, on one of which slight rafts a man +rows himself with a board, and ventures out to sea eight or nine miles +to fish in all weathers. At this place the fleet remained four days and +took in a supply of water. + +[Footnote 217: Otherwise Jiddah or Joddah, the port of Mecca. In his map +of Egypt, Nubia, and Abyssinia, De L'Isle makes Zidem, which he also +names _Gidde_, doubtless a corruption of Jiddah, a distinct place a +little to the south from Jiddah. This must be a mistake; as Jiddah has +for many ages been the port of Mecca, as Zidem is said to be in the +text. This is farther confirmed by the mention of _Eves tomb_ in the +text, which Pitts saw at Jiddah. Thevenot says her tomb is at _Gidde_, +which De L'Isle supposed to have been a different place from Gidda, +Joddah, or Jiddah, whence arose his mistake.--Astl. I.90. b.] + +[Footnote 218: Perhaps we ought to read _Balsam_ of Mecca.--E.] + +At our departure on the 15th of July, five small vessels were missing by +chance, which we learnt from a man who had escaped from a foist. This +day we sailed 80 miles S.W. by S. The 16th our course was S.E. with +very little wind, making only 30 miles till night; and before sunrise 50 +miles farther. The 17th we sailed S.E. till night 100 miles; and from +thence till sunrise 16 miles, S.E. by S. On the 18th we steered S.E. +140[219] miles during the day, which was dusky; and in the night 50 +miles S.E. by E. The 19th sailing E. by S. with a brisk wind till nine +in the morning, we came among certain islands called _Atfas_, almost +entirely desert, and only inhabited by people who come from other +islands to fish and seek for pearls, which they get by diving to the +bottom of the sea in four fathom water. They drink rain water, which is +preserved in cisterns and ponds. We remained here all night, having ran +100 miles. On the 20th we came to an island 20 miles from the land named +_Khamaran_, where we got provisions and good water. In this island there +was a ruinous castle, altogether unoccupied, and about fifty houses +built of boughs of trees, besides a few other huts scattered over the +island. The inhabitants were barefooted and quite naked, of a small +size, and having no head-dresses but their hair, and merely conceal +their parts of shame by means of a clout. They are all mariners, having +a few barks and small craft, the planks of which are sewed together by +rope, and are entirely destitute of iron work, with sails curiously made +of mats, constructed of the barks of the palm or date tree, and folding +together like a fan. The cordage and cables are made of the same +materials. They trade to the main land in these barks, and bring from +thence abundance of dates, jujebs, and a sort of white buck-wheat. They +make a good quantity of _Mecca ginger_, and procure plenty of +frankinsence from Bista[220]. They reduce their buck-wheat to meal on a +piece of marble, about the size of the stone on which colours are ground +by painters, on which another stone about half an ell long and like a +rolling pin or roller is made to work so as to bruise the corn. +Immediately after this it is made into a paste and baked into thin +cakes. This is their bread, which must be made fresh every day, +otherwise it becomes so dry and hard that there is no eating it. Both +fish and flesh are to be had here in sufficient abundance. From the +islands of _Akhefas_ or _Atfas_ to this island of _Khamaran_ the +distance is 40 miles. + +[Footnote 219: In Ramusio only 40 miles.--Astl. I. 90. d.] + +[Footnote 220: This is called the land of the Abissins in the edition of +Ramusio.--Astl. I. 91. a.] + +The Pacha landed at this place, making all the gallies turn into the +harbour along with him; and sent from thence two foists with messengers, +one to the king or sheikh of _Zibit_ or _Zabid_, and the other to the +sheikh of Aden, ordering them to provide water and provisions for the +fleet, to enable him to proceed in his expedition to India against the +Portuguese. The messenger to Zabid was likewise ordered to tell the +sheikh of that place, which is a days journey inland, that he must come +to the shore, bringing with him the tribute due to the grand signior, +and to pay his obeisance to the Pacha. The fleet remained ten days at +the island of Khamaran, where it was furnished with water. Leaving +Khamaran on the 30th of July with a scanty wind, we sailed S. by E. 50 +miles, and came at one in the morning to the island of _Tuicce_. Here +the foist sent to the sheikh of Zabid brought a present to the Pacha, +consisting of swords in the shape of scymeters made at _Zimina_, the +handles and scabbards being of silver; also some poinards of similar +workmanship, the handles of which were adorned with turquois stones, +rubies, and pearls. But the sheikh sent word that he would pay the +tribute when the Pacha returned from conquering the Portuguese, +acknowledging at the same time that he was the slave of the sultan. This +day we advanced fifty miles, and fifty more during the night, our course +being S. by E. On the 1st of August, we proceeded ten miles with the +wind at S.W. to a shoal named _Alontrakin_[221], near the mouth of the +straits, having _Kabisia_ or _Habash_ on the right hand. Here we had two +fathoms water, and staid one night. + +[Footnote 221: In Ramusio this shoal is called Babel, being the two +first words or syllables of Bab-el-Mandub, corruptly called _Babel +Mandel_. Bab-el-Mandub signifies _the gate of weeping_, being the name +of the entry to the Red Sea of Arabian Gulf; so called because reckoned +exceedingly dangerous by the ancient Arabs, insomuch that they used to +put on mourning for their relations who passed them, as persons given +over for lost.--Ast. I. 91. d.] + + +SECTION III. + +_Arrival at Aden, where the Sheikh and four others are hanged. Sequel +of the Voyage to Diu_. + + +On the 2d of August, leaving the shoal of Alontrakin, we sailed 10 miles +E. by S. and got through the straits; whence proceeding till sunrise +next morning we went 80 miles farther. On the 3d sailing 80 miles E. by +N. we arrived at the city of _Adem_ or Aden. This city is strongly +fortified, standing close to the sea, and surrounded by lofty mountains, +on the top of which are several little forts or castles. It is +encompassed also on every side with _ravelins_[222], except an opening +of 300 paces wide leading from the shore to the country; and has strong +gates and towers and well-built walls. Besides all these, there is a +fort built on a shoal before the city, having a tower on one side to +defend the port, which is to the south, and has two fathoms water. To +the north there is a large port with good anchorage, being safe in all +winds. Though there is plenty of good water here, the soil is dry and +produces nothing. The water is all from rain, and is preserved in +cisterns and pits 100 fathoms deep; and is so hot when first drawn up +that it cannot be used till it stands to cool. This city is provided +with provisions, wood, and every other necessary from other places, and +has abundance of Jews[223]. + +[Footnote 222: Perhaps redoubts or detached towers are here meant; or +the word here translated ravelins may signify shoals, reefs, or +sand-banks, encompassing the harbour.--E.] + +[Footnote 223: This circumstance is not in the least improbable; yet it +is possible that the author of this journal may have mistaken _Banians_ +for Jews, as we know that all the trade in the ports of Arabia and the +Red Sea is now conducted by Banian factors--E.] + +Immediately on the arrival of the fleet, the Pacha was waited upon by +four principal persons of the city, who brought refreshments. He +received them courteously, and talked with them a while in private; +after which he gave each of them two vests of figured velvet, and sent +them back with letters of safe conduct for the sheikh, signifying that +he might come freely on board and fear nothing. The sheikh sent back +word that he would not come in person, but would readily supply whatever +was wanted. On the 5th of August, the Pacha ordered the janizaries to +land with their arms, and all the gallies to man and arm their boats. +He then sent his Kiahya to summon the sheikh to come before him, and do +homage to the sultan. The sheikh answered, "I swear by your head that I +am the humble slave of the sultan;" and came immediately to the gallies +attended by many of his principal officers. The Kiahya presented him +with a handkerchief round his neck to the Pacha, who embraced and +entertained him with much courtesy. After a long conference, the Pacha +caused two vests of figured velvet to be brought, which he put with his +own hands on the sheikh, and made all the lords of his retinue be +clothed in a similar manner. They conferred together afterwards for a +long time, and the sheikh was dismissed with leave to return to the +city. What happened afterwards it is not proper for me to relate[224]; +suffice it to say, that Solyman suddenly gave orders to a sanjack with +500 janizaries to take possession of the city, the inhabitants of which, +like those of _Kharabaia_[225], are swarthy, lean, and of small stature. +Aden is a place of considerable trade, particularly with India, at which +there arrive every year three or four ships laden with various kind of +spices, which are afterwards sent to Cairo. In these parts grow _ginger +of Mecca_, but no other sort. + +[Footnote 224: In the edition of Ramusio, the author is made to relate +the story openly, in the following manner: "That same instant after +dismissing the sheikh, the Pacha, caused him to be hanged by the neck at +the yard-arm, together with four of his principal officers or +favourites."--Ast. I. 92. a.] + +[Footnote 225: By Ramusio this word is given _Arabia_.--Ast. I. 92. b.] + +On the 8th of August, the fleet removed to the north port of Aden, where +it remained eleven days, taking in a supply of water. On the 19th we +departed, being 74 sail in all, reckoning gallies, foists, ships, and +lesser vessels; the Pacha leaving three foists behind to guard the port. +This day our course was 40 miles E. by N. On the 20th we went 50 miles +east with a fair wind at west; and during the night we went other 20 +miles E. by N. The 21st we ran 30 miles, east in a calm, and by sunrise +30 more. The 22d it was quite calm till noon, when a gentle breeze arose +which carried us 20 miles east before night, and 50 more during the +night in the same direction. During the 23d, we steered 60 miles E. by +N. and 40 miles in the night N.E. The 24th 40 miles N.E. and other 40 +miles in the night in the same direction. The 25th 90 miles N.E. by E. +and 100 miles in the night the same course. The 26th 90 miles N.E. and +80 in the night. The 27th 90 miles, and in the night 100, both N.E. The +28th 90 miles during the day, and 90 more during the night, still N.E. +The 29th still keeping the same course, 90 miles in the day, and 90 more +at night. On the 30th, we sailed 86 miles E. by N. during the day, and +90 miles N.E. by E. during the night. Still holding N.E. by E. on the +31st we sailed 70 miles by day and 80 by night. Proceeding in the same +course on the 1st September we went 70 miles in the day and 50 in the +night. Holding on the same course on the 2d we ran 30 miles; by noon we +were in 35 fathoms water, and at night in 20 fathoms, being within 100 +miles of Diu, but 400 miles from the nearest land on the north. While +between 100 and 150 miles from the land, we saw several snakes in the +sea, the water often having a green colour, which are sure signs of +approaching the land on this coast. + +On the 3d the fleet proceeded with calm weather along the shore, and at +nine in the morning the Pacha was informed by a boat from the land that +there were 600 Portuguese in the castle of Diu, and six armed gallies in +the port. The Pacha made the bearers of this intelligence a present of +six _kaftans_ or vests, and dismissed them. A Jew was afterwards taken +on shore by some of the Turkish sailors, and confirmed this account. +This day our course along shore was 30 miles, and we made 30 more during +the night. On the 4th of September at sunrise, we proceeded 30 miles, +and cast anchor within three miles of Diu. Before anchoring, a +Portuguese foist was seen coming out of the harbour, which was chased by +a half galley all day, but made her escape in the night. + + +SECTION IV. + +_The Castle of Diu is besieged by the Moors. The Turks plunder the City, +and the Indian Generals withdraw in resentment. The Pacha lands. A man +300 years old. Women burn themselves. The Fleet removes_. + + +The same day on which we anchored near Diu, one Khojah Zaffer came on +board in a galley. This man was a native of Otranto in Italy, but had +turned Turk and was captain of a galley in the former fleet sent to +India by the sultan. When that fleet was defeated and destroyed, Zaffer +entered into the service of the king of Diu or Kambachia, who gave him +lands and made him chief governor of his kingdom. Zaffer had also +insinuated himself into the confidence of the Portuguese; but when he +learnt that the Turkish fleet was coming, he and the vizier or viceroy +of the kingdom came with 8000 Indians, took the city of Diu from the +Portuguese, and besieged them in the castle which was now closely begirt +by their troops, not a day passing without a skirmish. Zaffer was +accompanied on this visit to the Pacha by the prime vizier of Cambaya, +and both were received with much honour. They informed the Pacha that +there were 500 soldiers and 300 others in the castle, which they had +besieged for 26 days, and had no doubt of being able to reduce it with +their Indian troops, if the Pacha would furnish them with artillery and +ammunition. The Pacha presented each of them with two vests; but while +they remained on board, the Turkish troops landed with their arms and +plundered the city of Diu, doing infinite injury to the Indian +inhabitants, and not even sparing the palace of the viceroy, whence they +took three fine horses, together with, some treasure and furniture, +carrying away every thing they could lay hands upon. They likewise +advanced towards the castle, and skirmished with the Portuguese +garrison. When the viceroy returned and was made acquainted with the +outrages committed by the Turks, he gave immediate orders to his +officers to have every thing in readiness, and retired from Diu with +6000 men, going immediately to the king who was about two days journey +up the country. That same night a foist came from the city to our fleet +with a supply of fresh bread, nuts, flesh, boiled rice, and other +things, sent in the name of the king of Cambaya, all of which were taken +into the Pachas galley. On the 5th of September, the Pacha sent the +Moorish captain and his Kiahya to join these on shore; and all the +gallies sent their boats filled with janizaries to assist the native +troops who were encamped round the castle, these being now reduced to +not more than 2000 men, as all the rest had departed along with the +viceroy and Khojah Zaffer. On the 7th, the fleet removed to a very good +port, thirty miles from Diu, called _Muda Burack_[226], where we got +abundance of water. + +[Footnote 226: This place is afterwards called Mudafar-aba, and perhaps +ought to be written Madaffer-abad.--Ast. I. 93. e.] + +On the 8th the Pacha went on shore at Diu, where the besiegers had began +to batter the castle, having placed some cannons for that purpose on +four _maons_. He sent also three pieces of artillery on shore, which +were planted on[227] a tower standing by the water side about a +cannon-shot from the great fortress, being the place where the Indian +officers used to receive the customs. It had thick walls and was +defended by four brass guns and a hundred men, but had no ditch. On the +9th, a ship and galley which were laden with biscuit, powder, and other +stores for the siege, struck on a sand bank while entering the harbour. +The goods and the galley were saved, but the ship was totally lost. + +[Footnote 227: Perhaps we ought here to read _against_ the tower by the +water side.--E.] + +A half galley belonging to our fleet arrived at Diu on the 19th in bad +condition. She had fallen behind the fleet, and had been driven to a +port belonging to a people of the Pagans called _Samori_[228], where she +sent a boat on shore with some janizaries, who were all cut to pieces. +After which the natives in our barge and some of their own barks, +attacked the galley and slew other sixty men of her crew, so that she +had much ado to escape. The Pacha sent for the pilot of this galley, and +caused him to be hanged for his bad management. + +[Footnote 228: Probably meaning the dominions of the zamorin of +Calicut--E.] + +On the 25th an Indian who had turned Christian and belonged to the +garrison in the castle, was made prisoner in a sally, and being brought +before the Pacha, but refusing to answer any questions, was condemned to +be cut in two. On the same day an old man presented himself before the +Pacha, who said that he was upwards of 300 years old, which was +confirmed by the people of the country, who asserted that there were +several very old men in that neighbourhood. The natives of this country +are very lean and live sparingly. They eat no beef, but use their oxen +for riding upon. Their oxen are small and handsome, very tractable, and +have an easy pace. Instead of a bridle, they use a cord passed through a +hole in the nostrils of the ox. Their horns are long and straight, and +they are used as beasts of burden, like mules in Italy. These animals +are held in much veneration, especially the cows, and they even make +great rejoicings on the birth of a calf, on which account these people +are reckoned idolaters. When any of the men of this country happens to +die, the widow makes a great feast for the relations; after which they +go in procession with music and dancing to a place where a great fire +is prepared, into which the corpse is thrown, carrying along with them +many large pots full of scalding hot grease. The widow then dances round +the fire, singing the praises of her husband, after which she +distributes her entire dress and ornaments among her relations, till she +has nothing left but a small apron. Immediately after this, having +thrown a pot of the scalding grease into the fire, she leaps into the +midst of the flames, and the assistants throw in all the other pots of +grease to increase the flames, so that she is dead in an instant. All +women who would be esteemed virtuous observe this custom, and such as do +not are accounted wicked, nor will any one marry them. The country of +Guzerat is rich and fertile, producing excellent ginger of all sorts, +and cocoa nuts. Of these last the natives make oil, vinegar, flour, +cordage, and mats. The cocoa-nut tree resembles the date palm in every +thing except the fruit and leaves, those of the palm being broader. + +On the 28th the fleet removed from the port of _Mudaferaba_, which has +from 2 to 4 fathoms water; and having sailed six hours on the 29th, cast +anchor about 15 miles from Diu. Having remained at anchor all night, the +fleet made sail on the 30th with a north wind from shore, and came +behind the castle of Diu, where all the gallies discharged their +artillery in succession, after which they cast anchor about three miles +from the castle. + + +SECTION V. + +_A Bulwark Surrenders to the Turks, who make Galley-slaves of the +Portuguese Garrison; with several other incidents of the siege._ + + +On the 1st of October, a messenger came from the lesser castle offering +to capitulate, being no longer able to hold out. The Turks had planted +three pieces of cannon against that fort which carried balls of iron of +150 pounds weight, and pierced the tower through and through, so that +the stones flew about and had slain twenty men out of an hundred in the +garrison. Yet these men had slain many of the Turks with their musquets +and four pieces of cannon, the fire having continued incessantly for +eighteen or twenty days. On delivering his message, the person sent from +the fort received a rich vest, and had a safe conduct written in the +most ample form for himself and all the garrison. When the messenger +returned to the tower, he persuaded the captain and two other persons to +wait upon the Pacha, who gave the captain a vest and confirmed the safe +conduct, only under the express condition that they should not go into +the castle. The captain, whose name was _Juan Francisco Paduano_[229], +returning to the tower which was called _Gogole_, brought off his men to +the number of eighty, all of whom the Pacha ordered to be disarmed and +confined in a house under a strong guard. + +[Footnote 229: It ought to be _Pacheco_.--E.] + +On the 3d of October, the Pacha ordered the four _slave_ gunners of the +large gallies on shore, and gave them in charge to batter the principal +castle. He likewise ordered all the Portuguese who had surrendered to be +distributed among the gallies and chained to the oar, captain and all. +The same day, three Portuguese gallies entered the harbour of Diu +without opposition, for the Pacha did not send a single vessel to hinder +them. The 8th a ship arrived with provisions and was wrecked in the +road. On board were fifteen men belonging to the large gallies, together +with the admiral, and sixty sailors with many galley-slaves. The 13th, +the fleet removed from the west to the east side of Diu, where they +anchored two miles from the castle; but during this change of position, +the cannon of the fortress sunk one galley and broke the main-yard of +another. On the 15th, the Pacha removed from the _maon_ where he resided +hitherto into his half galley, but ordered a _white_ sail to be taken +from another galley, his own being distinguished by colours. The reason +of this was that he expected the Portuguese fleet, and did not wish they +should know what ship he was in. Being also afraid of the shot he caused +a great ring of cables and such things to be formed on the poop, +sufficient to repel cannon-shot, for he was fearful and cowardly. He +likewise ordered all the Christians to be put in irons. On the 17th, +being the eve of St Luke, he caused the head of one of the people +belonging to the Venetian gallies to be cut off, merely for saying, _the +signory of Venice is not dead_. + +On the 22d the Pacha gave out in orders to the gunners on shore, about +400 in number, some of whom were slain daily, that whoever shot down the +great standard of the castle should have a reward of 1000 maydins and +receive his freedom. This was chiefly occasioned by a desire of +revenge, as his own standard had been given to the Portuguese by a +_Sanjak_. Upon this, one of these Christian gunners at the third shot +broke down the standard, which stood on the top of a great tower, on +which the Turks made great rejoicings and published the news with much +exultation throughout the fleet. The gunner was rewarded with a silken +vest. + +The artillery belonging to the Turks was planted against the castle all +in one line, but in six separate batteries. In the first was an iron +_culverine_ carrying a ball of 150 pounds, and a _paderero_ of 200 +pounds. At a small distance was an iron _passe-volant_ of 16 pounds, +which discharged cartridge shot. In another place was a _paderero_ of +300 pounds, and a _culverine_ of 150; and in this second post was a +_passe-volant_ like the former, both belonging to the great gallies. In +another place was an iron _saker_ of 12 pounds, a small _cannon_ of 16 +pounds, a _falcon_ of 6 pounds, and a mortar throwing a ball of 400 +pounds. In another post was a culverine of 100 pounds. By this +prodigious train of artillery, the Turks had battered down one tower, so +that they could easily mount the breach, the tower not being very high, +and the ditch not having been dug to a sufficient depth: But as fast as +the Turks ruined the defences of this tower, the besieged repaired the +breach as well as they could with earth and rubbish. It must also be +observed that this fortress had no flanks; and being built upon a rock, +they had made no _casemates_, only erecting embrasures on the top of the +wall, which were all ruined and shaken. The main safety of the besieged +consisted in their bravery. Every day fifteen or twenty of them used to +sally forth like so many furious lions, killing all they met, which +struck such terror into the Turkish soldiers that they fled in confusion +as soon as they saw the Portuguese. + +On the 25th of October, the Turks caused a great number of cotton sacks +to be got ready, covered with skins and bound with ropes, all of which +were thrown into the ditch, which they completely filled, reaching as +high as the wall. This being noticed by the besieged early in the +morning, before the Turks put themselves in order for the assault, sixty +of the Portuguese made a sally from the castle, forty of whom fought the +enemy with great gallantry, while the other twenty remained in the +ditch, each of whom carried a small leather bag full of powder and a +lighted match. These men cut open the cotton bales, into each of which +they put a handful of powder, which they fired, so that in a short time +several of the bags were set on fire; and the whole continued burning +for two days. Those who sallied out upon the enemy maintained the fight +for more than three hours, during which time they killed 190 Turks and +wounded as many more, losing only two of their own number. + + +SECTION VI. + +_Farther particulars of the siege, to the retreat of the Turks, and the +commencement of their Voyage back to Suez._ + + +On the 27th of October five Portuguese _foists_ arrived at Diu, which +took a Turkish vessel of the same kind, and landed succours for the +besieged, but were unable to get into the harbour, as some of the cannon +formerly mentioned commanded its entrance, by ranging past the end of +the castle. The 29th the Pacha ordered out forty boats filled with +Turks, having some small cannon in each, in order to assault a small +fort or bulwark on the water side in the harbour at some distance from +the castle, the whole defences of which had been mined by the Turkish +artillery, and in which there were only five or six men, who were +relieved daily from the castle by water, the distance being less than a +falcon shot. On the approach of the Turkish boats, the men in this small +fort or bulwark lay down that they might not be seen. On coming to the +place, the Turks ran the bows of their boats on shore, where every thing +lay in ruins to the very edge of the water, and instantly leapt on +shore. The small but gallant party of defenders immediately met them +with two _fire-horns_, and the cannon from the castle played against the +assailants so furiously, that the Turks soon fled. Several of their +boats were sunk, many of the men were drowned, and the garrison of the +castle took a considerable number of prisoners, coming out in one of +their barks and killing or taking them while in confusion on the water. +All those who were taken were hanged next day on the battlements of the +castle. + +The whole Turkish forces were drawn out in order of battle on the 30th, +and advanced to that side of the castle next the harbour to make a +general assault, for which purpose they carried a great number of +scaling-ladders. Another party of the Turks mounted the breach on the +land side of the castle, which they could do at pleasure as the place +was entirely opened by the fire of the batteries. But after remaining +there three hours without sufficient courage to enter the place, the +besieged leapt upon the breach and pushed the Turks into the ditch, +killing four hundred of them. On the 31st the _Moorish_ captain[230] +went with eleven gallies to attack the little castle, but was forced to +desist by the cannon from the great castle, which sunk some of his +vessels. + +[Footnote 230: This person has been several times mentioned under this +title, as a principal officer under Solyman Pacha, but we have no +indications by which to conjecture who he was.--E.] + +On the 2d of November, the _Sanjak_ with the janizaries and all the +rest of the Turks embarked, leaving all their artillery behind, which +they had not time to carry off. This was occasioned by receiving news +that the Portuguese fleet was advancing in order of battle. The 5th, +twenty sail of Portuguese vessels appeared in sight, and came to anchor +twenty miles distance from the Turkish fleet. In the morning only three +of these ships were seen at a distance, at which time the Turks put off +from the land: But at sunrise many ships were seen, which shot off a +great number of guns, though nothing could be perceived but the flash of +the powder. Upon this the Pacha gave orders for each of his gallies to +fire three guns; after which, the trumpets were sounded, all the ships +hoisting their foresails and plying their oars. This was done at one +o'clock at night, and at four the whole fleet departed with hardly any +wind, and by day-break had run 30 miles, shaping their course S.S.W. + +The 7th, we sailed forty miles in the same direction, the weather being +still calm. The 8th, we proceeded 30 miles W. during the day, and 20 in +the night. The 9th, we went 20 miles W. and this day the Christians had +their irons taken off. The 10th, we made no way, the weather being a +dead calm. The 11th, the wind blew from the W.S.W. We stood to N.W. +advancing 30 miles in the day and night. The 12th, the wind being N.W. +by N. we entered the gulf of Ormuz[231] and then sailed W.S.W. advancing +all that day and night only 30 miles. The 13th, we proceeded W. 70 miles +by day and 90 during the night. The 14th, 100 miles during the day and +as much in the night. The 15th, 80 by day and 80 by night. The 16th, 80 +by day and 70 in the night. The 17th, 90 in the day and 80 in the night. +The 18th, 100 in the day and 70 in the night. The 19th, 70 by day and 80 +by night; all this time the course being due west. The 20th, we sailed +W. by S. 90 miles, and saw land to windward, and proceeded 100 miles in +the night. The 21st, we sailed W. by S. 80 miles by day and 50 in the +night. The 22d, continuing the same course, we went only 10 miles during +the day, and 20 in the night. The 23d it fell a calm, and we proceeded +along the coast of Arabia, 30 miles in the day and 20 in the night. On +the 24th, the calm continued and we had adverse currents, yet proceeded +along the coast of Arabia 30 miles, and came to the islands of _Curia +Muria_[232], which are very desert and thinly inhabited. We staid here +one day and took in a supply of water. The fleet departed from these +islands on the 26th, sailing along the coast of Arabia towards the Red +Sea, 30 miles in the day and 30 at night. + +[Footnote 231: That part of the gulf may be here understood which is on +the outside of the Straits of Ormuz, or the bay between Cape Ras-al-gat, +or the coast of Muscat, and the Persian shore: Yet, from the after part +of the voyage this could hardly be the case, and we ought perhaps to +read in this part of the text the _Arabian Sea_, or that part of the +Indian ocean which stretches across the mouths of the Indus, from the +western coast of Guzerat towards the coast of Arabia.--E.] + +[Footnote 232: In the text of the Aldus this place is called by mistake +the town of Khamaran, which is a very different place within the Red +Sea, but in Ramusio it is rightly named Curia Muria. These islands, are +in lat. 17 deg. 30' on the oceanic coast of Yemen or Yaman, and are likewise +named the islands of Chartan and Martan.--E.] + + +SECTION VII. + +_Continuation of the Voyage back to Suez, from the Portuguese factory at +Aser, to Khamaran and Kubit Sharif_. + + +At the second hour of the night on the 27th of November, the fleet cast +anchor in six fathoms water off a town on the coast of Arabia named +_Aser_[233], a barren desert place, where both men and cattle are forced +to live on fish. At this place was found forty Portuguese with a consul +or factor, who resided here for trade, besides other merchants who come +frequently with spice and other things. But their chief trade was in +horses, which are here excellent; being to be had at about 100 ducats +each, and sell in India for 1000 ducats. As soon as the sheikh of this +place understood that Solyman Pacha was coming there with his fleet, he +caused all the Portuguese at the factory to be seized, and presented +them to the Pacha, who made them all be chained to the oars. We here +found a ship which had staid there by the way, being unable to proceed +to India. We remained here three days, and the Pacha seized all the +biscuit which could be procured for the use of the fleet. It may be +proper to notice, that in every place at which the fleet touched in this +return voyage, the Turks gave out that they had conquered the whole +country of India, and had cut all the Christians to pieces. The 1st +December, the fleet departed, holding a courses W.S.W. along the coast +of Arabia, and sailing 40 miles cast anchor before night at a place +called _Mikaiya_, and took in water. The 2d, continuing along the coast +of Arabia, we proceeded W.S.W. 30 miles in the day, and 10 in the night. +The 3d, 40 miles by day and 50 in the night. The 4th, 70 in the day and +30 in the night. The 5th, we went 60 miles farther, and by nine o'clock +in the night cast anchor off the town of _Adem_ or _Aden_. + +[Footnote 233: About the distance rather vaguely indicated in the text, +is a place called _Dhofar_ on the coast of Yemen, and perhaps the text +ought to have been _D'Afer_.--E.] + +On the 6th, the Pacha sent in the morning for a renegado Turk, formerly +a Christian and a person of some note, and without assigning any cause +ordered his head to be cut off. The reason was they all murmured, and +the Pacha feared this man might accuse him of negligence or cowardice, +and was therefore determined to be beforehand with him. This man had +formerly been in the service of the sheikh of Aden, and was afterwards a +captain at Diu, when the former king Badur was slain by the Portuguese. +The widow of Badur being possessed of a great treasure and desirous of +retiring to Mecca, was persuaded by this man to embark with him in a +galleon, with which he treacherously sailed to Egypt, whence he carried +the treasure to Constantinople and presented it to the sultan; who, +because of his conversance in the affairs of India, made him commander +of a galley, and ordered him to return to India with the fleet under +Solyman Pacha: And as the expedition succeeded so ill it now cost him +his life. Being desirous to secure Aden, the Pacha caused 100 pieces of +cannon of different sizes to be landed from the fleet, among which were +two _passe-volants_ that had been taken out of the Venetian gallies at +Alexandria. He likewise landed an ample supply of powder and ball, and +left a Sanjak with 500 Turks and five _foists_[234]. Thinking himself +now out of danger from the pursuit of the Portuguese fleet, the Pacha +removed from the half galley and returned to the _maon_. On the 19th, +every thing being arranged at Aden, the fleet took in water, which +occupied them during three days; and on the 23d we sailed from Aden with +a good wind, steering W. by S. and between the evening and morning +proceeded 100 miles. The 24th at the 5th hour of the day, the fleet +entered the straits of the Red Sea, and lay all night at anchor. On the +25th, being Christmas, we departed three hours before day, and sailing +to the N.W. with a scant wind, we ran 50 miles and came to a castle +called _Mokha_. The same day, an old Turk who was governor of the castle +came to wait upon Solyman, who received him with great honour and gave +him a caftan. In return the governor sent every kind of refreshment that +the place could supply to the Pacha; and came a few days afterwards on +board with all his riches, which were very great, besides many slaves of +both sexes. + +[Footnote 234: These _fouts_, so often mentioned in this chapter, were +probably _grabs_ or _jerbs_, a large species of barks employed in their +navigations by the Arabs of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.--E.] + +From Mokha the Pacha sent a messenger to the sheikh or king of Zabid, +who was a Turk named _Nokoda Hamet_, commanding him to come immediately +to the sea-side and pay his obeisance to the sultan. The sheikh sent +back for answer, that he was ready to pay the tribute due to the sultan, +and would willingly accept a Sanjak or banner if sent to him; but that +he did not know the Pacha and would not come to the sea-side. The Pacha +was much displeased at this, yet sent his Kiahya and some janizaries to +Zabid, which is three days journey inland, to carry a standard to the +sheikh. In return the sheikh made him a rich present, in which was a +splendid scymeter and dagger, with some beautiful pearls of six carats +forming a string above a foot in length, besides one fine pearl of +eighteen carats: for a great deal of fine oriental pearls are found in +this coast of Arabia. He likewise gave each of the Turks two rich-vests +or caftans, and a young black slave. The Kiahya made him many +compliments, and entreated him to wait upon the Pacha; but the sheikh +would on no account consent. Finding that he could not prevail upon him, +the Kiahya said, "Since you will not go to the Pacha, he will come to +you:" And so took his leave and returned to Mokha. + +We remained twenty-nine days at Mokha, which we left at sunrise on the +23d of January 1539 with a brisk gale, and sailed W. by N. till noon; +when the wind altered and we proceeded N.W. going in all 100 miles that +day. The 24th we continued to the N.W. under easy sail with a fair wind +30 miles during the day; and by the sixth hour of the night, we cast +anchor at the island of _Khamaran_, 20 miles farther. The Pacha landed +on the 29th, and gave pay to all the janizaries who were willing to +fight, but nothing was given to the slaves and mariners. The 2d of +February, the weather being calm, we left Khamaran by the help of our +oars, and came about six o'clock to a place on the coast called _Kubit +Sarif_[235], 20 miles from Khamaran. + +[Footnote 235: In the edition of Aldus, this place is here named +_Khebiccairf_; but afterwards Kubit Sarif as in the text. In Ramusio it +is named _Kobbat Sharif_, signifying the noble dome, which is probably +the right name.--Astl. I. 98. a.] + + +SECTION VIII + +_Transactions of the Pacha at Zabid, and continuation of the Voyage from +Kubit Sarif_. + + +On the 3d of February, the day after our arrival at Kubit Sarif, a Turk +in the service of the sheikh of Zabid[236] revolted with fifty horse and +came to the Pacha, who received him kindly and gave him presents. This +man encamped with his followers on the shore, and we noticed that in +this country they had their horses in armour, to defend them against +darts and arrows which are their chief weapons. The Pacha landed on the +fourth, ordering his men to be got ready with provisions and ammunition, +in order to march for Zabid, and directed some light pieces of artillery +to be put on carriages to accompany him. The Pacha set out on his march +on the 19th, three hours before day on horseback, and was joined on the +road by another Turk with fifty horse, who had deserted from the sheikh. +Him the Pacha made free, and continued his march. He encamped on the +20th on the outside of the city of Zabid, and sent a message to order +the sheikh to wait upon him. Seeing himself betrayed by many of his own +people, and distrusting the fidelity of the rest, the sheikh came forth +with a cord about his neck, as the slave of the grand signior, and +presented himself before the Pacha, who immediately commanded his head +to be cut off. On this the people of the city, to the number of three +hundred men, fled to the mountains, among whom were three chiefs with +all their riches, which were very considerable, yet knew not where to +go. The Pacha sent to tell those who had escaped, that they ought to +return and join him, promising to enroll them among his troops and to +give them good pay. Accordingly there came back 200 _black +Abissins_[237], who had been soldiers in the service of the sheikh. +These were valiant desperate fellows almost naked, who did not value +their lives, and were almost as swift as horses. For arms, some carried +clubs of the cornel tree headed with iron, others had pointed stakes +which they used like darts, others again had short swords, a span +shorter than those used by the Christians, and everyone had a dagger at +his girdle, bent like those used, by the Moors and Arabs. The Pacha +asked every one his name, which he caused to be written down, and with +higher pay than they had received before. He then dismissed them, with +orders to return next morning without arms to receive their pay, when +they were all to be admitted to kiss his hand, on which occasion they +would have no use for their arms. The Abissins accordingly presented +themselves at the time appointed, and being ordered to lay down their +arms, they went to wait upon the Pacha who was sitting near his tent on +the plain, surrounded by his Turks under arms. They were no sooner +within the circle, than a previously concerted signal was given, and +they were all instantly cut to pieces. + +[Footnote 236: This name is differently written Zibit, Zebit, and +Zebeyd. It is a town of the Tehamah on the western coast of Arabia, in +lat. 15 deg. 2O', about 30 miles from the Red Sea, inland from the large bay +formed by the isle of Khamaran.--E.] + +[Footnote 237: Probably negroes, imported from the coast of Abyssinia, +Massua and Arkike, the gates or entry into that country being on the +opposite coast of the Red Sea.--E.] + +After this bloody scene, the Pacha placed a Sanjak with 1000 soldiers in +Zabid to retain it under subjection. The city is well built, and the +country round is pleasant and fertile, abounding in running water, +delightful gardens, and abundance of productions that are not to be +found in any other part of Arabia; particularly Zibibs like those of +Damascus, which have no stones, and other excellent fruits, such as +dates. Flesh, is to be had in plenty, and corn is not scarce. + +On the 8th of March 1539, the Pacha returned to the coast, whence he +ordered ammunition to be sent to Zabid to secure his acquisition, and +appointed foot _foists_ to remain as a guard for that part of the coast. +The 10th the Pacha ordered the Portuguese prisoners, to the number of +146 in all, reckoning some Indian converts, to be brought bound on +shore; and having distributed them among his troops, all their heads +were cut off by his command. The head of the chief[238] was flayed, and +the skin was salted and filled with straw. The noses and ears of all the +rest were cut off, and put into bags, to be sent to the sultan. On the +13th the Kiahya departed in company with another galley for +_Zadem_[239], whence he was to go to Constantinople by way of Mecca, +with an account of the expedition to India, carrying with him the heads, +noses, and ears, besides magnificent presents for the sultan, to make it +appear that the Pacha had performed great exploits and mighty services. + +[Footnote 238: Pacheco most probably, formerly mentioned, who +surrendered in a cowardly manner at Diu.--E.] + +[Footnote 239: Formerly called Zidem, but it ought to be Jiddah, Joddah, +or Juddah, as differently pronounced: Yet Barthema, Corsali, Barbosa, +and other travellers of those times call it Zidem or Ziden; doubtless by +corruption. Thus likewise _Yamboa, Yembo_, or _Al Yambo_, the sea port +of Medinah, is named _Elioban_ by Barbosa, transposing the letters +instead of _El Jambo_.--Astl. I. 99. a.] + +On the 15th of March we departed from Kubit Sarif, and cast anchor at +sunset at a place called _Kor_, five miles from the land and 100 miles +from Kubit Sarif. We departed from the island of Kor on the 16th an hour +before day with a fair wind and pleasant breeze, and sailing along the +coast of Arabia came to anchor at sunset in 8 fathoms water at _Zerzer_, +70 miles from Kor, a place subject to Mecca. At this place the three +persons who had fled from Zabid with their riches were brought to the +Pacha, who caused their heads to be cut off, and seized their treasure, +which filled six large sacks, each of which was a sufficient load for +any single man. + +The 17th we sailed along the coast with a pleasant gale, which became +contrary an hour before sunset, when we cast anchor in 8 fathom-water, +at a place called _Adiudi_, 50 miles from Zerzer. We departed from +thence on the 18th two hours before day, and coasted along the land +till noon, when we anchored in a good port named _Mugora_, in 4 fathoms +water, 50 miles from Adiudi, where we got wood and water. An hour before +day on the 19th, we departed by means of our oars, the wind being +contrary; but at sunrise the wind became fair, and we sailed 50 miles +along shore to a place called _Darboni_, where we came to anchor in 7 +fathoms water. Being calm, we coasted along by rowing till noon, when a +breeze sprang up, and then using our sails, we came to anchor in 10 +fathoms water by sunset at a place called _Yasuf_, belonging to Mecca. +On the 21st we proceeded 60 miles, and anchored in 40 fathoms, at a +place called _Khofadan_, in the dominions, of Mecca. The 22d the +navigation being much encumbered with sand banks, so thick together and +intricate that it was hardly possible to sail in the day, the Pacha +ordered six gallies to lead-the way, and we came to a shelf or shoal +called _Turakh_. The 23d we coasted along, still among shoals, the +channel being so narrow that only one galley could pass at a time; and +cast anchor at a place named _Salta_ in 4 fathoms, having ran fifty +miles. Sailing 30 miles farther along the coast on the 24th, we anchored +at noon in the port of _Mazabraiti_ in 6 fathoms, near a place called +_Ariadan_ inhabited by peasants who are subject to Mecca. On the 25th we +weighed anchor early, and endeavoured to proceed along the coast; but +the wind getting up at sunrise and proving contrary, we had to stand out +to sea till noon, when we again made for the land, off which we cast +anchor early in the evening. + + +SECTION IX. + +_Continuation of the Voyage to Suez, along the Arabian Shore of the Red +Sea_. + + +We remained at anchor during the whole of the 26th and proceeded two +hours before day of the 27th, in very pleasant weather, and at eight +o'clock, having sailed 30 miles, we anchored in 4 fathoms at a place +called _Yusuma_. The 28th we coasted along the land till noon with a +fair wind, and then entered among certain banks two miles from the +shore, where we could not let go our anchors for fear of losing them, +being off a place named _Mukare_, 30 miles from Yusuma. The 29th, still +coasting along, we came among other shoals called _Balir_, thirty-five +miles farther on. The 30th continuing along shore till evening, we +anchored in 12 fathoms at a place called _Mukhi_, having proceeded 35 +miles. Departing on the 31st with a calm two hours before day, the wind +springing up at sunrise, and in the evening we came to _Ziden_ or +_Jiddah_ the sea-port of Mecca. The Pacha landed on the 1st of April, +and pitched his tents on the outside of the town, where he rested four +days. On the 7th he rode away for Mecca, on pilgrimage, leaving orders +for the fleet to proceed to Suez[240]. On the 8th the fleet was driven +two miles out to sea by a contrary wind, and was obliged to come to +anchor among the shoals. Remaining here till the 11th, we made sail with +a fair wind, and at the _twentieth_ hour came into the port of _Contror +Abehin_, where one of our gallies was sunk in attempting to double a +point of land. At this place a carpenter belonging to the Venetian +gallies of Alexandria, named Mark, turned Mahometan and remained behind. +Having staid here two days, we proceeded again with a fair wind along +shore, and cast anchor in 12 fathoms at a place called _Amomuskhi_, 70 +miles farther. Setting sail on the 15th two hours before day, the +_Moorish captains_ galley got aground on a bank, but was towed off by +the boats belonging to the other ships, without having received any +damage. We then coasted along the land 30 miles, to a place called +_Raban_ or _Robon_, where we cast anchor in 13 fathoms. From the 16th to +the 20th both inclusive, we left this place every day, and were always +forced to return by contrary winds. The 21st we departed with an off +shore wind; but at the sixth hour of the day were again driven towards +the coast by a contrary wind, and obliged to put in among certain banks +where we remained all night. + +[Footnote 240: It does not appear that the Pacha ever rejoined his +fleet. It has been already mentioned from De Faria, that on his return +to Turkey he was reduced to the necessity of killing himself. "Cruel and +tyrannical men like him, says De Faria, should always be their own +executioners."--E.] + +The 22d we coasted along by favour of a land breeze; but the wind coming +contrary were obliged to anchor at a place called _Farsi_, having only +advanced 16 miles. The 23d we continued along the coast till noon, when +the wind changed full in our teeth, and we had to come to anchor at a +place named _Sathan_, having sailed 25 miles that day. The 24th we +proceeded along the coast till noon, when the wind became again +contrary, and we were driven to the coast, and came to _Lorma_, 30 miles +beyond Sathan. We rowed along shore against the wind on the 25th, and +came at evening to _Yamboa_[241]. This place affords provisions, +particularly fish and dates. Their water is kept in cisterns, and has to +be brought on camels from a place a days journey distant, as there are +no wells or springs. A days journey[242] inland from this place is a +large town named _Medinah_, or _Medinat al Nubi_, where is the sepulchre +of Mahomet, though commonly said to be at Mecca[243]. We remained at +Yamboa six days, and set sail at four o'clock on the 1st of May; but +after proceeding only 10 miles the wind became contrary, and we had to +anchor among some shoals, where we staid two days. During the 3d and +4th, we had to stand off and on, beating up against a contrary wind; and +so continued for _six_ days, advancing only eight miles in all that +time. The 10th and 11th, the wind being still contrary, we made only 10 +miles, and anchored in a different place. Proceeding along the coast on +the 13th, we came up with a galleon which left _Zabid_ before the rest +of the fleet. The pilots name was _Mikali_, and some of those on board +belonged to the Venetian gallies of Alexandria. + +[Footnote 241: Called _Jombu_ in the edition of Aldus, and _Jambut_ by +Rarmusio. This is Yembo, Yambo, or Yamboa, the Italians using the _J_ +instead of the _Y_. Yamboa is the port of _Medina, Medinah_, or _Medinat +al Nubi_, signifying _the city_, or the city of the prophet.--Astl. I. +100. c.] + +[Footnote 242: Medina is at least 90 miles inland from Yamboa, which +cannot be less than _three_ ordinary days journeys.--E.] + +[Footnote 243: This error has been long since corrected, yet many +travellers still persist in placing the tomb of Mahomet at Mecca.--Astl. +I. 100. d.--Christian travellers are debarred from visiting the holy +cities of Mecca and Medina. At Mecca the grand object of pilgrimage is +the _Caaba_ or holy house, containing _a black stone_, the remains of +the ancient Pagan superstition of the Arabians: Perhaps the same with +the _Lingam_ or _Priapus_ of the Hindoos.--E.] + +The 14th, we sailed 10 miles[244] along the coast, and cast anchor in 7 +fathoms at a place named _Sikhabo_. The 15th we sailed 70 miles N.W. and +came to anchor in the open sea. The 16th, we sailed along the coast 30 +miles, and anchored at a place named _Buducktor_ or _Bubuktor_. The 17th +sailing 30 miles along the coast, we anchored in 20 fathoms in the open +sea, near an island called _Yenamani_. Going 20 miles along shore on the +18th, we anchored for the night off _Khifate_. We proceeded 50 miles +along shore on the 19th, and anchored at _Molin_. The 20th, we anchored +at sea 25 miles farther. Proceeding 48[245] miles on the 21st along +shore, we anchored in the evening out at sea. The 22d, after sailing 10 +miles, we anchored again at sea. Being in a very bad anchorage, we +proceeded again on the 24th with a tolerably good wind. The half galley +left an anchor and three cables at this last anchorage, and one galley +ran aground but was got off. After advancing only 10 miles, we came to +anchor in 8 fathoms with good ground, and remained two days. Proceeding +85 miles along the coast on the 26th, we came to anchor in a road-stead. + +[Footnote 244: In Ramusio this distance is made 60 miles.--Astl. I. 100. +e.] + +[Footnote 245: Only 40 miles, in the copy published by Ramusio.--Astl. +I. 100. f.] + + +SECTION X. + +_Conclusion of the Voyage to Suez, and return of the Venetians to +Cairo_. + + +On the 27th of May we proceeded on our voyage, sailing W.N.W. At noon we +were abreast of _Tor_ or _Al Tor_, and continued our course for two +hours after night-fall, when the wind came foul, on which we lay too +till day-light, when the _Moorish captain_ set sail again, and the other +gallies weighed anchor and hoisted their foresails. After running 100 +miles we came to shoal water where we cast anchor in 6 fathoms, and +remained five days waiting for a fair wind. Leaving the bank on the 3d +of June, and holding on our course, we cast anchor sometimes on the +western coast[246] and sometimes on the eastern, having contrary winds, +and on the 15th we arrived at _Korondol_, where Pharaoh and his host +were drowned, and where are the baths of Moses as they are called. We +took in water at this place, where we staid two days. The 16th, the +fleet sailed from Korondol, and continuing its course for two days +together, we arrival at Suez on the 17th of May 1589, whence we had set +out on the 27th of June in the former year. + +[Footnote 246: In the original called the _Abyssinian_ coast, but +certainly that of Egypt.--E.] + +On the day of our arrival, we began to draw the barks on shore. The 2d +of June we began to haul up the large galley, and next the half galley +of the Pacha, all the rest being unrigged and drawn up successively. On +this occasion the whole labour rested on the Christians, who acted as +porters and worked all the tackle for unloading, cleaning and unrigging +all the vessels: In short the entire fatigue lay upon their shoulders. +On the 16th, the _Lemin_[247] came and paid off all the seamen, +Christians as well as Turks, giving 180 maidans to each. The 19th of +August, the _Emin_, accompanied by seven boats, went to Tor to pay off +the gallies which remained behind, taking with him all the best and +strongest of the Christian mariners to navigate these gallies to Suez, +as they were in a manner disarmed, many of their crews having died and +others run off. At Tor all were paid off, and the Christians were +distributed among the gallies, which they brought up to Suez on the 20th +of October, and were all drawn up by the Christians, who worked hard +both day and night. On the 26th, all the gallies being hauled up, the +cables, rigging, tackle, iron work, planks, small cannon, and all the +other stores were carried into the castle of Suez. + +[Footnote 247: In Ramusio the _Emin_, who is an officer of the treasury, +or the pay-master.--Astley, I. 101. a.--Probably _Al Emin_, and +originally written in _Italian L'Emin_.--E.] + +The Red Sea, from Suez to its mouth extends 1800 miles in length; the +coast running all the way from N.W. to S.E.[248] This gulf is 200 miles +broad, and in some places more. In its whole length it is full of banks, +shoals, and shelves, towards the land on both sides, so that it cannot +be navigated by night, except in the middle. These obstructions are so +intricately disposed that the channels can only be discovered by the +eye, nor can the proper course be taken except by means of an +experienced pilot standing constantly on the _prow_, and calling out +_starboard_ or _larboard_[249] according to circumstances. Owing to +this, the return voyage does not admit of being described so accurately +as the outward bound. There are two distinct kinds of pilots for this +sea; the one being acquainted with the middle of the gulf, which is the +passage outwards; and the others, called _Rubani_, are for ships +returning from the ocean, and navigating within the shoals. These are +such excellent swimmers, that in many places where they cannot cast +anchor on account of foul ground, they will swim under water and fix the +gallies within the shoals, and will often even fasten the prows under +water, according to the nature of the place[250]. + +[Footnote 248: From Suez to the Straits of _Bab-al-Mandub_, the direct +distance is about 1590 statute English miles, or 1200 geographical +miles, 60 to the degree. From the Straits to _Cape Guardafu_ is about +433 English miles farther, or 375 geographical: Making in all 1825 of +the former and 1575 of the latter. The direction is S.S.E.--E.] + +[Footnote 249: In the original Italian, _Orza_ and _Poggia_, being the +names of the ropes at the yard-arms which are hauled when these words +are pronounced.--Astl. I. 101. b.] + +[Footnote 250: The expression in the text is not very obvious, but seems +to indicate that these _Rubani_ are such excellent divers as to be able +to fasten ropes or hausers to the rocks below water.--E.] + +On the 28th. of November 1539, the Christians belonging to the Venetian +gallies left Suez, and arrived at Cairo on the 1st of December, where +they were lodged in the same house that they had formerly occupied. Each +of them was allowed half a _maidan_ daily for subsistence, which is +equal to about twopence of Venice. They here suffered great affliction +and fatigue, as whatever laborious work was to be performed was devolved +upon them. Clearing out the water-cisterns, levelling hills, putting +gardens in order, new buildings, and such like, all fell to their share. +On the 25th of March 1540, many of the Christians went from Cairo with a +guard of Turks to a hill or mount two miles from the Nile, which seemed +to have been a burying-place like the _Campo Santo_, where every year, +on the Friday before our _Lady of August_[251], a vast number of people +assemble to see dead bodies rise out of the ground. This resurrection +begins on Thursday evening, and lasts till Saturday at six o'clock, +during which time great numbers rise; but after that no more appear. +When they do rise, some are rolled about with linen bandages in the +manner in which the ancients swathed their dead. It must not be imagined +that these dead bodies move, and still less that they walk about. But, +one instant you may observe and touch the arm or the leg of one, or some +other part, and going away for a moment, you will find at your return +the part you had formerly seen and touched still more exposed, or +farther out of the ground than at first; and this will happen as often +as you make the experiment. On that day, many tents are pitched about +this mount, and thither many persons repair, sick as well as healthy; +and near this place there is a pond in which the people bathe on the +Friday night, in order to get cured of their infirmities. _For my own +part, I did not see these miracles_. + +[Footnote 251: The 15th of August, the Assumption of the Virgin.--E.] + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE VOYAGE OF DON STEFANO DE GAMA FROM GOA TO SUEZ, IN 1540, WITH THE +INTENTION OF BURNING THE TURKISH GALLIES AT THAT PORT. WRITTEN BY DON +JUAN DE CASTRO, THEN A CAPTAIN IN THE FLEET; AFTERWARDS GOVERNOR-GENERAL +OF PORTUGUESE INDIA[252]. + +INTRODUCTION. + + +Don Juan or Joam De Castro, the author of the following journal, was a +Portuguese nobleman born in 1500; being the son of Don Alvaro de Castro, +governor of the Chancery, and Donna Leonora de Noronha, daughter of Don +Joam de Almeyda, Count of Abrantes. In his youth, Don Juan de Castro +served with reputation at Tangier, and on his return home had a +commandery of 500 ducats of yearly revenue conferred upon him, which was +all he was ever worth, though a man of high birth and rare merit. He +afterwards served under the Emperor Charles V. in his expedition against +Tunis, and refused his share of a pecuniary reward from that prince to +the Portuguese officers on the expedition, saying that he served the +king of Portugal, and accepted rewards only from his own sovereign. +After this he commanded a fleet on the coast of Barbary, and was sent to +join the fleet of Spain for the relief of Ceuta. On hearing that the +Moors were approaching, the Spaniards wished to draw off, on pretence of +consulting upon the manner of giving battle, but Don Juan refused to +quit his post; and the Moors retired, not knowing that the fleets had +separated, so that he had all the honour of relieving Ceuta. + +[Footnote 252: Astley, I. 107. Purchas, II. 1422.] + +When Don Garcia de Noronha went viceroy to India, Don John was captain +of one of the ships in his fleet; and when about to embark, the king +sent him a commission by which he was appointed governor of Ormuz, and a +gift of 1000 ducats to bear his charges till he obtained possession. He +accepted the latter, because he was poor; but refused the government, +saying that he had not yet deserved it. After the expedition to +Suez[253], contained in the present chapter, he returned into Portugal, +and lived for some time in retirement in a country house near Cintra, +giving himself up entirely to study. He was recalled from this retreat +by the advice of the infant Don _Luys_, and sent out governor-general to +India in 1545; where he died with the title of viceroy in 1548, when 48 +years of age. We shall hereafter have occasion to speak farther of this +great man, who made himself illustrious in the _second_ siege of Diu by +the forces of the king of Guzerat. In his life, written by _Jacinto +Freire de Andrada_, there is a particular account of this siege, with a +map to illustrate its operations. The author also treats of the +Discoveries, Government, Commerce, and affairs of the Portuguese in +India. This book was translated into English, and published in folio at +London in 1664. + +[Footnote 253: De Faria in his Portuguese Asia, says that Don Juan went +up to Mount Sinai, where his son Don Alvaro was knighted. But this does +not appear in his journal.--Astl. I. 107. a.] + +Such was the illustrious author of the following journal, which was +never published in Portuguese; but having been found, if we are rightly +informed, on board a Portuguese ship taken by the English, was +afterwards translated and published by Purchas. Purchas tells us that +the original was reported to have been purchased by Sir Walter Raleigh +for sixty pounds; that Sir Walter got it translated, and afterwards, as +he thinks, amended the diction and added many marginal notes. Purchas +himself reformed the style, but with caution as he had not the original +to consult, and abbreviated the whole, in which we hope he used equal +circumspection: For, as it stands in Purchas[254] it still is most +intolerably verbose, and at the same time scarcely intelligible in many +places; owing, we apprehend, to the translator being not thoroughly +acquainted with the meaning of the original, if not to the fault of the +abbreviator. These two inconveniences we have endeavoured to remedy the +best we could, and though we have not been always able to clear up the +sense, we presume to have succeeded for the most part; and by entirely +changing the language, except where the places were obscure, we have +made the journal more fit for being read, and we hope without doing it +any manner of injury[255]. + +[Footnote 254: Pilgrims, Vol. II. p. 1122, under the title of _A +Rutter_, or Journal, &c. from India to Suez, dedicated to the Infant Don +_Luys_.--Astl. I. 107. b.] + +[Footnote 255: On the present occasion we have followed the example of +the Editor of Astleys Collection, having employed the original +abbreviated translation by Purchas modernized in the language and +endeavouring to elucidate obscurities; using as our assistance the +version in Astley.--E.] + +This expedition was undertaken for two important purposes. _One_, to +carry succours to the emperor of _Habash_ or Abyssinia; and the _other_, +to endeavour to destroy the Turkish ships at Suez. For, soon after the +retreat of Solyman Pacha from Diu, it was rumoured that another fleet of +the _Rumes_ or Turks was on its way to India; but as Don Stefano de Gama +was afterwards informed that the Turks could not set out during the year +1540, he determined to be before hand with them, in some measure to be +revenged for the late siege of Diu, and to prevent a second attack by +burning the fleet they had prepared for that purpose. The governors +liberality brought more men to inlist under his banners than he desired, +so that he was enabled to select the best. The fleet consisted of 80 +sail of different sorts and sizes, and carried 2000 soldiers besides +mariners and rowers. On coming into the Red Sea, he found most of the +cities and islands abandoned, the inhabitants having notice of his +coming. At Suakem, the sheikh or king, who had retired a league up the +country, amused De Gama with pretences of peace, that he might not +destroy the town and island. In consequence of this delay, De Gama was +prevented from carrying his design into execution of destroying the +ships at Suez; as it afforded time for the Turks to receive intelligence +of the expedition. This is the account given by De Faria; but Bermudas +gives a different reason for the want of success in that design, as De +Gama could not get at the ships, which were all drawn up on the land, +which we have already seen to have been the case, in the journal of the +voyage of Solyman Pacha, in the immediately preceding chapter. + +In revenge for the duplicity and delay of the sheikh of Suakem, De Gama +marched into the interior with 1000 men, accompanied by his brother Don +Christopher, and defeated the sheikh with great slaughter. He then +plundered the city of Suakem, where many of the private men got booty to +the value of four or five thousand ducats, and then burnt it to the +ground. From thence, he went towards Suez with only sixteen, _Katurs_ +or Malabar barges, and sent back the fleet to Massua under the command +of Lionel de Lima. On this occasion, there was a great dispute, as every +one strove to go on this expedition; whence the bay got the name of +_Angra de los Aggraviadas_, or _bay of the offended_. Many gentlemen +went in the barges as private soldiers or volunteers, willing to go in +any capacity if only they were admitted. The number of men on this +fruitless expedition was 250. They plundered and burnt _Cossier_ or _Al +Kossir_; whence crossing to _Tor_ or _Al Tur_, they took some vessels +belonging to the enemy. At first the Turks opposed their landing; but +some of them being slain, the rest abandoned the city, in which nothing +was found of value. De Gama did not burn this town, in reverence for the +relics of St Catharine and the monastery and religious men there, which +he visited at their request. He was the first European commander who had +taken that city, where he knighted several of his followers, an honour +much prized by those who received it, and which was envied; afterwards +even by the emperor Charles V. From thence De Gama proceeded to Suez; +and after many brave but fruitless attempts to sound the harbour, De +Gama determined to go himself in open day to view the gallies. He +accordingly landed and saw the enemies but endeavouring to force his way +towards them, the enemies shot poured thick from the town, and 2000 +Turkish horse broke out from an ambush, by which the Portuguese were +reduced to great straits. Though the Portuguese cannon slew a good many +of the enemy, their numbers were so much superior that the Portuguese +were obliged to retreat with some loss, and much grieved that the object +of their expedition was frustrated. Thus far we have deemed necessary to +premise, relative to the design and success of the expedition, from De +Faria and other authors; because the journal of Don Juan de Castro is +almost entirely confined to observations respecting the places visited +in the voyage, and gives little or no information respecting these +particulars. + +The _rutter_ or journal must be allowed to be very curious.--The author, +like an exact and diligent navigator, has not only given the course and +distance from one place to another, with the latitudes of the principal +ports and head-lands; but has noticed the minute windings of the coast, +and the situations of islands, with observations on the tides, currents, +shoals, sand-banks, and other particulars respecting the Red Sea. Yet, +far from confining himself to mere nautical remarks, he has given an +account of all the places at which he touched, together with accounts of +the countries and the inhabitants, so far as he was able to collect from +his own observations, or the accounts of such as he was able to converse +with, particularly the natives. Don John hath gone farther yet, and has +even attempted to draw a parallel between the ancient and modern +geography of this sea. If in all points of this last he may not have +succeeded, the great difficulty of the task, owing to the obscurity of +the subject, is to be considered: most of the ancient places having been +destroyed; the ancient names of others long since out of use and +forgotten; and that very little is known of these coasts by Europeans, +even at this day. For these reasons, as the conjectures of the author +are often erroneous respecting the ancient geography, and as at best +they are very uncertain, we shall for the most part _insert them by way +of notes_, with our own remarks respecting them[256]. Whether the +_altitudes_ have been taken by Don Juan with that precision which +geography requires, may also be in some measure questioned; since we +find there was a _crack in the instrument employed_, the size of which +is not mentioned; neither were all the observations repeated. Even if +they had been, it is well known that the observations of those times +were by no means so accurate as those made of late years. After all, +however, the observations in this journal appear to have been made with +a good deal of care, and they cannot fail to be of great service to +geography. + +[Footnote 256: In this edition, which has been taken from that by +Purchas, these conjectures of Don Juan de Castro are restored to the +text: but the remarks by the Editor of Astleys Collection are all +retained in notes.--E.] + +It is alone by the observations contained in this journal that +geographers are able to determine the extent of the Arabian Gulf or Red +Sea from north to south[257], as well as the situation of its principal +ports on the west side. The latitude of the straits was verified by the +observations of Don Juans pilot. But as most maps and charts give the +situation of Suez, at the northern end of the Red Sea, very different +from that marked in this journal, which is 29 deg. 45' N. it may not be +amiss to examine this point. + +[Footnote 257: The modern knowledge of the Red Sea has been much +augmented by the labours of Bruce, Nieubur, Lord Valentia, and others, +which will be given in a future division of our work.--E.] + +By several very accurate observations made in 1694, M. Chazelles of the +Royal Academy of Paris found the latitude of Cairo to be 80 deg. 2' 20". The +difference of latitude therefore between Cairo and Suez, will be 17 +minutes; which we conceive cannot be very far from the truth, if not +quite exact, since the map published by Dr Pocock makes the difference +about 20 minutes. It is true that in Sicards map of Egypt, and in a +_late_[258] French chart of the _eastern ocean_, Suez is placed only two +or three minutes to the southward of Cairo. But as these authors had no +new observations made at Suez to go by, and seem to have been +unacquainted with those of Don Juan de Castro, their authority can weigh +very little against an express observation, and against Dr Pococks map, +which, among other helps, was constructed upon one made by the natives. +Besides this, in his later maps _De L'isle_ regulates the situation of +Suez according to the latitude found by Don Juan. Indeed Sicard places +Suez nearly in that parallel, but egregiously mistakes the latitude of +Cairo, so that he seems to have given it that position more by chance +than design. + +[Footnote 258: It is proper to remark here that the collection of Astley +was published in 1745, _sixty-seven_ years ago.--E.] + +This may suffice to support the credit of the observations of latitude +as made by Don Juan, till new and better ones can be made, which we are +not to expect in haste, as European ships now seldom sail any farther +into the Red Sea than _Mokha_ or _Zabid_, for which reason this journal +is the more to be prized. In other respects it is full of variety; and +if some parts of it be dry and unamusing, these make amends by their +usefulness to geographers and navigators, while other parts are +calculated to instruct and give pleasure on other accounts.--_Astley_. + + * * * * * + +So far the foregoing introduction is taken from Astleys collection. In +our edition of the Journal of Don Juan de Castro, we have used the +earliest known copy as given by Purchas, Vol. II. p. 1122-1148, under the +title of _A Rutter or Journal of Don John of Castro, of the Voyage which +the_ Portugals _made from_ India _to_ Zoes, _&c. and here abbreviated. +The original of which is reported to have been bought by_ Sir Walter +Raleigh, _at sixtie pounds, and by him caused to be done into_ English +_out of the_ Portugal. + +Of this Journal Purchas gives the following account in a marginal note, +which is inserted in his own words: "This voyage being occasioned by +sending the Patriarch _Bermudez_ to _Ethiopia_, and relating how that +state decayed, invaded by the _Moores_, and embroiled with civil +discontents, contayning also a more full intelligence of the _Red Sea_, +than any other _Rutter_ which I have seene, I have here added; and next +to it, _Bermudez_ own report, translated, it seemeth, by the same hand +(not the most refined in his _English_ phrase, which yet I durst not be +too busie with, wanting the original) and reduced to our method; here +and there amending, the _English_, which yet in part was done, as I +thinke, and many marginall notes added, by _Sir Walter Raleigh_ +himselfe."--In the present edition, while we have adhered closely to +that of Purchas, with the assistance of that in Astleys Collection, we +have endeavoured, _little more busy_ than Purchas, to reduce the +language to a more intelligible modern standard; and have divided it +into _Sections_, in imitation of the editor of Astleys Collection of +Voyages and Travels. On purpose to carry on the series of events, we +have inserted as a necessary introduction, an account of the Portuguese +Transactions in India, from the discontinuance of the siege of Diu and +retreat of Solyman Pacha in November 1538, to the commencement of the +expedition of Don Stefano de Gama to the Red Sea in December 1540, when +the journal of Don Juan de Castro begins; which _first section_ of this +chapter is taken from the Portuguese Asia of De Faria.