RbVEMTaRES OF MEMDEZ PIMTO CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Cornell University Library DS 506.P65 1897 The voyages and adventures of Ferdinand 3 1924 011 271 826 gg \4 Cornell University ?/ Library The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924011271826 "Adventures are to the Adventurous.' Beaconsfield. POPULAR RE-ISSUE. THE ADVENTURE SERIES. Illustrated. Large Crown 8vo, in Decorative Cover, price 3s. 6d. I. Adventures of a Younger Son. By E. J. 1 EELAWNY. With an Introduction by Edward Garneit. Second Edition. Robert Drury's Journal in Madagascar. Edited, with an Introduction and Notes, by Captain S. P. Oliver. 3- Memoirs of the Extraordinary Military Career of John Shipp. With an Introduction by H. Manners Chichester, 4- The Buccaneers and Marooners of America. Being an Account of the Famous Adventures and Daring Deeds of certain Notorious Free- booters of the Spanish Main. Edited by Howard Pyle. 5- The Log of ajack Tar ; or, The Life of James Choyce, Master Mariner. With O'Brien's Cap- tivity in France. Edited, with an Introduction and Notes, by V. Lovett Cameron, R.N. 6. The Voyages and Adventures of Ferdinand Mendez Pinto. With an Introduction by Arminius Vamblry. THE VOYAGES AND ADVENTURES OF FERDI- NAND MENDEZ PINTO, THE PORTUGUESE (DONE INTO ENGLISH BT HENRT COGJN) wiVh an introduction BY ARMINIUS VAMBfiRY POPULAR EDITION LONDON: T. FISHER UNWIN PATERNOSTER SQUARE. MDCCCXCVII TO THE Right Noble Lord, and worthy of all Honour, William, Earl of Strafford, Vifcount Wentworth, Baron Wentworth of Wentworth, Woodhoufe, Newmarjh, Overjley and Raby. My Lord, PURCHASE, a Writer of good credit here in England, gives this testimony of my Authour ; that no man before him, to his knowledge, hath spoken so much, and so truly, of those Oriental parts of the World, which are so little known to us, as he hath done : And that too, not upon hear-say and report, but for the most part as an ocular Witness, and personal Actor, of, and in all that he hath related, which is so full of Variety, and strange Occurrences, that, as another Writer affirms, the like will hardly be met withal elsewhere : So that the most curious Wits, which delight in reading of rare Books, will, I believe, find all the satisfaction they can desire, in this same of his ; where, without so much as stirring out of their Studies, or running the danger of Shipwrack, they may traverse the Seas, view the goodliest Provinces of the World, entertain themselves with stupendious and unheard-of things ; consider in the manner of those peoples living, whom we term Barbarians, their Laws, their Riches, their Government in time of Peace and War ; and, in a word, represent unto themselves, as in a Picture, all that is most exquisite, and of greatest marvel, in the extent of Europe, Africa, and Asia. These, together with many other remarkable matters, are contained in this Work, which I have taken the pre- sumption to present unto your Honour, being invited thereunto by the Example of two Translators of it into the Spanish and French Tongues, whereof the one dedicated it to the Archbishop of Toledo in Spain, and the other to the Cardinal Richelieu of France, both of them, the most eminent persons of their time, in those Kingdoms : And with whom your Honour may justly be ranked, espe- cially in respect of the Nobility of your Birth, as well as for the great Hope which your present Vertues, and Abilities, do give unto the World of your future Worth and Estimation. Be pleased then, my Lord, to receive it Favour- ably, as a Tender of the great desire I have to appear, on all Occasions ; Your Honours most Humble, and devoted Servant, HENRY COGAN. VOYAGES ADVENTURES, O F Ferdinand Mendez Pinto, A Tomgd: During his TRAVELS for the fpace 6f one and twenty years in The Kingdoms of Etlitopia,China,Tamria,Gauchm- china, Caknainham, Siam,.Pegu, japap, and a great part of the Eaft-lndies. y^ith a'Relamrtin^'Defcri^tm ofraoft ofthePIaces tliereofi their ReUglon, Laws,, Riches, CuftomSi M Government in the time of Peace and War. Where he five times fuftered Shipwrack* was fixteen timea fol^ and thirteen times made a Slave, Written Originally by Hmfclf in the Portugal Tongue, and Dedicated to the .^ajejiy of Philip I^ng of Spain. Done into Englifh b;^ U.C. Gent. Z, O.K. DON, Printed by 7. ;W««^anaarc ^^ 1^ ^^W ^y.^^-^^'^'^'^'f ^'/l^/ LIST OF ILLUSTBATIONS. (1) Swift Ship used by the Pobtuguese and Malabaes in Wae, and fob the Tbanspoet of Mebohandize Fmnhspiece (2) Map of Fubthee India and Abohi- PBiiAGO Tofacep. 1 (3) King of Cochin on Elephant Tofacep. 87 (4) Ship of China and Java, bigged with Mat Sails Tofacep. 192 (5) Malayan and Javanese People ... Tofacep. 310 (6) Natives of Pegu and the Moluccas ... Tofacep. 417 [The illustrations are taken from the second Dutch edition of " The Voyage of John Muyghen Van Linschoten to the East Indies " in 1586-92. Linschoten, who was a generation after Finto's time, made his own drawings, from which the plates were engraved.l CONTENTS. PAGE (1) PubIiISHek's Note xvi (2) Note on Mendbz Pinto and the Editions of his TbAVELS, ExTBAOTBD from MiCHAUD's " BlBLIO- GBAPHIE UnIVEESBLLE " XVU (3) Inteoduction xix (4) The Teavels of Fbedinand Mendbz Pinto : — CHAPTER I. After what manner I past my Youth in the Kingdom of Portugal, nntill my going to the Indies 1 CHAPTER II. My departure from Portugal for the Indies, and my imbarquing there for the Streight of Mecqua .... .... 5 CHAPTER ni. Our travelling from Mazua by land to the mother of Prester John ; as also our reimbarquing at the Port of Arquico, and that which befel as by the encounter of three Turkish vessels .... 9 CHAPTER IV. A Mutiny happening in the town of Mocaa, the occasion thereof, that which befel thereupon, and by what means I was carried to Ormuz ; as also my sailing from thence to Goa, and what success I had in that voyage 16 CHAPTER V. Goncallo vaz Coutinho's Treaty with the Queen of Onor ; his assaulting of a Turkish galley, and that which hapned unto us as we were upon our return to Goa 23 Tiii CONTENTS. CHAPTBE VI. PAQIS What passed till such time as Pedro de Faria, arrived at Malaoa ; his receiving an embassadour from the King of Batas ; with his sending me to that King, and that which arrived to me in that Voyage . 28 CHAPTER VII. What hapned to me at Penaiu, with the King of Batas expedition against the Tyrant of Achem ; and what he did after his victory over him 36 CHAPTER VIII. What past between the King of Batas and me, until such time as I imbarqued for Malaca 43 CHAPTER IX. The Arrival of an Embassador at Malaca from the King of Aaru to the Captain thereof ; his sending me to the said King, my coming to Aaru, and that which happen'd to me after my departing from thence 49 CHAPTBE X. By what means I was carried to the town of Ciaca, and that which befell me there ; my going to Malaca with a Mahometan merchant ; and the Tyrant of Achem's army marching against the King of Aaru 57 CHAPTER XI. The death of the King of Aaru, and the cruel justice that was executed on him by his enemies; the going of his Queen to Malaca, and her reception there g4 CHAPTER XU. The Queen of Aaru's departure from Malaca ; her going to the King of Jantana ; his summoning the Tyrant of Achem to restore the king- dom of Aaru, and that which past between them thereupon . . 69 CHAPTER XIII. Antonio de Paria's setting forth for the Isle of Ainan ; his arrival at the river of Tinacorem ; and that which befel us in this voyage . . 76 CONTENTS. ix CHAPTEB XIV. - . PAOK Antonio de Faria's arrival at the Bay of Camoy, where was the fisVing of pearles for the King of China ; with that which happened to him by the means of a renegado pyrat, and otherwiee . • . .86 CHAPTER XV. Antonio de Faria's arrival at the Fort : the information that Antonio de Faria had of the country ; some passages between him and the Nautarel of the town ; his going to the river of Madel ; with his incountring a pyrat there, and that which passed betwixt them . 98 CHAPTEB XVI. ^Vhat Antonio de Faria did with the Captain of the Fyrats Junk ; that which past between him and the people of the Country ; with oxir casting away upon the Island of Thieves 106 CHAPTER XVII. In what sort we escaped miraculously out of this island ; our passage from thence to the river of Xingrau ; our incountring with a Chinese pyrat, and the agreement we made with him . . . 114 CHAPTER XVni. Our encounter at sea with a little flsher-boat, wherein were eight Portugals very sore hurt ; and Antonio de Faria's meeting and fighting with Coia Aoem the pyrat 122 CHAPTEB XIX. What Antonio de Faria did after his victory . , .... 131 CHAPTER XX. Antonio de Faria hath news of the five Portugals that were made captives ; his letter to the Mandarin of Nouday about them ; and his assaulting the said town 133 CHAPTER XXI. Antonio de Faria's navigation till he came to the Port of Liampoo . 142 CHAPTER XXn. Antonio de Faria departs from Liampoo for to seek out the island of Calempluy, the strange things that we saw, and the hazard we ran in our voyage thither 1^^ X CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXm. FAOK Our arrival at Calempluy, and the description thereof ; what hapned to Antonio de Taria in one of the hermitages thereof, and how we were discovered '■"' CHAPTEB XXIV. Our casting away in the Gulf of Nanquin, with aU that befell us after this lamentable shipwraok 168 CHAPTER XXV. Our arrival at the town of Taypor, where we were made prisoners, and so sent to the city of Nanquin 173 CHAPTER XXVI. The marvels of the city of Nanquin, our departure from thence towards Pequin, and that which hapned unto us, till we arrived at the town of Sempitay 180 CHAPTEB XXVII. Our arrival at Sempitay, our encounter there with a Christian woman, and an account of many things seen on the journey ; with an account of Pequin 190 CHAPTER XXVIII. The order which is observed in the removing towns that are made upon the rivers ; and that which further befell us 202 CHAPTER XXIX. Our arrival at the city of Pequin, together with our imprisonment, and that which moreover happened unto ua there; as also the great majesty of the ofBcers of their Court of Justice .... 209 CHAPTER XXX. What past betwixt us and the Tanigores of mercy, with the great favors they did us ; and a brief relation of the city of Pequin, where the King of China kept his Court 220 CHAPTEB XXXI. The Prison of Xinanguibaleu, wherein those are kept, which have been condemned to serve at the reparations of the wall of Tartaria ; and another inclosure, called the Treasure of the Dead, with the revenues wherewith the prison is maintained 226 VUJSTMJSXa. CHAPTER XXXII. Of our going to Quincay to accomplish the time of our exile ; and what befell US there 233 CHAPTEB XXXni. A Tartar commander enters with his army into the town of Quinsay, and that which followed thereupon; with the Nautioor's besieging the Castle of Nixiamcoo, and the taking of it by the means of some Pottngals 237 CHAPTEE XXXIV. The Mitaquer departs from the castle of Niziancoo, and goes to the King of Tartary his camp before Pequin ; with the Mitaquers presenting us unto the Eing 247 CHAPTER XXXV. The Eing of Tartaria's raising of his siege from before Pequin, for to return to his country 251 CHAPTER XXXVI. In what manner we were brought again before the Eing of Tartaria ; with our departure from that kingdom ; and our adventures after quitting the city of Uzamguee in Cochin-China, till our arrival at the Isle of Tauizumaa in Japan 254 CHAPTEB XXXVn. The great honour which the Nautaquim, Lord of the Isle, did to one of us for having seen him shoot with an harqnebuse ; and his sending me to the Eing of Bungo ; and that which passed till my arrival at his Court 2G3 CHAPTEE XXXVm. The great mishap that befell the Eing of Bungo's son, with the extreme danger that I was in for the same ; and what followed thereupon , 270 CHAPTEE XXXIX. My curing the young Prince of Bungo ; with my return to Tanixumaa, and imbarquing there for Liampoo ; and also that which happened to us on land, after the shipwraek we suffered by the way . . 275 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XL. FAOE My sayling from Liampoo to Malaoa, from whence the captain of the fortress sent me to the Chaubainhaa at Martabano ; and all thtit befel us in our voyage thither 278 CHAPTER XLI. The continuance of our voyage to the Bar of Martabano ; and certain memorable particularities hapning there 291 CHAPTER XLII. In what manner the Chaubiaiihaa rendred himself to the King of Bramaa, and the cruel proceeding against the Queen of Martabano, and the ladies, her attendants 303 CHAPTER XLIir. In what sort the sentence of death was executed on the person of the Chaubainhaa King of Martaban, Nhay Canatoo his wife, and an hundred and forty women ; with that which the King of Bramaa did after his return to Pegu 310 CHAPTER XLIV. That which passed between the Queen of Prom, and the King of Bramaa, together with the first assault that was given to the city, and the success thereof 318 CHAPTER XLV. The King of Bramaa his besieging of the Portress of Meleytay, with hia going from thence to Avaa ; and that which passed there . . 325 CHAPTER XL VI. Our going with the King of Bramaa's ambassadour to the Calaminham, with the course which we held until we arrived at the Temple or Pagode of Timagoogoo 330 CHAPTER XLVn. The great and sumptuous procession made in this Pagode, together with their sacrifices ; and other particularities 332 CHAPTER XLVni. What we saw in the continuing of our voyage, until wa arrived at the city of Timplan 341 OONTJUJSTS. xiii CHAPTER XLIX. PAGE Ihe magnificent reception of the King of Bramaa his Ambassadour, at the city of Timplam 348 CHAPTEB L. An ample relation of the empire of the Calamiuham, and of the king- doms of Pegu, and Bramaa, with the continuance of our voyage, and what we saw among the same 367 CHAPTER LI. Our arrival at Pegu 364 CHAPTEB LII, That which the King of Bramaa did after his arrival at the city of Pegu, together with his besieging of Savady . . . . 367 CHAPTER LHI. A continuation of the success which we had in this voyage, with my de- parture from Goa to Zunda, and what passed during my abode there 371 CHAPTEB LIV. The expedition of the Pangneyran, Emperor of Jaoa, and Eingof Demaa, against the King of Fasseruan, and all that which passed in this war 377 CHAPTEB LV. The death of the King of Demaa by a very strange accident, and that which ensued thereupon ....,,,.. 884 CHAPTEB LVI. That which befell us, untill our departure towards the Port of Zunda, from whence we set sail for China, and what afterwards happened unto us . 391 CHAPTEB LVII. My passing from Zunda to Siam, where in the company of the Portugals I went to the war of Chiammay ; and that which the King of Siam did, untill he returned into his kingdom, where his queen poisoned him ... 898/ ' CHAPTEB LVIII. The lamentable death of the King of Siam, with certain illustrious ana memorable things done by him during his life ; and many other accidents that arrived in this kingdom 40S xiv CONTENTS. OHAPTEE MX. The King of Bramaa's enterpiize npon the Eingdoni of Siam : and that which past untill his arriyall at the city of Odia ; with his besieging of it, and all that ensued thereupon 411 CHAPTEB LX. The King of Bramaa's raising his siege from beforo the City o.' Odiaa . 421 CHAPTER LXI. A continuation of that which hapned in the Kingdom of Pegu, as well during the life, as after the death of the Eing of Bramaa . . 424 CHAPTER LXII. That which arrived at the time of Xenim de Satan, and an abominable case that befell to Diego Suarez ; together with the Xemindoo's Ex- pedition against Xenim de Satan ; and that which ensued there- upon 430 CHAPTER LXIII. That which the Xemindoo did, after he was crowned King of Pegu, with the Chaumigrems; the King of Bramaa's foster-brothers coming against him, with an army ; and divers other memorable things . 442 CHAPTEB LXIV. The finding of the Xemindoo, and bringing of him to the Eing ; with manner of his execution and death ; and other peculiarities con- cerning the same 452 CHAPTER LXV. Our passing from the town of Fuoheo, to the Port of Hiamangoo ; and that which befell us there; together with my departure from Malaca, and arrival at Goa 459 CHAPTER LXVI. What past after our departure from Zequa, till my arrival in the Indiaes, and from thence into the Kingdom of Portugal .... 461 PUBLISHEB'S NOTE. y^HE Publisher of the present edition, in abridging Cogan's translation of 1663, has aimed at preserving (a) the most adventurous, and (b) the most curious passages of Mendez Pinto's narrative. By abridging somewhat the lengthy speeches of the Orientals, by omitting the least interesting of the adventures, and by passing over some of the descriptions of public ceremonies, it has been found practicable to reprint a worJc which otherwise from its length could not have come within the scope of " The Adventure Series." NOTE ON MENDEZ PINTO AND ON THE EDITIONS OF HIS TEAVELS. {Extracted from Michaud's " Biographie Unwerselle.") MENDEZ PINTO is no ordinary adventurer. The account of his voyages is written by himself, and the work is still regarded as a classic by the Portuguese. It has been translated irto almost every language ; some have read it en- thusiastically, others have looked upon it as a tissue of lies. His partisans have had little dif&culty in justifying their opinions, for there is a great fascination in his narrative ; the work has throughout an air of sincerity which prejudices one in the author's favour, and it seems to reflect as a faithful mirror the character and behaviour of the first conquerors of India. These men of well-tried metal display a certain ferocity which mingled with their religious ideas made them capable of great cruelties and heroic actions. So long as Pinto was the only traveller who told the tale of the particular countries he visited, his opponents could deny the truth of his account without the possibility of refutation, but now these countries are better known, one cannot fail to recognize the substantial truth of his story. Certain details are undoubtedly em- bellished, but one may conclude from what has been recounted in regard to many points that these rest on real facts. His travels were no doubt written chiefly from memory, and it is obvious, that instead of putting things down exactly as they really happened, he has given us rather the impressions left on his ardent imagination. Nowhere, however, is he guilty of wilful exaggeration for the sake of self-glorification. la xviii NOTE. Everything relating to himself is told with the utmost simplicity. He said that he only wrote his travels to tell his children of the great dangers he had passed through in life, and one might be tempted to believe it. "The date of his death is not known. His book was first printed many years afterwards by the care of Francis Andrada, at Lisbon, in folio. This edition is rare : others were issued from the same town in 1678 and in 1725. In the latter edition iS also included the Itinerario of Antonio Tenego, who in 1529, travelled overland from India to Portugal, and the account of the conquest of the kingdom of Pegu in 1601. These works are also to be found in the Lisbon edition of 1762, foho; but there is also a more recent one of the same town, viz., 1833, 2 vols. 8vo. It was translated into Spanish six years after the first appearance by Francis Herreva of Afalderado, who added to it a dissertation to establish its authenticity (Madrid, 1620 folio). This trans- lation was well received, and was reprinted in 1627, 1645, and 1664. The French translation by Bernard Figuier (Paris, 1628, in 4to) is still sought after. A new edition of the trans- lation has also appeared (Paris, 1880, 8 vols. 8vo) which was one of a series of reprints that the Government caused to be executed to provide employment for the compositors who were out of work after the Eevolution of July."— De Eossel. [The extreme caution with which English critics have treated Pinto's narrative has forced the publisher to turn for a criticism of him to a foreign source. M. de Eossel's remarks are perhaps as judicious as any yet published, and are therefore translated for the English reader.] * The English editiona are limited to three. The seoond edition of 1692 is, like the present, a reprint of Cogan's translation of 1663. IISTKODUCTION. ON PEEYIOUS TEAVELLEES AND ADVENTUEEES IN ASIA. CCOUNTS of eventful and dan- gerous travels have always awakened more doubts than admiration in the majority of manMnd. True, the every-day man, treading the well- worn path of his prosaic life, accustomed to the occurrences and usages of his small native horizon, listens with eager delight to the ex- citing and fascinating accounts of travelling experiences in distant lands. He shudders at hearing of dangers avoided, he is lost in admira- tion at the sight of strange habits and customs, and at the mysterious doings of his fellow-men in far-away regions. He is like the child, the intelligent chUd, who breathlessly follows the thread of the fairy tale, but who at the end, drawing a deep breath, asks himself — "Is this possible ? Can this really be true ? " Happily the Europe of to-day is, and for a considerable time has been, past this childish sex INTBODUOTION. age, but in the Middle Ages it was sticking fast in it ; and, indeed, it is scarcely a hundred years since this incredulity and scepticism, born of ignorance, has completely disappeared. The modestly glittering lamp which some travellers and men of letters have lit, could spread but little light in the pitch dark ignorance prevailing in the Middle Ages regarding matters geographical and ethnological, and learning could raise but slightly the level of general culture. But as people and societies prefer to doubt the veracity of others to confessing their own ignorance and stupidity, so it is natural that the mediaeval travellers and explorers who, after traversing strange countries at the risk of their lives and at the cost of great privations, returned home with an account of their wonderful experiences, were stigmatized as liars, derided, and mostly misunderstood. That there were some travellers who, relying on the general ignorance, let the bridle of their imagina- tion loose in order to heighten the interest of the public by extravagant and grotesque descrip- tions, can scarcely be denied; but, on the whole, the insinuations were unjust, and certainly the narrow-mindedness of the respective epochs was greater than the lying disposition of the dis- coverers of new paths in the Asiatic world. We find ample traces of this regretable and malicious conception in several stereotype sayings iNTBODUCTION. xsi of those days. The mediaeval Church to which, for the rest, we owe some important geographical and ethnographical discoveries, originated the saying — "Qui multum peregrinatur, raro sancti- ficatur," viz., "He who travelled much is seldom canonized." Similarly in England, whose in- habitants were always known for their travelling propensities, we find the expression, " a travellers' tale," applied to any not very credible story. Analogous proverbs are met with in other Euro- pean languages, the Turks being the only people who are of a different way of thinking. They say — " Not he who has Hved long, but who has travelled much, possesses a right understanding." Taken all in all, however, the lot of the early traveller was not an enviable one. The minorite monk, Odoric of Pordenone, who, in the begin- ning of the fourteenth century, travelled through a great part of Asia, owes his canonization not to his geographical discoveries, but to his having baptised, as he alleged, 60,000 Saracens; whilst Marco Polo, the Prince of Asiatic travellers, who was not renowned for apostolic zeal, was rewarded only with sneers and mockery for his great and_ fruitful work, and for centuries Italy designated a liar and a boaster with the expression Marco Millioni. A like fate befel the famous Portuguese, Femao Mendez Pinto, who, between the years 1537-1668, journeyed through the most different xxu INTBODUGTION. parts of Asia, and during his twenty-one years' wanderings, as he himself says, was sold sixteen times, was a slave thirteen times, and was ship- 'wrecked five times. This extraordinary man, whose account of his journeys was published in 1614 u_nder_jfche_iijle " Peregrinacaq " (a bwk which in the course of the same century was translated into English, French, and Spanish), had art exceedingly large amount of most curious experiences and adven- tures. He had opportunities of getting acquainted on the spot with people and land in India, China, Japan, Tartary, and communicated so much that was extraordinary and wonderful, and even that looked incredible, that his contemporaries simply rejected aU he said and stamped him as a liar. The first edition of his book had to appear with an apologetic introduction, and Congreve, wishing to characterize a liar, said — " Mendez Pinto was but a type of thee, thou liar of the first \ magnitude ! " A cruel irony of fate, a sorry reward for all that the audacious Portuguese, led on by his thirst after knowledge, had to suffer during his wander- ings, for having faced death in a thousand forms, for all the miseries endured, all with the sole object of satisfying a curiosity which has proved so useful to posterity. INTBODUCTION. xxiu What is the reason, what are the chief motives, of the incredulity of contemporaries and the scepticism of later generations ? is a question which suggests itself to the modern man. The general indifference and ignorance of the public already alluded to must naturally be taken into account ; but there were also other reasons which we cannot pass bver. We find, namely, that the mediaeval travellers and adventurers imdertook their self-imposed task with little or no preparation, and that in spite of their lengthened sojourn amid the different peoples, they were but imperfectly familiar with the languages, customs, and religions of the same — a circum- stance which caused their narratives to be incom- plete, and led them sometimes into serious errors. Marco Polo himself so disfigures the Turkish, Persian, and Mongolian proper names as to be unrecognizable, and posterity had to exert all its ingenuity to find out the proper spelling and meaning of such names. The application and penetration of a Henry Yule or a Pauthier suc- ceeded partly in remedying this great defect, but the setting right of the text so misconstructed by copyists is even yet far from complete. Be- sides the mysteriousness of the nomenclature, there is a great drawback in the childish tone, in the fairy-tale-like description of things seen and heard, in the style which, though in keeping with the taste of the age, yet by its tawdriness xsiv INTBOBVOTION. brought the contents themselves into disrepute. When Marco Polo speaks of ants as big as dogs, and Mendez Pinto relates of men with round feet and with arms entirely covered with hair ; such exaggeration certainly seems to have some- what contributed to the general distrust, although it would not justify us in denying the existence, in a reduced measure, of the said facts, as was amply proved by the researches of commentators. On the other hand, the narratives contain much that the traveller did not see himself, but related only after hearsay. Thus, for instance, Pinto speaks of the thousands of carts of the king of Tartary (rectius Mandshury) drawn by rhino- ceroses — in which case Pinto can excuse himself by saying ^'relata refero," or else the name of the animals is erroneously given. It is, however, entirely superfluous, if not un- just, to measure the reports of the early Asiatic travellers by a very elevated standard, as the tales and fables bond fide accepted and related by them can be recognized at a glance, and were never believed by any one but those who read for the sake of amusement and not of instruction. Whether the zealous missionaries of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, or the wise Venetian brothers, or the Bavarian Schiltberger who was taken prisoner at Yarna, or, in fine, the most remarkable among them, on account of his adven- INTBODUCTIOH. xxv tures, Mendez Pinto, they have each and all contributed their share to make Europe take an interest in the fate of Asia, and to place posterity in possession of a picture, however incomplete and defective, of the power and authority of Asia, then still unbroken. In this picture, so full of instructive details, we perceive more than one thing fully worthy of the attention of the latter- day reader. Above all, we see the fact that the traveller from the West, although obliged to en- dure unspeakable hardships, privation, pain, and danger, at least had not to suffer on account of his nationality and religion, as has been the case in recent times since the all-puissance of Europe has thrown its threatening shadow on the in- terior of Asia, and the appearance of the European is considered the foreboding of material decay and national downfall. How utterly different it was to travel in mediaeval Asia from what it is at present is clearly seen from the fact that in those days missionaries, merchants, and political agents from Europe could, even in time of war, traverse any distances in Asiatic lands without molestation in their personal liberty or property just as any Asiatic traveller of Moslem or Buddhist persuasion. Only thus can it be under- stood, how Italian merchants had large ware- houses in the thirteenth and fourteenth century in Tana and other places in immediate vicinity xxvi INTBODUCTION. of Tartar hordes, and how they, during the troubles succeeding the fall of the Timurides and the accession of the Sefevides, moved about in the adjacent countries partly with their goods, partly as political agents. As far as Interior Asia in particular is concerned, it was the news of the victorious advance of the English, and of the gradual downfall of the Mogul power that awakened first the mistrust against European travellers. What Jenkinson could accomplish in 1568, namely, under the reign of Abdullah Khan, the greatest Central- Asiatic ruler of the modern era, that Sir Alexander Burnes could carry out only with difiSculty under Nasrullah's rule, for it was not so much the rehgious fanaticism of the Moslem as rather the fear from the all- absorbing power of the Christian West that made the Asiatics suspect in every Frenghi a spy and a disguised would-be conqueror. In Persia, which owing to its inland position, thought itself less exposed to attacks, this was not the case, hence it is easy to understand how Abbas the Great could show his full favours to the Englishman Shirley, and how Chardin obtained opportunities of thoroughly studying the country and its inhabi- tants. It was the same in the interior of Asia Minor where Niebuhr, unlike Palgrave, who was forced to assume an incognito, could explore the Arabian peninsula. INTBODVCTION. xxvii The danger that threatened the traveller in medisBval Asia lay in the elements, in the state of temporary anarchy, and especially in the raw manners of some Asiatic tribes, who abhorred all communication from without and had absolutely no sense for contact with foreign people. The religious duty of pilgrimage has made the Moslem a good traveller, but the Buddhists and Brah- manists considered this a sacrilegious proceeding, and whoever decided to undertake a journey among them must have possessed an extraor- dinary amount of adventuresome spirit or an uncontrollable desire for knowledge of distant lands. This adventuresome spirit naturally re- ceived a fresh impulse from the fortunate enter- prises of the Portuguese in East Asiatic waters. In this small country in westernmost Europe, we see rulers like John the Great and John the Perfect, and princes like Henry the Sailor and the Duke of Coimbra, &o., giving us proofs of how even with small means great things can be ac- complished if the free development of the spirit is under fostering care ; for men like Alfons de Albuquerque, Francisco de Almeida, Nuno de Cunha, Joao de Castro, Antonio de Silveira, or audacious adventurers like Duante Coelho and .!j\Mendez Pinto have not only startled the Orientals , with proofs of the activity and intrepidity of the / Europeans, but they also opened to us the way xiviii INTRODUCTION. into the interior of several countries of the rising sun and facilitated the work of their successors, the Britons, of spreading European civilization. Turning now to the work of the adventurous traveller so often sneered at and so severely criti- cised, I think it needful to give a few remarks explanatory of the origin of adventure in general, as well as the state of mind, the inner struggle and the secret motive power of the traveller so unjustly called an adventurer. I feel myself aU the more called upon to do this as my own wanderings in Interior Asia were not free from the savour of adventure, and I can still distinctly recall the state of mind I was in during my pere- grinations as a disguised Efendi and Dervish. And, first of aU, I would remind the reader that never did a man start on travel with the intention of becoming an adventurer. No one thinks of exciting one day the curiosity and nerves of his future readers by the tale of his experiences and sufferings, and no one takes up his walking staff in the hope of being one day feted as the hero of awe-inspiring stories and blood-thrilling episodes. The traveller, and notably the explorer, is to a certain extent aware of the dangers attending his undertaking; indeed it is this danger that attracts and allures him ; but that a man should undertake a long journey solely with a view to expose himself to the dangers of thirst, hunger, lJSTICUVUUTlU£f. XXix prison, and a martyr's death, and after a lucky escape to be shone upon by the rays of glory, is a thing that I could never credit or under- stand. One becomes an adventurer, the hero of blood-stirring experiences only in the natural course of later events, through occurrences that surprise the traveller himself, that excite him iu the highest degree, and try to the utmost his presence of mind and ingenuity. No serious or reasoning explorer ever set out on a journey with the firm intention of seeking adventures on his proposed route and testing his strength on the same. He is sometimes conscious of the dangers awaiting him, he suspects that everything will not run smooth ; but he never, even in the moments of the greatest excitement, and iu the wildest state of mind, neglects to take such measures as could be of service to him in his critical position. When, in order to explore some parts of Central Asia never before visited by Europeans, I decided in Teheran to accompany the ragged and most horrible looking Tartars returning home from the pilgrimage to Mekka, aU my friends and acquain- tances in the Persian capital thought it would be my desperate looking travelHng companions who would put an end to my being. I had myself some misgivings on this score. It was not their violence I feared, but rather that they would INTBODUCTION. either from treachery or necessity hand me over to Central Asiatic authorities, and in order to guard myself against the agonies of a martyr's death, I asked and obtained from Dr. B , the physician to the Turkish Mission, two strychnine pills with which to shorten, in case of need, the tortures of a possible martyr's death. These two pills which I hid away in the wadding of my rags, formed my only consolation and anchor-sheet, and when in moments of imminent peril I touched with my finger-tips these little prominences among the wadding, I felt a pleasing sensation running through me, inasmuch as by their help I thought myself safe against long death agonies. Man is more resigned to his fate where death seems an inevitable consequence of the combination of elementary forces and where defence is unavail- ing ; but even there there is a feeble ray of hope lightening through the dark horizon and spreading a little light. On the fatiguing road from the Persian frontier to Khiva, which ConoUy had to abandon after a fruitless attempt, and where ten years later Colonel Markusoff lost several thousand brave warriors, we were for five days without water and nearly dying from thirst. Two of our fellow travellers fell victims to their terrible sufferings. The ominous white spots began to appear on my palate, my tongue was heavy, I lay prostrate with high fever, and I saw the fore- INTRODUCTION. Xxxi runners of my approaching end, but only for a short while, as presently there arose the faint hope of salvation which soon afterwards became a reality. In this contiauous change of threatening peril, desperate struggle for self-preservation and never-relaxing hopes, the nerves grow so hardened that one can live for months, nay years, in mortal danger without thinking of death and the possible sudden termination of this most wonderful earthly existence. What I went through during some months — ^for really great danger surrounded me only in Central Asia — others before me ex- perienced for years, and I do not doubt for a moment but they felt all the better for it, the same as I did ; for one day of such adventurous travel is worth many years spent in monotonous every-day life. In a word, the adventurer becomes such through the combination of circumstances. In the nature of man there is only the first impulse to travel, but his desire for adventure increases at the same rate as he has learnt by experience to cope with difficulties. One victory achieved is incitement to fresh fights, and in this pleasing giddiness of the senses, adventurous travellers have sometimes accomplished extraordinary re- sults. Concerning the acts of Mendez Pinto in particular, we have to point out that he was the first to make known the natural riches of Japan xxxii INTBODUOTION. and originated the first settlement near Yokoham« in 1648. His accounts of Burmab, Siam, Cochin China, and several cities of the flowery country in the interior, stand in no way behind the writings of De la Cruz, of Boterus, Paulus Jovius, Mendoza, and other contemporary men of letters and tra- vellers ; and indeed as regards the details of the war and conquest of China by Murhachu, the Prince of the Mandshus, whom Pinto calls Tartars, are distinctly valuable. One whose fate brought him in such intimate contact with the life and doings of a strange people, and who had oppor- tunities to study so deeply their customs and manners as Mendez Pinto had, certainly deserves to be heard. The new edition, slightly abridged, of his " Peregrinacao " or "Wanderings" is a faithful mirror of Asia three hundred years ago. We may derive from it much that is instructive and interesting. AKMINIUS VAMB^EY. Budapest Univebsity, April, 1891. g|iJ^a»ja^BaBg3a25asil^^^^^je^&al^ L AND ARCHIPELAGO. THH TEAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUEES OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. CHAPTEE I. After what manner I past my Youth in the Kingdom of Portugal, nntill my going to the Indies. often as I represent unto myself the great and continual travels that have accompanied me from my birth, and amidst the which I have spent my first years, I find that I have a great deal of reason to complain of Fortune, for that she seemeth to have taken a particular care to persecute me, and to make me feel that which is most insup- portable in her, as if her glory had no other foundation then her cruelty. For not content to have made me be bom, and to live miserably in my country during my youth, she conducted me, notwithstanding the fear I had of the dangers that menaced me, to the East Indies, where in stead of the relief which I went thither to seek, she made me find an 2 2 ~ THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENT UBE8 increase of my pains, according to the increase of my age. Since then it hath pleased God to deliver me from so many dangers, and to protect me from the fury of that adverse Fortune, for to bring me into a port of safety and assurance ; I see that I have not so much cause to complain of my travels past, as I have to render Him thanks for the benefits which untill now I have received of Him ; seeing that by His Divine bounty He hath preserved my life, to the end I niight have means to leave this rude and unpoUshed discourse unto my children for a memorial and an inheritance. For my intention is no other, but to vrrite it for them, that they may behold what strange fortunes I have run for the space of one and twenty years, during the which I was thirteen times a captive, and seventeen times sold in the Indies, in Ethiopia, in Arabia, in China, in Tartaria, in Madagascar, in Sumatra, and in divers other kingdoms and provinces of that Oriental Archi- pelage upon the confines of Asia, which the Ghineses, Siames, Giieos, and Lecquios name, and that with reason, in their geography, the ey-lids of the world, whereof I hope to entreat more particularly, and largely, hereafter. Whereby men, for the time to come, may take example, and a resolution not to be discouraged for any crosses that may arrive unto them in the course of their lives. For no disgrace of Fortune ought to essoign us never so little from the duty which we are bound to render unto God; because there is no adversity, how great soever, but the nature of man may well undergo it, being favoured with the assistance of heaven. Now, that others may help me to praise the Lord Almighty for the infinite mercy He hath shewed me, without any regard to my sins, which I confess were the cause and original of all my mis- fortunes, and that from the same Divine Power I received strength and courage to resist them, escaping out of so many dangers, with my life saved, I take from the beginning of my voyage the time which I spent in this kingdom of Portugal, and say, that after I had lived there tiU I was about eleven or twelve years old, in the misery and poverty of my fathers house within the town of Monte-mor Ovelho, an uncle of mine, desirous to advance me to a better fortune then that where- unto I was reduced at that time, and to take me from the OF FBBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 8 caresses and cockerings of my mother, brought me to this city of Lisbon, where he put me into the service of a very honour- able lady : the vyhich he was carried out of the hope he had, that by the favour of her self and her friends he might attain to his desire for my advancement ; and this was in the same year that the funeral pomp of the deceased King Emanuel of happy memory was celebrated at Lisbon, namely St. Lucies day, the 13. of December, 1521, which is the furthest thing I can remember. In the mean time my uncles design had a success clean contrary to that which he hath promised to him- self in favour of me : for having been servant of this lady ; about a year and a half, an accident befel me, that cast me into manifest peril of life, so that to save my self I was con- strained to abandon her house with all the speed that possibly I could. Flying away then in very great fear, I arrived before I was aware at the Ford of Pedra, which is a small port so called; there I found a carvel of AlfawM, that was laden with the horses and stuff of a lord, who was going to Setwval, where at that instant King Joana the Third kept his court, by reason of a great plague that reigned in divers parts of the kingdom. Perceiving then that this carvel was ready to put to sea, I imbarqued my self in her, and departed the next day. But alas ! a little after we had set sail, having gotten to a place named Gezmibra, we were set upon by a French pirate, who having boarded us, caused fifteen or sixteen of his men to leap into our vessel, who finding no resistance made themselves masters of her : now after they had pillaged every one of us, they emptied all the merchandise wherewithal ours was laden, which amounted to above six thousand duckats, into their ship, and then sunk her ; so that of seventeen of us that remained alive, not so much as one could escape slavery, for they clap'd us up all bound hand and foot under hatches, with an intent to go and sell us at La Bache in Barbary, whither also, as we found by being amongst them, they carried arms to the Maho- metans in way of trade ; for this purpose they kept us thirteen dayes tegether, continually whipping us ; but at the end thereof it fortuned that about sun set they discovered a ship, unto which they gave chase all the night, following her close, like old pirates long used to such thieveries ; having feicht her uf 4 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES by break of day, they gave her a volley of three pieces of ordnance, and presently invested her with a great deal of courage ; now though at first they found some resistance, yet they quickly rendred themselves masters of her, killing six Portugals, and ten or eleven slaves. This vyas a goodly vessel, and belonged to a Portugal merchant of the town of Conde, named SUvestrS Godmho, which divers other merchants of Lisbon had laden at Saint Tome vrith great store of sugar and slaves ; in such sort that those poor people seeing themselves thus taken and robbed fell to lament their loss, which they estimated to be forty thousand duckats. Whereupon these pirates, having gotten so rich a booty, changed their design for going to la Bache, and bent their course for the coast of France, carrying with them such of ours for slaves, as they judged fit for the service of their navigation. The remainder of us they left at night in the road, at a place called Melides, where we were landed miserably naked, our bodies covered with nothing but with the stripes of the lashes which so cruelly we had received the dayes before. In this pitiful case we arrived the next morning at St. Jago de Caten, where we were relieved by the inhabitants of the place, especially by a lady that was there at that time, named Donna Beatrix, daughter to the Earl of Villanova, and wife to Ahnzo Perez Pantoia, commander and grand provost of the town. Now after the sick and wounded were recovered, each of us departed, and got him where he hoped to find the best assistance ; for my self, poor wretch, I went with 6. or 7. that accompanied me in my misery to Setuval : thither I was no sooner come, but my good fortune placed me in the service of Francisco de Faria, a gentleman belonging to the great commander of S. Jago, who in recompense of four years service that I did him, put me. to the said commander to wait on him in his chamber, which I performed for an year and an half after. But in regard the entertainment which was given at that time in noble-mens houses was so small that I was not able to live on it, necessity constrained me to quit my master, with a design to imbarque my self by his favour to go to the Lidies ; for that I thought was the best way I could take to free me of my poverty. So albeit I were but meanly accommodated, I OF FESDINAND MENDFZ PINTO. S imbarqued my self, notwithstanding, submitting my self to whatsoever fortune should arrive unto me in those far countries, either good or bad. CHAPTEE II. My departure from Portugal for the Indies, and my imbarijuing tbere for the Streight of Mecqua. IT was in the year '1537/ and the 11th of March, that I parted from this kmgdbm in a fleet of five ships, whereof there was no General; for each of those vessels was com- manded by a particular captain: for example, in the ship named the Queen, commanded Don Pedro de Silva, surnamed the Cock, son to the Admiral Don Vasco de Qama. In the ship called S. Eoek, commanded Don Fernando de Lima, son to Diego Lopez de Lima, grand Provost of the town of Guimaranes, who died valiantly in defence of the fortress of Ormus, whereof he was captain the year following, 1538. In the S. Barha, conunanded Don Fernando de Lima, who was the govemour of the town of Chaul; of that, which was called the Flower of the Sea, Lope Vaz Vagado was captain; and in the fifth and last ship, named Galega, commanded Martin de Freitas, born in the Isle of Madera, who the same year was slain at Damao, together with five and thirty men that followed him. These vessels sailing different wayes, arrived at length at a great port called Mozambique ; there we met with the Saint Michael, that wintered there, and was commanded by Duart Tristao, who parted thence richly laden for' to return into PorPicgal ; howbeit I beheve she was taken, or suffered ship- wrack, as it happens but too often in this voyage to the Indies, for he was never heard of since. After our five vessels were equipped with all that was necessary for them, and ready to set sail from Mozambique, the lieutenant of the fortress, called Vincent Pegado, shewed the captains of the said five ships a mandate from the Governour, named Nwnho de Gunha, whereby be expressly commanded that aU Portugal ships, which did arrive in that port this year should go to Diu, and leave their 6 THE TRAVELS, VOtAQES, AND ADVENTUBES men there for the guard of the fortress, because of the fear they were in of the Tv/rTcish army, which was every hour expected in the Indies, by reason of the death of Sultan Bandur King of Gambaya, whom the said Govemour had put to death the summer before. In regard this affair was of great im- portance, it was the cause that all the captains assembled together to dehberate thereupon : at length, to meet with the present necessity they concluded, that three of those five ships, appertaining to the King, should go to Biu, conformable to the contents of the said mandate, and that the other two, which belonged to particular merchants, should pursue their course to Goa : the King's three ships sailing to Diu, and the other two merchants towards Goa, it pleased God to conduct them safe thither. Now as soon as the King's three ships came to the mouth of the river of the port of Diu, which fell on the 5th of September the same year, 1538. Antonio de Silvera, the brother of Louys Silvera, Earl of Sortelha, who was captain there at that time, gave them all the testimony that possibly he could of the joy he took at this their arrival; for proof whereof he bestowed liberally on every one, keeping a set table for above 7 hundred persons which they brought along with them, besides his secret rewards, and extraordinary gifts, whereby he supplied the necessities they had suffered during their voyage. Whereupon the souldiers considering how this captain entreated them very royally, that he payed them before-hand, distributed their pay and munition unto them with his own hands, caused the sick to be carefully 'tended, and shewed himself most ready to assist every one, it so wrought upon them, that of their own accord they offered to stay there for to serve him, being no way constrained thereunto, as they use to be (in those countries) in all the fortresses which expect a siege. This done, as soon as the three ships had sold the merchandise they had brought, they set sail for Goa, carry- ing none with them but the officers of the vessels, and some sea-men to conduct them ; where they abode till such time as the Govemour had given them dispatches for to go to Cochin where being arrived they took in their lading, and returned all five safe into Portugal. Seventeen dayes after we were arrived at the fortress of Dki, OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 7 where at that time two foists were ready prepared to go to the Streight of Mecqua, for to discover, and find out the design of the Turkish army, whose coming was greatly feared in the Indies, because one of those foists was commanded by a captain that was a great friend of mine, who gave me good hope of the voyage he was bound for, I imbarqued my self with him; relying then on the promises which the captain made me, that by his favor and means I should quickly be rich, the only thing in the world that I most desired, and suffered my self to be deceived by my hopes, I imagined that I was already master of great wealth, never considering how vain .and imcertain the promises of men are, and that I could not reap much benefit by the voyage I was going to undertake, by reason it was dangerous, and unseasonable for navigation in that country. Now being departed from Diu, we sailed in a time full of storms, because it was about the end of winter, which seemed to begin anew, so impetuous were the winds, and so great was the rain : nevertheless, how violent soever the tempest was, and dark the weather, we letted not to discover the Isle of Gtiria, Muria, and Avedahwria, at the sight whereof we thought our selves quite lost, and without hope of life. Whereupon, to decline the danger, we turned the prow of our vessel to the south-east, knowing no other mean then that to avoid shipwrack : but by good fortune for us, it pleased God that we let fall an anchor at the point of the Island of Socotora ; there we presently anchored, a league below the place, where Don Francisco d' Almeyda caused a fortress to be built in the year 1507. when he came from Portugal, as the first Vice-roy that ever was in the Indies. In the said place we took in fresh water, and some provision of victuals, that we bought of the Christians of the country, which are the descendants of those whom the Apostle S. Thomas converted in those parts. Being refreshed thus, we parted feom thence with a purpose to enter the Streights ; so that after we had sailed nine dayes with a favourable wind, we foimd our selves right against Mazua ; there about sun-set we descried a sail at sea, whereunto we gave so hard chace, that before the first watch of the night we came up close to her ; and then to satisfie the dftsire we had for t,o leara som- 8 TEE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES I thing of the captain by gentleness touching the Turkish army, I we demanded of him whether it was parted from Sues, or whether he had not met vvith it in any place ; and that we [might be the better informed, we spake aloud to all those that 'were in the ship. But in stead of answer, without speaking a , word, and in contempt of us, they, gave us 12. pieces of j ordnance, whereof five were small, and the other seven field pieces, together with good store of musquet shot; and withall, in a kind of jollity, and as it were believing that we were already theirs, they made all the ayr about resound again with their confused cries. After this, to brave and terrifie us the more, they flourished a many flags and streamers up and down, and from the top of their poop they brandished a number of naked scymitars, commanding us with great threatning to come aboard and yield our selves unto them. At the first view of so many rhodomontados and bravings we were in some doubt and amaze, which caused the captains of our foists to call the souldiers to couneel, for to know what they should do ; and the conclusion was, to continue shooting at them till the next morning, that so by day-light they might be the better fought withal and invested, it being agreed upon of all sides that they were not to be let go unpunished for their presumption ; which accordingly was performed, and all the rest of the night we gave them chase, plying them with our ordnance. So morning come, their ship being shot thorow and thorow in many places, and cruelly battered all over, they render themselves into our hands. In the encounter there were 64. of their men killed, and of 80. that remained, the most part, seeing themselves reduced to extremity, cast them- selves into the sea, choosing rather there to be drowned, then to be burnt in their ship with the artificial fires that we had hurled into her ; so that of all the fourscore there escaped but five, very sore hurt, whereof one was the captain. This same, by force of torture, whereunto he was exposed by the command of our two captains, confessed that he came from Judea, and that the Turkish army was already departed from Sues, with a design to take in Adem, and then to build a fortress there before they attempted any thing in the Indies, according to an express charge sent by the great Tu/rk from Constantinople to OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 9 the Bassa of grand Cairo, who was going to be general of the army : besides this, he confessed many other things con- formable to our desire ; amongst the which he said, that he was a renegade Christian, a MaUorquin by nation, born at Cerdenha, and son to one named Paul Andrez, a merchant of that island, and that about four years before growing enamoured of a very fair Greekish Mahvmetan, that was then his wife, for the love of her he had abjured Christianity,, and embraced the law of Mahomet. Our captains much amazed hereat, gently perswaded him to acquit this abominable belief, and become a Christian again ; whereunto the wicked caytiff made answer with a brutish obstinacy, that at no hand he would yield to forsake his law, shewing himself so hardened in the resolution to continue therein, as if he had been born in it, and never had profest any other. By these speeches of his, the captains, perceiving there was no hope of recalling him from his damnable error, caused him to be bound hand and foot, and so with a great stone tyed about his r>3ck to be cast alive into the sea, sending him to participate with the torments of this Mahomet, and to be his companion in the other world, as he had been his confident in this. This infidel being executed in this sort, we put the other prisoners into one of our foists, and then sunk their vessel, with all the goods that were in her, which consisted most in packs of stained cloths, whereof we had no use, and a few pieces of chamlet that the soldiers got to make them apparel. CHAPTEE III. Our travelling from Mazna by land to the mother of Prester John ; as also our reimbarqning at the Port of Arquico, and that which befel us by the encounter of three Turkish vessels. WE departed from this place with an intent to go to Arquico, the territory of Prester John, Emperour of .Ethiopia; for we had a letter to deliver, which Antonio de SyVoera sent to a factor of bis, named Aurique Barlosa, who 10 THE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES had been three years resident in that country, by the commandment of the Governour Nuno de Cunha. When we were arrived at Gottor, a league lower then the port of Mazua, we were all received there very courteously, as well by the inhabitants, as by a Portugal called Vasco Martin de Seixas, born in the town of Obidos, who was come thither by Henrico Barbosa's order, and had been there a moneth attending the arrival of some Portugal ships. The cause of that abode was to deHver a letter from the said Henrico, as accordingly he did to the captains of our foists; by this letter he certified the estate of the Turkish army, and besought them at any hand to send him some Portugals ; to induce them whereunto, he remonstrated unto them how it much imported the service both of God and the King, and that for bis own part he could not come unto them, because he was employed with forty other Portugals, in the fort of Gileytor, for the guard of the person of the Princess of Tigremahon, mother to Prester John. The two captains having perused this letter, communicated it to the ohiefest of the souldiers, and sat in councel upon it, where it was determined that four of them should go along vrith Vasco Martins to Barbosa, and that they should carry the letter which Antonio de Sylvera had sent him. This was no sooner resolved then executed ; for the next day three other Portugals, and my self, departed accordingly, and we went by land mounted upon good mules, which the Ciquaxy, captain of the town, sent us by the command of the Princess, the Emperours mother, together vrith six Abissins to accompany us. The first night we lay at a very fair monastery, called Satilgaon ; the next day before the sun rose we travelled along by a river, and by that time we had rode five leagues we arrived at a place named Bitonte, where we spent that night in a convent of religious persons, dedicated to S. Michael ; there we were very well entertained both by the Prior, and the Friers. A little after our arrival, the son of Bernagais, Governour of that empire of Ethiopia, a very proper and courteous gentleman, about seventeen years old, came to see us, accompanied with thirty men, all mounted upon mules, and himself on a horse furnished after the Portugal manner ; the furniture was of purple velvet trimmed with gold fringe, OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 11 which two years before the Governom Nuno de Cunha sent him from the Inddes, by one Lopez Ghanoco, who was afterwards made a slave at Grand Cairo; whereof this young prince being advertised, he presently dispatched away a Jewish merchant of Asabiba to redeem him ; but as ill fortune would, he died before the Jew could get thither, which so grieved this prince when he understood of it, as the said Vasco Martins assured us that in the said monastery of S. Michael, he caused the most honourable funerals to be celebrated for him that ever he saw, wherein assisted above four thousand priests, besides a greater number of novices, which in their language are called Santilcos : nor was this all, for this prince hearing that the deceased had been married at Goa, and likewise that he had left three daughters there behind him, which were very young and poor, he bestowed on them three hundred Oqueas of gold, that are worth twelve Crusadoes of our money apiece ; a liberality truly royal, and which I relate here, as well to amplifie the nobleness of this prince, as that it may serve for an example to others, and render them more charitable upon like occasions. The next morning we continued our journey, making all the haste that possibly we could : to which end we got upon good horses, that were given us by this prince ; and withal he appointed four of his servants to accompany us, who during our voyage entertained us every where very sumptuously. That day our lodging was at a goodly place, called Betenigus, which signifies a royal house ; and in truth it was not without reason so named, for on whatsoever part one cast an eye, it was invironed with great high trees for three leagues about ; nor is it to be credited how pleasing this wood was, for that it was composed all of cedars, cypress, palm, date-trees, and cocos, like to those in the Indies ; here we past the night with all kind of contentment. In the morning we proceeded on our journey, and travelling after five leagues a day, we past over a great plain, all full of goodly com ; then we arrived at a mountain, named, Vangaleu, inhabited by Jews, which was very white and handsome; two days and an half after we came to a good town, called Fumbau, not above twelve leagues distant from the fort of Qyleytor, there we foimd Ba/rbosa, and 10 TEE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES had been three years resident in that country, by the commandment of the Governour Nuno de Ctmha, When we were arrived at Gottor, a league lower then the port of Mazua, we were all received there very courteously, as well by the inhabitants, as by a Portugal called Vasco Martin de Seixas, born in the town of Obidos, who was come thither by Henrico Barbosa's order, and had been there a moneth attending the arrival of some Portugal ships. The cause of that abode was to deliver a letter from the said Henrico, as accordingly he did to the captains of our foists; by this letter he certified the estate of the Turkish army, and besought them at any hand to send him some Portugals ; to induce them whereunto, he remonstrated unto them how it much imported the service both of God and the King, and that for his own part he could not come unto them, because he was employed with forty other Portugals, in the fort of Gileytor, for the guard of the person of the Princess of Tigremahon, mother to Prester John. The two captains having perused this letter, communicated it to the chiefest of the souldiers, and sat in councel upon it, where it was determined that four of them should go along with Vasco Ma/rtins to Barbosa, and that they should carry the letter which Antonio de Sylvera had sent him. This was no sooner resolved then executed ; for the next day three other Portugals, and my self, departed accordingly, and we went by land mounted upon good mules, which the Ciquaxy, captain of the town, sent us by the command of the Princess, the Emperours mother, together with six Abissins to accompany us. The first night we lay at a very fair monastery, called Satilgaon ; the next day before the sun rose we travelled along by a river, and by that time we had rode five leagues we arrived at a place named Bitonte, where we spent that night in a convent of religious persons, dedicated to S. Michael ; there we were very well entertained both by the Prior, and the Friers. A little after our arrival, the son of Bernagais, Governour of that empire of Ethiopia, a very proper and courteous gentleman, about seventeen years old, came to see us, accompanied with thirty men, all mounted upon mules, and himself on a horse furnished after the Portugal manner ; the furniture was of purple velvet trimmed with gold fringe, OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. , 11 which two years before the GoYernova Nuno de Cunha sent him from the Inddes, by one Lo]^ez Ghanoco, who was afterwards made a slave at Grand Cairo; whereof this young prince being advertised, he presently dispatched away a Jewish merchant of Azabiba to redeem him ; but as ill fortune would, he died before the Jew could get thither, which so grieved this prince when he understood of it, as the said Vasco Martins assured us that in the said monastery of S. Michael, he caused the most honourable funerals to be celebrated for him that ever he saw, wherein assisted above four thousand priests, besides a greater number of novices, which in their language are called Santilcos : nor was this all, for this prince hearing that the deceased had been married at Goa, and likewise that he had left three daughters there behind him, which were very young and poor, he bestowed on them three hundred Ogueas of gold, that are worth twelve Crusadoes of our money apiece ; a liberahty truly royal, and which I relate here, as well to amphfie the nobleness of this prince, as that it may serve for an example to others, and render them more charitable upon like occasions. The next morning we continued our journey, making all the haste that possibly we could : to which end we got upon good horses, that were given us by this prince; and withal he appointed four of his servants to accompany us, who during our voyage entertained us every where very sumptuously. That day our lodging was at a goodly place, called Betenigus, which signifies a royal house ; and in truth it was not without reason so named, for on whatsoever part one cast an eye, it was invironed with great high trees for three leagues about ; nor is it to be credited how pleasing this wood was, for that it was composed all of cedars, cypress, palm, date-trees, and cocos, like to those in the Indies ; here we past the night with all kind of contentment. In the morning we proceeded on our journey, and travelling after five leagues a day, we past over a great plain, all full of goodly corn ; then we arrived at a mountain, named, VangaUu, inhabited by Jews, which was very white and handsome; two days and an half after we came to a good town, called Fumbau, not above twelve leagues distant from the fort of Gyleytor, there we found Ba/rbosa, and 12 TEE TRAVELS, VOYAOES, AND ADVBNTUBES the forty Porhigals aforesaid, who received us with great demonstration of joy, but not without shedding of some tears, ( for though they lived there at their ease, and were absolute masters of all the country, as they said, yet the consideration how they were as men banished from their country into this place, did very much trouble them. Now because it was night when we arrived, and that we had all need of rest, Barbosa was of the opinion that we should not see the Emperours mother till the next morning, which was on Sunday, the 4th of October; that come, and we well refreshed, we went accompanied with Barbosa, and his forty Portugals, to the Princess palace, where we found her at Mass in her chappel. A while after, being advertised of our arrival, she caused us to be admitted into her presence ; whereupon we fell on our knees before her, and with all kind of humility kissed the VentUow that she held in her hand ; to these submissions we adjoyned many other ceremonies according to their fashion, conformable to the Instructions we had taken from the Portugals that conducted us thither. She received us with a smiling countenance ; and to testifie how much she was pleased vnth our coming; Verily, said she, you cannot imagine how glad I am to see you, that are right Christians ; for it hath been a thing which I have alwayes as much desired, as a fair garden enammelled with flowers doth the morning dew; wherefore you are most welcome; come, and may your entrance into my house be as propitious as that of the Vertuous Queen Helena's was into blessed Jerusalem. Herewith she made us to sit down upon mats, not above five or six paces distant from her ; then shewing her self exceedingly contented, she questioned us about certain matters, of which she assured us, that she very much longed to be satisfied : First, she asked us the name of our Holy Father the Pope, also how many kings there were in Christendome, and whether any of us had ever been in the Holy Land ; whereupon she much condemned the Christian princes for their neglect and want of care in seeking to ruine the power of the Tu/rk, who, she said, was the common enemy of them all. Likewise she would know of us, whether the King of Portugal was great in the Indies, what forts he had there, in what places they were seated, and OF FEBDINAND MENDFZ PINTO. 