--E. + + +SECTION I. + +_Portuguese Transactions in India, from the Siege Diu by the Turks, to +the Expedition of Don Stefano de Gama to Suez_[259]. + + +Soon after the retreat of Solyman Pacha from Diu in November 1538, but +in the beginning of the subsequent year 1539, when the new viceroy Don +Garcia de Noronha had returned from his tardy expedition to relieve Diu, +_Don Gonzalo Vaz Confino_[260] came with five small vessels from +_Onore_, where he had been sent by the former governor Nuno de Cuna on +the following occasion. One of the gallies belonging to the fleet of +Solyman Pacha had been forced into the port of Onore[261], and it was +thought the queen of that province, then a widow, had violated the +treaty subsisting between her government and the Portuguese, by giving +protection to that vessel. Gonzalo Vaz called her to account on this +subject, when she declared that the vessel was there against her will, +as she was not in condition to prevent it, but would be glad that it +were taken by the Portuguese. Gonzalo Vaz accordingly made the attempt, +but was repulsed after a sharp engagement, in which he lost fifteen of +his men, and among these his own son Diego Vaz. Gonzalo suspected the +queen of having secretly assisted the enemy, and refused some +refreshments she had sent for the wounded men, returning a rash and +resentful answer mingled with threats. The queen cleared herself of the +imputation, and again offered a treaty of peace with the Portuguese, +which was concluded, and some Portuguese were left by Gonzalo at Onore, +to observe what conduct was pursued by the queen for expelling the +Turks. + +[Footnote 259: This section is added from the Portuguese Asia of De +Faria, II. s. et seq. to connect the history of events.--E.] + +[Footnote 260: The name of this commander is probably erroneous in the +text, from an error of the press, and ought to have been +_Coutinho_.--E.] + +[Footnote 261: Probably the galley already mentioned in the Venetian +Journal, as having separated from the Turkish fleet on the voyage to +Diu, and for which the pilot was executed by command of Solyman.--E.] + +Before leaving Diu, and having repaired the fortifications of the +castle, the command of which was given to Diego Lopez de Sousa, pursuant +to a commission from the king of Portugal, a treaty of pacification with +the king of Guzerat was set on foot and concluded, very little to the +advantage of the Portuguese, owing as was generally believed to the +covetousness of Noronha. + +The late success of the Portuguese terrified all the princes of India +who had been their enemies. Nizam-al-Mulk and Adel Khan sent ambassadors +to the viceroy to renew the former treaties of peace; and the zamorin, +to obtain the more favourable reception from the viceroy, employed the +mediation of Emanuel de Brito, commandant of the fort at _Chale_. Brito +accordingly promised his interest, and the zamorin sent _Cutiale_ as his +ambassador to Goa accompanied by a splendid retinue, where he was +received by the viceroy with much courtesy and great pomp. Had not the +viceroy fallen sick, he intended to have gone to Calicut, to perform +the ceremony of swearing to the observance of the articles of +pacification and amity which were agreed to upon this occasion; but he +sent his son Don Alvaro on this errand, under the discretion of some +discreet men, as Alvaro was very young. They came to Paniany with a +numerous fleet, where they were met by the zamorin, accompanied by the +kings of Chale and Tanor. The peace was confirmed and ratified with +great demonstrations of joy on both sides, and lasted thirty years to +the great advantage of the Portuguese. + +The illness of the viceroy became serious and threatened to end fatally, +insomuch that he could not attend to the affairs of government; for +which reason he proposed that some worthy person might be chosen to +supply his place, and even desired that the choice might fall upon his +son Don Alvaro. This surprised all men as violating the public liberty +of choice, and might have proved of dangerous consequence, had not the +death of the viceroy prevented its adoption. On the death of the +viceroy, the _first_ patent of succession was opened in which Martin +Alfonso de Sousa was named; but he had gone a short while before to +Portugal. On the _second_ being opened, Don Stefano de Gama was therein +named, who then lived in retirement a short way from Goa. + +Don Stefano de Gama, who was the son of Don Vasco de Gama the discoverer +of India, entered upon the government in the beginning of April 1540. +The first thing he did was to have his whole property publicly valued, +that it might not be afterwards laid to his charge that he had acquired +riches during his government; and indeed at his death, his fortune was +found considerably diminished. Finding the public treasury very much +exhausted, he advanced a large sum to it from his own funds. In the next +place he refitted the fleet, which had been laid up by his predecessor +after his return from Diu. He likewise founded the college of _Santa +Fe_, or St Faith, at Goa for the education of the heathen youth who were +converted, appointing the vicar-general Michael Vaz as first rector. He +sent his brother Christopher de Gama, to attend to the repair of the +ships at Cochin, and gave notice to several commanders to hold +themselves in readiness to oppose the _Rumes_ or Turks, whose fleet was +reported to be again proceeding towards the western coast of India. But +being afterwards credibly informed that the Turks would not set out +this year, he attended to other affairs. + + +SECTION II. + +_Journal of the Voyage from Goa to the Straits of Bab-al-Mandab_.[262] + + +Having expedited all the affairs of his government, and collected an +armament of 80 sail of different sorts and sizes, on board which 2000 +soldiers were embarked, besides mariners and rowers. Don Stefano de Gama +set sail from the bar of Goa, at sunrise of the 31st December 1540, on +his expedition to Suez. The wind was easterly, blowing from the land, +and they advanced under an easy sail, coming to anchor about ten o'clock +at the mouth of the river _Chaparoa_. Proceeding on their voyage till +the 13th of January 1541, they saw in the morning of that day great +quantities of weeds which grow on the rocks of the sea coast, and soon +afterwards a sea-snake, being indications of the neighbourhood of land; +and when the sun was completely risen, they descried the island of +Socotora, whither they were bound in the first place, bearing due south. + +[Footnote 262: We now take up the Rutter or Journal of Don Juan de +Castro, but Purchas has chosen to omit the navigation from the Malabar +coast to the Island of Socotora, _to avoid prolixity_.--E.] + +After coming to anchor at this island, I inquired at the principal +pilots of the fleet how far they had reckoned themselves from the land +when we first came in sight. The chief pilot was 90 leagues short; the +pilot of the _Bufora_ galleon 100 and odd; those who made the least were +70 leagues short; and my own pilot, being only 65 leagues, was nearest +in his reckoning. They were all astonished at this difference, and all +affirmed in excuse for their short reckoning, that the way was actually +shorter than was expressed on the charts; with them the Moorish pilots +concurred in opinion, affirming that it was only 300 leagues from Goa to +Socotora[263]. The island of Socotora is 20 leagues in length from east +to west, and 9 leagues broad, being in lat. 12 deg. 40' N. on its north +side. This northern side runs east and west, somewhat inclined towards +the north-west and south-east The coast is all very clear without rocks +and shoals, or any other hinderance to navigation. The anchoring ground +in the road is sand, stony in some places, but not of such a nature as +to cut the cables. On this side the north wind blows with such force as +to raise up great heaps of sand over the hills, even beyond their +highest craggy summits. In the whole circuit of the island there is no +other place or harbour where a ship may winter in safety. The sea coast +all around is very high, and girt with great and high mountains, having +many pyramidal peaks, and having a grand appearance. The tides on the +coast of this island are quite contrary to those on the opposite shore +of India, being flood when the moon rises in the horizon, and as the +moon ascends the tide of ebb begins, and it is dead low water when the +moon comes to the meridian of the island; after which, as the moon +descends, the tide begins to flow; and when set it is full sea. I made +this observation for many days by the sea side, and always found it +thus. + +[Footnote 263: The real distance is 430 marine leagues, and the +difference may be easily accounted for by the operation of an eastern +current, not observed or not sufficiently allowed for.--E.] + +If I am not deceived, this island of Socotora was in ancient times named +_Dioscorides_, and had a city of the same name, as appears in the +_sixth_ table of Asia by Ptolemy: But by the situation which he has +given it, he appears to have had bad information from navigators[264]. +The Socotorians are Christians, their ancestors as they say having been +converted by the holy apostle Thomas. The island has many churches, in +which there is _no oracle_[265] except the cross of Christ. They pray in +the _Chaldean_ tongue; and are very ignorant, but as I was informed they +are desirous of being instructed in the doctrines and ceremonies of the +Romish church, which they confess to be alone good and worthy of being +followed. The men have names like us, as John, Peter, Andrew, &c. that +of the women being generally Mary. The manner of life of these people is +singular, as they have no king, governor, prelate, or other person in +authority, but live in a manner like wild beasts, without any rule, or +order of justice or policy[266]. + +[Footnote 264: Don Juan omits all mention of the island of _Abdal +Kuria_, about nine leagues E.S.E. of Socotora, with two intersposed +small islands, called _Las Duas Hermanas_ or the Two Sisters.--E.] + +[Footnote 265: Probably meaning no images or Christian idols.--E.] + +[Footnote 266: Since then they have been subdued by the Arabs.--Astl.] + +In the whole island there is no city or great town, and most of the +people dwell in caves, though some have small thatched cottages, +separated from each other, more savage than pastoral. Their food is +flesh and wild dates, and their drink chiefly milk, as they taste water +but seldom. They are much devoted to the cross, and you will hardly meet +a single individual without one hanging from the neck. Their +dispositions are good; their persons tall and straight, their faces +comely but swarthy, the women being somewhat fairer, and of very honest +behaviour. They have no arms either of defence or offence, except very +short swords of dead iron. The men go entirely naked, except a clout of +a certain cloth called _Cambolis_, a considerable quantity of which is +manufactured in the island. The country is very poor, and produces no +other merchandise than _verdigris_[267] and _sanguis draconis_; but the +_verdigris_ is in great abundance, and is esteemed above all. All the +island is mountainous, and breeds abundance of all kinds of cattle like +those of Europe. There is no wheat or rice or other provisions of that +kind, which I believe is not the fault of the ground, but owing to want +of skill and industry in the people; as the land within the external +mountains is fresh, and hath many vallies and plains, very convenient +for culture. They have no manner of navigation, neither do they catch +any fish, though the sea around their coast has an infinite quantity. +They have very few fruit trees, among which the palm tree is chiefly +esteemed, and produces a principal part of their food. The land produces +all kind of garden and medicinal plants, and the mountains are covered +with the herb _Basil_ and other odoriferous herbs. + +[Footnote 267: By verdigris is probably meant the Socotorine +aloes.--Purch.] + +Leaving Socotora, we were very near Aden in the morning of the 27th of +January 1541, which was to the north-west, distant from us about 6 +leagues. The wind being from the east and fair, we sailed W.S.W. and +then knew that the land we had seen the evening before, thinking it an +island, was the mountain of Aden. This mountain is very high and is full +of crags on every side, with some very high peaks, like the hill of +Cintra, having a noble appearance. This hill descends to the sea, into +which it projects a very great and long cape or promontory; on each side +of which there is a deep harbour or bay, the strong city of Aden being +situated on that which is to the east of the cape. In ancient times the +hill was called _Cabubarra_, famous among navigators, and the city of +_Aden_ was then known by the name of _Madoca_. Within these three years, +this city of Aden has fallen under the power of the Turks, being taken +by the treachery of Solyman Pacha, governor of Cairo, in the following +manner. At the request of the king of Cambaya and all the inhabitants of +the _Straits of Mecca_[268], the grand Turk sent the governor of Cairo, +Solyman Pacha eunuch, with a great fleet of ships and gallies for India. +On coming to Aden, the king and inhabitants, fearing the treachery of +the Turks, refused to allow them to come into their city, but supplied +them, with all kinds of provisions and necessaries. As Solyman and his +soldiers shewed no resentment, the king became reassured, and after many +messages and declarations of friendship on both sides, consented to an +interview with the Pacha on board his galley, that they might treat +respecting the conquest on which the Pacha was bound. But the king was +made prisoner by Solyman on board the galley; and the Turks landing +possessed themselves of the city, before the gates of which the king was +hanged next day. Whereupon Solyman left a garrison to keep possession of +the city, and proceeded on his voyage to Diu. + +[Footnote 268: This singular expression certainly means the Red Sea, +which the Arabs often call the Straits of Mecca, or more properly the +Gulf of Mecca; sometimes Bahr-hejaz, or the Sea of Hejaz, one of the +provinces of Arabia.--E.] + +From the Cape of _Guardafu_ on the coast of Africa, anciently called +_Aromata_, and from the opposite promontory of _Siagros_ or Cape +_Fartak_ in Asia, all the sea to the city of _the heroes_, now _Suez_, +is called the _Arabian Gulf_, vulgarly the Red Sea. The distance between +these two promontories may be 58 leagues. From these promontories the +coast on both sides of this sea extends towards the west, nearly at the +same distance, till they come to the two cities of _Aden_ in Arabia; and +_Zeyla_ in Ethiopia or _Abexi_[269]; and from thence the two shores +begin to approximate rapidly, with desert coasts and little winding, +till they almost meet in the straits which are formed by two capes or +promontories; that on the Arabian side being named _Possidium_ by the +ancients, but I could never learn either the ancient or modern name of +that on the side of Ethiopia[270]. This strait between the promontories +is called by the neighbouring people and those who inhabit the coasts of +the Indian ocean _Albabo_[271], which signifies the gates or mouths in +the Arabic language. This strait is _six_ leagues across, in which space +there are so many islands, little islets, and rocks, as to occasion a +suspicion that it was once stopped up. By those straits, sluices, and +channels, there entereth so great a quantity of water, which produces so +many and great creeks, bays, gulfs, and ports, and so many islands, that +we do not seem to sail between two lands, but in the deepest and most +tempestuous lake of the great ocean. Now returning to the mouths of the +strait, which is the object of our description, we are to note that the +land of Arabia at this place stretches out into the sea with a long and +large point or promontory; and as there is a great nook or bay, it +appears on coming from sea as if this cape were an island separate from +the continent. This is what was named the promontory of _Possidium_ by +Ptolemy. Not more than a stones throw from this promontory is a small +islet called the Isle of the _Robones_. For _Roboan_[272]in Arabic +signifies a pilot, and in this isle dwell the pilots who are in use to +direct ships coming from sea to the ports for which they are bound +within the straits. This islet is round and quite flat, about the sixth +part of a league in circuit, and the channel between it and the main +land of Arabia may be crossed on foot at low water; but at one +quarter-flood it becomes too deep for being waded. To seawards from this +little island about a league from the coast is an island about a league +and a half in length, which has a large haven on the side towards +Ethiopia secure in all winds, where a large fleet of gallies may be +safely harboured; but the side of this island towards Arabia has neither +harbour nor landing-place[273]. This channel is easily sailed in the +middle, steering N.W. and by W. from S.E. and by E. having 11 fathoms +all through. It is all clean in every place, without flats, shoals, or +any other obstruction, so that it may be passed on either side or in the +middle. The whole ground is a soft coral rock, with hardly any sand. +Being far within the channel, and going to seek the road or haven for +shelter from the east winds which are here very strong, the depth +somewhat diminishes, but is never less than 9 fathoms. + +[Footnote 269: Meaning Abassi, Abyssinia, or Habash.--E.] + +[Footnote 270: The cape on the Arabian shore is called Arrah-morah, or +of St Anthony, and that on the African _Jebul al Mondub_, or _Mandab_, +which signifies the Mountain of Lamentation, as formerly explained +respecting _Bab-al-Mandub_, the name of the straits--E.] + +[Footnote 271: In Arabic _Al Bab_ is the gate, and _Al Abwah_ the gates. +By the Turks it is called _Bab Bogazi_, a general name for all straits; +and _the babs_ by the English sailors.--Ast.] + +[Footnote 272: Rather Roban or Ruban.--Ast.] + +[Footnote 273: The island of Prin.--E.] + +Besides this channel of the Arabians[274], there are many others by +which we may safely enter the straits; but we shall only mention one +other, which they called the channel of Abyssinia, between the _Island +of the Gates_, or _Prin_, and the promontory opposite to _Possidium_, +which is on the Abyssinian shore, and is about five leagues broad; but +in this space there are six great high islands, which being seen by +sailors while without the straits are apt to put them in fear that there +is no passage that way; but between all these islands there are large +channels of great depth all of which may be taken without danger, or +leaving them all on the right hand, we may pass in safety between them +and the coast of Abyssinia. At noon on the 29th of January 1541, I took +the altitude of the sun, which at its great height rose 62-3/4 degrees +above the horizon, the declination of this day being 15 degrees, whence +the latitude of the promontory _Possidium_ and mouth of the straits is +12 deg. 15' N. The pilot took the same altitude with me, and being taken on +the land, it cannot but be accurate. + +[Footnote 274: From this expression it is probable that Don Juan had +described the channel between the island of Pria and the shore of +Arabia, or rather the pilot island.--E.] + + +SECTION III. + +_Continuation of the Voyage, from the Straits of Bab-el-Man-dub, to +Massua_. + + +On the same night, two hours after midnight, we set sail from the mouth +of the straits, and by day-light on the 30th we saw the land of both the +Arabian and African coasts, being nearer to the latter. The wind blew +hard at E.S.E. till noon, and we sailed to the N.W. and by W. making our +way by a channel between the first islands and the coast of Abyssinia, +till that day unknown to the Portuguese, being about 4 leagues distant +from that coast. An hour after sunrise, we saw a range of islands along +the coast, most of them low, stretching from S.E. to N.W. and which +extended about 60 leagues. Continuing our course in this channel with a +fair wind, we saw many little islands on either side, at whatsoever part +we cast our eyes. In this channel of the _Abyssins_, as it is called, +it is not proper to sail by night, nor unless the wind is in the poop, +as if the wind should change there is not room to turn to windward, +neither can we come to anchor till so far forward _as the first of the +first islands_, when we shall observe to seawards nine little islands, +and from thence forwards the sea remains free and open to seaward, but +towards the land there still are many islands. Some of these islands are +about two leagues distant from the coast, but the greatest part of them +are close to the land. The length of this channel, between the three +first islands and the coast of Abyssinia is about 8 leagues, and the +safest navigation is nearer the continent than the islands: But in my +opinion no one ought to venture upon this passage without a pilot of the +country. + +On the 31st day of January we came to a shoal with six fathoms water, +and to seawards of which, over against certain islands called the Seven +Sisters, there is a very dangerous rock as I was told by the Moorish +pilots; so that the safe navigations in this part is to go between the +shoal and the land, and in no case to pass to seawards of the shoal. At +night we came to anchor in a haven named _Sarbo_, or _Sorbo_, in 9-1/2 +fathoms water; having all this day seen many little islands close to the +coast. On the 1st of February I landed at the port in this island of +_Sarbo_ taking the pilot and master along with me, that we might all +three take the altitude of the sun. At its greatest height it was scarce +71 deg. above the horizon, and the declination of that day being 13 deg. 56', +the latitude was 15 deg. 7' N. About 24 leagues short of Massua, and 4 +leagues from the Abyssinian coast, in lat. 15 deg. N. there is a great +cluster or archipelago of islands, some of which hardly rise above the +surface of the sea, while others are so lofty that they seem to touch +the clouds; and between these there are so many bays, ports, and +harbours, that no wind can annoy us. All of these islands want water, +except one very high island, called _Whale_ Island by the Portuguese, +because it very much resembles one, in which there is water and plenty +of cattle, with a large haven in which ships may winter. Of all these +islands, that which is most out to sea is called in Arabic _Sarbo_, +where we now lay at anchor. The island of Sarbo is about a league in +length and half a league broad, all low land with many low barren trees, +and covered with grass. In every place we found the marks of men and +cattle, but we only saw one camel, for which reason our men called it +the Island of the Camel. Though we sought the whole island with much +diligence we could find no water, except in one well dug in a stone +which seemed intended to contain rain water. Between these islands there +are numerous arms of the sea, reaches, and channels. At sunrise on the +4th of February, we set sail from the port of _Sarbo_. February 7th we +sailed along many islands about three or four leagues distant from the +main land, most of them very low, almost even with the sea. We passed to +seaward of them all about a league, and about even-song time, we saw to +seawards of us a very long range of islands about 5 leagues in extent +and about four leagues from us, which lay N.W. and S.W. as far as I +could discern. The coast all this day trended N.W. and by W. and S.E. +and by E. so that the channel in which we sailed this day was about 5 +leagues broad. The greatest part of this day I caused the lead to be +constantly thrown, always having 25 fathoms on an ouze bottom. + +Two hours after sunrise on the 8th of February we set sail, steering +mostly to the N.W. and at sunset we were nearly entered into the channel +between that point of _Dallac_ which looks to the continent, and an +island called _Shamoa_[275]. But as night was coming on, and many of the +galleons were far astern, so that it might be difficult for them to hit +the channel, and as besides the wind was now scarce, we took in our +sails, and with our foresails only _we went rummore_[276], sailing to +the south-east, and two hours after night-fall we cast anchor in 40 +fathoms water the ground ouzing. All this day we saw many islands along +the coast, so low and flat that they seemed to have no surface above +water. The coast stretched N.W. and S.E. to a low point which is as far +forward as the island of _Dallac_. On doubling this point, a great bay +or creek penetrates ten or twelve leagues into the land. + +[Footnote 275: In Purchas these two last mentioned places are named +Dalaqua and Xamea, the Portuguese expressing our _k_ by _qu_, and our +_sh_ by _x_; but we have preferred the more ordinary mode of spelling in +modern geography.--E.] + +[Footnote 276: This expression is absolutely unintelligible, but in the +context the ship is said to have returned to the south-east. It is used +on a subsequent occasion apparently in the same sense, and perhaps means +beating to windwards or drifting to leeward.--E.] + +The Island of Dallac is very low land, almost level with the sea, having +no mountain or any other height. In the common opinion it is 25 leagues +long by 12 in breadth. The side of the island opposite to the south +stretches E.S.E. and W.N.W. being all the coast which I could see, and +along the coast lay great numbers of little islands, all very low, and +having the same direction with the coast. I only went along this coast +of the island seven leagues, at two leagues from the land, and though +the lead was often cast I never found ground. The metropolitan city or +chief town is situated almost on the point of the island which lieth on +the west side, and is a frontier to Abyssinia. It is called _Dallaca_, +whence the island took its name. _Dallac_, in the Arabic language +signifies _ten lacs_, because in former times the custom-house of this +city yielded that sum yearly to the king. Every Arabian _lac_ is 10,000 +Xerephines; so that _ten lacs_ are worth 40,000 crusadoes[277]. The west +point of the island, opposite to Abyssinia, is distant from the +continent about 6 or 7 leagues, and in this space there are five very +flat islands. The first of these, one league from the point, called +_Shamoa_, is two leagues in circuit, and contains some springs and +wells. Between this island of _Shamoa_ and the western point of Dallac, +is the principal and most frequented channel for going to _Massua_. In +this channel the water is 70 fathoms deep. The land of this island is +red, and produces few trees, but plenty of grass. The king of it and all +his people are Moors. He resides most part of the year at Massua, +because of the trade which he carries on with the Abyssinians. At +present this island and Dallac yields very little profit; for since the +rise of Suakem, Massua, Aden, and Jiddah, it has lost its trade and +reputation. + +[Footnote 277: A Xerephine being 3s. 9d., a lac is L.1875 sterling, and +ten lacs are consequently L.18,750.--E.] + +The 12th of February the whole of our fleet came into the harbour of +Massua. Massua is a small island very low and flat, in which anciently +stood the city of _Ptolomaida of the wild beasts_. This island is in +length about the fifth part of a league, and a caliver-shot in breadth, +being situated in a large crooked nook or bay of the sea, and near the +north-west head-land of the bay. The channel which divides it from the +main land is about a falcon-shot across, and in some parts not so much, +in which channel the harbour is situated, which is safe in all weathers, +as all the winds that blow must come over the land, and it has not much +current. The depth of water is eight or nine fathom with an ouze bottom. +The proper entrance into this port is on the north-east by the middle of +the channel, between the island and the main; because from the point +which runneth to the E.N.E. a shoal projects towards the land, and the +continental point of the bay hath another projecting towards the point +of the island, both of which make it necessary for ships to avoid the +land and to keep the mid-channel, which is very narrow and runs N.E. and +S.W. Very near this island of Massua, towards the south and the +south-west, there are two other islands, that nearest the main land +being the larger, and that more out to sea being smaller and very round. +These three islands form a triangle, being all very flat and barren, +having no wells or springs; but in Massua are many cisterns for the use +of the inhabitants. There are many shoals interspersed among these +islands, but there is a channel through among them, through which +gallies and rowing vessels may pass at full sea. This island of Massua, +with all the coast from Cape _Guardafu_ to _Swakem_, was only a short +time before under the dominion of _Prester John_; but within these few +years the king or sheikh of _Dallac_ hath usurped it, and resides there +the greater part of the year, because of the trade which he carries on +with the Abyssinians, from whom he procures great quantities of gold and +ivory. In the months of May and June, in consequence of excessive calm +weather, the air of this island is exceedingly intemperate and +unhealthy; at which season the sheikh and the other inhabitants go all +to Dallac, leaving Massua entirely empty. All the coast of the bay of +Massua on the main-land is extremely mountainous, till you come to a +place called _Arkiko_[278] by the sea-side, where there are many wells +of water, where the coast is more clear and open, with many fields and +plains. Arkiko is about a league from Massua to the south, and through +all these mountains and fields there are many wild beasts, as elephants, +tygers, wolves, wild boars, stags, and elks, besides others not known to +us; whence Massua was called _Ptolomaida of the wild beasts_, which is +farther confirmed, as the latitude of Massua is the same as that +assigned to _Ptolomaida_[279]. + +[Footnote 278: Arkiko, Arkoko, or Erkoko, by some erroneously called +Erocco, and by De L'Isle, Arcua. In the edition of this journal by +Purchas it is called Arquito.--Ast.] + +[Footnote 279: These are no proofs that Massua is on the spot formerly +occupied by Ptolomaida; for the whole coast of Abyssinia is full of wild +beasts, and since Ptolomy fixed the latitude solely by computed +distances, it is next to impossible that these should exactly agree with +real observations.--Ast.] + + +SECTION IV. + +_Digression respecting the History, Customs, and State of Abyssinia_. + + +_Presbyter_ or _Prester John_, otherwise called _Prete Jani_, who is the +king or emperor of the Abyssinians, is lord of all the land called +anciently _Ethiopia sub Egypto_[280], or Lower Ethiopia; which is one of +the most extensive dominions we know of in the world. This empire begins +at Cape _Guardafu_, called anciently _Aromata_, whence running along the +Red Sea, with desert and not very crooked coasts, it reaches to the +boundaries of the rich city of _Swakem_. On the north side it borders on +the warlike people of the _Nubys_, _Nuba_, or Nubians, who intervene +between Abyssinia and the _Theabaid_ or Upper Egypt. From thence it +reaches a great way inland to the kingdom of _Manicongo_, including part +of _Lybia Inferior_, and other interior parts of Africa towards the +west; whence turning behind the springs and lakes of the Nile through +burning and unknown regions, it endeth in the south upon the _Barbarian +Gulf_, now known to the Portuguese who navigate that gulf, as the coasts +of _Melinda_ and _Magadoxa_. The Nile is still known by its ancient +name, being called _Nil_ by the Abyssinians, Egyptians, Arabians, and +Indians. The springs and lakes of this river are on the confines which +separate the land of the Abyssinians from the Cafres that inhabit the +continent behind Melinda and Mozambique, as I was informed by some great +lords and other persons of Abyssinia, whence it appears that the +ancients had little knowledge respecting the origin of this river. +Inquiring from these people, if it were true that this river did sink in +many places into the earth, and came out again at the distance of many +days journey, I was assured there was no such thing, but that during its +whole course it was seen on the surface, having great breadth and depth, +notwithstanding of what we read in the fifth book of the Natural +History of Pliny. I made many inquiries respecting the causes of +increase and overflowings of this river, which has been so much disputed +by all the ancient philosophers, and received the most satisfactory +solution of this question never before determined. Thus almost +jestingly, and by means of very simple questions, I came to learn that +which the greatest philosophers of antiquity were ignorant of. + +[Footnote 280: That is Ethiopia _below_ Egypt, or more properly to the +_south_ of Egypt. The expression _below_ seems ridiculous, as Abyssinia +or Ethiopia containing the sources of the Nile must be _higher_ than +Egypt at its mouth. But among Greek and Roman geographers, _above_ and +_below_ meant respectively to the north and to the south.--E.] + +The principal lords of Abyssinia informed me, that in their country the +winter began in May, and lasted all June and July and part of August, in +which latter month the weather becomes mild and pleasant. In June and +July it is a great wonder if the sun ever make his appearance; and in +these two months so great and continual are the rains that the fields +and low grounds are entirely overflown, so that the people cannot go +from one place to another. That this prodigious quantity of water hath +no other issue or gathering-place excepting the Nile; as towards the Red +Sea the country is entirely skirted by very high mountains. Hence that +river must necessarily swell prodigiously and go beyond its ordinary +bounds, as unable to contain such vast quantities of water, and +overflows therefore both in Egypt and the other lands through which it +passes. And as the territories of Egypt are the most plain of these, of +necessity the overflowing there must be the more copious, as the river +has there more scope and freedom to spread out its waters than in the +high and mountainous lands of Abyssinia. Now, it is manifest that the +inundations of the Nile in Egypt always begin when the sun is in the +summer solstice, which is in June, while in July the river increases in +greater abundance, and in August, when the rains diminish in Abyssinia, +the river decreases by similar degrees to its former increase. Hence the +manifest cause of the increase of the Nile is from the great and +continual rains that fall in Abyssinia during the months of June and +July. I was myself in Massua in the month of June and part of July, +where I saw great storms of thunder and rain; and we saw within the +continent great and constant black clouds; though the Abyssinians said +what we saw was little in comparison of what it was in the inland +country. We likewise know that the months of June and July are the +winter season at the Cape of Good Hope and all the coast of Africa, +where the rains are continual. I was likewise told that the Nile formed +many islands, especially one exceedingly large, in which was a great +and rich city; which on due consideration must be the Island of _Meroe_. +They told me also that on this great island, and all through the river, +there were great numbers of fierce and pestiferous animals, which +doubtless must be crocodiles. Enquiring if the river in a certain place +fell from such a height, that with the noise of the fall those who +inhabited the neighbouring towns were born deaf; they said that +certainly in one place the river did fall over a great rock with a +prodigious noise, but had no such effects. + +As an extended account of the manners and customs of the Abyssinians +would interfere with this journal, I must touch them only shortly, +though most worthy of being known; more especially the causes of the +overthrow and ruin of this empire in these our own days. + +_Atini Tingill_, afterwards named David, _Prete Jani_ or Emperor of +Ethiopia, reigning in the year 1530, became so cruel and tyrannized so +much over his subjects that he incurred their universal hatred. At that +time _Gradamet_, king of Zeyla, made war on Abyssinia, encouraged by the +great enmity of the people against their sovereign, and perhaps secretly +invited by some of the great lords of the kingdom. On entering into +Abyssinia, and having reduced some towns and districts, Gradamet divided +liberally the spoils among his warriors, among whom he had 300 Turkish +arquebusseers, who formed the main strength of his army. He likewise +enfranchised all the inhabitants of the towns through which he passed, +exempting the inhabitants from the taxes and impositions they had to pay +to their sovereign, by which he gained to his party all the common +people, and even many of the principal nobles of the kingdom[281]. + +[Footnote 281: Of the cruelties of David, several examples are given in +the journal of Alvarez, such as the death of two _Betudetes_, the chief +justice, two _Tigre mahons_ or governors of Tigre, and four +_Barnagassoes_ or governors of the maritime country, in six years. This +disposition increased with his years, and perhaps he intended to force +some alteration in the religion of the country; which indeed +sufficiently appears by his sending Alvarez and Bermudez as his +ambassadors to the Pope.--_Purchas_.] + +King David sent an army against the king of Zeyla; but when the Turks +began to shoot their calivers or arquebusses, among the Abyssinians, by +which some of them were slain, they were seized with an universal panic +and took flight. Proud of this victory, the king of Zeyla overrun the +country, accompanied by a great number of Abyssinians, and advanced +into that part of the south, towards Magadoxa and Melinda, where the +vast treasures of the former kings of Abyssinia were secured on the top +of an almost inaccessible mountain. Seeing every day the Abyssinians +revolting to the Moors, David gathered a new army with which be marched +against _Gradamet_ and joined battle, but was again completely defeated, +chiefly, by means of the Turkish musqueteers: On which David withdrew to +a strong post on a mountain, where in a few days he died, in the year +1539. After this great victory Gradamet marched immediately to the +mountain where the treasure was deposited, which he assaulted and took, +gaining possession of the largest treasure that ever was known in the +world. On the death of David, those of the nobles who had continued to +adhere to him, elected his eldest son in his stead, who was a young man +under age; and that nothing might be wanting to assist the ruin of the +kingdom, already almost irrecoverably reduced by the Moors, another +party of the nobles appointed a different son of the late king to +succeed to the throne. In this hopeless condition of his affairs, the +unfortunate youth, having to contend at the same time against foreign +invasion and domestic division, withdrew for personal safety to the +mountain of the Jews. + +In the interior of Abyssinia there is a very large and high mountain +which can only be ascended by one very difficult path, and on its summit +there is a large plain, having abundance of springs, with numerous +cattle, and even some cultivation. The inhabitants of this mountain +observe the law of Moses. Though I have carefully inquired, I could +never learn how this people came into Abyssinia, and wherefore they have +never descended from their mountain to mix with the other inhabitants of +the country. The young king received a friendly entertainment from these +Jews, who acknowledged him as their sovereign, and defended him against +the king of Zeyla, who was unable to force his way up the mountain, and +had to retire. About this time we arrived at Massua, which put the Moors +in great fear, and inspired new courage into the hearts of the +Abyssinians, insomuch that the young king left the mountain of the Jews +and took up his quarters with his adherents in other mountains towards +the sea coast and nearer to Massua, whence he wrote many pitiful and +imploring letters for assistance, to which favourable answers were +returned giving him hopes of succour. We proceeded on our expedition to +Suez; and being returned again to Massua, it was ordained to send an +auxiliary force of 500 men under a captain, which was accordingly done +and we set sail on our way back to India. Since that time, I have not +learnt any intelligence whatever respecting the affairs of +Ethiopia[282]. + +[Footnote 282: The circumstances and fate of this Portuguese expedition +into Abyssinia will be found in the next chapter of this work.--E.] + +The Abyssinians are naturally ceremonious men, and full of points of +honour. Their only weapons are darts, in which they figure to themselves +the lance with which our Saviour was wounded, and the cross on which he +died, though some wear short swords. They are very expert horsemen, but +badly apparelled; and are much given to lying and theft. Among them +riches are not computed by money, but by the possession of cattle and +camels, yet gold is much valued. In their own country they are dastardly +cowards, but in other countries valiant; insomuch that in India they say +that a good _Lascarin_, or what we call a soldier, must be an +Abyssinian; and they are so much esteemed in Ballagayat, Cambaya, +Bengal, and other places, that they are always made captains and +principal officers in the army. Their clothing is vile and poor. They +wear linen shirts, and the great personages have a kind of upper garment +called _Beden_. The vulgar people are almost quite naked. They eat +_bollemus_ and raw flesh; or if held to the fire, it is so little done +that the blood runs from it. In the whole land there are no cities or +towns, so that they live in the field under tents and pavilions like the +Arabs[283]. They pride themselves on believing that the queen of _Sheba_ +was of their country, alleging that she took shipping at _Massua_, +though others say at _Swakem_, carrying with her jewels of great value +when she went to Jerusalem to visit Solomon, making him great gifts, and +returned with child by him. + +[Footnote 283: The word used here in the edition of Purchas is +_Alarbes_.--E.] + +It is alleged in the history of Abyssinia, that when one of the Soldans +of _Babylon_ in Egypt made war many years ago upon their emperor, he +gathered a multitude of people and turned the course of the Nile, so +that it might not run into Egypt[284]. The Soldan, amazed at this vast +enterprize, which he believed would entirely ruin the land of Egypt, +sent ambassadors with great gifts, and made peace with the emperor, +giving a privilege to the Abyssinians to pass through his country +without paying tribute, when on their way to visit the holy sepulchre at +Jerusalem, and the shrine of St Catharine on Mount Sinai. Some learned +Moors whom I conversed with while in the Red Sea confirmed the truth of +this relation. + +[Footnote 284: According to Bermudez, this attempt was begun by _Ale +Beale_, predecessor to _Onadinguel_ or _Atine-tingil_.--Astl.] + + +SECTION V. + +_Continuation of the Journal of De Castro from Massua to Swakem_. + + +We set sail at sun-rising on the 19th of February from the bay which is +half a league beyond Massua and half a league from the land. This day +was very close and rainy, and numbering our fleet I found 64 rowing +vessels; that is 3 galliots, eight small gallies, and 35 foists[285]. By +night our north-west wind lulled, and it blew a little from the west. In +the second watch it came on to rain; and in the middle of the morning +watch we weighed anchor and rowed along shore till morning, during which +time it rained hard. By evening of the 20th we were as far as the +extreme point of the range of islands on the north side, about 14 +leagues from Massua. The coast from Massua hither stretched N.N.W. and +S.S.E. for these 14 leagues, and in some of the islands which lay to +seaward we knew that there were cattle and water, with some few poor +dwellings. The distance from these islands to the African coast might be +about four leagues. The islands in this range having cattle and water +are _Harate_, _Dohull_, and _Damanill_, which are all low and surrounded +with shoals and flats. All the first watch of the night, having the wind +fair at east, we sailed N.N.W. At the beginning of the second watch we +came suddenly to certain very white spots, which threw out flames like +lightning. Wondering at this strange event, we took in our sails +believing we were upon some banks or shoals; but on casting the lead I +found 26 fathoms. As this great novelty to us made no impression on the +native pilots, and being in deep water, we made sail again. On the 21st +at day light, we saw off to seawards a low island of which the Moorish +pilot had been afraid in the night. At day light on the 22nd we again +set sail, and at noon my pilot took the altitude of the sun, and found +our latitude 18 deg. 30' N. At this time we were abreast of a very long +point of sand projecting from the main-land. After doubling this point, +we found the sea very free, and sailed N.W. and by W. One hour after +noon we came to a haven called _Marate_. All the coast on our left hand +during this day stretched N.N.W. and S.S.E. the land by the sea shore +being very low with not even a hillock; but within the land the +mountains rise to such a height that they seem to reach the clouds. +_Marate_ is a very low desert island and without water, 66 leagues +beyond Massua, of a roundish figure, and a league and a half in circuit. +It is about three leagues from the main, and on the S.W. side which +fronts the Ethiopean coast it has a very good harbour, safe in all +winds, especially those from the eastern points; as on this side two +long points stretch out from the island east and west, one quarter N.W. +and S.E. between which the land straitens much on both sides, forming a +very great and hollow bosom or bay, in the mouth and front of which +there is a long and very low island, and some sands and shoals, so that +no sea can come in. This haven has two entries, one to the east and the +other to the west, both near the points of the island which form the +harbour. The channel on the _east_ stretches N. and S. one quarter N.W. +and S.E. having three fathoms water in the shallowest place, after which +it immediately deepens, and within the haven we have four and five +fathoms near the shore, with a mud bottom. During the night the wind was +from the east, but less than in the day, and we rode at anchor all +night. + +[Footnote 285: The particular enumeration comes only to 46 vessels, so +that the number of 64 in the text seems an oversight or +transposition.--E.] + +At sunrise on the 23d of February, we set sail from the island and port +of _Marate_, finding seven fathom water and a sandy bottom[286]. At +eleven o'clock we came to two small islands far to seawards, one called +_Darata_ and the other _Dolcofallar_[287], from whence to _Swakem_ is a +days sail. From noon we sailed N.W. by W. till even-song time, when we +entered the channel of _Swakem_, in which, after sailing a league N.W. +we had certain shoals a-head, on which account we altered our course to +W. one quarter N.W. and sometimes W. to keep free of these shoals. We +continued in this course about three leagues, till we saw a great island +a-head of us, when we immediately tacked towards the land, and came to +an anchor between certain great _shoals of stone_ or sunken rocks, +forming a good harbour named _Xabaque_[288], which in the Arabic means a +net. It might be an hour before sunset when we came to anchor. This day +my pilot took the sun at noon, and found our latitude _scarce_ 19 deg. +N[289]. The shoals of Swakem are so many and so intermingled, that no +picture or information were sufficient to understand them, much less to +sail through among them; the islands, shoals, banks, rocks, and channels +are so numerous and intricate. At the entrance among these shoals, there +is to seaward a shoal under water on which the sea breaks very much, and +to landward a small island, these two ranging N.E. and S.W. a quarter +more E. and W. the distance between being three quarters of a league. +Immediately on entering, the channel seemed large and spacious, and the +farther we advanced so much more to seaward there appeared to us an +infinite number of very flat islands, shoals, sand-banks and rocks, that +they could not be reckoned. Towards the land side these were not so +numerous; but it is the foulest and most unnavigable channel that ever +was seen, in comparison with any other sea. What ought chiefly to be +attended to in this channel, is always to keep nearer to the shoals that +are to seawards, and as far as possible from those to landward. The +breadth of this channel in some places is about half a league, in others +a quarter, and in others less than a gun-shot. In the entry to this +channel we had six fathoms, and from thence to the port of _Shabak_ +never less, and never more than 12. From the beginning of the shoals to +_Shabak_ may be about five leagues, and their whole length eight or +nine. We have then another channel, more secure for ships and great +vessels; and we may likewise pass these shoals leaving them all to +seaward, going very close to the main-land, which is the best and most +pleasant way. + +[Footnote 286: Perhaps this refers to the _west_ channel of the harbour, +though not so expressed in the text.--E.] + +[Footnote 287: Named Daratata and Dolkefallar in Astley.] + +[Footnote 288: More properly Shabak.--Ast.] + +[Footnote 289: Purchas in a side-note makes this the latitude of the +harbour of _Xabaque_; but it is obvious that they had sailed a long way +between noon, when the altitude was taken, and an hour before sunset, +when they entered the harbour.--E.] + +On the 24th, at sunrise, we set sail from the port of _Shabak_, and +rowed by so narrow a channel that our fleet had to follow each other in +single line a-head, being only about a cross-bow shot over in the widest +parts. In this narrow channel we were never more than a cannon shot from +the main-land, and sometimes little more than a cross-bow shot; having +shoals, rocks and banks on every side of us, all under water, yet we had +always sufficient indications to avoid them; as wherever they lay, the +water over them appeared very red or very green, and where neither of +these colours appeared we were sure of the clearest channel, the water, +being there dark. Continuing by this channel among so many difficulties, +we came to anchor at half an hour past eleven at a little low round +island, in lat. 19 deg. N. In this latitude Ptolomy places the mountain of +the _Satyrs_[290]. Of this mountain the native pilots had no knowledge; +but going about half a league into the land, I found the footsteps of so +many kind of beasts, and such great flocks of _pianets_[291] as was +wonderful. All these tracks came till they set their feet in the sea, +and they occupied, the greatest part of the field. I believe the fable +of the _Satyrs_ to have arisen from thence, and that they were said to +inhabit these hills and mountains. It is to be noted that in the channel +of four leagues from the harbour of _Shabak_ to this island, the water +is never less than two and a half fathoms nor deeper than eleven, and +also that the tide at this island does not ebb and flow above half a +yard. It begins to flow as soon as the moon begins to ascend towards the +horizon, in the same order as already mentioned respecting Socotora. + +[Footnote 290: This mountain of the Satyrs may more properly be +generally referred to the high range of mountains on this part of the +coast, perhaps from abounding in the baboon called Simia Satyrus, or the +Mandrill.--E.] + +[Footnote 291: I know not what to make of the _pianets_; but the +footsteps of beasts reaching to the edge of the water may probably refer +to amphibious animals, while the flocks of pianets may have been +water-fowl of some kind.--E.] + +The 26th at sunrise we departed from the island, rowing along a reef of +rocks that ran between us and the land to which it was almost parallel, +all the sea between it and the land being full of shoals and banks; but +to seawards there were neither shoals nor banks nor any other +impediment. At nine o'clock we came to anchor at a small island +encompassed by many flats and shoals, where there was a good haven. This +island was a league and a half from that we left in the morning, and 5 +leagues short of _Swakem_. The 27th at sunrise, we set sail from this +second island, and two hours within the night we came to anchor a league +and a half farther on in 28 fathoms water. The 28th we _bridled_ our +oars and set sail. At nine o'clock we anchored about two leagues from +the land in 23 fathoms, on soft sand, like ouze or mud. This morning we +found some shoals under water, but the sea always shewed itself very +green or red over them. Two hours after noon we set sail again, and +anchored at night in 37 fathoms on a sandy bottom, hard by an island a +league and a half short of Swakem. The coast runs N.N.W. and S.S.E. +having all along a shoal which extends near half a league into the sea. +This land differs in nothing from that formerly described. The 1st March +1541, departing from this anchorage, and having doubled a point of land +made by the shoal, we approached the land inwards by a channel, and came +to anchor in the haven of the city of _Swakem_. + +_Swakem_ was called by the ancients the port of _Aspi_, as may be seen +in the _third_ table of Africa by Ptolemy. At this day it is one of the +richest cities in the East[292]. It is situated within the Arabian Gulf +or Red Sea, on the coast of _Ethiopia sub Egypto_, now called the land +and coast of the _Abexii_ or Abyssinians. Among famous places, this may +be reckoned equal or superior to them all in _four_ things. The _first_ +is the goodness and safety of the haven. The _second_ in the facility +and good service for lading and unlading ships. The _third_ in its +traffic with very strange and remote people of various manners and +customs. The _fourth_ in the strength and situation of the city. As +touching the goodness and security of the port I shall first speak. +Nature hath so formed this port that no storm from the sea can enter it +in any direction. Within the haven the sea is so quiet, and runs so +insensibly, that scarcely can we perceive it to have any tide. The +ground is mud. The road in all places has five or six fathoms, and seven +in some places; and is so large that two hundred ships may ride +commodiously at anchor, besides rowing-vessels without number. The water +is so clear that you may plainly perceive the bottom; and where that is +not seen the depth is at least ten or twelve fathoms. The ships can be +laden or unladen all round the city, merely by laying a plank from them +into the warehouses of the merchants; while gallies fasten themselves to +stones at the doors of the houses, laying their prows over the quays as +so many bridges. Now touching the trade and navigation of this port +with many sorts of people, and with strange and remote countries, I know +not what city can compare with it except Lisbon: as this city trades +with all India, both on this side and beyond the Ganges; with _Cambaya_, +_Tanacerim_, _Pegu_, _Malacca_; and within the Straits with _Jiddah_, +_Cairo_, and _Alexandria_. From all Ethiopia and Abyssinia it procures +great quantities of gold and ivory. As to the strength and situation of +this city enough can hardly be said; since to come to it, the +inconveniences, difficulties, and dangers are so great, that it seems +almost impossible: as for fifteen leagues about, the shoals, flats, +islands, channels, rocks, banks, and sands, and surges of the sea, are +so many and intricate that they put the sailors in great fear and almost +in despair. The situation of the city is this: In the middle of a great +nook or bay, is a perfectly flat island almost level with the sea and +exactly round, being about a quarter, of a league in circuit, upon which +the city of _Swakem_ is built; not one foot of ground on the whole +island but is replenished with houses and inhabitants, so that the whole +island, is a city. On two sides this insular city comes within a +bow-shot of the main land, that is on the E.S.E. and S.W. sides, but all +the rest is farther from the land. The road, haven, or bay surrounds the +city on every side to the distance of a cross-bow shot, in all of which +space, ships may anchor in six or seven fathoms on a mud bottom. All +around this bay there is a great shoal; so that the deep water is from +the edge of the city all round to the distance of a bow-shot, and all +beyond is full of shoals. In this bay there are three other islands on +the land side to the north-west. The two which lie farthest in are +small, but that nearest to the channel is about as large as the city. +Between this island and the main sea, there is a large and very long +channel, having seven fathoms water, all along which a great navy might +safely ride at anchor, without any danger of annoyance from the city, +whence only their masts could be seen. When the moon appears in the +horizon it is full sea, and as the moon advances it ebbs till the moon +comes to the meridian, when it is dead low water; and thence it begins +again to flow till the moon sets, when it is again full sea. The entire +ebb and flow of the sea at this city does not exceed a quarter of a +yard. The most that it rises along the coast is a yard and a half, and +in some places less than three quarters of a yard. But when I made this +observation it was neap tide. + +[Footnote 292: This is to be understood of 1541, when visited by De +Castro. Since the Turkish conquest, Mokha and other places have greater +trade.--_Purch_.] + + +SECTION VI. + +_Continuation of the Voyage from Swakem to Comol_. + + +We remained in the haven of Swakem from the 1st to the 9th of March +1541, when an hour before sunset we weighed from before the city, and +anchored for the night at the mouth of the channel. We weighed again on +the 10th, and came again to anchor at night, when the dew was +wonderfully great. On the 11th it blew a storm from the north, so +violent that it raised great mountains of sand along the sea coast, +after which it dispersed them, and the air remained obscured by the sand +as if it had been a great mist or smoke. We remained at anchor all this +day, and on the 12th we left this channel two leagues beyond _Swakem_, +and being without the channel we made sail. About a league and a half +from the coast there were so many rocks, shoals, and flats, on which the +sea continually broke, that we had to take in our sails and row for +three hours, till we got beyond these shoals, after which we again made +sail. At evening we came to anchor within the bank by a very narrow +channel, a league beyond that we had been last in, and three leagues +from Swakem, but the channel within the entrance was large, with clean +ground, and perfectly secure in all winds. + +The 13th we went out of this channel an hour before day, and about a +cannon-shot to seaward we saw a long range of shoals with broken water, +seeming to stretch in the same direction with the coast. At eleven +o'clock the wind turned to the N.N.W. and as our course was N.W. we were +unable to make way, and had to fasten our vessels to the rocks on these +shoals, where we lay about three hours. About two o'clock afternoon the +wind freshened at N.N.E. and we made sail N.W. But coming to the bank +landward, we took in our sails and rowed into a channel within the bank, +where we came to anchor. This channel is very narrow and winding, being +about seven leagues beyond Swakem, whence the coast to this place runs +N. and S. and then N. by W. and S. by E. I went ashore on the 15th to +observe the order and flowing of the tide, and found it was full sea +when the moon was two hours past the meridian, and was dead ebb two +hours after the moon set. I found likewise that the ebb and flow of the +tide at this place was 22 cubits[293]. The 16th we left this channel, +with the wind at north, and cast anchor half a league out at sea. The +17th we entered a very good harbour named _Dradate_ or _Tradate_, the +coast from Swakem here winding N. by W. and S. by E. distance 10 +leagues. The land behind the shore is all very low in that space, but +three leagues back from the coast it rises into great and high +mountains. This harbour of _Tradate_, in lat. 19 deg. 50' N. 10 leagues +beyond Swakem, is one of the best in the world. The entrance is about a +falcon-shot across, and grows narrower inwards, but has 20 fathoms water +in its whole length with a mud bottom; and a quarter of a league within +the land there is a famous watering-place at certain wells, where is the +best water and in greatest plenty of any place on all these coasts. The +19th we sailed at day-light, and advanced 3-1/2 leagues that day, having +many shoals to seaward of us, and the coast for these 3-1/2 leagues +trended N. and S. On the 20th at sunrise the wind blew from the N. and +the sea was rough, for which reason we had to seek shelter within the +shoal, entering by a very narrow and difficult channel. After we were +in, the wind came N.N.E. and we remained all day at anchor. The 21st we +left the shoal with fine weather, the wind being at W.N.W. and sailed N. +keeping about half a league from the land; and an hour after sunrise we +came to a long and fair point of land called by Ptolomy the _promontory +of Diogenes_. On the north side of this point is a large fine bay named +_Doroo_, and at the extremity of this long bare point there is a large +round tower like a pillar. At the entrance of this harbour or channel +there are six fathoms water, which diminishes gradually inwards to +three. The ground is hard clay, and the bay is very large with many +creeks and nooks within, and many islands; many of these creeks +penetrating deep into the main-land, so that in every place there may be +many vessels hidden without being observed from the other branches of +the harbour. A quarter of a league off to sea from the mouth of this +harbour there is a shoal which defends it completely from the admission +of any sea, as this shoal is above water, and has no passage except by +the entrance already mentioned, which trends E. by N. and W. by S. A +cannon-shot from this bay there is a great well, but the water is very +brackish. + +[Footnote 293: Considering the very small rise and fall of the tide at +Swakem, the text in this place ought perhaps only to have been +_inches_.--E.] + +On the 22d we left this harbour of Doroo at day light, proceeding by +means of our oars, and found the sea very full of rocks, so that +escaping from some we got foul of others, and at half past ten o'clock +we had to fasten our vessels to the rocks. Proceeding onwards, we got +towards evening in with the land, and having doubled a point we entered +a very large bay named _Fuxaa_, or _Fushaa_, three leagues and a half +beyond _Doroo_, the coast between stretching N. and E. with a tendency +towards N.W. and S.E. This bay of _Fushaa_ is remarkable by a very high +sharp peaked hill, in lat. 20 15' N. In the very mouth of the harbour +there are two very low points, lying N. by E. and S. by W. from each +other, distant a league and half. As no great sea can enter here it is a +very good harbour, having 10 and 12 fathoms water on a mud bottom, +diminishing inwards to five fathoms. Along the land within the bay on +the south side there are nine small islands in a row, and in other +places there are some scattered islets, all very low and encompassed by +shoals. The land at this bay is very dry and barren, and it has no +water. + +On the 25th we continued along the coast, having many rocks to seawards +about a league off; and at ten o'clock we entered a very large harbour +named _Arekea_, four leagues beyond _Fushaa_, the coast between running +N. and S. with some tendence to N.W. and S.E. _Arekea_, the strongest +and most defensible harbour I have ever seen, is 22 leagues beyond +_Swakem_. In ancient times it was called _Dioscori_ according to Pliny. +In the middle of the entry to this port there is a considerable island, +about a cross-bow shot in length and breadth, having a bank or shoal +running from it on the south side to the main land, so shallow that +nothing can pass over it. But on the north side of this island the +channel is about a cross-bow shot in breadth and 15 fathoms deep, +running N.W. and S.E. and on both sides this channel is very shallow and +full of rocks, the fair way being in the middle. This channel is about a +gun-shot in length, after which the coasts on both sides recede and form +within a large fine and secure harbour, about a league long and half a +league broad, deep in the middle but full of shoals near the land, and +it hath no fresh water. At this place it was agreed to send back all the +ships to Massua, and to proceed with only sixteen small gallies or row +boats. + +Arrangements being accordingly formed, we set sail from _Arekea_ on the +30th at noon, and came to an anchor in a port called _Salaka_ four +leagues beyond _Arekea_ and 96 from _Swakem_, the coast trending N. and +S. with a slight deviation to N.E. and S.W. The land next the sea has +many risings or hillocks, behind which there are high mountains. It must +be noted that all the land from Arekea onwards close behind the shore +puts on this uneven appearance, whereas before that it was all plain, +till in the inland it rises in both into high mountains. The 31st we +sailed from _Salaka_, and an hour before sunset we made fast to the +rocks of a shoal a league from the land and 17 leagues from _Salaka_, +being 43 leagues from Swakem. From the port of _Salaka_ the coast begins +to wind very much; and from _Raseldoaer_ or _Ras al Dwaer_, it runs very +low to the N.N.E. ending in a sandy point where there are 13 little +hillocks or knobs of stone, which the Moorish pilots said were graves. +From this _point of the Calmes_[294] about two leagues, the coast +runneth N.N.W. to a shoal which is 43 leagues from _Swakem_. This point +is the most noted in all these seas, as whoever sails from _Massua_, +_Swakem_, and other places for _Jiddah_, _Al Cossir_, and _Toro_, must +necessarily make this point. The sea for the last seventeen leagues is +of such a nature that no rules or experience can suffice for sailing it +in safety, so that the skilful as well as the unskilful must pass it at +all hazards, and save themselves as it were by chance, for it is so full +of numerous and great shoals, so interspersed everywhere with rocks, and +so many and continual banks, that it seems better fitted for being +travelled on foot than sailed even in small boats. In the space between +_Salaka_ and _Ras-al-Dwaer_, but nearer to the latter, there are three +islands forming a triangle, the largest of which is called _Magarzawn_, +about two leagues long and very high ground, but has no water. This +island bears N. and S. with _Ras-al-Dwaer_ distant three leagues. The +second island lies considerably out to sea, and is called _Al Mante_, +and is high land without water; the third island is all sand and quite +low, being four leagues from _Salaka_ towards _Ras-al-Dwaer_, but I did +not learn its name. + +[Footnote 294: Meaning perhaps the sandy point near Ras-al-Dwaer. This +paragraph is very obscure, and seems to want something, omitted perhaps +by the abbreviator.--Astl.] + +On the 2d of April 1541, casting loose from the before-mentioned shoal, +which is 43 leagues beyond _Swakem_, we rowed along the coast, and +entered a river called _Farate_, about four leagues from the shoal; +whence setting our sails we got into a fine haven a league from thence +called _Kilfit_. All this day we saw no rocks to landward, but there was +a shoal to seaward. _Farate_ is a large and fair river, the mouth of +which is in lat. 21 deg.40' N. Its mouth is formed by two low points about a +gun-shot apart, from each of which a shoal stretches towards the middle, +where only there is any passage. The river runs from the west to the +east, having very low land on both sides, without either tree or shrub +or bush of any kind. At the entrance it is 30 fathoms deep, and from +thence diminishes to 18 fathoms. _Kilfit_ is a fine harbour and very +safe, as when once in, no wind whatever need be feared. There are at the +entry two very low points bearing N.W. 1/4 N. and S.E. 1/4 S. distant +near a quarter of a league. It is rather more than three leagues in +circuit, and every part of it is safe anchorage, having 12 fathoms water +throughout; the shore is however rocky. This harbour is rather more than +a league from the river of _Farate_, between which is a range of +mountains, one of which is higher than the others. We left _Kilfit_ on +the 3d, an hour before day, and rowed along the coast till an hour +before sunset, when we anchored in a haven called _Ras al Jidid_, or the +new cape, about nine leagues from _Kilfit_. This day we saw a few shoals +to seawards, but fewer than before. Two leagues from _Kilfit_ there is a +very good haven named _Moamaa_; and from the _point of the shrubs_ to +another very long sandy point, about two leagues distant, before the +port of _Ras-al-Jidid_, the coast runs N. and S. with a small deviation +to the N.W. and S.E. the distance being about three and a half +leagues[295]. _Ras-al-Jidid_[296] is a small but very pleasant haven, 57 +leagues beyond Swakem, and so exactly circular that it resembles a great +cauldron. There are two points at its entrance bearing N. and S. and on +the inside the eastern winds only can do harm. All the ground is very +clean, having 18 fathoms at the mouth and 13 within; and half a league +inland there is a well of water, though not very plentiful, and +bitterish. This port is a large half league in circuit. It is a +singularity in all the rivers or harbours which I have seen on this +coast, that they have no bars or banks at their mouths, which are +generally deeper than within. On the land round this port, I found +certain trees which in their trunk and bark resembled cork-trees, but +very different in all other respects. Their leaves were very large, +wonderfully thick, and of a deep green, crossed with large veins. They +were then in flower, and their flowers in the bud resembled the flowers +of the mallow when in that state: But such as were opened were white, +and like the white cockle. On cutting a bough or leaf there run out a +great stream of milk, as from the dug of a goat. On all this coast I saw +no other trees, except a grove a little beyond Massua, in some marshy +ground near the sea. Besides these trees, there are some valleys inland +producing a few capers, the leaves of which are eaten by the Moors, _who +say they be appropriate to the joynts_. On the 4th of April, from +sunrise till eleven o'clock, the wind blew a storm from the N.W. after +which there was much and loud thunder, accompanied with hail, the stones +being the largest I ever saw. With the thunder the wind veered about to +every point of the compass, and at last it settled in the north. This +day I carried my instruments on shore, when I found the variation 1-1/4 +degree north-east[297], and the latitude by many observations 22 deg. N. +Though these observations were made on shore with great care, so that I +never stirred the instrument when once set till the end of my +observations, I am satisfied there must be some error; because the great +heat cracked the plate of ivory in the middle, so that there remained a +great cleft as thick as a _gold portague_. On the 6th, an hour before +day, we weighed from the port of _Ras-al-Jidid_, and advanced about +three and a half leagues. The 7th in the morning, the wind blew fresh at +N.W. and we rowed to the shore, where at eight o'clock we fastened our +barks to certain stones of a shoal or reef, lying before a long point +which hereafter I shall name _Starta_. We went in this space about three +leagues. About noon we made sail and proceeded in our voyage, but in no +small doubts, as we saw on both sides of our course a prodigious number +of shelves; we were therefore obliged to take in our sails and use our +oars, by means of which we came about sunset to a good haven named +_Comol_, in which we anchored. + +[Footnote 295: This paragraph is likewise obscurely worded, and is +perhaps left imperfect by the abbreviator.--Astl.] + +[Footnote 296: In some subsequent passages this harbour is called +Igidid, probably to distinguish it from the point of Ras-al-Jidid.--Astl.] + +[Footnote 297: It is therefore probable that in all the bearings set +down in this voyage, when applied to practice, either for the uses of +geography or navigation, this allowance of 1-1/4 too much to the east +ought to be deducted.--E.] + +From a point two leagues beyond the harbour of _Igidid_, or +_Ras-al-Jidid_, to another very long and flat point may be about four +leagues, these two points bearing N.W. and S.E. between which there is a +large bay; within which towards the long point at the N.W. is a deep +haven so close on all sides that it is safe from every wind. This point +is an island; from which circumstance and its latitude it seems +certainly the island named _Starta_ by Ptolomy. From thence to a great +point of land over the harbour of _Comol_ the distance may be five +leagues; these two points bearing N.W. by W. and S.E. by E. and between +them is a large fair bay. From the port of _Igidid_ till half a league +short of the harbour of _Comol_, the land close to the shore is all +raised in small hills very close together, behind which, about a league +farther inland, are very high mountains rising into many high and sharp +peaks; and as we come nearer to _Comol_ these hills approach the sea, +and in coming within half a league of _Comol_ they are close to the +shore. Comol is eleven leagues beyond _Igidid_, and 68 from Swakem, and +is in lat. 22 deg. 30' N. This port is in the second bay, very near the face +of the point which juts out from the coast on the north-west side of +this second bay. Though not large, the port of _Comol_ is very secure, +as towards the seaward it has certain reefs or shoals above water which +effectually defend it from all winds. The land around it is very plain +and pleasant, and is inhabited by many _Badwis_[298]. The north-west +point which ends the bay and covers this port is very long and fair, +being all low and level, being what was named by Ptolomy the promontory +of _Prionoto_ in his _third_ table of Africa, since the great mountains +which range along the whole of this coast end here. + +[Footnote 298: Named _Badois_ in the edition of Purchas, but certainly +the _Badwis_ or _Bedouins_, signifying the _People of the Desert_, being +the name by which the Arabs who dwell in tents are distinguished from +those who inhabit towns.--Astl.]. + + +SECTION VII. + +_Continuation of the Voyage from the Harbour of Comol to Toro or Al +Tor._ + + +Three hours after midnight of the 7th April 1541[299], we left the +harbour of _Comol_, using our oars for a small way, and then hoisting +sail we proceeded along the coast; but an hour before day-light some of +our barks struck upon certain rocks and shoals, on which we again struck +sails and took to our oars till day-light. At day-light, being then the +8th, we came to a spacious bay, of which to the north and north-west we +could see no termination, neither any cape or head-land in that +direction. We accordingly sailed forwards in that open sea or bay, but +which had so many shoals on each side that it was wonderful we could +make _any profit of a large wind;_ for, _now going roamour, and now upon +a tack_, sometimes in the way and sometimes out of it, there was no way +for us to take certain and quiet[300]. About sunset we came to a very +great shelf or reef, and fastening our barks to its rocks we remained +there for the night. The morning of the 9th being clear, we set sail +from this shelf, and took harbour within a great shelf called +_Shaab-al-Yadayn_[301]. After coming to anchor, we noticed an island to +seaward, called _Zemorjete_. This port and shelf trend N.E. by E. and +S.W. by W. From the _cape of the mountains_[302], to another cape beyond +it on which there are a quantity of shrubs or furzes; the coast runs +N.E. by N. and S.W. by S. the distance between these capes being about +three and a half or four leagues. From this last point the coast of the +great bay or nook winds inwards to the west, and afterwards turns out +again, making a great circuit with many windings, and ends in a great +and notable point called _Ras-al-Nashef_, or the dry cape, called by +Ptolomy the promontory _Pentadactilus_ in his _third_ table of Africa. +The island _Zemorjete_ is about eight leagues E. from this cape; and +from that island, according to the Moorish pilots, the two shores of the +gulf are first seen at one time, but that of Arabia is a great deal +farther off than the African coast. This island, which is very high and +barren, is named _Agathon_ by Ptolomy. It has another very small island +close to it, which is not mentioned in Ptolomy. Now respecting the shelf +_Shaab-al-Yadayn_, it is to be noted that it is a great shelf far to +seaward of the northern end of the great bay, all of it above water, +like two extended arms with their hands wide open, whence its Arabic +name which signifies _shelf of the hands_. The port of this shelf is to +landward, as on that side it winds very much, so as to shut up the haven +from all winds from the sea. This haven and cape _Ras-al-Nashef_ bear +from each other E.S.E. and W.S.W. distant about four leagues. + +[Footnote 299: In our mode of counting time, three in the morning of the +8th.--E.] + +[Footnote 300: This nautical language is so different from that of the +present day as to be almost unintelligible. They appear to have sailed +in a winding channel, in which the wind was sometimes scant, sometimes +large and sometimes contrary; so that occasionally they had to tack or +turn to windward. The strange word _roamour_, which has occurred once +before, may be conjectured to mean that operation in beating to +windward, in which the vessel sails contrary to the direction of her +voyage, called in ordinary nautical language the short leg of the +tack.--E.] + +[Footnote 301: Signifying in Arabic the shelf of the two hands.--Astl.] + +[Footnote 302: Probably that just before named _Prionoto_ from Ptolomy, +and called cape of the mountains, because the Abyssinian mountains there +end.--E.] + +At sunrise on the 10th we set sail to the N.N.E. the wind being fresh +and the sea appearing clear and navigable. When about half a league from +the point we saw, as every one thought, a ship under sail, but on +drawing nearer it was a white rock in the sea, which we were told +deceives all navigators as it did us. After this we stood N. by E. By +nine o'clock we reached an island named _Connaka_, and passed between it +and the main-land of Africa. This island is small and barren, about half +a league in circuit, and is about a league and a half from the main. It +resembles a vast crocodile with its legs stretched out, and is a noted +land-mark among navigators. _Connaka_ and _Zamorjete_ bear from each +other N.W. by W. and S.E. by E. distant about six small leagues. About +half an hour past ten, we reached a very long point of sand stretching +far out to sea, called _Ras-al-nef_, which signifies in Arabic the point +or cape of the nose. There is no nigh land whatever about this cape, but +a vast plain field without tree or any green thing, and in the very face +of the point stands a great temple without any other buildings, and on +each side of it is a very clear sandy coast in manner of a bay. This +cape of _Ras-al-nef_ is famous among navigators, as all their trouble +and danger ends on reaching it, when they consider themselves at home +and secure. We continued our course from this cape along the coast with +the wind at S.E. At noon my pilot took the altitude, and found our +latitude 24 deg. 10' N. at which time we were beyond _Ras-al-nef_ about +three leagues, whence the latitude of that cape is 24 deg. N. From this it +appears that the ancient city of _Berenice_ was built upon this cape +_Ras-al-nef_ as Ptolomy places it on this coast under the tropic of +_Cancer_, making the greatest declination of the sun at this place +almost 23 deg. 50'. Likewise Pliny says that at Berenice the sun at noon in +the summer solstice gives no shadow to the _gnomon_, by which that city +appears to have stood under the tropic.[303] + +[Footnote 303: It may be presumed that the position given by Ptolomy is +merely accidental, resulting from computed distances; and Pliny only +speaks from the authority of Ptolomy. In all probability _Al Kossir_, to +be afterwards mentioned, is the _Berenice_ of the ancients.--Astl.] + +Half an hour before sunset, we came to an island called _Shwarit_, but +passing onwards a quarter of a league we came to some shelves of sand +and others of rock, and anchored between them in a good harbour called +_Sial_. These shelves and this port are 103 leagues beyond _Swakem_. On +these shelves we saw a much greater quantity of sea-fowl than had been +seen in any part of the Red Sea. From _Ras-al-Nashef_ to the island of +_Shwarit_ may be between 16 and 17 leagues. After passing Cape +_Ras-al-Nashef_, or the N.W. point of the great bay, the coast winds +very much, running into the land, and pushing out again a very long +point of land called _Ras-al-nef_, which two points bear from each other +N.E. and S.W. almost 1/4 more N. and S. distant about six leagues large. +From _Ras-al-nef_ forwards, the coast winds directly to the N.W. till we +come to _Swarit_, the distance being between 10 and 11 leagues. In this +distance the sea is only in three places foul with shoals; _first_ to +seaward of the island of _Connaka_, where there is a large fair shoal +rising above water in a great ridge of large rocks; and running a long +way toward the land; the _second_ place is at the island of _Shwarit_, +as both to the east and west of this island great shoals and flats +stretch towards the main-land, so as apparently to shut up the sea +entirely between that island and the main; the _third_ is at this +harbour of _Sial_ where we anchored, where the sea is studded thick with +innumerable shoals and flats, so that no part remains free. The island +of Shwarit is a gun-shot in length and nearly as much in breadth, all +low land, with a great green bush in the middle, and opposite to its +east side there is a great rock like an island. _Shwarit_ is little more +than half a league from the main-land. + +From _Swakem_ all the way to _Ras-al-nef_, the countries are all +inhabited by _Badwis_ or _Bedouins_, who follow the law of Mahomet, and +from _Ras-al-nef_, upwards to _Suez_ and the end of this sea, the coast +all belongs to Egypt, the inhabitants of which dwell between the coast +of the Red Sea and the river Nile. Cosmographers in general call the +inhabitants of both these regions _Ethiopians_. Ptolomy calls them +Egyptian Arabs: Pomponius Mela and other cosmographers name them in +general Arabs; but we ought to follow Ptolomy, as he was the prince of +cosmographers. These Egyptian Arabs, who inhabit the whole country from +the mountains to the sea, are commonly called _Bedwis_ or _Bedouins_, of +whose customs and manner of life we shall treat in another place. + +We took in our sails on the 11th of April, and proceeded on our way by +rowing. At nine o'clock we entered a great bay called _Gadenauhi_[304], +about 4 leagues from _Sial_, the coast between trending N.W. and S.E. +rather more to the N. and S. The land over the sea, which for some +way had the appearance of a wall or trench, becomes now very mountainous +and _doubled_, shewing so many mountains and so close that it was +wonderful. The port or bay of _Gadenauhi_ is 107 leagues beyond +_Swakem_, in lat. 24 deg. 40' N. It was low water _one hour after high +noon_[305], and full sea when the moon rose above the horizon; and as +the moon ascended it began to ebb, till the moon was an hour past the +meridian, when it began to flow, and was full sea an hour after the moon +set. By night the wind was N.W. Two or three hours after midnight we +departed from _Gadenauhi_ prosecuting our voyage. In passing between the +shoal which comes from the N.W. point of the bay and the island of +_Bahuto_, we stuck fast upon the shoal, and were much troubled, +believing ourselves in a net or cul-de-sac; but we had no hurt or +danger, and presently got into the right channel and rowed along shore, +against the wind at N.W. till day. The 12th we rowed along shore, and +came an hour after sunrise into a haven called _Xarmeelquiman_ or +_Skarm-al-Kiman_, meaning in the Arabic a cleft or opening in the +mountains. This is a small but excellent harbour, 1-1/2 league beyond +_Gadenauhi_, and 108 leagues beyond _Swakem_, very much like the port of +_Igidid_. + +[Footnote 304: Perhaps _Wad-annawi_.--Astl.] + +[Footnote 305: This strange expression, as connected with the tide which +is dependent on the moon, may possibly mean when the moon was in +opposition to the north; or mid-way between her setting and rising.--] + +The 12th of April we set sail along shore, the wind being fresher, and +more large, at E.S.E. About noon it blew very hard with such impetuous +gusts that it drove the sands of the coast very high, raising them up +to the heavens in vast whirls like great smokes. About evening when the +barks draw together, the wind was entirely calm to some, while others a +little behind or before, or more towards the land or the sea, had it +still so violent that they could not carry sail, the distance between +those becalmed and those having the wind very fresh, being often no more +than a stones throw. Presently after, the wind would assail those before +becalmed, while those that went very swift were left in a calm. Being +all close together, this seemed as if done in sport. Some of these gales +came from the E. and E.N.E. so hot and scorching that they seemed like +flames of fire. The sand raised by these winds went sometimes one way +and sometimes another; and we could sometimes see one cloud or pillar of +sand driven in three or four different directions before it fell down. +These singular changes would not have been wonderful among hills; but +were very singular where we were at such a distance from the coast. When +these winds assailed us in this manner we were at a port named _Shaona_, +or _Shawna_; and going on in this manner, sometimes hoisting and at +other times striking our sails, sometimes laughing at what we saw, and +other times in dread, we went on till near sunset, when we entered a +port named _Gualibo_,[306] signifying in Arabic the port of trouble, +having advanced this day and part of the former night about 13 leagues. + +[Footnote 306: Perhaps _Kalabon_.--Astl.] + +From _Gadenauhi_ to a port named _Shakara_ which is encompassed by a +very red hill, the coast trends N.W. by N. and S.E. by S. the distance +about 10 leagues; and from this red hill to a point about a league +beyond _Gualibo_, the coast runs N.N.W. and S.S.E. distance about 6 +leagues. In these 16 leagues, the coast is very clear, only that a +league beyond the Red Hill there is a shoal half a large league from the +land. In these 16 leagues there are many excellent ports, more numerous +than I have ever seen in so short a space. At one of these named +_Shawna_, which is very large, the Moors and native inhabitants say +there formerly stood a famous city of the gentiles, which I believe to +have been that named _Nechesia_ by Ptolomy in his third book of Africa. +Along the sea there runs a long range of great hills very close together +and doubling on each other, and far inland behind these great mountains +are seen to rise above them. In this range there are two mountains +larger than the rest, or even than any on the whole coast, one of which +is black as though it had been burnt, and the other is yellow, and +between them are great heaps of sand. From the black mountain inwards I +saw an open field in which were many large and tall trees with spreading +tops, being the first I had seen on the coast that seemed planted by +man; for those a little beyond Massua are of the kind pertaining to +marshes on the borders of the sea or of rivers; as those at the port of +_Sharm-al-Kiman_ and at the harbour of _Igidid_ are wild and pitiful, +naked and dry, without boughs or fruit. These two mountains are about +two leagues short of the port of _Sharm-al-Kiman_. _Gualibo_, which is +122 leagues beyond Swakem, is very like the port of _Sharm-al-Kiman_; +except that the one is environed by many mountains, while the land round +the other is an extensive plain. The entry to this port is between +certain rocks or shoals on which the sea breaks with much force, but the +entry is deep and large. After sunrise on the 13th we left the port of +_Gualibo_, and as the wind was strong at N.W. making a heavy sea, we +rowed along shore, and at ten in the morning went into a port named +_Tuna_, a league and half beyond _Gualibo_. _Tuna_ is a small foul +haven, beyond Swakem 123 leagues and a half, in lat. 25 deg. 30' N. The +entrance is between rocks, and within it is so much encumbered with +shoals and rocks that it is a small and sorry harbour; but round the +point forming the north side of this harbour, there is a good haven and +road-stead against the wind at N.W. the land round it being barren sand. +To the N.W. of this there are three sharp mountains of rock, as if to +indicate the situation of the harbour. One hour before sunset we +fastened ourselves to a shoal a league beyond _Tuna_. This coast, from a +league beyond _Gualibo_, to another point a league and a half beyond +this shoal, trends N.N.W. and S.S.E distance four leagues. + +The 14th April we rowed along shore, the sea running very high so as to +distress the rowers; but beating up against wind and sea till past noon, +we came into a fine bay, in the bottom of which we came to anchor in an +excellent haven. This day and night we went about 5 leagues, and were +now about 129 leagues beyond Swakem. For these five leagues the coast +extends N.W. and S.E. the land within the coast being in some places low +and plain, while it is mountainous in others. By day-light on the 15th +we were a league short of _Al Kossir_, which we reached an hour and +half after sunrise, and cast anchor in the harbour. During the past +night and the short part of this day we had advanced about seven +leagues, the coast extending N.N.W. and S.S.E. According to Pliny, in +the sixth book of his Natural History, and Ptolomy in his third book of +Africa, this place of _Al Kossir_ was anciently named _Phioteras_[307]. +All the land from hence to _Arsinoe_, at the northern extremity of the +Red Sea, was anciently called _Enco_. This place is about 15 or 16 days +journey from the nearest part of the Nile, directly west. This is the +only port on all this coast to which provisions are brought from the +land of Egypt, now called _Riffa_; and from this port of _Kossir_ all +the towns on the coast of the Red Sea are provided. In old times, the +town of _Kossir_ was built two leagues farther up the coast; but being +found incommodious, especially as the harbour at that place was too +small, it was removed to this place. To this day the ruins of old +_Kossir_ are still visible, and there I believe was _Philoteras_. New +_Kossir_ by observations twice verified is in lat. 26 deg.15' N. being 136 +leagues beyond _Swakem_. The port is a large bay quite open to the +eastern winds, which on this coast blow with great force. Right over +against the town there are some small shoals on which the sea breaks, +between which and the shore is the anchorage for frigates and ships +coming here for a loading. The town is very small and perhaps in the +most miserable and barren spot in the world. The houses are more like +hovels for cattle, some built of stone and clay, and others of sod, +having no roofs except a few matts which defend the inhabitants from the +sun, and from rain if any happen now and then to fall as it were by +chance, as in this place it so seldom rains as to be looked upon as a +wonder. In the whole neighbouring country on the coast, fields, +mountains, or hills, there groweth no kind of herb, grass, tree, or +bush; and nothing is to be seen but black scorched mountains and a +number of bare hillocks, which environ the whole place from sea to sea, +like an amphitheatre of barrenness and sterility, most melancholy to +behold. Any flat ground there is, is a mere dry barren sand mixed with +gravel. The port even is the worst I have seen on all this coast, and +has no fish, though all the other ports and channels through which we +came have abundance and variety. It has no kind of cattle; and the +people are supplied from three wells near the town, the water of which +differs very little from that of the sea. + +[Footnote 307: In Purchas, Al Kossir is named Alcocer. Don John thinks +this place to be the _Philoteras_ of Ptolomy; but Dr Pocock places it +2 deg.40' more to the north, making Kossir _Berenice_, which is highly +probable, as it is still the port of _Kept_, anciently Coptos, or of +_Kus_ near it, both on the Nile, as well as the nearest port to the Nile +on all that coast, which _Berenice_ was. Dr Pocock supposes old Kossir +to have been _Myos Hormos_: but we rather believe it to have been +Berenice.--Ast.] + +The most experienced of the Moors had never heard of the name of +Egypt[308], but call the whole land from _Al Kossir_ to Alexandria by +the name of _Riffa_[309], which abounds in all kinds of victuals and +provisions more than any other part of the world, together with great +abundance of cattle, horses, and camels, there not being a single foot +of waste land in the whole country. According to the information I +received; their language and customs are entirely Arabic. The land, as I +was told, is entirely plain, on which it never rains except for a +wonder; but God hath provided a remedy by ordaining that the Nile should +twice a year[310] overflow its natural bounds to water the fields. They +said likewise that the Nile from opposite to _Al Kossir_, and far above +that towards the bounds of Abyssinia, was navigable all the way to +Alexandria; but having many islands and rocks, either it was necessary +to have good pilots or to sail only by day. They told me likewise that +the natives inhabited this barren spot of _Al Kossir_, as being the +nearest harbour on the coast of the Red Sea to the Nile, whence +provisions were transported; and that the inhabitants were satisfied +with slight matts instead of roofs to their houses because not troubled +with rain, and the matts were a sufficient protection from the sun: but +made their walls of stone to defend themselves against the malignity and +rapaciousness of the _Badwis_, a perverse people, void of all goodness, +who often suddenly assaulted the place in hope of plunder, and +frequently pillaged the caravans coming across from the Nile with +provisions and other commodities. + +[Footnote 308: No wonder, as _Messr_ is the name by which Egypt is known +to the Arabs.--E.] + +[Footnote 309: More properly _Al Rif_, which name more particularly +belongs to part of Lower Egypt.--Ast.] + +[Footnote 310: This is erroneous, as the Nile only overflows once +yearly.--E.] + +The 18th of April we fastened ourselves to a shoal about four leagues +past _Kossir_, and set sail from thence at noon. The 19th, about half +an hour past eight o'clock, while proceeding with fine weather, we were +suddenly taken aback by a fierce gust at N.N.W. which obliged us to take +shelter in an island called _Suffange-al-bahar_[311] or +_Saffanj-al-bahr_, losing 4 or 5 leagues of way that we had already +advanced. The name given to this island means in the Arabic a +_sea-sponge_. It is 13 leagues beyond _Al Kossir_, in lat. 27 deg. N. being +in length about two leagues by about a quarter in breadth, all of sand +without trees or water. Its harbour is good in all weathers; but upon +the main land the number of bays, ports, and harbours about this place +are wonderful. The best channel here is between the island, and the +main, along the coast of the continent, as on the side next the island +there are some shoals. Likewise in the northern entry to this port there +are other shoals which need not be feared in coming in by day, and in +the southern entrance there is a large rock in the very middle. The 20th +at sunset we were about six leagues beyond this island of +Safanj-al-bahr. From which island to a sandy, point about 1-1/2 league +beyond, the coast trends N.N.W. and S.S.E. and from this point forwards +to the end of the six leagues, the coast winds inwards to landwards +forming a large bay, within which are many islands, ports, creeks, bays, +and notable harbours. The 21st by day we were fast to the shore of an +island called Sheduam, and the wind being calm, we rowed along the coast +of the island, which, opposite to Arabia or the east side, is high and +craggy, all of hard rock, three leagues long and two broad. This island +is 20 leagues beyond _Al Kossir_, having no water nor any trees. It is +between the two coasts of Arabia and Egypt, being five leagues from +either. Beyond it to the north-west are three small low islands with +shoals among them. An hour after sunset, we were upon the north cape or +point of this island, whence we crossed towards the Arabian coast[312], +and having no wind we took to our oars. Within a little it began to blow +fair from the S.E. and we set sail steering N.W. At eleven next morning, +we were upon the coast of the Stony Arabia, and soon sailed along its +shore, entering two hours before sunset into the port _Toro_ or _Al +Tor_, which may be seen front the island of Sheduam, distant 12 leagues, +bearing N. by W. and S. by E. + +[Footnote 311: _Safanj-al-Bahr_. In Arabic _Safanj, Sofinj_ and +_Isfanj_, all signify _Sponge_, which is obviously derived from the +Arabic word.--Ast.] + +[Footnote 312: Probably meaning that part of Arabia between the Gulf of +Suez and the Bahr-akkaba, called the promontory of Tor, of which Cape +Mahomed forms the S.W. extremity,--E.] + +_Toro_ or _Al Tor_ was of old called _Elana_, as may be seen in the +writings of Ptolomy, Strabo, and other ancient writers, although our +observation of the latitude differs materially from theirs. But they +shew that _Elana_ was situated in the most inward part of a very great +gulf, called _Sinus Elaniticus_[313], from the name of this place +_Elana_, and in lat. 29 deg.15' N. Now we know that _Toro_ is in lat. 28 deg.10' +N.[314] and lies upon a very long and straight coast. The cause of this +great difference, if these places be the same, may have proceeded from +erroneous information given to Ptolomy and the other ancient +cosmographers. But that ancient _Elana_ and modern _Toro_ are the same, +appears from this, that from thence to Suez both on the Arabian and +Egyptian coasts of the Elanitic Gulf, not only is there no memorial or +remains of any other ancient town, and the barrenness of the country, +want of water, and rough craggy mountains, make it evident that in no +other place could there be any habitation. Hence, considering that +Ptolomy places Elana on the coast of _Arabia Petrea_, near adjoining to +mount Sinai, and makes no mention of any town between it and the _City +of Heroes_ on the upmost extremity of the Elanitic Gulf where the sea +ends; and as on this shore of Arabia there is neither town, village, nor +habitation, coming so near the position assigned to _Elana_ as _Toro_, +and as it is impossible to inhabit between _Toro_ and _Suez_, it seems +just to conclude that _Toro_ and _Elana_ are the same place. The port of +_Toro_ seems likewise that mentioned in holy writ under the name of +_Ailan_, where Solomon, king of Israel, caused the ships to be built +which sailed to _Tarsis_ and _Ophir_ to bring gold and silver for the +temple of Jerusalem: for taking away the second letter from _Ailan_, the +ancient names are almost the same. Nor is it reasonable that it should +be in any other place, as the timber for the navy of Solomon was brought +from Lebanon and Antelibanus; and to avoid expences they would +necessarily carry it to the nearest port, especially as the Jews then +possessed the region of Idumea, and that part of the coast of Arabia +Petrea which is between Toro and Suez. Strabo holds that _Elana_ and +_Ailan_ are the same city; and when treating of this city in another +place, he says, that from the port of _Gaza_ it is 1260 furlongs to the +city of Ailan, which is situated on the _inwardest_ part of the Arabic +Gulf[315]; "and there are two, one towards Gaza and Arabia, called the +Sinus Elaniticus, from the city Elana which stands upon it; the other on +the Egyptian side towards the _City of Heroes_ and the way from +_Pelusium_ to this gulf is very small." This is what I would pick out +from ancient authors. + +[Footnote 313: Don Juan entirely mistakes this point of antiquity, in +consequence of not having learnt that there was another and eastern gulf +at the head of the Red Sea; the _Bahr-akkaba_ or real _Sinus +Elaniticus_, on which is the town of _Ayla_, assuredly the ancient +_Elana_ or _Aylan_.--E.] + +[Footnote 314: If this observation be exact, the great promontory or +peninsula between the gulfs at the head of the Red Sea must be extended +too far south in the map constructed by Dr Pocock.--Ast.] + +[Footnote 315: Had Don Juan de Castro been acquainted with the eastern +gulf at the head of the Red Sea, called the _Bahr-akkaba_, he would have +more readily chosen _Ayla_ for the seat of _Ailan_, and the dock-yard of +the navy of Solomon, being at the _inwardest_ part of the Red Sea, and +the port nearest to Gaza. Besides, the portion of the text marked with +inverted commas, seems a quotation by Don Juan from Strabo, which +distinctly indicates the eastern or Elanitic Gulf, and points to _Ayla_ +as the seat of Elana and _Ailan_, and distinctly marks the other or +western gulf, now that of Suez.--E.] + +"As this is a point of great moment in geography, it deserves to be +examined[316]. It is observable that Don Juan admits that both Ptolemy +and Strabo make the Red Sea terminate to the north in two large gulfs, +one towards Egypt and the other towards Arabia, at the end of which +latter they place _Elana_. Yet here he rejects the authority of both +geographers, alleging that both were mistaken, because Tor is situated +on a very long and straight coast. He likewise cites Ptolomy as making +the latitude of Elana 29 deg.15' N.[317] yet accounts the difference between +that position and the altitude found at Al Tor, 20 deg.10', as of no +significance here, though in former instances he had held the tables of +Ptolomy as infallible. It is still stranger that Don Juan should after +all admit of a gulf of _Elana_, as will be seen presently, and yet place +it at a great distance, and at the opposite side of the sea from that on +which Elana stands. However this may be, it is certain that Don Juan, +and not the ancients, has been misinformed on this matter; for not only +the _Arab_ geographers give a particular account of this eastern gulf, +as will appear from the description of the Red Sea by _Abulfeda_, but +its existence has been proved, by two English travellers, Dr Shaw and Dr +Pocock. The errors which Don Juan has here fallen into, has been owing +to not having examined the coast on the side of Arabia; for until the +fleet came to the island of Sheduam, it had sailed entirely along the +African shore; and then, leaving the north part of that island, it +passed over to the coast of Arabia[318] for the first time, where it may +be presumed that they fell in with the land some way to the north of the +S.W. point of the great peninsula between the two gulfs. This cape in +the maps by De L'Isle and Dr Pocock is called _Cape Mahomet_. Still +however as the island of Sheduam seems to lie nearer the eastern gulf; +its north end being at least eighteen or twenty miles to the southward +of Cape Mahomet, it is surprising that Don Juan and the whole fleet +should overlook that gulf, which indeed was done before by the Venetian +who sailed along the Arabian shore in the fleet of Solyman Pacha. What +Don Juan says about the identity of _Elana_ and _Ailan_ or _Aylan_ we +shall not contend about, as the authority of Strabo, and the similarity +of names are strong proofs. But we shall presently see that the Arabs +place _Aylan_ at the head of a great gulf; and the distance he cites +from Strabo, 1260 stadia from Gaza to Aylan, supposing it to be exact, +is a proof that _Aylan_ cannot be the same with _Toro_. We shall only +observe farther, that the positive denial by Don Juan of there being any +such gulf as the _Elanitic_ on the east or side of Arabia, may have been +the reason why it was not laid down in the maps of _Sanson_, or by any +geographer before _De L'Isle_."--Ast. I. 124. a. + +[Footnote 316: This paragraph, marked by inverted commas, is a +dissertation by the editor of Astleys Collection, too important to be +omitted, and too long for a note.--E.] + +[Footnote 317: The latitude of Ayla in modern maps is about 29 deg.10' N. +having a very near coincidence.--E.] + +[Footnote 318: Properly speaking only to the Arabian coast of the Gulf +of Suez, not at all to the Arabian coast of the Red Sea.--E.] + +The city of _Toro_ or _Al Tor_ is built on the sea-side along an +extensive and fair strand or beach, and about a cannon-shot before +coming to it we saw twelve palm-trees close together very near the sea; +and from these a plain field extends to the foot of some high hills. +These hills are part of a chain which extends from the straits of Ormuz +or Persian Gulf, and which extend hither along the coast very high above +the sea as far as Toro, where they leave the coast, "and with a great +and sudden violence return from thence to the main towards the +north-east, as angry and wearied by so long neighbourhood of the +waters." _Arabia Petrea_ is divided by three mountains from _Arabia +Felix,_ and on the highest tops of them some Christians lead holy and +quiet lives. A little way beyond Toro, on the borders of the sea, a +mountain begins to rise by little and little; and thrusting out a large +high cape or promontory, seems to those in the town like three great and +mighty separate mountains. This town of Tor is small but well situated, +all its inhabitants being Christians who speak Arabic. It has a +monastery of friars of the order of _Monserrat_, in which is the oracle +or image of _Santa Catalina_ of Mount Sinai or St Catharine. These +friars are all Greeks. The harbour of Toro is not large, but very +secure, having opposite to the shore a long stony bank, between which +and the shore is the harbour. At this place both the coasts of the gulf +are only about three leagues distant. + +Being desirous to learn some particulars concerning this country, I made +myself acquainted with the friars, from whom I had the following +information. They told me that Mount Sinai was _thirteen_ small days +journey into the land, or about 18 leagues[319]. The mountain is very +high, the country around being plain and open, having on its borders a +great town inhabited by Christians, into which no Mahometan can enter +except he who gathers the rents and duties belonging to the Turks. On +the top of the mountain is a monastery having many friars, where the +body of the blessed Virgin St Catharine lay buried. According to Anthony +bishop of Florence, the body of this Holy Virgin was carried away by the +angels from the city of Alexandria and buried on Mount Sinai. They told +me farther that about four months before our arrival this most blessed +and holy body was carried from the mountain with great pomp, on a +triumphal chariot all gilt, to the city of Cairo, where the Christians +of that city, which are the bulk of the inhabitants, came out to receive +it in solemn procession, and set it with great honour in a monastery. +The cause of this strange removal was the many insults which the +monastery on Mount Sinai suffered from the Arabs, from whom the friars +and pilgrims had often to redeem themselves with money; of which the +Christians of Cairo complained to the Turkish governor, and received +permission to bring the blessed and holy body to their city, which was +done accordingly, in spite of a strenuous opposition from the friars of +Mount Sinai. I am somewhat doubtful of the truth of this +transportation, suspecting that the friars may have trumped up this +story lest we might have taken the holy body from them, as they expected +us with an army of 10,000 men. Yet they affirmed it for truth, +expressing great sorrow for the removal. These friars told me likewise +that several hermits lead a solitary and holy life in these mountains +over against the town; and that all through the Stony Arabia, there are +many towns of Christians. I asked if they knew where the Jews had passed +the Red Sea; but they knew of no certain place, only that it must have +been somewhere between _Toro_ and _Suez_. They said likewise, that on +the Arabian coast of the Gulf, two or three leagues short of Suez, was +the fountain which Moses caused to spring from the rock by striking it +with his rod, being still called by the Arabs the fountain of Moses, the +water of which is purer and more pleasant than any other. They said that +from _Toro_ to _Cairo_ by land was seven ordinary days journey, in which +the best and most direct way was through Suez: But that since the +Turkish gallies came to Suez they had changed the road, going two +leagues round to avoid Suez, after which they turned to the west. + +[Footnote 319: Surely this passage should be only _three_ short days +journey.--E.] + +I afterwards conversed with a very honest, learned and curious +Mahometan, whom I asked if he could tell where the Jews crossed the Red +Sea; on which he told me that both in tradition and in some old writings +it was said that the Jews, fleeing from the Egyptians, arrived on the +coast of Egypt directly opposite to _Toro_, where Moses prayed to God +for deliverance, and struck the sea twelve times with his rod, on which +it opened in twelve several paths, by which the Jews passed over to the +other side to where _Toro_ now stands; after which the Egyptians +entering into these paths were all destroyed to the number of about +600,000 men. That from _Toro_ Moses led the Israelites to Mount Sinai, +where Moses spake many times with God. I approved much of this opinion; +for if the passage had been at Suez, as some insist, the Egyptians had +no occasion to have entered into the sea for persecuting the Jews, as +they could have gone round the bay and got before them, more especially +as they were horsemen and the Jews all on foot. For though all these +things came about by a miracle, we see always on like occasions there is +a shew and manner of reason. I asked of this Moor if it were true that +the Christians of Cairo had carried away the body of St Catharine from +Mount Sinai; but he said he had never heard of it, neither did he +believe the story; and that only four months before he had been in +Cairo, which city they call _Mecara_[320], where he heard of no such +thing. He thought likewise that the Christians about Mount Sinai would +never have permitted such a thing, as they all considered that woman as +a saint, and held her body in great reverence. He told me also that two +or three leagues before coming to _Suez_ there is a fountain which was +given to the Jews at the intercession of Moses, whom they call _Muzau_, +the water of which surpasses all others in goodness. On inquiring what +kind of a place was the town of _Suez_, he said he had never been there, +as no person could enter that town except those appointed by the +governor of Cairo for taking care of the gallies, nor come nearer than +two leagues under pain of death. + +[Footnote 320: Mecara, perhaps by mistake for Mecara or Mezara, which is +very near Mesr as it is called by the Turks. Cairo is an Italian +corruption of Kahera or al Kahira--Astl.] + + +SECTION VIII. + +_Continuation of the Voyage from Taro or al Tor to Suez._ + + +We set sail the day after our arrival at Toro, being the 23d of April +1541, and on the 24th we were in the lat. of 27 deg. 17' N. At this place, +which is 20 leagues beyond Toro and 52 leagues from _al Kossir_, the +land of Egypt, or that coast of the Red Sea which continueth all the way +from Abyssinia, comes out into the sea with a very long and low point, +which winds a great way inwards to the land and more crooked than any +other I have seen. After forming a large fine bay, it juts out into a +large high cape or point, which is three short leagues from _Suez_, at +the other extremity of this bay, and from that first promontory to +_Suez_ the land bears N.W. by N. and S.E. by S. The shore of this bay is +very high and rough, and at the same time entirely parched and barren. +The whole of this large bay, except very near the shore, is so deep that +we had no ground with fifty fathom, and the bottom is a soft sand lake +ouze. This bay I hold to have been undoubtedly the _Sinus Elaniticus_ of +the ancients, though Strabo and Ptolemy, being both deceived in regard +to its situation, placed it on the coast of Stony Arabia at _Toro_. +This I mentioned before, when describing _Toro_, that Strabo says the +Arabian Gulf ends in two bays, one called _Elaniticus_ on the Arabian +side, and the other on the Egyptian side where stands the _City of +Heroes_[321]. Ptolemy evidently fixes the _elanitic sinus_ on the coast +of Arabia, where Toro now stands; which is very wonderful, considering +that Ptolemy Was born in Alexandria, where he wrote his Cosmography and +resided all his life, and which city is so very near these places. + +[Footnote 321: No description can be more explicit: but Don John +unfortunately knew not of the eastern _sinus_, and found himself +constrained to find both _sinuses_ in one gulf.--E.] + +The 26th of April we set sail, and at eleven o'clock we lowered our +sails, rowing along shore, where we cast anchor. Two hours before sunset +we weighed again with the wind at north and rowed along shore; and +before the sun set we anchored behind a point of land on the Arabian +shore, which sheltered us effectually from the north wind, having +advanced only a league and a half this day. This point is three _small_ +leagues short of _Suez_, and is directly east of the N.W. point of the +Great Gulf, distance about a league. From this point, about half a +league inland, is the fountain of Moses already mentioned. As soon as we +had cast anchor we went on shore, whence we saw the end of this sea, +which we had hitherto thought without end, and could plainly see the +masts of the Turkish ships. All this gave us much satisfaction, yet +mixed with much anxiety. As the wind blew hard all night from the north, +we remained at anchor behind the point till day. + +On the morning of the 27th, the wind blowing hard at N.N.W. we remained +at anchor till ten, when we departed from the point and made for Suez +with our oars. When about a league from the end of the sea, I went +before with two _catures_ to examine the situation of Suez and to look +out for a proper landing-place. We got close up to Suez about three +o'clock in the afternoon, where we saw many troops of horse in the +field, and two great bands of foot-soldiers in the town, who made many +shots at us from a blockhouse. The Turkish navy at this place consisted +of forty-one large gallies, and nine great ships. Having completed the +examination, and returned to our fleet, we all went to the point of land +to the west of the bay, and came to anchor near the shore in five +fathoms water, in an excellent harbour, the bottom a fine soft sand. + +It is certain that in ancient times Suez was called the _City of +Heroes_, for it differs in nothing as to latitude situation and bearings +from what is said in Ptolomy, Table III. of Africa. More especially as +Suez is seated on the uttermost coast of the nook or bay where the sea +of Mecca ends, on which the City of Heroes was situated, as Strabo +writes in his XVII book thus: "The city of _Heroes_, or of _Cleopatra_, +by some called _Arsinoe_, is in the uttermost bounds of the _Sinus +Arabicus_, which is towards Egypt.". Pliny, in the VI. book of his +Natural History, seems to call the port of Suez _Danao_, on account of +the trench or canal opened between the Nile and the Red Sea. The +latitude of Suez is 29 deg. 45' N. being the nearest town and port of the +Red Sea to the great city of Cairo, called anciently _Babylon_ of Egypt. +From Suez to the _Levant Sea_ or Mediterranean, at that mouth of one of +the seven branches of the Nile which is called _Pelusium_, is about 40 +leagues by land, which space is called the _isthmus_, or narrow neck of +land between the two seas. On this subject Strabo writes in his XVII. +book, "The isthmus between Pelusium and the extreme point of the Arabian +Gulf where stands the _City of Heroes_, is 900 stadia." This is the port +of the Red Sea to which Cleopatra Queen of Egypt, after the victory +obtained by Augustus over Antony, commanded ships to be carried by land +from the Nile, that they might flee to the Indians. + +Sesostris King of Egypt and Darius King of Persia undertook at different +periods to dig a canal between the Nile and the Red Sea, on purpose to +open a navigable communication between the Mediterranean and the Indian +ocean; but as neither of them completed the work, Ptolomy made a trench +100 feet broad and 30 feet deep, which being nearly finished, he +discontinued lest the sea-water from the Arabian Gulf might render the +water of the Nile salt and unfit for use. Others say that, on taking the +level, the architects and masters of the work found that the Sea of +Arabia was _three cubits_ higher than the land of Egypt, whence it was +feared that all the country would be inundated and destroyed. The +ancient authors on this subject are Diodorus Siculus, Pliny, Pomponius +Mela, Strabo, and many other cosmographers[322]. + +[Footnote 322: This communication was actually opened about A.D. 685, +by _Amru_, who conquered Egypt for _Moawiah_, the first _Ommiyan +Khalifah_ of Damascus. It was called _al Khalij al Amir al Momenein_, or +the canal of the commander of the faithful, the title of the Caliphs. It +was shut up about 140 years afterwards by _Abu Jafar al Mansur_.--Astl.] + +Although the town of Suez had a great name of old, it is small enough at +this time, and I believe had been utterly ruined and abandoned if the +Turkish navy had not been stationed here. In the front of the land which +faces the south where this sea ends there is the mouth of a small creek +or arm of the sea entering a short way into the land, which extends +towards the west till stopped by a hillock, the only one that rises in +these parts: Between which creek and the bay or ending of the sea is a +very long and narrow tongue or spit of sand, on which the gallies and +ships of the Turks lie aground; and on which the ancient and warlike +City of the Heroes is seated[323]. There still remains a small castle, +without which are two high ancient towers, the remains of the City of +Heroes which stood here in old times. But on the point of land where the +creek enters there is a great and mighty bulwark of modern structure, +which defends the entry of the creek, and scours the coast behind the +sterns of the gallies if any one should attempt to land in that place. +Besides this, there runs between the gallies and the strand, an +entrenchment like a ridge or long hill, making the place very strong and +defensible. Having considered this place attentively, it seemed to me +impossible to land in any part except behind the little mountain on the +west at the head of the creek, as we should be there free from the +Turkish artillery, and likewise the possession of this hillock might +contribute to our success against the enemy. But it is necessary to +consider that all along this strand the water is shoaly for the breadth +of a bow-shot, and the ground a soft sticking clay or sinking sand, as I +perceived by examining the ground from the foist or cature, which would +be very prejudicial to the men in landing. + +[Footnote 323: This description does not agree with the map or relation +of Dr Pocock; which makes the sea terminate in two bays, divided by the +tongue of land on which Suez stands. That to the N.W. is very wide at +the mouth, and is properly the termination of the western gulf of the +Red Sea. The other on the N.E. is narrow at the entrance; and is divided +by another tongue of land into two parts.--Astl.] + +In regard to the particulars which I learnt concerning Suez, as told me +by some of the men I met with, especially the Moor formerly mentioned +whom I conversed with at Toro, I was informed that at the fountain of +Moses, formerly mentioned as three leagues from Suez towards _Toro_, +there had been a great city in old times, of which they say dome +buildings or ruins are still to be seen; but they could not say what had +been its name. They told me also that the remains of the canal attempted +to be made in old times from the Nile at the city of Cairo to Suez were +still to be seen, though much defaced and filled by length of time, and +that those who travel from Suez to Cairo have necessarily to pass these +remains. Some alleged that this trench was not intended for navigation +between the Nile and the Red sea, but merely to bring water from the +Nile for the supply of Suez. They told me that the whole country from +Suez to Cairo was a sandy plain, quite barren and without water, being +three days journey going at leisure, or about 15 leagues. That in Suez +and the country round it seldom rained, but when it did at any time it +was very heavy; and that the north-wind blew at Suez the whole year with +great force. + +From _Toro_ to _Suez_ it is 28 leagues, without any island bank or shoal +in the whole way that can impede the navigation. Departing from Toro by +the middle of the channel, the ran for the first 16 leagues is N.W. by +N. from S.E. by S. in all of which space the two coasts are about an +equal distance from each other, or about three leagues asunder. At the +end of these 16 or 17 leagues, the coasts begin to close very much, so +that the opposite shores are only one league distant, which narrowness +continues for two leagues; after which the Egyptian coast withdraws very +much towards the west, making the large fine bay formerly mentioned. The +mid channel from the end of the before mentioned 16 or 17 leagues, till +we come to the N.W. point of this bay trends N.N.W. and S.S.E. the +distance being 8 leagues. In this place the lands again approach very +much, as the Arabian shore thrusts out a very long low point, and the +Egyptian coast sends out a very large and high point at the end of the +bay on the N.W. side, these points being only a little more than one +league asunder. From these points to Suez and the end of this sea, the +coasts wind inwards on each side, making another bay somewhat more than +two leagues and a half long and one league and a half broad, where this +sea, so celebrated in holy scripture and by profane authors, has its +end. The middle of this bay extends N. and S. with some deflection to +W. and E. respectively, distance two leagues and a half. On the coast +between Toro and Suez, on the Arabian side, a hill rises about a +gun-shot above Toro very near the sea, which is all bespotted with red +streaks from side to side, giving it a curious appearance. This hill +continues along the coast for 15 or 16 leagues, but the red streaks do +not continue more than six leagues beyond Toro. At the end of the 15 or +16 leagues this ridge rises into a great and high knoll, after which the +ridge gradually recedes from the sea, and ends about a league short of +Suez. Between the high knoll and Suez along the sea there is a very low +plain, in some places a league in breadth, and in others nearer Suez a +league and half. Beside this hill towards Toro I saw great heaps of +sand, reaching in some places to the top of the hill, yet were there no +sands between the hill and the sea: "Likewise by the clefts and breaches +many broken sands were driven," whence may be understood how violent the +cross winds blow here, as they snatch up and drive the sand from out of +the sea and lift it to the tops of the hills. These cross winds, as I +noticed by the lying of the sands, were from the W. and the W.N.W. + +On the other or Egyptian side of this gulf, between Toro and Suez, there +run certain great and very high hills or mountains appearing over the +sea coast; which about 17 leagues above Toro open in the middle as low +as the plain field, after which they rise as high as before, and +continue along the shore to within a league of Suez, where they entirely +cease. I found the ebb and flow of the sea between Toro and Suez quite +conformable with what has been already said respecting other parts of +the coast, and neither higher nor lower: Whence appears the falsehood of +some writers, who pretend that no path was opened through this sea for +the Israelites by miracle; but merely that the sea ebbed so much in this +place that they waited the ebb and passed over dry. I observed that +there were only two places in which it could have been possible for +Sesostris and Ptolomy kings of Egypt, to have dug canals from the Nile +to the Red-Sea: One of these by the breach of the mountains on the +Egyptian coast 17 leagues above Toro, and 11 short of Suez; and the +other by the end of the nook or bay on which Suez stands; as at this +place the hills on both sides end, and all the land remains quite plain +and low, without hillocks or any other impediment. This second appears +to me to be much more convenient for so great a work than the other, +because the land is very low, the distance shorter, and there is a haven +at Suez. All the rest of the coast is lined by great and high mountains +of hard rock. Hence Suez must be the place to which Cleopatra commanded +the ships to be brought across the isthmus, a thing of such great labour +that shortness was of most material importance: Here likewise for the +same reason must have been the trench or canal from the Nile to the Red +Sea; more especially as all the coast from Toro upwards is waste, and +without any port till we come to Suez. + +During all the time which we spent between Toro and Suez, the heaven was +constantly overcast with thick black clouds, which seemed contrary to +the usual nature of Egypt; as all concur in saying that it never rains +in that country, and that the heavens are never obscured by clouds or +vapours: But perhaps the sea raises these clouds at this place, and +farther inland the sky might be clear; as we often see in Portugal that +we have clear pleasant weather at Lisbon, while at Cintra only four +leagues distant, there are great clouds mists and rain. The sea between +Toro and Suez is subject to sudden and violent tempests; as when the +wind blows from the north, which is the prevailing wind here, although +not very great, the sea is wonderfully raised, the waves being +everywhere so coupled together and broken that they are very dangerous. +This is not occasioned by shallow water, as this channel is very deep, +only that on the Egyptian side it is somewhat shoaly close to the shore. +"About this place I saw certain _sea foams_ otherwise called _evil +waters_, the largest I had ever seen, being as large as a target, of a +whitish dun colour. These do not pass lower than Toro; but below that +there are infinite small ones, which like the other are bred in and go +about the sea[324]." While between Toro and Suez, though the days were +insufferably hot, the nights were colder than any I ever met with. + +[Footnote 324: This passage respecting _sea foams_ or _evil waters_ is +altogether unintelligible, unless perhaps some obscure allusion to +_water-spouts_ maybe supposed.--E.] + + +SECTION IX. + +_Return Voyage from Suez to Massua._ + + +In the morning of the 28th of April 1541 we departed from before Suez on +our return to Massua[325]. At sunset we were one league short of a sharp +red peak on the coast, 20 leagues from Suez. At night we took in our +sails and continued along shore under our foresails only, the wind +blowing hard at N.N.W. Two hours within the night, we came to anchor +near the shore in 3 fathoms, the heavens being very dark and covered by +many thick black clouds. The 29th we weighed in the morning, and came +into the port of Toro at nine o'clock, but soon weighed again, and came +to anchor a league farther on, in a haven called _Solymans watering +place_, where we took in water, digging pits in the sand a stones throw +from the sea, where we got abundance of brackish water. Leaving this +place in the morning of the 30th, we anchored at 10 in the morning at +the first of the three islands, which are two leagues N.W. of the island +of _Sheduam_. I went on shore here with my pilot, when we took the suns +altitude a little less than 80 deg.; and as the declination that day was +17 deg.36' the latitude of this island is 27 deg.40' N. At sunset on the 1st of +May we set sail, and by even-song time we came to an island, two leagues +long, which thrusts out a point very close to the main land, between +which and the island is a singularly good harbour for all weathers, fit +for all the ships in the world. The 2d at sunset we came to anchor in +the port of _Goelma_[326], which is safe from N. and N.W. winds, but +only fit for small vessels. A short space within the land is the dry bed +of a brook, having water during the floods of winter descending from the +mountains. Digging a little way we found fresh water. There is a well +here also, but not abundant in water. This port, the name of which +signifies in Arabic _the port of water_, is N.N.W. of _al Kessir_, +distant 4 leagues. + +[Footnote 325: The fleet seems only to have been before Suez from 3 +o'clock on the afternoon of the 27th of April till the morning of next +day the 28th, or rather Don Juan only went forwards to examine the +possibility of landing. Yet De Faria says, II. 23. "That after many +brave attempts made by several to view and sound the harbour, Don +Stefano landed with his men, and being repulsed, chiefly by means of an +ambush of 2000 horse, was obliged to retire." The silence of Don John +respecting any military operations, and the shortness of time, leaves +hardly room to suppose that any were attempted.--E.] + +[Footnote 326: Rather Kallama or Kalla'lma,--Astl.] + +The 4th of May we rowed along shore, and came to anchor near sunset, in +a small but excellent harbour named _Azallaihe_, two leagues S.E. beyond +_Shakara_ between that place and the _black hillock_. We lay at anchor +all night, the wind at N.N.W. _Bohalel Shame_ is a deep, safe, and +capacious port, in which many ships may ride at anchor. It was named +from one Bohalel, a rich chief of the _Badwis_ who dwelt in the inland +country, and used to sell cattle to the ships frequenting this port. +_Shame_ signifies land or country; so that _Bohalel Shame_ signifies the +Land of Bohalel[327]. At this place we found an honourable tomb within a +house like a chapel, in which hung a silk flag or standard, with many +arrows or darts round the grave, and the walls were hung round with many +bulls[328]. On an upright slab or table at the head of the grave there +was a long inscription or epitaph, and about the house there were many +sweet-scented waters and other perfumes. From the Moors and Arabs I was +informed that an Arabian of high rank of the lineage of Mahomet was here +buried; and that the _Sharifs_ of Jiddah and other great prelates gave +indulgences and pardons to all who visited his sepulchre: But the +Portuguese sacked the house and afterwards burnt it, so that no vestige +was left. On the shore of this harbour we saw many footsteps of tigers +and goats, as if they had come here in search of water. + +[Footnote 327: Rather perhaps _Bohalel Shomeh_, meaning the lot or +portion of Bohalel.--Astl.] + +[Footnote 328: Perhaps _Bells_.--E.] + +Having often occasion to mention the _Badwis_ or _Bedouins_ while +voyaging along the coasts of their country, it may be proper to give +some account of that people. These _Badwis_ are properly the +_Troglodites ophiofagi_, of whom Ptolemy, Pomponius Mela, and other +ancient writers make mention. These _Badwis_ or _Troglodites_ live on +the mountains and sea-coasts from _Melinda_ and _Magadoxa_ to Cape +_Guardafu_, and thence all along the coasts of the Red Sea on both +sides, and along the outer coast of Arabia through the whole coast of +the Persian Gulf; all of which land they may be more properly said to +occupy than to inhabit. In Good Arabic, _Badwi_ signifies one who lives +only by cattle[329]. Those who dwell along the Red Sea from _Zeyla_ to +_Swakem_, and thence to _al Kossir_, are continually at war with the +_Nubii_ or _Nubians_; while those from _Kossir_ to _Suez_ perpetually +molest the Egyptians. On the eastern coast of the Red Sea the _Badwis_ +have incessant contests with the Arabians. They are wild men, among whom +there is no king or great lord, but they live in tribes or factions, +allowing of no towns in their country, neither have they any fixed +habitations, but live a vagabond life, wandering from place to place +with their cattle. They abhor all laws and ordinances, neither will they +admit of their differences being judged of by any permanent customs or +traditions, but rather that their sheiks or chiefs shall determine +according to their pleasure. They dwell in caves and holes, but most of +them in tents or huts. In colour they are very black, and their language +is Arabic. They worship Mahomet, but are very bad Mahometans, being +addicted beyond all other people on earth to thievery and rapine. They +eat raw flesh, and milk is their usual drink. Their habits are vile and +filthy; but they run with wonderful swiftness. They fight afoot or on +horseback, darts being their chief weapons, and are almost continually +at war with their neighbours. + +[Footnote 329: _Badwi_, or more properly _Badawi_, signifies a dweller +in the field or in the desert; corruptly called by us Bedouin.--Astl.] + +By day-light of the 10th May we weighed anchor from the port of +_Igidid_[330], and an hour before sunset we fastened our barks to a +shoal about four leagues south of _Farate_. In this shoal there is an +excellent harbour, lying almost E.S.E. and W.N.W. but very crooked and +winding, so large that we could not see to the other end. The 22d of +May[331], by day-break, we were a league short of the grove which stands +four leagues north of _Massua_, having the wind from the land. At nine +o'clock it began to blow fair from the N.N.E. and we entered the port of +Massua at noon, where we were joyfully received by the fleet and army. +From the 22d of May, when we entered Massua, the winds were always from +the easterly points, either E. or S.E. or E.S.E. often with great +storms. On the last day of June we had so violent a gale from S.E. that +the galleons drifted and were in great danger of grounding. This storm +was attended by heavy rain and fearful thunders, and a thunderbolt +struck the mast of one of our galleons, which furrowed it in its whole +length. On the 2d of July we had another great storm from the east which +lasted most of the day, and drove many of our vessels from their +anchors. From thence to the 7th of July we had other storms, but small +in comparison. On the 8th and 9th we had two desperate gales from the +land. + +[Footnote 330: Either Don Juan or his abbreviator has omitted part of +the Journal at this place, from the port of _Azallaihe_ to that of +_Igidid_--E.] + +[Footnote 331: Here again a considerable portion of the Journal is +emitted.--E.] + + +SECTION X. + +_Return of the Expedition from Massua to India_. + + +Having remained 48 days at Massua, we set sail from thence on our return +to India on the 9th of July 1541, one hour before sunrise, and by +day-break we were two or three leagues short of the north point of +_Dallak_, and among some flat islands that have some woods, which +islands are scattered in the sea to the north of Dallak. We sailed +through a channel between two of these islands, having a fair wind +almost N.W. our course being N.E. by N. After doubling a shoal we came +to anchor, and at two in the afternoon we sailed again with a fair wind +at N.N.E. coasting the island of Dallak. An hour before sunset we came +to a very flat sandy island, called _Dorat Melkuna_, from which on all +sides extended great shoals. When the sun set we were a league short of +the island of _Shamoa_, between which and the west side of Dallak, +opposite the Abyssinian coast, is the most frequented channel for such +as sail to Massua. All the coast of Dallak which we sailed along this +day trends N.N.W. and S.S.E. and is very low. The 18th of July by day +break we saw the mouth of the straits[332], about three leagues distant, +"and we saw all the fleet _lye at hull_, and presently we set sail +altogether[333]." + +[Footnote 332: A large portion of the Journal is again omitted at this +place, either by Don Juan or his abbreviator, Purchas.--E.] + +[Footnote 333: Perhaps in coming in sight of the Strait, the ship of Don +Juan was so much in advance as barely to see the hulls of the rest; and +lay to till the rest came up.--E.] + +Before leaving the Gulf of Arabia or of Mecca, it may be proper to +consider the reason why the ancients called this Gulf the _Red Sea_, and +to give my own opinion founded on what I actually saw, whether it differ +in colour from the great ocean. In the _sixth_ book of his Natural +History, Pliny quotes several opinions as the origin of the name +_Erythros_ given to this sea by the ancients[334]. The first is, that it +took its name from _Erythra_, a king who once reigned on its borders, +whence came _Erythros_ which signifies _red_ in the Greek. Another +opinion was that the reflexion of the sun-beams gave a red colour to +this sea. Some hold that the red colour proceeds from the sand and +ground along the sea coast, and others that the water was red itself. Of +these opinions every writer chose that he liked best. The Portuguese who +formerly navigated this sea affirmed that it was spotted or streaked +with red, arising as they alleged from the following circumstances. They +say that the coast of Arabia is naturally very red, and as there are +many great storms in this country, which raise great clouds of dust +towards the skies, which are driven by the wind into the sea, and the +dust being _red_ tinges the water of that colour, whence it got the name +of the Red Sea. + +[Footnote 334: By Dr. Hyde, in his notes on _Peritsol_, and Dr. +Cumberland, in his remarks on Sanchoniatho, and by other writers, +_Erythros_ or _Red_ is supposed to be a translation of _Edom_, the name +of _Esau_; whence it is conjectured that this sea, as well as the +country of _Idumea_, took their denominations from _Edom_. But this does +not seem probable for two reasons: _First_, because the Jews do not call +it the _Red Sea_ but _Tam Suf_, or the _Sea of Weeds_; and, _second_, +the ancients included all the ocean between the coasts of Arabia and +India under the name of the _Erythrean_ or _Red Sea_, of which the +_Persian_ and the _Arabian Gulfs_ were reckoned branches.--Ast. I. 129. +c.] + +From leaving _Socotora_, till I had coasted the whole of this sea all +the way to _Suez_, I continually and carefully observed this sea; and +the colour and appearance of its shores, the result of which I shall now +state. First then, it is altogether false that the colour of this sea is +red, as it does not differ in any respect from the colour of other seas. +As to the dust driven by the winds from the land to the sea staining the +water; we saw many storms raise great clouds of dust and drive them to +the sea, but the colour of its water was never changed by these. Those +who have said that the land on the coast is red, have not well observed +the coats and strands: for generally on both, sides the land by the sea +is brown and very dark, as if scorched. In some places it appears black +and in others white, and the sands are of these colours. In three places +only there are certain parts of the mountains having veins or streaks of +a red colour; and at these places the Portuguese had never been before +the present voyage. These three places are all far beyond _Swakem_ +towards Suez, and the three hills having these red streaks or veins are +all of very hard rock, and all the land round about that we could see +are of the ordinary colour and appearance. Now, although substantially +the water of this sea has no difference in colour from that of other +seas, yet in many places its waves by accident seem very red, from the +following cause. From _Swakem_ to _Kossir_, which is 136 leagues, the +sea is thickly beset with shoals and shelves or reefs, composed of +_coral stone_, which grows like clustered trees spreading its branches +on all sides as is done by real _coral_, to which this stone bears so +strong resemblance that it deceives many who are not very skilful +respecting the growth and nature of coral. + +This _coral stone_ is of two sorts, one of which is a very pure white, +and the other very _red_. In some places this _coral stone_ is covered +by great quantities of green ouze or sleech, and in other places it is +free from this growth. In some places this ouze or sleech is very bright +green, and in others of an orange-tawny colour. From _Swakem_ upwards, +the water of this sea is so exceedingly clear, that in many places the +bottom may be distinctly seen at the depth of 20 fathoms. Hence, +where-ever these shoals and shelves are, the water over them is of three +several colours, according to the colour of these rocks or shelves, red, +green, or white, proceeding from the colour of the ground below, as I +have many times experienced. Thus when the ground of the shoals is sand, +the sea over it appears _white_; where the coral-stone is covered with +_green_ ouze or sleech, the water above is greener even than the weeds; +but where the shoals are of _red_ coral, or coral-stone covered by _red_ +weeds, all the sea over them appears very _red_. And, as this _red_ +colour comprehends larger spaces of the sea than either the _green_ or +the _white_, because the stone of the shoals is mostly of _red coral_, I +am convinced that on this account it has got the name of the _Red Sea_, +and not the green sea or the white sea, though these latter colours are +likewise to be seen in perfection. + +The means I used for ascertaining this secret of nature were these. I +oftentimes fastened my bark upon shoals where the sea appeared red, and +commanded divers to bring me up stones from the bottom. Mostly it was so +shallow over these shoals, that the bark touched; and in other places +the mariners could wade for half a league with the water only breast +high. On these occasions most of the stones brought up were of red +coral, and others were covered by orange-tawny weeds. Whether the sea +appeared _green_, I found the stones at the bottom were white coral +covered with green weeds; and where the sea was white I found a very +white sand. I have conversed often with the Moorish pilots, and with +persons curious in antiquities, who dwelt on this sea, who assured me +that it was never stained red by the dust brought from the land by the +winds: I do not, however reprove the opinion of former Portuguese +navigators; but I affirm, that having gone through this sea oftener than +they, and having seen its whole extent, while they only saw small +portions, I never saw any such thing. Every person with whom I conversed +wondered much at our calling it the Red Sea, as they knew no other name +for it than the sea of Mecca[335]. On the 9th of August 1541, we entered +the port of _Anchediva_, where we remained till the 21st of that month, +when we went in foists or barks and entered the port of Goa, whence we +set out on this expedition on the 31st of December 1540, almost eight +months before. + +[Footnote 335: This might have been the case among the pilots at this +time; but among Arabic geographers it is likewise called the Sea of +Hejaz, the Sea of Yaman, and the Sea of Kolzum.--Astl.] + + _Table of Latitudes observed in the Journal of Don Juan[336]._ + + Deg. Min. + Socotora, 12 40 + Bab-al-Mondub[A] 12 15 + Sarbo port,[B] 15 76[337] + Shaback, scarcely 19 0 + _A nameless island _, 19 0 + Tradate, harbour 19 50 + Fushaa, bay 20 15 + Farate, river 21 40 + Ras-al-Jidid, port[B] 22 0 + Comol, port 22 30 + Ras-al-Nef, Cape 24 0 + Swairt island 24 10 + Gaudenauchi, port 24 40 + Tuna, haven 25 30 + Kossir[A] 26 15 + Safanj-al-bahr, island 27 0 + Island, 2 leagues N.W. from Sheduan 27 40 + Toro, town 28 10 + Anchorage, 20 leagues farther 29 17 + Suez 29 45 + +[Footnote 336: In this Table [A] denotes _two_ observations having been +made at the place; [B] indicates more observations than two; and all the +rest only one. All of course north.--E.] + +[Footnote 337: In the enumeration of latitudes in Astleys Collection +this is set down as 15 deg. 17 min. but in the text of Purchas it is +stated as here.--E.] + + +SECTION XI. + +_Description of the Sea of Kolzum, otherwise called the Arabian Gulf, +or the Red Sea. Extracted from the Geography of Abulfeda_[338]. + + +The following description of the Red Sea was written by _Ismael +Abulfeda_ prince of _Hamah_ in Syria, the ancient _Epiphania_, who died +in the 733d year of the _Hejirah_ or Mahometan era, corresponding with +the year 1332 of the Christian computation, after having lived sixty-one +years, twenty two of which he was sovereign of that principality. +Greaves has mistaken both the length of his reign, which he makes only +three years, and the time of his death[339]. Abulfeda was much addicted +to the study of geography and history, and wrote books on both of these +subjects, which are in great estimation in the East. His geography +written in 721, A.D. 1321, consists of tables of the latitudes and +longitudes of places, in imitation of Ptolemy, with descriptions, under +the title of _Takwin al Boldan_. No fewer than five or six translations +have been made of this work, but by some accident or other none of these +have ever been published. The only parts of this work that have been +printed are the tables of _Send_ and _Hend_, or India, published in the +French collection of Voyages and Travels by Thevenot; and those of +_Khowarazm_ or _Karazm, Mawara'l-nahar_, or Great Bukharia, and Arabia. +The two former were published in 1650, with a Latin translation by Dr +Greaves; and all the three by Hudson, in the third volume of the _Lesser +Greek Geographers_, in 1712; from which latter work this description of +the Red Sea is extracted, on purpose to illustrate the two preceding +journals, and to shew that there really is such a gulf on the coast of +Arabia as that mentioned by the ancients, that geographers may not be +misled by the mistake of Don Juan de Castro. In this edition, the words +inserted between parenthesis are added on purpose to accommodate the +names to the English orthography, or to make the description more +strictly conformable to the Arabic. The situations or geographical +positions are here thrown out of the text, to avoid embarrassment, and +formed into a table at the end. We cannot however warrant any of them, +as those which may have been settled by actual observation are not +distinguished from such as may not have had that advantage; which indeed +is the general fault of oriental tables of latitude and longitude. The +latitude of _Al Kossir_ comes pretty near that formed by Don Juan de +Castro; but that of _Al Kolzum_ must err above one degree, while that of +Swakem is more than two degrees erroneous.--Ast. + +[Footnote 338: Astley, I. 130. We have adopted this article from Astleys +Collection, that nothing useful or curious may be omitted. In the +present time, when the trade beyond the Cape of Good Hope is about to be +thrown open, it might be highly useful to publish a series of Charts of +all the coasts and islands of the great Eastern Ocean; and among others, +a Chart of the Red Sea, with a dissertation on its geography and +navigation, might be made of singular interest and utility.--E.] + +[Footnote 339: See Gagnier's preface to the life of Mahomet by +Abu'lfeda; and the preface of Shulten to that of Saladin--Astl. I. 130. +d.] + +The author begins his description of the sea of _Kolzum_ or of _Yaman_ +at _Al Kolzum_[340], a small city at the north end of this sea; which +from thence runs south, inclining a little towards the east, as far as +_al Kasir_ (_al Kossir_) the port of _Kus_[341]. Hence it continues its +course south, bending somewhat westward to about _Aidab_ (Aydhab[342].) +The coast passes afterwards directly south to _Sawakan_ (Swakem), a +small city in the land of the blacks, (or _al Sudan_). Proceeding thence +south, it encompasses the island of _Dahlak_, which is not far from the +western shore. Afterwards advancing in the same direction, it washes the +shores of _al Habash_ (_Ethiopia_ or _Abyssinia_), as far as the cape or +mountain of _al Mandab_ (or _al Mondub_), at the mouth of the _Bahr al +Kolzum_ or Red Sea, which here terminates; the _Bahr al Hind_, or Indian +Sea flowing into it at this place. The cape or mountain of _al Mandub_ +and the desert of _Aden_ approach very near, being separated only by so +narrow a strait that two persons on the opposite sides may see each +other across. These Straits are named _Bab al Mandab_. By some +travellers the author was informed that these Straits lie _on this side_ +of Aden to the north-west, a day and nights sail. The mountains of _al +Mandab_ are in the country of the negroes, and may be seen from the +mountains of _Aden_, though at a great distance. Thus much for the +western side of this sea. Let us now pass over to the eastern coast. + +[Footnote 340: Or _al Kolzom_, which signifies _the swallowing up_. +Here, according to Albufeda in his description of _Mesr_ or Egypt, +Pharaoh was drowned, and the town and the sea took this name from that +event. _Kolzum_ is doubtless the ancient _Clysma_, as indicated both by +the similarity of names, and the agreement of situation. It was in the +road of the pilgrims from Egypt to Mecca, but is now destroyed. Dr +Pocock places Clysma on his map about 15 min. south from Suez.--Ast. I. +131. b.] + +[Footnote 341: _Kus_ is a town near the Nile, a little way south of +_Kept_, the ancient _Koptos_; which shews that Kossir must be the +ancient Berenice, as formerly observed in a note on the Journal of de +Castro.