13 how defended. She made us many other like demands, to the which we answered the best we could for to content her; whereupon she dismissed us, and we returning to our lodging, continued there nine dayes, which we spent in waiting on this Princess, with whom we had much discourse on several subjects: that term expired, we went to take our leaves of her ; and in kissing of her hands she seemed to be somwhat troubled at our departure. Truly, said she, it grieves me that you will be gone so soon ; but since there is no remedy, I wish your voyage may be so pros^perous, that at your arrival in the Indies, you may be as well received by yours, as the Queen of Sheba toas heretofore by King Solomon in the admirable palace of his greatness. Now before we departed she bestowed on us twenty four Ogueas of gold, which make two hundred forty duckats of our money ; she caused us also to be conducted by a Naique, and twenty Abissins, as well to serve us for guides, and guard us from robbers, whereof that countrey was full, as to furnish us with victuals and horses, until such time as we got to Arquico, where our foists attended for us. This Princess also sent a rich present of divers jewels of gold and stones by Vasco Martins de Seixas imto the Governour of the Indies, which by ill fortune was lost in this voyage, as shall be declared hereafter. After we were returned to the port of Arquico, where we found our companions caulking of our foists, and furnishing them with all that was necessary for our voyage, we fell to work with them for the space of nine dayes. At length, all things being ready, we set sail, and parted from thence on Tuesday, the 6th of November, 1538. We carried with us both Yasoo Martins de Seixas, that had the present, and a letter from the Princess to the Governour of the Indies, as also an Abissin bishop, who was bound for Portugal, with an intent to go from thence to QaUcia, Borne and Venice, and afterwards to travel to Jerusalem, which especially he desired to see in regard of the holiness of the place. An hour before day we left the port, and sailed along the coast before the wind, until such time as about noon we reached the point of the Cape of Cocam ; and before we arrived at the Island of Eocks, we discerned three vessels on the other side, that seemed 14 TEE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES to us to be Gelvas or Terrades, which are the names of the vessels of that country ; whereupon we gave them chase, and with the strength of our oars, because the wind was then somwhat down, we pursued them in such sort, that in less then two hours, having gotten up to them, we might easily perceieve them to be Tv/rkish gaUies, whereof we were no sooner assured, but that we presently betook ourselves to flight, and made towards the land with all the haste that might be, so (if it were possible) to escape the danger that inevitably threatned us : but whether the Turh$ suspected our design, or knew it, in less than a quarter of an hour they hoisted up all their sails, and having the wind favourable they followed us very hard, so as in a little while getting within a small faulcon shot of us, they discharged all their ordnance upon us, wherewith they not only killed nine of our men, and hurt six and twenty, but so battered our foists, that we were fain to cast a great part of our goods into the sea ; mean while the Twrhs lost no time, but joyned us so close, that from their poop they hurt us easily with their pikes. Now there were four and fourty good souldiers remaining yet unhurt in our foists, who knowing that upon their valour and the force of their arms depended the lives both of themselves, and all the rest, they determined to fight it out. With this resolution they set couragiously upon the admiral of three galhes, wherein was Solyman Dragut, General of the Fleet ; their onset was so furious, as they invested her from poop to prow, and killed seven and twenty Janizaries ; never- theless she being instantly succoured with fresh men by the other two gaUies, which had stayed a little behind, we were so wearied and oppressed with numbers, that we were not able to make any further resistance ; for of four and fifty that we were at first, there was but eleven left aUve, whereof two also died the next day, whom the Tv/rhs caused to be cut in quarters, which they hung at the end of their mainyard for a sign of their victory, and in that manner carried them to the town of Mocaa, whereof the father-in-law of the said Solyman Dragus, that had taken us, was Governor ; who with all the inhabitants waited the coming of his son-in-law at the entry into the port, to receive and welcome him for his victory. In his company he had a certain Cacis, who was Moulana, the chiefest sacer- OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 15 dotal dignity; and because he had been a little before in pilgrimage at the temple of their prophet Mahomet in Mecca, he was held by all the people for a very holy man : this im- postor rode up and down the town in a triumphant charret, covered all over -with silk tapistry, and with a deal of ceremony blessed the people as he went along, exhorting them to tender all possible thanks unto their Prophet for the victory which Solyman Dragut had obtained over us. As soon as they arrived at this place, we nine that remained alive were set on shore, tied altogether with a great chain, and amongst us was the Abissin bishop, so pitifully wounded, that he died the next day, and in his end shewed the repentance of a true Christian, which very much encouraged and comforted us. In the mean time all the inhabitants that were assembled about us, hearing that we were the Christians which were taken captives, being exceedingly transported with choler, fell to beating of us in that cruel manner, as for my own part I never thought to have escaped aUve out of their hands, whereunto they were espe- cially incited by the wicked Gads, who made them believe they should obtain the more favour and mercy from their Mahomet, the worse they entreated us. Thus chained all together, and persecuted by every one, we were led in triumph over all the town, where nothing was heard but acclamations and shouts, intermingled with a world of musick, as well of instruments, as voyces. Moreover, there was not a woman, were she never so retired, that came not forth then to see us, and to do us some outrage ; for from the \«ery least children to the oldest men, all that beheld us pass by cast out of the windows and baloons upon us pots of piss, and other filth, in contempt and derision of the name of Christian, wherein every one strived to be most forward, in regard their cursed priest continued still preaching unto them, that they should gain remission of their sins by abusing us. Having been tormented in this sort until the evening, they went and laid us (bound as we were) in a dark dungeon, where we remained 17 dayes, exposed to aU kind of misery, having no other victual all that time, but a little oat- meal, which was distributed to us every morning to serve us aU the day : somtimes they gave us the same measure in dry peason a little soaked in water, and this was all the meat we had. 16 THE TBAVMLS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES CHAPTER IV. A Mutiny happening in the town of Moeaa, the occasion thereof, that which befel thereupon, and by what means I was carried to Ormuz ; as also my sailing from thence to Goa, and what success I had in that voyage. THE next day, in regard that we had been so miserably moiled, and our hiirts that were great but ill looked unto, of us nine there died two; whereof one was named Nuno Delgado, and the other And/re Borges, both of them men of courage, and of good families. The jaylor, which in their language is called Mooadan, repairing in the morning to us, and finding our two companions dead, goes away in all haste therewith to acquaint the Gauzil, which is as the judge with us, who came in person to the prison, attended by a great many of officers and other people ; where having caused their irons to be stricken off, and their feet to be tyed together with a rope, he commanded them so to be dragged from thence clean through the town, where the whole multitude, to the very children, pursued and pelted them with staves and stones, untiU such time as being wearied vrith hurrying those poor bodies in such fashion, they cast them aU battered to pieces into the sea. At last we seven, that were left alive, were chained altogether, and brought forth into the publique place of the town, to be sold to them that would give most : there all the people being met together, I was the first that was put to sale; whereupon just as the cryer^was offering to deliver me unto whomsoever would buy me, in comes the very Caois Moulana, whom they held for a saint, with ten or eleven other Gacis, his inferioui'S, aU. priests, Uke himself, of their wicked sect, and addressing his speech to Heredrin Sofo, the Governour of the town, who sate as president of the portsale, he required him to send us, as an alms, imto the Temple of Mecqua saying, that he was upon returning thither, and having resolved to make that pilgrimage in the name of all the people, it were not fit to go thither without carrying some offering to the Prophet Noby, (so they termed their Mahomet), a thing, said he, that would utterly displease Bazaadat Moulana, the chief priest of MedifM Tahtab, who without that would grant no OF FJSBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 17 kind of grace or pardon to the inhabitants of this town, which by reason of their great offences stood in extream need of the favour of God and His Prophet. The Governour having heard the Gacis speak thus, declared unto him that, for his particular, he had no power to dispose of any part of the booty, and that therefore he should apply himself to Solyman Bragus his son-in-law, who had made us slaves; so that in right it appertained only unto him to do with us as he pleased ; and I do not think, added he, that he will contradict so holy an intention as this is. Thou hast reason for it, answered the Gacis, but with all thou must know, that the things of God, and the alms that are done in His name, lose their value and force, when they are sifted through so many hands, and turmoiled with such humane opinions ; for which very cause seldom doth any divine resolution foUow thereupon, especially in a subject such as this, which thou mayst abso- lutely dispose of, as thou art sovereign commander of this people. Moreover, as there is no body can be displeased therewith, so I do not see how it can bring thee any discontent, for besides that this demand is very just; it is also most agreeable to our Prophet Noby, who is the absolute lord of this prize, in regard the victory came solely from his holy hand, though with as much falsehood as malice thou goest about to attribute the glory of it to the valor of thy son-in-law, and the courage of his soldiers. At this instant a Janizary was present, captain of one of the three gallies that took us, a man that for his exceeding valour was in great esteem amongst them, called Gopa Geynal, who nettled with that which he heard the Cacis speak, so much in contempt of both of himself and the rest of the souldiers, that had carried themselves very valiantly in the fight with us, returned him this answer. Certainly you might do better, for the salvation of your soul, to distribute some part of the excessive riches you possess among these poor souldiers, then seek with feign'd speeches, full of hypocrisie and deceit, to rob them of these slaves, which have cost the lives of so many brave men, their fellows in arms, and have been dearly bought by us that survive, even with our dearest blood, as the woimds we have upon us can but too well witness ; so can it not be said of your Cabayage 8 18 THU TBAVEL8, VOYAOES, ANI> ADVENTURES (a sacerdotal robe after their fashion), which for all it fits so trim and neat upon you, covers a pernicious habit you have of purloyning other mens estates from them : wherefore I would wish you to desist from the damnable plot you have laid against the absolute masters of this prize, whereof you shall not have so much as a token, and seek out some other present for the Cacis of Mecqua, to the end he may conceal your theevries, and impiety, provided it be not done with the expence of our lives and blood, but rather with the goods you have so lewdly gotten by yoxu: wicked and cunning devices. This Cacis Moulima having received so bold an answer from this captain, found it very rude, and hard of digestion, which made him in bitter terms, and void of all respects, exceedingly to blame the captain, and the souldiers that were there present, who, as well Turks as Saracens, being much offended with his ill language, combined together and mutined against him, and the rest of the people, in whose favour he had spoken so insolently ; nor could this mutiny be appeased by any kind of means, though the Governor of the town, father-in-law to the said Solyman Dragut, together with the officers of justice, did aU that possibly they could. In a word, that I may not stand longer upon the particulars of this affair, I say, that from this small mutiny did arise so cruel and enraged a con- tention, as it ended not but with the death of 600 persons, of the one, and the other side : but at length the souldiers party prevailing, they pillaged the most part of the town, especially the said Cacis Moulana's house, killing 7 wives and 9 children that he had, whose bodies together with his own were dis- membred, and cast into the sea with a great deal of cruelty. In the same manner they entreated all that belonged unto him, not so much as giving life to one that was known to be his. As for us 7 Portugals, which were exposed to sale in the publique place, we could find out no better expedient to save our lives, then to return into the same hole, from whence we came, and that too without any officer of justice to carry us thither; neither did we take it for a small favour that the jaylour would receive us into prison. Now this mutiny had not ceased but by the authority of Solyman Dragut, General of the gallies aforesaid; for this man with very gentle words OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 19 gave an end to the sedition of the people, and pacified the mutiners, which shews of what power courtesie is, even with such as are altogether ignorant of it. In the mean time Eeredrin Sopho, Governour of the town, came off but ill from this hurly burly, by reason that in the very first encounter he had one of his arms almost cut off. Three days after this dis- order was quieted, we were led all 7 again to the market place, there to be sold with the rest of the booty, which consisted of our stuff, and ordnance, that they had taken in our foists, and were sold at a very easie rate: for my self, miserable that I was, and the most wretched of them all ; fortune, my sworn enemy, made me fall into the hands of a Greek renegade, whom I shall detest as long as I have a day to live, because that in the space of 3 moneths I was with him ; he used me so cruelly, that becoming even desperate, for that I was not able to endure the evil he did me, I was seven or eight times upon the point to have poysoned my self, which questionless I had done, if God of His infinite mercy and goodness had not delivered me from it, whereimto I was the rather induced to make him lose the money he paid for me, because he was the most covetous man in the world, and the most inhumane, and cruellest enemy to the name of a Christian. But at the end of three moneths it pleased the Almighty to deliver me out of the hands of this tyrant, who for fear of losing the mony I cost him ; if I should chance to make my self away, as one of his neighbours perswaded him I would, telling him that he had discovered so much by my countenance, and manner of behaviour, wherefore in pity of me he counselled him to sell me away, as he did not long after unto a Jew, named Abraham Miwa, native of a town called in those quarters Toro, not above a league and an half distant from Mount Smay. This man gave for me the value of 300 reals in dates, which was the merchandize that this Jew did ordinarily trade in with my late master; and so I parted with him in the company of divers merchants for to go from Babylon to Gayxem, whence he carried me to Ormuz, and there presented me to Don Fernand de Lima, who was at that time captain of the fort, and to Don Pedro Fernandez, Commissary General of the Indms, that was then residing at Orrrmz, for the service of the 20 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ABVENTVBES King by order from the Governour Nunho de Gunha. These two, namely Fernandez and de Lima, gave the Jew in re- compence for me 200 Pardaos, which are worth three shillings and nine pence a piece of our coyn, whereof part was their own mony, and the rest was raised of the ahns which they caused to be gathered for me in the town, so we both re- mained contented, the Jew for the satisfaction he had received from them, and I to find my self at fuU liberty as before. Seeing my self by Gods mercy dehvered from the miseries I had endured; after I had been seventeen days at Ormuz, I imbarqued my self for the Indies in a ship that belonged to one Jorge Fernandez Taborda, who was to carry horses to Qoa, In the course that we held we sailed with so prosperous a gale, that in 17 dayes we arrived in the view of the Fort of Diu ; there, by the advice of the captains, coasting along by the land for to learn some news, we descried a great number of fires all that night, also at times we heard divers pieces of ordnance discharged, which very much troubled us, by reason we could not imagine what those fires, or that shooting in the night should mean ; in so much that we were divided into several opinions. During this incertainty our best advice was, to sail the rest of the night with as Httle cloth as might be, until that on the nest morning by favour of day Ught we perceived a great many sails, which invironed the fort on all sides. ,, Some affirmed that it was the Governour newly come from Goa, to make peace for the death of Sultan Bandur, King of Cambaya, that was slain a httle before. Others said that it was the Infant, brother to the King Dom Jovan, lately arrived there from Portugal, because he was every day expected in the Indies. Some thought that it was the Patemarca, with the King of Galicuts hundred foists of Camorin. And the last assured us, how they could justifie with good and sufficient reasons that they were the Turks. As we were in this diversity of minds, and terrified with that which we discerned before our eyes, five very great gallies came forth of the midst of this fleet, with a many of banners, flags and streamers, which we saw on the tops of their masts, and the ends of their sail-yards, whereof some were so long, that they touched even the very water. These gallies being come forth in this sort, OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ FINTO. 21 turned their prows towards us in such a couragious and confident manner, that by their sailing we presently judged them to be Turks ; which we no sooner knew to be so indeed, but we clapt on all our cloth for to avoid them, and to get into the main sea, not without exceeding fear, lest for our sins we should fall into the like estate from whence I was so lately escaped. These five gallies having observed our flight, took a resolution to pursue us, and chased us till night, at which time it pleased God that they tacked about, and returned to the army from whence they came. Seeing our selves freed from so great a danger we went joyfully on, and two dayes after arrived at the town of Ghmtl, where our captain and the merchants, only landed for to visit the captain of the fort, named Simon Guedez, unto whom they reported that which had befallen them. Assuredly, said he, you are very much bound to give God thanks for delivering you from one of the greatest perils that ever you were in, for without His assistance it had been impossible for you ever to have declined it, or to teU me of it with such joy as now you do: thereupon he declared unto them, that the army they had encountred was the very same, which had held Antonio de Siheyra twenty dayes together besieged, being composed of a great number of Ttvrhs, whereof Solyman the Bassa, Yice-roy of Caire, was General, and that those sails they had seen, were 58. gaUies great and small, each of which carried five pieces of ordnance in her prow, and some of them were pieces of battery, besides eight other great vessels full of Turks, that were kept in reserve to succour the army, and supply the places of such as should be killed: moreover, he added, that they had great abundance of victuals, amongst the which there was 12. Basilisks. This news having much amazed us, we rendred infinite praise to the Lord for shewing us such grace, as to deliver us from so imminent a danger. We staid at Chaul but one day, and then we set sail for Goa; being advanced as far to the river of Ca/rapatan, we met with Fernand de Morcds, captain of three foists, who by the command of the Vice-roy, Dom Garcia de Noronha, was going to Dabul, to the end he might see whether he could take or burn a Turkish vessel which was in the port laden with •22 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 victuals by order from the Bassar. This Fernand de Morais had no sooner gotten acquaintance of our ship, but he desired oiu: captain to lend him 15 men, of twenty that he had, for to supply the great necessity he was in that way, by reason of the Vice-royes hastning him away upon the sudden; which, said he, would much advance the service both of God, and his highness. After many contestations of either part upon this occasion, and which, to make short, I will pass under silence ; at length they were agreed, that our captain should let Fernand de Morais have 12 of 15 men that he requested, wherewithal he was very well satisfied : of this number I was one, as being alwayes of the least respected. The ship departing for Goa; Fernand de Morais, with his three foists, continued his voyage towards the port of Ddbul, where we arrived the next day about nine of the clock in the morning, and presently took a pataeh of Malabar, which laden with cotton wool and pepper, rode at anchor in the midst of the port. Having taken it we put the captain and pilot to torture, who instantly con- fessed that a few dayes before the ship came into the port expresly from the Bassa to lade victuals, and that there was in her an embassadour, who had brought Hidalcan a very rich Gabaya, that is, a garment worn by the gentle- men of that countrey, which he would not accept of, for that thereby he would not acknowledge himself subject to the Turk, it being a custom among the Mahwnetans, for the lord to do that honour to his vassal ; and further, that this refusal had so much vexed the Embassador, as he returned without taking any kind of provision of victuals, and that Hidalcan had answered, he made much more esteem of the K. of Portugals amity, then of his, which was nothing but deceit, as having usurped the town of Goa upon him, after he had offered to aid him with his favour and forces to regain it. Moreover, they said, that it was not above two dayes since the ship they spoke of parted from the port, and that the captain of her, named Cide Ale, had denounced war against Hidalcan, vowing that as soon as the fort of Diu was taken, which could not hold out above eight dayes, according to the estate wherein he had left it, Hidalcan should lose his kingdom, or life, and that then he should (to his cost) know how that the Porittgals, in whom he OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 23 put his confidence, could not avail him. With these news Captain Morais turned towards Goa, where he arrived two dayes after, and gave account to the Vice-roy of that which had past. There we found Goncallo vae Goutinho, who was going with five foists to Onor, to demand of the Queen thereof one of the gallies of Solymans army, which by a contrary wind had been driven into her ports. Now one of the captains of those foists, my special friend, seeing me poor and necessitous, perswaded me to accompany him in this voyage, and to that end got me five ducates pay, which I very gladly accepted of, out of the hope I had, that God would thereby open me a way to a better fortune. Being imbarqued then, the captain and souldiers, pitying the case I was in, bestowed such spare clothes as they had upon me, by which means being reasonably well pieced up again, we parted the next morning from the Eoad of Bardees, and the Monday following we cast anchor in the port of Onor ; where, that the inhabitants of the place might know how little account we made of that mighty army, we gave them a great peal of ordnance, putting forth all our fifes, beating our drums, and sounding our trumpets, to the end that by these exterior demonstrations they might conclude we regarded not the Turks awhit. CHAPTER V. Gonoallo vaz Coutinho's Treaty with the Queen of Onor ; his assaulting of a Turkish galley, and that which hapned unto us as we were upon our return to Goa. OUE fleet makmg a stand upon the discharging of our peal of ordnance, the General Goncallo vaz Goutinho sent Sento Gastanho, a very discreet and eloquent man, to the Queen of Onor, to present her with a letter from the Vice-roy, and to tell her that he was come to complain of her, for that she had sworn a peace and amity with our King of Portugal, and yet suffered the Turks, mortal enemies to the Portugals, to abide in her ports. Hereunto she returned this answer : That both himself and his company were very welcome, and that 34 THE TBAVMLS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 she desired to maintain the peace as long as she lived. For that which he said of the Turks, she took her God to witness, how much against her will she had received and suffered them in her ports ; but that finding her self too weak for to resist such powerful enemies, she was constrained to dissemble, which she would never have done had she been furnished with sufficient forces. Furthermore, to clear her self the better unto them, she offered both her power and people for to repel them out of her ports. To this speech she added, that she should be as well pleased if God would give him the victory over them, as if the King of Narsingua, whose slave she was, should set her at the table with his wife, Goneallo vaz Goutinho having received this embassage, and other complements from the Queen, though he had little hop& of any performance on her part, yet did he wisely dissemble it. Afterwards being fully informed by the people of the country of the Turks intention, of the place where they were, and what they did at that instant, he called a oouncel thereupon, and having througly debated and con- sidered all things, it was unanimously concluded, that both for the King of Portugal their masters honour, and his own, it was expedient to set upon this galley, either for to take, or fire it, wherein it was hoped that God, for whose glory we fought, would be assisting to us against those enemies of the holy faith. This resolution being made, and signed by us all, he entred some two.faulcons shot within the river, where he had scarce anchored, when as a little boat, which they caU an Almadia, came aboard us, with a Brachman that spake very goodi Portuguez. This man delivered a message from the Queen unto our captain, whereby she earnestly desired him, that for Vice-royes sake he would desist from the enterprise he had undertaken, and not to assault the Turks any manner of way, which, said she, could not be done without great disadvantage, for that she had been advertised by her spies, that they had fortified themselves with a good trench, which they had cast up near the place where they had moored their galley ; in regard whereof it seemed to her almost impossible for him with no more forces then he had to be able to prevail in so great an attempt : wherefore she took her God to witness how much she was troubled with the fear she was in, lest some OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 26 mis-fortune should betide him. Hereunto our captain returned an ans\rer full of wisdom and courtesie, saying that he kissed her Highness hands for the extraordinary favour she did him, in giving him so good advice : but for his combat -with the Turks, he could not follow her counsel, and therefore would proceed in his determination, it being always the custom of the Portugals, not to inquire whether their enemies were few, or many since the more they were, the more should be their loss, and the greater his profit and honour. Thus was the Brachman dismissed, our captain bestowing on him a piece of green chamlet, and an hat lined with red sattin, wherewith ho returned very well contented. The Brachman dismist, Goncalh vaz Coutinha resolved to fight with the Turks, but before he proceeded any further, he was advertised by spies what stratagems the enemy would use against us, and that the precedent night, by the favour of the Queen, they had moored up the galley, and by it raised up a platform, whereupon they had flanked 25. pieces of ordnance ; but all that stayed him not from advancing towards the enemy ; seeing himself then within a cannon shot of them, he went out of his foist, and with 80. men onely landed, the rest which he had brought with him from Goa for this enterprize, being but an hundred more, he left for the guard of the foists. So after he had set his men in battel array, he marched couragiously against his adversaries, who perceiving -us making towards them vaUantly resolved to defend themselves, 'to which end they sallied some five and twenty or thirty paces out of their trenches, where the fight began on either side with such fury, that in less then a quarter of an hour, five and forty lay dead in the place, amongst the which, there was not above 8. of ours : Hereupon our General not contented with the first charge, gave them a second, by means whereof it pleased God to make them turn their backs, in such sort that they retired pell-mel, as men routed, and in fear of death. Mean while we pursued them to their very trenches, where they turned upon us, and made head anew, in the heat thereof we were so far engaged and intangled together, that we knocked one another with the pummels of our swords. Mean while our foists arrived, which were come along by the shore to succour us, and accordingly 26 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES they discharged all their ordnance upon our enemies, to such good purpose, as they killed 11. or 12. of the valiantest Janizaries, which wore green turbants, as a mark of their nobility. The death of these so terrified the rest, that they presently forsook the field, by means whereof we had leasure to set the gaUey on fire upon the express command of our General Goncallo, so that having cast into her five pots of powder, the fire took hold on her with such violence, as it was apparant it could not be long before she were utterly consumed ; for the mast and sail-yards were aU of a flame, had not the Turks, knowing the danger she was in, most oouragiously quenched the fire , but we laboured all that possibly we could to hinder them from it, and to make good that we had so bravely begun, which the enemies perceiving, as their last refuge they gave fire to a great piece of ordnance, which charged with stones, and other shot, killed six of ours, whereof the principal was Diego vas Coutinho, the Generals son, besides a dozen others were hurt, that put us quite in disorder; whereupon the enemies finding how they had spoyled us, fell to shouting in sign of victory, and to rendring of thanks to their Mahomet : at the naming of this their false Prophet, whom they invoked, our General, the better to encourage his souldiers. Fellows in arms, said he, seeing these dogs call upon the Devil to aid them, let us pray unto our Saviour Jesus Christ to assist us. This said, we once more assaulted the trench, which the enemies no sooner perceived, but they craftily turned their backs, and took their flight towards the galley, but they were instantly followed by some of ours, who within a while made themselves masters of all their trenches ; in the mean time the infidels gave fire to a secret myne, which they had made a little within their trenches, and blew up six of our Portugals, and eight slaves, maiming many others besides; now the smoak was such and so thick, as we could hardly discern one another, in regard whereof our general, fearing lest some greater loss then the former should befal him, retreated to the water side, carrying along with him both the dead bodies, and all thS' hurt men, and so went where his foists lay, into the whicB' every one being imbarqued, we returned with strength of rowing to the place from whence we came, where with extream sorrow OF FEBDINAND MENDFZ PINTO. 27 he caused the slain to be interred, and all that were hurt to be drest, which were a very great number. The same day that was so fatal to us, a list being taken of all the surviving souldiers, that so it might be known how many had been lost in the last fight upon assaulting of the trench, we found that of fourscore which we were, there was fifteen slain, fifty four hurt, and nine quite maimed for ever : the rest of the day, and the night following, we kept very good watch to avoid all surprizes of the enemy. As soon as the next morning appeared, there came an embassadour from the Queen of Onor to the General Goncallo, with a present of hens, chickens, and new layd eggs, for the reUef of our sick men; now though we had great need of those things, yet in stead of receiving our General utterly refused them ; and shewing himself very much displeased with the Queen, he could not forbear lashing out some words that were a little more harsher then was requisite; saying, that the Vice-roy should ere long be advertised of the bad offices she had rendred the King of Portugal, and how much he was obliged to pay her that debt, when occasion should serve : further, he bid him tell her, that for an assurance of that which he said, he had left his son dead and buried in her land, together with the o'ther Portugals, who had been miserably slaughtered through her practices, by assisting the Tii/rks against them : and in a word, that he would thank her more fully another time for the present she had sent, the better to dissemble what she had executed against him, lor which he would one day return her a recompeuce according to her merit. The embassadour, very much terrified with this speech, departed ; and being come to the Queen his mistress, he so thoroughly represented Goncallo's answer unto her, as she greatly doubted that this galley would be an occasion of the loss of her-kingdom ; wherefore to dechne so great a mischief, she thought it necessary to seek by all means possible to maintain the league with our General, to which end she assembled her Oounoel, by whose advice she dispatched another embassadour unto him, who was a Brachinan, a grave and reverend personage, and her nearest kinsman. At his arrival where our foists lay, our General gave him very good 28 THE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTVBES entertainment; and after the ordinary ceremonies and com- plements, the Brachman, having demanded permission to deliver his embassage, declared that the Queen faithfully promiseth, viithm fow days to bwm the galley, that hath put you to so much pain, and tu/rn the Turks out of the limits of her kingdome, which is all that she can do, and which you may be mast confident she will not fail to execute accordingly. Our General knowing of what importance this affair was, presently accepted of the Brachmans offer, and told him that he was contented that the league should be renewed betwixt them, according whereunto it was instantly published on either part with all the ceremonies accustomed in such cases ; therupon the Brachman returned to the Queen, who after- wards laboured all she could to make good her word; but because Goncallo could not stay the four days which he had demanded, in regard of the extream danger he should thereby have exposed our hurt men unto, he resolved to be gone, and so the same day after dinner we departed ; howbeit he first left one, named Georgia Neogueyra, there, with express order exactly to observe all that was done concerning that affair, and thereof to give certain intelligence to the Yice-roy, as the Queen her self had requested. CHAPTEE VI. What passed till such time as Pedro de Faria, arrived at Malaoa ; his receiying an embassadour from the King of Batas ; with his sending me to that King, and that which arrived to me in that Voyage. THE next day our General Goncallo van Coutinho arrived at Goa, with so many of us as remained alive : there he was exceedingly welcomed by the Yice-roy, unto whom he rendred an account of his voyage, as also of that which he had concluded with the Queen of Onor, who had promised to burn the gaUey within four dayes, and to chase the Turhs out of all the confines of her kingdom, wherewith the Vice- roy was very well satisfied. In the mean time, after I had remained three and twenty dayes in the said tovra of Goa, OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 29 wliere I was cured of two hurts which I had received in fight at the Turks trenches, the necessity whereunto I saw my self reduced, and the counsel of a frier, my friend, perswaded me to offer my service unto a gentleman, named Pedro de Faria, that was then newly preferred to the charge of captain of Malaca, who upon the first motion was very willing to entertain me for a souldier, and promised me withal to give me something over and ahove the rest of his company during the voyage which he was going to make with the Vice-roy. For it was at that very time when as the Vice-roy Dom Garcia de Noronha was preparing to go to the succour of the fortress of Diu, which he certainly knew was besieged, and in great danger to-be taken, by reason of the great forces wherewithal it was invested by the TurTt ; and to relieve it the Vice-roy had assembled a mighty fleet at Goa, consisting of about 225. vessels, whereof fourscore and three were great ones ; namely, ships, galleons, carvels, and the rest brigantines, foists, and galleys, wherein it was said there were ten thousand land-men, and thirty thousand mariners, besides a great number of slaves. The time of setting sail being come, and the foists provided of all things necessary, the Vice-roy imbarqued himself on Satii/rday the 14. of November, 1538. Howbeit five dayes past away before he put out of the haven, in regard he stayed for his men, that were not all ready to imbarque ; the meanwhile a catur arrived from the town of Diu, with a letter from Antonio de Sil/veyra, captain of the fortress, whereby he advertised the Vice-roy, that the Turks had raised the siege, and were retired. Now though these were good news, yet was the whole fleet grieved thereat, for the great desire every one had to fight with the enemies of our faith. Hereupon the Vice-roy abode there five dayes longer, during the which he took order for all things necessary to the conservation of his government of the Indies, and then commanding to hoist sail, he departed from Goa on a Thursday morning, the 16. of December: the fourteenth of his navigatioB he went and cast anchor at Ghaul, where he remained three dayes, during the which he entered into conference with Inezamuluco, a Mahometan prince, and took order for certain affairs very much importing the surety of the 30 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES fortress : after that he caused some of the vessels of the fleet to be rigged, which he furnished with souldiers and victuals, and then departed for to go to Diu ; but it was his ill fortune, as he was crossing the gulph, to be suddenly overtaken by such a furious tempest, that it not only separated his fleet, but was the loss of many vessels, chiefly of the bastard galley which was cast away at the mouth of the river Dabul, whereof Dom Alvaro de Noronha, the Vice-royes son, and General of the Sea-forces, was captain ; in the same gulph also perished the galley named Espinhero, commanded by Jovan de Sousa ; howbeit the most part of their men were saved by Christophilo de Gama, who came most opportunely to their succour. During this tempest there were seven other ships likewise cast away, the names of which I have forgotten, in so much that it was a moneth before the Vice-roy could recover himself of the loss he had sustain'd, and re-assemble his fleet again, which this storm had scattered in divers places : at length the 16. of January, 1539. he arrived at the town of Diu, where he caused the fortress, to be re-built, the greater part whereof had been demolished by the Tv/rlcs, so as it seemed that it had been defended by the besieged, rather by miracle : then force : now to effect it the better, he made proclamation, that all the captains with their souldiers should each of them take in charge to re-build that quarter which should be allotted them ; and because never a commander there had more then Ped/ro de Fa/ria, he thought fit to appoint him the bulwark, which looked to the sea, for his quarter, together with the out-wall that was on the lands side ; wherein he bestowed such care and diligence, that in six and twenty days space, both the one and the other were restored to a better state then before, by the means of 300 souldiers that were employed about it. This done, for that it was the 14 of March, and a fit time for navigation to Malaca, Fedro de Faria set sail for Ooa, where by vertue of a patent granted hun by the Vice-roy, he fur- nished himself with all things necessary for his voyage; departing then from Goa on the 13 of April, with a fleet of eight ships, four foists, and one gaUey, wherein there were five hundred men, he had so favourable a wind, that he arrived at Malaca, the 5th day of June, in the same year, 1589. OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 81 Pedro de Faria succeeding Dom Estevano de Gama in the charge of the captain of Malaca, arrived there safely with his fleet, nothing hapning in his voyage worthy of writing. Now because at his arrival, JEstevan de Gama had not yet ended the time of his commission, he was not put into the possession of that government until the day that he was to enter upon his charge. Howbeit, in regard Pedro de Faria, was ere long to be govemour of the fortress, the neighbouring kings sent their embassadours to congratulate with him, and to make a tender of their amity, and of a mutual conservation of peace vnth the King of Portugal. Amongst these embassadours there was one from the King of Batas, who raigned in the Isle of Samatra, where it is held for a surety that the Island of Gold is, which the King of Portugal, Dom. Joana the Third, had resolved should have been discovered, by the advice of certain captains of the country. This embassadour, that was brother-in-law to the King of Batas, named Aquarem Dabolay, brought him a rich present of wood of Aloes, Galamhaa, and five quintals of benjamon in flowers, with a letter written on the bark of a palm-tree, [demanding the aid of the Portuguese against tlie Tyrant of Achem] . This embassadour received from Pedro de Faria all the honour that he could do him after their manner, and as soon as he had delivered him the letter, it was translated into the Portugal out of the Malayan tongue, wherein it was written. Whereupon the embassadour by his interpreter declared the occasion of the discord which was between the Tyrant of Achem and the King of Batas, proceeding from this, that the Tyrant had not long before propounded unto this King of Batas, who was a Gentile, the imbracing of Mahomets law, conditionally that he would wed him to a sister of his, for which purpose he should quit his wife, that was also a Gentile, and married to him six and twenty years; now because the King of Batas would by no means condescend thereunto, the Tyrant, incited by a Cacis of his, immediately denoxmced war against him : so each of them having raised a mighty army, they fought a most bloody battel, that continued three houres and better, during the which the Tyrant perceiving the advantage the Bataes had of him, after he had lost a great number of his people, he made 32 TEE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 his retreat into a mountain, called Oagerrendan, where the Bataes held him besieged by the space of three and twenty dayes ; but because that time many of t'he Kings men fell sick, and that also the Tyrants camp began to want victuals ; they concluded a peace, upon condition that the Tyrant should give the King five bars of gold (which are in value two hundred thousand crowns of our mony) for to pay his souldiers, and that the King should marry his eldest son to that sister of the Tyrant, who had been the cause of making that war. This accordingly being signed by either part, the King returned into his country, where he was no sooner arrived, but relying on this treaty of peace, he dismist his army, and discharged aU his forces. The tranquillity of this peace lasted not above two moneths and an half, in which time there came to the Tyrant 300 Turks, whom had long expected from the Streight of Mecqua, and for them had sent four vessels laden with pepper, wherein also were brought a great many cases of muskets and hargebuses, together with divers pieces both of brass and iron ordnance ; whereupon the first thing the Tyrant did, was to joyn 300. Turks to some forces he had still afoot ; then making as though he would go to Pacem, for to take in a captain that was revolted against him, he cunningly fell upon two places, named Jacur and Lingua, that appertained to the King of Batas, which he suddenly smrprized when they within them least thought of it, for the peace newly made between them took away all the mistrust of such an attempt, so as by that means it was easie for the Tyrant to render himself master of those fortresses. Having taken them, he put three of the Kings sons to death, and 700 Ouroballones, so are the noblest and the valiantest of the kingdom called. This while the King of Batas, much resenting, and that with good cause so great a treachery, sware by the head of his god Quia Hocombinor, the principal idol of the Gentiles sect, who hold him for their god of justice, never to eat either fruit, salt, or any other thing that might bring the least gust to his palate, before he had revenged the death of his children, and drawn reason from the Tyrant for this loss ; protesting further, that he was resolved to dye in the maintenance of so just a war. To which end, and the better to bring it to pass, the King of Batas straight OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 8D way assembled an army of 1500 men, aa well natives, as strangers ; wherewithal he was assisted by some princes his friends : and to the same effect he implored the forces of us Christians, which was the reason why he sought to contract a new amity with Pedro de Faria, who was very well contented with it, in regard he knew that it greatly imported, both the service of the Bang of Portugal, and the conservation of the fortress, besides that by this means he hoped very much to augment the revenue of the customes, together with his own particular, and all the rest of the Portugals profit, in regard of the great trade they had in those countries of the South. After that the King of Batas embassadour had been seven- teen dayes with us, Pedro de Faria dismissed him, having first granted whatsoever the King his master had demanded, and somthing over and above, as fire-pots, darts, and murdering pieces wherewith the embassadour departed from the fortress so contented, that he shed tears for joy; and presently im- barqued himself in the same Lanchara, wherein he came thither, being accompanied with eleven or twelve Batons, which are small barques, and so went to the Isle of Vpa, distant not above half a league from the port. There the Banda/ra of Malaca (who is as it were Chief Justicer amongst the Mahometans) was present in person, by the express commandment of Ped/ro de Fa/ria, for to entertain him; and accordingly he made him a great feast, which was celebrated with hoboys, drums, trumpets, and cymbals, together with an excellent consort of voices framed to the tune of harps, lutes, and viols after the Portugal manner. Whereat this embassador did so wonder, that he would often put his finger on his mouth, an usual action with those of that country when they marvel at any thing. About twenty dayes after the departure of this embassador, Ped/ro de Fa/ria, being informed that if he would send some commodities from the Indies to the kingdom of Batas, he might make great profit thereof, and much more of those which should be returned from thence, he to that effect set forth a Jwrwpango, of the bignesse of a small carvel, wherein he ventured a matter of some ten thousand ducates; in this vessel he sent, as his factor, a certain Mahometan, bom at Malaca, and was desirous to have me 4 84 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES to accompany him, telling me, that thereby I should not only much oblige him, but that also under pretext of being sent as embassador thither, I might both see the King of Batas, and going along with him in his journey against the Tyrant of Aohem, -which some way or other would questionless redound to my benefit. Now to the end that upon my return out of those countries I might make him a true relation of all that I had seen, he prayed me carefully to observe whatsoever should pass there, and especially to learn whether the Isle of Gold, so much talked of, was in those parts ; for that he was minded, if any discovery of it should be made, to write unto the Bang of Portugal about it. To speak the truth, I would fain have excused my self from this voyage, by reason those countries were unknown to me, and for that the inhabitants were by every one accounted faithless and treacherous, having small hope besides to make any gain by it, in regard that all my stock amounted not to above an hundred ducates ; but because I durst not oppose the captains desire I imbarqued myself, though very unwillingly, with that Infidel who had the charge of the merchandize. Our pilot steered his course from Malaca to the port of Sorotilau, which is in the kingdom of Aru, alwayes ooasting the Isle of Sumatra towards the Mediterranean Sea, till at length we arrived at a certain river, called Hicandv/re ; after we had continued five dayes sailing in this manner we came to an harbour, named Minhatoley, distant some ten leagues from the kingdom of Peedir. In the end finding our selves on the other side of the ocean we sailed on four days together, & then cast anchor in a little river, called Gaateamgim, that was not above seven fathom deep, up the which we past some 7 or 8 leagues. Now all the while we sailed in this river with a fair wind, we saw athwart a wood, which grew on the bank of it, such a many adders, & other crawling creatures, no less prodigious for their length then for the strangeness of their forms, that I shall not marvel if they that read this history will not beleeve my report of them ; especially such as have not travelled ; for they that have seen little beleeve not much, whereas they that have seen much beleeve the more. AU along this river, that was not very broad, there were a numbei of lizards, which might more properly be called serpents, OP FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. «5 because some of them were as big as an AJmaMa, with scales upon their backs, and mouths two foot wide. Those of the country assured us, that these creatures are so hardy, as there be of them that sometimes will set upon an Almadia, chiefly when they perceive there is not above four or five persons in her, and overturn it with their tailes, swallowing up the men whole, without dismembring of them. In this place also we saw strange kind of creatures, which they call Gaquesseitan ; they are of the bignesse of a great goose, very blacke and scaly on their backs, with a row of sharp pricks on their chins, as long as a writing pen : moreover, they have wings like imto those of bats, long necks, and a little bone growing on their heads resembling a cocks spur, with a very long tail spotted black and green, like unto the lizards of that country ; these creatures hop and fly together, like grashopers ; and in that manner they hunt apes, and such other beasts whom they pursue even to the tops of the highest trees. Also we saw adders, that were copped on the crowns of their heads, as big as a mans thigh, and so venomous, as the Negroes of the country informed us, that if any living thing came within the raach of their breath, it dyed presently, there being no remedy nor antidote against it. We likewise saw others, that were not copped on their crowns, not so venomous as the former, but far greater and longer, with an head as big as a calves. We were told that they hunt their prey in this manner : they get up into a tree, and winding their tails about some branch" of it, let theif bodies hang down to the foot of the tree, and then laying one of their ears close to the ground^ they hearken whether they can hear anything stir during the stillness of the night, so that if an ox, a boar, or any other beast doth chance to pass by, they presently seize on it, and so carries it up into the tree, where he devours it. In like sort we descryed a number of baboons, both grey and black, as big as a great mastiff, of whom the Negroes of the country are more afraid, then of all the other beasts, because they will set upon them with that hardiness, as they have much ado to resist them. 36 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES CHAPTBE VII. What hapned to me at Penaiu, -with the King of Batas expedition against the Tyrant of Aohem ; and what he did after his victory over him. BY that time we had sailed seven or eight leagues up the river, at the end we arrived at a Uttle town, named Botterendan, not above a quarter of a mile distant from Panaiu, where the King of Batas was at that time making preparation for the war he had undertaken against the Tyrant of Achem. This King understanding that I had brought him a letter and a present from the Captain of Malaca, caused me to be enter- tained by the Xabandar, who is he that with absolute power governs all the affairs of the army : this general, accompanied with five Lanchares, and twelve Ballons, came to me to the port where I rode at anchor ; then with a great noise of drums, bells, and popular acclamations, he brought me to a certain key of the town, called Campalator ; there the Bandara, governour of the kingdom, stayed for me in great solemnity, attended by many Ourobalons and Amborraias, which are the noblest persons of his Court, the most part of whom, for all that, were but poor and base, both in their habit, and manner of living, whereby I knew that the country was not so rich as it was thought to be in Malaca. When I was come to the Kings palace, and had past through the first court, at the entrance of the second I found an old woman, accompanied with other persons far nobler, and better apparelled then those that marched before me, who beckening me with her hand, as if she had commanded me to enter : Man of Malaca, said she unto me. Thy arrival in the King my masters land is as agreeable unto him, as a showre of rain is to a crop of rice in d/ry and hot weather; wherefore enter boldly, and be afraid of nothing, for the people, which by the goodness of God thou seest here, are no other than those of thiiie own country, since the hope which we have in the same God makes us believe that he will maintain us all together .unto the end of the world. Having said so, she carried me where the King was, unto whom I did obeysance according to the manner of the country ; then I delivered him the letter and the present I OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 87 had brought him, which he graciously accepted of, and asked me what^ occasion drew me thither. Whereunto I answered, as I had in commission, thaiXMas-comaiajerveJiia Highness ^^S^15H?iJ5^?J§-IiSESd-toJiayeJh^ honour jboattend on fe™j-A-S9i^i his arms, My^^od fi^end, said he unto me, I assure thee that the last night I dreamt how all these things, which I behold ,here before me, came unto me from the King of Portugal, my masters fortress, by means whereof, with God's assistance, I hope to defend my kingdom, and to serve him, in the manner I have always hitherto done, that is, moat faithfully, as all the captains can very well testifie, which have heretofore com- manded in Malaca. Hereupon questioning me about certain matters, that he desired to know, as well concerning the Indies, as the Kingdom of Portugal, he recommended the finishing of the trench to his people, who wrought very earnestly and chearfully in it; and taking me by th.eJiand, on fool as Jhe was, attended only by five or six gentlemen^ he led me" directly. to the city, that was about some quarter of a league from the trench, whgre in his palace hg entertained me most, magiafieeatlys yea and made me to salute his^wife, a Watter very rarely practised in that country, & held for a Ispeoial honor, which when I had done, with abundance of tears he said unto me, Portugal, here is the cause that makes me so much to redoubt the coming of my enemies ; for were I not withheld by my vnfe, I swear unto thee by the law of a good and true Moore, that I would prevent them in their designs, without any other aid then of my own subjects; for it 52 THE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTVBES is not now that I begin to know what manner of man the perfidious Achem is, or how far his power extends ; Alas ! it is the great store of gold, which he, possesseth, that covers his weaknesse, and by means whereof he wageth such forces of strangers, wherewith he is continually served. But now that thou maist on the other side understand how vile and odious poverty is, and how hurtful to a poor King, such as I may be, come thee along with me, and by that little which I will presently let thee see thou shalt perceive, whether it be not too true, that fortune hath been so exceeding niggardly to me of her goods. Saying so, he carried me to his Arsenal, which was covered with thatch, and shewed me all that he had within it, whereof he might say with reason, that it was nothing in com- parison of what he needed for to withstand the attempts of two^ hundred & thirty vessels, replenished with .siich, warlike posplej as th.f> Achems and Malabar Turks were ; moreover, with a sad countenance, and as one that desired to discharge his mind of the grief he was in for the danger was threatned him, he recounted unto me, that he had in all but six thousand men Aa/runs, without any forraign succor, forty pieces of small ordnance, as falconets, and bases, and one cast piece, which he had formerly bought of a Portugal, named Antomio de Garcia, sometimes a receiver of the toU and customs of the ports of the fortress of Pacem, whom Georgia de Albuquerque cause since to be hanged and quartered at Malaca, for that he treated by letters with the King of Bintham about a plot of treason, which they had contrived together)-i*He told me besides, that he had also forty muskets, six and twenty elephants, fifty horsemen for the guard of the place, eleven or twelve thousand staves hardened in the fire, called Salignes, whose points were poysoned, and for the defence of the trench fifty lances, good store of targets, a thousand pots of unslack'd lime made into powder, and to be used instead of pots of wild-fire, & three or four barques full laden with great fiints ; in a word, by the view of these, and such other of his miseries, I easily perceived he was so unprovided of things necessary for his defence, that I presently concluded the enemy would have ho great a do to seize on this kingdom. Nevertheless he having demanded of me what I thought of all this ammunition in his magaziin, and OF FERDINAND MENDFZ PINTO. 53 whether there were not enough to receive the guesta he expected, I answered him, that it would serve to entertain them; but he understanding mymeaning stood musing a pretty while, and then shaking his head, Verily, said he unto me, if your King of Portugal did but know what a loss it would be to him, that the Tyrant of Achem should take my kingdom from me, doubtless he would chastise the little care of his captains, who, blinded as they are, and wallowing in their avarice, have suffered my enemy to grow so strong, that I am much afraid they shall not be able to restrain him when they would, or if they could, that then it must be an infinite expence. I labored to answer this which he had said unto me with much resent- ment ; but he confuted all my reasons with so much truth, as I had not the heart to make any farther reply; withal he represented divers foul and enormous actions unto me, where- withal! he charged some in particular amongst us, which I am contented to pass in silence, both in regard they are nothing pertinent to my discourse, and that I desire not to discover other mens faults. For a conclusion of his speech, he related unto me the little punishment which was ordained for such as were culpable of these matters, and the great rewards that he had seen conferred on those which had not deserved them ; whereupon he added, that if the King desired throughly to perform the duty of his charge, and by arms to conquer people so far distant from his kingdom, and to preserve them, it was as necessary for him to punish the wicked, as to recompence the good. This said, he sent me to lodge in a merchants house, who for 5 days together, that I remained there, entertained me bravely ; though to speak truth I had rather have been at that time in some other place vnth any poor victuals, for here I was always in fear, by reason of the enemies continual alarms, and the certain news that came to the King the next day after my arrival, how the Achems were already marching towards Aaru, and would be there within eight dayes at the farthest, which made him in all haste to give directions for such things as he had not taken order for before, and to send the women, and all that were unfit for war, out of the city five or six leagues into the wood, amongst the which the Queen her self made one, mounted on an elephant. 54 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 Five dayes after my arrival, the King sent for me, and asked me when I would be gone, whereunto I replied, at such time as it would please his Greatnesse to command me, though I should be glad it might be with the soonest, for that I was to be employed by my captain with his merchandise to China. Thou hast reason, answered he ; then taking two bracelets of massy gold off from his wrists, worth some thirty crowns, I pri'thee now, said he, giving them to me, do not impute it to miserableness that I bestow so little on thee, for thou mayst be assured, that it hath been always my desire for to have much for to give much ; withall I must desire thee to present this letter, and this diamond from me to thy captain, to whom thou shalt say, that whatsoever I am further engaged to him for the pleasure he hath done me by succouring me with those ammunitions he hath sent me by thee, I will bring it to him my self hereafter, when I shall be at more liberty then now I am. Having taken leave of the King of Aaru, I presently im- barqued my self, and departed about sun-set, rowing down the river to an hamlet, that is at the entrance thereof, composed bi ten or eleven houses covered with straw. This place is inhabited with very poor people, that get their living by killing of Uzards, of whose hver they make poyson, wherewith they anoint the heads of their arrows ; for the poyson of this place, chiefly that which is called Pocausilim, is held by them the best of those countries, because there is no remedy for him that is hurt with it. The next day, having left this smaU village, we sailed along the coast with a land wind until even- ing, that we doubled the islands of Anchepisan ; then the day and part of the night following we put forth somewhat farther to sea. But about the first watch the wind changed to the north-east, for such winds are ordinary about the Isle of Samatra, and grew to be so tempestuous, that it blew our mast over board, tore our sails in pieces, and so shattered our vessel, that the water came in that abundance into her at two several places, as she sunk incontinently to the bottom, so that of eight and twenty persons, which were in her, three and twenty were drowned in less then a quarter of an hour. For us five (that escaped by the mercy of God) we passed the rest of th§ OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 65 night upon a rock, where the waves of the sea had cast us. There all that we could do was with tears to lament our sad fortune, not knowing what counsel or course to take, by reason the country was so moorish, & invironed with so thick a wood, that a bird, were she never so little, could hardly make way through the branches of it, for that the trees grew so close together. We sat crouching for the space of three whole days - upou this rock, where for all our sustenance we had nothing but snails, and such filth, as the foam of the sea produceth there. After this time, which we spent in great misery and pain, we walked a whole day along by the Isle of Sumatra, in the owze up to the girdle-stead, and about sun-set we came to a mouth of a little river, some crossbow-shot broad, which we durst not undertake to swim over, for that it was deep, and we very weak and weary ; so that we were forced to pass all that night, standing up to the chin in water. To this misery was there adjoyned the great affliction which the flies and gnats brought us, that coming out of the neighbouring woods, bit and stung us in such sort, as not one of us but was gore blood. The next morning as soon as we perceived day, which we much desired to see, though we had little hope of life, I demanded of my four companions, all mariners, whether they knew the country, or whether there was any habitation thereabout, whereupon the eldest of them, who had a wife at Malaca, not able to contain his tears, Alas I answered he, the place that now is most proper for you, and me, is the house of death, where ere it belong we must give an account of our sins ; it therefore behoves to prepare our selves for it without any further delay, and patiently to attend that which is sent us from the hand of God : for my part, let me intreat thee to be of a good courage whatsoever thou seest, and not to be terrified with the fear of dying, since, every thing well considered, it matters not whether it be to day, or to morrow. This spoken, he embraced me, and with tears in his eyes desired me to make him a Christian, because he beleeved, as he said, that to be so was sufficient to save his soul, which could not otherwise be done in the cursed sect of Mahomet, wherein he had Uved till then, and for which he craved pardon of God. Having finished these last words, he remained dead in my arms, for he 56 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES was so weak, as he was not able to subsist any longer, as well for that he had not eaten ought in three or four days before, as in regard of a great wound the wrack of the Lanchara had given him in his head, through which one might see his brains aU putrefied and corrupted, occasioned both for want of looking unto, as by salt water and flies that were gotten into it. Verily this accident grieved me very much, but for my self I was in little better case, for I was likewise so weak, that every step I made in the water I was ready to swoon, by reason of certain hurts on my head and body, out of which I had lost a great deal of blood. Having buried him in the owze the best we could, the other three mariners and my self resolved to cross the river, for to go and sleep on certain great trees, that we saw on the other side, for fear of the tygers and crocodiles, whereof that country is full, besides many other venemous creatures, as an infinite of those copped adders I have spoken of before in the sixth chapter, and divers sorts of serpents with black and green scales, whose venom is so contagious, as they kill den with their very breath. This resolution being thus taken by us, I desired two of them to swim over first, and the other to stay with me for to hold me up in the water, for that in regard of my great weakness I could hardly stand upon my legs : whereupon they two cast themselves presently into the water, exhorting us to follow them, and not be afraid ; but alas 1 they were scarce in the midst of this river, when as we saw them caught by two great lizards, that were before our faces, and in an instant tearing them in pieces, dragged them to the bottom, leaving the water all bloody, which was so dreadful a spectacle to us, as we had not the power to cry out; and for my self, I knew not who drew me out of the water, nor how I escaped thence ; for I was gone before into the river as deep as my waste, with that other mariner which held me by the hand. OF FERDINAND MENDEZ FINTO. 