--Astl. I. 131. c.] + +[Footnote 342: In this name of _Aydhab_, the _dh_ is pronounced with a +kind of lisp, like the English _th_ in the words _the_, _then_, &c. +About 1150, in the time of _al Edrisi_, this was a famous port, and +carried on a great trade. Both the king of _Bejah_ or _Bajah_, a port of +Nubia, and the Soldan of Egypt, had officers here to receive the +customs, which were divided between these sovereigns. There was a +regular ferry here to _Jiddah_, the port of Mecca, which lies opposite, +the passage occupying a day and a night, through a sea full of shoals +and rocks. In his description of Egypt, Abulfeda says Aydhab belonged to +Egypt, and was frequented by the merchants of Yaman, and by the pilgrims +from Egypt to Mecca.--Astl. I. 131. d.] + +The coast of _Bahr al Kolzum_ runs northward from _Aden_[343], and +proceeds thence round the coast of _al Yaman_ (or Arabia Felix), till it +comes to the borders thereof. Thence it runs north to _Joddah_. From +_Joddah_ it declines a little to the west, as far as _Jahafah_, a +station of the people of _Mesr_ (Egypt), when on pilgrimage to Mecca. +Thence advancing north, with a small inclination towards the west, it +washes the coast of _Yanbaak_ (_Yamboa_). Here it turns off +north-westwards, and having passed _Madyan_ it comes to _Aylah_. Thence +descending southwards it comes to the mountain _al Tur_[344], which +thrusting forwards separates two arms of the sea. Thence returning to +the north, it passes on to _al Kolzum_, where the description began, +which is situated to the west of _Aylah_, and almost in the same +latitude. + +[Footnote 343: From Aden the coast leading to the Straits of Bab al +Mandab runs almost due west, with a slight northern inclination, about +115 statute miles, or 1 deg. 45 min. of longitude to Cape _Arah_, which +with Cape _al Mandab_ from the two sides of the Straits of Mecca or Bab +al Mandab, having the island of Prin interposed, considerably nearer to +the Arabian than the African shore.--E.] + +[Footnote 344: A mountain so called near Sinai, which likewise goes by +that name.--Ast. I. 151. h.--This mountain of _al Tur_ forms the +separation between the Gulf of _Suez_ and that of Akkaba, its western +extremity forming Cape Mahomed.--E.] + +_Al Kolzum_ and _Aylah_ are situated on two arms or gulfs of the sea, +between which the land interposes, running to the South; which land is +the mountain _al Tur_ almost in the same longitude with _Aylah_, which +stands at the northern extremity of the eastern bay, while _al Kolzum_ +is at the northern extremity of the western gulf, so that _Aylah_ is +more to the east, and mount _al Tur_ more to the south than _al Kolzum_. +_Aylah_ is situated on the inmost part of the promontory which extends +into the sea. Between _al Tur_ and the coast of _Mesr_ (Egypt), that +arm of the sea or gulf extends on which _al Kolzum_ stands. In like +manner that arm of the sea on which _Aylah_ is situated extends between +_al Tur_ and _Hejaz_. From this mountain of _al Tur_ the distance to +either of the opposite coasts is small by sea, but longer about by the +desert of _Fakiyah_, as those who travel by land from _al Tur_ to _Mesr_ +are under the necessity of going round by _al Kolzum_, and those who go +by land from _al Tur_ to _Hejaz_ must go round by way of Aylah. _Al Tur_ +joins the continent on the north, but its other three sides are washed +by the sea. The sea of _al Kolzum_, after passing some way to the +south-east from _al Tur_ begins to widen on either side, till it becomes +_seventy_[345] miles broad. This wider part is called _Barkah al +Gorondal_. + +[Footnote 345: These are to be understood as Arabian miles, 56-2/3 to +the degree, or each equal to 1-1/4 English miles according to Norwoods +measure, 69-1/2 to the degree.--Astl. I. 132. b. + +This would only give 80 English miles for the breadth of the Red Sea; +whereas, immediately below the junction of the two northern guffs, it is +104 miles broad, and its greatest breadth for a long way is 208 +miles.--E.] + +_Table of Situations, from Abulfeda_[346]. + + Lat. + deg. min. deg. min + Kolzum, 28 20 N. 54 15 E. + -------by some 56 30 + Al Kossir, 26 0 59 0 + Aydhab 21 0 58 0 + Swakem, 17 0 58 0 + Aden, 11 0 66 0 + Borders of Yaman, 19 0 67 0 + Jiddah, 21 0 66 0 + Jahafah, 22 0 65 0 + Yamboa, 26 0 64 0 + Aylah, 29 0 55 0 + ---- 28 50 56 40 + +[Footnote 346: The longitude is reckoned by _Abulfeda_ from the most +western shores on the Atlantic Ocean, at the _pillars of Hercules_; +supposed to be 10 deg. E. of the _Fuzair al Khaladat_, or the Fortunate +Islands.--Ast. I. 134. + +These latitudes and longitudes are so exceedingly erroneous as to defy +all useful criticism, and are therefore left as in the collection of +Astley without any commentary; indeed the whole of this extract from +Abulfeda is of no manner of use, except as a curiosity.--E.] + +POSTSCRIPT.-_Transactions of the Portuguese in Abyssinia, under Don +Christopher de Gama[347]._ + +While the Portuguese fleet was at Massua, between the 22d of May and +9th of July 1541, a considerable detachment of soldiers was landed at +Arkiko on the coast of Abyssinia under the command of Don Christopher de +Gama, brother to the governor-general, for the assistance of the +Christian sovereign of the Abyssinians against Grada Hamed king of Adel +or Zeyla, an Arab sovereignty at the north-eastern point of Africa, +without the Red Sea, and to the south of Abyssinia. In the journal of +Don Juan de Castro; this force is stated at 500 men, while in the +following notices from De Faria, 400 men are said to have formed the +whole number of auxiliaries furnished by the Portuguese[348]. This +account of the first interference of the Portuguese in the affairs of +Abyssinia by De Faria, is rather meagre and unsatisfactory, and the +names of places are often so disguised by faulty orthography as to be +scarcely intelligible. In a future division of our work more ample +accounts will be given both of this Portuguese expedition, and of other +matters respecting Abyssinia.--E. + +[Footnote 347: From the Portuguese Asia of De Faria, II. 24.] + +[Footnote 348: In an account of this expedition of the Portuguese into +Abyssinia, by the Catholic Patriarch, Juan Bermudez, who accompanied +them, this difference of the number of men is partly accounted for. +According to Bermudez, the force was 400 men, among whom were many +gentlemen and persons of note, who carried servants along with them, +which increased the number considerably.--E.] + + * * * * * + +Some time before the expedition of De Gama into the Red Sea, Grada Hamed +the Mahometan king of Adel or Zeyla, the country called _Trogloditis_ by +some geographers, submitted himself to the supremacy of the Turkish +empire in order to obtain some assistance of men, and throwing off his +allegiance to the Christian emperor of Abyssinia or Ethiopia, +immediately invaded that country with a numerous and powerful army. On +this occasion he took advantage offered by the sovereign of Abyssinia, +to whom he owed allegiance, being in extreme youth, and made such +progress in the country that the emperor _Atanad Sagad_, otherwise named +_Claudius_, was obliged to retire into the kingdom or province of Gojam, +while his mother, _Saban_ or _Elizabeth_, who administered the +government in his minority, took refuge with the _Baharnagash_ in the +rugged mountains of _Dama_, a place naturally impregnable, which rising +to a prodigious height from a large plain, has a plain on its summit +about a league in diameter, on which is an indifferent town with +sufficient cattle and other provisions for its scanty population. On one +side of this mountain there is a road of difficult ascent to near the +top; but at the last part of the ascent people have to be drawn up and +let down on planks by means of ropes. + +While in this helpless condition, the queen got notice that Don Stefano +de Gama was in the Red Sea, and sent the Baharnagash to him, desiring +his assistance against the tyrant, who had overrun the country, +destroyed many ancient churches, and carried off numbers of priests and +monks into slavery. The embassador was favourably listened to; and it +was resolved by the governor-general, in a council of his officers, to +grant the assistance required. Accordingly Don Christopher de Gama, +brother to the governor-general, was named to the command on this +occasion, who was landed with 400 men and eight field-pieces, with many +firelocks and abundance of ammunition. He was accompanied by Don Juan +Bermudez, Patriarch of Ethiopia, whose presence was much desired by the +Abyssinian emperor, on purpose to introduce the ceremonies of the Roman +church. + +Don Christopher de Gama and his men set out on their march from Arkiko +under the guidance of the Baharnagash for the interior of Abyssinia, and +the men endured incredible fatigue from the excessive heat, though they +rested by day and marched only in the night. A whole week was spent in +passing over a rugged mountain, whence they descended into a very +pleasant flat country, watered by many rivulets, through which they +marched for two days to the city of _Barua_, the metropolis or residence +of the Baharnagash. Though much damaged in the late invasion, yet this +place had several sightly buildings, divided by a large river, with +goodly villages and country houses in the environs. The Portuguese were +received at the gates by a procession of several monks singing a litany, +one of whom made a speech to welcome them, extoling their generosity in +coming to the aid of their distressed country: After which the +Portuguese visited the church and encamped. + +Don Christopher sent immediate notice of his arrival to the Emperor, who +was at a great distance, and to the queen mother who was near, upon the +mountain of Dama already mentioned. The Baharnagash was sent to conduct +her from the mountain, having along with him two companies of the +Portuguese as an escort, and brought her to Barua attended by a great +retinue of women and servants. On her arrival, the Portuguese troops +received her under arms, and the cannon were fired off to do her honour. +The queen was seated on a mule, whose trappings reached to the ground, +and she was hidden from view by curtains fixed to the saddle. She was +clothed in white, having a short black cloak or mantle with gold fringes +on her shoulders. From her white head dress a flowing white veil fell +down that concealed her face. The Baharnagash led her mule by the +bridle, having his arms bare in token of respect, while his shoulders +were covered by a tigers skin; and on each side of her walked a nobleman +in similar attire. She opened the curtains that surrounded her that she +might see the Portuguese troops; and on Don Christopher going up to pay +his compliments, she lifted her veil that he might see her. The +reception on both sides was courteous. Don Christopher went afterwards +to visit her and consult with her, when it was resolved by the advice of +the Abyssinians to winter at that place, and to wait an answer from the +Emperor. The answer came accordingly, expressing his joy for the arrival +of the Portuguese succours, and desiring Don Christopher to march in the +beginning of summer. + +The Portuguese accordingly marched at the time appointed, and in the +following order. Some light horse led the van, to explore the road: Then +followed the artillery and baggage: After which came the queen and her +attendants, with a guard of fifty Portuguese musqueteers: Don +Christopher brought up the rear with the remainder of the Portuguese +troops; and the Baharnagash with his officers secured the flanks. In +eight days, the army came to the mountain of _Gane_ of most difficult +ascent, on the top of which was a city, and on the highest cliff a +chapel, near which was a house hung round with three hundred embalmed +bodies sewed up in hides. These external coverings were much rent with +age, and discovered the bodies within still white and uncorrupted. Some +supposed these were the _Roman_ conquerors of the country; while others, +and among them the patriarch, supposed them to have been martyrs. +Encouraged by the presence of the Portuguese auxiliaries, many of the +natives resorted to the queen. Don Christopher marched on to the +mountain of Canete, well watered and having abundance of cattle, which, +almost impregnable by nature was still farther strengthened by +artificial fortifications. The emperors of Abyssinia used formerly to be +crowned at this place, which was now held for the tyrant by a thousand +men, who used often to come down from the mountain and ravage the open +country. + +Contrary to the advice of the queen and her councillors, Don Christopher +determined to commence his military operations by assaulting this den of +thieves. For this purpose he divided his force into three bodies, one of +which he led in person, and courageously endeavoured to force his way by +the three several passes which led to the summit. But after the most +valiant efforts, the Portuguese were forced to desist from the attack, +in consequence of great numbers of large stones being rolled down upon +them by the enemy. After hearing mass on Candlemas day, the 2d of +February 1542, the Portuguese returned to the attack, playing their +cannon against the enemy; and though they lost some men by the great +stones rolled down among them from the mountain, they at length made +their way to the first gates which they broke open, and forced their way +to the second gates with great slaughter of the enemy, and the loss of +three Portuguese. The enemy within the second and third gates, seeing +only a few men of the vanguard, opened their gates, on which the +Portuguese rushed in and maintained a hot contest with the enemy till +Don Christopher came up with the main body, and pressed the enemy so +hard that many of them threw themselves headlong from the rocks. Many +women and children were made prisoners, and much plunder was taken. The +queen and her retinue went up to the mountain, expressing great +admiration of the Portuguese prowess, as the fortress had always been +deemed impregnable by the Ethiopians. The patriarch purified a mosque, +which he dedicated to the blessed virgin, and in which mass was +celebrated to the great joy both of the Portuguese and Abyssinians. + +Placing a garrison of Abyssinians in this place under a native officer, +the army marched on into the country of a rebel named _Jarse_, who now +submitted to the queen and brought his men to her service, thinking +nothing could withstand men who had conquered nature, so highly did they +esteem the conquest of the mountain _Canete_. The king of Zeyla came on +now with his army, covering the plains and mountains with his numbers, +and exulting in the hopes of an easy victory over so small a number of +men. Don Christopher encamped in good order near a mountain in full +sight of the enemy. Palm Sunday and Monday were spent in skirmishing, +with nearly equal loss on both sides, but the Portuguese had so far the +advantage as to compel the enemy to retreat to their camp. Don +Christopher found it necessary to remove his camp, being in want of some +necessaries, particularly water; and on the king of Zeyla observing the +Portuguese in motion from his position on the high grounds, he came down +and surrounded the Portuguese in the plain, who marched in good order, +keeping off the enemy by continual discharges of their artillery and +small arms. The enemy still pressing on, Don Christopher ordered Emanuel +de Cuna to face about with his company, which he did so effectually, +that he obliged a body of Turks to retire after losing many of their +men. The Turks rallied and renewed their attack, in which they +distressed De Cuna considerably, so that Don Christopher was obliged to +come in person to his relief, and fought with so much resolution that he +was for a considerable time unconscious of being wounded in the leg. At +this time the king of Zeyla came on in person, thinking to put a +favourable end to the action, but it turned to his own loss, as many of +his men were cut off by the Portuguese cannon. Don Christopher was in +great danger of being slain, yet continued the action with great +resolution, till at length the tyrant was struck down by a shot which +pierced his thigh. His men immediately furled their colours and fled, +carrying him off whom they believed slain though he was still alive. +This victory cost the Portuguese eleven men, two of whom were of note. +After the battle, the queen herself attended Don Christopher and all the +wounded men with the utmost alacrity and attention. + +After the respite of a week, the Portuguese army marched towards the +enemy, who came to meet them, the king of Zeyla being carried in an open +chair or litter. This battle was resolutely contested on both sides. A +Turkish captain, thinking to recover the honour which had been lost in +the former action, made a charge with the men he commanded into the +very middle of the Portuguese, and was entirely cut off with all his +followers. Don Christopher on horseback, led his men with such fury into +the heat of the action, that at length he compelled the enemy to turn +their backs and seek safety in flight. The king of Zeyla had infallibly +been taken in the pursuit, had there been a sufficient body of horse to +pursue and follow up the victory. In this battle the Portuguese lost +eight men. After the victory, the allied army of the Portuguese and +Abyssinians, on marching down to a pleasant river found it possessed by +the enemy, who immediately fled with their king. At this time the king +of Zeyla sent an embassy to the Pacha of Zabit acquainting him with the +distress to which he was reduced, and prevailed upon him by a large +subsidy to send him a reinforcement of almost 1000 Turkish musqueteers. + +Don Christopher wintered in the city of _Ofar_, waiting the arrival of +the Abyssinian emperor. While there a Jew proposed to him, if he were in +want of horses and mules, to shew him a mountain at no great distance, +inhabited by Jews, where he might find a large supply of both. On that +mountain the king of Zeyla had a garrison of 400 men. Having inquired +into the truth of this information, and found that it was to be depended +upon, Don Christopher marched thither with two companies of Portuguese +and some Abyssinians, and came to the foot of the mountain which is +twelve leagues in compass. Some Moors who guarded the passes were slain +in the ascent, and on the top the Moorish commander met him with all his +men, but Don Christopher running at him with his lance thrust him +through the body. The shot of the Portuguese soon constrained the Moors +to make a precipitate flight, after losing a great number of men, and +the mountain was completely reduced. Great numbers of horses and mules +were found in this place, which was inhabited by about 800 Jews in six +or seven villages, who were reduced to obedience. According to +tradition, these Jews, and many others who are dispersed over Ethiopia +and Nubia, are descended from some part of the dispersion of the ten +tribes. The Jew who acted as guide to the Portuguese on this occasion, +was so astonished at their valour that he was converted and baptised, +and by common consent was appointed governor of this mountain. Before +this it had the name of _Caloa_, but was ever afterwards known by the +name of _the Jews mountain_. + +On the second day after the return of Don Christopher to the army, the +king of Zeyla began to shew himself more bold than usual, trusting to +the great reinforcement of Turkish musqueteers he had procured from +Zabid. The youth and inexperience of Don Christopher allowed his valour +to transport him far beyond the bounds of prudence. He ought to have +retired to some strong position on the mountains, till joined by the +emperor with the military power of Abyssinia, as it was impossible for +him to contend against such great superiority, now that the king of +Zeyla had so strong a body of musqueteers: But he never permitted +himself to consider of these circumstances, till too late. On the 29th +of August, the Turks made an attack upon the camp, and were repulsed, on +which occasion Don Christopher was wounded in the leg and lost four men. +In that part of the entrenchments defended by Emanuel de Cuna, the Turks +were likewise repelled, with the loss of three men on the side of the +Portuguese. In another part Francisco de Abreu was killed while fighting +like a lion, and his brother Humphrey going to fetch off his body was +slain and fell beside that he went to rescue. On this Don Christopher +came up to relieve his men and performed wonders, till his arm was +broken by a musquet-ball and he was carried off by a brave soldier. He +was scarcely dressed when news was brought that the enemy had entered +the entrenchments, and had slain Fonseca and Vello, two of his officers, +on which he ordered himself to be carried to the place of danger. As the +enemy were now decidedly victorious, some of the Portuguese abandoned +their ranks and fled, as did the queen and the patriarch, both being +mounted on fleet mares, each taking a different way, he from fear not +knowing where he went, but she from choice as being well acquainted with +the country. Don Christopher sent immediately to bring back the queen, +as her flight was entirely ruinous, occasioning the disbanding of all +the Abyssinian troops. But at length, seeing that all was lost, he +grasped in despair a sword in his left hand, saying, _Let who will +follow me to die like heroes in the midst of the enemy_. He was carried +however from the field by mere force, with only fourteen men, +accompanied by the queen and Baharnagash, seeking some place of safety. +The night being excessively dark they lost their way and separated, the +queen and Baharnagash being fortunate enough to get up a mountain as +they were better acquainted with the country; but Don Christopher +wandering with some companions, fell into the hands of the enemy, who +carried him to the tyrant who was quite elated with his prize. The +victors used their good fortune with the utmost barbarity, cruelly +cutting down every one who fell in their way, which occasioned one to +set a quantity of powder on fire that was in one of the tents belonging +to the queen, by which all who were in or near it were blown up. + +The king of Zeyla was quite elated by the capture of Don Christopher, +whom he caused to be brought into his presence, and questioned him as to +what he would have done with him, if defeated and made prisoner. "I +would have cut off your head," answered Don Christopher, "and dividing +your body into quarters, would have exposed them as a terror and warning +to other tyrants." The king caused him to be buffeted with the buskins +of his slaves; his body to be immersed in melted wax, and his beard +interwoven with waxed threads, which were set on fire, and in this +manner he was led through the army as a spectacle. Being brought back, +the king cut off his head with his own hand, and caused the body to be +quartered and exposed on poles. Where the head fell, it is said that +there gushed out a spring of water which cured many diseases. On the +same hour, a tree was torn out by the roots in the garden of a certain +convent of monks, though the air was at the time perfectly calm. +Afterwards, at the same hour, the emperor of Abyssinia having vanquished +the tyrant and caused his head to be struck off, the tree which was then +dry replanted itself in the former place, and became covered with +leaves. + +Most of the Portuguese who were taken on occasion of this defeat, +perished in slavery. Alfonso Chaldeira followed the queen with thirty +men. Emanuel de Cuna with forty got away to the Baharnagash and was well +received. Sixty more followed the Patriarch Bermudez, making in all 130 +men. Ninety of these went to the emperor, who was then near at hand, and +very much lamented the slaughter among that valiant body of auxiliaries, +and the loss of their brave commander. De Cuna with his forty men were +too far off to join the Abyssinian emperor at this time. The emperor +marched soon afterwards against the king of Zeyla, accompanied by ninety +of the Portuguese who had joined him after the former defeat, to whom he +gave the vanguard of his army, in consideration of the high opinion he +had of their valour. At the foot of the mountain of _Oenadias_ in the +province of _Ambea_, they met a body of 700 horse and 2000 foot going to +join the king of Zeyla. Fifty Portuguese horse went immediately to +attack them, and Antonio Cardoso who was foremost killed the commander +of the enemy at the first thrust of his lance. The rest of the +Portuguese followed this brave example, and slew many of the enemy, and +being seconded by the Abyssinians, first under the Baharnagash and +afterwards by the king in person, eight hundred of the enemy were slain +and the rest put to flight, when they went rather to terrify the tyrant +with an account of their defeat, than to reinforce him by their +remaining numbers. + +The king of Zeyla was only at the distance of a league with his army in +order of battle, consisting of two bodies of foot of three thousand men +in each, while he was himself stationed in the front at the head of five +hundred horse. The emperor of Abyssinia met him with a similar number, +and in the same order. The ninety Portuguese, being the forlorn hope, +made a furious charge on the advanced five hundred of the enemy, of whom +they slew many, with the loss of two only on their own side. The emperor +in person behaved with the utmost bravery, and at length the horse of +the enemy being defeated fled to the wings of their infantry. The king +of Zeyla acted with the utmost resolution, even shewing his son to the +army, a boy of only ten years old, to stir up his men to fight valiantly +against the Christians. The battle was renewed, and continued for long +in doubt, the emperor being even in great danger of suffering a defeat; +but at length a Portuguese shot the king of Zeyla in the belly by which +he died, but his horse carried him dangling about the field, as he was +tied to the saddle, and his army took to flight. Only a few Turks stood +firm, determined rather to die honourably than seek safety in flight, +and made great slaughter among the Abyssinians: But Juan Fernandez, page +to the unfortunate Don Christopher, slew the Turkish commander with his +lance. In fine, few of the enemy escaped by flight. The head of the king +of Zeyla was cut off, and his son made prisoner. Being highly sensible +of the great merit of the Portuguese to whom he chiefly owed this and +the former victories over his enemies, the emperor conferred great +favours upon them. De Cuna returned to Goa with only fifty men; and the +other survivors of the Portuguese remained in Abyssinia, where they +intermarried with women of that country, and where their progeny still +remains. + + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +CONTINUATION OF THE PORTUGUESE TRANSACTIONS IN INDIA, AFTER THE RETURN +OF DON STEFANO DE GAMA FROM SUEZ IN 1341, TO THE REDUCTION OF PORTUGAL +UNDER THE DOMINION OF SPAIN IN 1581. + + +In our remaining account of the early Transactions of the Portuguese in +India, taken chiefly from the Portuguese Asia of De Faria, we have not +deemed it necessary or proper to confine ourselves rigidly to the +arrangement of that author, nor to give his entire narrative, which +often contains a number of trifling incidents confusedly related. We +have therefore selected such incidents only from that work as appeared +important or curious: And, as has been already done in the two +immediately preceding chapters, containing the Voyages of Solyman Pacha, +and Don Stefano de Gama, we propose in the sequel to make such additions +from other authentic and original sources, as may appear proper and +consistent with our plan of arrangement. These additions will be found +distinctly referred to their respective authors as we proceed.--E. + + +SECTION I. + +_Incidents during the Government of India by Don Stefano de Gama, +subsequent to his Expedition to the Red Sea._ + + +During the expedition of Don Stephano de Gama up the Red Sea, some +circumstances are related by De Faria which are not noticed in the +Journal of Don Juan de Castro, who either thought proper to confine his +narrative to nautical affairs, or his abreviator Purchas has omitted +such as were military. On his voyage up the Red Sea, De Gama found most +of the islands and cities abandoned, as the people had received notice +of the expedition. The chief island was Massua, and the principal city +Swakem, in about 19 deg. of north latitude[349], which was well built and +rich. The sheikh or king had withdrawn a league into the interior, and +endeavoured to amuse De Gama with proposals of peace and amity, that he +might save his insular city from being destroyed. The greatest injury +occasioned by this delay was that it prevented De Gama from destroying +the ships at Suez, the main object of his expedition, as so much time +was gained that the news of his approach was carried to Suez, and the +Turks were fully prepared for his reception. In revenge, De Gama marched +into the interior with 1000 men, accompanied by his brother Don +Christopher, and defeated the sheikh with great slaughter, making a +considerable booty. Then returning to Swakem, that city was plundered; +on which occasion many of the private men got to the value of five or +six thousand ducats, after which the city was burnt to the ground. + +[Footnote 349: Lat. 19 deg. 40'.] + +Sending back the large ships from thence to Massua under the command of +Lionel de Lima, de Gama proceeded on his expedition to Suez with 250 men +in 16 catures or barks. At Al-Kossir, in lat. 25 deg. N.[350] that place was +destroyed. Crossing over to Toro, some vessels belonging to the enemy +were taken. The Turks first opposed their landing; but some of them +being slain, the rest fled and abandoned the city, in which nothing of +value was found; but De Gama refrained from burning the city from +reverence to St Catharine, as there was a monastery at that place +dedicated to her, which he visited at the instance of the friars. Being +to his great glory the first European commander who took that city, he +knighted several officers, who very justly held this honour in great +esteem, which was even envied afterwards by the emperor Charles V. The +friars of this monastery of St Catharines at Toro are of the Greek +church, and of the order of St Basil. The city of Toro is in lat. 28 deg. +N.[351] and is thought by learned cosmographers to be the ancient +_Elana_. + +[Footnote 350: Lat. 26 deg. 15'.] + +[Footnote 351: Lat. 28 deg. 15'.] + +Proceeding onwards to Suez, after many brave attempts to sound and +examine the harbour, all of which failed, De Gama resolved in person and +in open day to view the Turkish gallies. He accordingly landed with his +soldiers; but the enemies shot from the town was well kept up, and 2000 +Turkish horse broke out from an ambush; and, though some of the enemy +were slain by the Portuguese cannon, De Gama and his men were forced to +retire, much grieved in being unable to accomplish the great object of +the expedition. + +On his return to the fleet at Massua, he there found that owing to the +severity of _Emanual de Gama_[352] a mutiny had taken place, and that 80 +men had run away with a ship, designing to go into Ethiopia. They were +met however by a captain belonging to the king of Zeyla, and most of +them slain after a vigorous resistance. Five of the mutineers were found +hanging on a gallows, executed by order of Emanuel de Gama, for having +concealed the design of the other 80 who deserted. At their execution, +these men cited De Gama to answer before _the great tribunal_, and +within a month De Gama died raving mad. + +[Footnote 352: In preceding passage, Lionel de Lima is mentioned as +commanding the fleet; Emanuel de Gama may therefore be supposed to have +commanded the ship that mutinied.--E.] + +About July 1541, while on its return from Massua to India, the fleet +commanded by the governor Don Stefano de Gama encountered so severe a +storm that one of the galliots sunk bodily, a bark was lost, and all the +other vessels dispersed. During the continuance of this dreadful +tempest, many religious vows were made by the people; but that made by +one of the soldiers afterwards occasioned much mirth. He vowed, if he +survived the tempest, that he would marry Donna Isabel de Sa, daughter +to Don Garcia de Sa afterwards governor of India, which lady was one of +the most celebrated beauties of the time. At length De Gama arrived at +Goa; and as the ships from Portugal did not arrive at the expected time, +and the public treasure was much exhausted by the late charges, he +loaded the goods provided for the home voyage in four galleons, and +dispatched them, for Lisbon. + +About this time _Nizamoxa_[353] wished to gain possession of the forts +of _Sangaza_ and _Carnala_, held by two subjects of Cambaya, on the +frontiers of that kingdom, which were formidable from their strength and +situation; and took them by assault in the absence of their commanders, +who applied to Don Francisco de Menezes, the commander at Basseen to +assist in their recovery, offering to hold them of the Portuguese. +Menezes went accordingly with 300 Portuguese and a party of native +troops, accompanied by the two proprietors, each of whom had 200 men. +The fort of Carnala was taken by assault, and the garrison of Sangaza +abandoned it on the approach of De Menezes. Having thus restored both +commanders to their forts, De Menezes left Portuguese garrisons with +both for their protection. Nizamoxa sent immediately 5000 men who ruined +both districts, and the owners in despair resigned their titles to the +Portuguese, and withdrew to Basseen, whence De Menezes sent supplies to +the two forts, meaning to defend them. Nizamoxa sent an additional force +of 6000, men, of which 1000 were musqueteers and 800 well equipped +horse. This great force besieged Sangaza, to which they gave two +assaults in one day, and were repulsed with great slaughter. Menezes +went immediately to relieve the place with 160 Portuguese, 20 of whom +were horse, together with several _naigs_ and 2000 Indians. After a +sharp encounter, in which the Portuguese were nearly defeated, the enemy +fled from Sangaza, leaving all the ground about the fort strewed with +arms and ammunition. In this engagement the enemy lost 500 men and the +Portuguese 20. During the action a Portuguese soldier of prodigious +strength, named _Trancoso_, laid hold of a Moor wrapped up in a large +veil as if he had been a buckler, and carried him before his breast, +receiving upon him all the strokes from the enemies weapons, and +continued to use this strange shield to the end of the battle. + +[Footnote 353: In Portuguese _x_ has the power of _sh_ in English +orthography; hence the name of this prince was perhaps Nizam Shah, and +may be the same prince called in other places of De Faria _Nazamaluco or +Nizam al Mulk.--E.] + +The governor Don Stefano de Gama happened at this time to be in _Chual_, +visiting the northern forts; and considering that the maintenance of +Sangaza and Carnala cost more than they produced, and besides that +Nizamoxa was in alliance with the Portuguese, delivered them to that +prince for 5000 pardaos, in addition to the 2000 he paid before, to the +great regret of De Menezes. Soon afterwards a fleet arrived from +Portugal under Martin Alfonso de Sousa, who was sent to succeed Don +Stephano de Gama in the government. This fleet had the honour to bring +out to India the famous _St Francisco Xaviar_, one of the first fathers +of the society of Jesus, both in respect to true piety and virtue. He +was the first ecclesiastic who had the dignity of _Apostolic Legate_ of +all Asia, and was very successful in converting the infidels: But we +shall afterwards have occasion to enlarge upon his great virtues and +wonderful actions. + +On his arrival in the port of Goa, Martin Alfonso de Sousa sent notice +to Don Stefano de Gama at the dead hour of the night, which induced De +Gama to return an answer unworthy of them both. Martin Alfonso found +nothing to lay to the charge of Don Stefano, as those desired who +instigated him to seek for offences; for Alfonso was a gentleman of much +honour, and could never have thought of any such thing of himself. But, +though he ought now to have checked himself, finding nothing against De +Gama, he became the more inveterate; as it is natural for men when they +are in the wrong to persist with obstinacy. Alfonzo vented his malice by +refusing conveniences to De Gama for the voyage home, which so disgusted +him that he never waited upon Alfonso after resigning to him the sword +of command. + +Don Stefano arrived safe in Portugal, where he was received with much +honour by the court, and with favour by the king; but refusing a wife +offered by his majesty, he was disgraced, on which he went to reside at +Venice. The Emperor Charles V. persuaded him to return to Portugal, +assuring him of the kings favour; but he found none; for princes are +more fixed in punishing a little omitted to please, than in rewarding +much done for their service. On assuming the government of India, Don +Stefano made an inventory of all he was worth, being 200,000 crowns; and +when he left the government his fortune was found 40,000 crowns +diminished. He was of middle stature, thick and strong built, with a +thick beard and black hair, and a ruddy completion. On his tomb was +inscribed at his own desire, _He who made knights on Mount Sinai ended +here_. + + +SECTION II. + +_Exploits of Antonio de Faria y Sousa in Eastern India_[354]. + + +We have placed these exploits in a separate Section, because, although +they appear in the Portuguese Asia as having taken place during the +government of Don Stefano de Gama, yet is their chronology by no means +well defined: and likewise because their authenticity is even more than +problematical. In themselves they appear to carry evidence of +overstepping the modest bounds of history; and there is reason to +believe that they rest principally, if not altogether, on the authority +of Fernan Mendez de Pinto, of notorious character. Yet they seem +sufficiently curious to warrant insertion in this work; and it is not at +all improbable that Antonio de Faria may have been a successful +freebooter in the Chinese seas, and that he may have actually performed +many of the exploits here recorded, though exaggerated, and mixed in +some places with palpable romance.--E. + +[Footnote 354: De Faria, II. 29 & seq.] + +About this time Pedro de Faria, who was governor of Malacca, sent his +factor MENDEZ DE PINTO with a letter and a present to the king of +_Patane_, desiring him to procure the liberty of five Portuguese who +were then slaves to his brother-in-law at Siam. Pinto was also entrusted +with goods to the value of 10,000 ducats, to be delivered to the factor +of De Faria at _Pam_. Having at that place made up a valuable cargo of +diamonds pearls and gold, to the extent of 50,000 crowns, it was all +lost one night in a tumult, occasioned by the following circumstance. +There resided in Pam an ambassador from the king of Borneo, who one +night detected the king of Pam in bed with his wife, and immediately +slew him. On the death of the king becoming public, the people rose in +commotion, more for the purpose of plunder than revenge. In this tumult +about 4000 men were slain, and the Portuguese factors were robbed, and +some of their companions slain. They made their escape to _Patane_, +where they and other Portuguese asked leave of the king to make +reprisals on three vessels belonging to merchants of Pam, which were +then riding at anchor in the river _Calantam_ 18 leagues off, richly +laden from China. Getting the kings permission, they set out to the +number of 80 persons in three vessels, and after a sharp engagement took +and brought in these ships to Patane, where their cargoes were valued at +300,000 ducats. The people of Patane urged the king to take these ships +from the Portuguese; but he decided that the 50,000 crowns should be +made good to them of which they had been plundered at Pam; on which the +merchants paid that sum and were allowed to continue their voyage. + +About the same period, _Pedro de Faria y Sousa_ sent his kinsman _Antonio +de Faria y Sousa_ to treat of important affairs with the king of +_Patane_, and in particular to preserve peace with that prince. Antonio +carried goods with him to the value of 12,000 ducats, and finding no +sale for them at that place, he sent them to the port of _Lugor_ in the +kingdom of Siam, a place of great trade, where he was informed they +would sell to great advantage. He intrusted the charge of this valuable +cargo to _Christopher Borallo_, who was surprised while at anchor in the +mouth of the Lugor river by, Khodjah Husseyn, a Moor of Guzerat, who +commanded a vessel well stored with artillery, and manned with 80 Turks +and Moors. Borallo thought himself happy in escaping from these pirates +by swimming on shore, and brought the news of this disaster to Antonio +de Faria at Patane, who vowed that he would never desist till he had +destroyed Husseyn, in revenge for this loss. Husseyn was equally +inveterate against the Portuguese, ever since Hector de Silveyra had +taken a ship belonging to him in the sea of Guzerat, killing his father +and two brothers, and had continually exerted himself in robbing and +murdering the Portuguese. Owing to this loss and his determination of +revenge, Antonio de Faria was led to the performance of those brave +actions which I now mean to relate with all my usual sincerity, without +affection for my kindred. + +Antonio accordingly fitted out a small vessel with 50 men, in which he +sailed from Patane on Saturday the 8th May 1540, and steered north-east +towards the kingdom of _Champa_ or _Tsiompa_, to examine that coast. He +here saw the island of _Pulo Condor_, in lat. 3 deg. 20' N[355]. and then to +the eastwards rounded one six leagues from the coast of Cambodia. +Entering the port of _Bralapisam_, he found there a vessel of the +_Lequii_, having on board an ambassador from the prince of the island of +_Lossa_[356] in 36 deg. of north latitude, for the king of Siam. As soon as +this vessel espied the Portuguese ship, it weighed anchor and sailed +away. Faria sent after them a Chinese pilot with a civil message, who +brought back this remarkable answer, "We return thanks: The time will +come when our nation shall have commerce with that captain in real +friendship, through the law of the supreme God, whose clemency is +boundless, since by his death he gave life to all mankind, and remains +an everlasting faith in the house of the good. We confidently hold that +this will be when half the times are past[357]." The pilot also brought +back a rich cymeter in a scabbard of beaten gold, with a handle of the +same, splendidly ornamented with pearls of great value. Antonio would +have made a return, but the vessel could not be overtaken. From thence +Antonio proceeded to the river _Pulo Cambier_, which divides the +kingdoms of _Cambodia_ and _Tsiompa_. At the town of _Catimparu_, he was +informed that great river took its rise in the lake of _Pinator_, 260 +leagues westwards in the kingdom of _Quitirvam_, encompassed with high +mountains, around which lake there are 38 towns, 13 of which are +considerable, where was a gold mine that yielded 22 millions of crowns +yearly. It belonged to _four_ lords, who were engaged in continual wars +for its possession. At _Bauquerim_ likewise there is a mine of the +finest diamonds: and from the disposition of the people they might +easily be conquered by the Portuguese. + +[Footnote 355: Pulo Condor, off the mouths of the Japanese river, is in +lat. 8 deg. 40' N. perhaps the figure 3 in the text is a typographical +error.--E.] + +[Footnote 356: Possibly Luzon in lat. 16 deg. N. may be here meant. Unless +we can suppose some part of Japan may be intended, which is in the +latitude of the text--E.] + +[Footnote 357: This strange oracular message, and indeed most of the +wonderful deeds of Antonio de Faria, smells strongly of _Mendez de +Pinto_, the factor of Pedro de Faria, who has been characterised as the +_prince of liars_. Indeed the editor of Astleys Collection says that his +name ought to be _Mendax_ de Pinto.--E.] + +Coasting along, Antonio came to anchor in the mouth of the river +_Toobasoy_, fearing to go up. At this place he espied a large vessel to +which he made signs of peace, but received a rude answer. As night drew +on, it was thought proper to wait for day; but in the dark first one +vessel and then three more were descried coming towards them, and forty +men from the first vessel boarded them, but were all slain, their vessel +taken and the others burnt. A black, who was taken on this occasion, +declared himself a Christian, saying he had been slave to Gaspar de +Melo, who had been taken by the pirate _Similau_ along with 26 other +Portuguese, all of whom he had barbarously put to death. The black said +that Similau had another vessel in the port richly laden, having only a +few men on board. Similau with the other prisoners were put to the same +death they had used to inflict on others. As soon as day appeared that +other vessel was taken, and the booty in silver only amounted to 60,000 +ducats, besides other goods. Thus enriched, Antonio went on to the river +_Tinacoreu_ or _Varela_, where the ships of Siam and Malacca, trading +with China, barter their goods for gold, _calamba_, and ivory, with +which that country abounds. He anchored off a small town called +_Tayquileu_, the inhabitants of which called the Portuguese the _bearded +people_; for though these people had beards, theirs were short and thin, +whereas those of the Portuguese were at their full growth, many of them +reaching to their girdles. By the inhabitants of this place, Antonio was +informed that their river was formerly called _Tauralachim_ or the Great +Stock, to express its greatness: That it is deep and navigable for 80 +leagues, up to a town named _Moncalor_, and then becomes wide and +shallow, coming from the great country of _Chintaleuho_, where the +country for eight days journey had been depopulated 40 years before _by +a multitude of birds!_ In the middle of that country is the great lake +of _Cunabetee_ or _Chiamay_, whence spring four great rivers. That lake +is 180 leagues in circumference, and the country round abounds in mines +of silver, copper, tin, and lead. + +From thence Antonio proceeded to the island of _Hainan_, passing in +sight of _Champiloo_, in lat. 18 deg. N. at the entrance of the bay of +Cochin China. Farther on he discovered the promontory of _Pulocampas_, +whence the island of Hainan may be seen. To the west of this they found +a river, up which Borallo was sent in a small vessel with 16 men, who +discovered at least 2000 sail of vessels and a large walled town. On +their return they saw a large vessel at anchor. The captain supposing +this might be Husseyn took it; but learnt from an ancient Christian of +Mount Sinai, who was among the prisoners, that it belonged to a pirate +named _Quioy Tayjam_, who had killed above an hundred Portuguese, and +now lay hid in the forecastle with six or seven others, all of whom were +drawn from their hiding place and slain. In this vessel were found +60,000 quintals[358] of pepper, with a great deal of other spices, +besides ivory, tin, wax, and powder, the whole valued at 60,000 crowns; +besides several good cannon, some valuable baggage, and silver. In the +hold were nine children, the biggest only about nine years old, all +loaded with irons, and starving of hunger. + +[Footnote 358: This is either an enormous exaggeration, or a gross +error. The quantity in the text is equal to 3500 tons.--E.] + +Coasting along the island of Hainan, Antonio met some fishers of pearls, +whom he used courteously. They told him that the island belonged to +China. Hence he went to the river _Tananquir_, where he was suddenly +attacked by two large vessels, both of which were taken, after a long +struggle, in which 80 of the enemy were slain, with the loss of 14 men +belonging to Antonio, only one of whom was a Portuguese. After a while +they heard lamentable cries in the hold of one of these ships, in which +17 prisoners were found, two of whom were Portuguese. From one of these +Antonio was informed that these vessels had belonged to _Necoda +Xicaulem_, who, after becoming a Christian at Malacca and marrying a +Portuguese woman, had killed her and many more of her nation. The booty +in these two ships was valued at 50,000 crowns. One of the vessels was +burnt, as Antonio had not a sufficient number of men to navigate her. In +both vessels there were seventeen brass guns, most of which had the arms +of Portugal. Antonio anchored at Cape _Tilaumere_, where four vessels +came up to his squadron likewise now consisting of four vessels, and in +one of these was the bride of a young nobleman, who had engaged to meet +her at that place with a like number of ships, owing to which they had +come up to the Portuguese vessels. Three of these ships were taken, in +one of which was the bride. Some of the seamen were retained, and all +the others were set on shore. Antonio then went to _Mutipinam_, as a +convenient place for selling his prizes; but as the governor of that +city somewhat obstructed the sale, Antonio was obliged to hasten it, and +received in payment of the goods he had to dispose of to the value of +200,000 crowns in uncoined silver. + +In the beginning of the year 1541, Antonio sailed in search of the port +of _Madel_ in the island of _Hainan_, and by the way took some prizes. +Here he met with _Hinymilau_, a bold pirate and a great enemy to the +Christians, whom he delighted to put to cruel deaths. With him they had +a desperate engagement, and at last took him. He gave a bold account of +the many cruelties he had practised upon the Portuguese, and was +therefore immediately slain with four more. The prize was valued at +70,000 ducats. This action struck such terror into all who were in that +river, that they sent a message to Antonio, calling him _King of the +Seas_, offering him 30,000 crowns to take them under his protection, and +desiring to have passes for their safe trading. He accepted the money +and gave the passes, only for writing which his servant received 6000 +crowns in the space of twelve days. So great a reputation had he +acquired in these parts, that the governor of the city offered to make +him admiral of those seas for the emperor of China, with a salary of +9000 crowns yearly. Antonio ran all along this coast without any +remarkable occurrence, only that he saw many towns, none of which were +large, and a fruitful country, and was informed that there were mines +of silver, tin, saltpetre, and brimstone. + +Being now weary of looking out for the pirate _Husseyn_, the soldiers +demanded their shares of the prizes and to be discharged. This was +agreed to, and their course was directed towards Siam; but by a furious +storm they were cast away upon the _Ladrones_, where out of 500 men, +only 86 got on shore naked, 28 of whom were Portuguese. At this place +they were fifteen days with hardly any thing to eat. While in utter +despair, as the island was uninhabited, they discovered a small vessel +making for the shore where it cast anchor, and presently thirty Chinese +landed, some of whom went to procure wood and water, while the others +diverted themselves. Our men ran furiously and possessed themselves of +the vessel and put to sea as quickly as possible. In this vessel they +found only an old man and a child, but were quite delighted upon finding +plenty of provisions and much silk. Sailing for _Xamoy_ in _Liampo_, +they took another Chinese vessel and went to the island of +_Luxitay_[359], where they remained fifteen days refitting both vessels, +and then proceeded on their voyage. On the coast of _Lamau_ they +discovered a large vessel having fifteen guns, which began to fire upon +them as soon as within range; but on coming close it was observed to +have several crosses and some men in Portuguese habits, on which they +hailed each other, and the vessel was found to belong to _Quiay Panjau_ +a Chinese and a great friend of the Portuguese, having thirty soldiers +of that nation on board. He came on board of Antonios vessel, bringing a +present of amber, pearls, gold, and silver, worth 2000 ducats. Among +other discourse, Antonio told him that he was bound for _Liampo_ to +furnish himself with necessaries, meaning to attempt the mines of +_Quamjaparu_, where he was told he might get much treasure. _Quiay +Panjau_ offered to accompany him, demanding only a third part of what +might be taken, which was agreed to. + +[Footnote 359: The names in this strange relation of the adventures of +Antonio de Faria are so extremely corrupt as to defy even conjectural +commentary.--E.] + +They refitted at the river Ainay, and going from there to _Chincheo_, +Faria hired 35 Portuguese whom he found at that place. Soon after +putting again to sea he found eight Portuguese, almost naked and all +wounded in a fishing-boat, who told him that the pirate Khojah Husseyn +had taken their ship, worth 200,000 ducats, in the harbour of the isle +of _Cumbor_, and that they had escaped with difficulty in that miserable +condition. Faria was quite rejoiced to hear of that pirate, and +immediately turned back eight leagues to _Layloo_ to prepare for +engaging him. He there changed his old vessels for new ones, and +provided men arms and ammunition, paying generously for every thing. In +four vessels which he there fitted out, he had 40 pieces of cannon, 160 +muskets, 6000 darts, with abundance of other arms and ammunition, and a +force of 500 men, 95 of whom were Portuguese. In a day and a half sail +from _Layloo_ he came to the fisheries where those Portuguese had been +robbed, and was informed by some fishermen that Husseyn was only at the +distance of two leagues in the river _Tinlau_. To make quite sure, he +sent a person to see if that were the case, and finding the information +accurate he proceeded immediately to the place. The engagement began +before day-light upon four ships belonging to the pirate, which were +soon reduced to great straits, when four small vessels came up to their +assistance. One of the Portuguese cannon was so well pointed that it +sank the first of these at the first fire, and killed several men in +another vessel. At length Antonio boarded Husseyns vessel, and gave him +such a cut over the head as struck him down on the deck, and by another +stroke cut his hamstrings so that he could not rise. The pirates wounded +Antonio in three places; but being succoured by his men the victory was +complete, almost 400 of the enemy being slain or drowned by leaping +overboard, while it cost 43 men on the side of Antonio, 8 of whom were +Portuguese. Antonio immediately landed to bury his dead, and finding 96 +men belonging to Husseyn in a house where they were left to be cured, he +set the house on fire, and destroyed them all. He here restored the +Portuguese ship to her owners, and gave liberty to all the slaves, as he +vowed on going upon this enterprise, paying their masters the value. +After all this generosity, the remaining booty was worth 100,000 crowns. + +On the night after sailing from _Tinlau_ so violent a storm arose that +two of the ships were cast away, and most of the goods in the others had +to be thrown overboard, to the value of 200,000 ducats. One hundred and +eleven men were lost, eleven of whom were Portuguese. Thirteen men who +escaped the shipwreck were carried prisoners to _Nauday_, where Faria +came with the five remaining ships to anchor. He immediately offered +3000 crowns to the governor of the city for the liberty of the +prisoners, and meeting with an unfavourable answer, he determined to +liberate them by force. His men were fearful of the issue of so +dangerous an enterprise; but he so encouraged them, that they agreed. He +had at this time, which was in the beginning of the year 1542, a force +of 470 men in all, 60 of whom were Portuguese. Of these he chose 300 men +to accompany him on shore. After sending another civil message to the +governor, who answered by hanging the messenger, he landed with his +small but resolute band. While marching towards the city, 12,000 foot +and 100 horse came out to meet him. His musqueteers killed at least 300 +of them, and pursued the rest to a bridge which led into the city. The +governor was on the inside with 600 men, and defended the passage of the +bridge till he was slain by a musquet shot, immediately on which his men +fled, and were pursued with great slaughter till they ran out at the +opposite side of the city. The city was plundered, on which occasion he +who even got least was enriched, after which the place was reduced to +ashes. Having thus gloriously redeemed his prisoners, Antonio returned +to his ships with many beautiful female captives, having only lost eight +men, one of whom was a Portuguese. + +Antonio now resumed his intended expedition for the mines, but in the +first place went to pass the winter at _Pulo Hindor_, an inhabited +island fifteen leagues from _Nauday_. When near the islands of +_Commolem_, he was attacked by two large ships in which were 200 +resolute men commanded by a pirate named _Premata Gundel_, a mortal +enemy to the Portuguese, to whom he had done much harm, but thought now +he had only to encounter Chinese merchant ships. One of the pirate ships +came up to board one of those belonging to Antonio, but _Qiay Panjau_ +came up against her in full sail and ran so furiously upon the pirate +ship that both went down instantly, but _Quiay_ and most of his men were +saved. The other pirate ship commanded by _Premata_ in person boarded +Faria, who was in great danger of being taken, but was at length +victorious and slew 90 of the enemy; then boarding in his turn, he put +the whole to the sword. This action cost Antonio 17 men, 5 of whom were +Portuguese, and above 40 were wounded, among whom Antonio himself had +two great cuts and a thrust of a spear. The prize was valued at 120,000 +ducats. After staying 20 days in the island of _Buncalen_ to cure the +wounded men, they steered for the gates of _Liampo_, which are two +islands three leagues from the city of that name which was built by the +Portuguese who there governed in the nature of a commonwealth. + +Anchoring at the gates of _Liampo_, Antonio sent to ask leave to come +into the port, when he received a courteous answer, praying him to wait +six days till the inhabitants had prepared a house for his reception. On +Sunday morning, the time being expired, he hoisted sail and went up the +river accompanied by many boats sent to receive him, in which were 3000 +of the citizens, who saluted him with the sound of musical instruments. +About 200 ships then in the port were ranged in two lines forming a lane +through which de Faria passed, all the cannons in the vessels and on +shore firing a salute. Some Chinese who saw this magnificent reception +asked whether this was a brother or near kinsman to the king of +Portugal, and being answered he was only his smiths son, they concluded +that Portugal must be the greatest kingdom in the world. From his ship, +Antonio was received into a barge shaded by a natural chestnut tree full +of ripe fruit, and was seated on a silver chair raised on six steps +adorned with gold, six beautiful maids richly clad standing on each +side, who played and sang melodiously. When he landed on the quay, he +was placed in a still richer chair on mens shoulders under a canopy, +guarded by 60 halberdiers, and preceded by 16 men on fine horses, and +before these eight with silver maces, all in splendid attire. In this +manner he was conducted to a large scaffold covered with fine tapestry, +where being placed in his chair of state, he received the compliments of +the magistracy and principal inhabitants of the city. From the quay to +the city, which was a considerable distance, there was a closely covered +lane formed of chestnut, pine, and laurel trees, and the ground was +strewed with flowers. And all the way, at regular distances, there were +companies of dancers, and perfumes burning, with astonishing multitudes +of people the whole way. + +At the entrance into the city, a temporary castle was built for the +occasion, having the arms of the Faria family in front, being _Sanguin, +a tower argent; in base, a man torn in pieces_. At this place he was +received by a reverend old man, attended by four mace-bearers, and after +some ceremonies the old man made a long speech in praise of the family, +concluding with a panegyric on his own actions, and bidding him welcome +to the city. The orator then offered him, in the name of the city, five +chests full of silver in bars, worth twenty thousand pieces of eight, +which he refused, saying he would endeavour to deserve in some measure +the honours which wore heaped on him. From thence he walked on foot, +passing through many splendid arches, to the church of our Lady, where +he assisted at mass under a canopy, and heard a sermon full of his own +praises. After this he was conducted by above 1000 Portuguese to a large +open space before the house in which he was to reside, shaded by a +variety of fine trees, the ground strewed with flowers and sweet herbs, +where three long tables were splendidly decorated and richly covered +with a sumptuous entertainment. When Antonio was seated, the whole +multitude departed, except about 80 of the principal citizens who were +to dine along with him, and 50 soldiers who attended, while the +halberdiers stood at a distance to keep off the people. As soon as the +company was seated, the music began to play, and eight beautiful maids +came forwards playing on instruments and dancing, eight others being +placed beside Antonio singing. The dishes were brought in by a number of +fine women, and set upon the tables by men, the abundance and costliness +of the entertainment being wonderful. After dinner the company adjourned +to another place, where there was a bull-feast, with several wild horses +among them, and at the death of each animal there followed dancing music +and other entertainments. + +De Faria continued here five months, entertained in great splendour, +having dogs and horses to go a hunting, as the environs abounded in +game. The time being come for going to the mines of _Quamgiparu_, Quiay +Panjau who was to have accompanied him thither was carried off by +sickness. After this another Chinese named _Similau_ dissuaded Antonio +from attempting the adventure of the mines, as attended with too much +difficulty and danger, and proposed to him to undertake an expedition to +the island of _Calempluy_, in which were the tombs of the ancient kings +of China, which were said to contain great treasures. To this Antonio +gave ear, as covetousness had great sway even upon his generous mind. +Happy had it been for him if he had returned to India, satisfied with +the victories he had already achieved. About the middle of May 1542, he +set sail accompanied by _Similau_ in two galliots with 146 men, 52 of +whom were Portuguese, and among these the priest _Diego Lubato_. Next +day they discovered the islands of _Nangnitur_, and then entered upon +seas till then unknown by the Portuguese. Having crossed a gulf of 40 +leagues, they discovered the high mountain, of _Nangalaci_, and held on +their course northwards. At the end of ten days they anchored in a river +where they saw white people like the Chinese, but differing in language, +and could never prevail to have any intercourse with them. After eight +days sailing they entered the strait of _Silcapaquim_, in which they +spent five days in sight of many populous towns. But this course +appearing dangerous, they steered up the river _Humbepadam_ by the +advice of _Similau_, passing to the east of the mountain _Fangus_, and +came thirteen days afterwards to the bay of _Buxipalem_ in the latitude +of 30 deg., which produces fish, serpents, and crocodiles of wonderous size, +and many sea-horses. Farther on they came to the bay of _Calinclam_, +surrounded with high mountains, whence four great rivers fall into the +sea. They next sailed under the great mountain _Botinasora_, abounding +in lions, rhinoceroses, tigers, ounces, and other wild beasts, and then +past _Gangitanu_, inhabited by the _Gigahui_, a wild gigantic people, +some _ten_ and some _eleven spans_ high, of whom they saw fourteen of +both sexes. They have good complexions, being white and red, but very +ill-favoured features. Antonio gave them some procelain dishes and silk, +for which they seemed thankful, and brought some cows and deer in +return, but their language could not be understood. + +At length they arrived in the bay of _Nanking_, and six days afterwards +to the great city of _Pamor_, whose bay was almost hid under three +thousand vessels. Fearing danger here they stood off and came to +_Tanquilem_, where Similau and 36 Chinese seamen ran away for fear; +because Antonio, weary of the voyage, and finding that Similau could +give no good account of where they were, threatened to kill him. Similau +was not indeed ignorant, but he was so terrified by the ill usage of the +Portuguese that he knew not what he said, and they were afraid that +either he knew not the coast or meant to betray them. It was a great +error to believe him at _Liampo_, and to use him ill at _Nanking_ where +they had most need of him. In fine the Portuguese gave themselves up for +lost, not knowing where they were till some of the natives informed them +that they were only ten leagues from the island of _Calempluy_, on which +they sore repented the ill usage they had given to _Similau_. Doubling +Cape _Guinaytarau_, after a tedious voyage of two months and a half, +they discovered the island of which they were in search in the middle of +the river. This island is quite plain and seemed four miles round. Next +morning Antonio sailed round it in his galliots, and found it surrounded +by a wall of jasper so closely built that it seemed all one stone. The +wall rose 19 feet above the surface of the water, and was terrassed on +the inside. On the top of the wall was a _massy twist_, on which was a +brass rail, having little columns at regular distances, on which were +the statues of women having balls in their hands, all likewise of brass. +At some distance from these were figures of iron, of monstrous shapes, +that seemed to give each other their hands; and further on were several +curious arches of stones of various colours. On the inside there were +afterwards seen a delightful assemblage of small groves of orange trees, +among which were 366 chapels dedicated to the gods of the year. On one +side was a great building, not all of a piece, but divided into seven +parts, all over splendidly ornamented with gold. + +In the evening Antonio entered the island by one of its eight gates, +accompanied by sixty men, four of whom were Portuguese. On entering one +of the chapels, they saw a man who seemed an hundred years of age, who +fell down with fear; but, on recovering, rebuked the soldiers for taking +the bars of silver from the tombs. Having received information of what +was in the other chapels, Antonio went on board with a considerable +quantity of silver taken from the first chapel, meaning to return next +day to plunder them all. About midnight, lights were seen on the top of +the great building, and numbers of bell were heard all over the island. +Antonio went again on shore, though advised to make off as the alarm was +given. He brought away two old men with some candlesticks and a silver +idol, and was informed that the island would soon be relieved, as the +first hermit had given the alarm; on which Antonio found that he had +erred in not bringing away that old man as he was advised. He departed +therefore from the island, much dissatisfied at having missed the +acquisition of so much treasure by his own fault. After sailing a month, +there arose so great a storm on the 5th of August, that his galliot was +swallowed up. The other galliot perished a few days afterwards, and only +fourteen of the crew escaped. Thus perished the brave Antonio de Faria; +a just judgment, doubtless, for the sacrilegious robbery he intended to +have committed. + +No less unfortunate was the end of the city of _Liampo_, where Antonio +had been so nobly received, falling a sacrifice to the base and +insatiable avarice of its inhabitants. Lancelot Pereyra, judge of that +city, having lost a thousand ducats by some Chinese, went out with a +body of troops to rob and plunder others in satisfaction of the debt. +This unadvised and barbarous procedure brought the governor of the +province against the city with 80,000 men, and in four hours burnt it to +the ground, together with 80 ships that were in the port. Twelve +thousand men were slain, among whom were 1000 Portuguese, and three +millions of gold were lost. Thus scarce any thing was left of _Liampo_ +but the name; and thus what the Portuguese gained by their valour was +lost by their covetousness. _Liampo_ had above three thousand catholic +inhabitants, almost the half of whom were Portuguese. Those who survived +this cruel execution, obtained leave in 1547, by great presents, to +settle in the province of _Chincheo_, in a village which began to +flourish in consequence of a rich trade, but it came to the same end +with the other. + + +SECTION III. + +_Transactions during the Government of Martin Alfonso de Sousa, from +1542 to 1543_. + + +In the year 1542, but whether under the government of De Gama or De +Sousa is uncertain, Antonio de Mota, Francisco Zeymoto, and Antonio +Peixoto, while on a voyage to China, were driven by a storm among the +islands of _Nipongi_ or _Nijon_, called _Gipon_ by the Chinese, and +known in Europe by the name of _Japan_. They were well received in one +of these islands, of which they had the honour to be the first +discoverers, though accidentally. These islands of Japan are far to the +eastward of all India, being even beyond China, and lie between the +latitudes of 30 deg. and 40 deg. N[360]. These islands are numerous, the +principal and largest island being that peculiarly called _Niphon_, +_Nifon_, _Nipongi_, or _Japan_, which gives name to the group, and in +which is the city of _Meaco_ the imperial residence. According to the +natives this principal island is 366 leagues in length, but by our +computation only 266[361]. The chief islands around the large one, are +_Cikoko_, _Toksosi_, _Sando_, _Sisime Bacasa_, _Vuoki_, _Taquixima_, or +_Takishima_, and _Firando_[362]. Fernan Mendez Pinto in his travels +assumes the merit of this discovery to himself; pretending that he came +to the island of _Tanixima_, by which I suppose he meant _Taquixima_, +not by stress of weather, but by design, in the service of a pirate who +had relieved him and his companions when cast away, naming Christopher +Borallo and Diego Zeymoto as those who accompanied him. In both +relations _three_ names are mentioned as the discoverers of Japan, one +only, _Zeymoto_, being the same in both, and both agree in the date of +the discovery being in 1542. According to Pinto, the prince of the +island of _Tanixima_ was named _Nautaquim_ who stood amazed on seeing +the three Portuguese strangers, and uttered the following mysterious +words: "These are certainly the _Chinchicogies_, spoken of in our +records; who, flying over the waters, shall come to be lords of the +lands where God has placed the greatest riches of the world. It will be +fortunate for us if they come as friends!" + +[Footnote 360: More rigidly from lat. 31 deg. 28' to 40 deg. 80' N. and between +the longitudes of 127 deg. 47' and 142 deg. 33' E. from Greenwich.--E.] + +[Footnote 361: Meaning probably a different denomination of measure. The +island of Niphon measures 824 English miles in extreme length, from S.W. +to N.E. in a somewhat bent line. Its breadth varies from 55 to 240 +miles, averaging about 100; but it is extremely irregular, owing to many +deep bays and considerable peninsulae. _Jedo_ is now the capital and +residence of the temporal sovereign, _Meaco_ of the once spiritual +sovereign, now reduced to chief priest of the national religion.--E.] + +[Footnote 362: The only islands of magnitude besides Niphon, are +_Kiusiu_, which does not appear to have any representative in the text, +and _Sicocf_, probably the _Cikoko_ of De Faria. The other numerous +islands are of little importance, and several of the names in the text +cannot be referred to any of the islands. _Firando_ and _Taquixima_ +remain unchanged, and the others cannot be traced.--E.] + +The first action of the new governor De Sousa was to diminish the pay of +the soldiers. The saving of charges is a great means of gaining the +favour of princes; _yet ministers never express their zeal by +retrenching their own large allowances_, but by cutting off the small +ones from the poor; and, as was natural, this alteration occasioned much +discontent among the troops. At this time the queen of _Batecala_, a +well-built city on the banks of a river, on the coast of Canara, in a +fertile country, refused to pay her tribute, and entertained pirates in +her port to the great prejudice of trade; on which account De Sousa +went with 2000 men in 60 vessels of different kinds to reduce her to +obedience. On entering the port of Batecala where he demanded payment of +the tribute, and that the pirate ships should be delivered up, the queen +endeavoured to procrastinate till such time as she knew it would be +necessary for the governor to retire with his armament to Cochin. But +being aware of this artifice, the governor landed with 1200 men in two +battalions, and ordered twenty light vessels to go up the river to +attack the city on that side, while he assailed it on the land side. +While marching through a wood, the governor was opposed by a body of +musqueteers; but his troops drove them to the gates of the city, which +they entered along with the fugitives, in spite of every opposition from +the enemy who were encouraged by the queen in person. It was night when +the Portuguese got possession of the city; and in the morning they began +to plunder, not even sparing the Portuguese who were settled there. They +even fell out among themselves, and came to blows, in which all were +hurt and none enriched. The enemy noticed this contention among the +Portuguese from a neighbouring hill to which they had retired, and +endeavoured to take advantage of this circumstance, by discharging +incessant flights of arrows into the town. On receiving orders from De +Sousa to march against the enemy, the discontented troops exclaimed, +"That the rich gentry might march if they would; but that they only came +to make up by plunder for the pay of which they had been unjustly +deprived." Gracia de Sa went out against the enemy with a few lances; +but after several charges, almost the whole of the Portuguese shamefully +took to flight, endeavouring in such haste to reimbark that several were +drowned in the confusion. Indignant at this cowardice, the governor +reproached them as not being the same brave men he had left in India +only two years before. To this they answered, thinking he meant it as a +reflection on his predecessor, "That the men were the same, but the +governor was changed; and that this was the fruit of lessening their +pay, to enable him to give gratuities to those who knew better how to +beg favours than to deserve them." De Sousa retired to the ships for the +night, but landed next day, when he utterly destroyed the city and +surrounding country with fire and sword, and made all the woods be cut +down[363]. Unable any longer to resist, the queen purchased peace by +submitting to a heavier subjection than before. + +[Footnote 363: The cutting down of the woods mentioned in the text, +probably refers to cocoa nut trees, on which the natives of the coast of +India appear to have greatly depended for food.--E.] + +The king of Ormuz had fallen into arrears of life tribute, and was due +500,000 ducats, which he was unable to pay; for the tribute had been +successively raised from 12,000 ducats originally imposed by +Albuquerque, to 100,000, so that from a tributary he became a slave, not +having even a competent maintenance remaining. Finding him unable to +discharge the debt, De Sousa proposed to him to make over the customs of +Ormuz to the Portuguese, which he agreed to, that he might get rid of +the oppression. But the Persians soon afterwards deprived them of this +source of revenue, which they had unjustly appropriated to themselves. + +In the year 1544, De Sousa fitted out a fleet of 45 sail, in which were +embarked 3000 seamen and soldiers. The design of this armament was kept +a profound secret, which was to rob the pagoda of _Tremele_, 12 miles +inland from St Thomas of Meliapour, in the kingdom of Bisnagar, for +which express orders had been given by King John, under pretence that +India was wasted, as if any pretence could justify robbery. The design +was however discovered, or as others say it was disappointed by contrary +winds. Yet the governor was persuaded to plunder other pagodas, where it +was thought there were equal riches. By the way, he sent a message to +the king of Jafnapatam in the island of Ceylon, commanding him either to +become tributary to the crown of Portugal, or to prepare for opposing +the armament. The king agreed to pay 4000 ducats yearly, glad to get off +so easily. A king called _Grande_ near Cape Comorin, being in fear of +the Portuguese, sent a present to the governor. De Sousa proceeded to a +pagoda named _Tebelicate_[364], near _Calecoulam_, although the +Portuguese were at peace with the king of that country, and went into it +with a small number of his confidants, whence they brought out two casks +so heavy that they loaded many men. These casks were reported to contain +water, though some affirmed that it was gold and jewels; but the truth +was never known. It has been alleged by some writers that nothing was +found but a golden vessel worth 4000 crowns, in which the idol used to +be bathed, and which was ordered to be restored by the king of Portugal, +who was much displeased at the conduct of De Sousa on this occasion; as +if it were a greater crime to rob the pagoda of _Tebilicare_ without +orders, than that of _Tremele_ with orders. While the Portuguese were +returning to their ships, the town and pagoda were set on fire, and they +were attacked in a narrow defile by 200 Nayres, who killed 30 of them; +but on getting into the open field, the Nayres were put to flight. No +danger terrifies avarice. The Portuguese went on to another pagoda, from +which a chest was brought out and opened publicly, and some silver money +which it contained was distributed among the troops; but of so small +account, that many believed the liberality was owing to that +circumstance. + +[Footnote 364: Called afterwards _Tebilicare_.] + +De Sousa was obliged to return in all haste to Goa, owing to the +following circumstance, communicated to him by a message from Don Garcia +de Castro. _Aceda Khan_, lord of the lands around Goa, intending to +depose Adel Khan, prevailed on Don Garcia, by means of presents to +deliver up to him _Meale Khan_ the brother of Adel Khan, pretending that +he held the kingdom wrongfully. This gave just cause of complaint to +Adel Khan, and occasioned considerable danger to the Portuguese. The +governor listened to the arguments and offers of both sides; but +inclined more to favour Aceda Khan, who offered to cede the kingdom of +Concan, giving a revenue of about a million, then possessed by Abraham, +a good man and a friend of the Portuguese. As this territory was very +valuable, particularly from its neighbourhood to Goa, the governor +declared in favour of Meale Khan, and prepared to possess himself of the +Concan which was offered by Aceda Khan. This was a notorious act of +injustice; and as De Sousa was naturally of a haughty disposition, none +of his officers dared to remonstrate; but Pedro de Faria, then +four-score years of age, trusting to his quality and the great offices +he had held, repaired late one night to the governors tent, and +prevailed upon him to desist from so unjust an undertaking. Next day the +governor abandoned his design, pretending various reasons of delay, and +returned to Goa, carrying Meale Khan along with him. + +At this time Aceda Khan died, who was the contriver of this discord, and +Adel Khan descended the gaut mountains with a powerful army to reduce +the rebels, recovering possession of the Concan in a few days. But as +Adel Khan was still fearful of Meale Khan, he offered the lands of +_Salsete_ and _Bardez_ to De Sousa, on condition of delivering him up, +which were valued at 50,000 ducats of yearly revenue. De Sousa refused +to give up this man who had confided in him for protection; but offered, +if put in possession of these districts, that he would remove Meale to +some place where he could give no disturbance to Adel Khan. These +conditions were agreed to and performed by Adel Khan, but evaded by De +Sousa, who sent Meale to Cananor and brought him back to Goa. Some +alleged that this was done to overawe Adel Khan, while others said it +was meant as a bait to extort presents; and it was certain that some +were actually sent. + +In this treaty, Adel Khan had agreed that De Sousa was to be put into +possession of the vast treasures which had been left by the rebel Aceda +Khan, said to amount to ten millions of ducats, and which at his death +had fallen into the hands of Khojah Zemaz-oddin, who persuaded De Sousa +that it was only one million, and delivered that sum to him. Adel Khan +afterwards gave notice to De Sousa of the vast fraud which had been used +in the pretended delivery of the treasure; but all his efforts to secure +the defaulter were in vain. + +Sultan Mahmud, sovereign of Cambaya or Guzerat, was desirous of +recovering possession of the castle built by the Portuguese at Diu, and +of freeing himself by that means from the trammels which had been thrown +in the way of the trade of his dominions. In the late treaty between him +and the Portuguese, it had been stipulated, with the consent of the +viceroy Don Garcia, that the government of Cambaya might erect a wall +between the city of Diu and the castle. This wall was accordingly +commenced; but as Emanuel de Sousa, who commanded in the castle of Diu, +considered that the wall now building was of a very different +description from a mere boundary, as intended in the treaty, and +appeared to be destined for hostile purposes, he drove away the workmen, +threw down the wall, and made use of the materials for strengthening the +defences of the castle. Mahmud was highly offended at this procedure, +and at the instigation of his great minister Khojah Zofar, he secretly +used every possible means to stir up enemies to the Portuguese, +endeavouring to form an union of the Indian princes to expel them not +only from Diu but from all India. + +In the course of this year 1544, the great Khan of the Tartars invaded +China and besieged _Peking_ with a prodigious army, amounting to +millions of men. A large detachment from this vast army, among which +were 60,000 horse, was sent against the city of _Quamsi_, which was +plundered, and an immense number of the inhabitants put to the sword. +While on his return with this part of the army, _Nauticor_ the Tartar +general attempted to reduce the fortress of _Nixiancoo_, but was +repulsed with the loss of 3000 men, on which he was disposed to desist +from the enterprise, deeming the place impregnable. Among the prisoners +taken at Quamsi were nine Portuguese, one of whom named George Mendez +made offer to the Tartar general to put him on a plan for gaining the +fortress of _Nixiancoo_, on condition that he and his companions were +restored to liberty. The general agreed to his proposal, and gained the +fort by the advice of Mendez, with the slaughter of 2000 Chinese and +Moguls. In pursuance of his promise, the general obtained the liberty of +the Portuguese from his sovereign, but prevailed on Mendez to continue +in his service by a pension of 6000 ducats. The Tartar emperor was +constrained to raise the siege of Peking and retire to _Tuymican_ his +residence in Tartary, after having closely invested the metropolis of +China for almost seven months, with the loss of 450,000 men, mostly cut +off by pestilence, besides 300,000 that deserted to the Chinese. + +In 1545, Martin Alfonso de Sousa became exceedingly dissatisfied with +his situation as governor-general in India, being threatened on every +side by a combination of the native princes, and having no adequate +means of defence either in men or money. Only a few days before the +arrival of his successor, he declared to Diego Silveyra who was going to +sail for Portugal, that if the king did not immediately send out a +successor, he would open the patents of succession, and resign the +government to whoever he might find nominated for that purpose. He was +soon afterwards relieved by Don Juan de Castro, whose journal of the +expedition into the Red Sea we have laid before our readers in the +preceding chapter, and who arrived at Goa in August or September 1545, +to assume the government of India. + + +SECTION IV. + +_Government of India by Don Juan de Castro, from 1545 to 1548._ + + +Khojah Zofar, who was now chief minister and favourite to the king of +Cambaya, though he continued to keep up a fair correspondence with the +Portuguese, yet, with the perfidy so natural to a Moor, never ceased +persuading his sovereign to endeavour to shake off the yoke by a second +attempt to reduce the castle of Diu. For this purpose he collected a +powerful army, yet endeavoured in the first place to attain his ends by +the most infamous means of secret policy. With this view he gained over +a Portuguese of a base character, named _Ruy Freire_, to poison the +great cistern or reservoir of water, to set the magazine of the castle +on fire, and to admit him by a concerted signal into the place. But this +treacherous design was frustrated by the information of an Ethiopian, a +Turk and a female slave, who revealed the plot to the commander, Don +Juan Mascarenhas, who had succeeded Emanuel de Sousa. As Mascarenhas +became aware of the storm that was gathering against him, he prepared to +meet it as well as possible, and sent notice of his danger to the +governor-general, Don Juan de Castro, and to all the neighbouring +Portuguese commanders. The garrison in the castle of Diu at this time +amounted only to 210 men: Of these Mascarenhas assigned 30 for the +defence of each of the four bastions; his lieutenant had charge of a +tower or bulwark over the gate with 20 men; other 20 were placed in a +small detached work; and he retained 50 men as a body of reserve under +his own immediate command, to act wherever the greatest danger might +call for his presence. + +By this time a considerable number of men were collected by the enemy in +the city of Diu, among whom were 500 Turks sent from Mokha by the king +of Zabid, and Khojah Zofar came on with all his power, resolving to +attack the sea bastion by means of three castles well stored with cannon +and ammunition, which were built upon a ship of vast size; within the +castles were 200 Turks, who were intended to distract the attention of +the defendants by continually pouring in all sorts of artificial +fireworks. This device was however abortive, as Jacome Leite went by +night in two small vessels with twenty men, and though discovered he +succeeded in setting the floating castle on fire, a great part of which +blew up with all the Turks, and the remainder of the ship burnt with so +great a flame that the enemy was seen in whole battalions running to +quench the fire. Seeing the enemy in clusters, Jacome pointed his cannon +among them and killed many: After this exploit, he proceeded to the +mouth of the river, where he took some vessels loaded with provisions +belonging to the enemy, with which he returned to the fort to the great +admiration of the whole garrison, having seven of his men wounded in +this gallant and successful exploit. + +Though frustrated in this design, Khojah Zofar persisted in his +intentions of besieging the castle, for which purpose he began to +rebuild the wall which had been destroyed by De Sousa.[365] This could +not be prevented, though many of the workmen were killed by the cannon +of the fort, and being at last brought to perfection Zofar planted upon +it sixty pieces of large cannon, besides many of a small size. One of +these cannons was of such extraordinary magnitude that it shook the +whole island every time it was discharged, and it was managed with much +expertness by a renegade Frenchman in the service of Zofar. At this time +Don Ferdinand de Castro, son to the governor arrived with a +reinforcement. Mascarenhas having expressed a desire of acquiring some +intelligence from the enemys camp, one Diego de Anaya Coutinno, a +gentleman of note and of great strength, put on a helmet with a sword by +his side and a spear in his hand, and let himself down from the wall +under night. He soon discovered two Moors at some distance from the +fort, one of whom he slew with his spear, and taking up the other in his +arms ran with him to the gate of the fort, calling out for admission, +and threw him in, to the great surprise and admiration of his +companions. Coutinno had borrowed a helmet, which he had engaged his +word to restore or die in its defence. It happened to fall off in the +scuffle, and he did not miss it till demanded, by its owner. He +immediately let himself down again from the wall to look for the helmet, +which he found and restored. + +[Footnote 365: This second siege of Diu appears to have commenced about +the beginning of March 1545.--E.] + +Shortly afterwards an extraordinary movement was observed in the +besieging army, of which Mascarenhas was desirous to know the cause. On +this account six men sallied out at night from the castle, and fell upon +an advanced party of sixty Moors, some of whom they killed; but the rest +awaking, and being joined by others, the Portuguese were forced to +retreat after losing two of their number; but the remaining four +brought in a prisoner along with them, who reported that the king of +Cambaya was arrived from _Champanel_ with 10,000 horse, on purpose to +see the capture of the castle, which he was assured by Zofar must soon +fall. This exploit so incensed the king and Zofar, that they pressed the +siege with the utmost fury, and did much harm to the works of the castle +by incessant discharges from their numerous artillery. But the renegade +Frenchman, who managed their greatest gun, was slain by a chance shot, +and the gunner who succeeded him was so ignorant that he did more harm +to his own party than to the Portuguese. All the neighbourhood +continually resounded with the incessant noise of the cannon, mixed with +the cries and groans of dying men; when a ball from the fort happened to +go through the kings tent, and sprinkled him all over with the blood of +one of his favourites, who was torn to pieces close by him. This so +terrified the king, that he immediately abandoned Diu, leaving the +command of the horse to Juzar Khan a valiant Abyssinian. + +Khojah Zofar continued to press the siege, and there was much slaughter +and destruction on both sides; but this was more evident and prejudicial +in the castle, owing to the small space and the weakness of the +garrison. Mascarenhas on his part exerted every means for defence, +always repairing to wherever there was most danger, as desirous of +gaining equal honour with Silveyra who had so gallantly defended the +same place only a few years before. He was no less fortunate in +courageous women than Silveyra, as those now in the castle encouraged +the men to fight valiantly, and both assisted and relieved them in the +labour of repairing the walls. On one occasion that some Turks had got +within the walls and had taken post in a house, one of these valiant +females ran there with a spear and fought against the enemy, till +Mascarenhas came up with his reserve and put them all to the sword. +Zofar used every effort and device to fill up the ditches and to batter +down the walls of the castle; but equal industry was exerted by the +besieged to repair the breaches and to clear out the ditches, the prime +gentry doing as much duty on those occasions as the private soldiers and +masons; repairing every night such parts of the walls and bastions as +had been ruined in the day. + +Astonished to see all the defences thus restored, and angry at the +obstinate resistance of so small a garrison, Zofar made a furious +assault upon the castle, but had his head carried off by a cannon-ball. +"In this violent death he fulfilled the prediction of his mother at +_Otranto,_ who having in vain endeavoured to prevail upon him to return +into the bosom of the church, used to superscribe her letters to him in +the following manner. _To Khojah Zofar my son, at the gates of hell._" +He was succeeded by his son _Rumi Khan_, who inherited his fortune and +command, and was as eager as his father to reduce the castle of Diu. +Being in great straits, Mascarenhas was under the necessity of applying +to the governor-general at Goa and the commanders of the neighbouring +garrisons for reinforcements, on which occasion a priest was employed, +who run great danger, as the sea was at this season scarcely navigable: +But then Portugal had some _decii_ and _reguli_, while it now has only +the grief of wanting such patriots[366]. + +[Footnote 366: It is hardly necessary to observe that this is the +expression of D. Faria in the _seventeenth_ century, when Portugal +groaned under the yoke of the Austrian sovereigns of Spain.--E.] + +In the mean time Rumi Khan and Juzar Khan gave a general assault, +particularly directing their efforts against the bastions of St John and +St Thomas, where they found a vigorous resistance and lost a prodigious +number of men. Yet numbers at length prevailed, and the enemy gained a +temporary possession of the bastion of St Thomas. The garrison adding +fury to despair, made so desperate an effort to recover the bastion, +that they made a wonderful slaughter of the numerous assailants who had +penetrated their works, throwing headlong from the wall such as had +escaped the sword, insomuch that the bastion and the ditch below were +heaped with dead bodies. Rumi Khan spent the succeeding night in prayers +and processions to propitiate Mahomet, and next morning renewed the +assault with equal fury. But after mounting the two bastions, he was at +length forced to retreat with the loss of near 2000 men, among whom was +Juzar Khan the Abyssinian general, who was succeeded in his command by +his uncle of the same name. In this action the Portuguese lost seven +men. Several other assaults were given with similar success. In one of +these the fire was so close and furious that several of the Portuguese +who were clad in cotton garments had their clothes set on fire, on which +they ran and dipt themselves in water, after which they returned to +their posts. Such as happened to have skin coats escaped this danger; +and as Mascarenhas noticed this circumstance, he caused the gilt +leather hangings of his apartments to be made into coats for his +soldiers. + +As the enemy had raised a mount near the castle which overlooked the +walls, whence they greatly annoyed the enemy, Don Juan and Don Pedro de +Almeyda sallied out with an hundred men and destroyed that work, killing +300 Moors. At another time Martin Botello went out with ten men to +endeavour to make some prisoners, to procure intelligence. This party +fell upon a post of the enemy occupied by eighteen men, all of whom fled +except one _Nubian_, who bravely endeavoured to defend himself against +the whole eleven. Botello closed with him, and finding him hard to +overcome while he touched the ground with his feet, raised him in his +arms as Hercules did Anteus, and carried him to the fort by main +strength. The assaults were frequently renewed, and the besieged were +worn out with fatigue and reduced to the last extremity by famine, being +forced to feed even upon naseous vermin. A crow or a vulture taken while +feeding upon the dead bodies was so great a dainty for the sick that it +sold for five crowns. Even the ammunition was almost spent. In this +extremity, the enemy gave a fresh assault and forced their way into the +bastion of St John, whence they were driven out. Scarcely had they +retired when the bastion blew up with a vast explosion, carrying up 73 +of the garrison into the air, ten of whom came down alive. Among these +was Diego de Sotomayor, who fell into the fort with his spear still in +his hand. One soldier fell in a similar manner among the enemy, and was +immediately slain. _It was no fable that armed men were seen in the air +on this occasion_[367]. Foreseeing the danger, as he believed from the +retirement of the enemy so suddenly that they had secretly caused it to +be undermined, Mascarenhas gave orders for the Portuguese soldiers to +retire from the bastion; but one Reynoso prevented them from doing so, +unaware of what was intended, upbraiding them for cowardice. + +[Footnote 367: This is an evident allusion of De Faria to the ridiculous +reports so often propagated among the Portuguese and Spaniards of those +days, of heavenly champions aiding them in battle against the +infidels.--E.] + +Thirteen thousand of the enemy immediately attacked the breach which was +formed by the explosion, and were at first resisted only by five men, +till Mascarenhas came up with fifteen more. Even the women came forward +to assist in defending the breach: and the priest, who had returned +from carrying advice to the neighbouring Portuguese forts, appeared +carrying a crucifix aloft, and encouraging the men to behave themselves +manfully. After a long and furious contest, the enemy retired on the +approach of night, after losing 300 men, and Mascarenhas employed the +whole night in repairing the breach. The enemy renewed their attacks +every day, but with no better success, trusting to their vast +superiority in numbers, that they would at last wear out and destroy the +garrison. Rumi Khan began again to undermine the works, even piercing +through rocks that were in the way; but Mascarenhas by means of a +countermine disappointed his expectations, as the mine exploded back +upon the enemy and killed many of their own men. + +Don Alvaro de Castro, son to the governor-general, was at this time sent +with supplies and reinforcements, and had to contend against the winds +and waves through almost incredible storms, yet arrived at Bassen +without loss. From thence Antonio Moniz Baretto with eight gentlemen +crossed over to Diu in a boat, being the first reinforcement; who though +few were no small comfort to the besieged by their bravery. Next came +Luis de Melo with nine men; then Don George and Don Duarte de Menezes +with seventeen; after them Antonio de Ataide and Francisco Guillerme +with fifty each; and Ruy Freyre the factor of Chaul with twenty-four. +With these reinforcements Mascarenhas fell upon the enemy who then +possessed some of the works of the castle, and had even established +themselves in the bastion of St James. The enemy had now lost 5000 men +and the besieged 200, but having as many more left, scarcely half of +whom were fit for duty, when Don Alvaro de Castro arrived with 400 men +and a sufficient supply of ammunition, having taken by the way a ship +belonging to Cambaya richly laden. + +The joy of this relief was soon damped by the mutinous disposition of +the soldiers brought by Don Alvaro; who fearful of the mines of the +enemy, clamorously demanded to be led into the field against the enemy; +and when the governor prudently refused compliance, they broke out into +open mutiny in defiance of all discipline, then scarce known or at least +not respected by the Portuguese. Being in danger of perishing in the +castle by his own men, Mascarenhas chose rather to die in the field +among the enemy, and made a sally with almost 500 men in three bodies. +At the first push the advanced post of the enemy was gained, and they +were forced to retire to their main works. Those who had insolently +compelled their commander to this extravagant measure, now stood +heartless at the foot of the trenches, while others who had taken no +part in the mutiny acted courageously. After a severe reproof from +Mascarenhas they took heart and mounted the works, but the whole army of +the enemy attacking them, the Portuguese were forced to retire in +disorder. The enemy followed up the runaways, and 5000 of them under +Mojate Khan endeavoured to gain possession of the bastion of St Thomas, +but were bravely repulsed by Luis de Sousa. In this action sixty men +were slain on the side of the Portuguese, among whom were Don Alvaro de +Castro, who was mortally wounded in the head. About this time likewise +the enemy gained temporary possession of the bastion of St James and +even turned its cannon against the garrison, but were driven out by +Vasco de Cuna and Luis de Almeida, who had just arrived with a +reinforcement. The latter went out soon afterwards with Payo Rodriguez +and Pedro Alfonso in three caravels, and soon returned with two great +ships belonging to Mecca and several other vessels, whose cargoes were +worth 50,000 ducats. + +In the beginning of October 1545, when the siege had lasted eight +months, Don Juan de Castro set out from Goa with a powerful armament for +its relief. As the fleet, consisting of above 90 vessels, was scattered +during the voyage, Don Juan put in at _Baseen_ to wait for its reunion, +and sent in the mean time Don Emanuel de Lima with a squadron to scour +the coast, who took several vessels. At length the Portuguese fleet made +its appearance in the sea of Diu, to the great amazement and dismay of +the enemy, who had recently received a supply of 5000 men from the king +of Cambaya. Having landed his troops, it was resolved by Don Juan de +Castro to march and attack the enemy, chiefly on the suggestion of the +experienced Don Garcia de Sa. The Portuguese army was accordingly +marshalled in the following order. Don Juan Mascarenhas, the valiant +defender of the castle, led the van consisting of 500 men. Two other +bodies of equal force were led by Don Alvaro de Castro[368], and Don +Emanuel de Lima. Don Juan de Castro led the reserve, composed of 1000 +Portuguese and a body of Indian soldiers. Among the men were several +Portuguese women in men's clothes, who went principally to assist those +that might be wounded. The lieutenant-governor was left in charge of the +fort with 300 men. + +[Footnote 368: This gentleman has been said only a little way before, to +have been _mortally_ wounded. He must only have been _severely_ wounded +on that former occasion; or perhaps it might have been Don Ferdinand, +another son of the governor, who was killed.--E.] + +Having prepared for battle by the sacraments of the church, this small +army marched out at break of day of the 11th November 1545, to attack +the numerous forces of the enemy, who were strongly entrenched and +defended by a powerful train of artillery. At this time two Portuguese +gentlemen who had challenged each other, agreed that he who first +mounted the works of the enemy should be deemed conqueror: both +honourably strove to gain the victory, and both died gloriously in the +attempt. After a severe conflict, in which the Portuguese sustained some +loss, they at length mounted the works, and Mascarenhas and Don Alvaro +de Castro, having each gained possession of a tower or bulwark, made +room for the army drawing up in the open field in the rear of the +hostile works. Twice was the ensign carrying the royal standard thrown +down from the enemy's works, and twice remounted. Rumi Khan used every +effort, backed by his numerous army, to drive the Portuguese from his +entrenchments, but unsuccessfully. Being joined by Juzar Khan, who had +been worsted by Mascarenhas, they united their troops and renewed their +fight, and distressed the Portuguese exceedingly, when father Antonio de +Cazal appeared in the ranks carrying a crucifix aloft on the point of a +lance, encouraging the troops to behave courageously. By great and +valiant exertions, after covering the field with dead and wounded Moors, +Rumi Khan was constrained to retreat in disorder; but having rallied his +troops, the Portuguese in their turn were thrown into disorder. Don +Juan, however exerted himself to admiration, and restoring his men to +order renewed the battle. At this time a stone or bullet broke off an +arm from the crucifix, and the priest calling on the soldiers to avenge +the sacrilege, they fell on with such fury, that after incredible +efforts they drove the enemy into the city with vast slaughter. +Mascarenhas, Don Alvaro de Lima, and Don Juan de Castro, successively +forced their way into the city with their respective battalions, by +several avenues, making the streets and houses run with blood. The +women shared the fate of the men, and even children were slain at their +mothers breasts. In plundering the houses, gold, silver, and jewels were +alone attended to by the soldiery, other things though of value being +slighted as cumbrous. + +Rumi Khan and the other officers of the enemy sallied with about 8000 +men, against whom Don Juan de Castro, with the assistance of his son and +Mascarenhas again engaged, and after a bloody battle gained a complete +victory. In this last engagement, Gabriel Teixeyra killed the +standard-bearer of the enemy, and dragged the standard of Cambaya about +the field proclaiming victory. George Nunez brought out the head of Rumi +Khan from among the dead, and presented it to Don Juan. Juzar Khan was +wounded and made prisoner. In this great battle the enemy lost 5000 men, +among whom, besides Rumi Khan, Azede Khan, Lu Khan, and other men of +note were slain. The Portuguese, according to one account, lost 100 men, +while others say only 34. Many thousands were taken, with forty pieces +of cannon of extraordinary size, besides 160 others, and a prodigious +quantity of ammunition. Free plunder was allowed to the troops, by which +many acquired great riches and all were satisfied. Many of the +Portuguese signalized their valour in this action. The governor-general +acted the part of a valiant soldier, as well as that of a prudent +general. Mascarenhas, after sustaining a siege of eight months, +distinguished himself above all others. Of Don Alvaro de Castro, it is +sufficient to say that he acted like his father. The ensign Barbado, +though several times thrown down, as often remounted the works of the +enemy. Father Antonio del Cazal, by presenting to view the _image of +life_ banished the _fear of death_. Many others distinguished their +valour, some of whom survived and others were slain. The enemy confessed +that, one day during the siege, they saw over the church in the castle a +beautiful woman in the air, clothed in white, and so brilliantly +illuminated with rays of light that they could not look upon her; and +that this day there were some men in the field armed with lances who did +them much harm. The king of Cambaya was so enraged with the loss he had +sustained in this siege, that he ordered twenty-eight Portuguese +prisoners to be torn in pieces in his presence. + +Great was the joy at Goa on the news being received of the events at +Diu, which were carried thither by Diego Rodriguez de Azevedo, who +likewise carried a message from Don Juan de Castro requesting the city +to lend him 20,000 pardaos for the use of the army, sending a lock of +his whiskers in pawn for the faithful repayment of the money. The city +respectfully returned the proposed pledge, and sent him more money than +he wanted, and even the ladies of Goa on this occasion sent him their +earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and other jewels to be applied to the +public service. But the governor punctually restored all exactly as +sent, having been amply supplied by the capture of a rich ship of +Cambaya. Having restored the castle to a better condition than before +the siege, Don Juan de Castro sailed for Goa, leaving a garrison of 500 +men in the castle under Don George de Menezes, with six ships to secure +the coast. The city also was now better inhabited than ever, through the +good usage of the governor to the Moors. + +Don Juan de Castro returned from Diu to Goa on the 11th of April 1546, +where he was received with universal demonstrations of joy, and was +conducted into the city in a splendid triumph, prepared on purpose after +the manner of the ancient Romans. The city gates and the houses of the +streets he had to pass through were hung with silk, all the windows were +thronged with women splendidly dressed, and every part of the city +resounded with music and the din of cannon, all the ships in the bay +being richly adorned with numerous flags and streamers. Don Juan entered +the city under a splendid canopy; and at the gates his hat was taken +off, and his brows adorned by a crown of laurel, of which likewise a +branch was put into his hand. Before him went the priest, carrying the +crucifix, as he had done in the late battle, and next to him was the +royal standard. Juzar Khan followed with his eyes fixed on the ground, +perhaps that he might not see the standard of his sovereign trailing in +the dust, while those of the Portuguese floated triumphant in the air. +After him came 600 prisoners in chains. In the front were all the +captured cannon, and great quantities of arms of all sorts in carts +artificially disposed. The governor walked upon leaves of gold and +silver and rich silks, all the ladies as he passed sprinkling him from +their windows with odoriferous waters, and strewing him with flowers. On +hearing an account of this triumph, queen Catharine said "That Don Juan +had overcome like a Christian, but had triumphed like a heathen." + +Scarcely was this triumph ended when the governor found it necessary to +send a force of 120 horse, 800 foot, and 1000 Indians, to expel some +troops sent by Adel Khan to possess the districts of Salsete and Bardes, +because the conditions on which he had ceded these to the Portuguese had +not been fulfilled. Diego de Almeyda, who commanded these troops, easily +executed his commission, as 4000 men belonging to Adel Khan, who were +stationed at _Cowlii_ fled at his approach. Adel Khan however sent them +back again, with 9000 additional men, together with a company of +renegado Portuguese, commanded by Gonzalo Vaz Coutinno, who, to avoid +the punishment due to his crimes, had deserted to the enemy. As Almeyda +found himself too weak to resist this great force, he was forced to +retire; on which the governor marched in person against the enemy with +3000 men in five battalions, and was soon afterwards joined by Francisco +de Melo with about 1500 more. On the approach of this force the enemy +retired to the fort of Ponda followed by the Portuguese army, on which +occasion Don Alvaro de Castro, who led the van, gained possession of a +ford defended by 2000 musqueteers. The main body of the enemy, twelve or +thirteen thousand strong, were drawn up in good order about the fort, +but fled at the first fire, leaving the fort entirely empty. + +The victorious are sure to find friends. _Cidoza_ king of Canara sent to +congratulate Don Juan de Castro upon this victory, and to propose a new +alliance with the Portuguese, which was accordingly concluded upon +advantageous terms, as always happens upon such occasions. This kingdom +of _Charnataca_, corruptly named _Canara_, had no sovereign prince +before the year 1200, when one _Boca_, a shepherd, assumed the +government, styling himself _Rao_ which signifies emperor, a title that +has been continued by all his successors. This king, in memorial of a +victory gained by him over the king of Delhi, built the famous city of +Visajanagur, corruptly called Bisnagar. The crown continued in his line +till usurped by Narsinga, from whom the kingdom took that name, having +been formerly called Bisnagar from that of the city. Afterwards king +Malek sent also to confirm the peace between him and the Portuguese, +more through hatred to Adel Khan who was defeated, than from love to the +victorious Portuguese. + +Hearing in 1546 that the king of Cambaya intended again to besiege Diu +with a larger army than ever, Don Juan de Castro prepared with all +diligence to relieve it, borrowing money from the city of Goa for the +expences of the expedition; and on this occasion the women of Goa sent +him their jewels by the hands of their young daughters, complaining that +he had not used them before, and requesting him to do so now; but he +sent all back accompanied with presents. Having fitted out 160 sail of +various kinds of vessels with a large military force, Don Juan sailed +for _Basseen_ and thence to Surat, where Don Alvaro had arrived before +the fleet, and had taken a work with several cannon from the Moors. +Sailing thence to Baroch, the army of the king of Cambaya was seen +covering the whole plain, to the amount of 150,000 men, with 80 large +cannon in front. Don John was anxious to land with his small army of +3000 men to give battle to the king, but was dissuaded from the rash +attempt by his most experienced officers. He went on therefore to Diu, +where he appointed Luis Falcam to command the castle, as Mascarenhas was +then about to return to Portugal. After this he went along the coast of +the Guzerat dominions, landing in many places, and destroying every +thing with fire and sword. The strong and beautiful cities of _Pate_ and +_Patane_, being abandoned by the inhabitants, were utterly destroyed; +two hundred vessels were destroyed in their ports, and a prodigious +booty was obtained. Dabul also, though in the dominions of Adel Khan, +was treated in a similar manner, in revenge for the ravages committed by +the orders of that sovereign in the districts of Salsete and Bardes, +which were occupied by Calabate Khan at the head of 20,000 men. + +As Calabate Khan seemed disposed to retain possession of these +districts, Don Juan went against him with 1500 horse and 4000 foot; but +the enemy fled in all haste to the gauts, leaving their tents and +baggage behind. The Portuguese army pursued; and being resisted by +Calabate Khan in person, with 2000 horse at a ford or pass, that general +was unhorsed and slain by a Portuguese officer named Almeyda, after +which the enemy were defeated with great slaughter. The cymeter, dagger, +chain, and rings of the slain general were estimated at the value of +80,000 crowns. After this victory, Don Juan ravaged the whole country +below the gauts belonging to Adel Khan, destroying every thing before +him, burning all the towns and woods, and carrying off the cattle and +provisions. From this destructive expedition he returned to Goa, which +he again entered in triumph. + +About this time the king of Acheen in Sumatra, an irreconcilable enemy +to the Portuguese, sent a fleet of sixty vessels against Malacca with +5000 soldiers, among whom were 500 men called _Orobalones_ or _the +golden bracelets_, from wearing that ornament in distinction of their +bravery; but the principal force consisted of a regiment of Turkish +janisaries commanded by a valiant Moor. This man landed in the night +near Malacca, and it is said that the garrison was alarmed and put on +their guard by a flock of geese, as the capitol was in ancient times. +The garrison of Malacca was then very weak, yet the enemy were forced to +reimbark, after burning two Portuguese ships then ready to sail. On +returning from their intended attack on Malacca, the enemy took seven +poor fishermen, whose noses, ears, and feet they cut off and sent them +in that mutilated condition to the commander at Malacca, George de Melo, +with a letter written with their blood, challenging him to come out and +fight them at sea. Melo was by no means disposed to accept this +challenge, having a very inadequate force, and because he had only eight +small vessels which lay aground in a state unfit for service. But the +great St Francis Xavier, who was then in Malacca, prevailed on some +merchants to be at the expence of fitting out these vessels, and upon +Melo to go out against the enemy, promising that two galliots would come +by a certain time to his aid. When the time was near expired, two +galliots actually made their appearance and came into the harbour, +though intended upon a different course. The saint went on board, and +found that they were commanded by Diego Suarez de Melo, commonly called +the _Gallego_, and his son Baltazar, whom he prevailed upon to join in +the attack of the Acheenese. The ten small vessels were accordingly +fitted out and manned by 230 men, and set sail in search of the enemy +under the command of Don Francisco Deza. After ranging about for two +months in search of the Acheen fleet, when at length about to return to +Malacca, Deza found them in the river _Parles_, where he resolutely +attacked them one Sunday morning, and, after an obstinate engagement, +gained a complete victory, in which 4000 of the enemy were slain. +Several of the Acheen ships were sunk, and almost all the rest taken, of +which the Portuguese brought in twenty-five to Malacca, with 300 pieces +of cannon, and about 1000 firelocks, having only lost twenty-five men +according to one account, while some said only four. St Francis was +preaching at Malacca when this battle took place, and suddenly pausing +in the middle of his discourse, he distinctly related all the +particulars of the victory to his auditors, who were in great anxiety +for the fate of their ships, having received no news of them during two +months. His prophecy was verified a few days afterwards by their +triumphant arrival. + +Don Juan de Castro began his operations in January 1548, by the entire +destruction of all that part of the western coast of India which +belonged to Adel Khan. From the river _Charopa_ two leagues from Goa, to +that of _Cifardam_, which divides the dominions of Adel Khan from that +of the Nizam, he spared neither living creature, vegetable, nor dwelling +of any kind. + +When the news of the glorious termination of the siege of Diu was +received at Lisbon, the king sent out a greater fleet than usual to +India, and honoured Don Juan with extraordinary favours for his good +services. Besides a present in money, he continued him in the +government, raising his rank from governor-general to the dignity of +viceroy, and appointed his son Don Alvaro admiral of the Indian seas. +But Don Juan was almost dead when these honours reached him, being sick +of a disease which now-a-days kills no one, for even diseases die! He +was heart-broken by the cowardly behaviour of a Portuguese force that +had been sent to Aden, and the rash conduct of his son at Xael, in both +of which they had suffered severe losses. Finding himself dying, he +publicly asked pardon of many for having written against them to the +king; and being unable to manage the affairs of government, he appointed +a select council to supply his place. Calling the members into his +presence, he said "Though he neither hoped nor wished to live, yet it +behoved him to be at some expence while he remained alive; and having no +money, he entreated they would order him a small supply from the royal +revenues, that he might not die for want." Then laying his hand on a +missal, with his eyes lifted up to heaven, he solemnly swore, "That he +had on no occasion converted the money belonging to the king, or to any +other person, to his own use; and that he had never engaged in trade to +increase his own fortune." He desired that this his solemn declaration +might be recorded. He soon afterwards expired in the arms of St Francis +Xavier, on the 6th of June 1548, in the 48th year of his age. All the +treasure found in his private cabinet was three _ryals_ and a _bloody +scourge_. + +Don Juan was an excellent scholar, being particularly skilled in Latin +and the mathematics. During his government of India he did not allow +himself to be actuated by pride, as others had done before and after +him, and always valued and promoted his officers for their merits. He so +much loved that every one should act becomingly, that seeing one day a +fine suit of clothes on passing a tailors shop, and being told that it +was intended for his son, he cut it in pieces, desiring some one to tell +the young man to provide arms, not fine clothes. + + +SECTION V. + +_Transactions of the Portuguese in India, from 1548 to 1564, under +several Governors,[369]_ + + +Immediately on the death of Don Juan the first patent of succession was +opened, in which Don Juan Mascarenhas was named; but he had gone to +Lisbon to seek the reward of his gallant defence of Diu, which he now +missed. The second named Don George Telo, who was also absent. In the +third, Gracia de Sa was nominated to the succession, an officer of much +experience in the affairs of India. Soon afterwards, he received an +embassy from Adel Khan to solicit peace, which was concluded much to the +advantage of the Portuguese. The Zamorin, Nizam-al-mulk, Kothb-al-mulk +king of Golconda, the Rajah of Canara, and several other princes of +India sent splendid embassies to confirm the peace; and at length, +Sultan Mahmud king of Guzerat or Cambaya, tired of the unfortunate war +in which he had been long engaged with the Portuguese, made pacific +overtures, and a treaty was concluded to the credit and advantage of the +Portuguese. + +[Footnote 369: The transactions of this period are of so little +importance, and related in so desultory a manner, that in the present +section we have only thought it necessary to give an abbreviated +selection.--E.] + +In the course of this year, 1548, a bloody war broke out between the +kings of Siam and Pegu on the following occasion: The king of Siam +happened to possess _a white elephant_, a singular curiosity, much +coveted by all the princes of the east, and the king of Pegu demanded +that it should be given up to him in token of superiority. This was +refused by the king of Siam, and the king of Pegu invaded Siam with a +numerous army, reducing the king of Siam to such straits that he was +willing to make peace on any conditions, except delivering up the white +elephant, even agreeing to give up one of his own daughters, and to send +a woman of noble birth yearly as an acknowledgement of vassalage. But as +the terms were not performed, the king of Pegu again marched into the +kingdom of Siam with a prodigious army of a million and a half of men +and 4000 elephants. Above 2000 workmen preceded the king, and set up +every night for his lodgment a stately wooden palace, richly painted and +adorned with gold. On this march the king of Pegu constructed a +prodigious bridge of boats over the rapid river _Menam_, a full league +in length, for the passage of his army. + +In the course of this march, the army of Pegu was obstructed by a strong +entrenchment defended by 25,000 Siamese troops. Diego Suarez de Melo, +who served in the army of Pegu with 180 Portuguese, went against this +entrenchment with his own small battalion and 30,000 Peguers; and +carried the work with a prodigious slaughter of the Siamese. The army of +Pegu at length besieged the city of _Odia_, in which the king of Siam +resided. Odia is eight leagues in circumference, and was surrounded by a +strong wall on which 4000 cannon were mounted, and was farther defended +by a wide and deep wet ditch, and by a garrison of 60,000 combatants, +among whom were 50 Portuguese commanded by Diego Pereyra. After +continuing the siege for some time, being unable to prevail on the +Portuguese under Pereyra to desert the service of the king of Siam, the +king of Pegu abandoned Odia, and besieged the city of _Camambee_; in +which the treasures of Siam were deposited. That place was strongly +fortified, and defended by 20,000 men with so much valour that the +Peguers were again obliged to desist. At this time Xemindoo rebelled +against the king of Pegu, who sent Diego Suarez against him with 200 +Portuguese. Suarez pursued the rebel to the city of _Cevadi_, but +Xemindoo slipped past him and took possession of the city of Pegu, where +he was favoured by the inhabitants. The queen fled into the castle, +where she was defended by twenty Portuguese, till the king came up with +his army and put the rebels to flight. The army then entered the city, +and put all to the sword, men, women, and children, and every living +thing, sparing those only who took refuge in the house of Suarez, which +the king had ordered to be exempted from this military execution, and in +which above 12,000 saved themselves. The plunder on this occasion was +immense, of which three millions fell to the share of Suarez, who was so +much in favour with the king, that he pardoned a Portuguese at his +intercession who had supplied the rebels with ammunition. + +The king of Pegu was soon afterwards murdered in the beautiful city of +_Zatan_ by the _Ximi_ or governor of that place, who immediately had +himself proclaimed king; but was in his turn taken and beheaded by the +former rebel _Xemindoo_, who usurped the crown. One _Mandaragri_, who +had married a sister of the former king, raised an army and claimed the +crown in right of his wife; and having defeated that first rebel in +battle, he fled to the mountains, where he married the daughter of a +peasant, to whom he revealed his name and rank. She communicated this +intelligence to her father, who delivered him up to the new king by whom +he was beheaded. Being much displeased with the people of Pegu, +Mandaragri built a new city near that place. He soon afterwards raised +an immense army, with which he reduced many of the neighbouring +provinces. But a new rebellion broke out at Pegu in his absence, by +which the queen was forced to take refuge in the castle, where she +chiefly owed her safety to about forty Portuguese, who defended her till +the king came up and vanquished the rebels; after which he rewarded the +brave Portuguese with riches and honour. + +About this time likewise, the inhabitants of _Chincheo_, the _second_ +Portuguese colony in China, being in a flourishing condition, became +forgetful of the sad fate of _Liampo_, formerly mentioned, which had +been destroyed through their insolence and cupidity. Ayres Coello de +Sousa, who was judge of the orphans and _proveditar_ for the dead, +committed many villanies to get hold of 12,000 ducats belonging to an +Armenian merchant who had died there, and of 8000 ducats from some +Chinese merchants, under pretence that this sum was due by them to the +deceased. By these and other insolencies, the Chinese were so provoked +that they destroyed _Chincheo_, as they had formerly done Liampo, only +30 Portuguese escaping out of 500 who lived there. These and some other +Portuguese went over to the island of _Lampezau_; and they afterwards, +in 1557, obtained leave to settle in the island of _Goaxam_, where they +built the city of _Macao_. + +While endeavouring to devise means for the relief of the soldiers, who +were in great want, Gracia de Sa died suddenly in July 1549, at 70 years +of age, being much regretted for his prudence, affability, and +integrity. On the patents of succession being opened, George Cabral was +found first in nomination. This officer was a man of good birth and +known worth, and had gone a short while before to assume the command at +Basseen. He was very unwilling to assume the government, as it deprived +him of the command which he was to have held for four years, and was +afraid that another would soon come from Portugal to supersede him in +the supreme authority; but his lady Donna Lucretia Fiallo, prevailed +upon him to accept the honour to which he seemed so averse, and which +she ardently desired; and he accordingly returned to Goa to assume the +high office. Cabral deserved to have long enjoyed the post of +governor-general, and Portuguese India was indebted to his wife for the +short period of his rule. Soon after his installation, news was brought +that the Turks were fitting out an hundred sail at Suez to transport an +army to India; on which Cabral diligently prepared to meet the storm, by +collecting ships from the different ports. + +At this time the zamorin and the rajah of Pimienta entered into a league +against the rajah of Cochin. The rajah of Pimienta took the field with +10,000 Nayres, and was opposed by the rajah of Cochin with his men, +assisted by 600 Portuguese troops under Francisco de Sylva, who +commanded in the fort at Cochin. Sylva pressed for an accommodation, +which was consented to by the rajah on reasonable terms; but the treaty +was broken off by the rash and violent conduct of Sylva. The armies +engaged in battle, in which the rajah of Pimienta was mortally wounded +and carried off the field, upon which his troops fled and were pursued +into their city with great slaughter, and the royal palace set on fire. +This was considered as a heinous affront by the Nayres of Pimienta, who +rallied and fell with such fury on the victors that they were forced to +a disorderly retreat, in which Sylva and above fifty Portuguese were +slain. About 5000 of the Pimienta Nayres, who had taken an oath to +revenge the death of their rajah or to die in the attempt, made an +irruption into the territory of Cochin where they did much damage; and +while engaged with the Cochin troops, Henry de Sousa marched against +them with some Portuguese troops, and defeated them with great +slaughter. The joy occasioned by this victory was soon damped by the +approach of the zamorin at the head of 140,000 men. The zamorin +encamped with 100,000 of these at _Chembe_, while the tributary or +allied Malabar princes with the other 40,000 took post in the island of +_Bardela_. + +Upon the first advice of this invasion, Cabral collected the armament +which had been destined against the Turks, consisting of above 100 sail +of different kinds, with 4000 soldiers. He sent on Emanuel de Sousa with +four ships, ordering him with these and the force already at Cochin to +use every effort to confine the Malabar princes to the island of +Bardela, till he should be able to get there with the main army, which +orders he effectually executed. Having destroyed _Tiracole, Coulete_, +and _Paniane_, Cabral landed at Cochin, where his army was increased to +6000 men, and where the Rajah, was ready with 40,000 of his subjects. +Being ready to attack the island, the Malabar princes hung out a white +flag for a parley, and even agreed to put themselves into the hands of +the governor on promise of their lives; but they delayed, and Cabral +resolved to attack them next day. When next day came, he was again +hindered by a violent flood. And the next day after, when on the point +of performing one of the most brilliant actions that had ever been done +in India, he was stopt by the sudden arrival at Cochin of Don Alfonso de +Noronha as viceroy of India; who would neither allow him to proceed, nor +would he execute what was so well begun, but allowed the Malabar princes +to escape with their whole army[370]. + +[Footnote 370: We only learn incidentally from De Faria that this +happened in the year 1550.--E.] + +While Cabral remained at Cochin, waiting for an opportunity to embark +for Portugal in the homeward bound ships, there was a report one night +about the middle of February 1550, that 8000 sworn Nayres were on their +march to assault the city. He hastened to the gates with Emanuel de +Sousa, intending to march against the enemy at day-break; but being +hindered by the council of Cochin, he remained with a competent force to +defend the city, and sent Emanuel with the native troops and 1500 +Portuguese against the invaders, who were doing every thing that rage +and malice could suggest in a neighbouring town. After a desperate +engagement, the _amoucos_ or devoted Nayres were defeated with great +slaughter with the loss of 50 Portuguese. Cabral embarked well-pleased +with this successful exploit against the sworn Nayres, and was well +received in Portugal, as he justly merited, though contrary to the usual +custom of that court. + +This year there was born at Goa, of Canarin parents, a hairy monster +like a monkey, having a round head and only one eye in the forehead, +over which it had horns, and its ears were like those of a kid. When +received by the midwife, it cried with a loud voice, and stood up on its +feet. The father put it into a hencoop, whence it got out and flew upon +its mother; on which the father killed it by pouring scalding water on +its head, and could scarcely cut off the head it was so hard. He burnt +it. But when the story came to be known, he was punished for the murder, +and the body was exposed to public view[371]. + +[Footnote 371: This silly story has been retained, perhaps very +unnecessarily. It is perhaps an instance of embellishment founded on the +love of the marvellous, and the whole truth may lie in a very narrow +compass "_an infant coming into the world covered with hair_," while all +the rest is fiction.--E.] + +Don Alfonso de Noronha was promoted to the viceroyalty of India from +being governor of Ceuta, but was subjected to the control of a council, +by whose advice he was ordered to conduct the government of India. He +had orders from court to send back to Portugal all the _new Christians +or converted Jews_, many of whom had gone out to India with their +families. It had been better to have banished them from both countries. +The new viceroy was received at Goa with universal joy, more owing +perhaps to the general dislike towards him who lays down authority than +from love for him who takes it up. The Arabs of _Catifa_ in the Persian +Gulf had admitted the Turks to take possession of the fort in that city, +to the great displeasure of the King of Ormuz, on whom it had been +dependent, and who therefore applied for aid to the viceroy to reduce +the refractory or revolted vassals. The king of Basrah had also been +expelled from his kingdom by the Turks, yet kept the field with an army +of 30,000 men, and sent for assistance from the viceroy, to whom he +offered leave to erect a fort at his capital, and to grant many valuable +privileges to the Portuguese. The viceroy accordingly sent his nephew, +Antonio de Norenha, to the assistance of these two kings with 1200 men +in nineteen vessels. Antonio was joined at Ormuz by 3000 native troops, +in conjunction with whom he besieged Catifa, which was defended by 400 +Turks. After a brave but unavailing resistance, the garrison fled by +night, but were pursued and routed. As the general of the troops of +Ormuz was unwilling to engage for the future defence of this fort, it +was undermined for the purpose of destroying it; but being unskilfully +managed, the mine exploded unexpectedly, and forty of the Portuguese +were buried under its ruins. Noronha then sailed to the mouth of the +Euphrates, on purpose to assist the king of Basrah; but he was induced +to believe, by a cunning Turkish pacha, that the king of Basrah meant to +betray him, on which he ingloriously returned to Ormuz, where he learnt +the deceit when too late. + +The sultan of the Turks was so much displeased with the Portuguese for +what they had done at Catifa and attempted at Basrah, that he sent an +expedition against Ormuz of 16,000 men, commanded by an old pirate named +_Pirbec_. The Turk in the first place besieged Muscat for near a month, +and at length obliged the garrison to capitulate; but broke the articles +and chained the captain and sixty men to the oars. He afterwards +proceeded against Ormuz, where Don Alvaro de Noronha commanded with +nine-hundred men in the fort, where he had provided ammunition and +provisions for a long siege, and into which the king with his wife and +children and some of the chief people of the court had gone for shelter. +The Turk landed his men and raised batteries against the fort, which he +cannonaded incessantly for a whole month; but finding that he lost many +of his men and had no prospect of success, he plundered the city, and +went over to the island of Kishom, to which many of the principal people +of Ormuz had withdrawn, where he got a considerable booty and then +retired to Basrah. The viceroy had been informed of the danger to which +Ormuz was exposed, and fitted out a fleet in which he embarked in person +for its relief; but hearing at Diu, on his way to the Persian Gulf, that +Ormuz was out of danger, he sailed back to Goa. On his return +unsuccessful from Ormuz, _Pirbec_ was beheaded for having acted beyond +his instructions, and _Morad-beg_ was sent in 1553 with fifteen gallies +to cruise in the Persian Gulf against the Portuguese. An encounter took +place between this Turkish squadron and one belonging to the Portuguese +under Don Diego de Noronha, which ended without material loss on either +side; but the Turks were forced to take shelter in the Euphrates, where +the water was too shallow to admit the Portuguese galleons. In the +course of this year 1553, _Luis Camoens_, the admirable Portuguese poet, +went out to India, to endeavour to advance his fortune by the sword, +which had been so little favoured by his pen. + +About this time new troubles took place at Diu in consequence of the +death of Sultan Mahmud, king of Guzerat or Cambaya. Like Mithridates, he +had accustomed himself to the use of poison, to guard against being +poisoned. When any of his women happened to be near their delivery, he +used to open them to take out their children. Being one day out hunting +accompanied by some of his women, he fell from his horse and was dragged +by the stirrup, when one of his women boldly made up to his horse and +cut the girth with a cymeter; in requital for this service he killed +her, saying "that a woman of such courage had enough to kill him." He +was at length murdered by a page in whom he had great confidence. For +tyrants always die by the hands of those in whom they repose most trust. +He was succeeded by a child who was his reputed son; but the nobility of +the kingdom, offended by the insolence of Madrem-al-mulk who acted as +governor of the kingdom, rebelled in several places. Abex Khan, who +commanded in the city of Diu, was one of these, and in consequence of +some disagreement between his soldiers and the Portuguese garrison, Don +Diego de Almeyda made an assault on the city with 500 men, in which many +of the Moors were slain and their houses plundered. Though late, Abex +Khan saw his error, and made proper concessions. Soon afterwards, when +Don Diego de Noronha succeeded Almeyda in the command of the castle of +Diu, fresh troubles broke out at Diu, which were not appeased, till a +good many men had been skin on both sides, chiefly owing to the rashness +and obstinacy of Diego de Noronha, for which he was afterwards excluded +from the appointment to the viceroyalty of India. + +In 1554 Don Alfonso de Noronha was superseded in the government of +Portuguese India by Don Pedro de Mascarenhas, who was 70 years of age +when appointed viceroy. Soon after his arrival at Goa, some of the great +subjects of Adel Khan, king of Visiapour, made proposals for raising +Meale Khan, who had long resided at Goa, to the musnud, and offered to +cede the Concan to the crown of Portugal, in reward for assistance in +bringing about that revolution. That province, which produced a million +of yearly revenue, was so great a bait, that the enterprise was engaged +in without consideration of its difficulties. Meale Khan was immediately +proclaimed king of Visiapour, and a force of 3000 Portuguese infantry +with 200 horse and a body of Malabars and Canarins was immediately sent +to reduce the fort of _Ponda_; after which, leaving his family in Goa as +hostages for the faithful performance of the treaty, Meale Khan was +conducted thither by the viceroy and placed at the head of his new +subjects. Leaving Ponda under the charge of Don Antonio de Noronha, with +a garrison of 600 men, the viceroy returned to Goa, where he soon +afterwards died, having enjoyed the viceroyalty of India only ten +months. + +On the death of Mascarenhas, which happened some time in 1555, Francisco +de Barreto succeeded to the government by virtue of a patent of +succession. He immediately proceeded to Ponda to support the cause of +Meale Khan, who was soon afterwards taken prisoner, and the Portuguese +were utterly disappointed in the hopes of profiting by this intended +revolution. + +In the beginning of 1556, Juan Peixoto sailed with two gallies for the +Red Sea, to examine if the Turks were making any preparations at Suez +for attacking the Portuguese in India. Finding every thing quiet, he +landed unperceived during the night in the island of Swakem, whence he +carried off a considerable booty and many prisoners, and returned to Goa +with much honour. + +About this time the king of _Sinde_ sent an embassy to the governor +general, desiring assistance in a war against one of his neighbours, and +700 men were dispatched for that purpose in 28 vessels under the command +of Pedro Barreto, who arrived safe at Tatta in the _delta_ of the Indus, +the residence of the king of Sinde. The prince immediately visited the +Portuguese commander, and sent notice of his arrival to the king his +father who was absent in the field against the enemy. As the king made +peace with his enemy, Barreto desired leave to depart, and required that +the Portuguese should be reimbursed for the expences of the expedition, +as had been agreed upon, by the ambassador who solicited it. Receiving +an unsatisfactory answer, Baretto landed his men and entered the city, +where he slew above 8000 persons, destroyed to the value of above eight +millions in gold[372], and loaded his vessels with the richest booty +that had ever been made in India, without losing a single man. He +afterwards spent eight days destroying every thing within reach on both +sides of the river. On this occasion one Gaspar de Monterroyo, going +accidentally into a wood, killed a monstrous serpent thirty feet in +length and of prodigious bigness, which had just devoured a bullock. +Thus victorious over men and monsters, Barreto returned to Chaul, whence +he and Antonio Pereyra Brandam went and destroyed Dabul in revenge for +the injury done by Adel Khan to the Portuguese possessions on the coast. + +[Footnote 372: On many occasions, as here, De Faria, or his translator, +gives no intimation of the species of coin to which he alludes.--E.] + +In the year 1557, Nazer-al-mulk, the general of Adel Khan, invaded the +districts of Salsete and Bardes with 2000 horse and 81,000 foot. +Francisco Barreto, the governor-general, went against him with 3000 +Portuguese infantry, 1000 Canarins, and 200 horse, and defeated him in +the plain country near Ponda. In the district of Bardes, Juan Peixoto +was opposed to another general of the enemy named Murad Khan, and being +much incommoded by a Portuguese renegado who had fortified himself, +assaulted and routed him twice with considerable slaughter. As the +governor-general had retired to Goa after his late victory, +Nazer-al-mulk returned to the flat country and intrenched his army near +Ponda. About the same time an officer of Adel Khan waded the ford of +_Zacorla_ into the island of _Choram_ with 500 men, and did considerable +damage; but on the arrival of assistance from other parts was repulsed +with considerable loss, and Francisco de Mascarenhas was left for the +defence of the island with 300 men. Being desirous to secure the +promontory of Chaul, the governor asked leave to fortify that place from +Nizam Shah[373], who not only refused permission, but sent 30,000 of his +own men with orders to build there an impregnable fort. On this the +governor went there in person with 4000 Portuguese troops besides +natives, and a pacific arrangement was entered into, but without liberty +to build the fort. A miracle was seen at this place, as the Moors had +been utterly unable to cut down a small wooden cross fixed upon a stone, +or even to remove it by the force of elephants. Likewise about this time +a Portuguese soldier bought for a trifle from a _jogue_ in Ceylon, a +brown pebble about the size of an egg, on which the heavens where +represented in several colours, and in the midst of them the image of +the holy Virgin with the Saviour in her arms; this precious jewel fell +into the hands of Franciso Barreto, who presented it to Queen Catharine, +and through its virtues God wrought many miracles both in India and +Portugal. + +[Footnote 373: Named Nizamuxa in De Faria, and perhaps the same prince +called Nizamaluco on former occasions, whom we have always designated +Nizam al Mulk. The Indian officers named in the text a little before +Nazer al Mulk and Murad Khan, are called Nazar Maluco and Moatecan by De +Faria, whose orthography of eastern names is continually vicious.