57 CHAPTEE X. By what meana I was earned to the town of Oiaea, and that which befell me there; my going to Malaoa with a Mahometan merchant; and ime to furnish himself with that which was necessary for him, no not with victual and warlike ammunition enough. After we had sailed three dayes, we had sight of an Island, called Pullo Condor, at the height of eight degrees and three quarters on the north coast, and almost north-west towards the mouth of the river of Camboia ; so that having rounded all OF FEBDINAND MENDFZ PINTO. 77 the coast, we discovered a good haven eastward where in the Island of Camboia, distant some six leagues from the firm land, we met with a junk of Leguios, that was going to the kingdom of Siam, with an embassadour from the Nautauquim of Lindcm, who was Prince of the Island of Tosa, and that had no sooner discovered us, but he sent a message by a Ghimse pilot to Antonio de Faria, full of complements, whereunto was added these words from them all : That the time would come when as they should communicate with us in the ti-ue love of the Law of God, and of His injinite clemency ; who by His death had given life to all men, and a perpetual inheritance in the house of the good, and that they believed this should be so, after the half of the half time was past. With this complement they sent him a courtelas of great value, whose handle and scabbard was of gold, as also six and twenty pearls in a little box likewise of gold, made after the fashion of a salt-seller, whereat Antonio de Faria was very much grieved, by reason he was not able to render the like unto this prince as he was obliged to do, for when the Chinese arrived with this message, they were distant above a league at sea from us. Hereupon we went ashore, where we spent 3 dayes in taking in fresh water, and fishing. Then we put to sea again, labouring to get to the firm land, there to seek out a river named Pullo Cambin, which divides the State of Camboia from the kingdom of Champaa ; in the height of nine degrees, where arriving on a Sunday, the last of May, we went up three leagues in this river, and anchored just against a great town called Catimparu, there we remained 12 dayes in peace, during the which we made our provision of all things necessary. Now because Antonio de Faria was naturally curious, he endeavoured to understand from the people of the country what nation inhabited beyond them, and whence that mighty river took its source ; whereunto he was answered, that it was derived from a lake, named Pinator, distant from them eastward- two hundred and sixty leagues in the kingdom of QuiUrvan, and that it was environed with high mountains, at the foot whereof, upon the brink of the water, were eight and thirty villages, of which thirteen were very great, and the rest small, and that only in one of the great ones, called Xinca- leu, there was such a huge myne of gold, as by the report of 78 TEE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES those that lived thereabout, there was every day a bar and a half drawn out of it, which according to the value of our mony, makes two and twenty milUons in a year ; and that four lords had share in it, who continually were in war together, each one striving to make himself master of it ; I, and that one of them, named Bcdahitcm, had in an inner yard of his house in pots under groimd, that were full to the very brims, above six hundred bars of gold in powder like to that of Mmancabo of the Island of Samatra ; and that if three hundred harquebusiers of our nation should go and assault it, without doubt they would carry it: moreover, that in another of these villages, called Buaquirim, there was a quarry, where out of an old rock they digged a great quantity of diamonds, that were very fine, and of greater value then those of La/oa and Tawicmpura in the Isle of Jaoa. "Whereupon Antonio de Faria, having questioned them about many other particularities, they made him a relation of the fertility of the country which was further up this river, no less fit to be desired, then easie to be con- quered, and that with little charge. Being departed from this river of Pullo Cambim, we sailed along the coast of the kingdom of Ghampaa, till we came to an haven, called Saleyzacau, 17 leagues farther on towards the north, whereinto we entred. Now because there was nothing to be gotten there, we went out of this place about sun-setting, and the next morning we came to a river named Toobasoy, without the which Antonio de Faria cast anchor, because the pilot would not venture to enter into it, for that he had never been there before, and there- fore knew not the depth of it. As we were contesting here- about, some for to enter, and others gainsaying it, we discerned a great sail making towards the port from the main sea. Hereupon without stirring from the place where we were, we prepared to receive them in a peaceful manner ; so that as soon as they came near us, we saluted them, and hung up the flag of the country, called Charachma, which is a sign of friendship, used among them in such like occasions. They of the ship, instead of answering us in the same manner, as in reason it seemed they should have done, and knowing that we were Portugals, to whom they wished not well, gave OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 79 us very vile and base words, with a mighty noise and din of trumpets, drums, and bells, by way of scorn and derision of us. "Whereat Antonio de Faria was so offended, that he gave them a whole broad side, to see if that would make them more courteous : to this shot of ours they returned us an answer of five pieces of ordnance, namely three faulcons, and two Little field-pieces ; whereupon consulting together what we should do, we resolved to abide where we were, for we held it not fit to undertake so doubtful an enterprize, until such time as the next days light might discover the forces of this vessel unto us, that so we might afterwards either set upon her with the more security, or let her pass by : this coimsel was approved both by Antowia de Faria, and us all; so that keeping good watch, and giving order for all that was necessary, we continued in that place ex- pecting day ; now about 2 of the clock in the morning we perceived 3 black things close to the water coming towards us, which we could not well discern, whereupon we wakned Antonio de Faria, who was then asleep on the hatches, and shewed him what we had discovered, being by that time not far from us : he fearing, as we did, lest they were enemies, cried out presently. Arm, Arm, Arm, wherein he was straight- way obeyed ; for now plainly perceiving that they were vessels rowing towards us, we betook us to our arms, and were bestowed by our captain in places most necessary to defend our selves. We conceived by their silent approaching to us, that they were the enemies we had seen over night, so that Antonio de Faria said unto us. My masters, this is some pyrate coming to set upon us, who thinks we are not above six or seven at the most, as the manner is in such kind of vessels ; wherefore let every man stoop down, so as they may not see any of us, and thim we shall soon know their design ; in the mean time let the pots of powder be made ready, with which, and ov/r swords, I hope we shall give a good end to this adven- twre : let every one also hide his match in such sort, as they may not be discovered, whereby they may be perswaded that we are asleep. All which, as he had prudently ordained, was incontinently executed. These 3 vessels, being within a flight shot of ours, went round about her,, and after they had 80 TEE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES viewed her well, they joyned all close together, as if they had entred into some new consultation, continuing so about a quarter of an hour ; that done, they separated themselves into two parts, namely the two lesser went together to our poup, and the third that was greater, and better armed, made to the starboard of us ; hereupon they entred our lorch where most conveniently they could, so that in less then half a quarter of an hour above forty men were gotten in, which seen by Antonio de Faria, he issued out from under the hatches with some forty souldiers, and invoking Saint James our patron, he fell so couragiously upon them, that in a short time he killed them almost all; then with aid of the pots of powders, that he caused to be cast in amongst those that were remaining in the 3 vessels, which he presently took, he made an end of defeating them, the most of them being constraind to leap into the sea, where they were all drowned but five, whom we took up alive, whereof one was a capher slave and the other four were, one Turk, two Achems, and the captain of the junk, named Similau, a notorious pyrat, and our mortal enemy. Antonio de Faria commanded them instantly to be put to torture, for to draw out of them who they were, from whence they came, and what they would have had of us, whereunto the two Achems answered most bruitishly ; and when as we were going about to torment the slave in like manner, he began with-tears to beseech us to spare him, for that he was a Christian as we were, and that without torture he would answer truly to all our demands ; whereupon Antonio de Fa/ria caused him to be unbound, and setting him by him, gave him a piece of bisket, and a glass of wine, then with fair words he perswaded him to declare the truth of every thing to him, since he was a Christian, as he affirmed ; to which he repUed in this sort. If I do not speak the truth unto you, then take me not for such as I am; my name is Sebastian, and I was slave to Gaspar de Melo, whom this dog Similau, here present, slew about two years ago in Liampao, with five and twenty other Portugals that were in his ship. Antonio de Faria hearing this, cryed out, like a man amazed, and said. Nay now I care not for knowing any more ; is this then that dog Similau, that slew thy master ; Yes, OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 81 answered he, it is he, and that meant Ukemse to ha/ve done as miwh to you, thinking that ye were not above six or seven, for which effect he came awoay in haste with a purpose, as he saAd, to take you dime, for to make yowr brains flye out of your heads with a frontal of cord, as he did to my master ; hut God I hope will pay him for all the m/ischdef he hath committed. Antonio de Fa/ria being also advertised by this slave, that this dog Simila/u, had brought all his men of war along with him, and left none in his junk, but some Chinese mariners ; he resolved to make use of this good fortune, after he had put Similau and his companions to death, by making their brains flye out of their heads vrith a cord, as Similcm had done to Gaspar de Mello, and the other Portugals in Liampao : where- fore he presently imbarqued himself with thirty souldiers in his boat, and the three Machnas wherein the enemies came, and by means of the flood and a favourable wind, he arrived within less then an hour, where the junk rode at anchour within the river, about a league from us, whereupon he presently boarded her, and made himself master of the poup, from whence, with only four pots of powder, which he east in among the rascals that were asleep upon the hatches, he made them all leap into the sea, where 9 or 10 of them were drowned, the rest crying out for help were taken up and saved, because we stood in need of them for the navigation of the junk, that was a great tall vessel. Thus you see how it pleased God out of His Divine justice to make the arrogant confidence of this cursed dog a means to chastise him for his cruelties, and to give him by the hands of Portugals a just punishment for that which he had done unto him. The next morning taking an inventory of this prize, we found six and thirty thousand Taeis in silver of Japan, which amounts in our mony to fifty four thousand ducates, besides divers other good commodities, that were not then praised for want of time, because the country was all in an uproar, and fires every where kindled, whereby they use to give warning one to another upon any alarm or doubt of enemies, which con- strained us to make away with all speed. [Antonio de Fana coasts the Kingdom of Champaa, till he reaches the rimer Tinacoreu.] 7 82 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTVBES The Eriday following we left this river of Tinacoreu, and by our pilots advice we went to find out Pullo Champeiloo, which is an inhabited island, scituate in the entrance to the bay of Gauchenchina in forty degrees, and a third to the northward ; being come to it, we oast anchor in an haven, where there was good and safe riding, and there we remained three dayes, accommodating our artillery in the best manner we could; that done, we set sail towards the Isle of Ainan, hoping to meet with the pyrat Coia Jcem there whom we sought for, and arriving at Pullo Gapas, which was the first land that we saw of it, we sailed close to the shoar, the better to discover the ports and rivers on that side, and the entries into them. Now because the lorch, wherein Antonio de Fwria came from Patana, leaked very much, he commanded all his souldiers to pass into another better vessel, which was immediately performed, and arriving at a river, that about evening we found towards the east, he cast anchor a league out at sea, by reason his junk was great, and drew much water, so that fearing the sands ; which he had often met vrithall in this voyage, he sent Ghristovcmo Borralho with fourteen souldiers in the lorch up the river to discover what fitres those might be that he saw. Being gone then about a league in the river, he incountred a fleet of forty very great junks, whereupon fearing lest it was the Mandarins army, whereof we had heard much talk, he kept aloof off from them, and anchored close by the shoar ; now about midnight the tyde began to come in, which Borralho no sooner perceived, but he presently without noise weighed anchor, and declining the junks he went on to that part where he had seen the fires, that by this time were almost all out, there being not above two or three that gave any light, and which served to guide him. So continuing his course very discreetly, he came to a place where he beheld a mighty company of great and small ships, to the number, as he guessed, of thousand sails, passing through the which very stilly he arrived at a town of above ten thousand housholds, enclosed with a strong wall of brick, with towers and bulwarks after our manner, and with curtains full of water. Here five of the fourteen souldiers, that were in the lorch, went on shoar with two of those Ghin^seses, that OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 83 were saved out of Similaus junk, who had left their wives as hostages with us for their return ; these having spent three hours in viewing and surveying the town on the out- side, reimbarqued themselves without any notice taken of them at all, and so went back very quietly as they came to the mouth of the river, where they found a junk riding at anchor, that was come thither since their departure in the evening. Being returned to Antonio de Faria, they related unto him what they had seen, particularly the great army that lay up in the river, aa also the junk, which they had left riding at anchor at the entrance into it, telling him that it might well be the dog Coia Acem whom he sought for. These news so rejoyced him, that instantly he weighed anchor, and set sail, saying, his mind gave him that it was un- doubtedly he ; and if it proved so, he assured us all that he was contented to lose his life in fighting with him, for to be revenged of such a rogue as had done him so much wrong. Approaching within sight of the junk, he commanded the lorch to passe imto the other side of her, to the end they might board her both together at once, and charged that not a piece should be shot off, for fear they should be heard of the army that lay up in the river, who might thereupon come to discover them. As soon as we were come to the junk, she was presently invested by us, and twenty of our souldiers leaping in made themselves masters of her without any resistance, for the most of her men threw themselves into the sea, the rest that were more couragious valiantly made head against our people ; but Antomo de Fa/ria presently getting in with twenty souldiers more made an end of defeating them, killing above thirty of theirs, so as there remained none alive but those which voluntarily cast themselves into the sea, whom he caused to be drawn up to serve for the navigation of his vessels, and for to learn who they were, and from whence they came, to which purpose he commanded four of them to be put to torture, whereof two chose rather to dye then confess any thing ; and as they were about to do the like to a little boy, an old man, his father, that was laid on the deck, cryed out with tears in his eyes for to give him the hearing before they did any hurt to the child ; 84 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 Antonio de Faiia made the execiitioner stay, and bad the old man say what he would, provided he spake truth, for otherwise he vowed, that both he and the boy should be thrown alive into the sea ; whereas on the contrary, if he dealt truly, he promised to set them both at liberty on shear, and restore unto him whatsoever he would take his oath did appertain unto him : whereunto the old Mahometan answered, I accept of the promise which thou mahest me, and I very much thank thee for sparing the life of this child, for as for mine, as a thing unprofitable, I make no reckoning of it, and I will rely on thy word, although the course thou holdest may well divert me from it, in regard it is no way conformable to the Christian law, which thou hast profest in thy baptism : an answer, that rendred Antonio de Faria so confounded and amazed, as he knew not what to reply; howbeit he caused him to come nearer unto him, and questioned him gently without any further threatening. This old man then sat him down by Antonio de Faria, who seeing him white like unto us, asked him whether he were a Turk, or a Persian? whereunto he answered, that he was neither, but that he was a Christian, born at Mount Sinai. Antonio de Faria thereupon replyed, how he wondred much, being a Christian, as he said, that he lived not amongst Chris- tians. To which the old man answered, that he was a mer- chant of a good family, named Tome Mostanguo, and that riding one day at anchor in a ship of his in the port of Judaa, in the year one thousand five hundred thirty and eight, SoU- man the Bassa, Vice-roy of Cairo, took his, and seven other ships, to carry victual and munition for his army of threescore gallies, wherewith he went by the command of the grand Seigmor to restore Sultan Bandur to his kingdom of Cambaya, which the great Mogul had deprived him of ; and that at the end of the voyage going to demand the freight which they had promised him, the Twrks, that were ever cruel and faithless, took his wife, and a young daughter he had, and forced them before his face, and because his son wept at the sight of this injury, they threw him bound hand and foot into the sea ; as for himself, they laid him in irons, and continually scourging him they stript hini of all his goods, to the value of six Vif FEBDINAND MENDEZ PtNTO. 85 thousand ducates and better, saying, that it was not lawful for any to enjoy the blessings of God, but the holy and just MusseUnians, such as they were; and that his wife and daughter dying not long after, he found means one night to cast himself into the sea with that little boy, which was his son, at the mouth of the river of Dm, from whence he went by land to Surrat, and so to Malaca in a ship of Ca/rcia de Saas, captain of Bacaim ; then how by the commandment of JEste- vano de Gama, going to China with Ghristovano Sardinha, which had been factor at the Molucqiies, one night as they rode at anchor in Gincaapv/ra, Quiay Tmjcmo, master of the junk, surprized them, and killed the said Sa/rdinha together with six and twenty Portugals more ; as for him, because he was a gunner, they saved his life. At this report Antonio de Faria striking himself on the breast, as a man amazed at this dis- course. Lord, Lord, said he, tMs seems to be a dream that I hear ; then turning himself to his souldiers that stood about him, he related the life of this Quiay unto them, and further affirmed, that he had slain at times in strayed vessels above an hundred Portugals, and dispoiled them of an hundred thousand ducates at least ; and though his name was such as this Armenian delivered, to wit, Quiay Taijano, yet after he had killed Ghristovano Sardinha in Gincaapura, in a vain glory of that which he had done he caused himself to be called Captain Sa/rdinha. Whereupon having demanded of the Armenian, where he was, he told us, that he was very sore hurt, and hidden in the hold of the junk amongst the cables, with five or six others. Hereat Antonio de Faria arose, and went directly to the place where this dog was hidden, followed by the greatest part of his souldiers, which opened the scuttle where the cables lay, to see whether the Armenian spake true or no ; in the mean time the dog, and the six others that were with him, got out at another scuttle, and most desperately fell upon our men, who were about thirty in number, besides fourteen boys. Then began there so furious and bloody a fight, that in less then a quarter of an hour we made a clean dispatch of them all ; but in the mean while two Portugals, and seven boys were slain, besides I know not how many hurt, whereof Antonia de Faria received two downright blowes on his head, 86 TBE TBAVBL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 and one on his arm, which put him to very much pain. After this defeat, and that the wounded men were drest, he set sail, for fear of the junks that were in the river : so getting far from land, about evening we went and anchored on the other side of GoMchencMna, where Antonia de Faria causing an inventory to be taken of all that was in the pyrats junk, there was found in her five hundred bars of pepper, after twenty quintals to the bar, forty of nutmegs and mace, fourscore of tin, thirty of ivory, twelve of wax, and five of wood of fine aloes, which might be worth, according to the rate of the country, seventy thousand ducates ; besides a little fieldpiece, four falcons, and thirty bases of brass, the greatest part of which artillery had been ours, for this Mahometan had taken them in the ships of Sardinha, Oli/oeyra, and Bartholemew de Matos: there was also found three coffers covered with leather, full of silk quilts, and the apparel of Portv,gals, with a great bason and ewer silver and gilt, and a salt-seller of the same, two and twenty spoones, three candlesticks, five gilt cups, eight and fifty harquebuzes, twelve hundred twenty and two pieces of Bengala cloth, all which were Portugals goods, eighteen quintals of powder, and nine children about seven or eight years of age, chained together by the hands and the feet, most lamentable to behold, for that they were so weak and lean, that one might easily through their skins have counted all the bones in their bodies. CHAPTBE XIV. Antonio de Faria's arrival at the Bay of Camoy, where was the fishing of pearleg for the King of China ; with that which happened to him by the means of a reuegado pyrat, and otherwise. THE next day, after noon, Antonio de Faria parted from the place where he rode at anchor, and returned towards the coast of Ainan, by the which he kept all the rest of that day, and the next night with five and twenty or thirty fathom water. In the morning he came to a bay, where there were many great boats fishing for pearles, and being unresolved what course to take, he bestowed all the forenoon in counsel KING OI' COCHIN ox ELEPHANT. OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 87 with hia company thereabout, whereof some were of the opinion that he should seize upon the boats that were fisliing for pearls ; and others opposed it, saying, it was a safer way to treat with them as merchants, for that in exchange of the great store of pearles, which were in that place, they might easily put off the most part of their commodities. This appearing to be the best and safest advice, Antowio de Faria caused the flag of trade to be hung out, according to the custom of China ; so that instantly there came two lanteaas from land to us, which are vessels like to foists, with great abundance of refreshments, and those that were in them having saluted us after their manner, went aboard the great junk, wherein Antonio de Faria was ; but when they beheld men, such as we were, having never seen the like before, they were much amazed, and demanded what people we were, and wherefore we came into their country. Wherunto we answered by an interpreter, that we were merchants born in the kingdom of Siam, and were come thither to sell or barter our com- modities with them, if so be they would permit us. To this, an old man, much respected of all the rest, replyed, that here was no trafl&que used, but in another place further forward, called Chmmhoy, where all strangers that came from Gantan, Chincheo, La/moM, Gomhay, Swmbor, LiampoM, and other sea- coast towns, did ordinarily trade : wherefore he counselled him to get him suddenly from thence, in regard this was a place destined only to the fishing of pearles for the treasure of the house of the Son of the Sun, to the which, by the ordinance of the Tutan of Gomhay, who was the sovereign governor of all the country of Ca/uchendhina, no vessel was permitted to come, but only such as were appointed for that service, and that aU other ships, which were found there were by the law to be burnt, and all that were in them ; but since he, as a stranger, and ignorant of the laws of the country, had trans- gressed the same, not out of contempt, but want of knowledge, he thought fit to advertise him of it, to the end he might be gone from thence before the arrival of the Mamdarin of the army, which we call general, to whom the government of that fishing appertained, and that would be within three or four dayes at the most, being gone not above six or seven leagues 88 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENT UMJsa from thence to a village, named Buhaquirim, for to take in victual. Antonio de Faria thanking him for his good advice, asked him how many sails, and what forces, the Manda/rin had with him : whereunto the old man answered, that he was accompanied with forty great junks, and twenty-five Vancans with oars, wherein there were seven thousand men, namely, five thousand souldiers, and the rest slaves and mariners ; and that he was there every year six months, during the which time was the fishing for pearles, that is to say, from the 1st of March to the last of Aiigust. Our captain desiring to know what duties were paid out of this fishing, and what revenue it yielded in those six months, the old man told him, that of pearls which weighed above five carats they gave two thirds, of the worser sort half less, and of seed pearl the third ; and that this revenue was not always alike, because the fishing was sometimes better in one year, then in another, but that one with another he thought it might yield annually four hundred thousand Taeis. Antonio de Faria made very much of the old man, and gave him two cakes of wax, a bag of pepper, and a tooth of ivory, wherewith both he and the rest were exceedingly weU pleased. He also demanded of them, of what bignesse this Isle of Ainan might be, whereof so many wonders were spoken. Tell us first, replyed they, who you are, and where- fore you are come hither, then will we satisfie you in that you desire of us ; for we vow unto you, that in all of our lives we never saw so many young fellows together in any merchants ships, as we now see in this of yours, nor so spruce and neat ; and it seems that in their country China silks are so cheap as they are of no esteem, or else that they have had them at so easie a rate, as they have given nothing near the worth for them, for we see them play away a piece of damask at one cast at dice, as those that come lightly by them : a speech that made Antonio de Faria secretly to smile, for that thereby he well perceived how these fishermen had a shrewd guess that the same were stolen, which made him tell them, that they did this like young men, who were the sons of very rich mer- chants, and in that regard valued things far under that they were worth, and had cost their fathers ; dissembling them what they thought, they answered in this manner, It may very OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 89 well be as you say. Whereupon Antonio de Faria gave a sign to the souldiers to leave off their play, and to hide the pieces of silk that they vyere playing for, to the end they might not be suspected for robbers by these folks, which immediately they did, and the better to assure these GMneses that we were honest men, and merchants, our captain commanded the scuttles of the junk to be opened, that we had taken the night before from Captain Sardinha, which was laden with pepper, whereby they were somewhat restored to a better opinion then they had of us before, saying one to another, Since now we find they are merchants indeed, let us freely answer to their demand, so as they may not think, though' we be rude, that we know nothing but how to catch fish and oysters. {Here follows an account of the history of the Isle of Ainan, ontitteir.] After Antonio de Faria had given him many thankes for satisfying him so fully in his demands, he desired him to teU him in what port he would advise him to go and sell his com- modities, seeing the season was not proper to set sail for Liampoo. Whereunto he answered, that we were not to go into any port of that country, nor to put trust in any Chinese whatsoever; for I assure you; said he,- there is not one of them will speak truth in any thing he sayes to you, and believe me, for I am rich, and will not lye to you like a poor man, besides, I would wish you to go in this streight always with the plummet in your hand for to sound your way, because there are very many dangerous shelves all along till you come to a river called Tanaquir, and there is a port where is very good anchoring, and where you may be as safe as you can desire ; as also you may there, in less then two dayes, put ofi' all your commodities, and much more if you had them. Never- theless I will not counsel you to disimbarque your goods on land, but to sell them in your vessels, in regard that many times the sight causeth desire, and desire disorder amongst peaceable persons, much more with them that are mutinous and of an evil conscience, whose wicked incUnation carries them rather to take away another mans goods from him, then give of their own to the needy for Gods sake. This said, both he that spake, and those that accompanied him, took leave of 90 THE TBAVMLS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 our captain, and us, with many complements and promises, whereof they are not ordinarily very sparing in those parts, bestowing on Antonio de Faria, in return of that he had given them, a little box made of a tortoise shell, full of seed-pearl, and twelve pearles of a pretty bigness, craving his pardon for that they durst not traf&que with him in this place, for fear lest if they should do so, to be all put to death, conformable to the law of the rigorous justice of the country ; and they again intreated him to make haste away before the Mandarins arrival with his army ; for if he found them there, he would burn both his vessel, and him and all his company. Antonio de Faria unwilling to neglect the counsel of this man, lest that which he told him should prove true, he set sail immediately, and passed to the other side towards the south, and in two days with a westerly wind he arrived at the river of Tana/uquir, where just over against a little village, called Neytor, he cast anchor. We remained all that day, and the next night, at the mouth of the river of Tanauquir, intending the next morning to set sail up to the town, which was some five leagues from thence in the river, to see if by any means we might put off our com- modities there, for our vessels were so heavy laden with them, as there was scarce a day wherein we ran not twice or thrice on some shelve or other, which in divers places were four or five leagues long ; wherefore it was concluded that before we did any thing else we were to sell away our commodities, so that we labored with all our might to get into the river, whose current was so strong, that though we had all our sails up, yet could we prevail but very little against it ; as we were in this pain we perceived two great junks in warlike manner come out of the river upon us, which chaining themselves together for the more strength, attaqued us so lively, as we had scarce the leasure to defend our selves, so that we were constrained to throw into the sea all that stood in our way to make room for our artillery, being that we had then most need of. The first salutation we had from them was a peal of six and twenty pieces of ordnance, whereof nine were faulconets, and field- pieces : Antonio de Fa^ia, as a man verst in such affairs, seeing them chained one to another, perceived their drift, and there- fore made as though he fled, as well to win time to prepare OF FEBDINAND MENLEZ PINTO. 91 himself, as to make them beHeve that they were no Christians; whereupon they, like cunning thieves, desiring that the prey, which they held to be surely their own, should not escape out of their hands, loosed themselves the one from the other the better to set upon us, and approaching very near to us, they shot so many arrows and darts into our junk, as no man was able to appear upon the deck. Antomo de Fcma, to avoid this storm, retired under the half deck, with five and twenty Bouldiers, and some ten or twelve others, slaves, and mariners; there he entertained the enemy with harquebuse shot the space of half an hour, in which time, having used all their munitions of war, some forty of them, that seemed to be more valiant then the rest, longing to finish their enterprize, leaped into our junk, vTith a purpose to make themselves masters of the prow ; but to hinder them from it, our captain was constrained to go and receive them, so that there began a most bloody fight, wherein it pleased God within an hour to give us the upper hand by the slaughter of four and twenty of their forty in the place. Thereupon twenty of ours, pursuing this good successe, boarded the enemies junk, where finding but small resistance, by reason the principals were already slain, all that were in her quickly rendred themselves unto us. That done, Antonio de Fa/ria went with all speed to succour Ch/mtovano Borallho, who was boarded by the other junk, and very doubtful of the victory, in regard the greatest part of his men were hurt; but at our approach the enemies threw themselves all into the sea, where most of them were drowned, and so both the junks remained in our power. After this we took a survey of our com- pany, the better to understand what this victory had cost us ; and we found there was one Portugal, five boyes, and nine mari- ners killed, besides those that were hurt; and on the enemies part fourscore were slain, and almost as many taken. Having given order then for the dressing and accommodating of our wounded men in the best manner that could be, Antomo de Fcma caused as many mariners to be taken up as could be saved, and com- manding them to be brought into the great junk where he was, he demanded of them what those junks were, how the captain of them was named, and whether he were aUve or dead ; where- unto not one of them would make any answer, but chose rather 92 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES. AND ADVENTUBES to dye in torments like mad dogs, when as Ghristovano Borralho cryed out from the junk where he was, Signior, Signicr, come hither quickly, for we heme more to do then we think of; whereat Antonio de Faria, accompanied with fifteen or sixteen of his men, leapt into his junk, asking what the matter was ? I hear a many talking together, said he, towards the prow, which I doubt are hidden there ; hereupon opening the scuttle, they heard divers cry out. Lord Jesus, have mercy upon lis ; and that in such a woful manner, as struck us all with pity: Antonio de Faria approaching to the scuttle, and looking down, could perceive some persons there shut up, but not able to discern what they might be, he made two of his boys to go down, who a httle after brought up seventeen Christians, namely, two Portugals, five small children, two girls, and eight boys, which were in such a lamentable case, as would have grieved any heart to have beheld them ; the first thing he did was to cause their irons to be strucken off, and then he enquired of one of the Portugals (for the other was like a man dead) unto whom those children appertained, and how they fell into the hands of this pyrat, as also what his name was. Whereunto he answered, that the pyrat had two names, the one Christian, the other Pagan, and that his Pagan name, wherewith he used to be called of late, was Necoda Nicaulem, and his Christian name Francisco de Saa, being christned at Malaca, at such time as Ga/rcia de Saa was captain of the fortress, and for that he was his god-father, and had caused him to be baptized, he gave him that name, and married him to an orphan maid, a very handsome wench, the daughter of an honourable Portugal, to oblige him the more to our religion and country ; but in the year 1634:. setting sail for China in a great junk of his, wherein there accompanied him twenty of the wealthiest Portugals in Malaca, as also his wife, and arriving at the island of Pullo Gatan, they staid two days to take in fresh water, during which time he and his company, who were all Chineses like himself, and no better Christians, conspired the death of the poor Portugals for to despoil them of their goods, so that one night whU'st the Portugals were asleep, and little dream'd of such treason, they killed them all with their hatchets, and their servants likewise, not sparing the life of OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 93 any one that bore the name of a Christian ; after which, he perswaded with his wife, to turn Pagan, and adore an idol, that Tucan, captain of the junk, had concealed in his chest, and that then being free from the Christian religion he would marry her to Tucom, who in exchange would give him a sister of his to wife, that was a Chinese, and there with him. But in regard she would neither adore the idol, nor consent to the rest, the dog struck her over the head with a hatchet till her brains flew out, and then departing from thence went to the port of Liam^oo, where the same year before he had traded ; and not daring to go to Patana, for fear of the PorUigals that resided there, he wintred at Siam, and the year following he returned to the port of Chincheo, where he took a little junk that came from Stmda, with ten Portugals in her, all which he slew ; and because the wickedness that he had done us was known over all the country, doubting to encounter some Por- tugal forces, he had retired himself into this streight Gauchen- ehina, where as a merchant he traded, and as a pyrat robbed those he met with all that were weaker then himself. It being now three years since he had taken this river for a refuge of his robberies, thinking himself here secure from us Portugals, by reason we have not used to trafSque in the ports of this streight, the island of Airum. Antonio de Fa/ria asked of him whether those children belonged to the Portugals he had men- tioned before ; whereunto he answered, that they did not, but that both they, and the boys and girls, were the children of Nunc Preto, Gian de Diaz, and of Pero Borges, whom he had killed at Mompollacota, near the mouth of the river of Sia/m in Joano OUveyra's junk, where he also i^ut sixteen Portugals more to death, only he saved their two lives, because one was a ship- wright, and the other a caulker, and had carried them along with hirn in this manner, continually whipping, and almost famishing of them ; further he said, that when he set upon us, he did not think we had been PorUigals, but some GMnese mer- chant, like such as he had accustomed to rob when he found them at advantage, as he thought to have found us. Antondo de Faria demanded of him, whether he could know the pyrat amongst those other dead bodies? Having replyed that he could, the captain presently arose, & taking him by the hand, H TEE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES went with him into the other junk, that was fastned to his, md having made him view all that lay dead upon the hatches, tie said it was none of them. Whereupon he commanded a manchuas, which is a little boat, to be made ready, wherein he bind this man went and sought for him amongst the other dead bodies that floated on the water, where they found him with a jreat cut over his head, and thrust quite through the body ; so causing him to be taken up, and laid upon the hatches, he demanded of that man again, if he were sure that this was he, who answered, how without doubt it was he. Whereunto Antonio de Fa/ria gave the more credit, by reason of a great chain of gold he had about his neck, to which was fastned an idol of gold with two heads, made in the form of a lizard, baving the tail and paws enamelled with green and black ; and commanding him to be drawn towards the prow, he caused his bead to be chopt off, and the rest of the body to be cut in pieces, which were cast into the sea. Having obtained this victory in the manner I have before declared, and caused our hurt men to be drest, and provided for the guard of our captains, we took an inventory of the goods that were in these two junks, and found that our prize was worth forty thousand Taeis, which was immediately committed to the charge of Antonio Borges, who was factor for the prizes. Both the junks were great and good, yet were we constrained to burn one of them for want of mariners to man it : there was in them besides seventeen pieces of brass ordnance, namely, four faulconets, and thirteen small pieces, the most part whereof had the royal arms of Porttigal upon them, for the pyrat had taken them in the three ships where he killed the forty Portugals. The next day Antonio de Fwria went about once more to get into the river, but he was advised by fisher- men, which he took a little before, that he should beware of going to the town, because they were advised there of all that had passed betwixt him and the renegado pyrat, for whose death the people were in an uproar; in so much that if he would let them have his commodities for nothing, yet would they not take them, in regard that OMleu, the governor of that province, had contracted with him, to give him the third part of all the prizes he took, in lieu whereof he would render him OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 95 a safe retreat in his country ; so that his loss being now great by the death of the pyrat, he should be but badly welcomed by him, and to that purpose had already commanded two great rafts, covered with dry wood, barrels of pitch, and other com- bustible stuff, to be placed at the entring into the port, that were to be kindled and sent down upon us, as soon as we had cast anchor, for to fire us, besides two hundred proas, full of shot, and men of war were also in readiness to assault us. These news made Antonio de Faria conclude to make away unto another port, nsLmedi Mutipinan, distant from thence above forty leagues towards the east, for that there were many rich mer- chants, as well natives as strangers, which came in great troops from the countries of Lmthos, Pafuaas, and Gueos, with great sums of mony. So we set sail with the three junks, and the loroh, wherein we came from Patcma, coasting the land from one side to the other, by resison of a contrary wind, until we arrived at a place called Tilcmmera, where we anchored, for that the current of the water ran very strong against us. After we had continued so three dayes together, with a contrary wind, and in great want of victual, our good fortune about even- ing brought four Lanteaas unto us, that are like unto foysts, in one of the which was a bride, that was going to a village, named Pandurea : now because they were all in a jolhty, they had so many drums beating aboard them, as it was almost impossible to hear one another for the noise they made. Whereupon we were in great doubt what this might be, and wherefore there was such triumphing ; some thought that they were spies sent from the captain of Tcmcmquw's army, who insulting, for that we were already in their power, gave this testimony thereof. Antonio de Fwria left his anehorsin the sea, and preparing him- self to sustain all that might happen unto him, he displayed all his banners and flags, and with demonstration of joy attended the arrival of these Lanteaas, who when they perceived us to be all together, imagining it was the bridegroom that stay'd to receive them, they came joyfully towards us. So after we had saluted one another after the manner of the country, they went and anchored by the shore. And because we could not com- prehend the mystery of this affair, all our captains concluded that they were spies from the enemies army, which forbore 96 THE TBAVELS, VOTAQES, AND ADVENTUBES assaulting us in expectation of some other vessels that were also to come ; in this suspicion we spent the little remainder of that evening, and almost two hours of the night : but when the bride, seeing that her spouse sent not to visit her, as was his part to do, to shew the love she bore him, she sent her uncle in one of the Lanteaas with a letter to him, containing these words. If the feeble sex of a woman would permit me to go from the place where I am for to see thy face, without reproach to mine honowr, assure thy self that to kiss thy tardy feet my body would fly as doth the hungry falcon after the fewrful heron : but since I am pa/rted from my fathers house for to seek thee out here, come thy self Mther to me, where indeed I am not, for I cannot see my self, but in seeing thee. Now if thou dost not come to see me in the obscuritie of this night, making it bright for me, I fear that to morrow morning when thou arrivest here, thou shalt not find me living. My uncle Licorpinau will more particularly acquaint thee with what I keep concealed in my heart ; for I am, not able to say any more, such is my grief to be so long depri/oed of thy so much desired sight : wherefore I pray thee come unto me, or per- mit me to come unto thee, as the greatness of my love to thee doth deserve, and as thou art obliged to do unto her, whom now thou art to possess in marriage until death, from which Almighty God of His infinite goodness keep thee as many years, as the sunne and moon ha/ve made turns about the world, since the beginning of their birth. This Lanteaa being arrived with the brides uncle and letter, Antonio de Faria caused all the Portugals to hide themselves, suffering none to appear but our Chinese mariners, to the end they might not be afraid of us : to our junk then they approached with confidence, and three of them coming aboard us, asked where the bridegroom was ? All the answer we made them was to lay hold of them, and clap them pre- sently under hatches ; now because the most part of them were drunk, those that were in the Lanteaa never heard our bustling with them, nor if they had, could they have had time to escape, for suddenly from the top of our poop we fastned a cable to their mast, whereby they were so arrested, as it was impossible for them to get loose of us ; whereupon casting in some pots of powder amongst them, the most of them leapt into the sea, by which time six or seven of our souldiers, and OF FMBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 97 as many mariners, got into the Lanteaa, and straight rendred themselves masters of her, where the next thing they did was to take up the poor wretches, who cried out that they drowned : having made them sure, Antomo de Faria went towards the other three Lanteaas, that anchored some quarter of a league from thence ; and coming to the first, whereia was the bride, he entered her without any resistance, in regard there were none other in her but a few mariners, and six or seven men that seemed to be of good reckoning ; all of kin to the bride, being there only to accompany her, together with two little boyes her brothers, that were very -white, and certain ancient women, of such as in China are hired for money to dance, sing, and play of instruments upon like festival occasions. The other two Lanteaas beholding this bad success, left their anchors in the sea, and fled in such haste, as if the devil had been in them ; but for all that we took one of them, so that we had three of the four : this done, we returned aboard our junk, and by reason it was now midnight, we did nothing for the present but take our prisoners, and shut them up under the hatches where they remained until day ; that Antonio de Fa/ria came to view them, and seeing they were most of them aged, full of sorrow, and fit for nothing, he caused them to be set on shore, retaining only the bride and her 2 brothers, because they were young, white, and well-favoured, and some 20 mariners, which afterwards were of great use to us for the navigation of our junks. This bride as since we learn'd, was daughter to the Anohary of Golem (which signifies governour) and betrothed to a youth, the son of Ghisuu, captain of Pandurea, who had written unto her that he would attend her in this place with 3 or 4 junks of his fathers, who was very rich ; but alas I we shamefully cozened him. After dinner, being departed from thence, the bride- groom arrived seeking for his bride, with five sail full of flags, streamers, and banners ? Passing by us, he saluted us with great store of musick and shews of gladness, ignorant of his misfortune, and that we carried away his wife. In this jollity he doubled the Cape of TiUmmera, where the day before we took this prize, and there anchored attending his bride, accord- ing as he had written to her, whilest we sailing on arrived three days after at the port of Mutipiman, which was the 8 98 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES place we aymed at, in regard of the advice that Antonio Faria had, that there they might sell off his commodities. CHAPTEE XV. Antonio de Faria's arrival at the Port : the information that Antonio de Faria had of the country; some passages between him and the Nautarel of the town ; his going to the river of Madel ; with his incountring a pyrat there, and that which passed betwixt them. BEING arrived at this port we anchored in a rode, which the land makes near to a little island on the south side of the mouth of the river, at the entry whereinto we remained without saluting the port, or making any noise, intending as soon as it was night to send for to sound the river, and to be informed of that we desired to know. Upon the appearing of the moon, which was about 11 of the clock, Antonio de Faria sent away one of his Lanteaas, well furnished, and 12 souldiers in her, besides the captain named Valentino Martins Dalpoem, a discreet man, and of great courage, that at other times had given good proof of himself in like occasions, who departing went alwayes sounding the depth of the river, until he arrived where divers vessels rode at anchor ; there he took two men that were sleeping in a barque laden with earthen ware, and returning aboard undiscovered, he rendred Antonio de Faria an acoompt of what he had found touching the greatness of the place, and the fewness of the ships that were in the port, wherefore his opinion was, that he might boldly enter into it, and if it happened he could not trade there as he desired, no •body could hinder him from issuing forth whensoever ho pleased, by reason the river was very large, clean, and without any shelves, sands or other things that might endanger him. Having consulted then with his company, he concluded by their advice, D.ot to put the two Mahometans, that were taken, to torture as was before ordained, because there was no need of it; day being come, Antonio de Faria, desiring before he stirred to be informed from those two Mahometans of some particulars he would fain know, and thinking he might sooner OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 99 prevail with them by fair means, then by menaces and torment, he made very much of them, and then declared his mind: whereupon both of them with one accord said, that touching the entrance of the river there was nothing to be feared, in regard it was one of the best in all that bay, and that ordinarily far greater vessels then his went in and out there, for that the shallowest place was 15 fathom at the least ; and as for the people of the country he was not to stand in any doubt of them, by reason they were naturally weak, and without arms ; and that the strangers which were at that instant there, arrived some 9 days before from the kingdom of Benan in 2 companies of fifty oxen a piece, laden with store of silver, wood of aloes, cloth, silk, linnen, ivory, wax, lacre, benjamin, oamphire, and gold in powder, like to that of the island of Samatra, who were come with this merchandise to buy pepper, drugs, and pearls of the Isle of Ainan. Being demanded whether there was any army in those parts, they answered No, because most of the wars, which the Prechau, that is, the Emperour of the Gauchins, made, or were made against him, were by land; and that when any was made upon the rivers, it was always with little vessels, and not with such great ships as his, for that they were not deep enough for them : further being asked, whether the Prechau was near to that place, they replyed, that he was 12 days journey from thence, at the city of Quangepaaru, where most commonly he with his court resided, governing the kingdom in peace and justice, and that the mynes, reserved for his Crown, rendred him in yearly rent fifteen thousand Pioos of silver, every Pico weighing five quintals, the moyety whereof by the Divine law, inviolably observed in his countries, was for the poor labourers, that tilled the ground, to sustain their families withal ; but that all his people by a general consent had freely relinquished that right unto him, upon condition that from thence-forward he should not constrain them to pay tribute, or any other thing that might concern them, and that the ancient Prechaus had protested to accomplish it as long as the sun should give light to the earth. Antonio de Faria further demanded of them, what belief they were of ; where- Vinto they answered, that they held the very verity of all 100 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES verities, and that they believed there was but one God Almighty, who as He had created all, so He preserved all; howbeit if at any time our understandings were intangled with the disorder and discord of our desires, that no way proceeded from the sovereign Creator, in whom was no im- perfection, but only from the sinner himself, that out of his impatience judged according to the wicked inclination of his heart. Moreover, asking of them, whether in their law they believed, that the great God, which govemeth this all, came at any time into the world, clothed with a humane form, they said No, because there could be nothing that might oblige Him to so great an extremity, in regard He was through the excellency of the Divine nature delivered from our miseries, and far esloigned from the treasures of the earth, all things being more then base in the presence of his splendor. By these answers of theirs, we perceived that these people had never attained to any knowledge of our truth, more then their eyes made them to see in the picture of heaven, and in the beauty of the day; for continually in their Combayes, which are their prayers, lifting up their hands they say. By Thy works, Lord, we confess Thy greatness. After this Antonio de Faria set them at liberty, and having given them certain presents, wherewith they were very well pleased, he caused them to be conveyed to land ; that done, the wind beginning a little to rise he set sail, having all his vessels adorned with divers coloured silks, their banners, flags and streamers, displayed, and a standard of trade hung out after the manner of the country, to the end they might be taken for merchants, and not for pyrats, and so an hour after he anchored just against the key of the town, which he saluted with a little peal of ordnance, whereupon ten or eleven Almadiaes came presently to us with good store of refreshments; howbeit finding us to be strangers, and discerning by our habits that we were neither Siams, Jaos, nor Malayos, nor yet of any other nation that ever they had seen, they said one to another. Please Heaven, that the dew of the fresh morning may be as profitable to us all, as this evening seems fair with the ^presence of these whom our eyes behold. Having said thus, one of the Almadiaes asked leave to come aboard us, which they were OF FEBHINAND MENDEZ pinto. 101 told they might do, because we were all their brothers ; so that three of nine, which were in that Almadia, entered into our junk, whom Antomia de Faria received very kindly ; and causing them to sit down upon a Turky carpet by him, he told them, that he was a merchant of the kingdom of Siam, and going with his goods towards the Isle pf Ainan, he had been advertised, that he might better and more securely sell off his commodities in this town, then in any other place, because the merchants thereof were juster and truer of their word, then the Chineses of the coast of Ainan; whereunto they thus answered. Thou art not deceived in that which thou sayestyfor if thou be a merchant, as thou affirmest, believe it, that in every thing and every where thou shalt be honoured in this place, wherefore thou mayest sleep vnthout fea/r. Antonio de Faria mistrusting some intelligence might come over land concerning that which he had done to the pyrat upon the river of Tarumquir, and so might work him some prejudice, would not dis-imbarque his goods, as the officers of the Custom-house would have had, which was the cause of much displeasure and vexation to him afterward, so that his business was twice interrupted by that means, wherefore perceiving that good words would not serve to make them consent to his propositions, he sent them word by a merchant, who dealt between them, that he knew well enough they had a great deal of reason to require the landing of his goods, because it was the usual course for every one so to do ; but he assured them that he could not possibly do it, in regard the season was almost past, and therefore he was of necessity to hasten his departure as soon as might be, the rather too for the accommodating of the junk wherein he c^me, for as much as she took in so much water, that 60 mariners were alwayes labouring at three pumps to clear her, whereby he ran a great hazard of losing all his goods ; and that touching the kings customs, he was contented to pay them, not after thirty in the hundred, as they demanded, but after ten, as they did in other kingdoms, and so much, he would pay presently and willingly. To this offer they rendred no answer, but detained him that carried the message prisoner ; Antonio de Fa/ria seeing that his messenger, returned not, set sail immediately, hanging forth a 102 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVMJSTUuma number of flags, as one that cared not whether he soM or no ; whereupon the merchants strangers that were come thither to trade, perceiving the commodities, of which they hoped to make some profit, to be going out of the port, through the perversness and obstinacy of the Ncmtwrel of the town, they went all to him, and desired him to recal Antonio de Faria, otherwise they protested to complain to the king of the injustice he did them, in being the cause of hindering their traf&que. The Nautarel, that is, the governour, with all the officers of the Custom-house, fearing lest they might upon this occasion be turned out of their places, condescended to their request, upon condition since we would pay but ten in the hundred, that they should pay five more, whereunto they agreed, and instantly sent away the merchant, whom they had detained prisoner, with a letter full of complements, wherein they declared the agreement they had made. Antonio de Faria answered them, that since he was out of the port, he would not re-enter it upon any terms, by reason he had not leasure to make any stay; howbeit if they would buy his commodities in gross, bringing lingots of silver with them for that purpose, he would sell them to them, and in no other manner would deal, for he was much distasted with the little respect the Nautarel of the town had carried towards him, by despising his messages ; and if they were contented to accept thereof, that then they should let him know so much within an hour at the farthest,otherwise he would sail away to Ainan, where he might put off his commodities far better then there. They finding him so resolved, and doubting to lose so fair an occasion, as this was, for them to return into their country, embarqued themselves in five great lighter with forty chests full of lingots of silver, and a many sacks to bring away the pepper: and arriving at Antonio de Faria's junk, they were very well received by him, unto whom they represented, anew, the agreement they had made with the Nautarel of the town, greatly complaining of his iU government and of some wrongs, which without all reason he had done them ; but since they had pacified him by consenting to give him 15 in the hundred, whereof they would pay five ; they desired him to pay the ten, as he had promised, for otherways they could not buy his OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 103 commodifcieg. Whereunto Antonio de Fa/ria answered, that he waa contented so to do, more for the love of them, then for any profit he hoped to reap thereby, for which they gave him many thanks, and so being on all sides agreed, they used such diligence in discharging the goods, as in 3 days the most of it was weighed and consigned into the hands of the owners thereof; whereupon the accompts were made up, and the lingots of silver received, amounting in all to an hundred and thirty thousand Taeis, after the rate of 7 shillings and six pence the Taei, as I have said elsewhere. And though all possible speed was used herein, yet before all was finished, news came of that which we had done to the pyrat in the river of Tancmquir, in so much that not one of the inhabitants would come near us afterward, by reason whereof Antonio de Faria was constrained to set sail in all haste. After we had quit the river of Mutepinan, directing our course northward, Antonio de Faria thought good to make to the coast of the island of Ainan, for to seek out a river named Model, with a purpose there to accommodate the great junk, wherein he was, because it took in much water, or provide himself of a better in exchange upon any tearms whatsoever ; so having saild for the space of 12 days, with a contrary wind, at length he arrived at the cape of Pullo Hinho, which is the island of Cocos ; there hearing no news of the pyrat he sought for, he returned towards the south coast, where he took certain prizes, which were of good value, and well gotten as we thought. For it was the main intention of this captain to deal with the pyrats which frequented this coast of Ainan, as they before had done with divers Christians, in depriving them of their lives and goods ; for as God doth ordinarily draw good out of evil, so it pleased Him out of His divine justice to permit, that Antonio de Fa/ria, in revenge of the robbery committed by Goia Acem upon us in the port of Lugor should in the pursuit of him chastise other thieves that deserved to be punished by the hands of the Porttogals. Now having for certain days together with much labour continued our navigation within -this bay of Cauchenohina, as we were newly entred into a port, called Madel, upon the day of the Nativity of our Lady, being the 8 of Septem. for the fear that 104 THE TRAVELS, VOYAQMS, AND ADVENTURES we were in of the new moon, during the which there often- times happens in this climate such a terrible storm of wind and rain, as it is not possible for ships to withstand it, which by the Ghineses is named Tufan, and that the sky charged fuU with clouds had 4 days together threatned that which we feared, it pleased God amongst many other junks that fled into this port for shelter, there came in one belonging to a notorious Chinese pyrat, named Hinimila/u, who of a GentUe, that he had been, was not long before become a Mahometan, induced thereunto (as it was said) by a Gaels of that accursed sect, who had made him such an enemy to the Christian name, as he vaunted pubUquely, that God did owe heaven unto him for the great service he had done Him upon earth, in depopulating it by httle and little of the Portugal nation, who from their mothers wombs delighted in their offences, as the very inhabitants of the smoaky house, a name which they give to hell; and thus did he with such sayings, and other like blasphemies, speak as villanously and abominably of us as could be imagined. This pyrat, entring into the river in a very great and tall junk, came up to us where we rode at anchor, and saluted us after the custom of the country, whereunto we returned the hke, as it is the manner there to do at the entry into any of the ports, they neither knowing us to be Portugals, nor we what they were ; for we thought they had been Ch/i/neses, and that they came into the port to shroud themselves from the storms as others did, whereupon, behold, five young men, that were Christians, whom this robber held as slaves in his junk, guessing us to be Portugals, fell a crying out three or four times together, Lord, have mercy upon us. At these words we all stood up to see who they were, and perceiving them to be Christians, we called aloud to the mariners ^for to stay their course, which they would not do, but contrarily beating up a drum, as it were in contempt of us, they gave three great shouts, and withal brandished their naked scymitars in the ayr in a way of threatning us, and then cast anchor some quarter of a league beyond us. Ajitonio de Faria desiring to learn the reason hereof, sent a Balon to them, which no sooner arrived near them, but the barbarous rogues pelted them with so many stones, that the vessel was OF FERDINAND MBNDEZ PINTO. 105 almost overwhelmed, so that they were glad to return, both mariners and souldiers being very sore hurt ; Antonio de Fcma seeing them come back all bloody, demanded the cause of it : Sir, answered they, we are not able to tell you, only you behold in what plight we are ; saying so, and shewing him the hurts on their heads, they declared unto him in what manner they had been entertained. At first this accident much troubled Antonio do Faria, so that he stood musing a good while upon it, but at length turning himself to them that were present, Let every one here, said he, prepare hdmself, for I cannot be perswaded but this is that dog Coia Acem, who I hope this day shall pa/y for all the wrong he hath done us. Whereupon he commanded presently to weigh anchor, and with all the speed that might be he set sail with the three junks and Lanteas. Being come within a musket shot of them, he saluted them with six and thirty pieces of ordnance, whereof twelve were faulooners, and other field-pieces, amongst the which was one of battery, that carried cast buUets, wherewith the enemies were so amazed, as all the resolution they could take for the instant was to leave their anchors in the sea, not haying, leasure to weigh them, and to make to the shoar, wherein also they failed of their desire; for Antorm de Faria perceiving their design got before them and boarded their junk with all the forces of his vessels: hereupon began a most furious combat both with pikes, darts, and pots full of powder thrown from either side, so that for half an hour it could not be discerned who had the better : but at length it pleased God to favour us so much, that the enemies finding themselves weary, wounded, and hurt, threw themselves into the sea. Antonio de Faria, seeing these wretches ready to sink, by reason of the impetuousness and strength of the current, he imbarqued himseli with some souldiers in two balons, and with much ado saved 16 men, whereunto he was induced by the great need he stood in of them for the manning of his Lamteas, because he had lost a great many of his people in the former fights. 106 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES CHAPTBE XVI. What Antonio de Faria did trith the Captain of the F;p:Bts Junk; that which past between him and the people of the Couutiy; with our casting away upon the Island of Thieves. ANTONIO DE FAEIA having obtained this victory in the manner I have related, the first thing he did was to see his hurt men drest, as that which chiefly imported him ; then being given to understand that the pyrat Hirdmilau, the captain of the junk he had taken, was one of the sixteen he had saved, he commanded him to be brought before him, and after he had caused him to be drest of two wounds that he had received, he demanded of him what was become of the young Portugals which he held as slaves ? Whereunto the pyrat, being mad with rage, having answered that he could not tell, upon the second demand that was made hhn, with menaces, he said, that if first they would give him a little water, in regard he was so dry as he was not able to speak, that then he would consider what answer to make. Thereupon having water brought him, which he drunk so greedily as he spilt the most part of it without quenching his thirst, he desired to have some more given him, protesting that if they would let him drink his fill, they would oblige him by the law of Mahomets Alcoran voluntarily to confess all that they desired to know of him. Antonio de Fario, having given him as much as he would drink, questioned him again about the young Christians; whereto he replyed, that he should find them in the chamber of the prow ; thereupon he commanded 3 souldiers to go thither and fetch them, who had no sooner opened the scuttle to bid them come up, but they saw them lie dead in the place, with their throats cut; which made them cry out, Jesus, Jesus, come hither we beseech you. Sir, and behold a most lamentable spectacle ; hereat Antonio de Faria, and those that were with him, ran thither, and beholding those youths lying so one upon another, he could not forbear shedding of tears ; having caused them then to be brought upon the deck, together with a woman and two pretty children, about 7 or 8 years old, that had their throats also cut ; he demanded of the pyrat why he used such OF FMBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 107 cruelty to those poor innocents : whereunto he answered, that it was because they were traytours, in discovering themselves to those, which were such great enemies to him as the Portu- gals were, and also for that having heard them call upon their Christ for help, he desired to see whether he would deliver them ; as for the two infants, there was cause enough to kill them, for that they were the children of Portugals, whom he ever hated : with the like extravagancy he answered to many other questions which were propounded to him, and that with so much obstinacy as if he had been a very devil. Afterwards being asked whether he were a Christian, he answered, no ; but that he had been one at such time as Don Pernio de Gama was captain of Malaca. Whereunto Antonio de Faria demanded of him, what moved him since he had been a Christian, to forsake the law of Jesus Christ, wherein he was assured of his salvation, for to embrace that of the false prophet Mahomet, from whence he could hope for nothing but the loss of his soul. Thereunto he answered, that he was induced so to do, for that so long as he was a Christian, the Portugals had alwayes contemned him, whereas before when he was a Gentile, they called him Quiay Necoda, that is to say, Signior captain ; but that respect immediately upon his bap- tism forsook him, which he verily believed did arrive to him by Mahomets express permission, to the end it should open his eyes to turn Mahometan, as after he did at Bintan, where the King of Jantana was in person present at the ceremony, and that ever since he had much honoured him, and that all the Man- da/rins called him brother, in regard of the vow he had made upon the Holy Book of Flowers, that as long as he lived he would be a sworn enemy to the Portitgals, and of all others that profest the name of Christ, for which both the King and Cacis Moulana had exceedingly commended him, promising that his soul should be most blessed if he performed that vow. Being likewise demanded how long ago it was since he revolted, what Portugal vessels he had taken, how many men he had put to death, and what merchandize he had despoyled them of? He answered, that it was 7 years since he became a Mahometan ; that the first vessel he took was Luiso de Pavia's junk, which he surprised in the Eiver of Liampoo with 400 108 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES bars of pepper only, and no other spice, whereof having made himself master, that he had put to death 18 Portugals, besides their slaves, of whom he made no reckoning, because they were not such as could satisfie the oath he made. That after this prize he had taken our ships, and in them had put to death above 100 persons, amongst whom there were some 70 Portu- gals, and that he thought the merchandize in them amounted to fifteen or sixteen hundred bars of pepper, whereof the King of Pan had the better moyity for to give him a safe retreat in his ports, and to secure him from the Portugals, giving him to that purpose 100 men, with commandment to obey him as their king. Being further demanded, whether he had not killed any Portugals, or lent an hand for the doing thereof, he said no, but that some two years before, being in the Eiver of Choaboquec on the coast of Ghina, a great junk arrived there with a great many Portugals in her, whereof an intimate friend of his named Buy Loho, was captain, whom Don Estevan de Gama, then governour of the fortress of Malaca, had sent thither in the way of commerce, and that upon the sale of his commodities going out of the port, his junk about five dayes after took so great a leak, as not being able to clear her, he was constrained to retm-n towards the same port, from whence he parted ; but that by ill fortune clapping on all his sails to get the sooner to land was overset by the violence of the wind, so as all were cast away, saving Buy Loho, 17 Portugals, and some slaves, who in their skiff made for the island of Lamau, without sail, without water, or any manner of victuals ; that in this extremity Buy Loho, relying on the ancient friendship that was between them, came with tears in his eyes, and praid him on his knees to receive him and his into his junk, which was then ready to set sail for Patana, whereunto he agreed, upon condition that therefore he should give him two thousand ducates, for the performance whereof he bound himself by his oath of a Christian. But that after he had taken them in, he counselled by the Mahometans not to trust unto the friendship of Christians, lest he might endanger his own life ; for when theyhadrecovered strength, they would without doubt seize upon his junk, and all the goods that were in her, it being their usual custom so to do in all places where they found themselves the OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 109 strongest : wherefore fearing lest that which the Mahometans suggested should befall him, he slew them all on a night as they slept, for the which notwithstanding he was sorry after- wards. This declaration so much incensed Antonio de Faria, and all that were about him, as indeed the enormity of so wicked a fact did require, that presently, without questioning or hear- ing of him further, he commanded him to be put to death with four more of his company ; and so they were all thrown into the sea. This justice being executed on the pyrat and his four com- panions, Antonio de Faria caused an inventory to be taken of all that was in the junk, which was adjudged to mount unto forty thousand Taeis in raw and twisted silk, pieces of sattin, damask, musk, fine pourcelains, and other less valuable com- modities, which with the junk we were constrained to bum, because we wanted mariners for our navigation. With those valorous exploits the Chineses were so amazed, as they stood in dread of the very mention of the name of the Portugals, in so much that the Necodaes, or masters of the junks that were in the port, fearing the like might be done to them assem- bled all together in councel ; and there making election of two of the principal amongst them, whom they held most capable of performing their charge, they sent them as embassadoure unto Antonio de Faria, desiring him, that as King of the Sea, he would protect them, upon the assurance of his word, so as they might pass safely out of the place where they were for to make their voyage whil'st the season served ; in consideration whereof, as his tributary subjects and slaves, they would give him twenty thousand Taeis in ingots of silver, whereof pay- ment should be made out of hand, by way of acknowledging him to be their lord. Antonio de Faria received them very courteously, and granting their request, protested and sware to perform the same, and upon his word to protect them for the future, from having any of their goods taken from them by any pyrat ; whereupon one of the embassadours remained as surety for the twenty thousand Taeis, and the other went to fetch the ingots which he brought an hour after, together with a rich present of many several things sent him over and above by the Necodaes. This done, Antonio de Fa/ria desiring to 110 TEM TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES advance a servant of his, named Costa, made him dark of the patents that were to be granted to the Necodaes, whereof he presently set a rate, namely five Taeis for a junk, and two Taeis for a Vanco, Lantea, and small barque, which proved so beneficial to him, that in the space of thirteen days, wherein these patents we dispatched, he got (according to the report of those that envyed him) above four thousand Taeis in silver, besides many good gratuities that were given him for expedi- tion. The form of these patents was thus : I give assurance upon my word to Necoda such a one, that he shall sail safely all about the coast of China without any distu/rbance, of any that belongs to me, upon condition that wheresoever he meets with any Portugals, he shall entreat them as brethren : and underneath he signed, Antorm de Fa/ria: All which patents were most exactly observed, and by that means he was redoubted all along the coast, as the Ghaem himself of the island of Ainan, who is the Vice-roy thereof, upon the report which he heard of him, sent to visit him by his embassadour, vnth a rich present of pearls and jewels; as also a letter, whereby he desired him to take entertainment from the Son of the Sun, a name which they give to the Emperour of this monarchy for to serve him as Commander General of all the coast from Lamau to Liampoo, with ten thousand Taeis pension yearly, and that if he carried himself well, according to the renown went of him, he assured him that upon the expiration of his three years charge, he should be advanced into the rank of the Ghaems of the state, and that such men as he if they were faithful, might attain to be one of the twelve Tutoens of the Empire, whom the sovereign Son of the Sun, being the Lion crowned on the throne of the world, admitted to his bed and board, as mem- bers united to his person by means of the honour, power, and command that he gave them with an annual pension of an hundred thousand Taeis. Antonio de Fa/ria gave him many thanks for this offer, and excused himself with complements, after their manner; saying, that he was not capable of so great favour as he would honour him withal, but that vrithout any regard at all of mony he would be ready to serve him as often as the Tutoens of Peqmn would be pleased to command him, After this going out of the port of Model, where he had OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. Ill been fourteen days, he ran all along the coast of that country for to find out Goia Acem, it being the main design of all his voyage, as I have declared before. Imagining then that he might meet with him in some of these places, he stayed there above six months, with much pain and hazard of his person. At length he arrived at a very fair town, named Quangiparu, wherein were goodly buildings and temples. In 'this port he abode all that day and the night following, under colour of being a merchant, peaceably buying that which was brought him aboard ; and because it was a town of fifteen hundred fires, as we guessed, the next morning by break of day we set sail without any great notice taken of us. So returning to sea, although it were with a contrary wind, in 12 days with a troublesome navigation he visited the shores both of the south and north coasts, without incountring any thing worthy the observation, although they were replenished with a many of little villages, whereof divers were inclosed with walls of brick, but not strong enough to withstand the force of thirty good soldiers, the people of themselves being very weak, and having no other arms but staves hardned in the fire ; howso- ever the scituation of this country was under one of the best and fertilest climates on the earth, abounding with great store of cattel, and many goodly_large fields, sowed with wheat, rice, barly, millet, and sundry other ' kinds of grain ; as also reple- nished with many great groves of pine, and Angeline trees, as in the Indies, able to furnish a world of shipping. Moreover, by the relation of certain merchants Antonio de Faria was in- formed, that in this land there were many mynes of copper, silver, tin, saltpeter, sulphur, and an infinite deal of untilled, but excellently good grovmd, altogether neglected by this weak nation, which were it in our power, we might in all probability be more advanced in the Indies, then now we are through the unhappiness of our sins. After we had been 7 months and an half in this country, somtimes on the one side, somtimes on the other, from river to river, and on both coasts, north and south ; as also in the Isle of Ainan, without hearing any news of Coia Acem, the souldiers weary of so long and tedious travel, assembled altogether, and desired Antonio de Fa/ria, to make a partition of that which bad 112 THE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES been gotten, according to a promise before made to them by a note under his hand, saying, that thereupon they would return unto the Indies, or where else they thought good, whereby a great deal of stir arose amongst us. At length it was agreed, that we should go and winter in Siam, where all the goods which were in the junk should be sold, and being reduced into gold, division shotdd be made of it, as was desired. With this accord, sworn and signed by all, we went and anchored in an island, called the island of Thieves, in regard it was the outer- most island of aU that bay, to the end that from thence we might make our voyage with the first fair wind that should blow. So having continued there twelve dayes with an earnest desire to effect the agreement we had made together ; it for- tuned that by the conjunction of the new moon in October, which we had alwayes feared, there arose such a tempest of rain and wind, as seemed to be no natural thing, in so much that lying open to the south wind, as we traverst the coast, the waves went so high, that though we used all means possible to save our selves, cutting down our masts, and all the dead works from poup to prow; as also casting into the sea even the most part of our merchandize, reducing our great ordnance into their places again out of which they had been toss'd, and strengthning our cables that were half rotten with ropes ; but all this was not able to preserve us, for the night was so dark, the weather so cold, the sea so rough, the wind so high, and the storm so horrible, that in these extremities nothing could deUver us but the meer mercy of God, whom with con- tinual cries and tears we called upon for help. But for as much as in regard of our sins we did not deserve to receive this grace at His hands. His Divine Justice ordained, that about 2 hours after midnight there came such a fearful gust of wind, as drove our 4 vessels foul of one another upon the shore, where they were all broken to pieces, so that 400 and 80 men were drowned, amongst which were eight Portii- gals, and it pleased God that the remainder being 53 persons were saved, whereof 23 were Portugals, the rest slaves and mariners. After this lamentable shipwrack, we got half naked, and most of us hurt into a marish hard by, where we stayed till the next morning ; and as soon as it was day we returned OF FBBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 113 to the sea side, which we found all strewed with dead bodies, a spectacle of that dread and horrour as scarce any one of us could forbear swooning to behold it : over them we stood lamenting a great while, till such time as Antonio de Faria, who by the mercy of God was one of those that remained alive, whereof we were aU very glad, concealing the grief which we could not dissemble, came where we were, having on a scarlet coat that he had taken from one of the dead, and with a joyful countenance, his eyes dry and void of tears, he made a short speech unto us, wherein he remon- strated how variable and uncertain the things of this world were, and therefore he desired us, as brethren, that we would endeavour to forget them, seeing the remembrance of them was but a means to grieve us ; for considering the time and miserable estate whereunto we were reduced, we saw how necessary his counsel was : and how he hoped that God would in this desolate place present us with some good opportunity to save our selves, and how we might be assured that He never per- mitted any evil but for a greater good ; moreover how he firmly believed, that though we had now lost five hundred thousand crowns, we should ere it were long get above six hundred thou- sand for them. This brief exhortation was heard by us all with tears and discomfort enough ; so we spent two days and an half there in biirying the dead ; during which time we recovered some wet victuals, and provisions to sustain us withal ; but they lasted not above five dayes of fifteen that we stayed there, for by reason of their wetness they corrupted presently, and did us little good. After these 15 days it pleased God, who never forsakes them that truly put their trust in Him, miracu- lously to send us a remedy, whereby we escaped out of that misery we were in, as I will declare hereafter. 114 TEE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES CHAPTBE XVII. In what sort we escaped miraculously out of this island; our passage from thence to the river of Xingrau ; our incountting with a Chinese pyrat, and the agreement we made with him. BEING escaped from this miserable shipwrack, it was a lamentable thing to see how we walked up and down almost naked, enduring such cruel cold and hunger, that many of us talking one to another, fell down suddenly dead with very weakness, which proceeded not so much from want of victuals, as from the eating of such things as were hurtful to us, by reason they were all rotten, and stunk so vilely, that no man could endure the taste of them in his mouth. But as our God is an infinite good, there is no place so remote, for desert, where the misery of sinners can be hid from the assistance of His infinite mercy, which I speak, in regard that on the day, when as the feast of S. Michael is celebrated, as we were drowned in tears, and without hope of any humane help, according as it seemed to the weakness of our little faith, a kite came unexpectedly flying over our heads from behinde a point which the island made towards the south, and by chance let fall a fish called a mullet, about a foot long. This fish falling close by Antonio de Faria, he took it and caused it to be broyled upon coals, and given to such of the sick as had most need of it ; then looking towards the point of the island from whence the kite came, we perceived divers others that in their flying made many stoopings, whence we concluded that there was some kind of prey there whereon these fowls fed ; now all of us being most desirous of relief, we went thither in all haste, and coming to the top of the higher groimd, we discovered a low vally fuU of divers fruit trees, and in the middle a river of fresh water, whereupon by good fortune before we went down we saw a stag newly killed, and a tyger beginning to eat him, therewith we made a great cry which frighted him away into the wood, leaving us the stag as he was. Then descended we to the river, and by the bank of it staid all that night, making a feast, as well with the stag, as with divers mullets that we took there ; for there were a great nimiber of kites, that from OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 115 the water catched a many of those fishes, and oftentimes let them fall being soared with our cries. Thus continued we by the rivers tiU Saturday following, when about the break of day we discerned a sail making as we thought towards the island where we were : the better to be assured whereof we returned to the shoar where we were wracked, and there staying about half an hour, we found it to be so indeed, in which regard we got us presently into the wood to decline discovery from those in the vessel ; which arriving in the port we perceived it to be a Lamea, and that those that were in her fastned her to the shoar with 2 cables, at the beak and the stern the better to accommodate a plank for to pass in and out of her. Being all dis-imbarqued out of her to about the number of thirty persons, more or less, they went presently, some to making provision of water and wood, some to washing of their linnen, and dressing of meat, and others to wrastling, and such like pastimes, little thinking to find any body in that place which could any way annoy them. Antonio de Fa/ria seeing them altogether without fear and order, and that there was none remaining in the vessel able to resist us ; My masters, said he unto us, you behold the wretched estate whereinto our mis-fortune hath reduced us, whereof I confess m/y sins are the cause ; but the mercy of God is so imfvmte, as I am, verily perswaded He will not suffer us to perish thus miserably here, and therefore hath as it were miracu- lously sent this vessel hither, by seising whereupon we may escape from hence, which before to humane reason seemed almost impossible : wherefore I exhort you all to joyn with me in making our selves masters suddenly of her ere ever we be heard or seen, and homing so done, let our oneVy care be to possess our selves of the arms we shall find in her, that therewith we may defend our selves, and make good our possession, upon which, next under God, our safety depends ; and as soon as you shall hear me say three times, Jesus, do as you shall see me do. Whereunto we answered, that we would dihgently perform what he had enjoyned us ; so that we standing all prepared to execute his design, Antondo de Faria gave the signal which he had spoken of, and withall ran as fast as ever he could, and we along with him, till he arrived at the Lantea, whereinto we suddenly entered without any contradiction; then unloosing 116 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES the two cables with which she was fastned, we put out to sea about a cross-bow shot from land. The CMneses surprized in this manner, ran all to the sea side, upon the noise that they heard ; and seeing their vessel taken, were much amazed, but knew not how to help it ; for we shot at them with an iron base that was in the Lantea, which made them fly into the wood, where no doubt they passed the rest of that day in lamenting the sad success of their ill fortune, as we had done ours before. After we were gotten into the Lantea, and that we were sure the deceived CMneses could no way hurt us, we sat us down to eat that at leasure, which they had caused to make ready for their dinner by an old man, that we found there, and it was a great skillet full of rice with bached lard, whereunto we fell with good stomacks, as being not a little hungry. Dinner done, and thanks rendred to God for His gracious mercy to us, an inventory was taken of the goods that were in the Lantea, which was raw silks, damasks, sattins, together with three great pots of musk, amounting in all to the value of four thousand crowns, beside good store of rice, sugar, gammons of bacon, and two coups full of poultry, whereof we had more need then of all the rest, for the recovery of our sick men, which were not a few amongst us. Hereupon we all began without fear to cut out pieces of silk, therevrith to accommo- date every one with clothes. Antonio de Fa/ria, having found a prety boy in the Lantea, about some twelve or thirteen years old, demanded of him from whence she came, and what she did in this place, as also to whom she belonged, and whither she was bound. Alas I answered the boy, she not long since belonged to my unfortunate father, whose ill ha^ it is to have that taken from him by you in less then an hour, which he hath been above thirty years in getting. He came from a place called Quoaman, where in exchange of lingots of siher he bought all these commodities that you have, with a purpose to have gone and sold them to the junks of Siam, whdch are in the port of Comhay ; and wanting fresh water, it was his ill hap to come hither for to take in some, where you hill never forsake us, how great sinners soever we be ; for after all we are His, which these dogs here are not. With this fervour and zeal of faith flying upon Coia Acem, to whom he had most spleen, he discharged so great a blow on his head with a two-handed sword, that cutting through a cap of mail he wore, he laid him at his feet, then redoubling with another reverse stroke he lamed him of both his legs, as he could not rise, which his followers behold- ing, they gave a mighty cry, and assaulted Antonio de Faria with such fury and hardiness, as they made no reckning of a many of Portugals, by whom they were invironed, but gave him divers blows that had almost overthrown him to the ground. Our men seeing this ran presently to his aid, and behaved themselves so well, that in half a quarter of an hotir fourty eight of our enemies, lay slaughtered on the dead body of Coia Acem, and but fourteen of ours, whereof there were not above five Portugals, the rest were servants and slaves, good and faithful Christians. The remainder of them, beginning to faint, retired in disorder towards the foredeck, with an intent OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 131 to fortifie themselves there, for prevention whereof 20 souldiers of thirty that were in Quiay Panians junk, ran instantly and got before them ; so that ere they could render themselves masters of what they pretended unto, they were inforced to leap into the sea, where they fell one upon another, and were by our men quite made an end of, so that of all their number they remained but only five, whom they took alive, and cast into the hold bound hand and foot, to the end they might i afterwards be forced by torments to confess certain matters : that should be demanded of them ; but they fairly tore out one ' anothers throats with their teeth, for fear of the death they j expected, which yet could not keep them from being dismem- 1 bred by our servants, and after thrown into the sea, in the j company of the dog; Goia Acem their captain, great Gaois of ' the King of Bintan, the Shedder and Drinker of the blood of Portiigals ; titles which he ordinarily gave himself in his letters, and which he published openly to all Mahometans, by reason whereof, and for the superstition of his cursed sect, he was greatly honoured by them. CHAPTEE XIX. What Antonio de Faiia did after bis victory. THIS bloody battel finished with the honour of the victory, before mentioned, in the description whereof I have not used many words; for if I should undertake to recount the particulars of it, and set forth all that was performed by ours, as also the valour wherewith the enemies defended themselves, besides that I am not able to do it, I should then be forced to make a far larger discourse, and more ample history then this is : but it being my intention to declare things en passamt, I have laboured to speak succinctly in divers place, where possibly better wits then mine wotild amplifie matters in a more accom- plished manner ; and this is the reason that I have now delivered nothing but what was needful to be written. Eeturning then to my former discourse, I say, that the first thing Antonio de 132 TEE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES Faria did after this victory was to see his hurt men looked unto, whereof there were about fourscore and twelve, the most part Portugals, our servants being included ; as for the number of the dead there were on our side forty two, amongst which eight were Portugals, the loss of whom afflicted Antonio de Faria more then all the rest, and of the enemies three hundred and twenty, whereof an hundred and fifty fell by fire and sword, the remainder were drowned. Now albeit this victory brought a great deal of content to us all, yet were there many tears shed, both in general and particular for the slaughter of our companions, the most part of whose heads were cleft asunder with the enemies hatchets. After this Antonio de Fama, notwithstanding he was hurt in two or three places, went presently ashoar with those that were in case to accom- pany him, where the first thing he did was to give order for the burial of the dead; thereupon he surroimded the island for to see what he could discover. Compassing of it then in this sort he Ughted upon a very pleasant valley, wherein were many gardens, replenished with sundry kinds of fruits ; there also was a village of about forty or fifty very low houses, which the infamous Coia Acem had sacked, and in them slain many of the inhabitants, that had not the means to escape his hands. Further, in the said valley, and by a delicate river of fresh water, wherein were a number of mullets and trouts, he met with a very fair house, which seemed to be the Pagode of the village, that was full of sick and hurt persons, whom Coia Acem had put there to be cured ; amongst these were divers Mahometans of his kindred, and others of his best souldiers, to the number of ninety six, who as soon as they perceived Antonio de Faria afar off cried out to him for mercy and for- giveness, but he would by no means hearken unto them, alledging that he could not spare those that had killed so many Christians ; saying so, he caused the house to be fired in six or seven places, which in regard it was of wood, bepitched, and covered with dry palm-tree leaves, burned in such sort as it was dreadful to behold; in the mean time it would have moved any man to pity, to hear the lamentable cries made by these wretches within, and to see them cast themselves head- long out of the windows, where our men provoked with a Oi' FEBBINANl) MEMDM^ PINTO. iS3 desire for revenge, received them upon their pikes and halberds. This cruelty performed, Antonio de Fcma returned to the sea side, where the junk lay that Goia Acem had taken a month before from the PorPugals of Liampoo, and caused it to be lanched into the sea, having been formerly repaired and caulked, which being done, and he aboard again, he restored it to Mem Tahordo, and Antonio Amiques, to whom it belonged, as I have already declared. [Antonio de Fa/ria departs from the river of Tinlcm, is ship- wrecked on the point of Micuy, and loses his treasure-laden jtmk, CHAPTBE XX. Antonio de Faria hath news of the five Portugals that were made oaptives ; his letter to the Mandarin of Nouday about them; and his assaulting the said town. AFTEE this furious tempest was wholly asswaged, Antonio de Fcma incontinently imbarked lumself in the other great junk, that he had taken from Goia Acem, whereof Pedro de Siha was captain, and setting sail, he departed with the rest of his company, which consisted of 3. junks, and 1. Lorch or Lantea, as the Ghineses term them. The first thing he did then, was to go and anchor in the haven of Nouday, to the end, he might learn some news of the 13. captives that were carried thither ; being arrived there about night he sent two small barques, called Bahes, well man'd, to spy the port, and soimd the depth of the river ; as also to observe the scituation of the country, and to learn by sunrise what ships were riding there ; together with divers other matters answerable to his design; for which effect he commanded the mariners to endeavour all they could for to. surprize some of the inhabitants of the town, that by them he might be truly informed what was become of the Portugals, by reason he was afraid they were already carried further up into the country. These Baloes went away about two hours after midnight, and arrived at a little village seated at the mouth of the river on a little stream 134 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES of water, called Nipaphau : there it pleased God that they behaved themselves so vsrell, as they returned before day aboard our junk, bringing along with them a barque laded with earthen vessels, and sugar canes, which they had found lying at anchor in the midst of the river : in this barque there were eight men, and two women, together with a little child some 6. or 7. years old, who seeing themselves thus in our power, became so trans- ported with the fear of death, that they were in a manner besides themselves; which ^jiiOTiiocZei^Vma perceiving laboured all he could to comfort them, and began to speak them very fair ; but to all his questions he could draw no other answer from them then these words following. Do not Mil us without cause, for God will require an account of our blood from you, because we are poor folks, and saying thus, they wept and trembled in such sort, as they could scarce pronounce a word; whereupon Antonio de Faria, pitying their misery and sim- plicity, would importune them no further : howbeit, the better to compass his intent, he intreated a Chinese woman, that was a Christian, and came along with the pilot, to make much of them, and to assure them they should have no hurt, to the end, that being more confirmed by this means they might answer to that should be demanded of them: wherein the Chinese so well acquitted her self, and made them so tractable, as about an hour after they told her, that if the captain would let them freely return in their boat to the place from whence they were taken, they would wiUingly confess all that either they had heard or seen. Antonio de Faria having promised them to do so, and that with many words and protestations, one amongst them, that was ancienter, and that seemed to be of more authority then the rest, addressing himself to him : Truly, said he, I do not rely nmch on thy words, becoMse that by amplifying of tliem in such manner thou makest me afraid, that the effect will not be conformable to thy speech : wherefore I beseech thee to swear unto me by this element that bears thee, that thou wilt not fa/il to perform that which thou hast promised unto me : for otherwise perjuring thy self, be assured that the Lord, whose hand is Almighty, will be incensed against thee with such indignation, as the winds from above, and the seas from below, will never cease to oppose thy desires during thy voyages ; for I vow unto thee by OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 185 the beauty of these stars, that lying is no less odious and abomin- able in the sight of that Sovereign Lord, than the pride of those judges on earth, that with scorn and contempt do answer those which demand justice of them. Antonio de Fanria obliging him- self by oath, as the old man required, to perform his word, the Chinese said he was satisfied,and then he continued in this sort : About two dayes since I saw those men whom thou enquvrest after, laid in prison at Nouday, vnth great irons on their legs, becamse it was beUeved they were notorious thieves, that made trade of robbing such as they met upon the seas. This relation very much inraged and disquieted Antonio de Faria, who was per- swaded that it might well be as the old man delivered; so that desiring to take some course for their deliverance as soon as might be, he sent them a letter by one of the Chineses, re- taining all the rest in hostage for him, who departed the next morning by break of day ; and because it much imported the Chineses to be delivered out of captivity, he that carried the letter, and that was husband to one of the two women, which had been taken in the boat of earthen vessels, and were now aboard in our junk,made such speed,thathe returned about noon, with an answer endorsed on the letter we sent.and signed by all the five Portugals ; thereby they gave Antonio de Fama to under- stand, that they were cruelly detained in prison, out of which they did not think they should ever get, unless it were to go to execution ; and therefore they besought him for the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he would not suffer them to perish there for want of succour, according as he had promised them in their setting forth in that voyage ; and the rather in regard it was only for his sake that they were reduced to that miser- able estate; hereunto they added many other very pitiful intreaties as might well come from such poor wretches that were captives under the tyranny of such fell and cruel people, as the Chineses were. Antorm de Fa/ria, having received this letter, read it in the presence of all his company, of whom he asked counsel thereupon ; but as they were many, so were their opinions many and different, which was the occasion of much contention amongst them; whereby perceiving that nothing would be concluded concerning this affair, he said to them as it were in choler ; My masters and friends, I have 136 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 promised to God by a solemn oath that Ihm>e taken, never topa/rt from hence, till by some means or other I ha/ve recovered these poor souldiers, my companions, though I should therefore venture my life a thousand times, yea and all my estate, which I make little reckoning of in regard of them. Wherefore my masters, 1 earnestly desire you, that no man go about to oppose this resolu- tion of mine, upon the execution whereof mine honour wholly depends, for whosoever shall contrary me therein, I must take him for mine enemy, as one that would seek tJie prejudice of my soul. To tMs speech all made answer, that he was in the right, and for the discharge of his conscience nothing should stay Viim from performing the same ; adding, moreover, that all of them would stand to him in that behalf to the death. The captain hereupon giving them many thanks, and with tears in his eyes, and his hat in his hand, imbracing them, pro- tested that he would when time should serve acknowledge this good- will of theirs in such real manner as it deserved, where- with they all remained very well satisfied. This resolution being taken, they fell to councel concerning the carriage of this affair, whereupon they concluded to treat with the Mandarin in a gentle manner, and for that end to send unto him to demand these prisoners, with promise to give him for their ransom whatsoever should be thought reasonable, and that according to his answer such further courses should be taken therein as should seem requisite. A petition then was presently drawn, answerable to the form that was usually presented to the judges, which Antonio de Faria sent to the Manda/rin by 2. of the chiefest of the Ghineses he had taken, who also carried him a present worth 200. ducates, whereby he hoped to induce him to restore the poor prisoners ; but it fell out far otherwise then he expected : for as soon as the Ghineses had deUvered the petition and the present, they returned the next day vrith an answer written on the back of the petition, the tenor whereof was this ; Let thy mouth come and present it self at my feet, and after I hoAie heard thee, I will do thee justice. Antonio de Faria seeing what high words the Mandarin gave, was exceedingly troubled, because he well perceiv'd by this beginning that he should have much ado to deUver his companions: wherefore having communicated this affair in OF FEEDINAND MFNDEZ PINTO. 137 particular to some few, whom for that end he had called unto him, they were of several opinions ; nevertheless after good deliberation, it was at length concluded to send another mes- senger, that should more effectually demand the prisoners of him, and for their ransom offer the sum of 2000. Taeis in lingots of silver and commodities, declaring unto him, that he would not part from that place till he had return'd -them ; for he made account that it might be this resolution would oblige him to do that which he had refused him another way, or that he would be carried to it by the consideration of his own gain and interest. So the 2. Chineses went again the second time with a letter seal'd up, as from one person to another, without any kind of ceremony or complement which these Gentiles so much use amongst themselves ; and this Antonio de Faria did of purpose, to the end, that by the sharpness of this letter the Mandarin might know he was displeased, and resolved to execute what he had written. But before I proceed any further, I wiU only relate the two main points of the contents of the letter, which were the cause of the utter ruine of this business. The first was, when Antonio de Fa/ria said, that he was a merchant stranger, Porttigal by nation, that was going by way of traffiqiie towards the port of Liampoo, where there were also many other merchants strangers like himself, who duly paid the usual customs, without committing any manner of ill, or injustice. The second point was, where he said, that the king of Portiigal his master was allyed in a brotherly amity with the king of China, by. reason whereof they traded in his country, as the Chineses used to do at Malaca, where they were entertained with all favour and justice dulyministred unto them. Now though both these points were distasteful to ' the Manda/rin, yet the last wherein he mentioned the king of Portugal to be brother to the king of Ghima, was that which put him so out of patience, that without any regard at all he commanded them that brought the letter, not only to be cruelly scourged, but to have their noses cut off, and in that pickle he sent them back to Antonio de Faria, with an answer written on a scurvie piece of torn paper; where these words were written ; Stinking Carrion, begotten of vile flies in the filthiest sink that ever was in any dungeon of a lothsome prison, what 138 THB TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES hath made thy baseness so bold, as that thou da/rest undertake to meddle with Heavetily things ? Having caused thy ^petition to be read, whereby like a Lord, as I am, thou prayest me to ha/oe pity on thee, which art but a poor wretch, my greatness, out of its generosity, was even deigning to accept of that little thou pre- sentedst me withal, and was also inclining to grant thy request, when as my ears were touched with the horrible blasphemy of thy arrogance, which made thee term thy King brother to the Son of the Sun, the Lion crowned by an incredible power in the throne of the world, under whose feet all the diadems of those that govern the Universe a/re subjected, nay all scepters do serve but as latchets to his most rich sandals, as the writers of the golden temple do certifie wider the Law of their Verities, and that through the whole habitable earth. Know then, that for the great heresie thou hast uttered, I ha/oe caused thy paper to be burnt, thereby representing the vile effigies of thy person, which I desire to use in like manner for the enormous crime thou hast committed : wherefore I command thee to be speedily pack- ing, that the rimer which bea/rs thee rrmf not be accursed. So soon as the interpreter had read the letter, and expounded the contents thereof; all that heard it were much vexed therewith, but no man was so sensible of it as Antonio de Fa/ria, who was exceedingly grieved to see himself thus wholly deprived of all hope of recovering his prisoners ; wherefore after they had well considered the insolent words of the Mandarins letter, and his great discourtesie, they in the end concluded to go ashoar, and attaque the town, in hope that God would assist them, seeing their intentions were good ; for this effect they instantly pre- pared vessels to land with, which were the four fishermens great barques that they had taken the night before : where- upon taking a muster of the forces he could make for this enterprize, he found the number to be 300. whereof 40. were Portugals, the rest were slaves and mariners, besides Quiay Panians men, amongst whom were an himdred and threescore harquebusiers, the other were armed with pikes and lances ; he had also some pieces of ordnance, and other things necessary for his design. The next morning a little before day, Antomo de Faria sailed up the river with three junks, the Lorches, and four barques he OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 139 had taken, and so want and anchored at, six fathom and an half of water close by the walls of the town ; then causing the sails to be taken down without any noise, or discharge of ordnance, he displayed the banner of trade according to the fashion of China, to the end that by this demonstration of peace, no complement should rest unperformed, although he was persuaded that nothing would prevail with the Mandarin : hereupon he sent another messenger unto him, never making shew that he had received any ill usage from him, by whom with a great deal of complement he demanded the prisoners, and offered him a round sum of mony for their ransom, with a promise of perpetual correspondence and amity; but so far was this dog the Mandarin from hearkning thereunto, that con- trariwise he made the poor Chinese, that carried the letter, to be hewed in pieces, and so shewed him from the top of the wall to the whole fleet, the more to despight us. This tragical act wholly deprived Antonio de Fana of that little hope which some had given him for the deliverance of the prisoners ; here- upon the soldiers, being more incensed then before, said unto him, that since he had resolved to land, he should no longer defer it, because further delay would but give his enemies leisure to gather more strength. This counsel seeming good to him, he presently imbarqued with them he had chosen for the action, having first given order to shoot continually at the town, and the enemy, wheresoever they perceivd any store of people assembled ; howbeit, with this caution, to forbear till they saw them together by the ears with them. Having landed them about a faulcon shot below the rode, he marched without any let along the shears side directly to the- town: in the mean time a number of people appeared upon the walls, with divers ensigns of different colours, where these barbarians made a mighty noise, with fifes, drums, and bells, and withal hooting at us, made us signs with their caps to approach, thereby intima- ting the little reckning they made of us. Now by that time we were come within a musket shot of the walls, we discerned 1000. or 1200. men, as we guessed, sally out at 2. several gates, of which some 120. were mounted on horses, or to say better, on lean carrion tits that were nothing but skin and bone, wherewith they began to course up and down the field in a 140 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES skirmishing manner, wherein they shewed themselves so un- toward, as they often ran one upon another, and tumbled down together ; which when Antonio de Fwria saw he was exceeding glad, and encouraged his men to fight. He stood firm attend- ing the enemy, who continued still wheeling about us, being perswaded it seems, that that would suffice to skare us, and make us retire to our vessels ; but when they perceived us remain unmoved, without turning our backs, as they believed, and as it may be, they desired we would do, they closed themselves into one body, and so in a very iU order they made a stand without advancing on. But then our captain, seeing them in this posture, caused all his musketeers to discharge at one instant, who till that time had not stirred, which such effect, as it pleased God that the most part of this goodly cavalry fell to the ground with fear ; we taking this for a good presage ran and lustily pursued them, invoking the name of Jesus, whose good pleasure it was, through His Divine mercy, to make our enemies flye before us so amazed, and in such disorder, as they tumbled pell-mell one upon another, in which manner arriving at a bridge that crost the town ditch, they were so pestered together, as they could neither go forward nor backward : in the mean time our forces coming up to them, discharged their shot to such purpose amongst them, that we laid three hun- dred of them on the earth, which in truth was a pitiful sight to behold, because there was not one of them that had the heart so much as to draw a sword : whereupon hotly pursuing the first point of this victory, we ran to the gate, where we found the Mandwrin in the front of six hundred men, mounted upon a good horse, having on a cuirass lined with purple velvet, which had belonged, as we knew afterwards to a Portiigal, named Tome Perez, whom King Don Emanuel, of glorious memory had sent as Ambassadour to OMna, in Fernando Perez, his ship, at such time as Lopo Suarez d' Alberga/ria governed the Indies. At the entrance into the gate, the Mandwrin and his people made head against us, so that there was a shrewd bickering between us, this enemy shewing another manner of courage then we had met with on the bridge.; but by good hap it fortuned that one of our servants hit the Mandarin just in the breast with an harquebuss shot, and overthrew him dead OF FEBDINAND MENDUZ PINTO. 141 from his horse, wherewith all the CMnesses were so terrified, as they presently turned their backs, and in great disorder retired within the gate, not one of them having the wit to shut it after them, so that we chased them before us with our lances, as if they had been a drove of cattel. ,In this sort they fled pell mell together quite through a great street, and issued out at another gate, which was on the lands, from whence they got all away, not so much as one remaining behinde. Thereupon Antonio de Faria, assembling his men into one body, for fear of some disorder, marched with them directly to the prison where our companions lay, who seeing us coming, gave a great cry ; saying. Lord have mercy wpon us ; straightway the doors and iron-grates were broken up, and our poor fellows irons knocked off their legs ; which being done, and they set at liberty, all our company had leave to make what purchase they could, to the end that without speaking afterwards of partition, every one might be master of what he had gotten. Howbeit Antonio de Fa/ria desired them to per- form it suddenly, and therefore he gave them but half an hours time for it ; whereunto they all condescended very willingly, and BO fell to ransaking the houses. In the meen s'p&oe Antonio de Fwna went to that of the Manda/rin, which he took for his part, where he met with eight thousand Taeis in silver, together with eight great vessels full of musk, and that he caused to be reserved for himself ; the rest he left to the servants that were with him, who moreover found there a great deal of raw sUk, sattia, damask, and fine pourcelain, whereof every one took aa much as he could carry ; so as the four barques, and the three champanaes, that brought our men on shore, were four several times laden and unladen aboard the junks ; iasomuch that the meanest mariner amongst us spake not of this booty, but by whole cases, besides what each one concealed in his particular. But when Antonio de Fa/ria perceived that an hour and an half had been spent in pillaging, he commanded a surcease thereof, but his company were so hot upon the spoil, that by no means they would be drawn from it, wherein the persons of quality were most faulty ; in which regard our captain, fearing lest some disaster might happen by reason the night ap- 142 THE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES' proached, he caused the town to be set on fire in eleven or twelve places ; now for that most of it was built of firr, and other wood, it was in such a flame within a quarter of an hour, as to see it burn so ; one would have taken it for a portraiture of Hell. This done, and aU our company retired, Antonio de Faria embarqued without any impediment, every man being well satisfied and contented, only it was great pity to behold a number of handsome maids led away, tyed four and four, and five and five together, with the matches of their muskets, weeping and lamenting, whilest our people did nothing but laugh and sing. CHAPTBE XXI. Antonio de Faria's navigation till he came to the Port of Liampoo. AFTBE that Antordo de Faria had embarqued his men, the first thing he did was to give order for the dressing of those that were hurt, which were in number fifty, whereof eight of them were Portiigals, and the rest slaves and mariners. He also took care for the burial of the dead, that were not above nine, of which onely one was a Porttigal. All that night we kept good watch, and placed sentinels in sundry parts, for fear of the junks that were upon the river ; the next morning as soon as it was day, our captain went to a little town that was on the other side of the water, -yhere he met not with any inhabitant, they being all fled, howbeit he found a great deal of merchandise in their houses, together vnth good store of victuals, wherewith he had laded the junks, fearing lest that which he had done in this place, should be the occasion of bar- ring him from being furnished with any in the ports where he should happen to arrive. Furthermore, by the advice of his company, he resolved to go and winter, during the three moneths he had yet to make his voyage in, at a certain desart island, distant some fifteen leagues from the sea of Liampoo, called Pullo Hinhor, where there was a good road, and good water ; whereunto he was chiefly induced, because he thought that going directly to Liamjpoo, his voyage thither might bring OF FERDINAND MENDBZ PINTO. 143 some prejudice to the traffique of the Portugals, who wintered there peaceably with their goods : and indeed this advice was so approved of every one, as it was generally applauded. Being departed then from Nouday, after we had sailed five days between the isles of Gomqlem, and the continent, we were set upon on SaUi/rday about noone by a pirate, named Premata Chindel, a sworn enemy to the Portugals, unto whom he had oftentimes done much damage, as well at Patana, as at ,Sunda, Siam, and many other places, when he found himself the stronger. This rover believing that we were Ghineses came and assailed us with 2 great junks, wherein there were two hundred fighting men, besides mariners : one of them being grappled to Mem Taborda's junk had almost made her self master of it, which Qiday Pawian perceiving, who was a little before, he turned upon her, and with full sails running her on the starboard side gave her so terrible a shock, that they sank both together, whereby Mem Taborda was delivered from the danger he was in, howbeit Quiay Paman was instantly and opportunely succoured by three lorches, which Antomo de Faria had taken a little before at Noiidwy, that aU his men in a manner were saved, but every one of the enemies were drovmed. In the mean time the pirate Premata Gundel setting upon the great junk, wherein Antonio de Faria was, the first thing he did was to grapple her poop to prow with two great cramp-irons, fastened to long chains, whereupon began such a fight betwixt them, as deserved to be seen, which for half an hour was so couragiously maintained by the enemy, that Antonio de Faria and most of his men were hurt, and himself besides in danger twice to have been taken ; nevertheless it was his good hap to be relieved in time by three lorches, and a small junk, conunanded by Ped/ro de Syha, by which means it pleased God that ours not onely recovered what they had lost, but pressed the enemy in such sort, as the fight ended with the death of fourscore and six Mahometans, which were in Antordo de Fama's junk, and had held him up so strait, that our men had nothing left them but the fore-deck in her. After this we entred into the pirate's junk, and put all those to the edge of the sword that we found there, not sparing so much as one, all the mariners having cast themselves before 144 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES into the sea. Howbeit we got not this victory so cheap, but that it cost seventeen mens lives, whereof five were Portu- gals, and of the best souldiers we had, besides three and forty were hurt, Antonio de Faria being one of them, who had one wound with a dart, and two with a sword. The fight being ended in this sort, an inventory was taken of all that was in the enemies junk, and this prize was estimated at four- score thousand Taeis, the better part whereof consisted in Lingots of silver of Japan, which the pirate had taken in three merchants ships, that from Firando were bound for Ghincheo, so that the pirate had in this onely vessel to the value of sixscore thousand crowns, and it was thought that the other junk which was sunk was worth as much, to the extreme grief of all our company. With this prize Antonio de Faria retired to a little island, called Buncalou, which was 3 or 4 leagues westward from thence, and much com- mended for good water, and safe riding. Having landed in this place, we spent 18 days there, lodging in cabbins, that were made for the accommodation of our hurt men. From this island we sailed towards that part, whither we had resolved before to go, namely, Antonio de Faria in the great junk, Mem Taborda, and Antonio Anriquez in theirs, Pedro de Sylwa in the little junk, that was taken at Nouday, and Qiday Paniam, with all his followers in the pirats, last taken, which was given him in recompence of his that he had lost, together with 20000 Taeis out of the general booty, wherewith he rested very well contented, being done with consent of the whole company at the request of Antonio de Fa/ria. Sailing in this manner we arrived 6 days after at the ports of Liampoo, which are two islands, one just against another, distant 3 leagues from the place, where at that time the Portiigals used their commerce ; there they had built above a thousand houses, that were governed by sheriffs, auditors, consuls, judges, and 6 or 7 other klnde -of officers, where the notaries underneath the publick acts, which they made, vyrote thus, I, such pubUck notary of this town of Liampoo for the King our Sovereign Lord. And this they did with as much confidence and assurance, as if this place had been seituated between Santarem and Lisbon, so that there were houses there which OP FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 14S cost three or four thousand duoates the building, but both they and all the rest were afterwards demolished for our sins by the GMneses, as I hope to relate more amply hereafter : whereby one may see how uncertain our affairs are in CMna, whereof the Portugals discourse with so much curiosity, and abused with appearances make such account, never considering what hazard they hourly run, and how they are exposed to infinite disasters. [The Porttiguese are received with much honov/r at Lianvpoo, in which town they remain five months.'] This term expired, Antomo de Faria made preparation of vessels and men, for his voyage to the mines of Qitoamaparu ; for in regard the season was then proper for it, he resolved to be gone as soon as possibly he could ; but in the mean time, it happened that Qwian/ Paniam, fell into a dangerous sickness, whereof not long after he died, to the extream grief oiAntordo de Faria, who exceedingly affected him for many good qualities that were in him, worthy of his friendship, and therefore he caused him to be honourably buried, as the last duty that he could do for his friend. After the death of Qim,y Pamam he was counselled not to hazard himself la that voyage, because it was reported for a certainty, how aU that countrey was up in arms by reason of the wars which the Precha/u Mttan had with the King of Ghamo/y, and Ghampaa; and withall he had information given him of a famous pirate, named SimiloM, whom he went presently to seek out, and having found him, the said Sirrdlau related strange wonders unto bim of an island, called GalempliMf, where he assured him there were 17 Kings of Ghina interred in tombs of gold, as also a great number of idols of the same metall, and such other immense treasures, as I dare not deUver, for fear of not being credited. Now Antordo de Fama, being naturally curious, and carried with that ambition, whereunto souldiers are for the most part inclined, lent so good ear to this Ghinese's report, as looking for no other assurance of it then what he gave him, he presently resolved to undertake this voyage, and expose himself to danger, without taking further counsel of any man, whereat many of his friends were with reason offended. 11 146 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTVBES CHAPTEE XXII. Antonio de Faria departs from Liampoo for to seek out the Island ol Calempluy, the strange things that we saw, and the hazard we ran in our voyage thither. THE season being now fit for navigation, and Antonio de Faria furnished with all that was necessary for this new voyage, which he had undertaken to make on Munday the 14th of May, in the yeare 1542, he departed from this port to go to the Island of Calempluy ; for which purpose he imbarqued in two Panoures, resembling small galUes, but that they were a little higher, by reason he was counselled not to use junks, as well to avoid discovery, as in regard of the great currents of water that descended from the Bay of Nanquin, which great vessels with all their sails were not able to stem, especially at the time wherein he set forth, for then the snows of Tartaria and Nixihumfiao dissolving ran all the months of May, June, and July, into these seas with a most violent impetuosity. In these two vessels were fifty Portugals, one priest to say mass, and forty-eight mariners, all natives of Patana, as also two and forty slaves, so that the whole number of our company amounted to an himdred forty and one persons, for the Pirate Similau, who was our pilot, would have no more men, nor vessels, for fear of being known, because he was to traverse the streight of Nanquin, and to enter into rivers that were much frequented, whereby we might probably be subject to great hazard. That day and all the night following we im- ployed in getting out from amongst the islands of Angitu/r, and pursued our course through the seas, which the Portugals had neither seen or sailed on till then. The first five days we had the winde favourable enough, being still vyithin sight of land till we came to the mouth of the river of the fishings of Nan- quin ; there we crost over a gulf of forty leagues, and discovered a very high mountain, called Nangofo, towards the which bending northwardly, we sailed fifty days ; at length the vnnde abated somewhat, and because in that place the tides were very great, Similau put iato a little river, where was good anchoring and riding, inhabited by men that were white and OF FEBDINANB MENDEZ PINTO. 147 handsome, haviag very little eyes like to the CMneses, but much different from them, both in language and attire. Now during the space of 3 days, that we continued there, the inhabitants would have no manner of communication vrith us, but contrari- wise they came in troops to the shore, by which we anchored, and running up and down like madmen they howled in a most hideous fashion, and shot at us with slings and cross-bows. As soon as the weather and the sea would permit us, Similcm,, by whom all was then governed, began to set sail, directing his course east north-east, and so proceeded 7 days in sight of land ; then traversing another gulf, and turning more directly to the east, he past through a streight, 10 leagues over, called Sileujpaguin ; there he sailed 5 days more, still in view of many goodly cities and towns, this river being frequented vrith an infinite company of vessels; where- upon Antonio de Fa/ria, knowing that if he hapned to be discovered he should never escape with life, resolved to get from thence, and continue this course no longer, which Similau perceiving, and opposing the advice that every one gave him ; Signior, said he unto him, I do not think that any of your company can accuse me for misperforming my duty hitherto, you know how at Liampoo I told you pubUckly in the General Council that was held in the church before an hundred Portugals at the least, that we were to expose our selves to great dangers, amd chiefly my self, becanise I was a Chinese and a pilot, for all you could be made to endwre but one death, whereas I should be made to endwre two thousand if it were possible, whereby you may well conclude, that setting apart all treason, I must of necessity be faithful unto you, as I am, and ever will be, not oneVy in this voyage, but in all other enterprizes, in despight of those that mwrrrmr, and make false reports unto you of me ; howbeit if you fear the danger so much as you say, and are therefore pleased that we should take some other way less frequented with men and vessels ; and where we may sa/il without dread of any thing, then you must be contented to bestow afar longer time in this voyage, wherefore resolve with your company upon it with any further delay, or let us return back, for lo I am ready to do whatsoever you will. Antonio de Faria, embracing, and giving him many thanks, fell to discourse with him about that other safer way 148 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES of which he spake. Whereupon Similcm told him, that some hundred and forty leagues further forwards to the north, there was a river somewhat larger by half a league, called Sumhejaa- dano, where he should meet with no obstacle, for that it was not peopled like the streight of Nanqtdn, wherein they now were, but that then they should be retarded a nioneth longer, by the exceeding much wyndiag of this river. Antonio de Faria thinking it far better to expose himself to a length of time, then to hazard his life for abridgement of way, followed the counsel that Similau gave him ; so that going out of the streight of Nanqtdn, he coasted the land 5 days, at the end whereof we discovered a very high mountain towards the east, which Similcm told us was called Fanim, approaching somewhat near unto it we entred into a very fair port, 40 fathom deep, that extending it self in the form of a crescent was sheltred from all sorts of windes, so spacious withall, as 2,000 vessels how great soever might ride there at ease. Antonio de Faria went ashore with some 10 or 11 souldiers, and roimdedthis haven, but could not meet with any one body, that could instruct him in the way he pretended to make, whereat he was very much vext, and greatly repented him for that without any kinde of considera- tion, or taking advice of any one, he had rashly, and out of a capricious humour, undertaken this voyage. Howbeit he dis- sembled this displeasure of his the best he could for fear lest his company should tax him with want of courage. In this haven he discoursed again with Similau before every one con- cerning this our navigation, which he told them was made but by guess ; whereunto the Chinese answered, Signior Ca;ptam,, If I had any thing I could engage to you of more valvs then my head I protest unto you I would most willingly do it, for I am so sv/re of the cou/rse I hold, that I would not fear to give you rwy very children in hostage of the promise I made you at Liampoo. Nevertheless I advertise you a^adn, that if repenting the under- taking of this enterprize youfea/r to proceed any further, in regard of the tales your people are ever tatUng in your ear, as I ha/ve often observed, do but command, and you shall finde how ready I am to obey your pleasure. And whereas they would make you believe that I spin out this voyage longer then I prormsed you at Liampoo, the reason thereof you know well enough, which seemed OF FEBDINAND MENBEZ PINTO. 