--E.] + +About the end of the government of Franciso Barreto, Joam III, king of +Portugal died, in whom ended the good fortune of the Portuguese. In 1558 +the regency, during the minority of King Sebastian, sent out Don +Constantin de Braganza as viceroy to India. Don Constantin was younger +brother of Theodosius duke of Braganza, and was only 30 years of age +when appointed to that high office. He arrived at Goa in the beginning +of September 1558, with four ships and 2000 men, having performed the +voyage with unusually favourable weather; and, contrary to the usual +practice, he assumed the government without affronting in any way the +person whom he superseded. Soon after his arrival he went upon an +expedition against Daman, which had been ceded to the former governor by +the king of Guzerat, but which was still retained by Side Bofata, who +was in rebellion against his own prince. On the arrival of the +Portuguese armament, Bofata abandoned the city and fort, which the +viceroy took possession of, as a post of importance to secure the +district of Basseen, and converted the mosque into a Christian church. +Bofata encamped at a place named _Parnel_, two leagues from Daman, +whence with 2000 horse he infested the Portuguese in their new +possession; but was driven from his encampment by Antonio Moniz Barreto, +leaving thirty-six pieces of cannon, several cart-loads of copper money, +and other plunder. The viceroy behaved with such liberality and +discretion, that he soon attracted abundance of inhabitants to this new +acquisition, and reduced the neighbouring island of _Balzar_, which he +deemed necessary for the security of Daman, of which he gave the command +to Don Diego de Noronha with a garrison of 1200, appointing Alvaro +Gonzales Pinto to command in Balzar with 120 men and some cannon. + +In 1560, the viceroy went against Jafnapatam in the island of Ceylon, +because the king of that place, who was likewise lord of the isle of +Manar, persecuted the Christians, and had usurped the throne from his +brother, who fled to Goa, and was there baptised by the name of Alfonso. +After some considerable successes, and having even forced the king of +Jafnapatam to cede the island of Manar, and to submit to the vassalage +of Portugal, the viceroy was obliged to desist from the enterprise with +considerable loss, but retained the island of Manar, where he built a +fort. Among the treasure belonging to the king of Jafnapatam, taken in +this expedition, was an idol, or relic rather, which was held in high +estimation by all the idolaters on the coast of India, and, in +particular, by the king of Pegu, who used to send ambassadors yearly +with rich presents, merely to get a _print_ of the precious relic. This +holy relic was nothing more than the tooth of a white monkey; and some +say that the cause of its being so much admired was owing to the rarity +of the colour, like the white elephant of Siam. Others say that the +monkey was held in such veneration for having discovered the wife of an +ancient Indian king who had eloped from her husband. Some again alleged +that it was the tooth of a man who had performed that service. However +this may have been, when the king of Pegu heard that this tooth was in +possession of the viceroy, he made an offer of 300,000 ducats for it, +and it was believed his zeal would extend to a million if the bargain +was well managed. Most of the Portuguese were for taking the money, and +some wished to be employed in carrying the tooth to Pegu, expecting to +derive great profit by shewing so precious a treasure by the way. But in +a meeting of the principal clergy and laity of Goa, held on purpose, it +was determined that the tooth should be destroyed; and it was +accordingly pounded in a mortar in presence of the assembly, and reduced +to ashes. All men applauded this act; but, not long afterwards, _two +teeth_ were set up instead of one. + +Madrem al Mulk, king of Cambaya, desirous of recovering Daman, was ready +to march against that place with a numerous army; but Don Diego de +Noronha, getting intelligence of the design, contrived to persuade +Cedeme Khan, lord of Surat, that the expedition was intended against +him. Cedeme Khan, giving credit to this fiction, went to visit his +brother-in-law, Madrem al Mulk, and persuaded him, with the principal +leaders of his army, to visit him in the city of Surat, where he killed +them all, and falling upon the camp put the Guzerat army to the rout +with great slaughter. Zingis Khan, the son and successor of Madrem al +Mulk, marched with a numerous army to Surat to revenge the death of his +father. Cedeme Khan abandoned the city and retired into the fort, where +he was besieged by Zingis Khan, and reduced to great extremity; but +hearing that his dominions were invaded by a new enemy, Zingis Khan +patched up an agreement with Cedeme Khan, and returned to defend his own +country. Soon afterwards, Don Diego de Noronha, commandant of Daman, +died poor, having expended all his substance in the service of his king +and country. Don Antonio de Noronha, who was afterwards viceroy, used to +say "That a man must be mad who practised that kind of liberality." +Now-a-days all men are very wise in that respect. + +Some time afterwards, Cedeme Khan sent notice to the viceroy, that +Zingis Khan was again marching against Surat, which he was in no +condition to defend, and offered to deliver up the fort at that place to +the Portuguese, on condition of being carried with his family and +treasure to such place as he should appoint. The viceroy accordingly +sent fourteen ships under the command of Don Antonio de Noronha to +Surat, accompanied by Luis de Melo, who was appointed to succeed Diego +de Noronha in the command of Daman. Coming to Surat, they forced their +way up the river through showers of bullets, and landing with only 500 +Portuguese troops, defeated Zingis Khan, who had an army of 20,000 men, +but were unable to drive him from the city of Surat. Cedeme Khan however +refused to deliver up the fort of Surat according to agreement, +alledging that his own men would kill him if he did so. This is very +likely; for, on the retirement of Antonio to Goa, Cedeme Khan was forced +to make his escape from his own people, and, being made prisoner by +Zingis Khan, was put to death. _Caracen_, who succeeded Cedeme Khan, +contrived to patch up an agreement with Zingis Zhan, who left him in +possession of Surat. + +The conduct of Don Constantin de Braganza gave so much satisfaction to +King Sebastian, that he offered to continue him as viceroy of India for +life; but on his refusal, Don Francisco de Cotinho, count of Redondo, +was appointed his successor. This nobleman, who was no less +distinguished for his witty sayings than for his conduct in peace and +war, arrived at Goa in the beginning of September 1561. Nothing worth +relating happened during his government of India, which lasted two years +and five months, except the ordinary occurrences of petty wars on the +Malabar coast, in Ceylon, Malacca, and the Moluccas, not worth relating. +In his time, the famous poet _Camoens_ was in Goa, where he had been +favoured by the two last viceroys. The former governor, Francisco +Barreto, had imprisoned and banished him for getting into debt, and +other youthful extravagancies; and, being given up to the law by the +count towards the end of his government, he was thrown into prison. We +shall afterwards see him deceitfully carried to Sofala, and there sold +as a slave. About the end of February 1564, the viceroy died suddenly, +much lamented by all, being a great lover of justice, and so happy in +his witticisms that all pleasant sayings were fathered upon him. + + +SECTION VI. + +_Continuation of the Portuguese Transactions in India, from_ 1564 _to +the year_ 1571. + + +On the death of the count of Redondo, Juan de Mendoza late governor of +Malacca succeeded to the command in India with, the title of governor. A +short while before his accession, some Malabar pirates had committed +hostilities on the coast of Calicut upon the Portuguese; and when +complaints were carried to the zamorin, he alleged that these had been +done contrary to his authority by rebels, and that the Portuguese were +welcome to punish them at their pleasure. The late viceroy had +accordingly sent Dominic de Mosquita to make reprisals, who took above +twenty sail of Malabar vessels, the crews of which he barbarously put to +death. Immediately after the accession of Mendoza to the government an +ambassador was sent to him from the zamorin, complaining of the conduct +of Mosquita; when the governor, in imitation of the answer given on a +similar occasion by the zamorin, said that it had probably been done by +Portuguese rebels whom he might punish if taken. As Mosquita came to Goa +while the Calicut ambassadors were still there, the governor thought it +expedient to apprehend him in their presence; but as soon as they were +departed, he released Mosquita and rewarded him. His conduct, however, +soon afterwards occasioned a long war with the zamorin. Mendoza only +enjoyed the government for six months, as, in the beginning of September +1564, Don Antonio de Noronha arrived at Goa with the title of viceroy. + +It is the received opinion in India, that the apostle St. Thomas was +slain at _Antmodur_, a mountain about a league and half from Meliapour, +where were two caves into which he used to retire for prayer and +meditation. The nearest of these caves now belongs to the Jesuits, and +the other has been converted into a church dedicated to our Lady of the +Mount. According to the legend, the apostle being one day at prayers in +the former of these caves, opposite to a cleft which let in the light, a +bramin thrust in a spear at the hole and gave the saint a mortal wound, +part of the spear breaking off and remaining in his body. The saint had +just strength enough remaining to go into the other cave, where he died +embracing a stone on which a representation of the cross was engraved. +His disciples removed his body, and buried it in the church which he had +built, where the body was afterwards found by Emanuel de Faria and the +priest Antonio Penteado, who were sent thither on purpose by king +Emanuel. When, in the year 1547, the Portuguese were clearing out the +cave or oratory in which the apostle died, a stone was found which seems +to have been that he clung to at his death. This stone is about a yard +long and three quarters broad, of a grey colour with some red spots. On +its middle there is a carved porch, having letters between two borders, +and within two banisters, on which are two twisted figures resembling +dogs in a sitting posture. From their heads springs a graceful arch of +five borders, between every two of which are knobs resembling heads. In +the hollow of this arch or portal is a pedestal of two steps, from the +upper of which rises a branch on each side, and over these, as if hung +in the air, is a cross, said to resemble that of the military order of +Alcantara; but in the print the ends resemble three crescents with their +convex sides outwards and their points meeting, like those in many old +churches in Europe. Over all is a dove on the wing, as if descending to +touch the cross with its beak. + +When, in the year 1551, this oratory was repaired and beautified, this +stone was solemnly set up and consecrated; and when the priest was +reading the gospel, it began to turn black and shining, then sweated, +and returned to its original colour, and plainly discovered, the red +spots of blood, which were before obscure. The letters on this stone +could not be understood till the year 1561, when a learned bramin said +they consisted of 36 hieroglyphic characters, each containing a +sentence, and explained them to this effect: "In the time of the son of +Sagad the gentile, who reigned 30 years, the _one only_ GOD came upon +earth, and was incarnate in the womb of a virgin. He abolished the law +of the Jews, _whom he punished for the sins of men._[374], after he had +been thirty-three years in the world, and had instructed _twelve_ +servants in the truth which he preached. A king of three crowns +_Cheraldcone, Indalacone, Cuspindiad, and Alexander_; king of +_Ertinabarad_, with _Catharine_ his daughter, and many virgins, with six +families, voluntarily followed the law of _Thomas_, because the law of +truth, and he gave them the sign of the cross to adore. Going up to the +place of _Antenodur_, a bramin thrust him through with a lance, and he +died embracing this cross which was stained with his blood. His +disciples carried him to _Maiale_, where they buried him in his own +church with the lance still in his body. And as we, the above mentioned +kings, saw this, we carved these letters." Hence it may be inferred, +that _Maiale_ was the ancient name of _Meliapour_, now called _St +Thomas_. This stone afterwards sweated sometimes, which, till the year +1561, was a good omen, but has since been a bad one. + +[Footnote 374: Probably Mr Stephens may have mistranslated this passage, +which might be more appropriately read, _who put him to death for the +sins of men_. This clumsy legend of St Thomas may amuse our readers; but +probably derives its principal features from the contrivances of the +Jesuits.--E.] + +There were likewise found three brass plates, about a span long and half +a span broad, shaped like scutcheons, having rings on the top. On one +side was engraven a cross and peacock, the ancient arms of Meliapour, +and on the other side certain characters which were explained by another +learned bramin to the following effect: "_Boca Rajah_ son of _Campula +Rajah_, and grandson of _Atela Rajah_, who confesses one GOD without +beginning, creator of all things, who is greater than the beast +_Chigsan_, and one of five kings who has conquered ninety and nine, who +is strong as one of the eight elephants that support the world, and hath +conquered the kingdoms of Otia, Tulcan, and Canara, cutting his enemies +to pieces with his sword." This is the Inscription on one of these +plates. The others contain grants of lands to St Thomas, directed by the +king to himself, and calling him _Abidarra Modeliar;_ whence it may be +inferred, that these kings reigned at the time when Christ was +crucified. One of these grants begins thus: "After the year 1259, in +the first year called _Icarana Rachan_, and on the 12th day of the new +moon of the good year, I give in alms to the saint _Abidarra Modeliar,"_ +&c. The other begins in this manner: "This is a token of alms-deeds to +purchase Paradise. All kings that perform them shall obtain much more +than they give; and he who disannuls them shall remain 60,000 years with +the worms in hell," &c. + +It has been disputed by what road St Thomas came into India. The heathen +history says, that he and Thaddeus being in Mesopotamia, they parted at +the city of Edessa, whence St Thomas sailed with certain merchants to +the island of Socotora where he converted the people, and then passed +over to Mogodover Patana, a city of Paru, in Malabar, where he built a +church. When at this place, a heathen, who had struck St Thomas in the +king's presence, going to fetch water had his hand bitten off by a +tiger; and running to the palace to tell his misfortune, a dog followed +him with the hand in his mouth, on which the saint set on his hand +again, so that no mark remained. He went afterwards to Calicut, where he +converted king _Perimal_. There is an account that he went to the Moguls +country, where Chesitrigal then reigned, whence going into China, he +returned through Thibet into India, and went to Meliapour, where he +ended his days. + +In the year 800, a rich Armenian Christian, named Thomas Cananeus, +arrived at Mogodover or Patana. Having acquired the favour of the king +by his presents, he received a grant of Cranganor and the city of +Patana, in which there were scarcely any vestiges remaining of the +church there established by St Thomas. On these foundations the Armenian +built a new church, and another at Cranganor, which he dedicated to St +Thomas, and which is still standing on the outside of the Portuguese +fort. He likewise built two other churches, one dedicated to the Holy +Virgin, and the other to St Cyriacus. All of these have been erroneously +ascribed to St Thomas, when in fact they were the works of Thomas +Cananeus, the Armenian. It may reasonably be believed that the temple or +pagoda, into which Vasco de Gama entered, as he went from Calicut to the +palace of the zamorin, may have been one of these churches, because the +image of the Virgin was there called Mary by the heathens. It is +believed that one of the three kings who went to Bethlem, at the +nativity of our Lord, was king of Malabar. The heathens celebrate yearly +a festival in honour of St Thomas, for the preservation of their ships, +because formerly, every year, many of them used to be lost while sailing +to Parvi. + +From this long digression we return to the government of the viceroy Don +Antonio de Noronha, who arrived in the beginning of September 1564, as +formerly mentioned. In consequence of the cruelties exercised on the +Moors of Malabar by Mesquita, as formerly mentioned, those of Cananor +had besieged the Portuguese fort at that place, and had destroyed above +thirty vessels which were under its protection. After a siege of some +endurance, the Portuguese fleet destroyed many of the paraos belonging +to the enemy, while the besieged garrison of Cananor killed great +numbers of their assailants, besides cutting down above 40,000 palm +trees[375] to the infinite injury of the natives, who depend upon these +trees as their principal sustenance. The natives were so exasperated at +this that, collecting forces from all the surrounding districts, to the +amount of 90,000 men, they assaulted and even scaled the walls of the +fort and city; but after fighting from day-break to sunset, during which +time they lost about 5000 men, they were forced to retire to their camp, +resolving to protract the siege, or rather to convert the siege into a +strict blockade. In the farther prosecution of this war, the Portuguese +utterly destroyed the city belonging to Adderajao[376], who commanded +the besieging enemy, and cut down a large wood of palm trees, making +great slaughter of the enemy, without any loss on their own side, so +that the natives were constrained to raise the siege. + +[Footnote 375: Assuredly cocoa-nut trees. This explains a circumstance +repeatedly mentioned on former occasions, of the Portuguese anxiously +cutting down the woods in their war with the natives on the coast of +India.--E.] + +[Footnote 376: From the name of the commander of the enemy, probably +_Adde Rajah_, and other circumstances, they were most likely _Nagres_, +and other native Malabars, though called Moors in the text of De +Faria.--E.] + +About this time the fort of Daman, towards the frontier of Guzerat, was +threatened by a detachment of 3000 Mogul horse. Juan de Sousa stood +immediately on his defence, and sent advice to the viceroy and the +neighbouring commanders of his danger, trusting however to the strength +of his defences, and particularly to a pallisade or _bound hedge_, which +he had made of the plant named _lechera_ or the _milk plant_, which +throws out when cut a milky liquor which is sure to blind any one if it +touches their eyes. On receiving reinforcements, De Sousa marched out +against the Moguls, who were encamped about three leagues from Daman; +but they fled precipitately, leaving their camp and baggage, in which +the Portuguese found a rich booty. + +During the year 1566, the trade of India was reduced to a very low ebb, +owing to a desolating war in the rich and extensive kingdom of Bisnagar, +which then reached from the frontiers of Bengal to that of Sinde. The +kings of the Decan, Nizam al Mulk, Adel Khan, and Cuttub Shah, envious +of the power and grandeur of the king of Bisnagar, entered into a league +to partition his dominions among themselves, and took the field with +50,000 horse and 300,000 foot. To repel this formidable invasion, the +king of Bisnagar, who was then ninety-six years of age, met his enemies +with an army double their numbers. At first the confederates seemed to +have the worst of the war; but fortune favoured them in the end, and the +ancient king of Bisnagar was defeated and slain. The confederates spent +five months in plundering the capital of Bisnagar, although the natives +had previously carried off 1550 elephants loaded with money and jewels +to the value of above an hundred millions of gold, besides the royal +chair of state, which was of inestimable value. Among his share of the +plunder Adel Khan got a diamond as large as an ordinary egg, with +another of extraordinary size though smaller, and other jewels of +prodigious value. The dominions of the old king were partitioned by the +victors among his sons and nephews. + +In the year 1567, the great poet Camoens being extremely poor though he +had served sixteen years in India, was prevailed upon to go to Sofala +along with Pedro Barreto, who was going there with the command, and +promised to do great things for him; but after waiting long and +receiving nothing, Camoens resolved to return to Portugal in a ship +which put in at Sofala, in which was Hector de Silveyra and other +gentlemen. Barreto, however, opposed his departure, having promised him +promotion without any intentions of doing so, but only to procure his +company for his own gratification, and now detained him under pretence +of a debt of two hundred ducats. Silveyra and the other Portuguese +gentlemen paid this money and brought Camoens away, so that it may be +said, that the person of Camoens and the honour of Barreto were both +sold for that money. Camoens arrived at Lisbon in 1569, at which time +the plague raged in that city; so that in flying from one plague our +great and famous poet fell into another. + +In 1568, Don Antonio de Noronha was succeeded as viceroy of India by Don +Luis de Ataide, count of Atougaia, who arrived at Goa in the October of +that year. At this time Itimi Khan held the administration of the +Kingdom of Guzerat, having by great artifice persuaded the chiefs that +his own son was son of the former king; but the kingdom was in great +confusion. One Rustum Khan had usurped Baroch, in which he was besieged +by the Moguls, and being in alliance with the Portuguese, a force was +sent to his assistance, which succeeded in obliging the Moguls to raise +the siege; but Rustum now forgot his promises, and refused to become +tributary. At Surat the government had been usurped by one Agalu Khan, +who was loading two large ships at that port without licence from the +Portuguese viceroy; on which the commander of the Portuguese fort at +Daman seized both ships, which were valued at 100,000 ducats. Nunno +Vello de Pereyra, who had gone from Daman to clear the bay of Cambaya +from pirates that infested the Portuguese trade, burnt two villages and +several vessels, and carried away many prisoners. He then landed with +400 men, and went against a body of Moguls who had taken post on the +mountain of Parnel, about three leagues from Daman, a place almost +impregnable by its situation and the strength of its works. Although +unacquainted with the strength of the place or the number of its +defenders, who exceeded 8000 men, Nunno immediately began to climb up +the steep ascent, whence the enemy rolled down great stones upon the +assailants. The soldiers however clambered up on their hands and knees, +and reached the first entrenchment which they carried after a vigorous +opposition; but were forced to retire from the fort after a desperate +assault, in which the Portuguese lost seven men. In their retreat the +Portuguese carried off a considerable quantity of provisions, with fifty +horses and several camels and oxen, and were pursued on their retreat by +500 of the enemy, 100 of whom were cavalry. From Daman, to which he had +retreated, Nunno marched again against the enemy, having now 100 +Portuguese and 50 native horse, with 650 foot, half Portuguese, and half +native, and three pieces of cannon. In this new, attempt, they had to +climb the mountain by roads never trod before, and against considerable +opposition from the enemy, who had five pieces of cannon. After three +days of severe labour and almost continual fighting, in which he lost +eight men, six of whom were slain and two made prisoners, Nunno at +length gained the summit of the mountain, and planted his cannon against +the fort, which he battered with such fury, that the enemy abandoned it +on the sixth night, and the fort was razed. + +In the year 1580, a dangerous war broke out in India against the +Portuguese, by a confederacy which had been negotiating for five years +with wonderful secrecy. The confederated princes were Adel Khan, Nizam +al Mulk, the Zamorin, and the king of Acheen, and they flattered +themselves in the hope of extirpating the Portuguese from India, making +themselves so sure of success, that they agreed beforehand on the +division of their expected conquests. Adel Khan was to have Goa, Onor, +and Barcalor; Nizam al Mulk to have Chaul, Daman, and Basseen; and +Cananor, Mangalor, Cochin, and Chale were to become the share of the +Zamorin. At the same time, the king of Acheen was to attack Malacca, +that the Portuguese, assailed at once on every important point, might be +incapable of sending succours to the different places. Adel Khan was so +confident of success, that he had assigned the different offices at Goa +among his chiefs, and had even allotted among them certain Portuguese +ladies, who were celebrated for their beauty. + +In pursuance of this league, Adel Khan took the field to besiege Goa, +and Nizam al Mulk marched against Chaul. In this great emergency, it was +recommended by many to abandon Chaul for the greater security of Goa; +but the viceroy undauntedly resolved to defend both. Don Francisco +Mascarenhas was sent with six hundred men in four gallies and five small +vessels for the relief of Chaul, about the beginning of September, and +the viceroy took proper precautions for the defence of Goa. The pass of +Benastarim was committed to the care of Ferdinand de Sousa y +Castellobranco with 120 men. Paul de Lima had charge of Rachol with +sixty, and fifteen hundred native troops were distributed in different +parts of the island under approved commanders. At this time there were +only 700 Portuguese troops in Goa, which were kept as a body of reserve, +whenever their services might be most wanted. The defence of the city +was confided to the monks and clergy, to the number of 300, assisted by +1000 slaves. Juan de Sousa with 50 horse was ready to give assistance +where wanted. Don George de Menezes had the defence of the river with 25 +vessels; and the viceroy, having procured ammunition and provisions from +all quarters, took post about the middle of December on the bank of the +river. + +These measures of defence were hardly completed, when several bodies of +the enemy were seen descending from the _gauts_, and taking up a camp at +Ponda, under the command of Nori Khan, general of the army of Adel Khan. +About the end of December, Nori Khan advanced from Ponda, and encamped, +facing the pass of Benastarim, where he pitched the royal tents of Adel +Khan, who spent eight days in descending the gauts, so vast was the army +which now came against Goa. At night, so many fires were lighted up to +illuminate the passes of the mountain, that, though at a great distance, +the multitudes of the enemy could be distinctly seen from the island. +The army of Adel Khan, on this occasion, amounted to 100,000 fighting +men, of whom 36,000 were horse, with 2140 war-elephants, and 350 pieces +of cannon, most of which were of an extraordinary size; and some barks +were brought upon mules to be launched into the river to assist in +getting into the island. The chief commanders of this vast army were +Nori Khan, Rumer Khan, and Coger Khan; the former of whom commanded in +chief under the king, and the other two had charge of advanced posts on +the side of the river. Their encampment was so extensive and regularly +arranged that it resembled a regularly built city. Adel Khan took up his +quarters at Ponda with 4000 horse, 6000 musqueteers, 300 elephants, and +220 pieces of cannon. Rumer Khan, Coger Khan, and Mortaz Khan were +stationed near the mouth of the _Ganja_ channel, with 3000 horse, 130 +elephants, and nine cannon. Nori Khan commanded opposite the island of +_Juan Lopez_ with 7000 horse, 130 elephants, and eight large cannon. +Camil Khan and Deliren Khan faced the pass of Benastarim with 9000 +horse, 200 elephants, and 32 pieces of battering artillery. Solyman Aga +took post on a hill above Benastarim with 1500 horse and two +field-pieces. Anjoz Khan, opposite the island of _Juan Rangel_, with +2500 horse, 50 elephants, and six cannon. Xatiaryiatan in sight of +_Sapal_, with 1500 horse, six elephants, and six cannon. Daulate Khan, +Xetiatimanaique, Chiti Khan, and Codemena Khan faced the pass of Agazaim +with 9000, 200 elephants, and 26 cannon. The rest of the army, with +innumerable followers, covered the mountains to a vast extent, +sufficient to strike terror into the boldest spirits. + +Having carefully examined the dispositions of the enemy, and naturally +considering the means he possessed for defence, now somewhat increased +by the arrival of reinforcements from different quarters, the viceroy +made a new distribution of his force to various posts, his force in all +amounting to 1600 men; besides several small armed vessels, which were +directed to guard the river, and to relieve the several posts as +occasion offered or required[377]. The enemy spent their first efforts +against the fort at the pass of Benastarim, where they did considerable +damage by the constant fire of their heavy guns; but whatever injury +they did during the day was repaired in the ensuing night. Such was the +extent of their cannonade, that only in one small post, occupied by +Alvaro de Mendoza with ten men, 600 bullets were picked up, some of +which were two spans diameter. The Portuguese were unable to answer with +any thing like a correspondent fire, but, being well directed, their +shot did great execution, and the small armed vessels plied from place +to place with much diligence, doing great injury with their small guns. +One night an officer of the enemy was seen with a great number of +torches passing a height opposite the fort of Benastarim, having a +number of young women dancing before him. On this occasion, Ferdinand de +Sousa caused a cannon to be so exactly pointed among them, that the +officer, with several of his torch-bearers and two couple of the dancers +were seen to fly into the air. As this was the time for dispatching the +homeward-bound trade to Portugal, the governor was anxiously advised to +stop that fleet, as it would deprive him of 400 men, who might be of +great use in defending Goa; but ambitions of acquiring greater glory by +conquering every difficulty, he ordered the ships to sail at their usual +time, alleging that their cargoes were much wanted in Portugal, and that +he trusted he should have a sufficient force remaining to defend the +seat of government. + +[Footnote 377: In the original, there is along enumeration of +twenty-four several posts, with the names of the officers commanding +each, and the numbers in their respective detachments; all here omitted +as uninteresting.--E.] + +The Portuguese had often the boldness to cross over and attack the enemy +in their posts in the main-land, whence they brought away many prisoners +and many heads of those they slew, with various arms and standards. On +one occasion, Don George de Menezes who commanded the armed vessels, and +Don Pedro de Castro who landed with 200 Portuguese, made so great +slaughter that the viceroy sent two carts loaded with heads to the city, +to animate the inhabitants with this barbarous proof of the energy of +the defence. One night Gaspar and Lancelot Diaz penetrated four or five +miles up the country with eighty men, burnt two villages with many +detached houses, and brought away many prisoners, many heads of the +slain enemy, and much cattle. At another time these two brothers, with +one hundred and thirty men, attacked the quarters of Coger Khan and +Rumer Khan, where they made great havock, and destroyed all the +preparations they had made for passing over into the island of Juan +Lopez. The enemy were astonished at the exploits performed by such small +numbers, and still more so when they learnt that the viceroy had sent +off Don Diego de Menezes with his squadron to the Malabar coast, and Don +Ferdinand de Vasconcellos with four gallies and two small vessels, on an +expedition to destroy Dabul. + +Don Ferdinand burnt two large ships belonging to Mecca at that place, +where he likewise landed and destroyed several villages, and would even +have done the same to Dabul if he had not been opposed by his officers. +On his return to Goa he attacked the quarters of Anjoz Khan, which were +three miles from the post of the viceroy. He forced an entrance with +great slaughter of the enemy; but his men falling into confusion for the +sake of plunder, the enemy rallied and fell upon them, so that they were +constrained to seek their safety in flight, with some loss, while Don +Ferdinand was weakened with loss of blood and wearied by the weight of +his armour, so that he was surrounded and slain. On this occasion 40 of +the Portuguese were slain, and the ship of Don Ferdinand was taken by +the enemy; but the viceroy sent Don George de Menezes with 100 men, who +set the ship on fire, and brought away her guns. + +At this time the zamorin made proposals for renewing the peace, either +in hopes of deriving some advantage during the present state of affairs, +or of covering his real designs of hostility; but the viceroy replied, +that he would not yield a single point of difference, and even +persisted in that resolution, although the queen of _Quarcopa_ declared +war at Onor. Even under all the difficulties of his situation, the +viceroy sent succours to Onor to oppose this new enemy, to the great +astonishment of Adel Khan, who thought the force in Goa had been already +too small for defence against his numerous army. At this time likewise, +the viceroy sent reinforcements to the Moluccas and Mozambique, both of +which places were much straitened by the enemy. The grand object of the +enemy was to get across into the island of Goa, for which purpose the +great general Nori Khan began to construct a bridge, in which he +employed a vast number of workmen; but the viceroy fell upon them and +made great havock, destroying all their preparations and materials. It +was reported that Adel Khan designed to go over into the island in +person, and that he was extremely desirous to get possession of a fine +horse belonging to the viceroy, for which he had formerly offered a +large sum of money. On this being made known to the viceroy, he sent the +horse as a present to Adel Khan, with a complimentary message, saying +"that it would give him much satisfaction to see his majesty on the +island." Adel Khan accepted the horse, and caused him to be bedded with +silken quilts, under a canopy of cloth of gold, to be covered with +embroidered damask, and all his caparisons to be ornamented with massy +gold, while his provender was mixed with preserves and other dainties. +But the horse was soon afterwards killed by a cannon-ball. + +After the siege had continued above two months to the beginning of +March, during which time many of the buildings in the island had been +beaten down by the cannon of the enemy, who had lost numbers of their +men, Adel Khan began to despair of success, especially as the Portuguese +were now considerably increased in strength by the arrival of several +squadrons from different places. He wished, therefore, for peace, yet +was loath to propose it himself; but the viceroy was acquainted with his +most secret councils, as he used all possible means to procure +intelligence from the hostile camp, where he had in his pay several +renegado Portuguese who served under Adel khan, and had even corrupted +the favourite wife of Adel Khan. He so converted these secret advices to +advantage, that he contrived to get a treaty of pacification begun +without its appearing who was its author, and at length even Adel Khan +stooped to make proposals. Still, however, the siege was continued unto +the month of April, at which time considerable reinforcements arrived at +Goa, under Don George de Menezes, who brought back 1500 men from the +Moluccas, and Lorenzo de Barbuda from Cochin. At one time, 3000 of the +enemy began to enter the island of Juan Lopez, but were repulsed with +great slaughter by 120 men under two Portuguese commanders. In many +expeditions from the island, the Portuguese attacked the various posts +of the enemy on the main-land, mostly by night, ruining the works they +had thrown up, burning the villages, and destroying great numbers of +their men. Yet though Adel Khan had hardly any hopes of ultimate +success, he caused gardens to be laid out at his quarters, and made such +other demonstrations as if he had resolved to dwell in his present camp +till Goa were reduced. + +Winter being near at hand, Adel Khan determined upon a great effort to +gain possession of the island; for which purpose 9000 men were brought +to the pass of _Mercantor_, which had not been fortified by the +Portuguese as the river was very wide at that place. Fortunately the +Portuguese heard the sound of a great drum in that direction, which is +never beat but when the king marches in person; upon which they ran +thither and saw Adel Khan on the opposite side encouraging his men. +Advice of this was immediately conveyed to the viceroy, who sent several +parties to defend the pass, and marched thither himself, sending orders +for assistance to the various posts and quarters. In spite of every +opposition, five thousand of the enemy got over under the command of +Solyman Aga, a Turk who was captain of the guards of Adel Khan. By the +time the viceroy got to the place, he had collected a force of 2000 men, +with which he immediately attacked the enemy. The battle continued the +whole of the 13th of April from morning to night, and from the morning +of the 14th to that of the following day. During all this time, Adel +Khan surveyed the engagement from the opposite side of the river, often +cursing his prophet and throwing his turban on the ground in his rage; +and at length had the mortification of seeing his troops entirely +defeated, with the loss of Solyman Aga and 4000 men, while the +Portuguese scarcely lost twenty. Though in public he vowed never to stir +from before Goa still it was taken, he privately made overtures for +peace, in which he even ridiculously demanded the surrender of Goa. +About this time, the viceroy secretly entered into a treaty with Nori +Khan, the grand general of Adel Khan, whom he instigated to kill the +king, offering to support him in assuming the crown, or at least in +acquiring a preponderating influence in the government under the +successor. Nori Khan agreed to these proposals; but when the conspiracy +was ripe for execution it was detected, and Nori Khan, with all his +adherents, were secured. + +When the siege had continued to the middle of July, the viceroy +endeavoured to stir up other princes to invade the dominions of Adel +Khan, that he might be constrained to abandon the siege. Both he and the +king were desirous of peace, but both endeavoured to conceal their +wishes; the viceroy giving out that he cared not how long the king +continued the siege, and the king pretending that he would persevere +till he gained the place. At length, towards the end of August 1571, +when the summer or fine weather had begun, and when the enemy might +still better have been able to keep the field, and to recommence active +operations, the number of the hostile tents could be seen plainly to +decrease, then the cannon were drawn off from the posts of the enemy, +and at last the men entirely disappeared; Adel Khan having abandoned the +siege without coming to any accommodation, after a siege of ten months, +in which he lost 12,000 men, 300 elephants, 4000 horses, and 6000 +draught bullocks, partly by the sword and partly by the weather. + +Exactly at the same time when Adel Khan invested Goa, Nizam al Mulk sat +down before Chaul. Being suspicious of each other, the two sovereigns +kept time exactly in their preparations, in the commencement of their +march, and in all their subsequent operations. Farete Khan the general +of Nizam al Mulk sat down before Chaul with 8000 horse, 20 elephants and +20,000 foot, on the last day of November 1570, breaking ground with a +prodigious noise of warlike instruments of music. At this time Chaul was +under the command of Luis Fereiyra de Andrada, an officer well deserving +of such a charge, who long laboured under great want of almost every +necessary for conducting the defence, supplying these defects by his own +genius and the valour of his men, till reinforced by Don Francisco +Mascarenhas, who brought him 500 men in four gallies and provisions. +Desirous of distinguishing himself before the arrival of Nizam his +sovereign, Farete Khan resolved upon giving an assault, in which he +employed his elephants with castles on their backs, and with scythes +tied to their trunks. The fight lasted three hours; but the Moors were +repulsed with great slaughter, both by sea and land, and forced to +retire to the church of Madre de Dios. Nothing remarkable happened after +this till the commencement of the year 1571, when some Moors were +observed gathering fruit in an orchard at a short distance from the +garrison, on which Nuno Vello went out against them with only five +soldiers and killed one of the Moors. Both parties were gradually +increased till the enemy amounted to 6000 men, and the Portuguese to +200; but notwithstanding this disparity of force, the Portuguese drove +that vast multitude to flight and slew 180 of them, only losing two of +their own number. + +In the beginning of January 1571, Nizam al Mulk came before Chaul with +his whole army, now consisting of 34,000 horse, 100,000 infantry, 16,000 +pioneers, 4000 smiths, masons, carpenters, and other trades, and of +sundry different nations, as Turks, Chorassans, Persians, and +Ethiopians, with 360 elephants, an infinite number of buffaloes and +bullocks, and 40 pieces of cannon, mostly of prodigious size, some of +which carried balls of 100, some of 200, and some even of 300 pounds +weight. These cannon had all appropriate names, as the cruel, the +butcher, the devourer, the furious, and the like[378]. Thus an army of +150,000 men sat down to besiege a town that was defended merely by a +single wall, a fort not much larger than a house, and a handful of men. +Farete Khan took up his quarters near the church of Madre de Dios with +7000 horse and 20 elephants; Agalas Khan in, the house of Juan Lopez +with 6000 horse; Ximiri Khan between that and upper Chaul with 2000 +horse; so that the city was beset from sea to sea. The Nizam encamped +with the main body, of the army at the farther end of the town, where +the ground was covered with tents for the space of two leagues; and 5000 +horse were detached to ravage the district of Basseen. + +[Footnote 378: These names are of course to be considered as +translations of the native or Persian names. That named _the furious_ in +the text, is called the _Orlando furioso_ in the translation of De Faria +by Stevens; but it is not easy to guess how the subjects of the Nizam +should have known any thing of that hero of Christian romance.--E.] + +At the commencement of the siege the Portuguese garrison was a mere +handful of men, and the works being very slight no particular posts were +assigned, all acting wherever their services were most wanted. Soon +afterwards, the news of the siege having spread abroad, many officers +and gentlemen flocked thither with reinforcements, so that in a short +time the garrison was augmented to 2000 men. It was then resolved to +maintain particular points besides the general circuit of the walls. The +monastery of St Francis was committed to the charge of Alexander de +Sousa; Nunno Alvarez Pereyra was entrusted to defend some houses near +the shore; those between the Misericordia and the church of St Dominic +were confided to Gonzalo de Menezes; others in that neighbourhood to +Nuno Vello Perreyra; and so in other places. In the mean while it was +generally recommended at Goa that Chaul ought to be abandoned, but the +viceroy thought otherwise, in which opinion he was only seconded by +Ferdinand de Castellobranco, and he immediately sent succours under +Ferdinand Tellez and Duarte de Lima. Before their arrival, Zimiri Khan, +who had promised the Nizam that he would be the first person to enter +Chaul, vigorously assaulted the ports of Henry De Betancour and +Ferdinand de Miranda, who resisted him with great gallantry, and on +receiving reinforcements repulsed him with the slaughter of 300 of his +men, losing seven on their side. + +The enemy erected a battery against the monastery of St Francis where +the Portuguese had some cannon; and as the gunners on both sides used +their utmost endeavour to burst or dismount the opposite guns, the +bullets were sometimes seen to meet by the way. On the eve of St +Sebastian, the Portuguese made a sally upon some houses which were +occupied by the Moors, and slew a great number of them without the loss +of one man. Enraged at this affront and the late repulse, the enemy made +that same night an assault on the fort or monastery of St Francis with +5000 men, expecting to surprise the Portuguese, but were soon undeceived +by losing many of their men. This assault lasted with great fury for +five hours; and as the Portuguese suspected the enemy were undermining +the wall, and could not see by reason of the darkness, one Christopher +Curvo thrust himself several times out from a window, with a torch in +one hand and a buckler in the other to discover if possible what they +were doing. During this assault those in the town sent out assistance +to the garrison in the monastery, though with much hazard. When morning +broke and the assailants had retired, the monastery was all stuck full +of arrows, and the dead bodies of 300 Moors were seen around its walls, +while the defenders had not lost a single man. The enemy renewed the +assault on this post for five successive days, and were every time +repulsed by the Portuguese with vast slaughter, the garrison often +sallying out and strewing the field with slain enemies. It was at length +judged expedient to withdraw the men from this place into the town, lest +its loss might occasion greater injury than its defence could do +service. Seventeen of the Portuguese were here slain. One of these used +to stand on a high place to notice when the enemy fired their cannon, +and on one occasion said to the men below; "If these fellows should now +fire _Raspadillo_, a cannon 18 feet long to which that name was given, +it will send me to sup with Christ, to whom I commend my soul, for it +points directly at me." He had hardly spoken these words when he was +torn in pieces by a ball from that very gun. On getting possession of +the monastery of St Francis, the Moors fired a whole street in the town +of Chaul, but on attempting to take post in some houses, they were +driven out with the loss of 400 men. At this time Gonzalez de Camera +went to Goa for reinforcements, as the garrison was much pressed, and +brought a relief in two galleys. + +About this period the 5000 men that had been detached by the Nizam to +ravage the district of Basseen attempted to get possession of some of +the Portuguese garrisons. Being beaten off at Azarim and Daman, they +invested Caranja, a small work between Chaul and Daman on the +water-side, and almost an island, as it is surrounded by several small +brooks. It was at this time commanded by Stephen Perestrello with a +garrison of only 40 men, but was reinforced on the reappearance of the +enemy by Emanuel de Melo with 30 more. With this small band of only 70 +soldiers, Perestrello sallied out against the enemy, and with such +success, that after covering the little island with dead bodies, the +rest fled leaving their cannon, and a considerable quantity of +ammunition and provisions. + +In the mean time the Moors continued to batter Chaul without +intermission for a whole month with 70 pieces of large cannon, every +day expending against its weak defences at least 160 balls. This +tremendous cannonade did much damage to the houses of the town, in which +many of the brave defenders were slain. On one occasion six persons who +were eating together were destroyed by a single ball. This furious +battery was commenced against the bastion of the holy cross, and was +carried on for a considerable way along the defences of that front of +the town, levelling every thing with the ground. The besieged used every +precaution to shelter themselves by digging trenches; but the hostile +gunners were so expert[379] that they elevated their guns and made their +balls plunge among those who considered themselves in safety. Observing +that one of the enemies batteries beyond the church of St Dominic never +ceased its destructive fire, Perestrello detached 120 men under +Alexander de Sousa and Augustino Nunnez, who drove the enemy after a +vigorous resistance from the battery with great slaughter, and set their +works on fire, and levelled them with the ground, without sustaining any +loss. Among the arms taken in this successful sortie was a cymeter +inscribed, Jesus save me. + +[Footnote 379: To expert modern gunners it would be an easy matter so +discharge as many balls in _one day_, as were expended in this siege in +a whole month. De Faria mentions that an expedient was fallen upon by +which the danger from the plunging fire was avoided, but gives us no +intimation of its nature.--E.] + +Having ruined the defences of the town, the enemy attacked several large +houses in which they endeavoured to establish themselves, but were +repulsed from some of these with considerable loss, while the defenders +lost but one man. On attacking the house of Hector de Sampayio, which +was undermined by the Portuguese with the intention of blowing it up +when occupied by the enemy, some fire accidentally communicated to the +mine during the conflict, and blew it up while still occupied by the +Portuguese, by which 42 of their soldiers were destroyed, and without +injury to the Moors, who planted their colours on the ruins. Ximiri Khan +made an assault by night with 600 men upon the bastion of the holy +cross, in which Ferdinand Pereyra was posted with 30 men, who was +reinforced by Henry de Betancourt with a few more. The assailants were +beaten off and five of their colours taken which they had planted on the +work. In this action Betancourt fought with his left hand, having +previously lost the right; and Dominic del Alama, being lame, caused +himself to be brought out in a chair. April 1571 was now begun, and the +enemy were employed in constructing new works as if determined to +continue the siege all winter. Alexander de Sousa and Gonzalo de Menezes +were appointed to head a sally upon these new works, but their men ran +out without orders to the number of 200, and made a furious assault upon +the enemy, whom they drove from the works after killing fifty of them +and losing a few of their own number. The two commanders hastened to +join their men, and then directed them to destroy the works they had so +gallantly won. Perplexed with so many losses, the Nizam made a general +assault under night with his whole army, attacking all the posts at one +time, every one of which almost they penetrated; but the garrison +exerted themselves with so much vigour that they drove the Moors from +every point of attack, and in the morning above 500 of the enemy were +found slain in and about the ruined defences, while the Portuguese had +only lost four or five men. About this time the defenders received a +reinforcement of above 200 men from Goa, Diu, and Basseen, with a large +supply of ammunition and provisions; but at this time they were much +afflicted by a troublesome though not mortal disease, by which they +became swelled all over so as to lose the use of their limbs. + +Having ineffectually endeavoured to stir up enemies against the +Portuguese in Cambaya on purpose to prevent relief being sent to the +brave defenders of Chaul, the Nizam used every effort to bring his +arduous enterprize to a favourable conclusion. The house of Nuno Alvarez +Pereyra being used as a strong-hold by the Portuguese, was battered +during forty-two days by the enemy, who then assaulted it with 5000 men. +At first the defenders of this post were only forty in number, but +twenty more came to their assistance immediately, and several others +afterwards. The Moors were repulsed with the loss of 50 men, while the +Portuguese only lost one. The house of Nuno Vello was battered for +thirty days and assaulted with the same success, only the Portuguese +lest ten men in its defence. Judging it no longer expedient to defend +this house, it was undermined and evacuated, on which the enemy hastened +to take possession and it was blown up, doing considerable execution +among the enemy, but not so much as was expected. The summer was now +almost spent; above 6000 cannon-balls had been thrown into the town, +some of which were of prodigious size, and the Nizam seemed determined +to continue the siege during the winter. About 200 Portuguese, appalled +by the dangers of the siege, had already, deserted; but instead of them +300 men had come from Goa, so that the garrison was even stronger than +before. On the 11th of April, Gonzalez de Camara made a sortie upon 500 +Moors in an orchard, only fifty of whom escaped. + +Fortune could not be always favourable to the besieged. By a chance ball +from the enemy, one of the galleys which brought relief was sunk +downright with 40 men and goods to the value of 40,000 ducats. But, next +day, Ferdinand Tellez made a sally with 400 men, and gained a victory +equal to that of Gonzalez de Camara, and brought away one piece of +cannon with some ammunition, arms, and other booty. This action was seen +by the Nizam in person, who mounted his horse and threatened to join in +it in person, for which purpose he seized a lance, which he soon changed +for a whip, with which he threatened to chastise his men, and upbraided +them as cowards. The Portuguese were now so inured to danger that +nothing could terrify them, and they seemed to court death instead of +shunning it on all occasions. Some of them being employed to level some +works from which the enemy had been driven near the monastery of St +Francis, and being more handy at the sword than the spade, drew upon +themselves a large party of the enemy of whom they slew above 200, yet +not without some loss on their side. About this time Farete Khan, one of +the Nizams generals, made some overtures towards peace, but without any +apparent authority from his sovereign, who caused him to be arrested on +suspicion of being corrupted by the Portuguese, though assuredly he had +secret orders for what he had done. Indeed it was not wonderful that the +Nizam should be desirous of peace, as he had now lain seven months +before Chaul to no purpose, and had lost many thousand men; neither was +it strange in the Portuguese to have the same wish, as they had lost 400 +men besides Indians. + +When the siege had continued to the beginning of June the attacks and +batteries were carried on by both sides with as much obstinacy and +vigour as if then only begun. The house of Nunno Alvarez was at this +time taken by the enemy through the carelessness of the defenders, and +on an attempt to recover it 20 of the Portuguese lost their lives +without doing much injury to the enemy. The Moors in the next place got +possession of the monastery of St Dominic, but not without a heavy loss; +and then gained the house of Gonzalo de Menezes, in which the Portuguese +suffered severely. The hostile batteries kept up a constant fire from +the end of May to the end of June, as the Nizam had resolved to make a +breach fit for the whole army to try its fortune in a general assault. +On the 28th of June, every thing being in readiness, the Nizams whole +army was drawn out for the assault, all his elephants appearing in the +front with castles on their backs full of armed men. While the whole +army stood in expectation of the signal of assault, an officer of note +belonging to the enemy was slain by a random shot from one of the +Portuguese cannon, which the Nizam considered as an evil omen, and +ordered the attack to be deferred till next day. On this occasion six of +the garrison ventured beyond the works and drew a multitude of the enemy +within reach of the Portuguese fire, which was so well bestowed that 118 +of the enemy were slain and 500 wounded, without any loss on the side of +the defenders. + +About noon on the 29th of June 1571, the Nizam gave the signal of +assault, when the whole of his men and elephants moved forwards with +horrible cries and a prodigious noise of warlike instruments. The +Portuguese were drawn up in their several posts to defend the ruined +works, and Don Francisco Mascarenhas, the commander in chief[380], +placed himself opposite the Nizam with a body of reserve to relieve the +posts wherever he might see necessary. The day was darkened with smoke, +and alternately lighted up with flames. The slaughter and confusion was +great on both sides. Some of the colours of the enemy were planted on +the works, but were soon taken or thrown down along with those who had +set them up. The elephants were made drunk by the nayres who conducted +them that they might be the fiercer; but being burnt and wounded, many +of them ran madly about the field. One that was much valued by the +Nizam, having his housings all in flames, plunged into the sea and swam +over the bar, where he was killed by a cannon ball from one of the +Portuguese vessels. The Moors continued the assault till night, unable +to gain possession of any of the works, and then drew off, after losing +above 3000 men, among whom were many officers of note. On the side of +the Portuguese eight gentleman were slain and a small number of private +soldiers. + +[Footnote 380: At the commencement of this siege, according to De Faria, +Luis Ferreyra de Andrada commanded in Chaul; and Mascarenhas is said to +have brought a reinforcement of 600 men; it would now appear that he had +assumed the command.--E.] + +Next day the Moors asked leave to bury their dead, and a truce was +granted for that purpose. While employed in removing their dead, some of +the Moors asked the Portuguese, _What woman it was that went before them +in the fight, and if she were alive?_ One of the Portuguese answered, +_Certainly she was alive for she was immortal!_ On this the Moors +observed that it must have been the _Lady Marian_, for so they call the +blessed Virgin. Many of them declared that they saw her at the house of +Lorenzo de Brito, and that she was so bright that she blinded them. Some +of them even went to see her image in the churches of Chaul, where they +were converted and remained in the town. The Nizam was now seriously +disposed for peace, and the Portuguese commander equally so, yet neither +wished to make the first overture. At length however advances were made +and a treaty set on foot. Farete Khan and Azaf Khan were commissioners +from the Nizam, while Pedro de Silva and Antonio de Teyva were deputed +by the Portuguese commander in chief, and Francisco Mascarenhas by the +captain of the city. Accordingly a league offensive and defensive was +concluded in the name of the Nizam and the king of Portugal, which was +celebrated by great rejoicings on both sides and the interchange of rich +presents. This however might easily have been accomplished without the +effusion of so much blood. The Nizam now raised his camp and returned to +his own dominions. + +The zamorin of Calicut, who was one of the contracting parties in this +extensive confederacy for driving the Portuguese from India, performed +his part of the agreement very coldly. After Goa and Chaul had been +besieged for near a month, instead of sending his fleet to sea according +to his engagements, he sent to treat with the viceroy for a separate +peace, either on purpose to mislead him, or in expectation of gaining +some advantages for himself in the present emergency. Few princes follow +the dictates of honour, when it interferes with their interest. When +this affair was laid before the council at Goa, it was their unanimous +opinion to agree to peace with the zamorin even on hard terms; but the +viceroy was determined to lose all or nothing, and declared he would +make no peace unless on such terms as he could expect when in the most +flourishing condition. Finding his designs fail, the zamorin sent out a +fleet about the end of February under the command of _Catiproca_, who +made his appearance before Chaul with 21 sail, having on board a large +land force, of which above 1000 were armed with firelocks. Though the +harbour of Chaul was then occupied by a considerable number of +Portuguese galleys and galliots, Catiproca and his fleet entered the +harbour under night without opposition. The Nizam was much pleased with +the arrival of this naval force, and having ordered a great number of +his small vessels named _calemutes_ to join the Malabar fleet, he +prevailed on Catiproca to attack the Portuguese ships, which were +commanded by Lionel de Sousa. They accordingly made the attempt, but +were so warmly received by De Sousa and his gallies as to be beat off +with considerable loss. The Nizam, who had witnessed this naval battle +from an adjoining eminence, used every argument to prevail upon +Catiproca to make another attempt, but to no purpose; for after +remaining twenty days in the harbour, he stole away one night, and got +away as fortunately as he had got in. + +While on his return, Catiproca was applied to by the queen of Mangalore +to assist her in surprizing the Portuguese fort at that place, which she +alleged might be easily taken. Catiproca agreed to this, in hopes of +regaining the reputation he had lost at Chaul. He accordingly landed his +men secretly, and made an attempt under night to scale the walls. While +his men were mounting the ladders some servants of Antonio Pereyra, who +commanded in that fort, were awakened by the noise, and seeing the enemy +on the ladders threw out of a window the first thing that came to hand, +which happened to be a chest of silver; with which they beat down those +who were on the ladder. Pereyra waking with the noise, threw down those +who had mounted, and the rest fled carrying his chest of silver on board +their ships. While passing Cananor, Don Diego de Menezes fell upon the +Malabar squadron, which he totally routed and drove up the river +Tiracole, where every one of the ships were taken or destroyed, the +admiral Catiproca slain, his nephew Cutiale made prisoner, and the chest +of money belonging to Pereyra recovered. + +Even by the fitting out of this unfortunate fleet, the zamorin did not +fulfil the conditions of the confederacy against the Portuguese, as each +of the high contracting parties had engaged to undertake some +considerable enterprize against them in person; but he had been hitherto +deterred by the presence of Diego de Menezes with a squadron in their +seas, who burned several of his maritime towns and took many of his +ships. Towards the end of June 1571, Diego de Menezes having withdrawn +from the coast with his squadron, and when Adel Khan and the Nizam were +both about to desist from their enterprises upon Goa and Chaul, the +zamorin took the field with an army of 100,000 men, most of them armed +with firelocks, with which he invested the fort of _Chale_ about two +leagues from Calicut, which was then under the command of Don George de +Castro. Having planted forty pieces of brass cannon against the fort and +straitly invested it with his numerous army so as to shut out all +apparent hope of relief, a small reinforcement under Noronha was unable +to penetrate; but soon afterwards Francisco Pereyra succeeded by an +effort of astonishing bravery to force his way into Chale with a few +men. + +Advice being sent to the viceroy of the dangerous situation of Chale, +Diego de Menezes was sent with 18 sail to carry supplies and +reinforcements to the besieged. De Menezes got to Chale with great +difficulty about the end of September, at which time the besieged were +reduced to great extremity, having not above 70 men able to bear arms +out of 600 persons then in the fort. The relief of the fort seemed +impracticable, as the mouth of the harbour was very narrow, and was +commanded on all sides by numbers of cannon on surrounding eminences. +Diego resolved however to surmount all difficulties. A large ship was +filled with sufficient provisions to serve the garrison for two months, +and carried likewise fifty soldiers as a reinforcement. One galley +preceded to clear the way and two others followed the large ship to +defend her against the enemy. By this means, but with incredible +difficulty and danger, the relief was thrown in, but it was found +impossible to bring away the useless people from the fort as had been +intended. Thus, by the valour and good fortune of the viceroy, this +formidable confederacy was dissipated, which had threatened to subvert +the Portuguese power in India, and their reputation was restored among +the native princes. + + +SECTION VII. + +_Portuguese Transactions in India from 1571 to 1576._ + + +At this period Sebastian king of Portugal made a great alteration in the +government of the Portuguese possessions in the east, which he deemed +too extensive to be under the management of one person. He divided them +therefore into three separate governments, which were designated +respectively, India, Monotmotapa, and Malacca. The first, or India, +extended from Gape Guardafu, or the north-east extremity of Africa on +the Indian ocean, to the island of Ceylon inclusive. The second, or +Monomotapa, from Cape Corrientes to Cape Guardafu; and the third, or +Malacca, from Pegu to China both inclusive. To the command of the first, +or India, Don Antonio de Noronha was sent with the title of viceroy. +Francisco de Barreto was appointed to Monomotapa, and Antonio Moniz +Barreto to Malacca, both stiled governors. It will be necessary +therefore to treat of these governments separately, though by this we +must necessarily in some measure neglect the consideration of regular +chronology in the distribution of events. We begin therefore with the +viceroyalty of Noronha. + +Don Antonio de Noronha arrived at Goa in the beginning of September +1571, having lost 2000 men by sickness out of 4000 with whom he sailed +from Lisbon. Don Luis de Ataine, who surrendered to him the sword of +command, was a nobleman of great valour and military experience, and so +free from avarice that instead of the vast riches which others brought +from India to Portugal, he carried over four jars of water from the four +famous rivers, the Indus, Ganges, Tigris, and Euphrates, which were long +preserved in his castle of Peniche. After serving both in Europe and +Africa, he went out to India, where at twenty-two years of age he was +knighted on Mount Sinai by Don Stefano de Gama. Returning to Portugal, +he went ambassador to the Emperor Charles V. and was present in the +battle in which that emperor defeated the Lutherans under the Landgrave +and the Duke of Saxony. He behaved so bravely in that battle, that the +emperor offered to knight him; but having already received that honour +on Mount Sinai, he could not again accept the offer, on which the +emperor declared in public that he envied that honour beyond the victory +he had just gained. On his return to Lisbon from administering the +government of India with such high reputation, he was received with much +honour by King Sebastian, yet was afterwards much slighted, as Pacheco +had been formerly by King Emanuel, as will be seen afterwards, when +appointed a second time to the viceroyalty. + +The first attention of the new viceroy was bestowed for the relief of +Chale, to which Diego de Menezes was sent with 1500 men; but he came too +late, as the fort had been already surrendered to the zamorin upon +conditions. This surrender had been made by the commander Don George de +Castro, contrary to the opinion of the majority of his officers, +overcome by the tears and entreaties of his wife and other ladies, +forgetting that he who was now eighty years of age ought to have +preferred an honourable death to a short and infamous addition to his +life. Neither was this his only fault, for the provisions had lasted +longer if he had not committed them to the care of his wife, who +dissipated them among her slaves. Owing to this unforeseen event, Diego +de Menezes could only conduct the people who had surrendered at Chale to +Cochin. He then divided his fleet with Matthew de Albuquerque, and +cleared the seas of pirates. + +When Norhonha accepted the viceroyalty of India, now so much lessened by +the division into three governments, his great aim was to acquire +riches, as he was poor, and had several children. With this view he +endeavoured to prevail on Antonio Moniz Barreto, the newly appointed +governor of Malacca, to be satisfied with a smaller force than had been +ordered for him on going to assume that government, alleging that India +was not then in a condition to give what was promised; but Moniz refused +to go unless supplied with the force agreed on, as the posture of +Malacca was then too dangerous to admit of being governed by a person +who considered his reputation, unless supported by a considerable force. +Moniz therefore wrote home to Portugal, complaining against the viceroy, +and malicious whispers are for the most part gratefully received by +princes and ministers: and the Portuguese ministry, on the sole +information of Moniz, committed the weakest act that ever was heard of, +as will appear in the sequel: _Unhappy is that kingdom whose sovereign +is a child._ + +About this time Akbar Shah,[381] emperor of the Moguls had acquired the +sovereignty of Cambaya or Guzerat. Sultan Mahmud the heir of the late +king had been left under the tuition of three great men, Ali Khan, +Itimiti Khan, and Madrem-al-Mulk, each of whom envious of the others +endeavoured to acquire the entire direction of the young king. He, +considering himself in danger, fled from Madrem-al-Mulk to the +protection of Itimiti Khan, the worst of all his guardians, who +immediately offered to deliver up the king and kingdom to the great +Mogul, on condition of being appointed viceroy or Soubah in reward of +his treachery. Akbar accordingly marched to _Amedabad_, where the +traitor delivered up to him the young king, and the Mogul was seated on +the musnud or throne of Guzerat without drawing a sword. Not satisfied +with this great acquisition, Akbar resolved to recover the town and +districts of Basseen and Daman, which had formerly belonged to Cambaya, +and were now possessed by the Portuguese; and as this intention became +known to Luis de Almeyda who commanded at Daman, he sent notice to the +viceroy, who immediately sent him succours and prepared to follow there +in person, going accordingly from Goa about the end of December 1571, +with nine gallies, five gallions, eight galliots, and ninety smaller +vessels. On his arrival with this large armament in the river of Daman, +the Mogul, who was encamped at the distance of two leagues from that +place, was so much dismayed by the power and military reputation of the +Portuguese, that he sent an ambassador to the viceroy to treat of peace. +The viceroy received the Mogul ambassador in his gallery with great +state, and after listening to his proposals sent Antonio Cabral along +with him to Akbar, on which a peace was concluded to the satisfaction of +both parties. The viceroy then returned to Goa, and the great Mogul +settled the government of his new kingdom of Guzerat, cutting off the +head of the traitor Itimiti Khan, a just reward of his villany. + +[Footnote 381: Named by DeFaria, Gelalde Mamet Hecbar Taxa; probably a +corruption of Gelal 'oddin Mahomet Akbar Shah.--E.] + +The king of Acheen was one of the Indian princes who had entered into +the grand confederacy against the Portuguese, and had agreed to lay +siege to Malacca, but did not execute his part of the league till about +the middle of October 1571, when he appeared before Malacca with a fleet +of near 100 sail, in which he had 7000 soldiers with a large train of +artillery and a vast quantity of ammunition. Landing on the night of +his arrival, he set fire to the town of _Iller_, which was saved from +total destruction by a sudden and violent shower of rain. He next +endeavoured to burn the Portuguese ships in the harbour; but failing in +this and some minor enterprizes he sat down before the city, intending +to take it by a regular siege, having been disappointed in his +expectations of carrying it by a _coup de main_. At this time Malacca +was in a miserable condition, excessively poor, having very few men and +these unhealthy and dispirited, having suffered much by shipwreck, +sickness, and scarcity of provisions, not without deserving, these +calamities; for Malacca was then _the Portuguese Nineveh in India_, I +know not if it be so now. In this deplorable situation, incessantly +battered by the enemy, cut off from all supplies of provisions, Malacca +had no adequate means and, hardly any hopes of defence. In this +extremity Tristan Vaz accidentally entered the port with a single ship, +in which he had been to Sunda for a cargo of pepper. Being earnestly +intreated by the besieged to assist them, he agreed to do every thing in +his power, though it seemed a rash attempt to engage a fleet of 100 sail +with only ten vessels, nine of which were almost rotten and destitute of +rigging. Among these he distributed 300 naked and hungry wretches; and +though confident in his own valour, he trusted only in the mercy of God, +and caused all his men to prepare for battle by confession, of which he +set them the example. + +He sailed from Malacca with this armament about the end of November +1571, and soon discovered the formidable fleet of the enemy in the river +_Fermoso_. Giving the command of his own ship to Emanuel Ferreyra, +Tristam Vaz de Vega went sword in hand into a galliot, to encourage his +men to behave valiantly by exposing himself to the brunt of battle along +with them. On the signal being given by a furious discharge of cannon, +Tristan instantly boarded the admiral ship of the enemy, making great +havock in her crew of 200 men and even carried away her ensign. +Ferdinand Perez with only 13 men in a small vessel took a galley of the +enemy. Ferdinand de Lemos ran down and sunk one of the enemies ships. +Francisco de Lima having taken another set her on fire, that he might be +at liberty to continue the fight. Emanuel Ferreyra sank three vessels, +unrigged several others, and slew great numbers of the enemy. In short, +every one fought admirably, and the whole hostile fleet fled, except +four gallies and seven smaller vessels that were burnt or sunk. Seven +hundred of the enemy were taken or slain, with the loss only of five +men on the side of the victors. The Portuguese ships waited three days +in the river to see if the enemy would return, and then carried the +joyful news to Malacca, where it could hardly be believed[382]. + +[Footnote 382: Though not mentioned by De Faria, the king of Acheen +appears to Jave raised the siege of Malacca after this naval +victory.--E.] + +Sometime in the year 1578, four ships arrived at Goa from Portugal, +under the command of Francisco de Sousa, who immediately on landing went +to the archbishop Don Gaspar, to whom he delivered a packet from the +king. The royal orders contained in this packet were read by a cryer in +the archiepiscopal church, and announced that Don Antonio de Noronha was +deposed from the dignity of viceroy, to whom Antonio Moniz Barreto was +immediately to succeed with the title of governor. By another order, +Gonzalo Pereyra was appointed to the government of Malacca, in default +of whom Don Leonis Pereyra was substituted, and accordingly succeeded as +the other was dead. + +Advice was now brought to Goa that Malacca was again in danger, as the +king of Acheen was before it a second time, assisted by the queen of +_Japara_. On this intelligence, Moniz desired Leonis Pereyra to set out +for his government, and Leonis demanded of him to be supplied with the +same force which Moniz had formerly required from Noronha; yet Moniz, +without considering what he had himself wrote on that subject to the +king, and that India was now free from danger, refused his request. +Leonis, to leave the new governor no excuse for his conduct, would even +have been satisfied with a much smaller force than that formerly +required by Moniz, but even that was refused him, and he went away to +Portugal refusing to assume the government of Malacca. About the end of +this year 1573, orders came from Portugal for the trial and execution of +Don George de Castro for surrendering Chale to the zamorin. He was +accordingly beheaded publicly: Yet in the year following a commission +was sent out from Portugal for employing him in another command. + +Scarcely had India begun to enjoy some respite after the late troubles, +when the queen of Japara sent her general Quiaidaman to besiege Malacca +with 15,000 chosen natives of Java, in a fleet of 80 large galleons and +above 220 smaller vessels. Tristan Vaz de Vega happened to be then at +Malacca, and was chosen by common consent to assume the command, +Francisco Enriquez the former commandant being dead. Tristan Vaz sent +immediate notice to Goa of his danger; on which Moniz issued orders to +all the neighbouring places to send succours, and began to fit out a +fleet for its relief. In the mean time the Javanese army landed and +besieged Malacca. Vaz sent Juan Pereyra and Martin Ferreyra with 150 men +to drive the enemy from a post. After killing 70 of the enemy, they +levelled the work and brought off seven pieces of cannon. Pereyra +afterwards burnt 50 of their galleons, and destroyed some great engines +which they had constructed for attacking a bastion. Two other officers +in a sortie burnt the pallisades which the enemy had erected for +straitening the garrison and defending their own quarters. After this, +Pereyra going out of the river with the Portuguese vessels, besieged the +besiegers, and at _Jor_ took a large quantity of provisions that were +going to the Javanese army. Upon these repeated misfortunes, the +Javanese embarked in great consternation, and withdrew under night; but +were pursued by Pereyra, who cut off many of their vessels in the rear. +Almost half of this great army perished by the sword or sickness in this +siege, which lasted three months. + +Hardly was the army of the queen of Japara gone from Malacca when the +king of Acheen arrived before it with 40 gallies, and several ships and +smaller vessels, to the number of 100 in all, with a great train of +artillery. Tristan Vaz gave orders to Juan Pereyra in a galley, +Bernardin de Silva in a caravel, and Ferdinand de Palares in a ship, +having each 40 men, to go out of the harbour on purpose to protect a +convoy of provisions then in its way to Malacca, of which the city was +in great want. The fleet of the enemy immediately attacked them, and +soon battered all three ships to pieces. Seventy-five of the Portuguese +were slain or drowned on this occasion, forty were made prisoners, and +only five saved themselves by swimming. Only 150 men now remained in. +Malacca, of whom 100 were sick or aged. Being in want both of men and +ammunition Tristan Vaz was under the necessity of remaining very quiet; +but the enemy fearing he was preparing some stratagem against them, +raised the siege in a panic of terror when they might easily have +carried the city, after remaining before it from the beginning to the +end of January 1575. The priests, women and children of the distressed +city had implored the mercy of God with sighs and tears; and next to +God, the city owed its safety to the courage of Tristan Vaz, and to his +generosity likewise, as he spent above 20,000 ducats in its defence. + +At this period Juan de Costa cruised upon the Malabar coast with two +gallies and twenty-four other vessels. The town of Guipar near Bracalore +being in rebellion, he landed there and set the town on fire after +killing 1500 of the inhabitants. He likewise cut down the woods[383] in +revenge for the rebellion of the natives. After this he destroyed an +island belonging to the zamorin in the river of Chale, and ruined the +city of Parapangulem belonging to the same sovereign, where the heir of +the kingdom was slain with 200 of his followers. At _Capocate_ 300 of +the natives were slain with the loss of two only of the Portuguese. The +town of _Nilacharim_ near mount Dely was destroyed by fire. In the +intervals between these exploits on the land, several vessels belonging +to the enemy were taken, by which the fleet was supplied with slaves and +provisions. + +[Footnote 383: Probably the groves of cocoa-nut trees are here alluded +to.