149 not amiss when I propounded it unto you, seeing then you once allowed of it, let me intreat you to set your heart at rest for that matter, and not to break off this design by retv/ming hack, whereby at length you shall find how profitable this patience of yours will prove. This speech somewhat quieted Antonio de Fama's minde, so that he bid him go on as he thought "best, and never trouble himself with the murmurings of the souldiers, whereof he complained, saying, that it was ever the manner of such as were idle, to finde fault with other mens actions, but if they did not mend their errour the sooner, he would take a course with them to make them to do it; wherewith SmiZaw rested very well satisfied and contented. After we were gone from this haven, we sailed along the coast above thirteen days together, always in sight of land, and at length arrived at a port, called Buxipalem, in the height of forty-nine degrees. We foimd this climate somewhat colder then the rest, here we saw an infinite company of fishes and serpents, of such strange forms, as I cannot speak of them without fear; Simila/u io\di Antowio deFaria incredible things con- cerning them, as well of what he had seen himself ; having been there before, as of that had been reported unto him, especially in the full moons of the moneths of November, December, and Jamia/ry, when the storms reign there most, as indeed this Chinese made it appear to our own eyes, whereby he justified unto us the most of that which he had affirmed. For in this place we saw fishes, in the shape of thombacks, that were four fathoms about, and had a muzzle like an ox ; likewise we saw others resembling great lizards, spotted all over with green and black, having three rows of prickles on their backs, that were very sharp, and of the bigness of an arrow ; their bodies also were full of the like, but they were neither so long, nor so great as the others. These fishes would ever and anon bristle up themselves like porcupines, which made them very dreadful to behold ; they had snouts that were very sharp and black, with two crooked teeth out of each jaw-bone, two spans long, like the tusks of a wild boar. We also saw fishes whose bodies were exceeding black, so prodigious and great, that their heads onely were above six spans broad. I will pass over in silence many other fishes of sundry sorts, which we beheld in this 150 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES place, because I hold it not fit to stand upon things that were out of our discourse ; let it suf&ce me to say, that during two nights we stayed here we did not think ourselves safe, by reason of lizards, whales, fishes and serpents, which in great numbers shewed themselves to us. Having left this haven of Buxipalem, by us called the Eiver of Serpents, which in great numbers shewed themselves to us, Sirmlau sailed fifteen leagues further to another bay named GaUndano, which was in form of a crescent, six leagues in circuit, and invironed with high mountains, and very thick woods, in the midst whereof divers brooks of fresh water descended, which made up four great rivers that fell all into this bay. There Similau told us, that all those prodigious creatures we had both seen and heard of, as well in this bay, as in that where we were before, came thither to feed upon such ordure and carrion, as the overflowing of these rivers brought to this place. Antonio de Fwria demanding of him, thereupon, whence those rivers should proceed, he answered that he knew not, but it was said that the annals of China affirmed, how two of those rivers took their beginnings from a great lake, called Moscombia, and the other two from a province, named AUmania, where there are high mountains, that all the year long are covered with snow, so that the snow coming to dissolve, these rivers swelled in that manner as we then beheld them, for now they were bigger then at any other time of the year. Hereunto he added, that entring into the mouth of the river, before the which we rode at anchor, we should continue our course, steering eastward, for to find out the port of Nanquin again, which we had left two hundred and threescore leagues behind us, by reason that in all this distance we had multipUed a greater height than that of the island was, which we were in quest of. Now although this was exceeding grievous unto us, yet SimilcmdLesixedi Antonio de Faria to think the time we had past well spent, because it was done for the best, and for the better securing of our lives ; being asked then by Antonio de Fa/ria how long we should be in passing through this river, he answered that we should be out of it in fourteen or fifteen days, and that in five days after he would promise to land him and his souldiers in the island of Calempluy, where he hoped fully to content his desire, and to make him think OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 161 his pains well bestowed, whereof he now so complained. Antonio de Faria, having embraced him very lovingly thereupon, vowed to be his friend for ever, and reconciled him to his souldiers, who were very much out with him before. Being thus reconfirmed by Similatcs speeches, and certified of this new course we were to take, he incouraged his company, and put aU things in order convenient for his design, to that end preparing his ordnance which till then had never been charged ; he caused also his arms to be made ready, ordained captains, and sentinels to keep good watch, together with all besides that he thought necessary for our defence, in case of any attempt upon us. That done, he spake unto Diego Lobato, who was the priest that we carried along with us, and one that we much respected, as a man of the church, to make a sermon unto his company for to animate them against all dangers that might happen, which he worthily performed, and by the efficacy of his words, full of sweetness, and excellent examples, he so revived our spirits, that before were much dejected through the apprehension of the dangers that menaced us ; as there was not one amongst us but presently took fresh heart, boldly to excuse the enterprise we had undertaken. Whereupon with great devotion and zeal we sung a SaJ/uo, before an image of our Lady, every man promising without any future fear to finish the voyage we had begun. That done, we joyfully hoysed sail, and entring into the mouth of the river, steering directly east, and with tears in our eyes, invoked from the bottome of our hearts, the assistance of that Sovereign Lord which sits at the right hand of the Father everlasting, to preserve us by His Almighty power. Continuing on our course with the force of oars and sails, and steering divers ways, by reason of the many turnings of the river, the next day we arrived at a very high mountain called BoHnafoM, whence sundry rivers of fresh water ran down. In this mountain were a number tygers, rhinocerots, lyons, ounces, and such other creatures of several kinds, which run- ning and roaring in their wilde manner, made cruel war upon other weaker beasts, as stags, boars, apes, monkeys, baboons, wolves, and foxes, wherein we took much delight, spending a great deal of time in beholding them ; and ever and anon we 152 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES eryed out from our ships to fright them, but they were little moved by it, in regard they were not used to be hunted. We were about six days in passing this mountain, it being some forty or fifty leagues long. Within a pretty while after we had left this mountain we came to another, named Gangitanon, no less wilde then the former, beyond the which all the country was very stony, and almost inaccessible ; moreover it was full of such thick woods, as the sun could not possibly pierce them with his beams. Similau told us, that in this mountain there were ninety leagues of desart land, altogether imfit for tillage, and the bottome thereof onely was inhabited by certain most deformed men, called Giganhos, who lived after a most brutish fashion, and fed on nothing but what they got in hunting, or some rice, that the said merchants of China brought them to Catan in exchange of Furs ; which the said merchants carried from thence to Pocassor and Lantau, amounting yearly as by the books of the customs thereof appeared, to the number of twenty thousand cates, each cate, or pack, containing threescore skins, wherewith the people used in winter to line their gowns, hang their houses, and make coverings for their beds, to with- stand the cold of the climate, which is great there. Antonio de Faria wondring at the relation this Chinese made of the deformity of these Giganhos, desired him if it were possible to let him see one of them, whereby he said he should more con- tent him then if he should give him the treasures of China ; whereunto Similau made him this answer, Signior Captain, since it so much imports me, as well to maintain my credit with you, as to stop their mouthes that murmwr against me, and that jogging one another scoff at me when I recount these things unto you, which they account as so many fables, and to the end that by the truth of the one, they may be ascertained of the other, I will promise before sun-setting yet to shew you a couple of these people, and that you shall also speak with them, upon condition you do not go ashore, as you have still used to do hitherto, for fear some mischance should happen to you, as many times it doth to merchants in like cases : for I assure you, that the Giganhos are of so savage and brutish a nature, as they feed on nothing commonly but raw flesh and blood, like the wilde beasts that Ime in this forrest. So Qontjnuing our course all OF FEBDINAND MENDE2 PINTO. 153 along the side of this mountain, at length behind a little point of land, we discovered a young youth, without ere an hair on his face, driving six or seven cows before him, that pastured there by. Similcm making a sign to him with a napkin, he presently stayed, whereupon coming a little neerer to him, SimilaM shewed him a piece of green taffeta, which he told us was a stuff very acceptable to these brutish men, and withal by signs demanded of him whether he would buy it ; this drew him to the bank of the river, were he answered, with an hoarse voice, some words that we could not comprehend, because there was not one in aU our vessels that understood this bar- barous language, so that of necessity this commerce was to be made by signs. Antonio de Fa/ria commanded three or four yards of the said piece of taffeta to be given him, as also six pourcelains, wherewith this salvage seemed to be very well pleased, for taking both the one and the other, transported with joy he said something to us, which we could under- stand no better then the former, then making a sign with his hand towards the place of his abode, he left his cows, and ran away to the wood; clothed as he was with a tigers skin, his arms and legs naked, bare-headed, and a staff hardned at one end with the fire in his hand. For his person, he was well proportioned of his limbs, his hair red and curled hanging down on his shoulders ; his stature by conjecture was above ten foot high, but we were amazed to see him return about a quarter of an hour to the very same place again, carrying a live stag on his back, and having thirteen persons in his company, namely eight men and five women, leading three cows tyed together, and dancing as they went at the sound of a kind of tabor, upon the which they beat five strokes at a time, and as often clapped their hands together singing to it, with a very hoarse voice in their language. Hereupon Antonio de Fa/ria caused five or six pieces of silk stuff, and a great many of pourcelains to be shewed them, for to make them believe that we were mer- chants, at the sight whereof they very much rejoyced. These persons, both me(n and women, were apparelled all after one and the same fashion, without any kind of difference, saving that the women wore great tinnen bracelets about the middle of their arms, and their hair a great deal longer then the mens, 154 TEE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES stuck all about with flowers, resembling our flower de luces ; they had chains also of red cockles about their necks, almost as big as oyster-shels ; as for the men, they carried great staves in their hands, covered to the midst with the same skins wherewith they were clothed ; moreover they bad all of them fierce looks, great lips, flat noses, wide nostrils, and were of stature very tall, but yet not so high as we thought they had been; for Antonio de Faria having caused them to be measured, he found that the tallest of them exceeded not ten spans and an half, except one old man that reached to eleven. The womens stature was not fully ten spans. Their very countenances shewed them to be very rude and blockish, and less rational then all the other people which we had seen in our conquests. Now Antonio de Faria being glad that we had not altogether lost our labour, bestowed on them threescore pourcelains, a piece of green taffety, and a pannier full of pepper, wherewith they seemed to be so contented, that prostrating themselves on the ground, and lifting up their hands to heaven, they fell to saying certain words which we took for a thanksgiving after their manner, because they feU down three several times on the earth, and gave us the three cows and the stag, as also a great many of herbs. Having been talking about two hours with them by signs, and no less wondring at us, then we at them, they returned into the wood from whence they came, and we pursued our course up the river by the space of five days, during the which we saw more of them along by the water side ; after we had past all this distance of land, which might be some forty leagues, or thereabouts, we navigated sixteen days more with the force of oars and sails, without seeing any person in that desart place, only for two nights together we discerned certain fires a good way off at land. In the end, it pleased God that we arrived at the Gulf of Nanquin, as Similau had told us, with a hope in five or six days to see our desires accomplished. Being come into the gulf of Nanquin, Svnwkm counselled Antonio de Fa/ria, that at any hand he should not suffer any Portugal to be seen, because if such a thing should happen he feared some uproar would follow amongst the GMneses, in regard no strangers had ever been seen in those quarters ; OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 155 adding withal, that it would be safer for them to keep still in the middle of the gulf, then by the shore, by reason of the great number of Lorches and Lanteaas, that incessantly sailed up and down; this advice was approved of by every one; so that having continued our course some six days east and east north- east, we discovered a great town, called Silev/pamor, whither we directly went, and entred the haven about two hours vnthin night, where we found an infinite company of vessels riding at anchor, to the number, according to our thinMng, of three thousand at the least, which gave us such an alarm, as not daring scarce to wag we got out again with all the secrecy that might be ; crossing over the whole breadth of the river then, which was some six or seven leagues, we prose- cuted our course all the rest of that day, and coasted along by a great plain, with a resolution to accommodate our selves vrith victuals wheresoever we could first meet with any ; for we were in such scarcity, as for thirteen days together, no man had more thaii three mouthfuUs of boyled rice allowance. Being in this extremity we arrived close to certain old build- ings ; there we went ashore one morning before day, and fell upon a house, that stood a Uttle way off from the rest, where we found a great quantity of rice, some beans, divers pots full of honey, poudred geese, onions, garlick, and sugar canes, wherewith we thoroughly furnished our selves. Certain CMneses told us afterwards, that this was the store-house of an hospital, which was some two leagues off, where such were entertained, as past that way in pilgrimage to the sepulchres of the kings of CMna, Being reimbarqued, and well provided of victual, we continued on our voyage seven days more, which made up two moneths and an half, since we put out of lAampoo. Then Antomo de Fa/ria began to mistrust the truth of what Similau had said, so that he repented the undertaking of this voyage, as he confessed publiquely before us aU; nevertheless^ in regard there was no other remedy for it but to recommend himself to God, and wisely to prepare for all that might happen, he couragiously performed it. Hereupon it fell out that Antonio de Fcma having one morning demanded of Similau in what part he thought they were, he answered him so far from the purpose, and like a man that 156 TEE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 had lost his judgement, or that knew not which way he had gone, as put Antonio de Faria into such choler, that he was going to stab him with a ponyard that he wore, which without doubt he had done, had he not been diverted from it by some, that counselled him to forbear, lest it should be the cause of his utter ruine, whereupon moderating his anger he yielded to the advice of his friends ; nevertheless he was not for all that so contained, but that taking him by the beard he swore, that if within three days at the farthest, he did not let him see, either the truth or the falshood of what he had told him, he would ponyard him infallibly ; wherewith Similau was so exceed- ingly terrified, that the night following as we were abiding by the shore he slid down from the vessel into the river, and tha so closely, as he was never discovered by the sentinels or anj other until the end of the first watch, when as Antonio de Fa/rit was thereof advertised. This news put him so far besides him self, as he lost all patience, the rather for that he feared some revolt upon it from his souldiers, who he saw were too mucl disposed thereunto. But he presently went ashore with s great many of his company, and spent the most part of the night in seeking of Similau, without meeting him, or any othei living soul that was able to tell any news of him, but the worst of it yet was, that upon his return into his junk, of forty six GMnese mariners, that he had aboard him, he found six and thirty fled away to prevent the danger they were afraid of, whereat Antonio de Faria and all his company were so amazed', that lifting up their hands and eyes to heaven, they stood a long time mute, their tears supplying the defect of their speech, thereby testifying the secret sorrow of their hearts, for con- sidering well what had hapned unto them, and the great peril they were in, the least that they could do in this confu- sion was to lose their courage and judgement, much more their speech. Howbeit falling at length to consult what we should do for the future, after much diversity of opinion, it was in the end concluded, that we should pursue our design, and labour to take some body that might inform us how far it was from thence to the Island of Galemplvy, and this to be done as secretly as possible might be for fear the country should rise ; likewise that if upon the report should be made us we found it OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 157 would be easily taken, as Sindlau had assured us, we should then proceed on, otherwise, that we should return with the current of the water, which would bring us directly to the sea with its ordinary course. This resolution taken and approved of every one, we went on with no less confusion then fear, for in so manifest a danger we could not chuse but be very much perplexed; the night following about break of day we dis- covered a little barque ahead of us riding at anchor in the midst of the river ; her we boarded with as httle noise as might be, and took five men asleep in her, whom Antonio de Faria questioned each one apart by himself, to see how they would agree in that they said. To Ms demands they answered aU of them, that the country wherein we were, was called Temqwilem, from whence the Island of Calem^plv/y was distant but ten leagues, and to many other questions propounded to them for our co m n on security, they answered likewise sepa- rately one from the other to very good purpose, wherewith Antonio de Faria and his whole company, were exceedingly well satisfied, but yet it grieved us not a little, to think what an inconvenience the lack of Sirmlcm would prove to us in this attempt ; however Antonio de Faria causing the five Chdneses to be arrested, and chained to oars, continued his course two days and an half more, at the end whereof it pleased God that doubling a cape of land, called Gmmm Ta/rao, we discovered this island of Galempl/wy, which we had been fourscore and three days seeking for, with extream confusion of pains and labour, as I have before related. CHAPTEE XXIII. Oar arriTal at Calempluy, and the description thereof; what hapned to Antonio de Faria in one of the hermitages thereof, and how we were discovered. HAVING doubled the Cape of Gvmim Ta/rao, two leagues- beyond it, we discovered a goodly level of ground, scitu- ated in the midst of a river, which to our seeming was not above a league in circuit, whereunto Antonio de Fama ap- 158 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 preached with exceeding great joy, which yet was iatermingled with much fear, because he knew not to what danger he and his were exposed ; about twelve of the clock at night he anchored | within a cannon shot of this island, and the next morning as Boon as it was day, he sate in councel with such of his company, as he had called to it, there it was concluded that it was not; possible BO great and magnificent a thing shovdd be without some kind of guard, and therefore it was resolved that with the! greatest silence that might be, it should be rounded all about,' for to see what advenues it had, or what obstacles we might; meet with when there was question of landing, to the end that, accordingly we might deliberate more amply on that we had; to do. With this resolution, which was approved by every one, Antonio de Fwria weighed anchor, and without any noise got close to the island, and compassing it about exactly observed every particular that presented itself to his sight. This island was all inclosed with a platform of jasper, six and twenty spans high, the stones whereof were so neatly wrought,] and joyned together, that the wall seemed to be all of one piece, at which every one greatly marvelled, as having never seen any thing till then, either in the Indiaes, or elsewhere,[ that merited comparison with it; this wall was six and twenty spans deep from the bottom of the river to the super- ficies of the water, so that the full height of it was two and fifty spans. Furthermore the top of the platform was bordered with the same stone, cut into great tower-work; upon this wall, which invironed the whole island, was a gallery of balisters of turn'd copper, that from six to six fathom joyned to certain piUars of the same metal, upon each of the which was the figure of a woman holding a bowl in her hand ; within this gallery were divers monsters cast in metal, standing all in a row, which holding one another by the hand in manner of a dance incompassed the whole island, being, as I have said, a league about. Amidst these monstrous idols there was like- wise another row of very rich arches, made of siuidry coloured pieces ; a sumptuous work, and wherewith the eye might well be entertained and contented. Within was a little wood of orange trees, without any mixture of other plants, and in the midst an hundred and threescore hermitages dedicated to the OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 169 gods of the year, of whom these Gentiles recount many pleasant fables in their chronicles for the defence of their blindness in their false belief. A quarter of a league beyond these hermi- tages, towards the east, divers goodly great edifices were seen, separated the one from the other with seven fore-fronts of houses, built after the manner of our churches, from the top to the bottom as far as could be discerned, these buildings were gilt all over, and annexed to very high towers, which in all likehhood were steeples; their edifices were environed with two great streets arched all along ; like unto the frontispieces of the houses; these arches were supported by very huge piUars, on the top whereof, and between every arch was a dainty prospective; now in regard these buildings, towers, pillars and their chapiters, were so exceedingly gilt all over, as one could discern nothing but gold, it perswaded us that this temple must needs be wonderful sumptuous and rich, since such cost had been bestowed on the very walls. After we had sur- rounded this whole island, and observed the advenues and entries thereof, notwithstanding it was somewhat late, yet would Antonio de Faria needs go ashore to see if he could get any intelhgence in one of those hermitages, to the end he might thereupon resolve, either to prosecute his design, or return back. So having left a guard sufficient for his two vessels, and Diego Lobato, his chaplain, captaiii of them, he landed with fourty souldiers, and twenty slaves, as well pikes, as harquebuses. He also carried with him four of the Chineses, which we took a while before, both for that they knew the place well, as having been there at other times, and likewise that they might serve us for truchmen and guides. Being got to the shore unespied of any one, and without noise, we entred the island by one of the eight advenues that it had, and marching through the midst of the little wood of orange- trees we arrived at the gate of the first hermitage, which might be some two musket-shot from the place we dis-imbarqued, where that hapned unto us which I will dehver hereafter. Antonio de Faria went directly to the next hermitage he saw before tiim with the greatest silence that might be, and with no little fear, for that he knew not into what danger he was going to ingage himself ; which, he found shut on the 160 TEE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES inside, he commanded one of the Ghineses to knock at it, as he did two or three times, when at last he heard one speak in tliis manner, Praysed be the Creator, who hath enamelled the beauty of the skies, let him that knocks at the gate go about, and he shall find it open on the other side, where let me know what he desires. The Chinese went presently about, and entring into the hermitage by a back door, he opened the foregate to I Antonio de Faria, and let him in with aU his followers; there he found an old man, that seemed to be an hundred years old ; he was apparelled in a long violet coloured damask gown, and by his countenance appeared to be a man of quality, as we understood afterwards. Being amazed to see so many men he fell to the ground, where he lay a good while without speaking a word, howbeit at length he began to be better confirmed, and beholding us with a serious look, he gravely demanded of us what we were, and what we would have ; whereimto the inter-: preter answered by the express commandment of Antonio de Fa/ria, that he was a captain stranger, a native of the kingdomj of Siam, and that sayUng in a junk of his, laden with merohan-; dise, and bound for Liampoo, he had suffered shipwrack,] whence he had miraculously escaped with aU his company:, and for that he had vowed to make a pilgrimage to this holy | place, to praise God for preserving him from so great a peril, he was now come to perform his vow ; also to crave somewhat' of him by way of ahns, whereby his poverty might be relieved,' protesting within three years to render him twice as much as he should then take from him : whereupon the hermit, named Hiticon, having mused a little on the matter, and fixing his eye on Antonio de Faria : Whoever thou art, said he unto him, know that I throughly understand what thou sayest, and that I perceive but too well thy damnable intention, wherewith out of the obscurity of thy blindness, like an infernal pilot, thou carriest both thy self, and these others, into the profound abyss of the lake of wight : for instead of rendring thcmks to Qod for so great a favour as thou confessest He hath shewed thee, thou comest hither to rob this holy house. But let me ask thee, if thou executest this mischievous design, what will the Divine Justice, thinkest thou, do with thee at the last gasp of thy Ufe ? Change then thy perverse inclination, and never suffer the imagination of OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 161 SO great a sin to enter thy thoitghts ; gwe credit unto me that tells thee nothing but the very truth, even as I hope to thrvoe by it all the rest of my Ufe. Antonio de Fa/ria seeming to approve of the counsel which the old hermit gave him, earnestly desired him not to be displeased, assuring him that he had no other means or way left to reUeve him and his, but what he could find in that place. To which the hermit, wringing his hands, and Ufting up his eyes, said weeping. Praised be Thou, Lord, that permittest men to Uve on the earth, who offend Thee under pretext of seeking means to live, and that vouchsafe not to serve Thee one hour, although they know how assured Thy glory is. After he had uttered these words, he remained very pensive and much troubled to see the great disorder we used in break- ing up the-cofi&ns, and flinging them out of their places; at length looking upon Antonio de Faria, who stood leaning upon his sword, he intreated him to sit down by him, which he did with a great deal of complement, not desisting for aU that from making signs to his souldiers to persist as they had begun, that was, to take the silver which was mingled amongst the bones of the dead in the tombs that they brake up ; where- at the hermit was so grieved as he fell down twice in a swoon from his seat ; but being come to himself, he spake thus to Antonio de Faria ; I will declare unto thee, as to a man that seems discreet, the means whereby thou mayst obtain pardon for the sin which thou and thy people now commt, to the end that thy soul may not perish eternally, when as the last breath of thy mouth shall go out of thy body. Seeing then, as thou say est, that it. is necessity constrains thee to offend in this grievous manner, and that thou hast a purpose to make restitution before thou diest, of that thou takest away from hence ; if thou hast time amd power, thou nmst do these three things : First, thou must render again what thou now ca/rriest a/way, that the Sove- reign Lord may not turn His mercy from thee. Secondly, thou must with tea/rs ask Him forgiveness for thy fault, which is so odious unto Him, never ceasing to chastise thy flesh both day and night. And thirdly, thou must distribute thy goods to the poor, as liberally as to thy self, giving them alms with prudence and discretion, to the end the s&rvant of the rdght may have nothing to accuse thee of at the last day. Now, for recompence of this 12 162 The tbavels, voyages, and adventures coimsel, I desire thee to command thy followers to gather together the bones of the saints, that they ma/y not be dispersed on the earth. Antonio de Faria promised him very courteously to perform his request, wherewith the hermit was a little better at quiet than before, but yet not fully satisfied ; howbeit he spake him very fair, and assured him that after he had once seen him, he very much repented the undertaking of this enter- prise, but his souldiers had threatned to kill him, if he returned without executing of it, and this he told him as a very great secret. God grant it be so, replyed the hermit, for that thou shalt not be so blame worthy as these other monsters of the night, which are so greedy, like to famished dogs, that it seems all the silver in the world is not able to satiate them. After we had gathered all the silver together that was in the graves amongst the dead mens bones, and carried it aboard our ships, we were aU of opinion not to go any farther to the rest of the hermitages, as well because we knew not the countrey, as for that it was almost night, upon hope that the next day we might continue our enterprise more at leisure. Now before he re-imbarqued himself, Antonio de Faria took leave of the hermit, and giving him very good words, he ~ desired him for Gods sake not to be offended with that his followers had done, being constrained thereunto by meer necessity: for as for his particular he exceedingly abhorred such like actions, adding withall, that at the first sight of him he would have returned back, out of the remorse of conscience, and true repentance ; but that his company had hindred him, saying; that if he did so, they would surely kill him ; so that for to save his Ufe he was compelled to yield and consent thereunto, though he plainly saw that it was a very great sin, in regard whereof he was resolved, as soon as he could rid his hands of them, to go up and down the world to perform such penance as was requisite for the purging of him from so enor- mous a crime. Hereunto the hermit answered, Plea^eth the Lord, who living, reigneth above the beoMty of the stars, that the knowledge which, by this ddscovase, thou showest to have, be not prejudicial unto thee ; for I be assured, that he who knows these things, and doth them not, runs a far greater danger, than he that sins through ignorance. Then one of ours, named Nuno OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 163 Coelho, who would needs have an oar in our talk, told him, that he was not to be angry for a matter of so small import- ance ; whereunto the hermit beholding him with so stern a countenance, answered, Certainly, the fear which thou hast of death is yet less, since thou imphyest thy self in actions as infamous and black as the soul that is in thy body; and for my part, I carmot but be perswaded, that all thy ambition is wholly placed vpon money, as but too well appears by the thirst of thy insatiable a/oarice, whereby thou wilt make an end of heaping up the measure of thine infernal appetite : contimis then thy theeveries, for seeing then thou must go to hell for that which thou hast already taken out of this holy house, thou shalt also go thither for those things which thou shalt steal otherwise, so the heavier the burden shall be that thou bearest, the sooner shalt thou be precipitated into the bottom of hell, where already thy wicked works have prepared thee am everlasting abode. Hereupon Nuno de Coelho prayed him to take all things patiently, affirming that the law of God commanded him so to do so. Then the hermit lift up his hand, by way of admiration, and as it were smiling at what the souldier had said, Truly, answered he, I am come to see that I never thought to see or hear, namely, evil actions disguised with a specious pretext of vertViC, which makes me believe that thy blindness is exceeding great, since trusting to good words thou spendest thy Ufe so wickedly, wherefore it is not possible thou shouldest ever come to Heaven, or give any account to God at the last day, as of necessity thou must do. Saying so, he turned him to Antonio de Faria, without attending further answer from him, and earnestly desired him not to suffer his company to spit upon and prophane the altar, which he vowed was more grievous to him, then the induring of a thousand deaths ; whereupon to satisfie him, he presently commanded the forbearance of it; wherewith the hermit was somewhat comforted. Now because it grew late, Antonio de Fa/ria resolved to leave the place, but before he departed he held it necessary to inform himself of certain other particulars, whereof he stood in some doubt, so that he inquired of the hermit how many persons there might be in all those hermitages : whereunto Hiticon answered, that there were about three hundred and threescore Talagrepos, 164 THE TBAVMLS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES besides forty Menigrepos, appointed to furnish them with things requisite for their maintenance, and to attend them when they were sick: moreover he asked him, whether the King of China came not sometimes thither ; he told him, No, fot, said he, the King cannot be condemned by anybody, he is the son of the Sun, but contrarily he had power to absolve every one. Then he enquired of him if there were any arms in their, hermitages ? no, answered the hermit, for all such as pretend to go to heaven have more need of patience to indmre injti/ries, then of arms to revenge themselves : being also desirous to know of him the cause why so much silver was mingled with the bones of the dead. This siher, repUed the hermit, comes of the alms that the deceased carry with them out of this into the other life, for to serve them at their need in the hea/ven of the moon, where they Uve eternally. In conclusion, having demanded of him whether they had any women, he said, That they which would maintain the life of their souls, ou^ht not to taste the pleasures of the flesh, seeing experience made it ap- parent, that the bee which nowisheth herself in an honey-comb, doth often sting such as offer to meddle with that sweetness. After Antonio de Faria had propounded all these questions, he took his leave of him, and so went directly to his ships, with an intention to return again the next day, for to set upon the other hermitages, where, as he had been told, was great abundance of silver, and certain idols of gold; but our sins would not permit us to see the effect of a business which we had been two moneths and an half a purchasing with so much labour and danger of our lives, as I will deliver hereafter. At the clearing up of the day, Antonio de Faria, and aU of us, being embarqued, we went and anchored on the other side of the island, about a faulcon shot from it, with an intent, as I have before declared, to go ashore again the next morning, and set upon the chappels where the kings of China were interred, that so we might the more commodiously lade our two vessels with such treasures ; which peradventure might have succeeded according to our desires, if the business had been well carried, and that Antonio de Faria had followed the counsel was given him, which was, that since we had not been as yet discovered, that he should have carried the hermit OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 165 away with him, to the end he might not acquaint the house of the Bonzoes with what we had done; howbeit he would never hearken to it, saying, that we were to fear nothing that way, by reason the hermit was so old, and his legs so swoln with the gout, as he was not able to stand, much less to go. But it fell out clean contrary to his expectation, for the hermit no sooner saw us imbarqued, as we understood afterwards, but he presently crawled as well as he could to the next hermitage, which was not above a flight shoot from his ; and giving intelligence of all that had past, he bad his companions, because himself was not able, to go away with all speed to the Bonzoes house to acquaint them with it, which the other instantly performed ; so that about midnight we saw a great many of fires lighted on the top of the wall of the Temple, where the kings were buried, being kindled to serve for a signal to the countrey about, of some extraordinary danger towards. This made us ask of our CMneses, what they might mean ; who answered, that assuredly we were discovered, in regard whereof they advised us without any longer stay to set sail immediately ; herewith they acquainted Antonio de Fa/ria, who was fast asleep; but he straightway arose, and leaving his anchor in the sea, rowed directly, afraid as he was, to the island, for to learn what was done there. Being arrived near to the key, he heard many bells ringing in each hermitage, together with a noise of men talking ; whereupon the CMneses that accompanied him, said. Sir, never stand to hear or see more, but retire, we beseech you, as fast as you may, and cause us not to be all miserably slain with your further stay. Howbeit httle regarding, or afraid of their words, he went ashore only with six souldiers, having no other arms but swords and targets, and going up the stairs of the key, whether it were that he was vext for having lost so fair an occasion, or carried thereunto by his courage, he entred into the gallery, that invironed the island, and ran up and down in it like a mad man, without meeting any body ; that done, and being returned aboard his vessel, much grieved and ashamed, he consulted with his company about what they should do, who, were of opinion that the best course we could take, was to depart, and therefore they required him to put it accordingly in execution ; 166 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUEE8 seeing them all so resolved, and fearing some tumults among the souldiers, he was fain to answer, that he was also of their mind ; but first he thought it fit to know for what cause they should fly away in that manner, and therefore he desired them to stay for him a little in that place, because he would try whether he could learn by some means or the other the truth of the matter, whereof they had but a bare suspition; for which, he told them, he would ask but halt an hour at the most, so that there would be time enough to take order for any thing before day ; some would have alledged reasons against this, but he would not hear them ; wherefore having caused them all to take their oaths upon the holy Evangelists, that they would stay for him, he returned to land with the same souldiers that had accompanied him before, and entering into the little wood he heard the sound of a ball, which addressed him to another hermitage, far richer then that wherein we were the day before. There he met with two men, apparelled like monks, with large hoods, which made him think they were her- mits, of whom he presently laid hold ; wherewith one of them was so terrified, as he was not able to speak a good while after : hereupon four of the six souldiers past into the hermitage, and took an idol of silver from the altar, having a crown of gold on its head, and a wheel in its hand; they also brought away three candlesticks of silver, with long chains of the same belonging to them. This performed, Antonio de Paria carrying the two hermits along with him, went aboard again, and sailing away, he propounded divers questions to him, of the two, that was least afraid, threatning to use him in a strange fashion if he did not tell the truth. This hermit seeing himself so menaced, answered. That an holy man, named Pilou Angiroo came about midnight to the house of the kings sepultures, where knocking in haste at the gate, he cryed out, saying ; rmserable men, bvned in the drunkenness of carnal sleep, who by a solemn vow have pivfest your selwes to the honow of the Goddess Amida, the rich rewa/rd of ow labours, hear, hear, hear, the most wretched men that ever were bom; there are strangers come into our island, from the fmthest end of tJie world, which ha/oe long beards, and bodies of iron ; these wicked creatures home entered into the Holy House of the seven and OF FEBBINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 167 twenty Pillars, of whose sacred temple an holy mam is keeper, that hath told me, where after they had roMsacked the rich treasures of thy saints, they contemptuously threw their bones to the ground, which they prophaned with their stinking and infectious spitting, and made a mockery of them like devils, obstinate and hardned in their wretched sins ; wherefore I advise you to look well to your seVoes ; for it is said that they home sworn to kill us all as soon as it is day : fly away then, or call some people to your succour, since being religious men you are not permitted to meddle with any thing that may shed the blood of man. Herewith they presently arose and ran to the gate, -where they found the hermite laid on the ground, and half dead with grief and weariness through the imbeeiUity of his age; whereupon the Grepos and Merdgrepos made those fires that you saw, and withall sent in all haste to the towns of Gorpilem, and Ponba/na, for to succour them speedily with the forces of the country; so that you may be assured it will not be long before they fall upon this place with all the fury that may be. Now this is all that I am able to say concerning the truth of this affair; wherefore I desire you to return us both unto our hermitage with our lives san)ed ; for if you do not so you will commit a greater sin, then you did yesterday : remember also that God, in regard of the continuall penance we perform, hath taken us so far into His protection, as He doth visit ^ts almost every hour of the day ; wherefore labour to save your selves as much as you will, yet shall you hardly do it ; for be sure, that the earth, the air, the winds, the waters, the beasts, the fishes, the fowls, the trees, the plants, and all things created, will pursue and torment you so cruelly, as none but He that M/oes in heaioen will be able to help you. Antonio de Fa/ria being hereby certainly informed of the truth of the business sailed instantly away, tearing his hair and beard for yery rage, to see that through his negUgence and indiscretion he 'had lost the fairest occasion that ever he should be able to meet withall. 168 TEE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENT VEE 8 CHAPTEE XXrV. Our casting away in the Grulf of Nanquin, with all that befell us after this lamentable shipwiack. WE had already sailed seven days in the Gulf of Nanquin, to the end that the force of the current might carry us the more swiftly away, as men whose safety consisted wholly in flight ; for we were so desolate and sad, that we scarce spake one to another; in the mean time we arrived at a village, called Siosequerim, where no news being come either of us, or what we had done, we furnished our selves with some victual, and getting information very covertly of the course we were to hold, we departed within two hours after, and then, with the greatest speed we could make, we entred into a streight, named Xalingau, much less frequented then the gulf that we had past ; here we navigated nine dayes more, in which time we ran an hundred and forty leagues, then entring again into the said Gulf of Nanqrdn, which in that place was not above ten or eleven leagues broad, we sailed for the space of thirteen dayes from one side to another with a westerly winde, exceedingly afflicted, both with the great labour we were fain to endure, and the cruel fear we were in, besides the want we began to feel of victuals. In this case being come within sight of the mountains of Conxinacau, which are in the height of forty and one degrees, there arose so terrible a south winde, called by the Chineses, Tufaon, as it could not possibly be thought a natural thing; so that our vessels being low built, weak, and without mariners, we were reduced to such extremity, that out of all hope to escape we suffered our selves to be driven along the coast, as the current of the water would carry us; for we held it more safe to venture ourselves amongst the rocks, then to let us be swal- lowed up in the midst of the sea ; and though we had chosen this design, as the better and less painful, yet did it not succeed ; for after dinner the winde turned to the north-west whereby the waves became so high, that it was most dreadful to behold ; our fear then was so extream, as we began to cast all that we had into the sea, even to the chests full of silver. OF FEBBINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 169 That done, we out down our two masts, and so without masts and sails we floated along all the rest of the day ; at length about midnight we heard them in Antonio de Faria's vessel cry, Lord ha/ve mercy wpon us, which perswaded us that they were cast away ; the apprehension whereof put us in such a fright, as for an hour together no man spake a word. Having past all this sad night in so miserable a phght, about an hour before day our vessel opened about the keel, so that it was instantly full of water eight spans high, whereupon perceiving our selves to sink, we verily believed, it was the good pleasure of God that in this place we should finish both our lives and labours. As soon then as it was day we looked out to sea, as far as possibly we could discern, but could no way discover Antordo de Faria, which put us quite out of heart; and so continuing in this great affliction till about ten of, the clock, with so much terror and amazement, as words are not able to express ; at last we ran against the coast, and even drowned as we were, the waves rolled us toward a point of rocks that stood out into the sea, where we were no sooner arrived but that all went to pieces, insomuch that of five and twenty PorPugals, which we were, there were but fourteen saved, the other eleven being drowned, together vrith eighteen Christian servants, and seven Chinese mariners. This miserable disaster hapned on a Munday, the 5th of August, 1542, for which the Lord be praised everlastingly. We fourteen PorPugals, having escaped out of this shipwrack by the meer mercy of God, spent all that day, and the night following, in bewailing our mis-fortune, and the wretched estate whereunto we were reduced; but in the end con- sulting together, what course to take for to give some remedy thereunto ; we concluded to enter into the country, hoping that far or neer we should not fail to meet with some body, that taking us for slaves would relieve us with meat, till such time as it should please Heaven to terminate our travels with the end of our lives. With this resolution we went some six or seven leagues over rocks and hills, and on the other side discovered a great marsh, so large and void, as it past the reach of our sight, there being no appearance of any lan^ beyond it ; which madp up turn bapk again, towards the samg 170 THE TBAVBLS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES place where we were cast away ; being arrived there the day after about sun-set, we found upon the shore the bodies of our men, which the sea had cast up, over whom we commenced our sorrow and lamentations, and the next day we buried them in the sand, to keep them from being devoured by the tygers, whereof that country is full, which we performed with much labour and pain, in regard we had no other tools for that purpose but our hands and nails. After these poor bodies were interred we got us into a marsh, where we spent all the night, as the safest place we could chuse to preserve us from the tygers: from thence we continued our journey towards the north, and that by such precipices and thick woods, as we had much ado to pass through them. Having travelled in this manner three dayes, at length we arrived at a little streight, without meeting anybody, over the which resolving to swim, by ill fortune the four first that entred into it, being three Portugals and a young youth, were miserably drowned ; for being very feeble, and the streight somewhat broad, and the current of the water very strong, they were not able to hold out any longer when they came to the midst; so we eleven, with three servants that remained, seeing the infortunate success of our companions, could do nothing but weep and lament, as men that hourly expected such or a worse end. Having spent all that dark night, exposed to the winde, cold, and rain, it pleased our Lord that the next morning before day we discovered a great fire towards the east; whereupon as soon as the day broke, we marched fair and softly that way, recommending our selves to that Almighty God from whom alone we could hope for a remedy to our miseries; and so continuing our journey all along the river, the most part of that day, at last we came to a little wood, where we found five men making of coals, whom on our knees we besought for Gods sake to direct us to some place where we might get some relief ; I would, said one of them beholding us with an eye of pitie, it lay in our power to help you, but alas I all the comfort we can give you is to bestow some part of OMT supper on you, which is a little rice, wherewith you may pass this night here with us if you will, though I hold it better for you to proceed on yowr way, and recover the place OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 171 you see a little below, where you shall finde an hospital that serves to lodge such pilgrims as chance to come into these quarters. Having thanked him for his good address, we fell to the rice they gave us, which came but to two mouthfuls apiece, and so took our leaves of them, going directly to the place they had shewed us, as well as our weakness would permit. About an hour within night, we arrived at the hospital, where we met with four men, that had the charge of it, who received us very charitably. The next morning as soon as it was day, they demanded of us, what we were, and from whence we came? Thereunto we answered, that we were strangers, natives of the Kingdom of Sia/m, and that coming from the Port of Lia/mpoo to go to the fishing of Nanqum, we were cast away at sea by the violence of a storm, having saved nothing out of this shipwrack, but those our miserable and naked bodies. Whereupon demanding of ua again, what we intended to do, and whither we would go ; we replyed, that we purposed to go to the city of Ncmquin, there to imbarque our selves as rowers in the first Lanteaa that should put to sea, for to pass unto Gantan, where our countrymen, by the permission of the Aitco of Panquin, exercised their traffique under the protection of the son of the Sun, and Lyon crowned in the throne of the world; wherefore we desired them for Gods cause to let us stay in that hospital, until we had recovered our healths, and to bestow any poor clothes on us to cover our nakedness. After they had given good ear unto us; it were reason, answered they, to grant you that which you require with so much earnestness, and tears ; but in regard the house is now very poor, we cannot so easily discharge our duties unto you as we should^ howbeit, we will do what we may with a very good wiU. Then quite naked, as we were, they lead us all about the village, containing some forty or fifty fires, more or less ; the inhabitants whereof were exceeding poor, having no other living but what they got by the labour of their hands, from whom they drew by way of alms some two taeis in money, half a sack of rice, a little meal, aricot beans, onions, and a few old rags, wherewith we made the best shift we could ; over and above this they bestowed two taeis more on us out of the 172 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES stock of the hospital. But whereas we desired that we might be permitted to stay there, they excused themselves, saying, that no poor might remain there above three days, or five at the most, unless it were sick people, or women with child, of whom special care was to be had, because in their extremities they could not travel without endangering their lives, wherefore they could for no other persons whatsoever transgress that ordnance, which had of ancient time been instituted by the advice of very learned and religious men ; nevertheless, that three leagues from thence, we should in a great town, called Sileyiacau, find a very rich hospital, where all sorts of poor people were entertained, and that there we should be far better looked unto then in their house, which was poor, and agreeable to the place of its scituation ; to which end they would give us a' letter of recommendation, by means whereof we should in- continently be received. For these good offices we rendred them infinite thanks, and told them that God would reward them for it, since they did it for His sake ; whereupon an old man, one of those four, answered us fairly and gave us to the brotherhood of the other hospital, whither we were to go, and so we departed about noon, and arrived at the town an hour or two before sun-set. The first thing we did, was to go to the house of the repose of the poor ; for so the Ghineses caU the hospitals. There we delivered our letters to the masters of that Society, which they term Tanigories, whom we found altogether in a chamber, where they were assembled about the affairs of the poor. After they had received the letter with a kind of complement, that seemed very strange to us, they commanded the Eegister to read it ; whereupon he stood up and read it to them that were sitting at the table. This letter being read, they caused us presently to be lodged in a very neat chamber, accomodated with a table, and divers chairs, where after we had been served with good meat, we rested our selves that night. The next morning the Eegister came along with the rest of the officers, and demanded of us who we were, of what nation, and whereabout we had suffered ship- wrack ; whereunto we answered, as we had done before, to those of the village from whence we came, that we might not be fpund in two tales, and convinced of lying; whereupon OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 173 having further enquired of us what we meant to do ; we told them that our intention was to get our selves cured in that house, if it pleased them to permit us, in regard we were so weak and sickly as we could scarce stand upon our legs. To which they replyed that they would very willingly see that performed for us, as a thing that was ordinarily done there for the service of God ; for the which we thanked them weeping, with so much acknowledgement of their goodness and charity, as the tears stood in their eyes ; so that presently sending for a physician, they bid him look carefully to us, for that we were poor flocks, and had no other means but what we had from Ihe house. That done, he took our names in writing, and set them down in a great book ; whereunto we all of us set our hands, saying, it was necessary it should be so, that an account might be rendred of the expence was to be made for us. [Pinto and Ms companions, being cwred, continue their journey ; their further adventures, and -hospitable reception by a gentleman at a country house ; x>ntttteh«] CHAPTEE XXV. Our arrival at the town of Taypor, where we were made ' prisoners, and so sent to the city of Nanquin, THE next morning by break of day parting from that place, we went to a village called Fingirdla/u, which was some four leagues from the old gentlemans house, where we remained three dayes, and then continuing travelling from one place to another, and from village to village, ever deohning the great tovms, for fear lest the Justice of the country should call us in question in regard we were strangers ; in this manner we spent almost two moneths vrithout receiving the least damage from any body. Now there is no doubt but we might easily have got to the city of Nanqwm in that time if we had had a guide ; but for want of knowing the way we wandred we knew not whither, suffering much, and running many hazards. At length we arrived at a village, named GhoMcer, at such a time 174 THE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES as they were a solemnizing a sumptuous funeral of a very rich woman, that had disinherited her kindred, and left her estate to the Pagode of this village, where she was buried, as we understood by the inhabitants ; we were invited then to this funeral, as other poor people were, and according to the custom of the country we did eat on the grave of the deceased. At the end of three days that we stayed there, which was the time the funeral lasted, we had six taeis given us for an alms, con- ditionally that in all our oraisons we should pray unto God for the soul of the departed. Being gone from this place we continued on our journey to another village, called Chdnwpalvr, from whence we were almost two moneths travelling from country to country, untill at last our ill fortune brought us to a town, named Taypor, where by chance there was at that time a Ghumbim, that is to say, one of those super-intendents of Justice, that every three years are sent throughout the provinces for to make report unto the king of all that passeth there. This naughty man seeing us go begging from door to door, called to us from a window where he was, and would know of us who we were, and of what nation ; as also what obliged us to run up and down the world in that manner ? Having asked us these questions in the presence of three Eegisters, and of many other persons, that were gathered together to behold us ; we answered him, that we were stangers, natives of the kingdom of Siam, who being cast away by a storm at sea went thus travelling and begging our living, to the end we might sustain our selves with the charity of good people, untill such time as we could arrive at Nanqvm, whither we were going with an intent to imbarque our selves there in some of the merchants Lcmteaas for Canton, where the shipping of our nation lay. This answer we made unto the Chwmhim, who questionless had been well enough contented with it, and would have let us go, had it not been for one of his clerks ; for he told them that we were idle vagabonds, that spent our time in begging from door to door, and abusing the alms that were given us, and therefore he was at no hand to let us go free, for fear of incurring the punishment, ordained for such as offend in that sort, as is set forth in the seventh of the twelve books of the Statutes of the Bealm ; wherefore as OF FEBDINANB MENDEZ PINTO. 175 his faithful servant he counselled him to lay us in good and sure hold, that we might be forth-coming to answer the Law. The Chumhim presently followed his clerks advice, and carried himself toward us with as much barbarous cruelty, as could be expected from a Pagan, such as he was, that lived without God or religion ; to which effect after he had heard a number of false witnesses, who charged us with many fowl crimes, whereof we never so much as dream'd, he caused us to be put into a deep dungeon, with irons on our hands and feet, and great iron collars about our necks. In this miserable place we endured such hunger, and were so fearfully whipped, that we were in perpetual pain for six and twenty days together, at the end whereof we were by the sentence of the same Chumhim sent to the ParUament of the Gheam of Nanqtdn, because the jurisdiction of this extended not to the condemnation of any prisoner to death. We remained six and twenty days in that cruel prison, whereof I spake before ; and I vow we thought we had been six and twenty thousand years there, in regard of the great misery we suffered in it, which was such, as one of our com- panions called Joano Boderiguez Bravo died in our arms, being eaten up with lice, we being no way able to help him ; and it was almost a miracle, that the rest of us escaped alive from that filthy vermine ; at length, one morning, when we thought of nothing less, loaden with irons as we were, and so weak that we could hardly speak, we were drawn out of that prison, and then being chained one to another we were imbarqued with many others, to the number of thirty or forty, that having been convicted for sundry hainous crimes, were also sent to the Parliament of Nanquin, where, as I have already declared, is always residing a Chaem of Justice, which is like to the sovereign title of the Vice-roy of China. [Here follows a relaUon of the Chinese Law.] After being reimbarqued, we sailed up a great river seven days together, at the end whereof we arrived at Nanquin. As this city is the second of aU the empire, so is it also the capital of the three kingdoms of Liampoo, Farms, and Sambor. Here 176 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES we lay six weeks in prison, and suffered so much pain and misery, as reduced to the last extreamities, we died insensibly ' for want of succour, not able to do any thing, but look up to • heaven with a pitiful eye ; for it was our ill fortune to have all that we had stoln from us the first night we came thither. This prison was so great, that there were four thousand prisoners in it at that time, as we were credibly informed, so that one should hardly sit down in any place without being robbed, and filled full of lice : having layn there a month and an halt, as I said, the Anchacy, who was one of the judges before whom our cause was to be pleaded, pronounced our sentence at the suit of the Atturney General, the tenor whereof was : That having seen and considered our process, which the Ghumhim of Taypor had sent him, it appeared by the accusa- tions laid to our charge, that we were very hainous malefactors, and though we denied many things, yet in justice no credit was to be given unto us, and therfore that we were to be publiokly whipped, for to teach us to live better in time to | come, and that withal our two thumbs should be cut off, i wherewith it was evident by manifest suspicions, that we used '■ to commit robberies, and other vUe crimes ; and furthermore, that for the remainder of the punishment we deserved, he \ referred us to the Aytcm of Batcmpina, unto whom it apper- tained to take cognisance of such causes, in regard of the jurisdiction that he had of life and death. This sentence was pronounced in the prison, where it had been better for us to have suffered death, then the stripes that we received, for all the ground round about us ran with blood upon our whiping, so that it was almost a miracle, that of the eleven which we were, nine escaped aUve, for two of our company died three days after, besides one of our servants. After we had been whipped in that manner, I have declared, ! we were carried into a great chamber, that was in the prison, where were a number of sick, and diseased persons, lying upon beds, and other ways ; there we had presently our stripes washed, and things applyed unto them, whereby we were somewhat eased of our pain, and that by men, much like unto the fraternity of mercy among the Papists, which onely out of charity, and for the honor of God, do tend those that are sick, OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 177 and liberally furnish them with all things necessary. Hereafter some eleven or twelve days, we began to be prettily recovered, and as we were lamenting our ill fortune, for being so rigorously condemned to lose our thumbs, it pleased God one morning, when as we little dreamt of it, that we espied two men come into the chamber, of a good aspect, clothed in long gowns of violet coloured sattin, and carrying white rods in their hands ; as soon as they arrived, all the sick persons in the chamber cried out, Blessed be the imnisters of the works of God : where- unto they answered, holding up their rods, May it please God to give you patience in your adversity : whereupon having distributed clothes and money to those that were next to them, they came unto us, and after they had saluted us very cour- teously, with demonstration of being moved at our tears, they asked us who we were, and of what countrey, as also why we were imprisoned there : whereunto we answered weeping, that we were strangers, natives of the kingdom of Siam, and of a country called Malaca; that being merchants and well to live, we had imbarqued our selves vnth our goods, and being bound for Liampoo, we had been cast away just against the Isles of Laman, having lost all that we had, and nothing left us but our miserable bodies in the case they now saw us ; moreover we added, that being thus evil intreated by fortune, arriving at the city of Ta/ypor, the Chumbin of Justice had caused us to be apprehended without any cause, laying to our charge, that we were thieves and vagabonds, who to avoid pains-taking went begging from door to door, entertaining our idle laziness with the alms that were given us unjustly, whereof the Chumbin having made informations at his pleasure, as being both judge and party, he had laid us in irons in the prison, where for two and forty days space, we had indured incredible pain and hunger, and no man would hear us in pur justifications, as well because we had not wherevrithal to give presents for to main- tain our right, as for that we wanted the language of the country. In conclusion, we told them, how in the mean time, without any cognisance of the cause, we had been condemned to be whipped, as also to have our thiunbs cut off, like thieves ; so that we had already suffered the first punishment, with so much rigour and cruelty, that the marks thereof remained but 13 178 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES two visibly upon our wretched bodies, and therefcare we con- jured them by the charge they had to serve God in assisting the afflicted, that they would not abandon us in this need, the rather for that our extream poverty rendred us odious to all the world, and exposed us to the induring of all affronts. These two men having heard us attentively, remained very pensive and amazed at our speech ; at length lifting up their eyes, all bathed with tears, to heaven, and kneeling down on the ground, Almighty Lord, said they, that govemest in the highest places, and whose patience is incomprehensible, be Thou evermore blessed, for that Thou a/rt pleased to hearken unto the complaints of necessitous and miserable men, to the end that the great offences committed against Thy Divine goodness by the Miidsters of Justice may not rest unpunished, as we hope that by Thy holy Law they will be chastised at one time or other. Whereupon they informed themselves more amply by those who were about us, of what we had told them, and presently sending for the Eegister, in whose hands our sentence was, they straitly commanded him, that upon pain of grievous punishment he should forthwith bring them all the proceedings which had been used against us, as instantly he did ; now the two officers, seeing there was no remedy for the whipping that we had suffered, presented a petition in our behalf unto the Chaem, whereunto this answer was returned by the Court: Mercy hath no place, where Justice loseth her name, in regard whereof your request carmot be granted, This answer was sub- scribed by the Chaem, and eight Gonchacis, that are like criminal judges. This hard proceeding much astonished these two Proctors for the poor, so named from their office ; where- fore, carried with an extream desire to draw us out of this misery, they presently preferred another petition to the Sovereign Court of Justice, of which I spake in the precedent chapter, where the Menigrepos and Talegrepos were judges, an assembly which in their language is called, The breath of the Creator of all things. In this petition, as sinners, confessing all that we were accused of, we had recourse to mercy, which sorted well for us ; for as soon as the petition was presented unto them, they read the process quite through, and finding that our right was over-born for want of succour, they instantly OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 179 dispatched away two of their Court, who with an express mandate under their hands and seals, went and prohibited the Chaems Court from intermedling with this cause, which they commanded away before them. In obedience to this prohibition the Chaems Court made this decree, We, that are assembled in this Cowrt of Justice of the Lyon crowned in the throne of the world, having perused the petition presented to the fow and twenty judges of the amtere Ufe, do consent, that those nine strangers he sent by way of appeal to the Court of the Aytau of Aytaus in the City of Pequin, to the end that in mercy the sentence pronounced against them may be fa/vowrably moderated ; Chven the seventh day of the fowrth Moon, in the three and twentieth yea/r of the reign of the Son of the Sun. This decree, Being signed by the Ghaem, and the eight Conchacis, was presently brought us by the two Proctors for the poor ; upon the receit whereof we told them, that we could but pray unto God to reward them for the good they had done us for His sake; whereunto beholding us with an eye of pity, they answered, May His Celestial goodness direct you in the knowledge of His works, that thereby you may with patience gather thefrwit of your labows, as they which fear to offend His holy Name, After we had past all the adversities and miseries, whereof I have spoken before, we were imbarqued in the company of some other thirty or forty prisoners, that were sent, as we were, from this Court of Justice to that other Sovereign one by way of appeal, there to be either acquitted or condemned, according to the crimes they had committed, and the punish- ment they had deserved. Now a day before our departure, being imbarqued in a Lanteaa, and chained three and three together, the two Proctors for the poor came to us, and first of all furnishing us with all things needful, as clothes, and victuals, they asked us whether we wanted any thing else for our voyage. Whereunto we answered, that all we could desire of them was, that they would be pleased to convert that further good they intended to us into a letter of recommendation unto the officers of that holy fraternity of the city of Pequdn, thereby to oblige them to maintain the right of our cause, in regard (as they very well knew) they should otherwise be sure to be utterly abandoned of every one, by reason they were 180 THE TBAVELS, VOYAOES. AND ADVENTUBES strangers and altogether unknown. The Proctors hearing us speak in this manner : Say not so, replyed they, for though you/r ignorance discharges you before God, yet ha/ve you com- mitted a great sin, because the more you are abased in the world through poverty, the more shall you be exalted before the eyes of His divine Majesty, if you patiently bear you/r crosses, whereunto the flesh indeed doth aVwa/ys oppose it self, being evermore rebellious against the spirit, but as a bi/rd cannot fly without her wings, no more can the soul meditate without works : As for the letter you require of us ; we will give it you most willingly, knowing it will be very necessary for you, to the end that the famowr of good people be not wanting to you in you/r need. This said, they gave us a sack full of rice, together with four Taeis in silver, and a coverlet to lay upon us ; then having very much recommended us unto the Ghifu/u,, who was the officer of justice that conducted us, they took their leaves of us in most courteous manner. The next morning as soon as it was day they sent us the letter, sealed with three seals in green wax, the contents whereof were : — \A recital of the misfortunes of the Portuguese.] CHAPTEE XXVI. The marvels of the city of Nanquin, our departure from thence towards Pequin, and that which hapned unto us, till we arrived at the town of Sempitay. THIS letter being brought to us very early the next morning, we departed in the manner before declared, and con- tinued our voyage till sun-set, when as we anchord at a httle village, named Minhacutem, where the Ghifuu, that conducted us, was bom, and where his wife and children were at that time, which was the occasion that he remained there three days; at the end whereof he imbarqued himself with his family, and so we passed on in the company of divers other vessels, that went upon this river unto divers parts of this empire : Now though we were all tyed together to the back OF FBBDINANH MBNDFZ PINTO. 181 of the Lcmteaa, where we rowed, yet did we not for all that lose the view of many towns and villages that were soitnated along this river, whereof I hold it not amiss to make some descriptions ; to which effect, I will begin with the city of Nanqmn, from whence we last parted. This city ... is seated by the river of Batampina, upon a reasonable high hill, so as it commands all the plains about it ; the cUmate thereof is some- what cold, but very healthy, and it is eight leagues about, which way soever it is considered, three leagues broad, and one long. The houses in it are not above two stories high, and all built of wood ; only those of the Mandarins are made of hewed stone, and also invironed with walls and ditches, over which are stone bridges, whereon they pass to the gates, that have rich and costly arches, with divers sorts of inventions upon the towers ; all which put together make a pleasing object to the eye, and represent a certain kind of I know not what majesty. The houses of the Ghaems, Anchacys, Aytaus, Tutons, and Clvumbims, which are all governours of provinces or kingdoms, have stately towers, six or seven stories high, and gUt all over, wherein they have their magazines for arms, their wardrobes, their treasuries, and a world of rich house- hold stuff, as also many other things of great value, together with an infinite of delicate and most fine porcelain, which amongst them is prized and esteemed as much as precious stone ; for this sort of porcelain never goes out of the king- dom, it being expressly forbidden by the laws of the country, to be sold, upon pain of death, to any stranger, unless to the Xata/maas, that is, the Sophyes of the Persians, who by a particular permission buy of it at a very dear rate. The Ghineses assured us, that in this city there are eight hundred thousand fires, four score thousand Mandarins houses, three score and two great market-places, an himdred and thirty butchers shambles, each of them containing four score shops, and eight thousand streets, whereof six hundred that are fairer and larger than the rest, are compassed about with ballisters of copper ; we were further assured, that there are likewise two thousand and three hundred Pagodes, a thousand of which were Monasteries of religious persons, professed in their accursed sect, whose buildings were exceeding rich and 182 TEE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTVBES sumptuous, with very high steeples, wherein there were between sixty and seventy such mighty huge bells, that it was a dreadful thing to hear them rung ; there are, moreover, in this city thirty great strong prisons, each whereof hath three or four thousand prisoners ; and a charitable hospital, ex- pressly established to supply the necessities of the poor, with proctors ordained for their defence, both in civil and criminal causes, as is before related. At the entrance into every prin- cipal street, there are arches and great gates, which for each mans security are shut every night, and in most of the streets are goodly fountains whose water is excellent to drink. Besides, at every full and new moon, open fairs are kept in several places, whither merchants resort from all parts, and where there is such abundance of all kind of victuall as cannot well be exprest, especially of flesh and fruit. It is not possible to deliver the great store of fish that is taken in this river, chiefly soles and mullets, which are all sold alive, besides a world of sea fish, both fresh, salted, and dried; we were told by certain Chineses, that in this city there are ten thousand trades for the working of silks, which from thence are sent all over the kingdom. The city it self is invironed with a very strong wall, made of fair hewed stone. The gates of are an hundred and thirty, at each of which there is porter, and two halberdiers, who are bound to give an account every day of all that passes in and out ; there are also twelve forts or citadels, Uke unto ours, with bulwarks and very high towers, but without any ordnance at all. The same Chinees also affirmed unto us, that the city yielded the king daily two thousand Taeis of silver, which amount to three thousand ducates, as I have dehvered heretofore. I will not speak of the palace royal, because I saw it but on the outside, howbeit the Chineses teU such wonders of it, as would amaze a man, for it is my intent to relate nothing save what we beheld here with our own eyes, and that was so much as I am afraid to write it ; not that it would seem strange to those that have seen and read the marvels of the kingdom of China ; but because I doubt that they, which would compare those won- drous things that are in the countrys, they have not seen, with that little they have seen in their own, will make some OP PMBDINAND MENDBZ PINTO. 183 question of it, or, it may be, give no credit at all to these truthes, because they are not conformable to their understand- ing, and small experience. Continuing our course up this river, the first tvro days we saw not any remarkable town or place, but onely a great number of villages, and little hamlets of two or three hundred fires apiece, which by their buildings seemed to be houses of fisher men, and poor people, that live by the labour of their hands. For the rest, all that was within view in the countrey was great woods of fir, groves, forests, and orange-trees, as also plains fuU of wheat, rice, beans, pease, millet, panick, barley, rye, flax, cotton-wool, with great inclosures of gardens, and goodly houses of pleasure, belonging to the Mandarins, and lords of the kingdom. There was likewise all along the river such an infinite number of cattel of all sorts, as I can assure you there is not more in Ethiopia, nor in all the dominions of Prester John ; upon the top of the moimtains many houses of their sects of Gentiles were to be seen, adorned with high steeples gilt all over, the glistering whereof was such, and so great, that to behold them afar off was an admirable sight. The fourth day of our voyage we arrived at a tovwi, called Pocasser,twioe as big as Gantano, compassed about vrith strong walls of hewed stone, and towers and bulwarks almost like ours, together vrith a key on the river side, twice as long as the shot of a falconet, and inclosed with two rows of iron grates, with very strong gates, where the junks and vessels that arrived there were unladen. This place abounds with all kinds of merchandise, which from thence is trans- ported over all the kingdom, especially with copper, sugar, and allum, whereof there is very great store. Here also in the middest of a carrefour, that is almost at the end of the town, stands a mighty strong castle, having three bulwarks and five towers ; in the highest of which the present kings father, as the Ghineses told us, kept a king of Tartaria nine years prisoner, at the end whereof he killed himself with poyson, that his subjects sent him, because they would not be con- strained to pay that ransom which the king of CAiwa demanded for his deliverance. In this town the GMfuu gave three of us leave to go up and down for to crave the alms of good people, 184 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 accompanied with four Hupes, that are as sergeants, or bailiffs amongst us, who led us, chained together, as we were, through six or seven streets, where we got in alms to the value of above twenty ducates, as well in clothes, as money, besides flesh, rice, meal, fruit, and other victuals, which was bestowed on us ; whereof we gave the one half to the Hupes that conducted us, it being the custom so to do. Afterwards we were brought to a Pagode, whither the people flocked from all parts that day, in regard of a very solemn feast that was then celebrated there. This temple, or Pagode, as we were told, had sometime been a palace royal, whexe the king then reigning was bom; now because the queen his mother died there in child-birth, she commanded her self to be buried in the very same chamber where she was brought to bed ; where- fore to honour her death the better, this temple was dedicated to the invocation of TauMna/ret, which is one of the principal sects of the Pagans in the kingdom of China, as I will more amply declare, when as I sha'.l speak of the Labyrinth of the two and thirty laws that are in it. All the buildings of this temple, together with all the gardens, and walks, that belong to it, are suspended in the air upon three hundred and three- score pillars, every one of the which is of one intire stone of a very great bigness. These three hundred and threescore pUlars are called by the names of three hundred and three score days of the year, and in each of them is a particular feast kept there with many alms, gifts, and bloody sacrifices, accompanied with musick, dancing, and other sports. Under this Pagode, namely between those pillars, are eight very fair streets, inclosed on every side with grates of copper, and gates for the passage of pilgrims, and others, that run continually to this feast, as it were to a jubilee ; the chamber above, where the queen lay, was made in the form of a chappel, but round, and from the top to the bottom all garnished with silver, the workmanship whereof was of greater cost then the matter it self. In the midst of it stood a kind of tribunal, framed round, like the chamber, some fifteen steps high, com- passed about with six gates of silver, on the top whereof was a great bowl, and upon that a lion of silver, that with his head supported a fihrine of gold, three hand-breadths square. OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 185 wherein (they Said) the bones of the queen were, which these blinded ignorants reverenced as a great relique. Below this tribunal, in equal proportion, were four bars of silver, that traversed the chamber, whereon hung three and forty lamps of the same metal, in memory of the three and forty years that this queen lived, and seven lamps of gold in commemora- tion of seven sons that she had ; moreover, at the entry into the chappel, just against the door, were eight other bars of iron, whereon also hung a very great number of silver lamps, which the Chineses told us were offered by some of the wives of the Chaems, Aytaos, Tutons, and Anchacys, who were assistant at the death of the queen, so that in acknowledg- ment of that honour they sent those lamps thither afterwards; without the gates of the temple, and round about six ballisters of copper that invironed it, were a great many statues of giants, fifteen foot high, cast in brass, all well proportioned with halberts or clubs in their hands, and some of them vrith battle-axes on their shoulders, which made so brave and majestical a shew, as one could never be satisfied enough with looking on them. Amongst these statues, which were in number twelve hundred, as the Chineses affirmed, there were four and twenty very great serpents also of brass, and under every one of them a woman seated, with a sword in her hand, and a silver crown on her head. It was said, that those four and twenty women carried the titles of queens, because they sacrificed themselves to the death of this queen, to -the end their souls might serve hers in the other hfe, as in this their bodies had served her body; a matter which the Chineses, that draw their extraction from these men, hold for a very great honour, insomuch as they inrich the crests of their coats of arms with it ; round about this row of giants was another of triumphant arches, gilt all over, whereon a number of silver bells hung by chains of the same metal, which moved with the air kept such a continual ringing, as one could hardly hear one another for the noise they made. Without these arches there were likewise at the same distance two rows of copper grates, that inclosed all this huge work, and among them certain pillars of the same metal, which supported lions rampant, mounted upon bowls, being the arms of the kings of Ohma, &a 186 TRB TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTVUES I have related elsewhere. At each corner of the carrefour was a monster of brass, of so strange and unmeasurable an heigth, and so deformed to behold, as it is not possible almost for a man to imagine ; so that I think it best not to speak of them, the rather for that (I confess I) am not able in words to express the form wherein I saw their prodigies. Howbeit, as it is reasonable to conceal these things without giving some knowledge of them, I will say, as much as my weak under- standing is able to deliver. One of these monsters which is on the right hand, as one comes into the carrefour, whom the Ghineses call the Sergeant Glutton of the hollow or profound house of smoak, and that by their histories is held to be Lucifer, is represented under the figure of a serpent of an excessive heighth, with most hideous and deformed adders coming out of his stomack, covered all over with green and black scarrs, and a number of prickles on their backs above a span long, like unto porcupins quils ; each of these adders had a woman between his jaws, with her hair all dishevelled, and standing on end, as one affrighted. The monster carried also in his mouth, which was unmeasurable great, a vizard that was above thirty foot long, and as big as a tun, with his nostrils and chaps so full of blood, that all the rest of his body was besmeared with it ; this vizard held a great elephant between his paws, and seemed to gripe him so hard, as his very guts came out of his throat ; and all this was done so pro- portionably, and to the life, that it made a man tremble to behold such a deformed figure, and which was scarce possible for one to imagine. His tail might be some twenty fathom long, and was entortilled about such another monster, that was the second of the four, whereof I spake, in the figure of a man, being an hundred foot high, and by the CMneses called Turcamparoo, who (they say) was the son of that serpent; besides that he was very ugly, he stood with both his hands in his mouth, that was as big as a great gate, with a row of horrible teeth, and a foul black tongue, hanging out two fathom long, most dreadful to behold. As for the other two monsters, one was in the form of a woman, named by the Ghineses, Magdelgau, seventeen fathom high, and six thick. This same about the girdlesteed before had a face made proportion- OF PEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 187 able to her body, above two fathom broad, and she breathed out of her mouth and nostrils great flakes, not of artificial, but true fire, which proceeded, as they told us, from her head, where fire was continually kept, that in like manner came out of the said face below. By this figure these idolaters would demonstrate that she was the queen of the fiery sphear, which according to their belief is to burn the earth at the end of the world. The fourth monster was a man, set stooping, which with great swoln cheeks, as big as the mainsail of a ship, seemed to blow extreamly; this monster was also of an un- measurable height, and of such an hideous and ghastly aspect, that a man could hardly endure the sight of it ; the Ghineses called it Veangtienaboo, and said, that it was he which raised tempests upon the sea, and demohshed buildings; in regard whereof the people offered many things xmto him, to the end he should do them no harm ; and many presented Vn'-m with a piece of money yearly, that he might not drown their junks, nor do any of theirs hurt that went by sea. I will omit many other abuses which their bUndness makes them believe, and which they hold to be so true, as there is not one of them but would endure a thousand deaths for the main- tenance thereof. The next day, being gone from the town of Pocasser, we arrived at another fair and great town, called XinUgau ; there we saw many buildings inclosed with walls of brick, and deep ditches about them, and at one end of the town two castles, very well fortified with towers and bulwarks after our fashion ; at the gates were draw bridges, suspended in the air with great iron chains, and in the midst of them a tower five stories high, very curiously painted with several pictures ; the GMneses assured us, that in those two castles there was as much treasure as amounted to fifteen thousand pieces of silver, which was the revenue of all this Archvpelage, and laid up in this place by the King's grandfather now reigning, in memorial of a son of his that was bom here, and named LeuqvAnau, that is to say. The joy of all ; those of the country repute him for a saint, because he ended his days in religion, where also he was bmded in a temple, dedicated to Qwicvy Va/ratel, the god of all the fishes of the sea, of whom these miserable ignoranta 188 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES recount a world of fooleries, as also the laws lie invented, and the precepts which he left them, being able to astonish a man, as I will more amply declare when time shall serve. In this town and in another five leagues higher the most part of the silks of this kingdom are dyed, because they hold that the waters of these places make the colours far more lively then those of any other part ; and these dyers, which are said to be thirteen thousand, pay unto the King yearly three hundred thousand Taeis. Continuing our course up the river the day after ; about evening we arrived a certain great plains, where were great store of cattle, as horses, mares, colts, and cows, guarded by men on horsbaek, that make sale of them to butchers, who afterwards retale them indifferently as any other flesh. Having past these plains containing some ten or eleven leagues, we came to a town called Junqmleu, walled with brick, but without battlements, bulwarks, or towers, as others had, whereof I have spoken before ; at the end of the suburbs of this town we saw divers houses built in the water upon great piles, in the form of magazines. Before the gate of a little street stood a tomb made of stone, invironed with an iron grate, painted red and green, and over it a steeple framed of pieces of very fine pourcelain, sustained by four piUars of curious stone ; upon the top of the tomb were five globes, and two others that seemed to be of cast iron, and on the one side thereof were graven in letters of gold, and in the Chinese lan- guage, words of this substance. Sere lyes Trannocem Mudeliar, uncle to the King of Malaca, whom death took out of the world before he could be revenged of Gaptcdn Alphonso Albuquerque, the 1/yon of the robberies of the sea. We were much amazed to behold this inscription there ; wherefore enquiring what it might mean, a Chinese, that seemed more honourable than the rest, told us ; that about some forty years before, this man which lay buried there, came thither as ambassador from a prince, that stiled himself King of Malaca, to demand succour from the son of the Sun against men of a country that hath no name, which came by sea from the end of the world, and had taken Malaca from him ; this man recounted many other incredible things concerning this matter, whereof mention is made in a printed book thereof ; as also that this ambassador ,0F FEBDINAND MENDBZ PINTO. 189 having continued three years at the kings court suing for this succour, just as it was granted him, and that preparations for it were a making, it was his ill-fortune to be surprised one night at supper with an apoplexie, whereof he died at the end of nine days ; so that extreamly afflicted to see himself carried away by a sudden death before he had accomplished his business, he expressed his earnest desire of revenge by the in- scription which he caused to be graven on his tomb, that posterity might know wherefore he was come thither. After- wards we departed from this place, and continued our voyage up the river, which thereabouts is not so large as towards the city of Nanquin ; but the country is here better peopled with villages, boroughs, and gardens, than any other place, for every stones cast we met still with some Pagode, mansion of pleasure, or country house. Passing on about some two leagues further, we arrived at a place encompassed with great iron grates, in the midst whereof stood two mighty statues of brass upright, sus- tained by pillars of cast metal of the bigness of a bushel, and seven fathom high, the one of a man, and the other of a woman, both of them seventy-four spans in heighth, having their hands in their mouths, their cheeks horribly blown out, and their eyes so staring, as they affrighted all that looked upon them. That " which represented a man, was called Qtmy Xingatalor, and the other in the form of a woman was named Ajpanca/paUi/r. Having demanded of the GMneses the explication of these figures, they told us that the male was he, which with those mighty swoln cheeks blew the fire of hell for to torment all those miserable wretches that would not liberally bestow alms in this life ; and for the other monster, that she was porter of hell gate, where she would take notice of those that did her good in this world, and letting them fly away into a river of very cold water, called OcMlenday, would keep them hid there from being tormented by the devils, as other damned were. Upon this speech one of our company could not forbear laugh- ing at such a ridiculous and diabolical foolery, which three of their priests, or Boneoes then present, observing, they were so exceedingly offended therewith, as they perswaded the GMfmi, which conducted us, that if he did not chastise us in such manner, as those gods might be well contented with the punish- 190 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES ment inflicted on U3 for our mockery of them, both the one and the other would assuredly torment his soul, and never suffer it to go out of hell ; which threatning so mightily terri- fied this dog, the Chifuu, that without- further delay, or hearing us speak, he caused us all to be bound hand and foot, and commanded each of us to have an hundred lashes given him with a double cord, which was immediately executed with bo much rigour, as we were all in a gore bloud, whereby we were taught not to jeer afterwards at anything we saw, or heard. At such time as we arrived here we found twelve Bonzoes upon the place, who with silver censers full of perfumes of aloes and benjamin, censed those two devilish monsters, and chanted out aloud. Help us, even as we serve thee ; whereunto divers other priests answered in the name of the idol with a great noise, So I promise to do like a good Lord. In this sort they went as it were in procession roimd about the place, singing vrith an ill-tuned voice to the sound of a great many bells, that were in steeples thereabouts. In the mean time there were others, that with drums and basins made such a dinne, as I may truly say, put them all together, was most horrible to hear. -CHAPTEE XXVII. Our arrival at Sempitay, our encounter there with a Christian woman, and an account of many things seen on the journey ; with an account of Pequin. FEOM this place we continued our voyage eleven days more up the river, which in those parts is so peopled with cities, towns, villages, boroughs, forts and castles, that commonly they are not a flight shot distant one from another, besides a world of houses of pleasure, and temples, where steeples were all gilt ; which made such a glorious show, as we were much amazed at it. In this manner we arrived at a town, named Sempitay, where we abode five days, by reason the Chifwis wife, that conducted us, was not well. Here by his permission wa landed, and chained together as we were, we went up and down the streets craving of alms, which was very liberally given us by the inhabitants, who wondering to see such men as we. OF PEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 191 demanded of us what kind of people we were, of what king- dom, and how our oountrey was called ? Hereunto we answered conformably to that we had said before, namely that we were natives of the kingdom of Siam, that going from Liampoo to Nanqmn, we had lost all our goods by shipwrack, and that although they beheld us then in so poor a case, yet we had been formerly very rich ; whereupon a woman who was come thither amongst the rest to see us : it is very likely, said she, speaking to then about her, that what these poor strangers have related is most true, for daily experience doth shew how those that trade by sea do oftentimes make it their grave, wherefore it is best and surest to travel upon the earth, and to esteem of it, as of that whereof it has pleased God to frame us; saying, so she gave us two Mazes, which amotmts to about sixteen pence of our money, advising us to make no more such long voyages, since our lives were so short. Here- upon she unbuttoned one of the sleeves of a red sattin gown she had on, and baring her left arm, she showed us a cross im- printed on it, like the mark of a slave. Do any of you know this sign, which amongst those, that follow the way of truth, is called a cross ? or ha/oe any of you hea/rd it named i To this falUng down on our knees, we answered, with tears in our eyes, that we know exceeding well. Then lifting up her hands, she cried out. Our Father, which art in. Heamen, hallowed he Thy Name, speaking these words in the Portugal tongue, and because she could speak no more of our language, she very earnestly desired us in Chinese to tell her whether we were Christians ; we replied that we were ; and for proof thereof, after we had kissed that arm whereon the cross was, we repeated all the rest of the Lord's Prayer, which she had left unsaid, wherewith being assured that we were Christians indeed, she drew aside from the rest there present, and weeping said to us, come along Christians of the other end of the world, with her that is your true sister in the faith of Jesus Christ, or peradventure a kinswoman to one of you, by his side that begot me in this miserable exile ; and so going to carry us to her house, the Hupes which guarded us, would not suffer her, saying, that if we would not continue our craving of alms, as the Ghifwu had permitted us, they would return us back to the ship ; but this 192 TEE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 they spake in regard of their own interest, for that they were to have the moity of what was given us, as I have before declared, and accordingly they made as though they would have lead us thither again, which the woman perceiving, I understand your meaning, said she, and indeed it is but reason you should make the best of yoti/r places, for thereby you live ; so opening her purse, she gave them two Taeis in silver, where- with they were very well satisfied ; whereupon with the leave of the Ghifuu, she carried ua home to her house, and there kept us all the while we remained in that place, making ex- ceeding much of us, and using us very charitably. Here she shewed us an oratory, wherein she had a cross of wood gilt, as also candlesticks, and a lamp of silver. Furthermore she told us, that she was named, Inez de Leyria, and her father Tome Pirez, who had been great ambassadour from Portugal to the King of China, and that in regard of an insurrection with a Portugal captain, made at Canton, the Chineses taking him for a spy, and not for an ambassador, as he termed himself, clapped him and all his followers up in prison, where by order of justice five of them were put to torture, receiving so many, and such cruel stripes on their bodies, as they died instantly, and the rest were all banished into several parts, together with her father into this place, where he married with her mother, that had some means, and how he made her a Christian, living so seven and twenty years together, and converting many Gentiles to the faith of Christ, whereof there were above three hundred then abiding in that town; which every Sunday assembled in her house to say the catechisme : whereupon demanding of her what were their accustomed prayers, she answered, that she used no other but these, which on their knees, with their eyes and hands lift up to Heaven, they pro- nounced in this manner, Lord Jesus Christ, as it is most true that Thou art the very Son of God, conceived by the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgime Mary for the salvation of sinners, so Thou wilt be ^pleased to forgive us ow offences, that thereby we may become worthy to behold Thy face in the glory of Thy kingdom, where Thou a/rt sitting at the right hand of the Almighty. Our Father which a/rt in Hea/ven, hallowed be Thy name. In the name of the Father, the Son, amd the Holy WITH MAT SAILS, OF FEBDINAND MENBEZ PINTO. 193 Ghost. Amen. And so all of them kissing the cross, imbraced one another, and thereupon every one returned to his own home. Moreover she told us, that her father had left her many other prayers, which the GMneses had stollen from her, so that she had none left but those before recited ; whereunto we repUedi that those we had heard from her were very good, but before we went away we would leave her divers other good and wholsome prayers. Do so then, answered she, for the respect you owe to so good a God, as yowrs is, and that hath done such things for you, for me, and all in general. Then causing the cloth to be laid, she gave us a very good and plentifull dinner, and treated us in like sort every meal, during the five days we continued in her house, which (as I said before) was permitted by the Chdfmo, in regard of a present that this good women sent his wife, whom she earnestly entreated so to deal with her husband, as we might be well intreated, for that we were men of whom God had a particular care, as the Ghifuu's wife promised her to do with many thanks to her for the present she had received. In the mean space, during the five days we remained in her house, we read the catechism seven times to the Christians, wherewithal! they were very much edified; beside, Christophoro Borbalho made them a little book in the Chinese tongue, containing the Pater noster, the Creed, the Ten Commandments, and many other good prayers. After these things we took our leaves of Inez de Leyria, and the Christians who gave us fifty Taeis in silver, which stood us since in good stead, as I shall declare hereafter ; and withall Inez de Leyria gave us secretly fifty Taeis more, humbly desiring us to remember her in our prayers to God. After our departure from the town of Sempitay we continued our course upon the river of Batanpina, unto a place, named LequvnpoM, containing about eleven or twelve thousand fires, and very well built, at least we judged so by that we could discern, as also inclosed with good walls, and curtains round about it. Not far from it was an exceeding long house ; having within it thirty fomaces on each side, where a great quantity of silver was melted, which was brought in carts from a mountain, some five leagues off, called Tuxengmm. The Ghineses assured us, that above a thousand men wrought continually in that mine 14 194 TRE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES to draw out the silver, and that the King of China had in yearly revenue out of it above five thousand Pico's. This place we left about sun-set, and the next day in the evening we arrived just between two little towns, that stood opposite one to another, the river onely between, the one named Paccm, and the other Nacau ; which although they were little, yet were they fairly built, and well walled with great hewed stone, having a number of temples, which they call Pagodes, all gilt over, and enriched with steeples and fanes of great price, very pleasing and agreeable to the eye. [Here follows a legend of [the foundation of China, jjmiiieb'.] Now that I have spoken of the original and foundation of this empire, together with the circuit of the great city of Peqtdn, I hold it not amiss to intreat as succinctly as I may of another particular, which is no less admirable then those whereof I have made mention before. It is written in the fifth book of the Scituation of all the remarkable places of this empire, or rather monarchy, (for to speak truly, there la no appellation so great but may be well attributed unto it) that a king, named Grisnugol Dicotay, who according to the com- putation of that book, reigned in the year of our Lord 518, happened to make war with the Tartar, about some difference between them concerning the state of Xenooinapa/u, that borders on the kingdom of Lauhos, and so valiantly demeaned himself in a battel against him, that he defeated bis army, and remained master of the field; whereupon the Tartar con- federating himself with other kings, his friends, did by their assistance assemble together greater forces than the former, and therewith invaded the kingdom of China, where (it is said) he took three and thirty very important towns, of which the principal was Panqvdlor, insomuch that the Chinese fearing he should not be well able to defend himself, concluded a peace with him upon condition to relinquish his right, which he pretended to that in question betwixt them, and to pay him two thousand Picos of silver for to defray the charges of those strangers the Tartar had entertained in this war ; by this means China continued for a good while quiet, but the King doubting lest the Tartar might in time to come return to annoy OF PJBBDINAND MENBEZ PINTO. 195 him again, resolved to build a wall, that might serve for a bulwark to his empire ; and to that end calling all his estates together, he declared his determination unto them, which was presently not onely well approved of, but held most necessary ; so that to enable him for the performance of a business so much concerning his state, they gave him ten thousand Picas of silver, which amount, according to our account, unto fifteen millions of gold, after the rate of fifteen hundred ducates each Pico ; and moreover they entertained him two hundred and fifty thousand men to labour in the work, whereof thirty thousand were appointed for officers, and all the rest for manual services. Order being taken then for whatsoever was thought fit for so prodigious an enterprise, they fell to it in such sort, as by the report of the history all that huge wall was in seven and twenty years quite finished from one end to the other ; which if credit may be given to the same chronicle is seventy Joas in length, that is six hundred and fifteen miles after nine miles every Joa ; wherein that which seemed most wonderfull and most exceeding the belief of man, was that seven hundred and fifty thousand men laboured incessantly for so long a time in that great work, whereof the Commonalty, as I delivered before, furnished one third part ; the priests, and isles of Aynen, another third ; and the King assisted by the princes, lords, Chaems, and Anchacys of the kingdom, the rest of the building, which I have both seen and measured, being thirty foot in height, and ten foot in breadth, where it is thickest. It is made of lime and sand, and plaistered on the outside with a kind of Bilmnen, which renders it so strong, that no cannon can demolish it : instead of bulwarks it hath sentries, or watch-towers, two stages high, flanked with buttresses of carpentry made of a certain 4}lack wood, which they call Cauhesy, that is to say, wood of iron, because it is exceeding strong and hard, every buttress being as thick as an hogshead, and very high, so that these sentries are far stronger than if they were made of Hme and stone. Now this wall, by them termed Chaufacan, which signifies, strong resistance, extends in height equal to the mountains, whereunto it is joyned, and that those mountains also may serve for a waU they are cut down very smooth and steep, which renders them 196 TEE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES far stronger then the wall itself ; but you must know that in all this extent of land there is no wall, but in the void spaces from hill to hill, so that the hills themselves make up the rest of the wall and fence. Further it is to be noted, that in this whole length of a hundred and fifteen leagues, which this fortification contains, there are but onely 5 entries whereby the rivers of Tartaria do pass, which are derived from the impetuous torrents that descend from these mountains, and running above five hundred leagues in the country, render themselves into the seas of China and GaushencMna ; howbeit one of these rivers, being greater then the rest, disembogues by the Bay of Cuy in the kingdom of Sov/rncm, commonly called Siam. Now in all these five passages both the King of CMnd, and the King of Tartwria, keep garrisons ; the Chinese in each of them entertains seven thousand men giving them great pay, whereof six thousand are horse, the rest foot, being for the most part strangers, as Mogores, Pancrus, Chcmvpaas, Corosones, Gizares of Persia, and other different nations, bordering upon this empire, and which in consideration of the extraordinary pay they receive, serve the Chinese ; who (to speak truth) are nothing couragious, as being but little used to the wars, and ill provided of arms and artillery. In all this length of wall there are three hundred and twenty companies, each of them containing five hundred souldiers ; so that there are in all one hundred and threescore thousand men, besides of&cers of justice, Anchacis, Chaems, and other such like persons necessary for the government, and entertainment of these forces ; so that all joyned together make up the number of two hundred thousand, which are all maintained at the King's onely charge, by reason the most of them are male- factours condemned to the reparations and labours of the wall, as I shall more aptly declare when I come to speak of the prison destined to this purpose, in the City of Peqmn, which is also another edifice, very remarkable, wherein there are continually above thirty thousand prisoners, the most of them from eighteen to forty-five years of age, appointed to work in this wall. Being departed from those two towns Paccm and Nacau, we continued our course up the river, and arrived at another town OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 197 called Hindoo, somewhat bigger then those from whence we parted, where about half a mile off was a great lake of salt water, and a number of salt-houses round about it ; The Chinese assured us, that this lake did ebb and flow like the sea, and that it extended above two hundred leagues into the country, rendring the King of China in yearly revenue one hundred thousand Taeis, onely for the third of the salt that was drawn out of it ; as also that the town yielded him other one hundred thousand Taeis for the silk alone that was made there, not speaking at all of the camphire, sugar, pourcelain, vermilion, and quick-silver, whereof there was very great plenty ; moreover, that some two leagues from this town were twelve exceeding long houses, like unto magazines, where a world of people laboured in casting and purifying of copper and the horrible din which the hammers made there was such and so strange, as if there were anything on earth that could represent hell, this was it ; wherefore being desirous to under- stand the cause of this extraordinary noise, we would needs go to see from whence it proceeded ; and we found that there were in each of these houses forty fomaces, that is twenty of either side, vfith forty huge anvils, upon every of which eight men beat in order, and so swiftly, as a mans eye could hardly discern the blows, so as three hundred and twenty men wrought in each of these twelve houses, which in all the twelve houses made up three thousand eight hundred and forty workmen, beside a great number of other persons that laboured in other particular things ; whereupon we demanded how much copper might be wrought every year in each of these houses, and they told us, one hundred and ten, or sixscore thousand Pico's, whereof the King had two thirds, because the mines were his ; and that the mountain from whence it was drawn was called Corotum baya, which signifies a river of copper, for that from the time since it was discovered, being above two hundred years, it never failed, but rather more and more was found. Having past about a league beyond those twelve houses up the river, we came to a place inclosed vnth three ranks of iron grates, where we beheld thirty houses, divided into five rows, six in each row, which were very long and complete, with great towers full of bells of oast metall, and much carved 198 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES work, as also gilt pillars, and the frontispieces of fair hewed stone, -whereiipon many inventions were engraved. At this place we went ashore by the Chifwu's permission, that carried us, for that he had made a vow to this Pagode, which was called Bigay potim, that is to say, god of an hundred and ten thousand gods, Corchoo fungane, ginaco ginaca, which (according to their report) signifies, strong and great above all others ; for some of the errours wherewith these wretched people are blinded are, that they believe every particular thing hath its god, who hath created it, and preserves its natural being ; but that this Bigay potim brought them all forth from under his arm-pits, and that from him as a father, they derive their being, by a filial union, which they term Bira Porentasay ; And in the hingdom of Pegu, where I home often been, I ha/oe seen one like unto this, named by those of the country, Ginocoginans, the god of greatness, which temple was in times past built by the Chinese, when as they commanded in the India's, being accord- ing to their supputation, from the year our Lord Jesus Christ 1013, to the year 1072, by which account it appears that the India's were under the Empire of China but oneVy fifty and nine years, from the su^cessou^ of hkn that conquered it, called Exiragano, vohinta/rily abandoned it in regard to the great expence of money and bloud that the unprofitable keeping of it cost him. In those thirty houses, whereof I formerly spake^ were a great niunber of idols of gilt wood ; and a like number of tin, latten, and pourcelain, being indeed so many, as I should hardly be believed, to declare them. Now we had not past above five or six leagues from this place but we came to a great town, about a league in circuit, quite destroyed and ruinated. [Here follows a religious legend, j>mittei»,] After our departure from the mines of Fiunganorsee, we arrived at a great town, called Jungmnala/u,, which is very rich, abounding with all kind of things, fortified with a strong garrison of horse and foot, and having a number of junks and vessels, riding before it. Here we remained five days to celebrate the funeral of our Ghifv/u's wife ; for whose soul he gave us by way of alms both meat and clothes, and withall OP FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 199 freeing us from the oar, permitted us to go ashore without irons, which was a very great ease unto us : Having left this place, we continued our course up the river, beholding still on either side a world of goodly great towns iuvironed with strong walls ; as also many fortresses and castles all along the waters side ; we saw likewise a great number of temples, whose steeples were all gilt, and in the fields such abundance of cattel that the ground was even covered over with them, so far as we could well discern. Moreover, there were so many vessels upon this river, especially in some parts, where fairs were kept, that at first sight one would have thought them to be populous towns; besides other lesser companies of three hundred, five hundred, six hundred, and a thousand boats, which continually we met withall on both sides of the river, wherein all things that one could imagine were sold ; More- over, the GMneses assure us, that in this empire of China, the number of those which levied upon the rivers, was no less than those that dwelled in the towns, and that without the good order which is observed to make the common people work, and to constrain the meaner sort to supply themselves unto trades for to get their living, they would eat up one another. Now it is to be noted, that every kind of traffique and commerce is divided among them into three or four forms, as followeth : They which trade in ducks, whereof there are great quantities in this countrey, proceed therein diversly ; some cause their egs to be hatched for to sell the ducklings ; others fat them when they are great for to sell them dead after they are salted. These traffique only with the egs ; others with the feathers ; and some with the heads, feet, gizards, and intrails, no man being permitted to trench upon his companions sale, under the penalty of thirty lashes, which no priviledg can exempt them from. In the same manner, concerning hogs, some sell them alive, and by whole sale, others dead, and by retail; some make bacon of them, others sell their pigs, and some again sell nothing but the chitterlings, the sweet-breads, the blood, and the haslets ; which is also observed for fish, for such a one sels it fresh, that cannot sell it either salted or dried ; and so of other provisions, as flesh, fruit, fowls, venison, pulse, and other things, wherein such rigour is used, as there are 200 THE TBAVEL8, VOTAQES, AND ADVENTUBES chambers expressly establislied, whose of&oers have commission and power to see, that they which trade in one particular may not do it in another, if it be not for just and lawful causes, and that on pain of thirty lashes. There be others likewise that get their living by selhng fish alive, which to that purpose they keep in great well-boats, and so carry them into divers countries, where they know there is no other but salt fish. There are likewise aU along this river of Batampina, whereon we went from Nanqidn to Peqmn, which is distant one from the other one hundred and fourscore leagues, such a number of engines for sugar, and presses for wine and oyl, made of divers sorts of pulse and fruit, as one could hardly see any other thing on either side of the water. In many other places also there were an infinite company of houses, and magazines full of all kinds of provision, that one could imagine, where all sorts of flesh are salted, dried, smoked, and piled up in great high heaps, as gammons of bacon, pork, lard, geese, ducks, cranes, bustards, ostriches, stags, cows, buffles, wild goats, rhinocerotes, horses, tygers, dogs, foxes, and almost all other creatures that one can name, so that we said many times amongst our selves, that it was not possible for all the people of the world to eat up aU those provisions. We saw likewise upon the same river a number of vessels, which they call Panouras, covered from the poup to the prow with nets, in manner of a cage, three inches high, full of ducks and geese, that were carried from place to place to be sold ; when the owners of those boats would have these fowl to feed, they approach to the land ; and where there are rich medows, or marshes, they set forth planks ; penning the doors of those cages, they beat three or four times upon a drum, which they have expressly for that perpose ; whereupon all these fowl, being six or seven thousand at the least, go out of the boat with a mighty noise, and so fall to feeding all along the waters side. Now when the owner perceives, that these fowl have fed suflSciently, and that it is time to return them, he beats the drum the second time, at the sound whereof they gather all together, and re-enter with the same noise, as they went out ; wherein it is strange to observe, that they return all in again, not so much as one missing. That done, the master of the OF FEEDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 201 boat parts from that place, and afterwards when he thinks it is time for them to lay, he repairs towards land, and where he finds the grounds dry, and good grass, he opens the doors, and beats the drmn again, at which all the fowl of the boat came forth to lay ; and then at such time as the master judges that these fowl have laid, he beats his drum afresh, and suddenly in haste they all throng in to the boat, not so much as one remaining behind. Thereupon two or three men get ashore, with baskets in their hands, whereinto they gather up the egs, till they have gotten eleven or twelve baskets full, and so they proceed on their voyage to make sale of their ware ; which being almost spent, to store themselves anew, they go for to buy more unto them that breed them, whose triade it is to seU them young ; for they are not suffered to keep them when they are great, as the others do, by reason, as I have said before, no man may deal in any commodity for which he hath not permission from the governours of the towns. They that get their living by breeding of ducks have neer to their houses certain ponds, where many times they keep ten or eleven thousand of these ducklings, some bigger, some lesser. Now for to hatch the eggs, they have in very long galleries twenty or thirty furnaces full of dung, wherein they bury two hundred, three hundred, and five hundred eggs together, then stopping the mouth of each furnace that the dung may become the hotter, they leave the eggs there till they think the young ones are disclosed ; whereupon putting into every several furnace a capon half pulled, and the skin stript from off his brest, they leave him shut up therein for the space of two days ; at the end whereof being all come out of the shell, they carry them into certain places under ground made for that purpose, setting them bran soaked in liquor ; and so being left there loose some ten or eleven dayes, they go afterwards of them- selves into the ponds, where they feed and bring them up for to sell them unto those former merchants, who trade with them into divers parts, it being unlawfull for one to trench upon anothers traffique, as I have before related ; so that in the markets and pubUque places, where provisions for the mouth are sold, if any that sell goose eggs do chance to be taken siesed with hens eggs, and it is suspected that they sell 202 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES of them, they are presently punished with thirty lashes on the bare buttocks, without hearing any justification they can make for themselves, being as I have said, found siesed of them ; so that if they will have hens eggs for their own use, to avoid incurring the penalty of the law, they must be broken at one end ; whereby it may appear that they keep them not to sell, but to eat. As for them that sell fish alive, if any of their fish chance to die, they cut them in pieces, and salting them sell them at the price of salt-fish, which is less then that of fresh- fish, wherein they proceed so exactly, that no man dares pass the limits which are prescribed and ordained by the Gonchalis of the State, upon pain of most severe punishment ; for in all this county the King is so much respected, and justice so feared, as no kinds of person, how great soever, dares murmur, or look awry at an officer, no not at the very Huppffs, which are as the bayliffs or beadles amongst us. CHAPTER XXVIII. The order which is observed in the removing towns that are made upon the rivers ; and that which further befell ua. WE saw likewise all along this great river a number of hogs both wildo and domestick, that were kept by certain men on horseback, and many herds of tame red deer, which were driven from place to place like sheep, to feed, all lamed of their right legs, to hinder them from running away ; and they are lamed so, when they are but calves, to avoid the danger that otherwise they might incur of their lives : we saw also divers parks, wherein a world of dogs were kept to be sold to the butchers ; for in these countries they eat all manner of flesh, whereof they know the price, and of what creatures they are, by the choppings they make of them. Moreover, we met with many small barques, whereof some were full of pigs, others of tortoises, frogs, otters, adders, eeles, snails, and lizards; for (as I have said) they buy there of all that is judged good to eat ; now to the end that such provisions may pass at an easier rate, all that sell them are permitted to make traffique OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 203 of them in several fashions ; true it is, that in some things they have greater franchises then in others, to the end that by means thereof no merchandise may want sale. We saw many boats likewise laden with dried orange pils, wherewith in victualling houses they boyl dogs flesh, for to take away the rank savour and humidity of it, as also to render it more firm. In brief, we saw so many Vcmcans, Lanteaas, and Ba/rcasses, in this river, laden with all kinds of provision, that either the sea or land produces, and that in such abundance, as I must confess, I am not able to express it in words ; for it is not possible to imagiae the infinite store of things that are in this country ; of each whereof you shall see two or three hundred vessels together at a time, all full, especially at the fairs, and markets, that are kept upon the solemn festival days of their Pagodes ; for then all the fairs are free, and the Pagodes for the most part are scituated upon the banks of rivers, to the end all commodities may the more oommodiously be brought thither by water. Now when all these vessels come to joyn together, during these fairs, they take such order, as they make, as it were, a great and fair town of them ; so that sometimes you shall have of them a league in length, and three quarters of a league in bredth, being composed of above twenty thousand vessels; besides JBalons, Guedees, and Manchuas, which are small boats, whose number is infinite; for the government hereof there are threescore captains appointed, of which thirty are to see good order kept, and the other thirty are for the guard of the merchants that come thither, to the end they may sail in safety. Moreover, there is above them a Ghaem, who bath absolute power, both in civil and criminal causes, without any appeal or opposition whatsoever, during the fifteen days that this fair lasts, which is from the new to the full moon ; and indeed more come to see the policy, order, and beauty of this kind of town, then otherwise ; for (to speak the truth, the framing of it in that manner with vessels) makes it more to be admired then all the edifices that can be seen upon the land. There are in this moving town two thousand streets, exceeding long, and very strait, inclosed on either side with ships, most of which are covered with silks, and adorned with a world of banners, flags, and streamers, wherein all kinds of commodities 204 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES that can be desired are to be sold. In other streets are aa many trades to be seen, as in any town on the land ; amidst the which they that traffique, go up and down in little Man- chuas, and that very quietly, and without any disorder. Now if by chance any one is taken stealing, he is instantly punished according to his offence. As soon as it is night, all these streets are shut up with cords athwart them, to the end none may pass after the retreat sounded ; in each of these streets there are at least a dozen of lanthorns, with lights burning, fastened a good heighth on the masts of the vessels, by means whereof all that go in and out are seen, so that it may be known who they are, from whence they come, and \^hat they would have, to the end the Ghaem may the next morning receive an account thereof. And truly, to behold all these lights together in the night, is a sight scarce able to be imagined ; neither is there a street without a bell, and a sen- tinel ; so as when that of the Chaems ship is heard to ring, all the other bels answer it, with so great a noise of voices ad- joyned thereunto, that we were almost beside our selves, at the hearing of a thing which cannot be well conceived ; and that was ruled with such good order. In every of these streets, even in the poorest of them, there is a chappel to pray in, framed upon great la/rcasses, like to gaUies, very neat, and so well accommodated, that for the most part they are enriched with silks, and cloth of gold. In these chappels are their idols, and priests which administer their sacrifices, and receive the offerings that are made them, wherewith they are abundantly furnished for their living. Out of each street, one of the most account, or chiefest merchant, is chosen to watch aU night in his turn with those of his squadron, besides the captains of the government, who in ballons walk the round without, to the end no thief may escape by any avenue whatsoever ; and for that purpose these guards cry as loud as they can, that they may be heard. Amongst the most remarkable things, we saw one street, where there were above an hundred vessels, laden with idols of gilt wood, of divers fashions, which were sold for to be offered to the Fagodes ; together with a world of feet, thighs, arms, and heads, that sick folks bought to offer in devotion. There also we beheld other ships, covered with silk hangings, OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 205 where comedies and other plays were represented to entertain the people withaU, which in great numbers flocked together. In other places, bills of exchange for Heaven were sold, whereby these priests of the devil promised them many merits, with great interest, affirming that without these bils they could not possibly be saved ; for that God, say they, is a mortal enemy to all such as do not some good to the Pagodes ; whereupon they tell them such fables and lies, as these unhappy wretches do often times take the very bread from their mouthes to give it them. There were also other vessels all laden with dead mens skuls, which divers men bought for to present as an offering at the tombs of their friends, when they should happen to die ; for, say they, as the deceased is laid in the grave in the company of these skuls, so shaU his soul enter into Heaven, attended by those unto whom those skuls belonged ; wherefore when the porter of Paradise shall see such a merchant, with many followers, he will do him honour, as to a man that in this lite hath been a man of quality ; for if he be poor, and without a train, the porter will not open to him ; whereas, contrarily, the more dead mens skuls he hath buried with him, the more happy he shall be esteemed. There were many boats likewise, where there were men that had a great many of cages, full of live birds, who playing on divers instruments of musick, exhorted the people with a loud voice, to deliver those poor creatures of God, that were there in captivity ; whereupon many came and gave them money for the redemption of those prisoners, which presently they let out of the cages ; and then as they flew away, the redeemers of them cried out to the birds, Piohcm pitcmel catcm vaoaxi, that is. Go, and tell God, how we serve Mm here below. In imitation of these, there are others also, who in their ships kept a great many of live fishes in great pots of water, and like the sellers of birds invite the people, for Gods cause, to free those poor innocent fishes, that had never sinned ; so that divers bought many of them, and casting them into the river, said. Get ye gone, cmd tell there below the good I have done you for Gods sake. To conclude all, the vessels where these things are exposed to sale are seldom less in number then two hundred, besides thousands of others, which sell such like wares in a far greater quantity. 