--E.] + +At this period, after long petty wars occasioned by the injustice and +tyranny of the Portuguese, they were expelled from the Molucca islands, +and their fort in the island of Ternate was forced to surrender to the +king, who protested in presence of the Portuguese that he took +possession of it in trust for the king of Portugal, and would deliver it +up to any one having authority for that purpose as soon as the murder of +his father was punished[384]. + +[Footnote 384: A great number of trifling incidents in the misgovernment +and tyranny of the Portuguese in the Moluccas, have been omitted at this +and other parts the history of Portuguese Asia in our version.--E.] + +In the year 1576, Antonio Moniz Barreto was succeeded in the government +of India by Don Diego de Menezes; but it may be proper to suspend for a +time our account of the affairs of India, to give some account of the +transactions in Monomotapa under the government of Francisco Barreto and +his successor Vasco Fernandez Homeiri. + + +SECTION VIII. + +_Transactions of the Portuguese in Monomotapa, from 1569 to the end of +that separate government[385]._ + + +On the return of Francisco Barreto from the government of India in 1558, +as formerly mentioned, he was appointed admiral of the gallies, in which +employment he gained great honour in the memorable action of _Pennon_; +and on his return to Lisbon, king Sebastian, who had determined upon +making the division of the Portuguese governments in the east already +mentioned, appointed Barreto to that of Monomotapa[386], with the +additional title of _Conqueror of the Mines_. The great inducement for +this enterprise was from the large quantities of gold said to be found +in that country, and particularly at _Manica_ in the kingdom of +_Mocaranga_. Francisco Barreto sailed from Lisbon in April 1569, with +three ships and 1000 soldiers. He might easily have had more men if the +vessels could have contained them, as the reports of gold banished all +idea of danger, and volunteers eagerly pressed forwards for the +expedition, among whom were many gentlemen and veterans who had served +in Africa. + +[Footnote 385: In De Faria no dates are given of these transactions, +except that Barreto sailed from Lisbon in April 1569.--E.] + +[Footnote 386: In modern geography the country called Monomotapa in the +text is known by the name of Mocaranga, while Monomotapa is understood +to be the title of the sovereign. It is sometimes called _Senna_ by the +Portuguese, from the name of a fort possessed by them in the +interior.--E.] + +On his arrival at Mozambique, Barreto went to subdue the king of _Pate_, +who had revolted against the Portuguese authority. In his instructions, +Barreto was ordered to undertake nothing of importance without the +advice and concurrence of Francisco do Monclaros, a Jesuit, which was +the cause of the failure of this enterprise. It was a great error to +subject a soldier to the authority of a priest, and a most presumptuous +folly in the priest to undertake a commission so foreign to his +profession. There were two roads to the mines, one of which was through +the dominions of Monomotapa, and the other by way of Sofala. Barreto was +disposed to have taken the latter, but Monclaros insisted upon the +former, and carried his point against the unanimous votes of the council +of war; so that the first step in this expedition led to its ruin. But +before entering upon the narrative of events, it may be proper to give +some account of the climate, quality, and extent of the country. + +From Cape Delgado in lat. 10 deg. 1O' S. to Mozambique in 14 deg. 50', the coast +is somewhat bent in the form of a bow, in which space are the islands of +Pujaros, Amice, Mocoloe, Matembo, Querimba, Cabras, and others, with the +rivers Paudagi, Menluanc, Mucutii, Mucululo, Situ, Habe, Xanga, Samoco, +Veloso, Pinda, Quisimaluco and Quintagone, with the bays of Xanga and +Fuego, and the sands of Pinda. From Mozambique in lat. 14 deg. 5O' S. to the +port or bay of Asuca in 21 deg. 8O', the coast falls off to the westwards, +opposite to the _Pracel de Sofala_ or great bank of _Pracel_, on the +coast of Madagascar, the dangerous _Scylla_ and _Charibdis_ of those +seas. On this coast are the rivers Mocambo, Angoxa, or Bayones, Mossige, +Mojuncoale, Sangage, and others, with many islands, and the ports of +Quilimane and Luabo; the rivers Tendanculo, Quiloe, Sabam, Bagoe, Miaue, +and Sofala, with the opposite islands of Inbausato, Quiloane, Mambone, +Molimon, and Quilamancohi. Between Cape Bosiqua or St Sebastian in lat. +21 deg. 40' S. and Cape Corientes in 24 deg. S. is the great bay of Sauca, into +which falls the river Inhamhane, where there is a great trade for ivory. +From the frequent recurrence of the soft letters _L_ and _M_ in these +names, it may be inferred that the language of that country is by no +means harsh. From the mouth of the Cuama or Zambeze in the east, the +empire of Monomotapa extends 250 leagues into the interior of Africa, +being divided by the great river Zambeze, into which falls the _Chiri_ +or _Chireira_, running through the country of _Bororo_[387], in which +country are many other large rivers, on the banks of which dwell many +kings, some of whom are independent, and others are subject to +Monomotapa. The most powerful of the independent kings is he of Mongas, +bordering on the Cuama or Zambeze, which falls into the sea by four +mouths between Mozambique and Sofala. The first or most northerly of +these mouths is that of _Quilimane_, ninety leagues from Mozambique; the +second or Cuama is five leagues farther south; the third _Luabo_ five +leagues lower; and the fourth named _Luabol_ five leagues more to the +south. Between these mouths are three large and fertile islands; the +middle one, named _Chingoma_, is sixty leagues in circumference. This +great river is navigable for sixty leagues upwards to the town of +_Sena_, inhabited by the Portuguese, and as much farther to _Tete_, +another Portuguese colony [388]. The richest mines are those of +_Massapa_, called _Anfur_[389], the _Ophir_ whence the queen of Sheba +had the riches she carried to Jerusalem. In these mines it is said, that +one lump of gold has been found worth 12,000 ducats, and another worth +40,000. The gold is not only found among the earth and stones, but even +grows up within the bark of several trees as high as where the branches +spread out to form the tops. The mines of Manchica and Butica are not +much inferior to those of Massapa and Fura, and there are many others +not so considerable. There are three fairs or markets which the +Portuguese frequent for this trade of gold from the castle of _Tete_ on +the river Zambeze. The first of these is _Luanze_, four days journey +inland from that place [390]. The second is Bacuto [391] farther off; +and the third _Massapa_ still farther [392]. At these fairs the gold is +procured in exchange for coarse cloth, glass beads, and other articles +of small value among us. A Portuguese officer, appointed by the +commander of Mozambique, resides at Massapa with the permission of the +emperor of Monomotapa, but under the express condition of not going into +the country, under pain of death. He acts as judge of the differences +that arise there. There are churches belonging to the Dominicans at +Massapa, Bacuto, and Luanze. The origin, number, and chronology of the +kings of Mohomotapa are not known, though it is believed there were +kings here in the time of the queen of Sheba, and that they were subject +to her, as she got her gold from thence. In the mountain of Anfur or +Fura, near Massapa, there are the ruins of stately buildings, supposed +to be those of palaces and castles. In process of time this great +empire was divided into three kingdoms, called _Quiteve_, _Sabanda_, and +_Chicanga_[393], which last is the most powerful, as possessing the +mines of Manica, Butua, and others. It is believed that the negroes of +Butua, in the kingdom of Chicanga, are those who bring gold to Angola, +as these two countries are supposed to be only one hundred leagues +distance from each other [394]. The country of Monomotapa produces rice +and maize, and has plenty of cattle and poultry, the inhabitants +addicting themselves to pasturage and tillage, and even cultivating +gardens. It is divided into 25 kingdoms or provinces named Mongas, +Baroe, Manica, Boese, Macingo, Remo, Chique, Chiria, Chidima, Boquizo, +Inhanzo, Chiruvia, Condesaca, Daburia, Macurumbe, Mungussi, Antiovaza, +Chove, Chungue, Dvia, Romba, Rassini, Chirao, Mocaranga and +Remo-de-Beza. + +[Footnote 387: According to modern maps, the Zambeze divides the empire +of Mocaranga, the sovereign of which is called Monomotapa, from the +empire of the Bororos; and the river Chireira or Manzara on the south of +the Zambeze, which it joins, is entirely confined to the country of +Mocaranga.--E.] + +[Footnote 388: Sena is 220 English miles from the sea; Tete is 260 miles +higher up: so that this great river is navigable for 480 miles, probably +for small vessels only.--E.] + +[Footnote 389: Massapa is the name of a Portuguese fort or settlement on +the river _Mocaras_, a branch of the _Chireira_, in the interior of +Mocaranga. Anfur or Fura is a mountain about 100 miles from Massapa, +said to contain rich gold mines.--E.] + +[Footnote 390: Luanze is about 100 miles south from Tete, on one of the +branches of the Chireira.--E.] + +[Footnote 391: Bacuto is 40 miles south of Luanze.--E.] + +[Footnote 392: Massapa is about 45 miles S.S.W. from Buento or Bacuto, +or 170 miles in that direction from Tete.--E] + +[Footnote 393: Quiteve is that kingdom or province of Mocaranga, now +named Sofala from the river of that name by which it is pervaded. +Sabanda is probably the kingdom or province of Sabia, on the river of +that name, the southern province of Mocaranga. Chicanga is what is now +called Manica, the south-west province of Mocaranga, the king or chief +of which province is named Chicanga.--E.] + +[Footnote 394: The Butua of the text is probably the kingdom of Abutua +of modern maps, in the interior of Africa, directly west from the +northern part of Mocaranga. The distance between Abutua and the eastern +confines of Benguela, one of the provinces of Angola or Congo, is about +800 or 900 miles.--E.] + +The emperor [395] has a large wooden palace, the three chief apartments +of which are, one for himself, another for his wife, and the third for +his menial servants. It has three doors opening into a large court, one +appropriated for the queen and her attendants, one for the king and the +servants attached to his person, and the third for the two head cooks, +who are great men and relations of the king, and for the under-cooks who +are all men of quality below twenty years of age, as none so young are +supposed to have any commerce with women, or otherwise they are severely +punished. After serving in the palace, these young men are preferred to +high employments. + +[Footnote 395: The chief of Mocaranga is named Monomotapa, which latter +is often used as the name of the country. His residence is said to be at +Zimbao near the northern frontiers, between the Portuguese forts of Sena +and Tete.--E.] + +The servants within the palace, and those without, are commanded by two +captains or high officers, resembling the _Alcalde de los Douzeles_, or +governor of the noble youths, formerly at the court of Spain. The +principal officers of the crown are, the _Ningomoaxa_ or governor of +the kingdom, _Mocomoaxa_ or captain-general, _Ambuya_ or high steward, +whose office it is to procure a successor, when the _Mazarira_ or +principal wife of the king dies, who must always be chosen from among +the sisters or nearest relations of the king. The next great officer is +the _Inbantovo_ or chief musician, who has many musicians under his +charge; the _Nurucao_, or captain, of the vanguard; _Bucurumo_, which +signifies the king's right hand; _Magande_, or the chief conjurer; +_Netambe_, or chief apothecary, who has charge of the ointments and +utensils for sorcery; and lastly, the _Nehono_ or chief porter. All +these offices are discharged by great lords. They use no delicacy in +cookery, having all their meats roasted or boiled; and they eat of such +articles as are used by the Europeans, with the addition of rats and +mice, which they reckon delicacies, as we do partridges and rabbits. + +The king has many wives, nine of whom only are reckoned queens, and are +all his sisters or near relations; the rest being the daughters of +noblemen. The chief wife is called _Mazarira_, or the mother of the +Portuguese, who frequently make presents to her, as she solicits their +affairs with the king, and he sends no messengers to them but +accompanied by some of her servants. The second queen is called +_Inahanda_, who solicits for the Moors. The others _Nabuiza_, +_Nemangore_, _Nizingoapangi_, _Navembo_, _Nemongoro_, _Nessani_, and +_Necarunda_. Every one of these lives apart in as great state as the +king, having certain revenues and districts appointed for their +expenses. When any of these die, another is appointed to her place and +name, and they have all the power of rewards and punishments, as well as +the king. Sometimes he goes to them, and, at other times they come to +him; all of them having many female attendants, whom the king makes use +of when he thinks proper. + +The principal nation of Monomotapa is called the _Moearangi_, and of +which the emperor is a native. They are by no means warlike, and their +only weapons are bows, arrows, and javelins. In regard to religion, they +acknowledge one only God, and believe in a devil or evil spirit, called +_Muzuco_, but they have no idols. They believe that their deceased kings +go to heaven, and invoke these under the appellation of _Musimos_, as +the saints are invoked by the catholics. Having no letters, their only +knowledge of past events is preserved by tradition. The lame and blind +are called the king's poor, because they are charitably maintained by +him; and when any of these travel, the towns through which they pass are +obliged to maintain them and furnish them with guides from place to +place, an excellent example for Christians. The months are divided into +three weeks of ten days each, and have several festivals. The first day +of each month is the festival of the new moon; and the fourth and fifth +day of every week are kept as festivals. On these days all the natives +dress in their best apparel, and the king gives public audience to all +who present themselves, on which occasion he holds a truncheon about +three quarters of a yard long in each hand, using them to lean upon. +Those who speak to him prostrate themselves on the ground, and his +audience lasts from morning till evening. When the king is indisposed, +the _Ningomoaxa_, or governor of the kingdom, stands in his place. No +one must speak to the king, or even go to the palace, on the eighth day +of the moon, as that day is reckoned unlucky. On the day of the new +moon, the king runs about the palace with two javelins in his hand, as +if fighting, all the great men being present at this pastime. When this +is ended, a pot full of maize, boiled whole, is brought in, which the +king scatters about, desiring the nobles to eat, and every one strives +to gather most to please him, and eat it greedily as if it were the most +savoury dainty. Their greatest festival is held on the new moon in May, +which they call _Chuavo_. On this day all the great men of the empire, +who are very numerous, resort to court, where they run about with +javelins in their hand, as in a mock fight. This sport lasts the whole +day, at the end of which the king withdraws, and is not seen for eight +days afterwards, during all which time the drums beat incessantly. He +then reappears on the ninth day, and orders the noble for whom he has +least affection to be slain, as a sacrifice to his ancestors, or the +_Muzimos_. When this is done, the drums cease, and every one goes home. +The _Mumbos_[396] eat human flesh, which is publicly sold in the +shambles. This may suffice for the customs of the natives in the empire +of Monomotapa, as it would be endless to recount the whole. + +[Footnote 396: This savage race are said to inhabit on the north western +frontiers of Mocaranga.--E.] + +After some stay at Mozambique, Barreto set out on his expedition for the +mines of Monomotapa, with men, horses, camels, and other necessaries for +war, and with proper tools for working the mines which he expected to +conquer. He sailed up the river _Cuama_, called _Rio de los buenos +Sennales_, or river of Good Signs; by the first discoverers, and came to +_Sena_ or the fort of _St Marzalis_, according to the desire of father +Monclaros; whence he proceeded to the town of _Inaparapala_, near which +is another town belonging to the Moors, who, being always professed +enemies to the Christians, began to thwart the designs of the Portuguese +as they had formerly done in India. They even attempted to poison the +Portuguese army, and some of the men and horses actually died in +consequence; but the cause being discovered by one of the Moors, they +were all put to the sword, their chiefs being blown from the mouths of +cannon, the informer only being pardoned. After this Barreto sent an +embassy to the king, desiring permission to march against the chief of +the _Mongas_, who was then in rebellion, and from thence to continue his +march to the mines of _Butua_ and _Mancica_. The first of these requests +was a piece of flattery to obtain leave for the other, as the province +of the Mongas lay between Sena and the mines, and it was necessary to +march thither by force of arms. The king gave his consent to both +requests, and even offered to send 100,000 of his own men along with the +Portuguese; but Barreto declined any assistance, wishing to have the +whole honour of the war to himself, and thinking by that means to gain +favour with the king. He accordingly marched with 23 horse and 560 foot +armed with muskets; and after a march of ten days, mostly along the +rapid river Zambeze, in which the troops suffered excessively from +hunger and thirst, the enemy were descried covering the hills and +vallies with armed men. Though the multitude of the enemy was so great +that the extremity of their army could not be seen, Barreto marched on +giving the command of the van to Vasco Fernandez Homem, while he led the +rear in person, the baggage and a few field pieces being in the centre. +On coming up to engage the cannon were removed to the front and flanks. + +The enemy were drawn up in the form of a crescent; and as the Portuguese +marched to the charge, an old woman came forward to meet them scattering +some powder towards them, having persuaded the enemy that she alone +would gain the victory by virtue of that powder. Barreto understood the +meaning of this superstitious act, having seen similar things in India, +and gave orders to level a field piece at the notorious witch, which was +so well pointed that she was blown to atoms, at which the _Kafrs_ were +astonished, as they believed her immortal. The enemy however advanced, +but without any order, either from ignorance or because they relied on +their immense numbers, and discharged clouds of arrows and darts against +the Portuguese; but finding that the musqueteers slew them by hundreds +at every discharge, they took to flight, and great numbers of them were +slain in the pursuit. Barreto continued his march for the city of the +Mongas, and was opposed by another multitude similar to the former which +was put to flight with equal facility, above 6000 of the Kafrs being +slain with the loss of only two Portuguese soldiers. The city was +abandoned by the enemy and taken possession of by Barreto without +opposition, at which he entrenched his small army. Next morning a +multitude of Kafrs as large as either of the former appeared to assail +the Portuguese; but being again routed with prodigious slaughter, a +messenger arrived to beg for peace. Barreto answered that he would wait +upon the king, when all matters might be adjusted. He accordingly +marched next day, and having encamped in a convenient place, a new +embassy came from the king to solicit peace. While the Kafr ambassadors +were conferring with Barreto, one of the camels belonging to the +Portuguese happened to break loose and came up to where Barreto was, who +stopped it till those who were seeking for it came up. The Kafr +ambassadors had never before seen a camel, and were astonished to see it +come up to the governor, at whom they asked many questions concerning +the strange animal. Taking advantage of their ignorance and credulity, +Barreto told them that those animals fed only on human flesh, devouring +all that were slain in battle; and that this camel had come to him from +the rest to desire that he would not make peace as they would then have +no food. Astonished at this intelligence, they intreated him to desire +the camels to be satisfied with good beef, and they would immediately +supply him with great numbers of cattle. He granted their request and +marched on, still in much distress for provisions. + +At this time news was brought of some transactions at Mozambique which +rendered his presence there necessary, on which he assigned the command +of the army to Vasco Fermandez Homem, and departed for Mozambique. +Antonio Pereyra Brandam had committed certain crimes at the Moluccas, +for which on his return to Portugal he was banished into Africa, on +which he requested Barreto to take him to Mozambique, which he did +accordingly, and even gave him the command of the fort at that place. +Though eighty years of age, Brandam wished to secure himself in the +command of the fort by sending false informations to the king against +Barreto his benefactor. By some means these papers were intercepted and +sent to Barreto, who on his arrival at Mozambique immediately shewed +them to Brandam, who fell on his knees and asked pardon in the most +humble manner. Barreto forgave him, but deprived him of the command over +the fort at Mozambique, which he committed to the charge of Lorenzo +Godino, and returned to prosecute the expedition in Monomotapa. + +On his arrival at Sena, where Homem had halted with the army, Monclaros +accosted him in a violent manner commanding him to desist from that wild +enterprise of conquering the mines, in which he had imposed on the king, +declaring that he should be held responsible for all who had died or +might die in future in this wild and impracticable design. It is certain +that Barreto was not the promoter of this intended conquest, and that +Manclaros was actually to blame for the miscarriage; yet Barreto took +the insolence of this proud priest so much to heart that he died in two +days without any other sickness. Assuredly the Jesuit had more to answer +for on account of the death of the governor, than he for the unfortunate +result of the expedition, which was all owing to the arrogant ignorance +of the Jesuit in forcing it into a wrong direction. Thus fell, by the +angry words of a priest, a great man who had escaped from many bullets +among the Indians, from numerous darts and arrows of the Mongas, and +from the malice of a villain. King Sebastian greatly lamented his +untimely end, which he expressed by giving an honourable reception to +his body when brought to Lisbon. + +After the death of Barreto, a royal order was found among his papers by +which Vasco Fernandez Homem was appointed his successor. By the +persuasions of Monclaros, who was now disgusted with the expedition of +Monomotapa, Homem returned with the troops to Mozambique, abandoning the +projected conquest of the mines. At that place some judicious persons, +and particularly Francisco Pinto Pimentel, urged him to resume the +execution of the orders which had been given by the king to Barreto, and +he determined upon resuming the enterprise for the conquest of +Monomotapa; but as Monclaros was now gone back to Portugal, he found +himself at liberty to take the route for the mines through Sofala, as +Barreto wished to have done originally. Landing therefore at Sofala, he +marched directly inland towards the mines of _Manica_ in the kingdom of +_Chicanga_, bordering _by the inland_ with the kingdom of _Quiteve_ +which is next in power to Monomotapa[397]. To conciliate the king of +_Quiteve_, Homem sent messengers with presents to request the liberty of +passing through his dominions, but being jealous of his intentions, that +king received his propositions very coldly. Homem advanced however, +having nearly a similar force with that which accompanied Barreto on the +former expedition into the kingdom of Monomotapa, and several bodies of +Kafrs that attempted to stop his progress were easily routed with great +slaughter. Finding himself unable to defend himself against the invaders +by force of arms, the king of Quiteve had recourse to policy, and caused +all the people and provisions to be removed from the towns, so that the +Portuguese suffered extreme distress till they arrived at _Zimbao_[398], +the residence of the king, whence he had fled and taken refuge in +inaccessible mountains. Homem burnt the city, and marched on to the +kingdom of _Chicanga_, where he was received by the king rather through +fear than love, was supplied with provisions, and allowed a free passage +to the mines. At these the Portuguese vainly expected that they would be +able to gather gold in great abundance; but seeing that the natives +procured only very small quantities in a long time and with much +difficulty, and being themselves very inexpert in that labour, they soon +abandoned the place which they had so long and anxiously sought for, and +returned towards the coast, parting from the king of Chicanga in much +friendship. Thus, though disappointed in their main design of acquiring +rich gold mines, the ease with which they had penetrated to the place +evinced how great an error had been formerly committed by subjecting +Barreto to the direction of Monclaros, who had led him by a tedious and +dangerous way merely to gratify his own extravagant humour. + +[Footnote 397: In modern geography, which indeed is mainly ignorant of +the foreign possessions of the Portuguese, the dominion of Sofala on +both sides of the river of that name, extend about 520 miles from east +to west, in lat. 20 deg. S. from the Mozambique channel, by about 100 miles +in breadth. The commercial station of Sofala belonging to the Portuguese +is at the mouth of the river; and about 220 miles from the sea is a town +called Zimbao of Quiteve. Manica the kingdom of Chicanga is an inland +district to the west of the kingdoms of Sofala and Sabia; all three +dependent upon Monomotapa.--E.] + +[Footnote 398: This Zimbao of Quiteve is to be carefully distinguished +from a town of the same name in Monomotapa. The former is nearly in lat. +20 deg. S. on the river of Sofala, the latter is about 16 deg. 20' S. near the +river Zambezi or Cuama.--E] + +Homem returned to the kingdom of Quiteve, and the king of that country +now permitted him to march for the mines of _Maninnas_[399], on +condition that the Portuguese should pay him twenty crowns yearly. Homem +accordingly marched for the kingdom of _Chicova[400], which borders upon +the inland frontier of Monomotapa towards the north, having heard that +there were rich mines of silver in that country. Having penetrated to +Chicova, he inquired among the natives for the way to the mines; and as +they saw that it was in vain for them to resist, while they feared the +discovery of the mines would prove their ruin, they scattered some ore +at a place far distant from the mines, and shewing this to the +Portuguese told them that this was the place of which they were in +search. By this contrivance the Kafrs gained time to escape, as the +Portuguese permitted them to go away, perhaps because they were +unwilling the natives should see what treasure they procured. Homem +accordingly caused all the environs to be carefully dug up, and after a +vast deal of fruitless labour was obliged to desist, as provisions grew +scarce. Thus finding no advantage after all his fatigues and dangers, +Homem marched away towards the coast with part of his troops, intending +to return to his government at Mozambique, and left Antonio Cardoso de +Almeyda with 200 men to continue the researches for some time for the +treasures that were said to abound in that country. Cardoso suffered +himself to be again deceived by the Kafrs who had before imposed upon +Homem, as they now offered to conduct him to where he might find a vein +of silver. But they led him the way of death rather than of the mines, +and killed him and all his men after defending themselves with +incredible bravery. + +[Footnote 399: No such place is laid down in modern maps, but rich gold +mines are mentioned in Mocaranga near mount _Fura_, which is nearly in +the route indicated in the text, between Sofala or Quiteve and +Chicoya.--E.] + +[Footnote 400: Chicova is a territory and town of Mocaranga or +Monomotapa, in lat. 19 deg. N. at the north-west boundary of that empire on +the Zambeze; and is said to abound in mines of silver.--E.] + +Thus ended the government and conquest of Monomotapa shortly after its +commencement, under two successive governors, who lost their object +almost as soon as it was seen. The first killed by a few rash words, and +the second expelled by a prudent stratagem. Yet peace and trade +continued between the Portuguese and the empire of Monomotapa. These +actions of Barreto and Homem took place during the time when Luis de +Ataide, Antonio de Noronha, and Antonio Moniz Barreto[401], were +governors of India; but we have never been able to ascertain when the +former died and the latter abandoned the projected conquest of the +mines. + +[Footnote 401: The commencement of the government of Barreto has been +already stated as having taken place in 1569. Antonio Moniz Barreto +governed India from 1573 to 1576: Hence the consecutive governments of +Francisco Barreto and Vasco Fernandez Homem in Monomotapa could not be +less than _four_ or more than _seven_ years.--E.] + + +SECTION IX. + +_Continuation of the Portuguese Transactions in India, from 1576 to +1581; when the Crown of Portugal was usurped by Philip II. of Spain, on +the Death of the Cardinal King Henry._ + + +In 1576 Ruy Lorenzo de Tavora went out as viceroy of Portuguese India; +but dying on the voyage, at Mozambique, Don Diego de Menezes assumed the +government in virtue of a royal patent of succession. Nothing +extraordinary happened during his government of nearly two years, when +he was superseded by the arrival of Don Luis de Ataide count of Atougaia +as viceroy of India for the second time. Ataide had been appointed +general in chief of the Portuguese forces by king Sebastian, who had +resolved to bury the glory of his kingdom in the burning sands of +Africa; and finding his own youthful impetuosity unable to conform with +the prudent councils of the count, he constituted him viceroy of India +as a plausible means of removing him. The count arrived at Goa about the +end of August 1577, where he immediately fitted out a mighty fleet which +struck terror into all the neighbouring princes. After continuing the +war for some time against Adel Khan, a peace was concluded with that +prince. + +Soon afterwards news was brought to India of the melancholy catastrophe +which had befallen king Sebastian in Africa, and that the Cardinal Don +Henry had succeeded to the throne; but he soon afterwards died, and the +kingdom of Portugal came under the direction of a council of regency +consisting of five members. The viceroy Don Luis died soon afterwards at +Goa in the beginning of the year 1580, after governing India this second +time for two years and seven months. He seemed to have had a +presentiment of his death; for being applied to for leave to bury his +cousin Antonio Borello beside his brother Don Juan de Ataide, he refused +it, saying that he had long designed that situation for himself. He was +a man of most undaunted courage, of which the following instance may be +adduced. At the attack of _Onore_, he sailed in a brigantine sitting in +a chair, having a famous musician beside him playing on the harp. When +the balls from the enemy began to whistle past the ears of the musician +he stopt playing, on which the count desired him to proceed as the tune +was excellent. One of the gentlemen near him, seeing his +unconcernedness, requested him to expose himself less to the danger, as +if he were slain all would be lost; "No such thing," answered he, "for +if I am killed there are men enough who are fit to succeed me." + +On his death, which appears to have happened in March 1580, he was +succeeded as governor by Ferdinand Tellez de Menezes, pursuant to a +patent of succession sent out by the regency in the year before. On this +occasion the new governor was installed with as much demonstration of +joy as if there had been no cause of sorrow among the subjects of +Portugal for the melancholy state of their country. While the affairs of +Portugal were in a miserable state of distraction, those of Visiapour +were in no better condition, in consequence of the death of Adel Khan +without heirs, in the 23d year of his reign and 50th of his age. Being +adicted to unnatural practices, a youth of eighteen years of age who had +too much honour to submit to his base desires, stabbed him as he was +endeavouring to allure him to comply with his brutal purposes. Ibrahim +Khan, the son of Shah Tamas, one of two brothers whom Adel Khan had put +to death, succeeded to the sovereignty; but was soon afterwards seized +by a powerful Omrah, named Quisbale Khan, who made himself master of the +city of Visiapour. Soon afterwards the Ethiopian guards revolted under +three leaders of their own choice, Acala Khan, Armi Khan, and Delarna +Khan, the last of whom secured the other two and usurped the whole +power. + +About this time new instructions came from the regency of Portugal, +announcing that Philip II. of Spain had been admitted as king of +Portugal, and enjoining the governor and all the Portuguese in India to +take the oath of allegiance to the new sovereign. + +At this period _Mirazenam Pacha_, a native of Otranto, and born of +Christian parents, was governor of all that part of Arabia which is +called _Yemen_ by the natives, and resided in _Sanaa_ or _Zenan_, a city +in the inland part of Yeman or Arabia Felix, 60 leagues north of +Mokha[402]. Sanaa stands upon a hill encompassed with a good wall, and +is thought to have been founded by Ham the son of Noah, and to have been +the residence of the famous queen of Sheba. The fruitful province in +which it stands was called by the ancients _Siria Muinifera_, because it +produces frankincense, myrrh, and storax. Being desirous to plunder +_Maskat_ near Cape Ras-al-gat, Mirazenam sent three Turkish gallies on +that errand under Ali Beg, who took possession of Maskat, whence most of +the Portuguese residents saved themselves by flight, leaving their goods +to be plundered by Ali Beg. The fugitives took refuge in _Mataro_, a +town only a league distant, whence they went to _Bruxel_, a fort about +four leagues inland, belonging to _Catani_ the sheikh or chief of a +horde or tribe of Arabs. The Arab officer who commanded there received +the Portuguese with much kindness and hospitality, and protected them +till the departure of Ali Beg, when they returned to Maskat. On learning +the ruin of Maskat, Gonzalo de Menezes, who then commanded at Ormuz, +sent Luis de Almeyda with a squadron consisting of a galleon, a galley, +and six other vessels, with 400 good men, to attack Ali Beg. But Almeyda +neglected the orders of his superior, and sailed to the coast of the +_Naytaques_, intending to surprise and plunder the beautiful and rich +city of _Pesani_[403]. But the inhabitants got notice of their danger +and fled, after which Almeyda dishonourably plundered the city, to which +he set fire, together with near fifty sail of vessels which were in the +bay. He did the same thing to _Guadel_ or _Gader_, a city not inferior +to Pesani, and to _Teis_ or _Tesse_ belonging to the barbarous tribe of +the _Abindos_ who dwell on the river _Calamen_ in _Gedrosia_[404], and +who join with the _Naytagites_ in their piracies. + +[Footnote 402: Sanaa is about 80 marine leagues, or 278 English miles +N.E. from Mokha, and 30 leagues, or about 100 miles nearly north from +Makulla, the nearest port of Arabia on the Indian ocean.--E.] + +[Footnote 403: Perhaps Posino on the oceanic coast of Makran, one of the +provinces of Persia, is here meant, nearly north from Maskat, on the +opposite coast of the entrance towards the Persian Gulf.--E.] + +[Footnote 404: Gedrosia the ancient name of that province of Persia on +the Indian Ocean between the mouth of the Persian Gulf and the Indus, +now called Mekran or Makran.--E.] + + +SECTION X. + +_Transactions of the Portuguese in India, from 1581 to 1597_ [405]. + + +Don Francisco Mascarenhas, count of Santa Cruz, was the first viceroy +sent out to India after the revolution by which Philip II of Spain +acquired the sovereignty of Portugal. The honour and advantages +conferred upon him on receiving this important office were greater than +had ever been enjoyed by any of his predecessors. He well deserved all +rewards of honour and profit, having served with great reputation in +India, particularly in the brave defence of Chaul, with an incompetent +garrison, and hardly any fortifications, against the power of the Nizam, +who besieged it with 150,000 men. Yet his advancement on this occasion +proceeded more from the policy of the king of Spain than the merit of +Mascarenhas, to endeavour to gain the hearts of the Portuguese in India +by his bounty. On his arrival at Goa in 1581, the new viceroy found that +all the Portuguese had already submitted to the government of the king +of Spain, so that he had only to attend to the usual affairs of his +viceroyalty. + +[Footnote 405: We have here omitted from de Faria several long and +confused dissertations on subjects that will be treated of more +satisfactorily in the sequel of this work, from better sources of +information. These are, 1. Of the religion of Hindostan. 2. Of the +empire of Ethiopia, or Abyssinia. 3. Of Japan. 4. Of China. 5. Of the +traditions respecting the preaching of Christianity in India by St +Thomas. Likewise, in the sequel of the Portuguese transactions in India +from de Faria, we have omitted a vast deal of uninteresting events, +confining our attention only to such as are of some relative +importance.--E.] + +Sultan Amodifar, the lawful king of Guzerat, after being long kept +prisoner by the Mogul who had usurped his kingdom, made his escape by +the assistance of some women and came in disguise to a Banian at +Cambaya, by whom he was conveyed to _Jambo_, a person who had +secured himself in a portion of the kingdom of Guzerat in the late +revolution. Jambo not only acknowledged Amodifar as his legitimate +sovereign, but procured the submission of many other chiefs and great +men, so that he was soon at the head of a large army, in which there +were above 30,000 horse, and in a short time Amodifar recovered +possession of almost all Guzerat, either by force or consent. In hopes +of profiting by these confusions, and in particular expecting to acquire +possession of Surat, the viceroy went with 40 sail to Chaul, whence he +sent some intelligent agents to Baroach, which was then besieged by +Amodifar, the wife and children of Cotub oddin Khan having taken refuge +in that place. These agents had instructions to treat secretly both with +Amodifar and the wife of Cotub, without letting either of them know the +correspondence with the other, that the Portuguese interest might be +secured with the party that ultimately prevailed. But a large Mogul army +invaded Guzerat and recovered possession of the whole country, so that +the negociations of the viceroy fell to nothing, and be returned to Goa. +While absent from that city, the subjects of the new king of Visiapour, +provoked by the insolences of Larva Khan the favourite minister, wished +to set up Cufo Khan the son of Meale Khan, who had been long kept +prisoner at Goa; but on this coming to the knowledge of Larva Khan, he +contrived, by means of an infamous Portuguese, named Diego Lopez Bayam, +to inveigle Cufo Khan into his power, who thinking to gain a crown was +made prisoner by Larva Khan and deprived of his eyes. + +After Don Francisco de Mascarenhas had enjoyed the viceroyalty for three +years, Don Duarte de Menezes came out in 1581 as his successor. His +first measure was to restore peace at Cochin, where a revolt was +threatened by the natives in consequence of the Portuguese having +usurped the management of the custom-house to the prejudice of the +Rajah; but an accommodation was now entered into, and the people +appeased by restoring matters to their ancient footing. The _naik_ of +Sanguicer, a place dependent upon the king of Visiapour, having +converted his place of residence into a nest of pirates, to the great +injury of the Portuguese trade on the coast of Canara, an agreement was +entered into with the king of Visiapour for his punishment; the governor +of Ponda named Kosti Khan being to march against him by land with 40,000 +men, while the Portuguese were to attack the naik by sea. This was +accordingly executed, and the naik being driven to take refuge is the +woods, implored mercy, and was restored to his ruined district. + +Some years before the present period a prodigious inundation of Kafrs +or Negro barbarians from the interior of Africa invaded the country of +Monomotapa, in multitudes that were utterly innumerable. They came from +that part of the interior in which the great lake of _Maravi_ is +situated, out of which springs the great rivers whose source was +formerly unknown. Along with this innumerable multitude, a part of whom +were of the tribes called _Macabires_ and _Ambei_, bordering upon +Abyssinia, came their wives, children, and old people, as if emigrating +bodily in search of new habitations, from their own being unable to +contain them. They were a rude and savage people, whose chosen food was +human flesh, only using that of beasts in defect of the other; and such +was the direful effect of their passage through any part of the country, +that they marked their way by the utter ruin of the habitations, leaving +nothing behind but the bones of the inhabitants. When these failed them, +they supplied their craving hunger by feeding on their own people, +beginning with the sick and aged. Even their women, though ugly and +deformed, were as hardy and warlike as their husbands, carrying their +children and household goods on their backs, and going armed with bows +and arrows, which they used with as much courage and dexterity as the +men. These barbarians used defensive armour, and even employed the +precaution of fortifying their camp wherever they happened to halt. +While passing the castle of _Tete_ upon the Zambeze in the interior of +Mocaranga, Jerome de Andrada who commanded the Portuguese garrison sent +out against them a party of musketeers, and in two encounters killed +above 5000 of them, while the multitude fled in the utmost dismay, +having never, before experienced the effects of fire arms. Passing +onwards from thence, the barbarous multitude came to the neighbourhood +of Mozambique, destroying every thing in their course like an inundation +of fire; and as the situation appeared inviting to one of their chiefs +named _Mambea_, who commanded about 6000 warriors, he built a fort and +some towns on the main, about two leagues from Mozambique. As the fort +of Cuama, where Nuno Vello Pereyra commanded, was much incommoded by the +neighbourhood of these barbarians, he sent out Antonio Pimentel against +them with 400 men, four only of whom were Portuguese, who falling +unexpectedly on the barbarians slew many of them and burnt the fort; but +retiring in disorder, the enemy fell upon Pimentel and his men, all of +whom they slew except three Portuguese and a small number of negroes. +All the slain were devoured by the victorious Kafrs, except their +heads, hands, and feet. + +The country about Mozambique is full of orchards and fruit trees, +especially citrons, lemons, and oranges, and has all kinds of wild and +tame beasts like those in Europe, together with prodigious numbers of +elephants. The principal food of the people is maize. The woods mostly +consist of ebony, being a very lofty tree with leaves like those of our +apple trees, and fruit resembling medlars, but not eatable, the whole +stem and branches being thickly covered with thorns. The bark is as +susceptible of fire as tinder, and when one of these trees is cut down +it never springs up again. There is another sort of a yellowish colour, +which is reckoned valuable. The best manna is produced in this country. +Among the fish of this river is one equally voracious with the +crocodile, from which no man escapes that gets within their reach, but +they never injure women. One of these of a prodigious size was caught +having gold rings in its ears, which was supposed to have been done as +some species of witchcraft or incantation by the Kafrs to clear the +river from these dangerous animals. In confirmation of this opinion, we +read in an Arabian author named _Matude_, giving an account of +prodigies, that about the year 863 a brazen crocodile was found under +the ruins of an Egyptian temple, on which certain characters or +symbolical letters were impressed, and when this image was broken in +pieces the crocodiles of the Nile began again to devour men. + +During the viceroyalty of Don Duarte de Menezes fresh troubles broke out +in the kingdom of Visiapour, in consequence of which the Moguls invaded +the country, and after laying it waste to a great extent possessed +themselves of many of its towns cities and districts. The occasions of +these troubles was this: The king being ill of a contagious distemper, +his two favourite ministers, Acede Khan and Calabate Khan, kept him +concealed in the palace, so that no person was allowed to see him. The +prince and the people had recourse to arms, in order to force these +tyrants to admit them into the kings presence; on which they persuaded +the infirm king that the prince wished to depose him, so that the king +went to war against the prince, and defeated him with great slaughter, +upon which the Moguls were called in to their assistance, and used the +opportunity to plunder the country and appropriate it to themselves. + +Towards the close of the viceroyalty of Don Duarte de Menezes, Raju who +had usurped the sovereignty of Ceylon, determined upon making a conquest +of the Portuguese fortress of Columbo, with a view of expelling them +from that island. For this purpose he collected an immense army, in +which were 50,000 soldiers, 60,000 pioneers, and nearly as many +artificers of various descriptions, with 2200 elephants, 40,000 oxen, +150 pieces of cannon, and 50,000 intrenching tools, axes, shovels, +spades, and mattocks, with an innumerable quantity of spare arms and +ammunition; among which were two wooden castles built upon enormous +carriages, each of which had nine wheels. Added to all which he had +nearly 500 craft of different kinds. Before proceeding upon this +expedition, he deemed it proper to consult the idols respecting its +success; and on this occasion he secretly placed men behind the idols, +who answered to his supplications for a favourable termination to his +great design, _If you, would take Columbo you must shed innocent blood!_ +The people were astonished at this familiar and direct intercourse +between their idols and their prince; and he, pretending obedience to +the divine commands which they had all heard, caused 500 children to be +taken from the arms of their mothers, all of whom were sacrificed, and +the idols sprinkled with their blood. + +After all his preparations were completed, he marched with his +prodigious army and invested Columbo, choosing the ground which he +deemed most advantageous, as the garrison was not sufficiently strong to +contend with him in the field. Joam de Britto, who then commanded in +Columbo, had sent intimation of his danger to the other Portuguese +possessions, and had arranged every thing for defence as well as he +could. To defend the place against the vast army by which he was now +assailed, he had only 300 Portuguese, a third of whom were useless, as +being old men or children; besides whom he had 700 armed natives and +slaves. This incompetent force he posted to the best advantage around +the walls, which were far too extensive, reserving 50 picked men to +attend upon himself to give relief wherever it was most needed. After +the commencement of the siege, Raju spent a whole month in draining a +lake which secured one side of Columbo from being assailed, and as the +Portuguese had several boats on the lake, there were frequent skirmishes +in which the enemy suffered considerable loss. The side of the fort +which had been covered by the lake was much weakened by the drawing off +its water, which had been its chief defence on that side. In +consequence of the advices sent by Brito to the commanders of the +neighbouring forts, reinforcements were prepared at different quarters. +The first relief, consisting of 40 men, was sent by Juan de Melo the +commander of Manaar, under the command of his nephew Ferdinand de Melo, +who likewise brought a supply of ammunition; and Ferdinand was posted +with his men to strengthen the defence upon the side towards the drained +lake. + +On the 4th of August before day-light [406], Raju advanced in silence to +give the first assault, but was discovered by the lighted matches of his +musqueteers. The enemy applied their scaling ladders at the same time to +the three bastions of St Michael, St Gonzalo, and St Francisco, while +2000 pioneers fell to work below to undermine the works. Many of the +assailants were thrown down from their ladders on the heads of the +workmen employed below, while numbers of the enemy who were drawn up in +the field before the town were destroyed by the cannons from the walls. +Everywhere both within and without, the fort resounded with the cries of +women and children, and the groans of the wounded, joined to the noise +of the cannon and musquetry and the shrill cries of elephants, which, +forced to the walls by their conductors, were driven back smarting with +many wounds, and did vast injury in the ranks of the besiegers. Such was +the multitude of the enemy that they did not seem lessened by slaughter, +fresh men still pressing on to supply the places of the killed and +wounded. Brito was present in every place of danger, giving orders and +conveying relief, and after a long and arduous contest, the enemy at +length gave way, leaving 400 men dead or dying at the foot of the walls. +During this assault, some Chingalese who had retired into the fort to +escape the tyranny of Raju, fought with as much bravery as the +Portuguese. Twice afterwards, Raju made repeated attempts to carry the +place by escalade, but was both times repulsed with much slaughter. +After which he repaired his entrenchments, and prepared to renew the +assaults. + +[Footnote 406: The date of the year is omitted by DeTaria, who, always +rather negligent of dates, now; hardly ever gives any more light on this +subject than the years in which the respective viceroys and governors +assumed and laid down their authorities. The siege therefore must have +happened between 1584 and 1588, during the government of Duarte de +Menezes.--E.] + +After the commencement of the siege Diego Fernandez Pessoa came from +Negapatnam with a ship of his own, and Antonio de Aguilar brought +another ship, by means of which the besieged were much encouraged. Don +Joam de Austria the _Modeliar_ of Candea[407], and the _Arache_ Don +Alfonzo, did at this time eminent service against the enemy; and a +soldier of vast strength, named Jose Fernandez, having broken his spear, +threw several of the enemy behind him to be slain by those in his rear. +On learning the danger of Colombo, the city of Cochin fitted out six +ships for its relief, with a supply of men and ammunition, which were +placed under the command of Nuno Alvarez de Atouguia. Before their +arrival, Raju gave another general assault by sea and land, in which the +danger was so pressing that even the religious were forced to act as +officers and soldiers to defend the walls, and the enemy were again +repulsed with great slaughter. Immediately after this the relief arrived +under Atouguia from Cochin, and nearly at the same time arrived from St +Thomases and other places several ships brought by private individuals +of their own accord; and in September six ships and a galley arrived +with reinforcements from Goa under Bernardin de Carvallo. On the arrival +of such numerous reinforcements, Raju, giving up all hopes of carrying +the place by assault, endeavoured to undermine the walls; but this +attempt was effectually counteracted by Thomas de Sousa, who found out a +way of destroying the miners while engaged in the work. + +[Footnote 407: It will be afterwards seen in the particular history and +travels in Ceylon, that this person was the native sovereign of the +central region or kingdom of Ceylon, called Candy or Candea from the +name of the capital, who had acquired the same in the text in +baptism.--E.] + +Foiled in all his attempts to gain possession of Columbo, Raju now +endeavoured to attain his end by treachery, and prevailed on some of his +wizards to pretend discontent, and desert to the town, that they might +poison the water in the garrison and _bewitch_ the defenders. Being +suspected, these men were put to the torture; on which they confessed +their intentions, and were put to death. "While one of the wizards was +on the rack, he uttered certain mysterious words which deprived the +executioners of their senses, and left them struggling under convulsions +for twenty-four hours." Treachery failing, Raju had again recourse to +open force, and ordered his fleet to attack that of the Portuguese +commanded by Thomas de Sousa; but two of the Ceylon ships were sunk and +two taken, in which most of the men were slain, and those who survived +were hanged at the yard-arms. In this naval battle 300 of the enemy were +slain, with the loss of two men only on the side of the Portuguese. +Raju was so enraged at the bad success of the naval attack, that he +ordered two of his principal sea-officers to be beheaded. Soon after +this a ship arrived with ammunition sent by the viceroy, and the enemy +made another assault by night on the works, in which, as in all the +others, they were beat off with great slaughter. After this, Juan de +Gamboa arrived in a galley with a reinforcement of 150 men; and De Brito +finding himself now confident in the strength of his garrison, sent out +Pedro Alfonzo with a squadron to destroy the towns on the coast +belonging to the enemy. In this expedition, the towns of Belicot, +Berberii, and Beligao were plundered and burnt, and the Portuguese in +their haste to get possession of the pendents and bracelets of the women +barbarously cut off their hands and ears. After making prodigious havock +in many other places, Alfonzo returned to Columbo with mach spoil and +many prisoners. + +At this time sickness attacked the garrison of Columbo, and threatened +to do more for Raju than all his force had been able to effect. The +disease, which began in the neighbouring towns and spread to Columbo, +baffled every attempt of the physicians for its cure. On opening some +who died of it, the entrails were found impostumated, which was supposed +owing to uncommon heat and drought, which had prevailed that year beyond +any other in remembrance of the people. By the application of _cold and +dry_ remedies the disease decreased. By the beginning of January[408] +Raju made two other attempts to gain Columbo by assault, in the last of +which the bastions of St Sebastian, St Gonzalo, and St Jago were in +great danger, but the enemy were repulsed in both with great slaughter. +In the meanwhile the fleet was again sent out under the command of +Thomas de Sousa, who ravaged the coast of Ceylon, and destroyed the +villages of Coscore, Madania, Guinderem, Gale, Beligao, Mature, and +Tanavar. To this last place the idolaters had imagined the Portuguese +arms could never penetrate, as protected by the supposed sanctity of a +pagoda in its neighbourhood. This pagoda was situated on a hill near the +town, and appeared from sea like a city. It was above a league in +circumference, ornamented with numerous domes, all of which were covered +with copper splendidly gilt. In this pagoda there were above 1000 idols +in the several chapels or large cloisters; the temple being surrounded +with streets full of shops for the supply of the pilgrims and votaries +who resorted thither from all quarters. Taking possession of this +temple, Sousa cast down and destroyed all the idols, demolished all the +curious workmanship of the pagoda, and carried away every thing that +could be removed, after which he killed some cows in its most sacred +recesses, which is the greatest possible profanation in the opinion of +the idolaters. + +[Footnote 408: Probably of the year 1588; as the death of the viceroy, +who died in that year, is soon afterwards mentioned by De Faria.--E.] + +Among the prisoners taken at Cascore was a young woman who happened to +be a bride. When the ships were about to weigh anchor, a young man came +hastily to the place where the young woman was, and embraced her with +much affection. By means of an interpreter, it was learned that this man +was her destined husband, who had been absent when the town was +attacked, and came now to offer himself for a slave rather than live +free in separation from the woman of his affections. When this was told +to Sousa, he determined not to part such true lovers, and ordered them +to be both set at liberty; but they were so much affected by this act of +generosity, that they requested to remain in his service. They lived +afterwards in Columbo, where the man faithfully served the Portuguese on +many occasions. + +Scarcely had Sousa returned to Columbo from this last expedition, when +Raju decamped, and began to march away, but the Portuguese fell upon the +rear of his army, and cut off many of his men. In the course of this +siege, some say that Raju lost 10,000 men, while others restrict the +loss to half of that number. Besides the destruction of many towns, +villages, and ships, burnt, plundered, and destroyed, the cannon, +prisoners, and booty taken during this siege from the enemy were of +considerable value. By these losses, and his inability to gain +possession of Columbo with so large an army, Raju lost much reputation +among the neighbouring princes, who waited the success of his +preparations to declare for either side. The loss on the side of the +Portuguese during this siege, consisted of 140 men slain, 50 only of +whom were Portuguese; but 500 died of the sickness formerly mentioned. + +On the day after the siege was raised, Don Paul de Lima came to Columbo +with a powerful reinforcement from the viceroy. Eight days were spent in +levelling the works which Raju had thrown up, after which the damage +done to the fort was repaired, and it was furnished with a garrison of +600 men, plentifully supplied with arms and ammunition. Soon after +receiving the joyful news of the glorious and successful defence of +Columbo, the viceroy, Duarte de Menezes, died of a violent sickness in +the beginning of May 1588, to whom succeeded Emanuel de Sousa Coutinno, +in virtue of a patent of succession, being every way well qualified for +the office by his singular bravery and thorough experience in the +affairs of India. + +In the homeward fleet of this season Don Paul de Lima embarked for +Portugal in the ship called the St Thome, of which Stefano de Vega was +captain. While off the coast of Natal the ship sprung a leak in the +stern during a storm, and though all the rich commodities with which she +was freighted were thrown overboard, it was found impossible to keep her +afloat. In this extremity 120 persons took to the boat, and had hardly +put off when the ship was swallowed up by the waves. Finding the boat +overloaded, it was found necessary to throw some of the people into the +sea. At length the boat reached the shore, on which _ninety-eight_ +persons landed, several of whom were men of note with their wives, and +some friars, one of whom after confessing the people who remained in the +ship wished to have staid with them that he might aid their devotions to +the last. After landing, the women put themselves into mens habits, +after the Indian manner, for the greater ease in travelling, and the +whole company set off on their march in good order, a friar going before +carrying a crucifix on high. The place where they landed was on that +part of the coast of _Natal_ called by the Portuguese the country of the +_Fumos_, but by the natives the country of _Macomates_, being inhabited +by Kafirs of that name. It is in the latitude of 27 deg. 20' S. beyond the +river of _Semin Dote_, 50 leagues south of the bay of _Lorenzo +Marquez_[409]. All the lands of the Fumos belongs to the king of +_Virangune_[410], and extends 30 leagues into the interior, bordering on +the south with the country of _Mocalapata_, which again extends to the +river _St Lucia_, in lat. 28 deg. 15' S. and to the kingdom of _Vambe_, +which contains a great part of the _Terra de Natal_[411]. From thence +to the Cape of Good Hope, the natives have no king, being ruled only by +_ancozes_ or chiefs of villages. Next to the kingdom of _Virangune_ to +the north is that of _Innaca_, towards the N.E. to the point of the bay +of _St Laurence_, in lat. 25 deg. 45' S. opposite to which are two islands, +named _Choambone_ and _Setimuro_, the latter of which is uninhabited, +and is the station of the Portuguese who resort to this bay to purchase +ivory. About this bay many great rivers fall into the sea, as those +named _Beligane_, _Mannica_, _Spiritu Santo_, _Vumo_, _Anzate_, and +_Angomane_[412]. _Anzate_ runs long the edge of vast inaccessible +mountains, covered with herds of elephants, and inhabited by a gigantic +race of people[413]. In the latitude of 25 deg. S. the river _De los Reyes_, +or _Del Ouro_, likewise named the river _Inhampura_ falls into the sea, +to the west of which in the interior are the kingdoms of _Innapola_ and +_Mannuco_. From this place to Cape Corientes, the sea makes a great bay, +along which inhabit the _Mocaranges_, a nation much addicted to +thieving[414]. Opposite to Cape St Sebastian are the islands of +_Bazaruto_ or _Bocica_, and not far from it the kingdom of _Innabuze_ +which reaches to the river _Innarigue_[415]. After which is the country +of _Pande_, bordering on _Monnibe_, which last extends to _Zavara_ in +the interior. Near these are the kingdoms of _Gamba_ and _Mocuraba_, +which last is near Cape Corientes[416]. + +[Footnote 409: If the latitude in the text could be depended on, this +shipwreck seems to have taken place on the coast now occupied by the +_Hambonaas_, near the small river _Bagasie_, 85 miles south from the +entrance into _Delagoa_ bay. The river of Semin Dote is probably that +now called _Mafumo_, which agrees with the country of _Fumos_ in the +text; and the bay of Lorenzo Marquez may possibly be _Delagoa_, though +only 28 leagues north from the latitude of the text, but there is no +other bay of any importance for 400 miles farther along this coast.--E.] + +[Footnote 410: In modern maps, the country along the south side of the +river _Mafumo_, is said to be the dominions of _Capellah_.--E.] + +[Footnote 411: To the south of the _Hambonaas_ at Delagoa bay, the coast +of Natal is inhabited by the _Tambookies_ and _Koussis_. The river St +Lucia still remains in our maps in the latitude indicated, but the other +names in the text are unknown in modern geography.--E.] + +[Footnote 412: Of these rivers only that of _Manica_, called likewise +_Spiritu Santo_, retains the name in the text. That circumstance and the +latitude indicated, point out Delagoa bay as that called St Lawrence by +De Faria; unless we may suppose St Lawrence bay includes the whole bend +inwards of the coast from Cape Corientes to point St Lucia on the coast +of Natal, and that Delagoa bay, in the bottom of this large sweep, is +that formerly called the bay of Lorenzo Marquez.--E.] + +[Footnote 413: No trace of Anzate can be found in modern maps.--E.] + +[Footnote 414: The text in this place is assuredly erroneous, as the +Mocaranges have been formerly described by De Faria as the ruling nation +in Monomotapa, which runs along the great bay of Sofala to _the north_ +of Cape Corientes.--E.] + +[Footnote 415: Probably the country and river now called Inhambane.--E.] + +[Footnote 416: These five last mentioned kingdoms, probably named from +the barbarous chiefs of roving savage tribes, are now unknown to +geography.--E.] + +After suffering much from hunger thirst and fatigue, the survivors from +the San Thome arrived at the town of _Manica_, where they were +courteously received by the king, who offered them permission either to +live in his town or in the island where we have formerly said the +Portuguese used to reside during their trade for ivory on this coast, at +which place they might remain till the arrival of the Portuguese +merchants[417]. They preferred the island, where some of them died; and +as they were ill accommodated here, they passed over in boats to the +continent and renewed their weary pilgrimage to the northward, but +separated. Some got to the fort of _Sofala_, and others to the town of +the king of _Innaca_, where they found some Portuguese traders who like +themselves had suffered shipwreck. After enduring great hardships, many +of them died, and among these was Don Paul de Lima. Those who survived, +returned after a long time to Goa, among whom were three ladies. Two of +these, Donna Mariana and Donna Joanna Mendoza dedicated themselves to a +religious life; but Donna Beatrix, the widow of Don Paul de Lima, having +conveyed her husbands remains to Goa, returned into Portugal, and was +afterwards married at Oporto. + +[Footnote 417: Manica is far inland, but the place indicated in the text +was probably near the mouth of the river of that name, on the north, +side of Delagoa bay.--E.] + +In May 1591, Matthew de Albuquerque arrived in India as viceroy. About +this time the Portuguese met with a heavy loss in Monomotapa in a war +with the _Muzimbas_, a savage nation of Kafrs. _Tete_, a fort belonging +to the Portuguese high up the river Zambeze, has the command of all the +neighbouring district for three leagues round, which is divided among +eleven native chiefs, who are all obliged to repair with their armed +followers to the fort when ordered by the Portuguese commandant, to the +number of 2000 men. Pedro Fernandez de Chaves, who commanded in Tete, +with these Kafrs and some Portuguese marched against _Quisura_ chief of +the _Mumbos_ at _Chicaronga_, a town on the north of the Zambeze about +30 miles from Tete. He defeated these Mumbos in battle and relieved many +prisoners who would otherwise have been slaughtered like cattle for the +shambles, as the Mumbos feed on human flesh. The chief _Quisara_ was +slain, who used to pave the way to his dwelling with the skulls of those +be had overcome. About the same time Andrew de Santiago, who commanded +in _Sena_, another Portuguese fort lower down the Zambeze, marched +against the _Muzimbas_ a barbarous race of Kafrs on the river _Suabo_ +which runs into the northern side of the Zambeze; but found them so +strongly fortified that he sent to Chaves for aid. Chaves accordingly +marched from _Tete_ with some Portuguese and the Kafrs under his +command; but the Muzimbas fell upon him unexpectedly and slew him and +all his Portuguese, being advanced a considerable way before the Kafrs, +who got time to escape. The victorious Muzimbas quartered the slain for +food, and returned to their fortified post. Next day the Muzimbas +marched out against Santiago, carrying the head of Chaves on a spear. +Santiago was so astonished at this sight that he endeavoured to retire +in the night, but was attacked by the Muzimbas in his retreat, and he +and most of his men slain. In these two unfortunate actions, above 130 +of the Portuguese were cut in pieces and buried in the bellies of these +savage cannibals. + +Don Pedro de Sousa commanded at this time in Mozambique; and as Tete and +Sena were under his jurisdiction, he set out with 200 Portuguese +soldiers and 1500 armed Kafrs to take revenge upon the Muzimbas and +succour the two forts on the Zambeze. He battered the entrenchments of +the barbarians to no purpose, and was repulsed in an attempt to take +them by assault. Having nearly succeeded by raising a mount of fascines +as high as the works of the enemy, he was induced to desist by some +cowards among his men, who pretended that the fort of Sena was in danger +of being taken. He drew off therefore to its relief, and was attacked by +the Muzimbas who slew many of his men, and took all his cannon and +baggage. Yet the enemy offered peace, which was concluded. Soon +afterwards one of the chiefs of the Muzimbas, having gathered about +15,000 men, marched to the southwards destroying every thing in the way +that had life, and invested _Quiloa_, which he gained possession of +through the treachery of one of the inhabitants, and put all to the +sword. After this he caused the traitor and all his family to be thrown +into the river, saying that those who had betrayed their country +deserved to die, yet were unfit to be eaten, as they were venomous, and +therefore fit food for the fishes. The Mozimba chief endeavoured to +destroy Melinda in the same manner, but the sheikh was assisted by 30 +Portuguese, which enabled him to hold out till 3000 _Mosseguejo_ Kafrs +came to his relief, when the Mozimbas were defeated with such slaughter +that only 100 of them escaped along with their chief, after they had +ravaged 300 leagues of country. + +We now return to the affairs of India, where Chaul was again besieged. +_Malek_[418] had erected a new city opposite to Chaul and bearing the +same name, well peopled with Moors who carried on an extensive trade, as +it had an excellent port and the inhabitants were famous silk-weavers. +The commander of this new city was an eunuch, who had been formerly a +slave to the Portuguese and now to Malek. Immediately to the north of +the Portuguese fortress of Chaul, from which it was divided by the river +of that name, is a noted promontory called _Morro_, on which the eunuch +took post with 4000 horse and 7000 foot, and cannonaded the Portuguese +fort of Chaul from that commanding ground with 65 pieces of large +cannon. These hostilities were countenanced by the Nizam, though +contrary to the peace which had been established when Francisco Barreto +was governor, but were now justified by some complaints against the +conduct of Albuquerque the present viceroy, and in addition to, the +siege of Chaul several military parties belonging to the Nizam infested +the districts, dependent upon the Portuguese forts of Basseen and Chaul. +As the Moors considered the capture of Chaul to be near at hand, seeing +that their cannon had made considerable impression on its walls, +_fourteen_ Mogul chiefs came to be present at its reduction; but in a +sortie made by the Portuguese, _nine_ of these were slain and _two_ +taken. Talador the eunuch commander of the besiegers was wounded, and +died soon afterwards, as did a Turk who was next in command, on which +Farete Khan succeeded in the conduct of the siege, and gave the +Portuguese no respite by day or night, continually battering their works +with his powerful artillery. The garrison in Chaul consisted of 1000 +men, to which place Alvaro de Abranches brought 300 from Basseen and 200 +from Salcete; and being now at the head of 1500 Portuguese troops and an +equal number of natives, so brave and faithful that they often +voluntarily interposed their own bodies to protect their masters, +Abranches appointed a day for making an attack upon the enemy. Having +all confessed, the Portuguese embarked in a number of small vessels and +crossed the river after which they forced their way to the plain of +Morro on the top of the promontary, where the battle was renewed. Ten +elephants were turned loose by the Moors, in expectation that they would +force the Portuguese troops into disorder; but one of these being +severely wounded by a Portuguese soldier, turned back and trampled down +the enemy, till falling into the ditch he made a way like a bridge for +passing over. Another of the elephants forcing his way in at a wicket in +the works of the enemy, enabled the Portuguese to enter likewise, where +they slaughtered the enemy almost without opposition. Some accounts say +that 10,000 men were slain on this occasion, and others say no less than +60,000. Farate Khan with his wife and daughter were made prisoners, and +only 21 Portuguese were slain in this decisive action. The principal +booty consisted of 75 pieces of cannon of extraordinary size, a vast +quantity of ammunition, many horses, and five elephants. Farate Khan +became a Christian before he died, as did his daughter, who was sent to +Portugal, but his wife was ransomed. + +[Footnote 418: This unusual name seems from the context to be here given +to the Nizam-al-mulk or sovereign of the Decan.