206 THE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES We saw likewise many Barcasses full of men and women, that played upon divers sorts of instruments, and for money gave them musick that desired it. There were other vessels laden with horns, which the priests sold, therewith to make feasts in Heaven ; for they say, that those were the horns of several beasts, which were offered in sacri&ce to the idols out of devotion, and for the performance of vows that men had made in divers kind of mis-fortunes, and sicknesses, wherein they had at other times been. And that as the flesh of those beasts had been given here below for the honour of God to the poor, so the souls of them for whom those horns were offered do in the other world eat the souls of those beasts to whom those horns belonged, and thereunto invite the souls of their friends, as men use to invite others here on earth. Other vessels we saw covered with blacks, and ful of tombs, torches, and great wax lights ; as also women in them, that for money would be hired to weep and lament for the dead ; others there were, called Pitaleiis, that in great barques kept divers kinds of wild beasts to be shewed for money, most dreadful to behold as serpents, huge adders, monstrous lizards, tygers, and many others such like ; we saw in like sort a great number of stationers, which sold all manner of books that could be desired, as well concerning the creation of the world, whereof they tell a thousand lies, as touching the states, kingdomes, islands, and provinces of the world, together with the laws and customs of nations ; but especially of the kings of China, their number, brave acts, and of all things else that happened in each of their reigns. Moreover, we saw a great many of the light, swift foysts, wherein were men very well armed, who cried out with a loud voice, that if any one had received an affront, whereof he desired to be avenged, let him come unto them, and they would cause satisfaction to be made him. In other vessels there were old women, that served for midwives, and that would bring women speedily and easily abed ; as also a many of nurses, ready to be entertained for to give children suck. There were barques likewise very well adorned, and set forth, that had in them divers reverend old men, and grave matrons, whose profession was to make marriages, and to comfort widows, or such as had lost their children, or suffered OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 207 any other mis-fortune. In others there were a number of young men and maids, that lacked masters, and mistresses, which offered themselves to any that would Mre them. There were other vessels that had in them such as imdertook to tell fortunes, and to help folks to things lost. In a word, not to dwell any longer upon every particular that was to be seen in this moving town, (for then I should never have done) it shall suffice me to say, that nothing can be desired on land, which was not to be had in their vessels, and that in greater abun- dance than I have delivered, wherefore I will pass from it to shew you that one of the principal causes why this monarchy of China, that contains two and thirty kingdoms, is so mighty, rich, and of so great commerce, is, because it is exceedingly replenished with rivers, and a world of chanels that have been anciently made by the kings, great lords, and people thereof, for to render all the country navigable, and so communicate their laboiirs with one another. The narrowest of these chanels have bridges of hewed stone over them, that are very high, long and broad, whereof some are of one stone, eighty, ninety, nay, an htmdred spans long, and fifteen or twenty broad, which doubtless is very marvellous; for it is almost impossible to comprehend by what means so huge a mass of stone could be drawn out of the quarry without breaking, and how it should be transported to the place where it was to be set. All the ways and passages, from cities, towns, and villages, have very large causeys made of fair stone, at the ends whereof are costly pillars and arches, upon which are inscriptions with letters of gold, containing the prayses of them that erected them ; moreover, there are handsome seats placed all along for poor passengers to rest themselves on. There are likewise innumerable aqueducts and fountains every where, whose water is most wholesom and excellent to drink. And in divers parts there are certain wenches of love, that out of charity prostitute themselves to travellers which have no money ; and although amongst us this is held for a great abuse and abomination, yet with them it is accounted a work of mercy ; so that many on their death-beds do by their testa- ments bequeathe great revenues, for the maintenance of this wickedness, as a thing very meritorious for the salvation of 208 TEE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES their souls; moreover, many others have left lands for the erectiag and maintaining of houses, in desarts and uninhabited places, where great fires are kept all the night to guide such as have strayed out of their way ; as also water for men to drink, and seats to repose them in ; and that there may be no default herein, there are divers persons entertained with very good means, to see these things carefully continued, according to the institution of him that founded them for the health of his soul. By these marvels which are found in the particular towns of this empire may be concluded, what the greatness thereof might be, were they joyned all together ; but for the better satisfaction of the reader, I dare boldly say, if my testimony may be worthy of credit, that in one and twenty years space (during which time, with a world of mis-fortune, labour and pain, I traversed the greatest part of Asia, as may appear by this my discourse) I had seen in some countries a wonderfull abundance of several sorts of victuals, and pro- visions, which we have not in our Europe ; yet, without speaking what each of them might have in particular, I do not think there is in all Europe so much as there is in China alone. And the same may be said of all the rest, wherewith Heaven hath favoured this chmate, as well for the temperature of the air, as for that which concerns the policy, and riches, the magnificence and greatness of their estate. Now that which gives the greatest lustre unto it, is, their exact observation of justice ; for there is so well ruled a government in this country, as it may justly be envied of all others in the world. And to speak the truth, such as want this particular, have no gloss, be they otherways never so great and commendable. Verily, so often as I represent unto my self those great things which I have seen in this China, I am on the one side amazed to think how liberally it hath pleased God to heap upon this people the goods of the earth ; and on the other side I am exceedingly grieved to consider how ungratefull they are in acknowledging such extraordinary favours ; for they commit amongst them- selves an infinite of most enormous sins, wherewithall they incessantly offend the Divine Goodness. OF PEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 209 CHAPTER XXIX. Our amval at the city of Pequin, together with our imprisonment, and that vrhioh moreover happened unto us there ; aa also the great majesty of the officers of their Court of Justice, AFTBE we were departed from that rare and marvellous town, whereof I have spoken, we continued our course up the river, until at length, on Tuesdwy, the nineteenth of October, in the year 1541, we arrived at the great city of Pequin, whither, as I have said before, we had been remitted by appeal. In this manner, chained three and three together, we were cast into a prison, called Gofanicmserca, where for our weleom we had at the first dash thirty lashes apiece given us, wherewith some of us became very sick. Now as soon as the Ghiftm who conducted us thither had presented the process of our sentence, sealed with twelve seals, to the justice of the Aytao, which is their Parliament, the twelve ChonchaUs of the criminal cham- ber, unto whom the cognisance of our cause appertained, com- manded us presently away to prison ; whereupon one of those twelve, assisted by two Eegisters, and six or seven of&cers, whom they term Hwpes, (and are much like our Catchpoles here), terrified us not a little, as he was leading us thither; for giving us very threatning speeches. Gome, said he unto us, By the 'power and authority which I ha/ve from- the Aytao of Batampina, chief president of the two and thirty judges of strangers {within whose brest a/re the secrets of the lyon crowned on the throne of the world inclosed) I enjoyn and command you to tell me, what people you a/re, as also of what country, amd whether you ha/ve a king, who for the service of God, amdfw the discharge of his dignity, is inclined to do good to the poor, and to render them justice, to the end that with tears in their eyes, and hands Ufted wp, they may not address their complaints to that Sovereigne Lord which hath made the bright enamel of the skies, and for whose holy feet all they that reign with Him, serve but for sandals. To this demand we answered him, that we were poor strangers, natives of the kingdom of Siam, who being imbarqued vrith our merchandise for Liam,poo-weve cast away in a great storm at sea, from whence we escaped naked 15 210 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES with the loss of all that we had ; and how in that deplorable estate we were fain to get our living by begging from door to door, till such time as at our arrival at the town of Taypor, the Ghmnhim, then resident there, had arrested us for prisoners without cause, and so sent us to the city of Nanqmn, where by his report we had been condemned to the whip, and to have our thumbs cut off, without so much as once deigning to hear us in our justifications ; by reason whereof, lifting up our eyes to Heaven, we had been advised to have recourse, vrith our tears, to the four and twenty judges of austere life, that (through their zeal to God) they might take our cause in hand, since by reason of our poverty we were altogether vrithout sup- port, and abandoned of all men, which with an holy zeal they incontinently effected, by revoking the cause, and annulling the judgment that had been given against us ; and that, these things considered, we most instantly besought him, that for the service of God he would be pleased to have regard to our misery, and the great injustice that was done us, for that we had no means in this country, nor person, that would speak one word for us. The judge remained sometime in suspence upon that we had said to him ; at length he answered, that we need say no more to him ; for it is suflScient that I know you are poor, to the end this affair may go another way then hitherto it hath done ; nevertheless, to acquit me of my charge, I give you five days time, conformably to the law of the third book, that within the said term you may retain a proctor to undertake your cause ; but if you will be advised by me, you shall present your request to the Tanigores of the sacred office, to the end that they, carried by an holy zeal of the honour of God, may out of compassion of your miseries take upon them to defend your right. Having spoken thus, he gave us a Taeis, in way of alms, and said further to us. Beware of the prisoners that are here ; for I assure you, that they make it their trade, to steal all that they can from any one ; whereupon entering into another chamber where there were a great number of prisoners, he continued there above three hours in giving them audience ; at the end whereof he sent seven and twenty men, that the day before had received their judgement, to execution, which was inflicted upon them by whipping to death ; a spec- OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 211 tacle so dreadful to us, and that put us in such a fright, &s it almost set us besides our selves. The next morning, as soon as it was day, the jaylors olapt irons on our feet, and manacles on our hands, and put us to exceeding great pain ; but seven days after we had endured such misery, being laid on the ground one by another, and bewayling our disaster, for the extream fear we were in of suffering a most cruel death, if that which we had done at Galemplm/ should by any means chance to be discovered, it pleased God that we were visited by the Tanigores of the house of mercy, which is of the jurisdiction of this prison, who are called in their language Gofilem Gnaxy. At their arrival all the prisoners bowing themselves, said with a lamentable tone. Blessed he the day wherein God doth visit us by the ministry of His servants ; whereunto the Tanigores made answer, with a grave and modest countenance. The Alrrdghty and Divine hand of Him that hath formed the beauty of the stars keep and preserve you. Then approaching to us, they very courteously demanded of us what people we were, and whence it proceeded that our imprisonment was more sensible to us then to others ? To this speech we replyed, with tears in our eyes, that we were poor strangers, so abandoned of men, as in all the country there was not one that knew our names, and that all we could in our poverty say, to intreat them to think of us for Gods sake, was contained in a letter, that we had brought them from the chamber of the society of the house of Quiay Hina/rol, in the city of Nanquin ; whereupon Ghristo- phoro Borralho, presenting them with the letter, they received it with a new ceremony, full of all courtesie, saying, Praised he He who hath created all thmgs, for that He is pleased to serve Himself of sinners here below, whereby they may be recompensed at the last day of all days, by satisfying them double their labour with the riches of His holy treasures, which shall be done, as we believe, in as great abundance, as the drops of ram fall from the clouds to the earth. After this, one of the four, putting up the letter, said unto us, that as soon as the chamber of justice for the poor was open, they would all of them give an answer to our business, and see us furnished with all that we had need of, and so they departed from us. Three days after they returned to visit us in the prison ; and in the next morning 212 THE TBAVBLS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTVBE8 coming to us again, they asked us many questions answerable to a memorial which they had thereof ; whereunto we replyed in every point according as we were questioned by each of them, so as they remained very well satisfied with our answers. Then calling the Eegister to them, who had our papers in charge, they inquired very exactly of him, touching many things that concerned us, and withall required his advice about our affair ; that done, having digested all that might make for the conversation of our right into certain heads, they took our process from him, saying, they would peruse it aU of them together in their Chambers, of Justice with the proctors of the house, and the next day return it him again, that he might carry it to the Ghaem, as he was resolved before to do. Not to trouble my self with recoimting in particular all that occurred in this affair, untill such time as it was fully con- eluded, wherein six moneths and an half were imployed, (during the which we continued still prisoners in such misery) I will in few words relate aU that befell us unto the end ; when as our business was come before the twelve Gonchalis of the criminal court, the two proctors of the house of mercy most willingly took upon them to cause the unjust sentence which had been given against us to be revoked. Having gotten then all the proceedings to be disannulled, they by petition remon- strated unto the Ghaem, who was the president of the court. How we could not for any cause whatsoever be condemned to death, seeing there were no witnesses of any credit that could tes- tifie that we had robbed any man, or had ever seen us carry any offensive weapons contrary to the prohibition made against it by the law of the first book ; but that we were apprehended quite naked, like wretched men, wandering after a la/mentable ship- wrack ; and that therefore ov/r poverty and misery was worthy rather of a pitiful compassion, then of that rigov/r wherewith the first minister of the a/rm of wrath had caused ms to be whipt ; moreover, that God alone was the judge of ov/r innocency ; in whose name they reqmred him once, twice, nay man/y times, to consider that he was mortal, and could not last long ; for that God had given h/im a perishable Ufe, at the end whereof he was to render an accou/nt of that which had been required of him, since by a solemn oath he was obliged to do all that should be OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 213 manifest to his judgement, without any considerations of men of the world ; whose custom it was to make the hallance sway down, which God would have to be upright, according to the integrity of His Divine jttsUce. To this petition the Kings proctor oppo- sing himself, as he that was our adverse party, and that in certain articles, which he framed against us, set forth, how he would prove by ocular witnesses, as well of the country, as strangers, that we were publique thieves, making a common practice of robbing, and not merchants, such as we pretended to be ; whereunto he added, that if we had come to the coast of China with a good design, and with an intent to pay the King his due in his custom-houses, we would have repaired to the ports, where they were established by the ordinance of the Ayta/n of the Government ; but for a punishment, because we went from isle to isle, like pirats. Almighty God, that detests sin and robbery, had permitted us to suffer shipwrack, that so falling into the hands of the ministers of His justice we might receive the guerdon of om: wicked works, namely, the pains of death, whereof our critnes rendred us most worthy. In regard of all which, he desired we might be condemned according to the law of the second book, that commanded it in express terms. And that if for other considerations, no way remark- able in us, we could by any law be exempted from death, yet nevertheless, for that we were strangers, and vagabonds, with- out either faith, or knowledg of God, that alone would suffice, at leastwise to condemn us to have our hands and noses cut off, and so to be banished for ever into the country of Ponxileyta/y, whither such people as we, were wont to be exiled, as might be verified by divers sentences given and executed in like cases ; and to that effect, he desired the admittance of his articles, which he promised to prove within the time, that should be prescribed him. These articles were presently excepted against by the proctor of the Court of Justice, estabhshed for the poor, who offered to make the contrary appear within a certain term, which to that end, and for many other reasons alledged by him in our favour, was granted him ; wherefore he required that the said articles might not be admitted, especially for that they were infamous, and directly contrary to the ordinances of justice. Whereupon the Ohaem ordered, that his articles should not be 214 THE TBAVBL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES admitted, unless he did prove them by evident testimonies, and such as were conformable to the divine law, within six days next ensuing, and that upon pain in case of contravention not to be admitted to any demand of a longer delay. The said term of six days being prescribed the Kings proctor, he, in the mean time, producing no one proof against us, nor any person that so much as knew us, came and demanded a delay of other six days, which was flatly denied him, in regard it but too well appeared, that all he did was only to win time, and therefore he would by no means consent imto it ; but contrarily, he gave the proctor for the poor five days respit to alledge all that fur- ther he could in our defence. In the mean time, the Kings proctor declaimed against us in such foul and opprobrious terms, as the Chaem was much ofiended thereat ; so that he condemned him to pay us twenty Taeis of silver, both for his want of charity, and for that he could not prove any one of the obligations which he had exhibited against us. Three days being spent herein, iour Tanigores of the house of the poor, coming very early in the morning to the prison, sent for us into the Infirmirie, where they told us that our business went very well, and how we might hope that our sentence would have a good issue ; whereupon we oast our selves at their feet, and with abundance of tears desired God to reward them for the pains they had taken in our behalf. Thereunto one of them replyed, And we also most humbly beseech Him to keep you in the knowledge of His law, wherein all the happiness of good msn con- sists ; and so they caused two coverlets to be given us, for to lay upon our beds in the night, because the weather was cold, and withall bid us, that we should not stick to ask any thing we wanted, for that God Almighty did not love a sparing hand in the distributing of ahns for His sake. A little after their departure came the Eegister, and shewing us the Chaems order, whereby the Kings proctor was condemned to pay us twenty Taeis, gave us the money, and took an acquittance under our hands for the receipt of it. For which giving him a world of thanks, we intreated him for his pains to take as much thereof as he pleased ; but he would not touch a peny, saying, I will not for so small a matter lose the recompence which I hope to gain from God, for the consideration of you. OF FEMDINAND MENDBZ PINTO. 215 We past nine days in great fear, still expecting to have our sentence pronounced, when as on Saturday morning two €hvm- hims of Justice came to the prison for us, accompanied with twenty officers, by them called Hv^pes, carrying halberts, por- tisans, and other arms, which made them very dreadful to the beholders. These men tying us all nine together in a long iron chain, lead us to the Caladigan, which was the place where audience was given, and where execution was done on delia- quents. Now how we got thither, to confess the truth, I am not able to relate ; for we where at that instant so far besides our selves, as we knew not what we did, or which way we went; so as in that extremity aU our thought was how to conform our selves to the will of God, and beg of Him with tears, that for the merit of His sacred passion. He would be pleased to receive the punishment that should be inilioted on us for the satisfac- tion of our sins. At length after much pain, and many affronts, that were done us by many which followed after us, with loud cries, we arrived at the first hall of the Caladigan, where were four and twenty executioners, whom they call. The Ministers of the airm of justice, with a great many of other people, that were there about their affairs. Here we remained a long time, till at length upon the ringing of a bell, other doors were opened, that stood under a great arch of architecture, very artificially wrought, and whereon were a number of rich figures. On the top a monstrous lion of silver was seen, with his fore and hind feet upon a mighty great bowl, made of the same metal, ■vyhereby the arms of the King of China are represented, which are oi'dinarUy placed on the fore-front of all the sovereign courts, where the Chaems preside, who are as vice-roys amongst us. Those doors being opened, as I said before, all that were there present entred into a very great haU, like the body of a church, hung from the top to the bottom with divers pictures, wherein strange kinds of execution done upon persons of aU. conditions, after a most dreadful manner were constrained; and under every picture was this inscription. Such a one was executed with this hind of death for committing such a crime ; so that in beholding the diversity of these fearful pourtraitures one might see in it, as it were, a declaration of the kind of death that was ordained 216 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES for each crime, as also the extream rigour which the justice there observed in such executions. From this hall we went into another joom far richer, and more costly, for it was gilt all over, so that one could not have a more pleasing object, at least wise, if .we could have taken pleasure in any thing, considering the misery we were in. In the midst of this room there was a Tribunal, whereunto one ascended by seven steps, invironed with three rows of baUisters of iron, copper, and ebony ; the tops whereof were beautified with mother of pearl. At the upper end of all was a cloth of state of white damask, frenged about with a deep cawi frenge of green silk and gold; under this state sat the Chaem with a world of greatness and majesty; he was seated in a very rich chair of silver, having before him a little table,, and about him three boys on their knees, sumptuously apparelled, with chains of gold ; one of the which (namely, he in the middle) served to give the Chaem the pen wherewithal he signed; the other two took the petitions that were preferred, and presented them on the table, that they might be signed ; on the right hand, in another place somewhat higher, and almost equal with the Chaem, stood a boy, some ten or eleven years old, attired in a rich robe of white satin, imbroidered with roses of gold, having a chain of pearl three double about his neck, and hair as long as a womans, most neatly plaited with a fillet of gold, all enamelled with green, and powdered over with great seed pearl. In his hand he held, as a mark of that which he represented, a Uttle branch of roses, made of silk, gold thread, and rich pearls, very curiously intermixed. And in this manner he appeared so gentle, handsome, and beautiful, as no woman, how fair soever, could overmatch him ; this boy leaned on his elbow upon the Chaems chair, and figured mercy. In the like manner, on the left hand was another goodly boy, richly apparelled in a coat of carnation satin, all set with roses of gold, having his right arm bared up to the elbow, and died with a vermilion as red as blood, and in that hand holding a naked sword, which seemed also to be bloody: moreover, on his head he wore a crown, in fashion like to a myter, hung all with little razors, like unto lancets, wherewith Chirurgions let men blood; being thus gallantly set forth, and of most OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 217 beautiful presence, yet he struck all that beheld him with fear, in regard of that he represented, which was justice. For they say, that the judge, who holds the place of the King, who presents God on earth, ought necessarily to have those two qualities, justice, and m&rcy ; and that he which doth not use them is a tyrant, acknowledging no law, and usurping the power that he hath. The Chaem was apparelled in a long gown of violet satin, frenged with green sii and gold, with a kind of scapulair about his neck, in the midst of which was a great plate of gold, wherein an hand holding a very even pair of baUance was engraven, and the inscription about it : It is the nature of the Lord Almighty, to observe in His justice, weight, measure, cmd true account ; therefore take heed to what thou doest, for if thou comest to sin thou shalt suffer for it eternally. Upon his head he had a kind of round bonnet, bordered about with small sprigs of gold, all enamelled violet and green, and on the top of it was a little crowned Uon of gold, upon a round bowl of the same metal ; by which lion crowned, as I have delivered heretofore, is the King signified, and by the bowl, the world ; as if by these devices they would denote, that the King is the Lion crowned on the throne of the world. In his right hand he held a little rod of ivory, some three spans long, in manner of a scepter ; upon the top of the 3 first steps of this tribunal stood eight ushers with silver maces on their shoulders, and below were threescore Mogors on their knees, disposed into three ranks, carrying halberds in their hands, that were neatly damasked with gold. In the vantgard of these same stood, hke as if they had been, the commanders or captains of this squadron, the statues of two giants, of a most gallant aspect, and very richly attired, with their swords hanging in scarfs, and mighty great halberds in their hands, and these the Ghineses in their language call Gigaes ; on the two sides of this Tribunal, below in the room, were two very lor^ tables, at each of which sat twelve men, whereof four were presidents, or judges, two registers, four solicitors, and two GorushaUs, which are (as it were) assistants to the Court, one of these tables was for criminal, and the other for civil causes, and all the officers of both these tables were apparelled in the gowns of white satin, that were very 218 THE TBAVEL8, VOYAOES, AND ADVENTURES long, and had large slieves, thereby demonstrating the latitude and purity of justice ; the tables were covered with carpets of violet damask, and richly bordered about vrith gold, the Gkaems table, because it was of silver, had no carpet on it, nor any thing else, but a cushion of cloth of gold, and a standith. Now aU these things put together, as we saw them, carried a wonderful shew of state and majesty; but to proceed, upon the fourth ringing of a bell, one of the GonchaUs stood up, and after a low obeysance made to the Ghaem, with a very loud voice, that he might be heard of every one, he said, Peace there, and with all submission hearken, on pain of incwring the purdshment, ordamed by the Chaems of the Government for those, that interrupt the silence of sacred justice. "Whereupon this same sitting down again, another arose, and with the like reverence, mounting up to the Tribunal, where the Ghaem sat, he took the sentences from him that held them in his hand, and pubHshed them aloud one after another, with so many ceremonies, and compUments, as he employed above an hour therein. At length coming to pronounce our judgment, they caused us to kneel down, with our eyes fixed on the ground, and our hands lifted up, as if we were praying unto heaven, to the end that in all humiUty we might hear the publication thereof, which was thus : [A portion only of the judgment is here given.] I do orda/in, and decree, that these nine strangers shall be clearly qidt and absolved of all that which the Kings proctor hath laid to their charge, as also of all the punishment belonging tfiereunto, condemning them only to a years exile, d/wring which time they shall work for their living in the reparations of Quansy ; and when as eight moneths of the said year shall be accomplished, then I expresly enjoyn all the Chumbims, Con- chalis, Monteos, and other ministers of their government, that immediately upon their presenting of this my decree unto them, they give them a pass-part and safe conduct, to the end they mMj freely and secweVy return into their country, or to any other place they shall think fit. After this sentence was thus pub- lished in our hearing, we all cried out with a loud voice. The OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 219 sentence of thy clear judgement is confirmed in us, even as the purity of thy heart is agreeable to the Son of the Sun. THis said, one of the Gonchalis, that sate at one of the tables, stood up, and having made a very low obeisance to the Ghaem, he said aloud five times one after another, to all that press of people which were there in great number; Is there any one in this cou/rt, in this city, or in this kingdom, that will oppose this decree, or the deliverance of these nine prisoners ? Whereimto no answer being made, the two boys, that represented justice and mercy, touched the ensigns which they held in their hands together, and said aloud, Let them be freed and ddscha/rged according to the sentence very justly pronounced for it ; where- upon one of those mitiiBters, whom they call Huppes, having rung a beU thrice, the two Ghumbims of execution, that had formerly bound us, unloosed us from our chain, and withal took off our manacles, coUers, and the other irons from our legs, so that we were quite delivered, for which we gave infinite thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ, because we always thought, that for the ill conceit men had of us we should be condemned to death. From thence, so delivered as we were, they led us back to the prison, where the two Ghumbims signed our enlargment in the jaylors book ; nevertheless that we might be altogether discharged, we were to go two months after to serve a year according to our sentence, upon pain of becoming slaves for ever to the King, conformable to his ordinances. Now because we would presently have gone about to demand the alms of good people in the city, the Ghifuu, who was as Grand Provost of that prison, perswaded us to stay till the next day, that he might first recommend us to the Tanigores of mercy, that they might do something for us. 220 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES CHAPTBE XXX. What past betwixt us and the Tanigores of mercy, with the great favors they did us ; and a brief relation of the city of Pequin, where the King of China kept his Court. T TTTl next morning the four Tanigores of mercy came to visit the infirmity of this prison, as they used to do; where they rejoyced with us for the good success of our sen- tence, giving us great testimony, how well contented they were with it, for which we returned them many thanks, not without shedding abundance of tears, whereat they seemed to be not a little pleased, and willed us not to be troubled with the term we were condemned to serve in, for they told us that in stead of a year we should continue but eight months there, and that the other four moneths, which made the third part of our punishment, the King remitted it by way of alms for Gods sake, in consideration that we were poor ; for otherwise, if we had been rich, and of ability, we should have had no favour at aU, promising to cause this diminution of punishment to be endorsed on our sentence, and besides that they would- go, and speak to a very honour- able man for us, that was appointed to be the chief Marshal, or Monteo, of Quansy, the place where we were to serve, to the end he might shew us favour, and cause us to be truly paid for the time we should remain there. Now because this man was naturally a friend to the poor, and inchned to do them good, they thought it would be fit to carry us along with them to his house, the rather for that it might be he would take us into his charge ; we gave them all very humble thanks for this good offer of theirs, and told them that God would reward this charity they shewed us for His sake ; whereupon we accompanied them to the Monteos house, who came forth to receive us in his outward Court, leading his wife by the hand; which he did, either out of a greater form of comple- ment, or to do the more honour to the Tanigores, and coming neer them he prostrated himself at their feet, and said : It is now, my lord, and holy brethren, that I have ca/use to rejoyci for that it hath pleased God to permit, that you His holy servants OP FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 221 should come unto my house, being that wMch I could not hope for, in regard I held my self vmworthy of such fmour. After the Tanigores had used many complements and ceremonies to him, as is usual in that country, they answered him thus, May God, ov/r Sovereign Lord, the infinite source of mercy, recompense the good thou dost for the poor with blessing in this Ufe ; for believe it, dea/r brother, the strongest staff whereon the soul doth lean to keep her from falling so often as she happens to stumble, is the charity which we use towards our neighbour, when as the vain glory of this world doth not blind the good zeal whereunto His holy law doth oblige us; and that thou ma/yst merit the blessed feUcity of beholding His face, we home brought thee here these nine Portugals, who are so poor, as none in this kingdom are like to them ; wherefore we pray thee, that' in the place whither thou a/rt going now, as Monteo, thou wilt do for them all that thou thinkest will be acceptable to the Lord above, in whose behalf we crave this of thee. To this speech the Monteo, and his wife, replyed in such courteous and re- markable terms, as we were almost besides our selves to hear in what manner they attributed the success of their affairs to the principal cause of all goodness, even as though they had had the light of faith, or the knowledge of the Christian verity. Hereupon they withdrew into a chamber, into which we went not, and continued there about half an hour; then as they were about to take leave of one another, they commanded us to come in to them, where the Tanigores spake to them again about us, and recommending us unto them more then before, the Monteo caused our names to be written down in a book that lay before him, and said unto us, I do tMs, because I am not so good a man, as to gwe you something of rrdne own, nor so bad as to deprive you of the sweat of your labou/r, where- unto the King hath bound you ; wherefore even at this instant you shall begin to get your Iming, although you do not serve as yet, for the desire I home that thds may be accounted to me for an alms, so that now you ha/oe nothing to do, but to be merry in my hovise, where I will gvoe order that you shall be provided of all that is necessary for you. Besides this, I will not promise you any thing, for the fear I am in of the shewing some vamity by my promise, and so the dmel may make use thereof as of an 222 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES advantage, to lay Iwld on me, a matter that often arrives through the wealcness of our nature ; wherefore let it suffice you for the present to know, that I will he rmndful of you for the love of these holy brethren here, who have spoken to me for you. The four Tardgores thereupon taking their leave, gave us four Taeis, and said unto us, Forget not to render thanks unto God for the good success you have had in your business ; for it would be a grievous sin in you not to acknowledge so great a grace. Thus were we very well entertained in the house of this captain for the space of two months, that we remained there ; at the end whereof we parted from thence, for to go to Quansy, where we were to make up our time, under the conduct of this captain, who ever after used us very kindly, and shewed us many favours, until that the Tartars entred into the town, who did a world of mischief there, as I wiU more amply declare hereafter. Before I recount that which happened unto us, after we were imbarqued with those Ghineses that conducted us, and that gave us great hope of setting us at liberty, I think it not amiss to make a brief relation here of the city of Peguin, which may truly be termed the capital of the monarchy of the world; as also of some particulars I observed there, as well for its arches and poUcy, as for that which concerns its extent, its government, the laws of the countrey, and the admirable manner of providing for the good of the whole state, together in what sort they are paid that serve in the time of war, according to the ordinances of the kingdom, and many other things Uke unto these ; though I must needs confess that herein I shall want the best part, namely, wit, and capacity, to render a reason in what clymate it is scitu- ated, and in the height of how many degrees, which is a matter the learned and curious most desire to be satisfied in. But my design having never been other (as I have said hereto- fore) then to leave this my book unto my children, that therein they may see the sufferings I have undergone, it little imports me to write otherwise then I do, that is, in a gross and rude manner ; for I hold it better to treat of these things in such sort as nature hath taught me, then to use hyperboles, and speeches from the purpose, whereby the weakness of my poor OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 223 mderstanding may be made more evident. Howbeit, since I im obliged to make mention of this matter, by the promise I lave made of it heretofore, I say, that this city, which we sail Peqwin, and they of the country Peqidn, is scituated in ihe height of forty and one degrees of northerly , latitude ; ihe walls of it are in circuit (by the report of the CMneses ihemselves, and as I have read in a Uttle book, treating of the preatness thereof, and intituled Aqwisendcm, which I brought lince along with me into Portugal) thirty large leagues, lamely ten long, and five broad ; some others hold, that it is ifty, namely seventeen in length, and eight in bredth : and 'orasmuch as they that treat of it are of different opinions, in ihat the one make the extent of it thirty leagues, as I have said before, and others fifty, I will render a reason of this ioubt, comformable to that which I have seen my self. It is irue, that in the manner it is now built, it is thirty leagues in sircuit, as they say; for it is invironed with two rows of strong walls, where there are a number of towers and julwarks after our fashion ; but without this circuit, which is )f the city it self, there is another far greater, both in length md breadth, that the CMneses afiSrm was anciently aU in- labited, but at this present there are only some boroughs and rillages, as also a many of fair houses, or castles, about it, imongst the which there are sixteen hundred that have great idvantages over the rest, and are the houses of the proctors )f the sixteen hundred cities, and most remarkable towns of ihe two and thirty kingdoms of this monarchy, who repair into this city at the general assembly of the estates, which is leld every three years for the publique good. Without this p:eat inclosure, which (as I have said) is not comprehended in ihe city, there is in a distance of three leagues broad, and leven long, fourscore thousand tombs of the Mandarins, which ire little chappels all gilded within, and compassed about with )allistera of iron and lattin, the entries whereinto are through rery rich and sumptuous arches : near to these chappels there ire also very great houses, with gardens and tufted woods of ligh trees, as also many inventions of ponds, fountains, and bquseducts; whereunto may be added, that the walls of the nclosure are on the inside covered with fine porcelain, and on 224 TEE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES the fanes above are many lions pourtrayed in gold, as also in the squares of the steeples, which are likewise very high, and embellished with pictures. It hath also five hundred very great palaces, which are called thfC houses of the son of the sun, whither all those retire that have been hurt in the wars for the service of the King, as also many other souldiers, who in regard of age or sickness are no longer able to bear arms, and to the end that during the rest of their days they may be exempted from incommodity, each of them receives monethly a certain pay to find himself withal, and to live upon. Now aU these men of wf\r, as we learned of the Ghineses, are ordinarily an hundred thousand, there being in each of those houses two hujidred men according to their report. We saw also another long street of low houses, where there were four and twenty thousand oar-men, belonging to the King Panoures ; and another of the same structtire a good league in length, where fourteen thousand taverners that followed the Court dwelt ; as also a third street like imto the other two, where live a great number of light women, exempted from the tribute which they of the city pay, for that they are curti- sans, whereof the most part had quitted their husbands for to foUow that wretched trade; and if for that cause they 'come to receive any hurt, their husbands are grievously punished for it, because they are there as in a place of freedom, and imder the protection of the Tutan of the Court, lord steward of the Kings house. In this inclosure do likewise remain all the landresses, by them called Magnates, which wash the Unnen of the city, who as we were told, are above an hundred thousand, and live in this quarter, for that there are divers rivers there, together with a nmnber of wells, and deep pools of water, compassed about with good walls. Within this same inclosure, as the said Aqmsendwn relates, there are thirteen hundred gallant and very sumptuous houses of reUgious men and women, who make profession of the four principal laws of those two and thirty which are in the empire of Ghdna ; and it is thought that in some of these houses there are above a thousand persons, besides the servants, that from abroad do furnish them with victuals, and other necessary provisions. We saw also a great many houses, which have OF FEBBINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 225 fair buildings of a large extent, with spacious inclosures, wherein there are gardens, and very thick woods, full of any- kind of game, either for hawking, or hunting, that may be desired ; and these houses are as it were inns, whither come jontinually in great number people of all ages and sexes, as to see comedies, plays, combates, bull-baitings, wrastlings, and magnificent feast, which the Tutons, Ghaems, Gonchacys, A.ytaos, Bracalons, Ghumhims, Monteos, Lauteas, lords, jentlemen, captains, merchants, and other rich men, do make for, to give content to their kindred and friends ; these bouses are bravely furnished with rich hangings, beds, chairs, and stools, as hkewise with huge cupbords of plate, not onely Df silver, but of gold also ; and the attendants that wait at the table, are maids ready to be married, very beautiful, and gallantly attired ; howbeit all this is nothing in comparison of ihe sumptuousness, and other magnificences that we saw ihere. Now the GMneses assured us, there were some feasts that lasted ten days after the Ca/rachina, or Ghinese manner, ivhich in regard of the state, pomp, and charge thereof, as jyell in the attendance of servants and wayters, as in the jostly fare of all kind of flesh, fowl, fish, and all delicacies in nusick, in sports of hunting, and hawking, in plays, comedies, iilts, turnayes, and in shews both of horse and foot, fighting md skirmishing together, do cost above twenty thousand Taeis. These inns do stand in at least a milhon of gold, and ire maintained by certain companies of very rich merchants, Nho in way of commerce and traffique employ their mony iherein, whereby it is thought they gain far more, then if they ihould venture it to sea. It is said also, that there is so good md exact an order observed there, that whensoever any one vill be at a charge that way, he goes to the Xipaton of the lOuse, who is the superintendent thereof, and declares unto lim what his design is ; whereupon he shews him a book, all livided into chapters, which treats of the ordering and lumptuousness of feasts, as also the rates of them, and how hey shall be served in, to the end, that he who will be at the iharge, may ohuse which he pleases. This book, called ' Pinetoreu, I have seen, and heard it read ; so that I remember low in the three first chapters thereof, it speaks of the feasts, { IG 226 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 whereunto God is to be invited, and of what price they are , and then it descends to the King of China, of whom it says, That by a special grace of Heaven, and right of sovereignty, he hath the government of the whole earth, and of all the kings that inhabit it. After it hath done with the King of China, it speaks of the feasts of the Tutons, which are the ten sovereign dignities, that command over the forty Chaems, who are as the vice-roys of the state. These Tutons also are termed the beams of the sun, for, say they, as the King of China is the son of the sun, so the Tutons, who represent him, may rightly be termed his beams, for that they proceed from him, even as the rays do from the sun. [Here follows a description of the inns and universities of Pequin, 0«t{tt«ir,] CHAPTER XXXI. The Prison of Xinanguibalen, wherein those are kept, which have been condemned to serve at the reparations of the wall of Tartaria ; and another indosure, called the Treasure of the Dead, with the revenues wherewith the prison is maintained, DESISTING now from speaking in particular of the great number of the rich and magnificent buildings, which we saw in the city of Pequin, I will only insist on some of the edifices thereof, that seemed more remarkable to me then the rest, whence it may be easie to infer, what all those might be, whereof I will not make any mention here, to avoid prolixity. The first building which I saw of those that were most remarkable, was a prison, which they call XinangvAhaleu, that is to say, the inclosv/re of the Epiles ; the circuit of this prison is two leagues square, or little less, both in length and bredth : it is inclosed with a very high waU without any battlements ; the wall on the outside is invironed with a great deep ditch full of water, over the which are a many of draw bridges, that are drawn up in the night with certain iron chains, and so hang suspended on huge cast pillars ; in this prison is an arch OB FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 227 )f strong hewed stone, abutting in 2 towers, in the tops ^Thereof are 6 great sentinel-bells, which are never rung but lU the rest within the said inclosure do answer them, which ihe Ghineses afl&rm to be above a hundred, and indeed they nake a most horrible din. In this place there are ordinarily ihree hundred thousand prisoners, between 17 and 50, whereat Ne were much amazed ; and indeed we had good cause, in :egard it is a thing so unusual and extraordinary. Now lesiring to know of the Ghineses the occasion of so marvellous I building, and of the great number of prisoners that were in t ; they answered us, that after the King of China, named Orisnago Docotay, had finished a wall of 300 leagues space Detwixt the kingdom of China, and that of Tartaria, as I have leclared other where, he ordained by the advice of his people, for to that effect he caused an assembly of his estates to be leld) that all those which should be condemned to banishment should be sent to work in the repairing of this wall, and that ifter they had served 6 years together therein, they might reely depart, though they were sentenced to serve for a onger time, because the king pardoned them the remainder )f the term by way of charity and alms ; but if during those rears they should happen to perform any remarkable act, or )ther thing, where it appeared they had advantage over others, )r if they were 3 times wounded in the saUies they should nake, or if they killed some of their enemies, they were then be dispensed with for all the rest of their time, and that he Ghaem should grant them a certificate thereof, where it ihould be declared why he had delivered them, and how he lad thereby satisfied the ordinances of war. Two hundred md ten thousand men are to be continually entertained in the vork of the wall, by the first institution, whereof defalcation 3 made of a third part, for such as are dead, maimed, and lelivered, either for their notable actions, or for that they had iccomplished their time : and likewise when as the Ghaem, ?ho is the chief of all those, sent to the PitoMcama/y, which 3 the highest court of justice, to furnish him with that lumber of men, they could not assemble them together so oon as was necessary, for that they were divided in so many everal places of that empire, which is prodigiously great, as 228 TEE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES I have delivered before, and that withall a long time was required for the assembling them together, another king named Gopiley Apirau, who succeeded to that Grisnago Docotay, ordained that the great inclosure should be made in the city of Pequin, to the end that as soon as any were condemned to the work of this wall, they should be carried to Xinanguibaleu, for to be there altogether, by which means they might be sent away without any delay, as now is done. So soon as the court of justice hath committed the prisoners to this prison, whereof he that brings them hath a certificate, they are immediately left at liberty, so that they may walk at their pleasure within this great inclosure, having nothing but a little plate of a span long, and i fingers broad, wherein these words are engraven, such a one of stock a place hath been condemned to the general exile for such a cause ; he entred such a day, such a moneth, such a year. Now the reason why they make every prisoner to carry this plate for a testimony of their evil actions, is, to manifest for what crime he was condemned, and at what time he entred, because every one goes forth conformably to the length of time that shall be since he entred in. These prisoners are held for duly delivered when they are drawne out of captivity for to go and work at the wall, for they cannot upon any cause whatsoever be exempted from the prison of XinangvAhaleu, and the time they are there is counted to them for nothing, in regard they have no hope of liberty but at that instant when their term permits them to work in the reparations ; for then they may be sure to be deHvered, according to the ordinance whereof I have made mention before. Having now dehvered the occasion wherefore so great a prison was made, before I leave it, I hold it not amiss to speak of a fair we saw there, of two that are usually kept every year; which those of the country call Gunxinem, ApparoM, Xinanguibaleu, that is to say. The rich foA/r of the prison of the condemned. These fairs are kept in the moneths of July and January, vnth very magnificent feasts, solemnized for the invocation of their idols, and even, there they have their plenary indulgences, by means whereof great riches of gold and silver are promised them in the other world. They are both of them frank and OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 229 ree, so as the merchants pay no duties, whieli is the cause hat they flock thither in such great number, as they assured IS that there were three milHons of persons there ; and for 1.3 much as I said before, that the three hundred thousand that tre imprisoned there are at liberty, as well as those that go n and out, you shall see what course they hold to keep the )risoner3 from getting forth amongst others. Every one that s free and comes in hath a mark set on the wrist of his right irm with a certain confection made of oyl, bitumen, lacre, ■hubarb, and alum, which being once dry cannot be any ways lefaced, but by the means of vinegar and salt mingled together rery hot : and to the end that so great a number of people nay be marked, on both sides of the gates stand a many of "Jhaiwpatoens, who vnth stamps of lead, dipt in this bitumen, mprints a mark on every one that presents himself unto them, iiud so they let him enter ; which is onely practised on men, lot upon women, because none of that sex are ever condemned ;o the labour of the wall. When therefore they come to go )ut of the gates, they must all have their arms bared where ;his mark is, that the said Cha/inpatoens, who are the porters md ministers of this affair, may know them, and let them lass ; and if by chance any one be so unhappy as to have that nark defaced by any accident, he must even have patience, md remain vrith the other prisoners, in regard there is no way io get him out of this place if he be found without that mark, ^ow those Ghainpatoens are so dextrous and well versed in it, Ihat an hundred thousand men may in an hour go in and out sdthout trouble, so that by this means the three hundred ihousand prisoners continue in their captivity, and none of ihem can slip away amongst others to get out. There are in ihis prison 3 great inclosures like great towns, where there are I number of houses, and very long streets, without any lanes; md at the entrance into each street there are good gates, with iheir sentinel bells aloft, together with a Ghumbim, and 20 nen for a guard ; within a flight-shoot of those inclosures are he lodgings of the Chaem, who commands all this prison, and hose lodgings are composed of a number of fair houses, where- n are many out-courts, gardens, ponds, halls, and chambers, inriched with excellent inventions, able to lodge a king at his 230 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES ease, how great a court soever he have. In the 2 principal of these towns there are 2 streets, each of them ahout a flight-shoot long, which abut upon the Chaem's lodgings, arched all along with stone, and covered over head like the hospital at Lisbon, but that they far surpass it.- Here are all things to be sold that one can desire, as well for victual, and other kind of provisions, as for all sorts of merchandise, and rich wares. In those arched streets, which are very spacious and long, are these 2 fairs kept every year, whither such a multitude of people resort, as I have declared before. More- over within the inclosure of this prison are divers woods of tall and high trees, with many small streams, and ponds of clear sweet water for the use of the prisoners, and to wash their linnen, as also sundry hermitages, and hospitals, together with 12 very sumptuous and rich monasteries, so that whatso- ever is to be had in a great town, may in great abundance be found within the inclosure, and with advantage in many things, because the most part of these prisoners have their wives and children there, to whom the king gives a lodging answerable to the household or family, which each one hath. The second of those things, which I have undertaken to relate, is another inclosure we saw almost as big as the former, compassed about with strong walls, and great ditches. This place is called the Muxiparan, which signifies. The treaswre of the dead ; where are many towers of hewed carved stone, and steeples diversly painted. The walls on the top are instead of battlements environed with iron gates, where there are a number of idols of different figures, as of men, serpents, horses, oxen, elephants, fishes, adders, and many other mon- strous forms of creatures (which were never seen) some of brass, and iron, and others of tin and copper; so that this infinite company of several figures joyned together is one of the most remarkable and pleasantest things that can be imagined. Having passed over the bridge of the ditch we arrived at a great court that was at the first entrance, inclosed round about with huge gates, and paved all over with white and black stones in chequer-work, so polished and bright, as one might see himself in them as in a looking-glass. In the midst of this court was a pillar of jasper six and thirty spans OF FEBDINAND MFNDBZ PINTO. 281 high, and as it seemed all one piece, on the top whereof was an idol of silver in the figure of a woman, which with her hands strangled a serpent, that was excellently enamelled with black and green. A little further at the entrance of another gate, which stood between two very high towers, and accom- panied vrith four and twenty pillars of huge great stone, there were two figures of men, each of them with an iron club in his hand, as if they had served to guard that passage, being an hundred and forty spans high, with such hideous and ugly visages, as make them even to tremble that behold them. The GMneses called them Xixvpatan XaUoan, that is to say, The blowers of the house of smoke. At the entring into this gate there were twelve men with halberds, and two registers, set at a table, who enrolled all that entered there, unto whom every one paid a matter of a groat; when we were entered within this gate, we met with a very large street, closed on both sides with goodly arches, as well in regard of the work- manship, as the rest, round about the which hung an infinite company of little bells of Lattin, by chains of the same metall, that moved by the air, made such a noise as one could not without much ado hear one another. The street might be about half a league long, and within these arches, on both sides of the way, were two rows of low houses, like unto great churches, with steeples gilt, and divers inventions of painting. Of these houses the Ghineses assured us there was in that place three thousand, all which (from the very top to the bottom) were full of dead men's skulls, a thing so strange, that in every mans judgment a thousand great shops could hardly contain them. Behind these houses, both on the one side and the other, were two great mounts of dead mens bones, reaching far above the ridges of the houses, full as long as the street, and of a mighty bredth. These bones were ordered and disposed one upon another so curiously and aptly, that they seemed to grow there. Having demanded of the Chdneses whether any register was kept of these bones; they answered, there was; for the Talagrepos, unto whose charge the ad- ministration of these three thousand houses was committed, enrolled them all ; and that none of the houses yielded less than two thousand Taeis revenue out of such lands, as the 232 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES owners of these bones had bequeathed to them for their sotjs health; and that the rent of these three thousand houses together amounted unto five miUions of gold yearly, whereof the King had four, and the Talagrepos the other, for to defray the expences of this fabriek, and that the four appertained to the King, as their support, who dispenced them in the mainten- ance of the thtee hundred thousand prisoners of Xinangm- baleu. Being amazed at this marvel, we began to go along this street, in the midst whereof we found a great Piazza, compassed about with two huge grates of Lattin, and within it was an adder of brass, infolded into I don't know how many boughts, and so big that it contained thirty fathom in circuit, being withall so ugly and dreadfuU, as no words are able to describe it. Some of us would estimate the weight of it, and the least opinions reached to a thousand quintals, were it hollow within, as I believe it was. Now although it was of an unmeasurable greatness, yet was it in every part so well proportioned, as nothing could be amended, whereunto also the workmanship thereof is so correspondent, that all the perfection that can be desired from a good workman is ob- served in it. This monstrous serpent, which the GMneses call, the ghtttonous Serpent of the house of smolce, had on the top of his head a bowl of iron, two and fifty foot in circum- ference, as if it had been thrown at him from some other place; twenty paces further was the figure of a man of the same brass in the form of a giant, in like manner very strange and extraordinary, as well for the greatness of the body, as the hugeness of the limbs. This monster held an iron bowl just as big as the other aloft in both his hands, and beholding the serpent with a frowning and angry countenance, he seemed as though he would throw his bowl at him. Bound about this figure was a number of Utile idols all gilt on their knees, with their hands hfted up to him, as if they would adore him. All this great edifice was consecrated to the honour of this idol, called Muclupa/ron, whom the GMneses affirmed to be treasurer of all the dead bones, and that when the gluttonous serpent before mentioned came to steal them away, he made at him with the bowl which he held in his hands, whereupon the serpent in great fear fled immediately OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 283 away to the bottom of the profound house of smoke, whither j God had precipitated him for his great wickedness ; and further that he had maintained a combat with him three thousand years already, and was to continue the same three thousand years more, so that from three thousand to three thousand years he was to imploy five bowls, wherewith he was to make an end of kiUing him. Hereunto they added, that as soon as this serpent should be dead, the bones that were there assembled, would retm^n to their bodies, to which they appertained formerly, and so should go and remain for ever in the House of the Moon. To these brutish opinions they joyn many others such like, unto which they give so much faith, that nothing can be able to remove them from it, for it is the doctrine that is preached unto them by their Bonzes, who also teU them that the true way to make a soul happy, is to gather these bones together into this place, by means where- of there is not a day passes but that a thousand or two of these wretches bones are brought thither. Now if some for their far distance cannot bring all the bones whole thither, they will at leastwise bring a tooth or two, and so they say that by way of an alms they make aa good satisfaction as if they brought all the rest ; which is the reason that in all these chamel houses there is such an infinite multitude of these teeth, that one might lade many ships with them. [Here follows an accotmt of the chapels of the Kings of China, and other matters, trmitteJ».J CHAPTEE XXXII. Of our going to Quincay to accomplish the time of oui ezile; and vrhat befell UB there. WB had been now two moneths and an half in this city of Peqmn, when as on Satv/rday, the 13th of July, 1554. we were carried away to the town of Quamcy, there to serve all the time that we were condemned unto. Now as soon as we arrived there, the Chaem caused us to be 234 TSE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES brought before him, and after he had asked us some questions, he appointed ua to be of the number of fourscore halberdiers, which the King assigned him for his guard. This we took as a special favour from God, both in regard this imployment was not very paiaful, as also because the entertainment was good, and the pay of it better, being assured besides that at the time we should recover our liberty. Thus lived we almost a moneth very peaceably, and well contented for that we met vrith a better fortune then we expected, when as the devU, seeing how weU all we nine agreed together (for all that we had was in common amongst us, and whatsoever misery any one had, we shared it with him like true brethren), he so VTTOUght that two of our company fell into a quarrel, which proved very prejudicial to us all. This division sprung from a certain vanity too famihar with the Portugal nation, whereof I can reiider no other reason, but that they are naturally sensible of any thing that touches upon honour. Now see what the difference was ; two of us nine falling by chance in contest about the extraction of the Mad/ureyras and the Fonsecas, for to know which of these two houses was in most esteem at the King of Portugals Court, the matter went so far, that from one word to another they came at length to terms of oyster- wives, saying one to the other. Who are you? and again, who are you? so that thereupon they suffered themselves to be so transported with choler, that one of them gave the other a great box on the ear, who instantly returned him a blow with his sword, which cut away almost half his cheek ; this same feeling himself hurt caught up an halberd, and therewith ran the other through the arm; this disaster begot such part-taking amongst us, as of nine that we were seven of us found our selves grievously wounded. In the mean tii^e, the Chaem came running in person to this tumult with all the Anchacys of Justice, who laying hold of us gave us presently thirty lashes apiece, which drew more blood from us than our hurts. This done, they shut us up in a dungeon under ground, where they kept us six and forty days with heavy iron collars about our necks, manacles on our hands, and irons on our legs, so that we suffered exceedingly in this deplorable estate. This while our business was brought before OP FEBDINAND MBNDEZ PiNTO. 