--E.] + + +SECTION XI. + +_Continuation of the Portuguese Transactions in India, from 1597 to +1612_. + + +In May 1597, Don Francisco de Gama, count of Vidugueyra, grandson to the +discoverer, arrived at Goa as viceroy of India, but carried himself with +so much haughty state that he gained the dislike of all men. During his +government the scourge of the pride and covetousness of the Portuguese +came first into India, as in the month of September news was brought to +Goa that the two first ships of the _Hollanders_ that had ventured to +navigate the Indian seas had been in the port of _Titangone_ and were +bound for the island of _Sunda_. In a grand council held upon this +important event, it was ordered to fit out a squadron of two galleons, +three gallies, and nine other vessels to attack the intruders, and the +command was given on this occasion to Lorenzo de Brito, an ancient and +experienced officer. The two Holland ships did some small damage on the +coast of Malabar and other places, and when off Malacca fell in with six +ships bound from that place for India, commanded by Francisco de Silva. +They immediately engaged and fought the whole of that afternoon and part +of the night. Next morning the engagement was renewed, and was repeated +for eight successive days; till finding themselves too weak, the +Hollanders drew off and made for the port of Queda, many of their men +being slain and most of the rest wounded. At that place they quitted the +smallest of their ships for want of men, and the other was afterwards +cast away on the coast of Pegu. + +In this same year 1597 the Hollanders fitted out a squadron of eight +ships at Amsterdam for India, with 800 men and provisions for three +years, under the command of the admiral Jacob Cornelius van Nec. The +object of this expedition, besides hostility to the king of Spain, was +that they might purchase the spices and other commodities of Asia at a +cheaper rate than they had hitherto been accustomed to in Portugal. The +fleet sailed from Amsterdam on the 13th of May 1598; arrived at Madeira +on the 15th, and at the Canaries on the 17th, where they both took in +wine. On the 29th they were in the latitude of 6 deg. S. and passed the line +on the 8th of June; _a wonderful swiftness, to me incredible_! On the +24th July they saw the Cape of Good Hope, where three of the ships were +separated in a violent storm and arrived at the island of _Banda_ in +_April_[419]. The other four ships under the admiral discovered the +island of Madagascar on the 24th of August, coming to Cape St Julian on +the 30th of that month. On the 20th of September they came to the island +of _Cerne_ or _Cisne_, in lat. 21 deg. S. to which they gave the name of +_Mauritius_. Here they found tortoises of such magnitude that one of +them carried two men on its back, and birds which were so tame as to +allow themselves to be killed with sticks, whence they concluded that +the island was not inhabited. At Banda they joined the other three +ships, and having laded four with spices they were sent away to Holland, +while the other three went on to the Moluccas. On the 21st January 1598, +they discovered the _Great Java_[420], and touched at the port of +_Tuban_, after which they came to _Madura_ an island in lat. 2 deg. 30' S. +on the 27th of that month. At this place they endeavoured to ransom some +of their countrymen who had been cast away in their former ships, and +some others who had been made prisoners for endeavouring to pass false +money; but as the natives demanded too high a ransom, they attempted to +rescue them by force; but two boats full of armed men being sunk in the +attempt, they were forced to comply with the terms demanded. They +settled a trade at Amboina, and two of the ships opened a factory at +Banda, where they loaded with spice and returned into Holland on the +20th of April 1600. Those who were left in the remaining ship at Amboina +went to Ternate in the Moluccas where they were well received by the +king, and after procuring a lading of cloves returned home. + +[Footnote 419: We have no means of correcting the strange chronology of +this voyage, _wonderful_ even in the opinion of De Faria. He names the +Dutch Admiral _Neque_; but as _qu_ in Portuguese is used to mark the +sound of _k_ or hard _c_, we have ventured to give this first successful +rival of the Portuguese trade in India the name of _Van Nec_.--E.] + +[Footnote 420: Borneo is probably here meant, as they could not have +been in Banda without seeing both Sumatra and Java.--E.] + +Don Alexius de Menezes archbishop of Goa went about this time to visit +the Christians of St Thomas, who lived dispersedly in the mountains of +Malabar, in _Muli_, _Turubuli_, _Maota_, _Batimena_, _Diamper_, +_Pimienta_, _Tetemute_, _Porca_, _Paru_, and _Cartuti_. These Christians +continued stedfast at the faith till about the year 750, yet with some +tincture of error. About the year 810 the second _Thomas_, formerly +mentioned, came to this country, where he repaired the churches that had +been erected by the apostle and restored the true doctrine; but about +the year 900 this church was overrun by the _Nestorian_ heresy. In the +year 890 two _Chaldeans_ came here from _Babylon_, named _Mar Xarsio_ +and _Mar Prod_, who divided the district into two bishoprics, and were +ever afterwards prayed to as saints, till our archbishop ordered this to +be discontinued, as he much suspected they had not been legitimately +canonized. After these Chaldeans came one _Mar Joanne_, who was sent by +the Greek Patriarch, and resided at _Cranganor_ where he introduced the +_Chaldean_ ritual. His successor was _Mar Jacob_, who died in 1500, and +was succeeded by _Mar Joannato_. Thus the bishops and heresies continued +among the _Thomists_ till 1536, when Pope Paul IV. appointed Juan +Bermudez patriarch of _Ethiopia_, Simin Sulacca bishop of _Caheremit_ +the metropolis of _Mesopotamia_, _Mar Elias_ as patriarch of _Mosul_, +and _Mar Joseph_ bishop of Nineveh, whom he ordered to govern the +Christians of Malabar, with the bishop _Ambrose Montecelli_ for his +coadjutor. By this interference of the Pope there were two patriarchs of +the East, one _orthodox_ at _Mosul_, and the other _heretical_ at +Antioch. Joseph and Ambrose went over to the mountains of Malabar, to +assume the pastoral charge of the Thomists; but the latter separated +from the former and went to Goa, where after reading divinity for some +time he died at Cochin in the year 1557. As Don George Temudo bishop of +Cochin perceived that Joseph _spread the poison of Nestorius_ among his +flock in Malabar, he contrived to have him apprehended and sent in +chains to Portugal, were he was permitted to return to his bishopric on +promise of amendment[421]. On his return he found _Mar Abraham_ +officiating as bishop of the Thomists, who had chosen him in the absence +of Joseph; and as Abraham found himself persecuted, or disturbed in the +exercise of his functions by Joseph, he went to Rome where he got a +brief from Paul IV. appointing him bishop of the Thomists, having +engaged to reduce that people to the orthodox faith. Yet neither he nor +Joseph adhered to their engagements, but continued in their heresies. +After this one _Mar Simon_ came to Malabar, saying that he was sent by +the patriarch of Babylon to officiate as bishop of Malabar. He was +received by the queen of Pimienta and placed at _Cartuse_, where he +exercised episcopal functions; till _being carried_ to Lisbon he was +sent thence to Rome, where he was condemned by Pope _Sixtus Quintus_ as +a mere Nestorian and not even a priest. After the death of _Mar Abraham_ +his archdeacon governed the diocese, _as no Babylonian prelates dared to +come to Malabar_, Don Alexius, the archbishop of Goa, using his utmost +endeavours to keep out all such heretical prelates, which was the +particular occasion of his present visitation. + +[Footnote 421: Under this story we may presume without any lack of +Christian charity, that these promises were extorted by means best known +to the inquisition, that diabolical instrument of the pretended +disciples of the Prince of Peace, and eternal opprobrium of the +Peninsula. With regard to Joseph there was some shadow of excuse, as he +seems to have accepted his appointment from the _orthodox_ pope, though +secretly attached to the _heretical_ Nestorian patriarch.--E.] + +This prelate found that, among other errors, the Thomists denied the +virginity of our blessed lady[422]: They rejected the use of images: +they believed the souls of the just did not enjoy the beatific presence +of God till after the general judgment: they allowed only of three +sacraments, baptism, ordination and the eucharist: instead of confession +they used perfuming in their churches: the wine employed in the +sacrament was made from cocoas: their host was a cake made with oil and +salt: their priests were ordained at seventeen years of age, and were +permitted to marry after ordination: fathers, sons, and grandsons +administered the sacrament in the same church: the _Catatorias_ or +_Caffaneras_, so they called the wives of priests, wore a distinguishing +mark to be known by: in matrimony, they used no other formalities except +the consent of parties and consummation: the women observed the time +prescribed by the law of Moses in regard to churching: no sacraments +were administered gratuitously: holy water was mixed with some powder of +frankincense, and some of the soil on which St Thomas was supposed to +have trodden: they used sorcery and witchcraft: In fine, that all was +error, confusion, and heresy. + +[Footnote 422: This probably refers to her supposed immaculate purity +even after the birth of the Saviour.--E.] + +Don Alexius with much labour and toil convinced them of their errors and +converted them to the true faith, so that whole towns were baptised and +reconciled to the Roman see. He even held a provincial synod at +_Diamper_, all the decrees of which were confirmed by the Pope; and +Francisco Rodriguez, a Jesuit who had assisted the archbishop on this +important visitation, was made bishop of that diocese. On the breaking +up of the synod, Don Alexius visited all the churches in these parts. +While in the country of the queen of _Changanate_, visiting the church +of _Talavecare_, one of the most ancient in those parts, they shewed him +three plates on which were engraven certain privileges and revenues +granted by the king of Ceylon, at the time when the Babylonians _Zabro_ +and _Proo_[423], were in that country. At this place likewise Don +Alexius met _Topamuta Pandara_, king of _Gundara_[424] in the +neighbourhood of _Changanate_, to whom he presented a letter from king +Philip giving him the _title of brother_, for having allowed liberty for +the exercise of the Christian religion in his dominions[425]. + +[Footnote 423: Only a few pages before these men are named _Xanio_ and +_Prod_; but we have no means of ascertaining which are the right +names.--E.] + +[Footnote 424: These petty kings of small districts in the South of +India are now known by the titles of Polygars; and the hereditary female +chiefs are stiled _Rana_. It is prostituting the dignity of king to give +that denomination to the chiefs of small villages and trifling +districts, often not so large as parishes in Europe. They are mere +temporary chiefs, occasionally hereditary by sufferance; indeed such +could not possibly be otherwise, when all the larger dominions and even +empires have been in perpetual fluctuation from revolution and conquest +for at least 3000 years.--E.] + +[Footnote 425: The history of this ancient Christian church of Malabar +has been lately illustrated by the Christian Researches of Dr Buchannan, +who seems to have opened a door for the propagation of the gospel in +India infinitely promising, if judiciously taken advantage of.--E.] + +In the year 1596, a Moor, named _Pate Marcar_ obtained leave from the +zamorin to build a fort in the peninsula of Pudepatam, 77 leagues from +Goa and 33 from Cochin, where was a most convenient station for +piratical paraos, to annoy the trade of the Malabar coast; and having +built a square fort at this place, he went thither with all his kinsmen +and followers, and did much injury to the Portuguese and their allies, +even making incursions upon their maritime possessions, whence, on +several occasions, he carried off much spoil. Pate Marcar soon died, and +was succeeded in the sovereignty of the fort by his nephew Mahomet +Cuneale Marcar, who added greatly to the strength of the fort; and +foreseeing that the Portuguese might seek to be revenged for the +injuries they had sustained, he fortified the town both by sea, and +land, which he named _Cuneale_ after himself. On the land side he made a +deep ditch with a double wall above seven feet thick, flanked at regular +distances with towers called _zarames_, all of which were mounted with +small cannon. Between the two creeks forming the peninsula, he built a +strong wall with two towers to secure the town, and lined the sea-shore +with strong palisades; flanked by two bastions, one of which considerably +larger than the other, was mounted with heavy cannon to defend the +entrance of the harbour, which was farther secured by a boom of masts +strongly chained together. Having thus, as he thought, provided a secure +retreat, he continued his uncle's enterprises against the Portuguese +with much success, assisting all their enemies against them, even +robbing the Malabar traders on the coast, and filled his residence with +rich plunder. The viceroy Albuquerque had endeavoured to destroy this +nest of pirates, so prejudicial to the Portuguese trade, and had even +prevailed on the zamorin to concur in the destruction of Cuneale, so +that a treaty had been entered into, by which the zamorin engaged to +besiege Cuneale by land, while the Portuguese fleet attacked him by sea. +Both parties provided according to stipulation for this joint +expedition; but it was postponed for some time, in consequence of the +change in the government by the arrival of the Count of Vidigueyra as +viceroy, and even by the secret concurrence of the zamorin in the +piracies of Cuneale, who communicated to him a share of the plunder. + +At length, however, the zamorin became incensed against Cuneale, who +assumed the title of king of the Malabar Moors, and lord of the Indian +Sea; but chiefly because he had caused the tail of one of his elephants +to be cut off, and had used one of his Nayres in a cruel and scandalous +manner. Laying hold of this favourable opportunity, the viceroy, De +Gama, probably in 1598, renewed the league with the zamorin against +Cuneale, and sent some light vessels under Ferdinand de Noronha to +blockade the entrance into the port of Cuneale, till a larger force +could be provided to co-operate with the zamorin, who was marching to +besiege it by land with 20,000 men and some cannon. + +That part of the western coast of India, which is properly called the +coast of Malabar, extends from Cananor to Cochin for the space of 42 +leagues. From Cananor it is two leagues to the small island of +_Tremapatan_, within which is a good river; thence half a league to the +river of _Sal_, thence one and a half to the river _Maim_; one to the +town of _Comena_, a small distance beyond which are the towns of +_Motangue, Curiare_, and _Baregare_: thence to the river _Pudepatan_; +two leagues farther the town of _Tiracole_; other two leagues the town +of _Cotulete_; one league from this the river _Capocate_; one league +farther _Calicut_; two more to the river _Chale_; two to the city +_Pananor_; two thence to _Tanor_; two more to _Paranora_; one more to +the famous river _Paniane_; thence nine to _Paliporto_; four to the +river of _Cranganor_; and five more to _Cochin_. At the mouth of the +river _Pudepatan_ the fort of _Cuneale_ is seated in a square peninsula +formed by several creeks, and joined to the land on the south side, the +length of the four sides being about a cannon shot each. Just within the +bar there is sufficient water for ships of some size, which may go about +half way up the port; beyond that it is only fit for _almadias_ or +boats. The river runs first towards the north-east, then turning to the +south forms the peninsula in which the fort is built, the isthmus being +secured by a strong wall about a musket-shot in length, reaching +between the creek and the river, at the mouth of which is the small +island Pinale. The fort was large, strongly built, well manned, and had +abundance of cannon, ammunition, and provisions. + +In this emergency, Cuneale was well provided for defence, having a force +of 1500 choice Moors, well armed, whom he distributed to the different +posts. The small vessels under Noronha cannonaded the fort, principally +on purpose to draw off the attention of the Moors, that they might not +interrupt the zamorin on the land side, who was establishing his camp +for the purpose of the siege. At the same time, Noronha scoured the +coast, taking some of the piratical vessels belonging to Cuneale, and +preventing the introduction of provisions into the fort. After some +time, Don Luis de Gama, brother to the viceroy, arrived with four +gallies and 35 smaller vessels, ten more being brought by private +gentlemen at their own charge, and three full of men and ammunition sent +by the city of Cochin. Besides these, there were two large barks mounted +with heavy cannon to batter the fort. + +The rajah of Cochin, being apprehensive that the great power which was +now employed against Cuneale might prove his ruin, by uniting the +zamorin his ancient enemy with the Portuguese, circulated a report that +the zamorin had entered into a secret agreement with Cuneale to cut off +the whole Portuguese when engaged in the assault on the fort. The +archbishop of Goa, who was then at Cochin on his way to the Malabar +mountains to visit the Thomist churches, was at first much alarmed by +this report, fearing it might be true; but on mature consideration was +satisfied that it was only a political contrivance of the rajah, and +prudently advised the rajah to desist from the propagation of any such +false reports. He then assured the principal persons of Cochin that +their ships might safely proceed against Cuneale, yet recommended that +they should conduct themselves with much caution. All the fleet being +now united before the fort, it was found that Cuneale had drawn up a +line of armed galliots on the edge of the water under the wall of his +fort, in case of being attacked that way. It was resolved in a council +of war to force an entrance into the river, after which to draw up the +Portuguese vessels in a line with their bows to the shore, that they +might cover the debarkation of the troops for the purpose of assaulting +the fort. This proposition was transmitted to Goa and approved by the +viceroy, yet Don Luis was persuaded by some gentlemen who wished to +disgrace him, to attack on the side of _Ariole_, under pretence that the +passage of the bar might prove fatal. At this time the zamorin was +battering the walls of the town or _petah_, and desired that some +Portuguese might be sent to his assistance. Don Luis being suspicious, +demanded hostages for their safety, and accordingly six principal nayres +were sent, among whom were the rajahs of _Tanor, Chale_, and _Carnere_, +and the chief judge of Calicut. Don Luis then sent 300 Portuguese under +the command of Belchior Ferreyra. + +By previous concert, a combined assault was to be made on the night of +the 3d of May, the troops of the zamorin attacking on the land side, and +the Portuguese on the sea front, at the same time, the signal for both +to commence at once being by means of a flaming lance. But Belchior +Calaca, who was appointed to give the signal, mistook the hour, and gave +it too soon, so that every thing fell into confusion. Immediately on +seeing the signal, Ferreyra, who commanded the Portuguese troops along +with the zamorin, fell on with his men and 5000 Nayres, but lost 28 of +his men at the first onset. Luis de Silva, who was appointed to lead the +van of the Portuguese sea attack with 600 men, though ready and +observing the concerted signal, did not move till past midnight, which +was the appointed hour, by which the enemy were left free to resist the +land attack with their forces undivided. At length when it was towards +morning, de Silva passed the creek of _Balyzupe_ with 500 men in 60 +almadias or native boats. But immediately on landing de Silva was slain, +and his ensign Antonio Diaz concealed his death by covering his body +with the colours, which he stripped for that purpose from the staff. +Thus landing without commander or colours, the Portuguese fell into +contusion, and the two next in command were both slain. Don Luis de +Gama, leaving his fleet under the next officer, had landed with a +reserve on the other side of the river opposite the fort, but for want +of boats was unable either to cross to assume the command, or to send +assistance. The Portuguese troops were forced to retreat disgracefully +with the loss of 300 men, most of whom were drowned; though even in this +confusion a part of them forced their way into the fort and burnt the +mosque and part of the town, where, they slew 500 Moors and Malabars, +above 20 of whom were men of note. After this discomfiture, Don Luis de +Gamu retired to Cochin with the greater part of the fleet, leaving +Francisco de Sousa to continue the blockade, who persuaded the zamorin +to assault the town, as he believed the defenders had been so much +weakened by the late slaughter that it might be easily carried. But +though the zamorin gave the assault with 2000 men, he was repulsed. + +On the receipt of these bad tidings at Goa, Don Luis de Gama was ordered +back to Cuneale, to settle a treaty with the zamorin, and to continue +the siege during the winter, till the Portuguese fleet could return at +the commencement of the next fine season. A treaty to this effect was +accordingly concluded, by one of the articles of which the zamorin +consented that the Christian religion might be preached in his dominions, +and churches erected. After this Don Luis returned to Goa, whence he +went to command at Ormuz, and Ferdinand de Noronha remained before +Cuneale with twelve ships to prevent the introduction of provisions or +other supplies. + +Cuneale was so much elated by his success in repelling the Portuguese, +that, in addition to his former title, he stiled himself _Defender of +the Mahometan Faith and Conqueror of the Portuguese_; but when the +season returned for maritime operations on the coast, the viceroy sent +Andrew Furtado against him with three gallies, 54 other vessels, and a +powerful military force. In the mean time Antonio de Noronha continued +to blockade the port all winter, taking several vessels laden with +provisions, and on different occasions slew above 100 Moors who opposed +him in taking fresh water for his ships. While on his way from Goa, +Furtado dissuaded the rajah of _Banguel_ and the queen or _rana_ of +_Olala_ from sending aid to Cuneale as they intended, and cut off five +ships from Mecca that were going with relief to the enemy. When Furtado +came to anchor in the port of Cuneale, he sent to treat with the +zamorin, who had continued the siege on the land side all winter +according to his engagement, and an interview took place between them on +the shore where the zamorin came to meet him. The zamorin was naked from +the waist upwards. Round his middle a piece of cloth of gold was +wrapped, hanging to his knees and fastened by a girdle of inestimable +value, about the breadth of a hand. His arms were covered from the +elbows to the wrists with golden bracelets adorned with rich jewels, and +so heavily laden that two men supported his arms. He wore an +extraordinarily rich chain about his neck, and so many diamonds and +rubies hung from his ears that they were stretched down almost to his +shoulders by their weight. He seemed about 30 years of age, and had a +majestic presence. A little on one side stood the prince, carrying a +naked sword. Behind him were many of his nobles; among whom was father +Francisco Rodriquez, the new bishop of the Thomists in Malabar. The +zamorin and Furtado embraced in token of friendship, on which all the +cannon in the fleet fired a salvo. After this friendly meeting they +retired into the tent of the zamorin, where they had a long conference +about their future operations; and on taking leave, Furtado put a rich +collar about the neck of the zamorin, and they parted in a most amicable +manner. + +The rajah of Tanor and other great men were sent by the zamorin on board +the admiral ship, having full powers from their sovereign to treat and +conclude on all things concerning the joint interests of both parties, +and every thing was settled to mutual satisfaction. There now arrived +from Goa and other places, a galley and galleon, with 11 ships and 21 +smaller vessels, bringing ammunition and 790 soldiers, upon which +Furtado commenced the active operations of the siege, raising +entrenchments and batteries, and taking absolute possession of every +avenue leading to the fort and peninsula by water. He likewise caused +some advanced works belonging to the enemy to be assaulted, on which +Cuneale came in person to assist in their defence, and for a time +repulsed the assailants, till Furtado landed with a reinforcement, on +which the Portuguese remained victorious, slaying 600 of the Moors, with +the loss of two officers and nine privates on their side. Fort _Blanco_ +or the white tower was next assaulted, but with more bravery than +success. Yet Cuneale seeing that he could not much longer hold out, +offered rich presents to the zamarin to admit him to surrender upon +security of his own life and the safety of his garrison. But on this +secret negociation coming to the knowledge of Furtado, he made a furious +assault on the works, which were at the same time assailed on the land +side by 6000 Nayres, by which joint attack the lower town or petah was +taken, plundered, and burnt. Batteries were immediately erected against +the upper town and fort, and as their fire soon ruined the defences, +Cuneale was constrained to surrender at discretion, merely bargaining +that his life should be saved. He accordingly marched out having a black +veil on his head, and carrying his sword with the point downwards, which +he surrendered to the zamorin, who immediately delivered it to Furtado. +According to one of the articles of agreement the spoil was to have +been equally divided; but Furtado dealt generously by the zamorin, +alleging that this was to be understood only in respect to the +artillery, and appeased his own soldiers who expected that reward of +their labour. The fort and all other works were levelled with the +ground, and Furtado returned with the fleet and army to Goa. + +Cuneale was about 50 years of age, of a low stature, but strong and well +made. He and his nephew _Cinale_, with other forty Moors of note, were +sent as prisoners on board the fleet, where they well treated; but as +soon as some of them were set on shore at Goa, they were torn in pieces +by the rabble; and Cuneale and his nephew were both publicly beheaded by +order of the viceroy, so that the government and the mob went hand and +hand to commit murder and a flagrant breach of faith. How can those who +are guilty of such enormities give the name of barbarians to the much +more honourable Indians! + +In the year 1600, Ayres de Saldanna arrived at Goa as viceroy to +supersede the Count de Vidugueira, who was universally disliked by the +Portuguese inhabitants. The marble statue of the great Vasco de Gama, +his grandfather, stood over the principal gate of the city, fastened to +the wall by a strong bar of iron. At the instigation of some enemies to +the count, a _French_ engineer named Sebastian Tibao applied to the iron +bar during the night _a certain herb_ that has the quality of eating +iron, so that the statue fell down next night, and its quarters were +hung up in different parts of the city. On the day when the count was to +embark for his return to Portugal, a party of armed men went on board +before him, and hung up his effigy at the yard arm, made exactly like +him both in face and habit. Just as he was going on board they returned; +and on seeing the effigy he asked what it was, when someone answered, +"It is your lordship, whom these men have hung up." He made no reply, +but ordered the figure to be thrown into the sea and immediately set +sail; but two days afterwards had to return to port for a new stock of +fowls, as all these he took with him were poisoned. He was better +beloved by the elements than by those whom he had governed; for he went +all the way from India to Lisbon without once needing to furl a sail. By +the constant chafing of the yards on the masts, it was found impossible +to lower the yards in the usual way when the ship arrived at Lisbon, +insomuch that they had to be cut down. Sailing from Goa on the 25th +December 1600, he arrived at Lisbon on the 27th May 1601, having spent +only five months on the voyage. + +During the administration of Ayres de Saldana, _Xilimixa_ king of +Aracan, who had possessed himself of the kingdom of Pegu, gave the port +of _Siriam_ to the Portuguese in grateful acknowledgment of their +services. That town and port is at the mouth of the river Siriam which +flows within a league of the city of _Bagou_, the capital of Pegu. This +grant was obtained by Philip Brito de Nicote, who proved false and +ungrateful to the king of Aracan, who had raised him from the lowest +rank to his favour and esteem. By his persuasion, Xilimixa erected a +custom-house at the entry to the river Siriam to increase his revenues; +which Brito meant afterwards to seize, and to build a fort there, on +purpose to give a footing for the Portuguese to conquer the kingdom. +Xilimixa accordingly built the custom-house, which he gave in charge to +one _Bannadala_ who fortified himself and suffered no Portugeuse to enter +there, except a Dominican named Belchior de Luz. Nicote, seeing his +purposes likely to be defeated by Bannadala, determined to gain +possession by force before the works were completed. He had along with +him at this time three Portuguese officers and fifty men, whom he +ordered to surprize the fort and turn out Bannadala, trusting to his +great credit with Xilimixa to bear him out in this procedure. The +Portuguese officers accordingly executed their orders so effectually, +that they used to be called the Founders of the Portuguese dominion in +Pegu, and Salvador Ribeyro their commander was like to have got the +whole credit of the exploit, as some even affirmed that he was its +author, though in reality all was due to Nicote. Bannadala being +expelled from his fort, fortified himself with 1000 men in a +neighbouring island of the river Siriam, and seized the treasures of the +pagoda of Digan to maintain his troops. Xilimixa was much offended by +the conduct of the Portuguese in this affair, and resolved to support +Bannadala, but was dissuaded by the contrivances of Nicote, who +represented that he was about to favour a sacrilegious robber, and +offered to arrange matters with the Portuguese to his entire +satisfaction. He accordingly went to Siriam, where he ordered every +thing to his own mind; and when the fort was nearly finished, he went to +Goa, where he offered to deliver up the fort to the viceroy, whence the +Portuguese might easily conquer the kingdom of his master, to whom he +represented his voyage to Goa as intended to procure an auxiliary force +which would enable him to make a conquest of Bengal. At the same time +Nicote negociated with all the princes in the provinces adjoining the +dominions of Xilimixa, persuading them to confederate with the +Portuguese viceroy, by which means they might easily conquer the kingdom +of Pegu; and several of them sent ambassadors along with him to Goa for +this purpose. + +Hardly had Nicote set sail for Goa, when Xilimixa became sensible of his +error in confiding in him, and sent a fleet of war boats down the river +Siriam with 6000 men under Bannadala to expell the Portuguese from their +fort. Salvador Ribeyra met this great armament with only three small +vessels and thirty men, and, without the loss of one man, took forty +vessels of the enemy and put the rest to flight. Then calling in the aid +of the king of _Pram_, Xilimixa beset the fort with 1200 vessels by +water, while 40,000 men surrounded it by land; but as Ribeyra learnt +that the enemy observed no order or discipline, he boldly fell upon them +with his handful of men, and having slain their general put that army to +flight. Bannadala rallied 8000 of the fugitives, with which be again +besieged the fort, lodging his men in good order, and having battered +the place for some days, he ventured to make a fierce assault in the +dead of night; but he was bravely repelled by the Portuguese, and above +1000 of his men were found dead next morning in the ditch. The enemy +continued the siege however for eight months, and though some of the +garrison deserted, Ribeyra defended the place with great resolution; and +to take away all hopes of escape from his men, burnt all the vessels +that were in the port. Hearing of these proceedings, Ayres de Saldanna +the viceroy, sent a considerable reinforcement, along with which came so +many volunteers, ambitions either of honour or profit, that Ribeyra +found himself at the head of 800 men. With these he attacked the enemy, +whom he drove from their works with great slaughter, and Bannadala had +the mortification to see the works which he had been constructing for +almost a year destroyed in a day. After this success, the Portuguese +volunteers withdrew, only 200 that had been sent by the viceroy +remaining in the fort with Ribeyra. + +The enemy returned a fourth time against the fort, which they now +assailed with many moving castles and various kinds of fire works, and +soon reduced the fort to great extremity; but were so terrified by a +fiery meteor, that they fled leaving their castles behind, which were +soon reduced to ashes by the garrison. Soon afterwards the Portuguese +obtained a great victory over king _Massinga_ in the province of +_Camelan_; after which the natives flocked to their standard to the +number of above 20,000 men, and proclaimed Nicote king of Pegu, calling +him _Changa_, which signifies good man. Nicote was at this time absent, +but Ribeyra accepted the proffered crown in his name, on which account +it was reported in Spain that Ribeyra had been proclaimed king. Nicote +afterwards, as a loyal subject, received the kingdom in the name of his +sovereign, and was the first of the Portuguese that rose to such high +fortune in Asia. Rodrigo Alvarez de Sequeyra succeeded Ribeyra in +command of the fort of Siriam, and defended it bravely till it took fire +by accident, only the bare walls being left standing. + +In the mean time Nicote solicited succours at Goa, where the viceroy +married him to a niece he had born in Goa of a woman of Java; after +which he gave him powerful succours, and sent him to Siriam with six +ships, with the title of Commander of Siriam, and General for the +conquest of Pegu. On his arrival at Siriam, Nicote repaired the fort, +built a church, and sent a splendid present to the king of Aracan who +had sent a complimentary message on his arrival. At Siriam Nicote +regulated the custom-house pursuant to the instructions of the viceroy, +obliging all vessels that traded on the coast of Pegu to make entry at +Siriam, and pay certain duties. As some of the Coromandel traders +refused obedience to these orders, Nicote sent Francisco de Moura +against them with six vessels, who took two ships of Acheen on the coast +of Tanacerim richly laden. As the king of Aracan was desirous of +recovering possession of the fort and custom-house of Siriam, he sent an +ambassador to the king of _Tangu_ with twenty _jalias_ or small ships, +to prevail upon him to join in that enterprize. But Nicote sent +Bartholomew Ferreyra, who command the small craft, who put them to +flight, and they were forced to take refuge in the dominions of the king +of Jangona. Upon this, the enemy collected 700 small vessels and 40,000 +men, under the command of the son of the king of Aracan, accompanied by +Ximicalia and Marquetam, sons to the reigning emperor of Pegu. Paul del +Rego went against them with seven ships and a number of war boats, and +defeated the prince with great loss, taking all his vessels, and +obliging him to make his escape by land. After this Paul took the fort +of _Chinim_ with a great number of prisoners, among whom was the wife of +Bannadala. + +At this time Nicote was abroad with fourteen small vessels, in which +were 60 Portuguese, and 200 Peguers; and learning that the prince was on +shore with 4000 men, 900 of whom were armed with firelocks, he landed +and attacked him, gaining a complete victory, and even taking the +prince. When the Peguers saw their prince carried off, they were all +eager to have accompanied him into captivity, and entreated to be +received into the Portuguese vessels, such as were refused bewailing +that they could not follow, as prisoners, him whom they had served +faithfully while at liberty. On this occasion Nicote gave a notable +example how brave men ought to use their victories. Remembering that he +had formerly been slave to the prince who was now his prisoner, he +served him with as much respect as he had done formerly; watching him +while asleep, and holding his baskins in his hands with his arms across, +as is done by the meanest servants of princes in that country, and +continually attended him on all occasions. + +While these transactions were going on in Pegu, Don Martin Alfonzo de +Castro came to Goa as viceroy, to replace Ayres de Saldanna, in 1604. +Ximilixa, king of Aracan, sent to treat with Nicote for the ransom of +the prince, his son, and accordingly paid 50,000 crowns on that account, +although Nicote was ordered by the viceroy to set the prince free +without any ransom. Ximilixa afterwards besieged Siriam in conjunction +with the king of Tangu, who brought a great army against the town by +land, while Ximilixa shut it up by sea with 800 sail, in which he had +10,000 men. Paul del Rego went against him with 80 small vessels; and +failing of his former success, set fire to the powder and blew up his +ship, rather than fall into the hands of the enemy. The siege continued +so long, that the garrison was reduced to extremity, and on the point of +surrendering, when the king of Tangu retired one night with his army +upon some sudden suspicion, on which Ximilixa was likewise obliged to +draw off with his fleet. Several of the neighbouring princes were now so +much alarmed by the success of Nicote, that they solicited his +friendship, and to be admitted into alliance with the king of Portugal. +The first of these was the king of Tangu, and afterwards the king of +Martavan, who gave one of his daughters as a wife to Simon the son of +Nicote. Soon after, the king of Tangu being overcome in battle by the +king of _Ova_, and rendered tributary, Nicote united with the king of +Martavan, and invaded the dominions of Tangu, though in alliance with +that prince, took him prisoner and plundered him of above a million in +gold, although he protested that he was a faithful vassal to the king of +Portugal. + +About this time another low adventurer, Sebastian Gonzalez Tibao, raised +himself by similar arts to great power in Aracan. In the year 1605, +Gonzalez embarked from Portugal for India, and going to Bengal, listed +as a soldier. By dealing in salt, which is an important article of trade +in that country, he soon gained a sufficient sum to purchase a _Jalia_, +or small vessel, in which he went with salt to Dianga, a great port in +Aracan. At this period, Nicote, who had possessed himself of Siriam, as +before related, wishing to acquire Dianga likewise, sent his son with +several small vessels thither on an embassy to the king of Aracan, to +endeavour to procure a grant of that port. Some Portuguese who then +resided at the court of Aracan, persuaded the king that the object of +Nicote in this demand; was to enable him to usurp the kingdom; upon +which insinuation the son of Nicote; and all his attendants were slain, +after which the same was done with the crews of his vessels, and all the +Portuguese inhabitants at Dianga, to the number of about 600 were put to +death, except a few who escaped on board nine or ten small vessels and +put out to sea. Among these was the vessel belonging to Sebastian +Gonzalez, who assumed the command; and as the fugitives were reduced to +great distress, they subsisted by plunder on the coasts of Aracan, +carrying their booty to the ports of the king of Bacala, who was in +friendship with the Portuguese. + +Not long before this had died Emanuel de Mattos, who had been commander +of _Bandel_ of _Dianga_, and lord of _Sundiva_[426], an island about 70 +leagues in compass, the subordinate command of which he had confided to +a valiant Moor named Fate Khan. On learning the death of Mattos, Fatecan +murdered all the Portuguese on the island of Sundiva, with their wives +and children, and all the Christian natives; and gathering a +considerable force of Moors and Patans, fitted out a fleet of 40 small +vessels, which he maintained by means of the ample revenue of the island +he had now usurped. Understanding that Sebastian Gonzalez and his small +squadron was cruizing near Sundiva, Fatecan went out to seek them with +such assurance of success, that he inscribed upon his colours, "Fate +Khan, by the grace of God, Lord of Sundiva, Shedder of Christian Blood, +and Destroyer of the Portuguese Nation." Sebastian and his companions +had put, into a river called _Xavaspur_, where they quarrelled about the +division of their spoil, and one Pinto sailed away from the rest in +disquiet; but meeting the fleet of Fatecan, who had hoped to surprize +the Christians he returned and gave his companions notice of their +danger. After a severe conflict, the 10 small vessels in which were only +80 Portuguese, proved victorious over the 40 vessels belonging to +Fatecan, though manned with 600 Moors, not a single vessel or man +escaping. After this great victory, the Portuguese agreed to appoint +Sebastian Gonzalez to command over the rest. Sebastian entered into a +treaty with the king of Bacala for his assistance to reduce the island +of Sundiva, engaging to pay him half the revenues of that island, and +accordingly procured from him some vessels, and 200 auxiliary horse. +Having likewise gathered a number of Portuguese from Bengal and other +parts, he saw himself, in March 1609, at the head of 400 Portuguese +troops, and had mustered a fleet of 40 small ships. In consequence of +the delay necessary for making these preparations, the island of Sundiva +was provided for defence, under a brother of the late Fatecan, who had +raised a respectable force of Moors. Sebastian, however, attempted its +conquest, and had nearly been forced to desist for want of provisions +and ammunition, when he was reinforced by a Spaniard named Gaspar de +Pina, who brought 50 men to his aid, after which they carried the fort +by assault, and put all its garrison to the sword. Having formerly been +subject to the Portuguese under de Mattos, the islanders immediately +submitted to Gonzalez, to whom they delivered upwards of 1000 Moors who +were scattered about the country, all of whom he put to death. Thus +Gonzalez became absolute master of the island, and was obeyed by the +natives and Portuguese like an independent prince. + +[Footnote 426: It is highly probable, though not mentioned by De Faria, +that this Portuguese was in the service of the king of Aracan, under +whom he had held these offices. Sundiva or Sundeep is a considerable +island to the south-east of the mouth of the Burrampooter, near the +coast of Chittagong, and to the east of the Sunderbunds or Delta of the +Ganges.--E.] + +Gonzalez having now a considerable revenue at his command, raised a +respectable military force of 1000 Portuguese, 2000 well armed natives, +and 200 horse, with above 80 sail of small vessels well provided with +cannon. He erected a custom-house, and encouraged the resort of +merchants to his dominions, and became so formidable that the +neighbouring princes courted his alliance. Insolent and ungrateful in +the progress of his power, he not only refused to give half the revenue +of the island to the king of Bacala according to agreement, but made war +upon his benefactor, from whom he conquered the islands of +_Xavaspur_[427] and _Patelabanga_, and other lands from other +neighbouring princes; so that he became suddenly possessed of vast +riches and great power, and acted as an independent sovereign, having +many brave men at his command. But such monsters are like comets that +threaten extensive ruin, yet last only for a short time, or like the +lightning, which no sooner expends its flash but it is gone for ever. + +[Footnote 427: Shabapour is an island to the west of Sundeep, at the +principal mouth of the Barrampooter.--E.] + +Soon after the elevation of Gonzalez to the sovereignty of Sundiva, a +civil war broke out between the king of Aracan and his brother Anaporam, +because the latter refused to resign a remarkable elephant, to which all +the other elephants of the country were said to allow a kind of +superiority. Being unsuccessful in the contest, Anaporam fled to +Gonzalez for assistance and protection, who demanded his sister as an +hostage. Gonzalez and Anaporam endeavoured, in conjunction, to fight the +king of Aracan, who had an army of 80,000 men, and 700 war elephants; +but being unsuccessful, were obliged to retreat to Sundiva, into which +Anaporam brought his wife and family, with all his treasure, and became +a subject of Gonzalez, who soon afterwards had the sister of Anaporam +baptized, and took her to wife. Anaporam soon died, not without +suspicion of poison; and Gonzalez immediately seized all his treasures +and effects, though he had left a wife and son. To stop the mouths of +the people on this violent and unjust procedure, he wished to have +married the widow of Anaporam to his brother Antonio Tibao, who was +admiral of his fleet, but she refused to become a Christian. Sebastian +continued the war against the king of Aracan with considerable success; +insomuch that on one occasion his brother Antonio, with only five sail, +defeated and captured 100 sail belonging to Aracan. At length the king +of Aracan concluded peace, and procured the restoration of his brother's +widow, whom he married to the rajah of Chittigong. + +At this time, the Moguls undertook the conquest of the kingdom of +_Balua_[428], and as Gonzalez considered this conquest might prove +dangerous to his ill-got power, Balua being adjoining to his own +territories, he entered into a league with the king of Aracan for the +defence of that country. Accordingly, the king of Aracan took the field +with an immense army, having 80,000 of his own native subjects, mostly +armed with firelocks, 10,000 Peguers who fought with sword and bucklers, +and 700 elephants with castles carrying armed men. Besides these, he +sent 200 sail of vessels to sea, carrying 4000 men, ordering this fleet +to join that of Gonzalez, and to be under his command. According to the +treaty, Gonzalez, with the combined fleet, was to prevent the Moguls +from passing to the kingdom of Balua, till the king of Aracan could +march there with his army for its protection; besides which it was +agreed, when the Moguls were expelled from Balua, that half the kingdom +was to be given up to Gonzalez; who, on this occasion, gave as hostages, +for the safety of the Aracan fleet, and the faithful performance of his +part of the treaty, a nephew of his own, and the sons of some of the +Portuguese inhabitants of Sundiva. + +[Footnote 428: There still is a town named _Bulloah_, to the east of the +Barrampooter and directly north of Sundeep, which may then have given +name to a province or small principality, of which Comillah is now the +chief town.--E.] + +According to treaty, the king of Aracan entered the kingdom of Balua +with his army, and expelled the Moguls; but Gonzalez did not perform his +part of the agreement in preventing the Moguls from penetrating into +that kingdom, some alleging that he had been bribed by the Moguls to +allow them a free passage, while, according to others, he did so from +revenge against the king of Aracan, for the Portuguese who had been +slain by that king in _Bangael_ of _Dianga_[429]. However this may have +been, Gonzalez was guilty of a most execrable treachery, as, by leaving +open the mouth of the river _Dangatiar_, he left a free passage to the +Moguls. After this he went with his fleet into a creek of the island +_Desierta_[430], and assembling all the captains of the Aracan vessels on +board his ship, he murdered them all, seized all their vessels, and +killed or made slaves of all their men, after which he returned to +Sundiva. Soon afterwards the Moguls returned in great force to the +kingdom of Balua, where they reduced the king of Aracan to such straits +that he made his escape with great difficulty on an elephant, and came +almost alone to Chittigong. Immediately upon this discomfiture of the +Aracan army, which was utterly destroyed by the Moguls in Balua, +Gonzalez plundered and destroyed all the forts on the coast of Aracan, +which were then unprovided for defence, as depending on the peace and +alliance between their king and Gonzalez; he even went against the city +of Aracan, where he burnt many merchant vessels, and acquired great +plunder, and destroyed a vessel of great size, richly adorned, and +containing several splendid apartments like a palace, all covered with +gold and ivory, which the king kept as a pleasure-yacht for his own use. +Exasperated against Gonzalez for his treachery, the king ordered the +nephew of that lawless ruffian, who was in his power as a hostage, to be +be impaled. But Gonzalez, being a person utterly devoid of honour, cared +not at whose cost he advanced his own interests; yet the guilt of so +many villanies began to prey upon his conscience, and he became +apprehensive of some heavy punishment falling upon him, which he had +little means to avert, as all men considered him a traitor unworthy of +favour; those of Aracan, because he had betrayed them to the Moguls; and +the Moguls, because he had been false to those that trusted him. He +afterwards met his just reward under the government of Don Jerom de +Azevedo[431]. + +[Footnote 429: Perhaps the island now called Balonga on the coast of +Aracan.--E.] + +[Footnote 430: Probably a desert or uninhabited island among the +Sunderbunds, in the Delta of the Ganges. Indeed the whole geography of +this singular story is obscure, owing to the prodigious change in +dominion and names that have since taken place in this part of +India.--E.] + +[Footnote 431: Owing to the want of interest in the transactions of +these times, as related in the Portuguese Asia, and the confused +arrangement of De Faria, we have in this place thrown together the +principal incidents in the extraordinary rise of these two successful +adventurers, Nicote and Gonzalez, leaving their fate to be mentioned in +the succeeding section.--E.] + +The Hollanders, becoming powerful at the Molucca islands, and forming an +alliance with these islanders, who were weary of the avarice and tyranny +of the Portuguese, expelled them from Amboyna and established themselves +at Ternate, whence the Portuguese had been formerly expelled by the +natives. By the aid of the king of Ternate, the Hollanders likewise, +about 1604, got possession of the fort of Tidore, whence about 400 +Portuguese were permitted to retire by sea to the Phillipine islands, +where they were hospitably received by Don Pedro de Cunna, who commanded +there for the Spaniards. In February 1605, Cunna sailed from the +Philippines with 1000 Spanish and 400 native troops, and recovered the +fort of Ternate, chiefly owing to the bravery of Joam Rodriguez Camelo, +who commanded a company of Portuguese in this expedition. De Cunna +thence proceeded for Tidore, which he likewise reduced, by which +conquest the Molucca islands became subject to Spain. + +The viceroy, Don Alfonso de Castro, dying in 1607, was succeeded as +governor by Alexias de Menezes, archbishop of Goa, pursuant to a patent +of succession. Next year, 1608, Don Joam Pereyra Frojas, count de Feyra, +was sent out from Portugal as viceroy of India, but died on the voyage. +After administering the government for two years and a half, the +archbishop was succeeded as governor by Andrew Furtado de Mendoza in +1609, who was soon afterwards superseded in the same year by Ruy Lorenzo +de Tavora, who came out from Portugal as viceroy. At this time, Don +Jerome de Azevedo commanded in Ceylon, who, with an army of 700 +Portuguese troops and 25,000 Cingalese took and burnt the city of Candy, +on which the sovereign of that central dominion made peace with the +Portuguese, consenting to the ministry of the Franciscans in his +dominions, and even placed two of his sons in their hands, to be +instructed in the Christian religion. + +About this time, a large _English_ ship and a ketch had an engagement +with two Portuguese ships beyond the Cape of Good Hope, which escaped +after suffering a severe loss. These English ships went afterwards to +Surat, where they were found by Nunno de Cunna, who had four well-manned +galleons, but ill provided with gunners, who were ignorant and cowardly. +On descrying these large ships, though the English had reason to be +afraid of their number, they undervalued them as heavy sailors, and +immediately engaged and fought them till evening, killing 30 of the +Portuguese. The engagement recommenced at day-light next morning, and +two of the Portuguese galleons, endeavouring to run on board the large +English ship, got aground, on which the pink or ketch, belonging to the +enemy, kept firing its cannon upon one of the grounded galleons, till it +floated off with the evening tide. The other two galleons fought the +large English ship all day. On the third day, all the four galleons +being afloat, endeavoured to board the enemy, who relied on their cannon +and swiftness, and sailed away to Castelete, a bay of the pirates near +Diu. De Cunna followed them thither, and again fought them for two days, +in all which time the Portuguese ships could never board them by reason +of their unwieldy bulk. At length the English stood away, shewing black +colours in token that their captain was slain. In these long indecisive +actions, the English and Portuguese both lost a number of men. The +English made for Surat, followed still by De Cunna; on which they left +that port, and De Cunna returned to Goa. + + +SECTION XII. + +_Continuation of the Portuguese Transactions, from 1512 to 1517._ + + +Towards the close of 1511, orders came to India for Don Jerome de +Azevedo to succeed Tavora as viceroy. Azevedo had acquired a high +character by many years service, eighteen years of which he had spent in +Ceylon, where he had acquired great riches, and yet preserved a good +name. The report of his riches contributed, as much as the fame of his +valour, to his present promotion, as it was thought that he who had so +much already, would be less inclined to covetousness; though experience +shews, that those who have much still covet more. Azevedo had likewise +offered to serve the office of viceroy without the usual salary, but +afterwards accepted it. Among the first actions of his administration +was to send home Danish Beg, ambassador from Shah Abbas, king of Persia, +who had been in Spain at the court of King Philip. Shah Abbas treated, +at the same time, both with King Philip, and James king of England, +endeavouring to influence both to the furtherance of his own designs; +having taken the island of Bahrayn from the Portuguese, and was now +endeavouring to gain Ormuz. Along with this Persian ambassador, Antonio +de Guovea, titular bishop of _Sirene_, went for the purpose of +propagating Christianity in Persia; but, finding that the Persian +government was inimical to his mission, he went no farther than Ormuz. +Shah Abbas was so much displeased with his ambassador for not succeeding +in his negotiation for the surrender of Ormuz, that he caused him to be +beheaded; and was so much exasperated against the Christians, that he +forced many of his Armenian subjects to renounce the faith. + +The fortune of Nicote in Pegu now declined as swiftly as it had risen. +In 1513, the king of _Ova_, being provoked at the violence which Nicote +had been guilty of against the king of Tangu, who was under his +protection, made a vow that he would revenge his injuries. Having +assembled an army of 120,000 men, and 400 vessels of considerable +strength, in which were above 6000 of those Moors so noted for valour, +called _Caperuzas_ from their wearing caps, he marched against Siriam, +where he burnt every thing beyond the walls of the fort. Nicote made a +brave resistance though taken unawares, as he had suffered most of his +men to go to India, and was very scarce of powder. In this distress, he +sent a soldier to purchase powder at Bengal, who ran away with the +money; and sent likewise to San Thoma for the same commodity, but was +refused any supply. For want of powder he was unable to fire his cannon +against the enemy, and was reduced to the expedient of pouring boiling +pitch and oil on their heads. At length, Nicote was taken and carried to +the king of Ova, who ordered him to be impaled on an eminence in view of +the fort, where he lived two days in torment. His wife, Donna Luisa de +Saldanna, was kept three days in the river to be purified, as the king +designed her for himself; but when brought before him, she upbraided him +for his cruelty, and he ordered _her leg to be bored_, and that she +should be sent to Ova along with the other slaves. A native named +_Banna_ who had betrayed Nicote, demanding his reward from the king of +Ova, was ordered to be torn in pieces, the king alleging, that he who +had been false to his benefactor would never be true to him. The son of +Nicote resided, at that time, in Martavan, having married the daughter +of the king of that place; but the king of Ova caused him to be put to +death, that no one of the race might remain alive. Thus ended Nicote, +who, from the lowest poverty, had raised himself to great power and +prodigious riches, being worth three millions[432]. The enemy allowed of +having lost 30,000 men in this siege. The viceroy on hearing of the +danger of Siriam, had dispatched Diego de Mendoza to its relief with +five galliots; but having put off his time by the way on other objects, +he was too late. + +[Footnote 432: Probably ducats are here meant.] + +In the year 1614, the viceroy resolved to go in person to the sea of +Guzerate to meet the _English_ and _Hollanders_, who were then strong +in these seas. He sent before him Emanuel de Azevedo with 22 sail, who +was joined at Surat by two other squadrons, after which he landed and +destroyed the lands of _Cifandam_ and _Diva_. The towns of _Baroach_ and +_Goga_ were plundered, with six large ships in the bay, as was likewise +the city of _Patane_. Having completed his preparations, the viceroy +sailed from Goa with seven galleons, one of which was so large that it +easily carried 230 men besides mariners, 30 of them being gentlemen. +Besides the galleons, there were two pinks, one galley, one caravel, and +five other vessels, on board of which were 1400 Portuguese soldiers, +with a great number of cannon, but the gunners were very unskilful. At +Surat the viceroy was joined by the squadron under Emanuel de Azevedo, +the chief design of this large armament being to destroy four English +vessels then in that port. The preparations for this purpose seemed +disproportionately large, yet the event proved the contrary. Being come +in sight of the English, the viceroy ordered the two pinks with the +caravel and other smaller vessels to close with one of the English +vessels which lay at some distance from the rest. Having all grappled +with the enemy and almost carried her by boarding, the other three ships +came up and drove them all off. The first of the three vessels which had +attacked the English ship took fire, and being attempted to be steered +on board the English ship to set her on fire was destroyed without doing +the enemy any harm. In this manner the first day was expended to no +purpose, and next day, on proposing to attack the English ships, they +were found riding in a place to which the entrance was so narrow that +one galleon only could come at them at once, which might therefore have +been disabled by the English cannon, for which reason no attempt was +made to attack them; but some alleged that this was only a pretence set +up by those who had no mind for the enterprise. A fruitless endeavour +was made to destroy them by means of fire-ships. + +Perceiving that he only lost his labour at this place, the viceroy went +to Diu, whence he dispatched relief to Ormuz; and on his return from Diu +towards Goa, the four English ships were seen at a great distance from +Surat in full sail to the south. The viceroy pursued, and towards +evening came up with the sternmost, having left his own fleet far +behind. The head gunner offered to sink the English ship by means of two +40 pounders; but the officers who accompanied the viceroy opposed this, +alleging that the other three English ships would come upon him while +alone and the galleon might be lost. The viceroy accordingly submitted +to their opinion, but neglected to make them give it under their hands; +and when he was afterwards accused for having neglected to do what the +gunner proposed, they denied having ever given him any such advice. The +English were so thankful for this forbearance, that they fired their +cannons without ball as if saluting. + +In the year 1615, Sebastian Gonzalez Tibao, formerly mentioned, who had +raised himself from a poor dealer in salt to be an absolute sovereign by +treachery and ingratitude, and who had neglected to submit himself to +the Portuguese viceroy in the height of his prosperity, finding himself +now in danger of losing his ill got power, sent to request succour; but +even now proposed terms like an independent prince, and offered in +return for assistance and protection to deliver a large ship load of +rice yearly at Goa as an acknowledgement of vassalage. He urged that all +he had done was to revenge the murder of the Portuguese in _Banguel of +Dianga_ by the king of Aracan, and hinted that the vast treasures of the +king might easily be taken by a very moderate effort. This blinded the +viceroy, who immediately fitted out 14 of the largest galliots with a +fliboat and a pink, and sent them to Aracan under the command of +Francisco de Menezes Roxo, who had formerly commanded in Ceylon. Roxo +sailed from Goa about the middle of September 1615. On the 2d of October +he arrived at Aracan, the chief port and residence of the king, having +detached a galleon to _Sundiva_ to give notice to Gonzalez of his +arrival and intentions. Having opened his instructions in presence of +all the captains, they directed him to proceed against Aracan without +waiting for Gonzalez; which was highly improper, as that man knew the +country and was acquainted with their manner of fighting, besides that +the force he was able to bring was of importance. But God confounded +their councils, having decreed the ruin of that vile wretch, and of the +unjust succours that were now sent to his aid. + +On the 15th of October, the Aracan fleet was observed coming down the +river to attack, so numerous that they could not be counted. The +foremost vessel was a Dutch pink, and many of the other vessels were +commanded by Hollanders. All that could be seen appeared full of men +well armed and equipped, and seemed a prodigious overmatch for the small +number the Portuguese had to oppose them, as besides the galliot sent to +Sundiva another had been dispatched in search of the pink, so that only +12 galliots remained and the fliboat. The Dutch pink fired the first +gun, and then the fight began with great fury, the Portuguese galliots +bravely advancing against the vast hostile fleet. Four of the galliots +got before the rest, and in the very beginning of the action their +captains and many of their men were slain, but the other eight came up +to their rescue, and great execution was done among the enemy, many of +whom were drowned by oversetting their vessels in their haste to escape +from the destructive fire of the Portuguese. The battle raged the whole +day, but the enemy drew off in the evening, thinking that a +reinforcement was coming to the Portuguese, as they saw the galliot +approaching which had been sent in search of the pink. In this +engagement the Portuguese lost 25 men of note besides others. + +Next morning the pink joined the fleet, on board of which all the +wounded men were put, and those that were fit for service in that vessel +were distributed among the others. Roxo now resolved to remain at anchor +at the mouth of the river till Gonzalez came to join him, and then to +attack the enemy. At length Gonzalez made his appearance, with 50 +vessels well manned and equipped, and on being told the orders of the +viceroy and what had been already done, he expressed much displeasure at +the viceroy for giving such orders, and at Roxo for imprudently fighting +before his arrival. About the middle of November: the combined fleets +sailed up the river and discovered the vast fleet of Aracan at anchor in +a well chosen situation, where it was resolved immediately to attack +them. Roxo took half of the ships belonging to Gonzalez under his +immediate command, giving Gonzalez half of these he had brought from +Goa, so as to make two equal squadrons. Thus arranged they advanced +against the enemy, firing against those vessels they could reach, but +none of the enemy ventured to advance. The king of Aracan viewed the +engagement from the shore to encourage his people, and caused the heads +of such as fled to be cut off and exposed on spears as a terror to the +rest. About noon when the heat of the sun was so great as to scorch the +Portuguese; the Aracan ships came on in three numerous squadrons. +Sebastian Gonzalez put to flight those of the enemy that were opposed to +him, and the Portuguese pink compelled that belonging to the Hollanders +to draw off. On that side where Roxo commanded there was much slaughter +on both sides without any evident superiority; but about sunset, when +the advantage was obviously leaning to the Portuguese, Roxo was slain. +Being informed by signal of this mischance, Gonzalez was obliged to +discontinue following up his good fortune; and on the tide ebbing the +fleet separated, one of the Portuguese galliots being left aground among +the enemy, who tore her to pieces and slew all her crew; The Portuguese +fleet retired to the mouth of the river, where care was taken of the +wounded men, and above 200 dead bodies were thrown into the sea. Don +Luis de Azevedo succeeded in the command of the Portuguese squadron, and +they all retired to Sundiva, whence Don Luis sailed back to Goa, in +spite of everything that Gonzalez could say to detain him. Soon after +the departure of the Portuguese ships, the king of Aracan invaded and +conquered the island of Sundiva, by which Sebastian Gonzalez was reduced +to his original poverty, his sovereignty passing away like a dream, his +pride humbled in the dust, and his villainous conduct deservedly +punished. + +In 1616, Don Nunno Alvarez Pereyra succeeded Emanuel Mascarennas Homem +as general of the Portuguese in Ceylon, and made several successful +inroads into the kingdom of _Candy_, whence he brought off many +prisoners and great numbers of cattle. From the commencement of the +Portuguese dominion in that island, they had been engaged in almost +perpetual wars with the different petty sovereigns who ruled over its +various small maritime divisions, and with the central kingdom of Canea, +most of which have been omitted in this work as not possessing +sufficient interest. At this time a dangerous commotion took place in +the island, occasioned by a circumstance which, though not new in the +world, is still admired though often repeated. Some years before, +_Nicapeti_ the converted king of Ceylon died without issue, and left the +king of Portugal heir to his dominions. A poor fellow of the same name +got admittance to one of the queens of _Valgameme_ from whom he learnt +several particulars respecting the deceased king, taking advantage of +which he determined to assume the character of the late sovereign, and +to endeavour to persuade the people that he was their prince who had +come again-to-life. For this purpose he feigned himself a _jogue_, +similar to a hermit among the christians; and making his appearance in +the neighbourhood of Maregnepora, he gave out that he came to free his +country from the tyranny of the Portuguese. Finding credit among the +people, many of whom flocked to him, he entered the _seven corlas_ +during the absence of the _Dissava_ Philip de Oliveyra, and being +assisted by 2000 men sent to him by the king of Candy, he was +acknowledged as king by most of the country. Hearing of this commotion, +Pereyra sent a force under Emanuel Cesar to suppress the insurrection. +Cesar encountered the false _Nicapeti_ at _Gandola_, a village on the +river _Laoa_, where the insurgents had collected a force of 6000 men. In +the heat of the battle, 1000 Chingalese troops who served under Luis +Gomez Pinto deserted to the enemy; but Don Constantine, a native +Christian of the blood royal who served the Portuguese, called them back +by declaring himself their lawful king, on which they immediately +returned and proclaimed him their sovereign. After a long engagement the +enemy was defeated and fled across the river. + +Philip de Oliveyra returned at this time from Candy to his command in +the _seven corlas_, having heard of the insurrection but not of the +victory at Gandola, to which place he immediately marched with about 800 +Chingalese lascarins. On reaching the field of battle above 1000 men +were found slain, but no indication by which he could ascertain which +party had gained the victory. An inscription was found on a tree, +signifying that all the Portuguese were slain, none of that nation +remaining in Ceylon, and that Columbo had surrendered to Nicapeti, which +startled the Portuguese who accompanied Oliveyra, and gave great +satisfaction to his Chingalese troops. Continuing his march he was +attacked in the rear by 300 of the enemy, but on facing about they all +fled; soon after which he joined Emanuel Cesar on the river Laoa, and +the insurgents fled to the woods. Cesar and Oliveyra by way of obliging +the insurgents to return to their duty, seized above 400 of their women +and children; but it had the contrary effect, as all their Chingalese +troops immediately deserted with their arms, leaving only about 200 +Portuguese. In this dilemma Cesar marched to the pagoda of _Atanagala_, +not far from _Maluana_ where the general resided, who sent him a +reinforcement of 500 men, 200 of whom were Portuguese. + +Nicapeti had so much success with the natives that he collected an army +of 24,000 men, with which he marched against Columbo, and was so vain of +his good fortune that he caused himself to be proclaimed emperor of +Ceylon, and transmitted an order to the king of Candy to send him one of +his two wives. The answer on this occasion was, that it should be done +when the Portuguese were subdued. Nicapeti was so enraged at this +answer, that he threatened to use the king of Candy like the +Portuguese; and on this threat coming to the knowledge of the 2000 +auxiliaries from Candy, they immediately returned home. By these means +the two enemies of the Portuguese became at variance with each other, to +the great benefit of the Portuguese interests. Emanuel Cesar being +joined by a considerable reinforcement, marched against Nicapeti, and +found the road by which Nicapeti intended to march clean swept and +strewed with flowers. A _Chingalese_ who carried intelligence of the +approach of Cesar to Nicapeti, was ordered to be impaled, the tyrant +declaring there were no Portuguese in Ceylon; but he was soon +undeceived, as the van guards of the two armies came in sight of each +other. Nicapeti immediately took possession of a hill with 7000 men, +where he entrenched himself; but his works were soon carried, 1000 of +his men slain, and the usurper was forced to flee into the woods, laying +aside his regal ornaments for better concealment. The rest of the +insurgent army immediately fled on seeing their chief defeated, and the +morning after the battle 500 of the Chingalese deserted from the enemy +and joined the victors. + +At this time a native Chingalese of low birth, named Antonio Barreto, +who had been a Christian and in the service of the Portuguese, but had +gone over to the king of Candy, who appointed him general of his forces +with the title of prince and governor of the kingdom of Uva, took +advantage of the revolt of Nicapeti to seize upon the Portuguese fort of +_Safragan_, which he got possession of by treachery and slew the +Portuguese garrison. This was a severe but just retribution upon the +Portuguese, as they had slain an ambassador sent by the king of Candy to +treat of an accommodation, that they might jointly carry on the war +against Nicapeti. After this the king of Candy marched against the +Portuguese fort of Balane, which he reduced; yet immediately sent a +message to the general Pereyra, offering to treat of peace. + +In 1617, the Portuguese affairs were in a dangerous situation in Ceylon, +having at the same time to make war on the king of Candy, Antonio +Barreto, and Nicapeti, who was still in considerable strength +notwithstanding his late defeat. Pereyra divided his forces with +considerable hazard, and put all to the sword in the revolted districts, +sparing neither age nor sex; but neither will mercy and kind usage +conciliate the Chingalese, nor cruelty terrify them into submission. +Part of the forces pursued Nicapeti from _Pelandu_ to _Catugambala, +Devamede_ and _Coraagal_, taking several forts, killing many of the +enemy, and making 600 prisoners. The usurper retired to _Talampeti_ his +usual refuge, and the Portuguese advanced to _Polpeti_ where they came +in sight of the enemys camp, and forcing their works passed on to +_Balapane of Religiam_, whence they sent away the prisoners and wounded +men. At this time the Portuguese force was divided, one part marching +against Barreto while the other continued to follow Nicapeti, but were +able to effect very little, and after being quite spent with fatigue +went into quarters at _Botale_. + +Having received reinforcements, Pereyra marched in person with a +considerable force to drive Barreto from _Sofragam_ and _Matura_, +leaving Gomez Pinto with his regiment to-secure _Alicur_ and oppose +Nicapeti, while Cesar stayed to defend _Botale_ with 100 men. The +Portuguese were successful on all sides, driving the enemy from their +works and slaughtering great numbers of them in the woods. In May the +army advanced against Nicapeti, who was strongly entrenched at Moratena, +yet fled towards Candy with such speed that he could not be got up with. +He was at length overtaken in the desert of _Anorajapure_, when after +losing 60 men his troops dispersed and fled into the woods. On this +occasion the wives of the usurper, a grandson of _Raju_, and the nephew +of _Madune_ were all made prisoners. The fame of this victory induced +the inhabitants of the _Corlas_ to submit, and they plentifully supplied +the army then at Malvana with rice. The news of this victory induced the +king of Candy[433] to sue for peace, sending by his ambassadors 32 +Portuguese who had been made prisoners during the war. The terms agreed +upon were, that he was to repair and restore the fort at Balane, and +permit another to be constructed at Candy, and was to deliver yearly as +tribute to the crown of Portugal four elephants and a certain stipulated +quantity of cinnamon. Finding afterwards that the Portuguese affairs in +Ceylon were less prosperous, he receded from these conditions and would +only agree to give two elephants as the yearly tribute, but the peace +was concluded. + +[Footnote 433: In the translation of the Portuguese Asia, this sovereign +is here named _Anaras Pandar_ king of _Pandar_; but from every +circumstance in the context it appears that we ought to read _Anaras +Pandar_ king of _Candy_.--E.] + +END OF THE SIXTH VOLUME. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A General History and Collection of +Voyages and Travels, Volume VI, by Robert Kerr + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GENERAL HISTORY, VI. *** + +***** This file should be named 13225.txt or 13225.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/2/2/13225/ + +Produced by Robert Connal, Graeme Mackreth and PG Distributed +Proofreaders. 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