235 the Kings attumey, who having seen our accusations, and that one of the articles made faith, that there were sixteen wit- nesses against us, he stuck not to say, That we were people without the fear or knowledge of God, who did not confess hmi otherwise with owr mouthes, then as any wild beast might do if he could speak ; that these things presupposed it was to be believed, that we were men of blood, of a lamgiiage, of a law, of a nation, of a county, and of a kingdom, the inhabitants whereof wounded and killed one another most cruelly without any reason or cause, and therefore no other judgment could be made of ms, but that we were the servants of the most gluttonous serpent of the profound pit of smoak, as appeaired by ou/r works, since they were no better then such as that accursed serpent had accustomed to do; so that according to the law of the third Book of the will of the Son of the Sun, called MUeterau, we were to be condemned to a banishment from all commerce of people, as a venemous and contagious plague ; so that we deserved to be confined to the mountains of Chabaguay, Sumbor, or Lamau, whither su^h as we were used to be exiled, to the end they might in that place hear the wild beasts howl in the night, which were of as vile a breed and natwre as we. Prom this prison we were one morning led to a place, called by them Pitau Galidan, where the Anchacy sat in judge- ment with a majestical and dreadful greatness. He was accompanied by divers Ghumbims, Huppes, Lanteas, and Gypatons, besides a number of other persons ; there each of us had 30 lashes apiece more given us, and then by publiok sentence we were removed to another prison, where we were in better case yet then ia that out of which we came, howbeit for all that we did not a little detest amongst our selves both the Fonseca's, and the Madwreyra's, but much more the devil, that wrought us this mischief. In this prison we continued almost 2 moneths, during which time our stripes were throughly healed, howbeit we were exceedingly afflicted with hunger, and thirst. At length it pleased God that the Ghaem took compassion of us ; for on a certain day, wherein they use to do works of charity for the dead, coming to review our sentence he ordained, That in regard we were strangers, and of a country so far distant from theirs, as no man 236 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 had knowledge of us, nor that there was any book or writing which made mention of our name, and that none understood our language; as also that we were accustomed, and even hardned to misery and poverty, which many times puts the best and most peaceable persons into disorder, and therefore might well trouble such, as made no profession of patience in their adversities ; whence it followed, that owr discord proceeded rather from the effects of our misery, then from any inclination wnto mutiny and tumult, tvherewith the Kings atturny charged us ; and further- more representing unto himself what great need there was of men for the ordinary service of the state, and of the officers of justice, for which provision necessarily was to be made, he thought fit, that the punishment for the crimes we had committed, should in the way of an alms bestowed in the Kings name be moderated, a/nd reduced to the whipping which we twice already had, upon condition nevertheless that we should be detained there as slaves for ever, unless it should please the Tuton otherwise to ordain of us. This sentence was pronounced against us, and though we shed a many of tears to see our selves reduced unto this miser- able condition, wherein we were, yet this seemed not so bad unto us as the former. After the publication of this decree we were presently drawn out of prison, and tied 3 and 3 together, then led to certain iron forges, where we past 6 whole moneths in strange labours, and great necessities, being in a manner quite naked, without any bed to lie on, and almost famished. At last after the enduring of so many evils, we fell sick of a lethargy, which was the cause, in regard it was a contagious disease, that they turned us out of doors for to go and seek our living, untill we became well again. Being thus set at liberty we continued 4 moneths sick, and begging the alms of good people from door to door, which was given us but sparingly, by reason of the great dearth that then reigned over aU the country, so as we were constrained to agree better together, and to promise one another by a solemn oath, that we took, to live lovingly, for the future, as good Christians should do, and that every moneth one should be chosen from amongst us to be as it were a kinde of chief, whom, by the oath we had taken, all the rest of us were to obey, as their superiour, so that none of us was to dispose of himself, or do OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 237 any thing, without his command, or appointment ; and those rules were put into writing by us, that they might be the better observed ; as indeed God gave us the grace to live ever afterward in good peace and concord, though it were in great pain, and extreme necessity of all things. [Pinto meets a certain Portiigtcese, one Vasco Calvo, settled in CMna many yea/rs, ontiitjeb't] CHAPTEE XXXIII. A Tartar commander enters with his army into the town of Quineay, and that which followed thereupon; with the Nautieor's besieging the Castle of Kixiamcoo, and the taking of it by the means of some Fortugals. WE had been now 8 moneths and an half in this captivity, wherein we endured much misery and many incommo- dities, for that we had nothing to live upon but that we got by begging up and down the town, when as one We&nesdwy, the 3rd of July, in the year 1544. a Uttle after midnight there was such a hurly burly amongst the people, that to hear the noises and cries which was made in every part, one would have thought the earth would have come over and over, which caused us to go in haste to Vasco Calvo his house, of whom we demanded the occasion of so great a tumult, whereunto with tears in his eyes he answered us, that certain news were come how the King of Tarta/ry was fallen upon the city of Pequim with so great an army, as the like had never been seen since Adam's time. In this army, according to report, were seven and twenty kings, under whom marched eighteen hundred thousand men, whereof six hundred thousand were horse, which were come by land from the cities of Lttamsama, Famstir, and Mecuy, with fourscore thousand Bhinocerots, that drew the waggons, wherein was all the baggage of the army, as for the other twelve hundred thousand, which were foot, it was said that they arrived by sea in seventeen thousand vessels, down through the river of Bata/mpina ; by reason whereof the King of China finding himself too weak for the resisting of such great forces, had with a few retired himself to the city of 238 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES Nanquin. And that also it was reported for certain, that a Nanticor, one of the ohiefest Tartar commanders, was come to the forrest of Malincataran, not above a league and a half from Quinsay, with an army of threescore and two thousand horse, wherewith he marched against the town, that in all likeKhood he would be there within two hours at the furthest. These news so troubled us, that we did nothing but look one upon another, without being able to speak a word to any purpose, howbeit desiring to save our selves, we prayed Vasco Gaho to shew us what means he thought we might use to effect it, who sad and full of grief thus answered us ; that we were in our countrey between Laura and Caruaha, where I have often been, and should be there now in safety, but since it cannot be so, all that we can do for the present, is to recommend our selves to God, and to pray unto Him to assist us ; for I assure you that an hour ago I would have given a thousand Taeis in silver to any one, that could have got me from hence, and saved me with my wife and children, but there was no possibility for it, because the gates were then all shut up, and the walls round about invironed with armed men, which the Ghaem had placed there to withstand the enemy. So my fellows and I, that were nine in niunber, past the rest of the night in much affliction and unquietness, without any means of counseUing one another, or resolving on what we were to do, continually weeping for the extreme fear we were in of what should become of us. The next morning a little before sun-rising the enemy appeared in a most dreadful manner, they were divided into 7 very great battalions, having their ensigns quartered with green and white, which are the colours of the King of Ta/rtcma ; marching in this order to the sound of their trumpets, they arrived at a Pagode, called Petilau Nameioo, a place of good receit, in regard of the many lodgings it had, which was not much distant from the walls. In their vantguard they had a number of light-horse, who ran confusedly up and down with their lances in their rests. Being in this sort come to the Pagode, they staid there about half an hour, and then marching on till they were within an harquebuse-shot of the walls, they sud- denly ran to them with such hideous cries, as one would have thought that heaven and earth would have come together, and OF FBBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 289 rearing up above two thousand ladders, -which for that purpose they had brought along with them, they assaulted the town on every side with a most invincible courage. Now though the besieged at the beginning made some resistance, yet was it not able to hinder the enemy from effecting his design, for by the means of certain iron rams breaking up the 4 principal gates, they rendred themselves masters of the town after they had slain the Chaem, together with a great number of Mandarins, and gentlemen, that were run thither to keep them from entring. Thus did these barbarians possess themselves of this miserable town, whereof they put all the inhabitants they could meet withall to the sword, without sparing any ; and it was said that the number of the slain amoimted to threescore thou- sand persons, amongst whom were many women and maids of very great beauty, which appertained to the chiefest lords of the place. After the bloudy massacre of so much people, and that the town was fired, the principal houses overthrown, and the most sumptuous temples laid level with the ground, nothing remaining on foot during the disorder, the Tartars continued there 7 days, at the end whereof they returned towards Pequm, where the King was, and from whence he had sent them to this execution, carrying with them a world of gold and silver onely, having burnt all the merchandize they found there, as well because they knew not how to transport it away, as for that the Chineses should not make any benefit of it. Two days after their departure they arrived at a castle, named Nixiamcoo, where the Namticor of Luansama, their general, pitched his camp, and intrenched himself on aU sides with an intention to take it by assault the next day to be revenged on the CMneses there, for that upon his passing by them towards Quinsay, they had cut off an hundred of his men by an ambus- cado. After the army was encamped, and intrenched, and that the general had placed i guards and sentinels in all places, he retired to his tent, whither he sent for 70 captains that commanded his army, unto whom upon their arrival he dis- covered his resolution, which being well approved of, they fell into deliberation in what manner the castle should be assaulted the day following, which concluded on, the next morning as soon 240 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES as it was light the souldiers began to march towards the castle, divided into 14 battalions ; being come within a flight-shoot of it with the sound of trumpets, and most hideous cries, they reared up their ladders against the walls, and couragiously mounted up ; but in the heat of this assault, where every one showed his valour, the one in bravely attempting, and the other in well defending, the Tmtar in less then 2 hours lost above three thousand of his men, which made him sound a retreat in great disorder, and he past the rest of that day in burying the dead, and curing of the wounded, whereof, there being a great number, the most part died not long after, for that the arrows wherewith they were hurt had been smeared by the Ghineses with so strange and deadly poison, as there was no remedy found for it. In the mean tinie the Tartar commanders seeing the ill success of this assault, and fearing the King would be offended at so great a loss for so small an occasion, perswaded the general to call another council, wherein it might be considered, whether it would be most expedient for the Kings honour to persist in the siege of that place, or to give it over, whereupon this affair coming accordingly into deliberation it was a long time debated with such diversity of opinions, as they were not able to conclude upon any thing ; so that it was thought fit, in regard it was then late, to put off the assembly till the next day. This resolution taken, every man retired to his quarter. Now we being led away amidst a great many of other slaves, with whom we had escaped out of the fire of the town, it fell out, (whether for our good, or for our greater mis-fortune, we could not then tell) that we were under the guard, as prisoners of war, of one of that assembly, a rich and honourable man ; who returning to his tent with three other persons, of like quahty to himself, whom he had invited to supper, it chanced after they were risen from table that one of them espied us, where we stood chained in a corner of the tent, and perceiving us to weep, was so moved, that he demanded of us what people we were ? what the name of our country was? and how we came to be slaves to the Ghineses ? whereunto we gave such an answer, as the Tartar ingaging himself further in this discourse, enquiredofus whether oxa king was inclined to the wars, and whether we did use to OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 241 fight in our country ? to whom one of our companions, named Jorge Mendez, replyed that we did, and that we had been trained up from our infancy in a military course of life ; which so pleased the Tarta/r, that calling his two friends unto him. Come hither, said he, and have the patience to hear what these prisoners can say ; for, believe me, they seem to bo men of understanding ; whereupon the other two came near, and hearing us relate some part of our mis-fortunes, it begat a desire in them to ask us other questions ; wherein having satisfied them the best that we could, one of them that seemed more curious then the rest, addressing himself to Jorge Mendez, spake thus ; Since you ha/ve seen so nrnch of the world, as you say, if there were any one amongst you that could find out any device, or stratagem of war, whereby the Mitaquer (for so was the Nauticor called) might take this castle, I vow to you that he would become yov/r prisoner, whereas you me Ms. Then Jorge Mendez, never considering with what imprudencehe spake, nor understanding what he said, nor into what danger he was putting himself, boldly answered him ; If my Lord Mitaquer will in the name of the King give it us under has hand, that we shall have a safe conduct to convey us by sea to the Isle of Ainan, /rom whence we may safely rePwm into owr country, possibly I may be the man that will shew him how he shall take the castle with little ado. This speech being heard, and maturely considered by one of the three, a man in years, and of great authority, as having the honour to be much esteemed and beloved of the Mitaquer ; Think well of what thou sayest, replyed he to Jorge Mendez ; for I assure thee if thou doest it, that whatsoever thou demandest shall be granted thee, aye, and more too. Hereupon the rest of us seeing what Jorge Mendez was going to undertake, as also how far he ingaged himself in his promise, and that the Ta/rta/rs began already to ground some hope thereupon, we thought fit to reprehend him for it, and to tell him, that he was not to hazard himself, so at random, by promising a thing that might bring us into the danger of our lives. Ifea/r nothmg less, said he unto us ; for as for my Kfe in the estate where now lam, Imake so Utile account of it, thatifany of these Barbarians would play for it at Primero, I would with three of the worst cards in the pack venVwre it upon the first encotmter ; for I am confident that all the benefit they can expect 17 242 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES from us will never oblige them to grant us either life or liberty ; so that, for my particular, I had as lief die to day as to morrow • judge you only by that which you saw them do at Quincay, whether you a/re likely to be better dealt withall now. The Tartars were much abashed to see us thus in contestation one with another, and to hear us talk so loud, which is not usual amongst them ; wherefore they, reprehended us very seriously, saying ; Thatitwasforwomsn to speak aloud, who could not put a bridle to their tongue, nor a key to their mouthes, and not for men, that carry a sword, and are madef&r the wars ; Howbeit, if it were so that Jorge Mendez could execute what he had propounded, the Mitaquer could not refuse him any thing he could demand. This said, the Tartars retired every one to his lodging, for that it was eleven of the clock at night, the first watch being newly past, and the captains of the guard ^beginning then to walk the rotmd about the camp, at the sound of divers instruments, as is the custom in semblable occasions. The same of the three Tartar-commanders, which I said before was so esteemed of by the Mitaquer, had no sooner learnt of Jorge Mendez, that he could tell how to take the castle of Nixiamcoo, but that he went presently to acquaint the general with it, and making the matter greater then it was, he told him, that he could do no less then send for him to hear his reasons, which peradventure would perswade him to give credit unto him ; and in case it proved not so, yet was there nothing lost thereby. The Mitaquer being well pleased with this advice, sent incontinently a command to Tileymay, which was the captain under whose guard we were, for to bring us unto him, as presently he did. Being then arrived, chained as we were, at the Mitaquer' s tent, we found him set in councel with the seventy commanders of the army about two hours after midnight. At our coming, he received us with an affable countenance, yet grave and severe ; and causing us to approach nearer unto him, he commanded part of our chains to be undone ; then asked us if we would eat, whereunto we answered, most willingly ; for that in three days together we had not so much as tasted a bit of any thing ; whereat the Mitaquer was very much offended, and sharply reproving the Tileymay for it, willed two great platters of sodden rice, and ducks cut in small pieces, to be set OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 243 before us, whereto we fell with such an appetite, like men that were almost famished, as those of the company, who took great pleasure to see us feed so, said to the Mitaquer, When as you had nothing else, my Lord, but to cause these to come before you for to slack their hunger, verily you had done very much for them, by sawing them from a languishing death, which otherwise they could not home avoided ; and so you might home lost these sla/ves, of whom the service or sale nmght home been some way profitable unto you ; for if you will not make use of them at Lancama, you may sell them for a thousand Taeis at least. Here some began to laugh, but the Mitaquer commanded more rice to be given us, together with some apples, and other things, conjuring us again to eat, as a thing which he took pleasure to see us do, wherein we most wilUngly gave him satisfaction. After we had fed well, he began to talk with Jorge Mendes, about that which had been told him of him, and of the means that were to be used for taking the castle, making him many great promises of honours, pensions, favour with the King, and Uberty for all the rest of his fellows, with other such offers, as passed all measure : for he swore unto him, that if by his means God should give him the victory, whereby he sought nothing but to be revenged on his enemies for the blood which they had shed of his men, he should every way be hke unto himself, or at least, to any of his children which soever. Herewith Jorge Mendez found himself somewhat perplexed, because he held it almost impossible for him to bring it to effect ; howsoever he told him, that, not to hold him longer in hand, he did not think but if he might view the castle vrith his own eyes, he might then peradventure let him know how it might be taken ; wherefore, if his lordship pleased, he would the next morning consider it all about, and thereupon render him an account what course was to be taken therein. The Mitaquer, and all the rest, allowed very well of his answer, and greatly commending him for it sent us to be lodged in a tent not far from his, where we spent the rest of the night under a sure guard ; you may judg now in what fear we were, knowing that if the business did not succeed according to the desire of these Ba/rharians, they would cut us all in pieces, for that they were a people which for never so small a matter would not stick to kill twenty or thirty men, without any regard either of God, or 244 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES any thing else. The next morning, about eight of the clock, Jorge Mendez, and two of us, that were appointed to accompany him, went to survey the place with thirty horse for our safe- guard ; when as Jorge Mendez had well observed the situation thereof, as also that part whereby it might most commodiously be assaulted, he returned to the Mitaquer, that expected, him with impatience, to whom he gave an account of what he had seen, and facilitated the taking of the castle with little hazard ; whereat the Mitaguer^a,&so overjoyed, that he presently caused the rest of our irons, and the chains, wherewith we were fastened by the neck and feet to be taken off, swearing to us by the rice he did eat, that as soon as he came to Peg'Mire, he would present us to the king, and infallibly accompUsh aU that he had promised us ; for the more assurance whereof he confirmed it by a deed under his hand, that was virritten in letters of gold, to make it more authentieal. That done, he sent for us to dinner, and would needs have us to sit with him at table, doing us many other honours according their manner, which greatly contented us ; but on the other side, we were in no little fear, lest this affair should not for our sins have a success answerable to that hope the Mitaquer had already conceived of it. The rest of this day the commanders spent in resolving upon the order that was to be observed for assaulting the castle, wherein Jorge Mendez was the sole director. First of aU then, an infinite company of bavins a,nd fagots was gotten together for to fill up the ditches; there were also three hundred ladders made, very strong, and so large, that three men might easily mount up on them afront without incombring one another ; likewise there was a world of paniers, dossers, and baskets provided, together with a great multitude of mattocks, and spades, that were found in the villages and burroughs thereabout, which the inhabitants had deserted upon the bruit of this war; and all the souldiers of the army made preparation of such things as they should need the next day when the assault was to be given. In the mean time Jorge Mendez rode always by the Mitaquers side, who shewed him many great favours, which we perceived had begotten in him a stately carriage, far different from that he was wont to have; whereat we wondering, some of us (who envious of anothers good fortune, and out of an ill nature) could not chuse OP FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 245 but murmur, saying one to another, as it were in disdain, and in a kind of jeering, What think you of tJds dog ? verily he will be the came that either to morrow morning we shall be all cut in pieces, or if the business he hath undertaken succeed as we desire, it is probable that he will be in such credit with these Barbarians, that we shall account it for a happiness to be his servants ; and this was the talk which we had amongst us. The next day all the army was put into order, and divided iato twelve battalions, whereof they made twelve files, and one counterfile in the vantguard, that incompassed the whole camp, in manner of an half moon ; upon the winga were the foremost, with all that mass of bavins, ladders, baskets, mattocks, spades, and other materials, to fill up the ditch, and make it equal with the rest of the ground. Marching in this manner they arrived at the castle, which they found strongly mann'd, and with a number of flags and streamers waving upon the battlements. The first salutation be'tween the besiegers and the besieged was with arrows, darts, stones, and pots of wild-fire, which continued about half an hour ; then the Tartars presently filled the ditch with bavins and earth, and so reared up their ladders against the wall, that now by reason of the filling up of the ditch, was not very high. The first that mounted up was Jorge Mendez, accom- panied with two of ours, who as men resolved had made up their mind, either to die there, or to render their valour remarkable by some memorable act ; as in effect it pleased our Lord that their resolution had a good success ; for they not only entred first, but also planted the first colours upon the wall, whereat the Mitaquer, and all that were with him, were so amazed, as they said one to another, Doubtless if these people did besiege Peqmn, as we do, the Ch/ineses, which defend that city, would sooner lose their honour, then we shall make them to do it with all the forces we have ; in the mean time all the Tartars, that were at the foot of the ladders, followed the three Portugals, and carried themselves so valiantly, what with the example of a captain that had shewed them the way, as out of their own natural disposition, almost as resolute as those of Japan, that in a very short space above 5000 of them were got upon the walls, from whence with great violence they made the Chdneses to retire; whereupon so furious and bloody a fight ensued 246 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 between either party, that in less then half an hour the business was fully decided, and the castle taken, with the death of two thousand Chineses and Mogores that were in it, there being not above sixscore of the Tartars slain. That done, the gates being opened, the Mitaquer with great acclamations of joy entred, and causing the GMneses colours to be taken down, and his own to be advanced in their places, he with a new ceremony of rejoycing at the sound of many instruments of war, after the manner of the Tartars, gave rewards to the wounded, and made divers of the most valiant of his followers knights, by putting bracelets of gold about their right arms ; and then about noon he with the chief commanders of his army, for the greater triumph, dined in the castle, where he also bestowed bracelets of gold upon Jorge Mendez, and the other Porttigals, whom he made to sit down at table with him. After the cloth was taken away, he went out of the castle with all his company, and then causing all the walls of it to be dismantled, he razed the place quite to the ground, setting on fire all that remained, with a number of ceremonies, which was performed with great cries and acclamations, to the sound of divers instruments of war. Moreover he commanded the ruinesof this castle to be sprinkled with the blood of his enemies, and the heads of all of them that lay dead there to be cut off ; as for his own souldiers that were slain, he caused them to be triumphantly buried, and such as were hurt to be carefully looked unto ; this done, he retired, with a huge train, and in great pomp, to his tent, having Jorge Mendez close by him on horsback. As for the other eight of us, together with many brave noblemen and captains, we followed him on foot. Being arrived at his tent, which was richly hung, he sent Jorge Mendez a thousand Taeis for a reward, and to us but an hundred apiece ; whereat some of us, that thought them- selves to be better qualified, were very much discontented, for that he was more respected then they, by whose means, as well as his, the enterprise had been so happily achieved, though by the good success thereof we had all obtained honour and liberty. OP FEBJDilfAND MENDEZ PINTO. 247 CHAPTBE XXXIV. The Mitaquer departs from the castle of Nixianooo, and goes to the King of Tartary his camp before Pequin ; with the Mitaquers presenting ua unto the King, THE next day the Mitaquer having nothing more to do where he was, resolved to take his waiy towards the city of Peqtdn, before which the King lay, as I have deUvered before ; to this effect having put his army into battle aray, he departed from thence at eight of the clock in the morning, and marching leasurely to the sound of his warlike instruments, he made his first station about noon on the bank of a river, whose scituation was very pleasant, being all about invironed with a company of fruit trees, and a many goodly houses, but wholly deserted, and bereaved of all things which the Bar- barians might any way have made booty of. Having past the greatest heat of the day there, he arose and marched on until about an hour in the night that he took up his lodgings at a pretty good town, called Lantimay, which Ukevnse we found deserted, for all this whole country was quite dispeopled for fear of the Ba/rba/rians, who spared no kind of person, but wheresoever they came put all to fire and sword, as the next day they did by this place, and many other along this river, which they burnt down to the ground ; and that which yet was more lamentable, they set on fire, and clean consumed to ashes a great large plain, being about six leagues about, and full of corn ready to be reaped, This cruelty executed, the army began again to move, composed, as it was, of some three- score and five thousand horse, (for as touching the rest they were all slain, as well at the taking of Qmnowy, as in that of the castle of Nixiancoo,) and went on to a mountain, named Pommitay, where they remained that night ; the next morning dislodging from thence, they marched on somewhat faster then before, that they might arrive by day at the city of Peqwin, which was distant about seven leagues from that mountain. At three of the clock in the afternoon we came to the river of Palamxitan, where a Ta/rtct/r captain, accompanied with an hundred horse, came to receive us, having waited 248 THE TBAVBL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES there two days for that purpose. The first thing that he did, was the delivering of a letter from the King to our general, who received it with a great deal of ceremony. From this river to the Kings quarter, which might be some two leagues, the army marched without order, as being unable to do other- wise, partly as weU in regard of the great concourse of people, wherewith the ways were full in coming to see the generals arrival, as for the great train which the lords brought along with them, that overspread all the fields. In this order, or rather disorder, we arrived at the castle of Lautir, which was the first fort of nine that the camp had for the retreat of the spies i there we found a young prince, whom the Ta/rtar, had sent thither to accompany the general, who alighting from his horse took his scymitar from his side, and on his knees offered it unto him, after he had kissed the ground five times, being the ceremony or complement ordinarily used amongst them. The Prince was exceedingly pleased with this honour done unto him, which with a smiUng countenance, and much acknowledgment of words he testified unto him. This past, the Prince with a new ceremony stept two or three paces back, and lifting up his voice with more gravity then before, as he that represented the person of the King, in whose name he came, said unto him, He, the border of whose rich vestwre my mouth hisseth, and that out of an incredible greatness mastereth the scepters of the ewrth, and of the Isles of the Sea, sends thee word by me, who am his slave, that thy honourable arrival is no less agreeable unto him, then the summers sweet morning is to the ground, when as the dew doth comfort and refresh our bodies, and therefore would have thee without further delay to come and hear his voice mounted on his horse, whose trappings are garnished with jewels taken out of his treasury, to the end, that riding by m/y side, thou mayest be made equal in honour to the greatest of Ms Court, and that they which behold thee ma/rching in this sort, may acknow- ledge that the right hand of him is m/ighty and valiant unto whom the labours of wa/r gi/oeth this recompence. Hereupon the M'fo^wer prostrating himself on the earth, with his hands lifted up, answered him thus; Let my head be an hundred times trampled on by the sole of his feet, tlvxt all those of rmj race may be sensible of so greatafaA)ovjr, and that my eldest son may ever OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 249 carry it for a mark of honowr. Then mounting on the horse which the Prince had given him, trapped with gold and precious stones, being one of those that the King used to ride on himself, they marched on with a great deal of state and majesty. In this pomp were many spare horses led richly harnessed; there were also a number of ushers, carrying silver maces on their shoulders, and six hundred halberdiers on horsbact, together with fifteen chariots, full of silver cymbals, and many other iU-tuned barbarous instruments, that made so great a din, as it was not possible to hear one another. Moreover, in all this distance of way, which was a league and a half, there were so many men on horsback, as one could hardly pass through the crowd in any part thereof. The Mitaquer, being thus in triumph arrived at the first trenches of the camp, he sent us by one of his servants to his quarter, where we were very well received, and abundantly furnished with all things necessary for us. \Pinto and Ms compamMns are called before the Kmg.l Fourteen days after we 'arrived at this camp, the Mitaquer, our general sent us nine horses, upon which we mounted, and, attending him in a litter drawn by two horses, we went to the tent of the King. The King was set on his throne under a rich cloth of state, and had about him 12 young boys kneeUng on their knees, with little maces of gold sceptres, which they carried on their shoulders ; close behinde was a young lady extremely beautiful, and wonderfully richly attired, with a ventiloe in her hand, wherewith she ever and anon fanned him. The same was the sister of the Mitaquer, our general, and infinitely beloved of the King, for whose sake therefore it was that he was in such credit and reputation throughout the whole army. The King was much about 40 years of age, full stature, somewhat lean, and of a good aspect ; his beard was very short, his mustaches, after the Turkish manner, his eyes like to the Chineses, and his countenance severe and majestical. As for his vesture, it was violet -colour, in fashion like to a Turkish robe, imbroidered with pearl, upon his feet he had green sandals vyrought all over with gold-purl, and great pearls among it, and on his head a sattin cap of the 250 THB TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTVBMS colour of his habit, with a rich band of diamonds and rubies intermingled together. Before we past any farther, after we had gone ten or eleven steps in the room, we made our com- plement by kissing of the ground three several times, and performing other ceremonies, wiiich the Truch-men taught us. In the mean time the King commanded the musick to cease, and addressing himself to the Mitaquer ; ask these men of the other end of the world, said he unto him, whether they have a king, what is the name of their country, and how far distant it is from this kingdom of China where now I am ? Thereupon one of ours, speaking for all the rest, answered. That our country was called Porttigal, that the king thereof was ex- ceeding rich and mighty, and that from thence to the city of Pequin was at the least three years voyage. This answer much amazed the King, because he did not think the world had been so large, so that striking his thigh with a wand that he had in his hand, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, as though he would render thanks unto God ; he said aloud, so as every one might hear him : Creator of all things I are we able to comprehend the ma/rvels of Thy greatness, we that at the best are hut igom worms of the ea/rth ? Fuxiquidane, fuxiquidane, let them approach, let them approach. Thereupon beckning to us with his hand, he caused us to come even to the first degree of the throne, where the fourteen kings sate, and demanded of him again, as a man astonished, Ptican, piican, that is to say, how far, how fa/r ? whereunto he answered as before, that we shoijd be at least three years in returning to our country. Then he asked, why we came not rather by land, then by sea, where so many labours and dangers were to be undergone ? Thereunto he replied, that there was too great an extent of land, through which we were not assured to pass, for that it was commanded by kings of several nations. What come you for to seehfor then, added the King, and wherefore do you expose your selves to such dangers ? Then having rendred him a reason to this last demand, with all the submission that might be, he stayed a pretty while without speaking; and then shaking his head three or four times, he addressed himself to an old man that was not far from him, and said. Certainly we must needs conclude, that there is either much ambition, or little OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 251 justice in the country of these people, seeing they come so far to '] conquer other lands. To this speech the old man, named Bom \ Benan, made no other answer, but that it must needs be so ; -' for men, said he, who have recourse unto their industry and invention to run over the sea for to get that which God hath not given them, are necessarily carried thereunto, either by extreme poverty, or by an excess of blindness and vanity, derived from much covetousness^ which is the cause why they renoimce God, and those that brought them into the world. This reply of the old man was seconded by many jeering words by the other courtiers, who made great sport upon this occa- sion, that very much pleased the King ; in the mean time the women fell to their musick again, and so continued, till the King vnthdrew into another chamber in the company of these fair musicians, and that young lady that fanned him, not so much as one of those great personages daring to enter besides. Not long after one of those twelve boys that carried the scepters before mentioned, came to the Mitaquer, and told him from his sister, that the King commanded him to depart away, which he held for a singular favour, by reason this message was delivered to him ia the presence of those kings and lords that were in the room, so that he stirred not, but sent us word, that we should go unto our tent with this assurance, that he would take care the Son of the Sun should be mindful of us. GHAPTEE XXXV. The King of Tartaria's laising of his siege from before Fequin, for to return to his country. WE had been now fuU three and forty days in this camp, during which time there past many fights and skir- mishes between the besiegers and the besieged, as also two assaults in the open day, which were resisted by them within with an invincible courage, like resolute men as they were. In the mean time the King of Tartaria, seeing how contrary to his hope so great an enterprise had been, wherein h« had consumed so much treasure, caused his council of war 252 THE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES to be assembled, in the wMoh were present the seven and twenty kings that accompanied him, and likewise many princes, and lords, and the most part of the chief commanders of the army. In this council it was resolved, that in regard winter was at hand, and that the rivers had already overflowed their banks with such force and violence, as they had ravaged and carried away most of the trenches and pallisadoes of the camp, and that moreover great numbers of the souldiers died daily of sickness, and for want of victuals, that therefore the King could not do better then to raise his siege, and be gone before winter came, far fear lest staying longer, he should run the hazard of losing himself, and his army. All these reasons seemed so good to the King, that without further delay he resolved to follow this counsel, and to obey the present necessity, though it were to his great grief; so that incon- tinently he caused all his infantry and ammunition to be imbarqued; then having commanded his camp to be set on fire, he himself went away by land with three hundred thou- sand horse, and twenty thousand rhinocerots. Now after they had taken an account of all the dead, they appeared to be four hundred and fifty thousand, the most of whom died of sickness, as also an hundred thousand horses, and threescore thousand rhinocerots, which were eaten in the space of two moneths and an half, wherein they wanted victual ; so that of eighteen hundred thousand men wherewith the King of Twrtaria, came out of his country to besiege the city of Pequin, before the which he lay six moneths and a haH, he carried home some seven hundred and fifty thousand less then he brought forth, whereof four and fifty thousand died of sickness, famine, and war, and three hundred thousand went and rendred themselves unto the Ghineses, dravm thereunto by the great pay which they gave them, and other advantages of honor and presents which they continually bestowed on them ; whereat we are not to marvel, seeing experience doth show, how that alone is of far more power to oblige men, then all other things ia the world. After the King of Tarta/ria was gone from this city of Feqmn, upon a Munday, the 17th of October, with three hundred thousand horse, as I have related before, the same day about evening he went and lodged OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 263 near to a river, called Quatragun, and the next morning, an hour before day, the army began to march at the sound of the drums, fifes, and other instruments of war, according to the order prescribed them. In this manner he arrived a Uttle before night, at a town named Chuiiampea, which he found altogether depopulated. After his army had reposed there about an hour and an half, he set forth again, and marching somewhat fast he came to lodge at the foot of a great mountain, called Liaynpeu, from whence he departed towards morning. Thus marched he eight leagues a day for fourteen day together, at the end whereof he arrived at a good town, named GiMvxitim, which might contain about eleven or twelve thousand fires. There he was counselled to furnish himself with victuals, whereof he had great need, for which purpose therefore he begirt it round, and skaling it in the open day he quickly made himself master of it, and put it to the sack with so cruel a massacre of the inhabitants, as my fellows and I were ready to swoond for very astonishment. Now after that the sword and fire had consumed aU things, and that the army was abundantly provided of ammunition and victual, he departed at the break of day; and though he past the next morning in the view of GaiaAloo, yet would not he attaque it, for that it was a great and strong town and by scituation impregnable, having heaxd besides that there were fifty thousand men within it, whereof ten thousand were Mogores, Gamchins, and Champaas, resolute souldiers, and much more warlike then the Ghineses. From thence passing on he arrived at the walls of SmgraohiraM, which are the very same that, as I have said heretofore, do divide those two empires of China and Ta/rtwria. There meeting with no resistance he went and lodged on the further side of it at Panqidnor, which was the first of his own towns, and seated some three leagues from the said waU, and the next day he marched to Psipator, where he dismissed the most part of his people. In this place he stayed not above seven days, which he spent in providing pay for his souldiers, and in the execu- tion of certain prisoners he had taken in that war, and brought along with him. These things thus expedited, he, as a man not very well pleased, imbarqued himself for tJancame, in 254 THE TRAVELS, VOYAQES, AMD ADVENTURES sixscore Lcmlees, with no more then ten or eleven thousand men. So in six days after his imbarquing, he arrived at Lancame, where not permitting any reception to be made him, he landed about two hours within night. CHAPTEE XXXVI. In what manner we were brought again before the King of Tartaria ; with our departure from that kingdom ; and our adventures after quitting the city of Uzamguee in Gochin-China, tiU our arrival at the lele of Tanixumaa in Japan. AFTBE some time had been spent in the celebration of certain remarkable feasts, that were made for joy of the conclusion of a marriage betwixt the Princess Meica vidan, the Kings sister, and the Emperour of Garan, the Tartar, by the advice of his captains, resolved to return anew to the siege of Peqidn, which he had formerly quitted, taking the ill success that he had there as a great affront to his person. To this effect then he caused all the estates of his kingdom to be assembled, and also made a league with all the kings and princes bordering in his dominions : whereupon considering with our selves how prejudicial this might prove to the promise had been made us for the setting of us at liberty, we repaired to the Mitaquer, and represented unto him many things that made for our purpose, and obliged him to keep his word with us. To which he returned us this answer: Certainly you have a great deal of reason for that you say, and I have yet more, Dot to refuse you that which you demand of me with so much justice ; wherefore I resolve to put the King in minde of you, that you may enjoy your liberty ; and the sooner you shall be gone from hence, the sooner you shall be freed from the labors which the time begins to prepare for us in the enterprise that his Majesty hath newly undertaken by the counsel of some particulars, who for that they know not how to govern them- selves have more need to be counselled, then the earth hath need of water to produce the fruits that are sowed in her ; but to morrow morning I shall put the King in minde of you, and OF FEBBINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 255 your poverty, and withall I shall present unto him how you have poor fatherless children, as you have heretofore told me, to the end he may be thereby incited to cast his eyes upon you, as he is accustomed to dp in like cases, which is none of the least marks of his greatness. Hereupon he dismissed us for that day, and the next morning he went to Pontiveu, which is a place where the King useth to give audience to all such as have any suit to him. There beseeching his Majesty to think of us, he answered him, that as soon as he had dispatched away an ambassador to the King of Cauchenchina, he would send us along with him, for so he had resolved to do. With this answer the Mitaguer returned to his house, where we were ready attending his coming, and told us what the King had promised him, wherewithal! not a little contented we went back to our lodging. There in the expectation of the good success of this promise we continued 10 days with some impatience; at the end whereof the Mitaguer by the Kings express command carried us with him to the Court, where causing us to approach near to his Majesty, with those cere- monies of greatness which are observed in coming before him, being the same we used at Pequin, after he had beheld us with a gentle eye, he bid the Mitaguer ask of us whether we would serve him, and in case we would, he should not onely be very well pleased with it, but he would also give us better enter- tainment, and more advantageous conditions then all the strangers that should follow him in this war. To this demand the Mitaguer answered very favourably for us, how he had often heard us say, that we were maried in our country, and had a great charge of children, who had no other means to maintain them, but what we got with our labor, which was poorly enough, God knows. The King heard this speech with some demonstration of pity, so that looking on the Mitaguer ; I am, glad, said he, to know that they ha/ve such good cause to retwrn home as they speak of, that I may with the more content- ment acguit me of that which thou hast promised them in my name. At these words the Mitaguer and all we that were with him, lifting up our hands, as a testimony of our thankfulness unto him, we kissed the ground 3 times and said, May thy feet rest themselves upon a thousand generations, to the end that thou 256 THE TBAVMLS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTVBE8 mayst be Lord of the inhabitants of the earth. Hereat the King began to smile, and said to a prince that was near him, These men speak as if they had been bred amongst us. Then casting his eyes on Jorge Mendez, who stood before us all next to the Mitaquer, And thou, said he unto him, in what condition art thou, vnlt thou go, or stay ? whereupon Mendez, who had long before premeditated his answer. Sir, replied he, for me, that have neither wife nor children to bewa/ll my absence, the thing I mast desire in the world is to serve your Majesty, since you are pleased therewith, whereunto I home more affection then to be Ghaem of Pequin one thousand years together. At this the King smiled again, and then dismissed us, so that we returned very well satisfied to our lodging, where we continued 3 days in a readiness to depart, at the end of which, by the mediation of the Mitaquer, and means of his sister, who, as I have said before, was wonderfully beloved of the King, his Majesty sent us, for the eight that we were 2000 Taeis, and gave us in charge to his ambassador, whom he sent to the city of Uzam' guee in Cauchenchina, in the company of the same King of Gauchenchina's ambassador. With him we departed from thence 5 days after, being imbarqued in the vessel wherein he went himself. But before our departure Jorge Mendez gave us 1000 duckets, which was easie for him to do, for that he had already 6000 of yearly rent, withall he kept us company all that day, and at the length took his leave of us, not without shedding many a tear for grief that he had so exposed himself to a voluntary exile. [Here follows an account of Pinto's journey with the Ambas- sador to the city of Uzamgu^e in Goohin-Chima, j(rntitt*5f«] Upon the 12 of January we departed from the city of Uzamiguee, exceedingly rejoycing at our escape from so many labors and crosses, which we before had sustained, and im- barqued our selves upon a river, that was above a league broad, down the which we went 7 days together, beholding in the mean time on either side thereof many fair towns, and goodly boroughs, which by the outward appearance we believed were inhabited by very rich people, in regard of the sumptuous- OP FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 26? less of the buildings, not onely of particular houses, but much nore of the temples, whoso steeples were aU covered over with ;old ; as likewise in regard of the great number of barques and ressels that were on this river, abundantly fraught with all iorts of provisions and merchandise. Now when we were iome to a very fair town called Qiiangeparim, containing some 18 or 2000 fires, the Ncmdelum, who was he that conducted us jy the express commandment from the King, stayed there L2 days to trade in exchange of silver and pearl ; whereby he jonfessed to us that he had gained 14 for 1, and that if he had been so advised as to have brought salt thither, he had doubled tiis money above thirty times : we were assured that in this town the King had yearly out of the silver mines above 1500 Picos, which are 40000 Qmntals of our weight, besides the huge revenue that he drew out of many other different things. This bown had no other fortification then a weak brick wall, 8 foot high, and a shallow ditch some 30 foot broad. The inhabitants are weak and unarmed, having neither artillery, nor any thing for their defence, so that 500 resolute souldiers might easily take it. We parted from this place on Tuesday morning, and continued our course 13 days, at the end whereof we got to the port of Sanchan, in the kingdom of China. Now because there was no shipping of Malaca there, for they were gone from thence 9. days before, we went 7 leagues further to another port, named LampacoM, where we found 2 juncks of Malaya, one of Patana, and another of L%bgor. And whereas it is the quality of us Porlmgals to abound in our own sense, and to be obstinate in our opinions, there arose amongst us eight so great a contrariety of judgement about a thing, (wherein nothing was so necessary for us, as to maintain our selves in peace and unity) that we were even upon the point of kilUng one another. But because the matter would be too shamefull to recount in the manner as it past, I will say no more, but that the Necoda of the Lorche, which had brought us thither from Uzamguee, amazed at this so great barbarousness of ours, separated himself from us in such displeasure, that he would not charge himself either vnth our messages of letters, saying, that he had rather the King should command his head to be cut off, than to offend God in carrying with him any thing 18 258 TEE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES whatsoever that belonged to us. Thus different as we were in opinions, and in very bad terms amongst our selves, we lingred above 9 days in this little island, during which time the juncks departed without vouchsafing to take us in, so that we were constrained to remain in these solitudes, exposed to many great dangers, out of which I did not think that ever we could have escaped, if God had not been extraordinarily mercifull unto us ; for having been there 17 days in great misery and want ; it happened that a pyrat, named Swnwpocheca, arrived in this place, who having been defeated, went flying from the fleet of Aytax) of Chineheo, that of eight and twenty sail, which this pyrat had, had taken six and twenty of them from him, so that he had with much ado escaped with those onely two remaining, wherein the most part of his men were hurt, for which cause he was constrained to stay there 7 days to have them cured. Now the present necessity enforcing us to take some course, whatsoever it were, we were glad to agree to serve under him untill such time as we might meet with some good opportunity to get unto Malaca. Those 20 days ended, wherein yet there was no manner of reooneihation between us, but stiU continuing in discord we imbarqued our selves with the pyrat, namely, 3 in the junck where he himself was, and 5 in the other, whereof he had made a nephew of his captain. Having left this island with an intent to sail unto a port, called Lmloo, some 7 leagues from Chineheo, we continued our voyage with a good winde all along the coast of Lamau for the space nine days, untiU that one morning when we were near to the Eiver of Salt, which is about five leagues from Ghabaqv^a, it was our ill fortune to be assailed by a pirate, who with seven great juncks fell to fighting with us from six in the morning till ten of the clock before noon, in which conflict we were so entertained with shot, and pots full of artificiall fire, that at last there were three sail burnt, to wit, two of the pirats, and one of ours, which was the junck, wherein the five Poriugals were, whom we could by no means succour, for that then most of our men were hurt. But at length towards night being well refreshed by the afternoons gale, it pleased our Lord that we escaped out of this pirats hands. In this ill equipage wherein we were, we continued our course for three OF FEBDINAND MENBEZ PINTO. 259 days together, at the end whereof we were mvironed by so great and impetuous a tempest, that the same night in which it seized us we lost the coast ; and because the violence of the storm would never suffer us after to recover it again, we were forced to make with full sail towards the islands of the Leqtdos, where the pirate, with whom we went, was weU known, both to the Kmg, and those of the country ; with this resolution we set our selves to sail through the Archipelago of these islands, where notwithstanding we could not make land, as well for that we wanted a pilot to steer the vessel, oiirs being slain in the last fight, as also because the wind and tide was against us. Amidst so many crosses we beat up and down with labour enough from one rhomb to another for three and twenty dayes together, at the end whereof it pleased God that we discovered land, whereunto approaching to see if we could descry any appearance of a port, or good anchorage, we perceived on the south-coast near to the horizon of the sea a great fire, which perswaded us that there we might peradventure find some borough, where we might furnish our selves with fresh water, whereof we had very great need. So we went and rode just before the island in seventy fathom, and presently we beheld two Ahnedias come towards us from the land with six men in them, who being come close to the side of our junck, and having complemented with us according to their manner, demanded of us from whence we came? whereunto having answered, that we came from China, with merchandize, in- tending to trade in this place if we might be suffered, one of the six replyed; That the Ncmtaquim, lord of that island, called Tamxumaa, would very wiUingly permit it upon payment of such customs as are usual in Jappan, which is, continued he, this great coimtry that you see here before you. At these news, and many other things which they told us, we were exceeding glad ; so that after they had shewed us the port, we weighed anchor, and went and put our selves under the lee- shore of a creek, which was on the south-side, and where stood a great town, named Mia/y-gimaa, from whence there came instantly aboard of us divers Pa/roos with refreshments, which we bought. We had not been two hours in this creek of 260 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 when as the Nautaquim, Prince of this island of Tanixumaa, came directly to our junck, attended by divers gentlemen and merchants, who had brought with them many chests full of silver ingots, therewith to barter for our commodities ; so after ordinary complements past on either side, and that we had given our word for his easiest coming aboard of us; he no sooner perceived us three Portugals, but he demanded what people we were, saying, that by our beards and faces we could not be Chineses : hereunto the pirate answered, That we were of a country called Malaca, whither many years before we were come from another land, named Portiigal, which was at the further end of the world. At these words the NoMtaquim remained much amazed, and turning himself to his followers ; Let me not live, said he unto them, if these men here be not the Cheuchicogis, of whom it is written in our books, That flying on the top of the waters they shall from thence subdme the inhabitants of the earth, where God hath created the riches of the world, wherefore it will be a good fortune for us if they come into our country as good friends. Thereupon having called a woman of Lequia, whom he had brought to serve as an inter- preter between him and the Chinese, captain of the junck; Ask the Necoda, said he unto her, where he met with these men, and upon what occasion he had brought them hither with him into our country of Jappan ? The captain thereunto replied. That we were honest men and merchants, and that having found us at Lampacau, where we had been cast away, he had out of charity taken us in, as he used to do imto all such as he met withall in the like case, to the end that God might out of His gracious goodness be thereby moved to deliver him from the danger of such violent tempests, as commonly such as sail on the sea are subject to perish in. This saying of the pirate seemed so reasonable to the Nautaquim, that he presently came aboard of us, and because those of his train were very many, he commanded that none but such as he named should enter in. After he had seen aU the commodities in the junck, he sate him down in a chair upon the deck, and began to question us about certain things which he desired to know, to the which we answered him in such sort, as we thought would be most agreeable to his humour, so that he seemed to be OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 261 exceedingly satisfied therewith ; in this manner he entertained us a good while together, making it apparent by his demands that he was a man very curious, and much inclined to hear of novelties and rare things. That done, he took his leave of us, and the Necoda, little regarding the rest, saying, Gome amd see me at my house to morrow, and for a present bring me an ample relation of the strange things of that great world through which you have travelled, as also of the countries that you have seen, and withall remember to tell me how they are called ; for I stvear unto you that I would far more wittingly buy this com,inodity then any that you can sell me. This said, he returned to land, and the next morning, as soon as it was day, he sent us to our junck a great Parao, full of divers sorts of refreshments, as raysins, pears, melons, and other kinds of fruits of that country; in exchange of this present the Necoda returned him, by the same messenger, divers rich pieces of stuff, together with certain knacks and rarities of China, and withall sent him word, that as soon as his junck should be at anchor, and out of danger of the weather, he would come and wait on him ashore, and bring him some patterns of the commodities which we had to sell ; as indeed the next morning he went on land, and carried us three along vrith him, as also some ten or eleven of the chiefest of the Ghineses of his company, to the end that at this first sight he might settle a good opinion of himself in this people for the better satisfaction of that vanity whereunto they are naturally inclined ; we went then to the Nautaquims house, where we were very well entertained, and the Necoda having given him a rich present, shewed him the patterns of all the commodities he had, wherewith he rested so contented, that he sent presently for the principal merchants of the place, with whom the Necoda having agreed upon a price for his commodities, it was resolved that the next day they should b,e transported from the jimck into a certain house, which was appointed for the Necoda and his people to remain in till such time as he should set sail for China. After all this was con- eluded, the Nautaqwim fell again to questioning of us about many several matters, whereunto we rendred him such answers as might rather fit his humour, then agree with the truth indeed, which yet we did not observe but in some certain 262 THE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES demands that he made us, where we thought it necessary to make use of certain particulars altogether fained by us, that so we might not derogate from the great opinion he had conceived of our country. The first thing he propounded was, how he had learned from the Chineses and Lequais, that Portugal was far richer and of a larger extent, then the whole empire of GMna, which we confirmed unto him. The second, how he had likewise been assured, that our king had upon the sea conquered the greatest part of the world, which also we averred to be so ; the third, that our king was so rich in gold and silver, as it was held for most certain, that he had above two thousand houses full of it even to the very tops; but thereunto we answered, that we could not truly say the number of the houses, because the kingdom of Portugal was so spacious, so abounding with treasure, and so populous, as it was impossible to specifie the same. So after the Na/utagmm had entertained us above two hours with such and the like discourse, he turned him to those of his train, and said. Assuredly not one of those kings, which at this present we know to he on the earth, is to he esteemed happy, if he he not the vassal of so great a mona/rch as the emjperour of this people liere. Whereupon having dismissed the Necoda and his company, he intreated us to passe that night on shore with him, for to satisfie the extream desire that he had to be informed from us of many things of the world, whereunto he was exceedingly carried by his own inclination; withall he told us, that the next day he would assigne us a lodging next to his own palace, which was in the most commodious place of the town, and for that instant he sent us to lie at a very rich merchant's house, who entertained us very bountifully that night. OF FERDINAND MFNDMZ PINTO. 268 CHAPTBE XXXVII. The great honour which the Nautaquim, Lord of the Isle, did to one of us for having seen him shoot with an harquebuse ; and his sending me to the King of Bungo ; and that which passed till my arrival at his Court. THE next day the GMnese Necoda disimbarqued all his commodities, as the Nautaqwim, had enjoyned him, and put them into sure rooms, which were given him for that purpose, and in three days he sold them aU, as well for that he had not many, as because his good fortune was such, that the country was at that time utterly mifurnished thereof, by which means this pirate profited so much, that by this sale he wholly recovered himself of the loss of the six and twenty saile which the GMnese pirate had taken from him ; for they gave him any price he demanded, so that he confessed unto us, that of the value of some five and twenty hundred Taeis which he might have in goods, he made above thirty thousand. Now as for us three Portugah, having nothing to sell, we imployed our time either in fishing, himting, or seeing the temples of these Gentiles, which were very sumptuous and rich, where- into the Bonzes, who are their priests, received us very courteously, for indeed it is the oustome of those of Ja/ppan to be exceeding kind and courteous. Thus we having Uttle to do, one of us, called Diego Zevmoto, went many times a shooting for his pleasure in an ha/rqiiebuse that he had, wherein he was very expert, so that going one day by chance to a certain marsh, where there was a great store of fowl, he killed at that time about six and twenty wild ducks. In the mean time these people beholding this manner of shooting, which they had never-seen before, were much amazed at it, insomuch that it came to the notice of the Namtaqwim, who was at that instant riding of horses, and not knowing what to think of this novelty, sent presently for Zeimoto, just as he was shooting in the marsh, but when he saw him come with his harquebuse on his shoulder, and two CMneses with him carrying the fowl, he was so mightily taken with the matter, as he could not sufficiently admire it: for whereas they had never seen any gun before in that country, they could not comprehend what 264 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES it might be, so that for want of understanding the secret of the powder, they all concluded that of necessity it must be some sorcery ; thereupon Zeimoto seeing them so astonished, and the Nautaquim so contented, made three shoots before them, whereof the effect was such, that he killed one kite, and two turtle doves ; in a word then, and not to lose time, by endearing the matter with much speech, I will say no more, but that the Ncmtaquim caused Zeimoto to get up on the horses crupper behind him, and so accompanied with a great croud of people, and four Ushers, who with battoons headed with iron went before him, crying all along the streets. Enow all men, that the Nautaquim, Prince of this island of Tanixumaa, and lord of our heads, enjoyns and expresly commands, That all persons whatsoever, which inhabit the land that Ues between the two seas, do honour this Chenohicogim, of the fv/rther end of the world, for even at this present and for hereafter he makes him his kinsman, in such manner as the Jacharons are, who sit next his person; and whosoever shall not do so willingly, he shall he sure to lose his head. Where- upon all the people answered with a great noise ; We will do so for ever. In this pomp Zeinwto being come to the palace gate, the Na/utaquim alighted from his horse, and taking him by the hand, whilest we two followed on foot a prety way after, he led him into his court, where he made him sit with him at his own table, alid to honour him the more, he would needs have him lodge there that night, showing many other favours to him afterwards, and to us also for his sake. Now Zeimoto conceiving, that he could not better acknowledge the honour which the Nanitagmm did him, then by giving him his ha/rquehuse which he thought would be a most acceptable present unto him; on a day when he came home from shooting, he tendred it unto him with a number of pigeons and turtle-doves, which he received very kindly, as a thing of great value, assuring him that he esteemed of it more, then of all the treasures of CMna, and giving him withall in recompence thereof a thousand Taeis in silver, he desired bini to teach him how to make the powder, saying, that without that the ha/r- quehuse would be of no use to him, as being but a piece of Tjnprofitable iron, which Zeimoto promised him to do, aud OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 265 accordingly performed the same. Now the Ncmtaguim taking pleasure in nothing so much as shooting in this ha/rguebuse, and his subjects perceiving that they could not content him better in any thing, then in this, wherewith he was so much delighted, they took a pattern of the said hwrquebuse to make others by it, and the effect thereof was such, that before our departure (which was five moneths and an half after) there was/ six hundred of them made in the country ; nay I wiU say more, that afterwards, namely, the last time that the Vice-roy Don AVphonso de Noronha sent me thither with a present to the King of Bungo, which happened in the year 1556. those of Jwppan afi&rmed, that in the city of Fucheo, being the chief of that kingdom, there were above thirty thousand; whereat finding my self to be much amazed, for that it seemed impos- sible unto me, that this invention should multiply in such sort, certain merchants of good credit assured me that in the whole island of Jappan there were above three hundred thou- sand harquebuses, and that they alone had transported of them in the way of trade to the country of the Lequios, at six several times, to the number of five and twenty hundred ; so that by the means of that one, which Zeimoto presented to ■ the Na/utaquim in acknowledgment of the honour and good i of&ces that he had done him, as I have declared before, the cpimtry was filled with such abundance of them, as at this day there is not so small an hamlet but hath an hundred at the least; for as for cities and great towns, they have them by thousands, whereby one may perceive, what the inclination of this people is, and how much they are naturally addicted to the wars, wherein they take more delight, then any other nation that we know. We had been now three and twenty days in the Island of Tanixumaa, where very contentedly we past away the time, either in fishing, fowling, or hunting, whereunto these people of Jappan are much addicted, when as a vessel belonging to the King of Bungo arriving in that port, in the which were divers men of quality, and certain merchants, who as soon as they were landed went to wait upon the NoMtaqmm with their presents, according to the usual custom of the country. Amongst them there was an ancient man, very well attended, 266 TEJEl TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES and unto whom the rest carried much respect, that falling on his knees before the Nautaquim, presented him with a letter, and a rich courtelass garnished with gold, together with a box full of ventiloes, which the Nautaqmm received with a great deal of ceremony. Then having spent some time with him in asking of certain questions, he read the letter to himself, and thereupon having remained a pretty while as it were in suspence, and dismissed the bearer thereof from his presence, with an express charge to those about him to see him honourably enter- tained, he called us unto him, and commanded the truchman that was thereby, to use these words unto us, My good frierids, I intreat you that you will hear this letter read, which is sent me from my lord and uncle, and then I will let you know what I desire of you ; so giving it to a treasurer of his, he commanded him to read it, which instantly he did, and these were the contents of it. Thou right eye of my face, Hynscarangoxo, Nautiquim of Tanixumaa, / Orgemdoo, who am yov/r father in the true love of my bowels, as he from whom you have taken the name and being of your person. King of Bungo and Fatacaa, Lord of the great House of Fiancima, Tosa, and Bandou, chief sovera/ign of the petty kings of the Islands of Goto amd Xaman- axequa, I give you to understand, my son, by the words of my mmith, which are spoken of yov/r person, that some days since certain msn, condng from your country, have assu/red me, that you have in your town three Chenchicogims of the other end of the world, men that accommodate themselves very well with those of Jappan, are clothed in silk, and usrially wear swords by their sides, not like merchants that use traffique, but in the quality of persons that make profession of honour, and which by that only mean pretend to render their names immortal ; moreover, I have liea/rd for a truth, that these same men have entertained you at large with all matters of the whole universe, and ha/ve assured unto you on their faith, that there is another world greater then ou/rs, inhabited with black and tawny people, of whom they have told you things most incredible to ou/r judgement, for which cause I infinitely desire you, as if you were my son, that by Kangean- dono, whom I ha/ve despatched from hence to visit my daughter, you will send me one of those three strangers, which I am told you have in your house ; the rather for that you know my long OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 267 indisposition, accom^pamed with so mtich pmn and grief, hath great need of some dmersion : now if it should happen that they would not be wilUng thereunto, you may then assti/re them, as well on your own faith, as on mine, that I will not fail to return them hack in all safety ; whereupon, like a good son that desires to' please his father, so order the matter that I may rejoyce my self in the sight of them, and so hoAje my desire accomplished. What I have further to say unto you, my ambassadour Pingean- dono shall acquaint you with, by whom I pray you Uberally impa/rt to me the good news of your person, and that of my daughter, seeing she is, as you know, the apple of my right eye, whereof the sight is all the joy of my face. From the house of Fucheo the seventh Mamoque of the Moon. After that the Nautaquim had heard this letter read; the King of Bungo, said he unto us, is my lord, and my uncle, the brother of my mother, and (above all) he is my good father, for I call him by that name, because he is so to my wife, which is the reason that he loves me no less then his own children ; wherefore I count my self exceedingly bound unto him, and do so much desire to please him that I could now find in my heart to give the best part of my estate for to be transformed into one of you, as well for to go unto him, as to give him the content of seeing you, which out of the knowledge I have of his disposition, I am assured he will value more then all the treasures of China. Now having thus acquainted you with his desire, I earnestly intreat you to render your selves conformable thereunto, and that one of you two will take the pains to go to Bungo,ih.BXQ to see the King whom I hold . for my father and my lord ; for as for this other, to whom I have given the name and being of a kinsman, I am not wilUng to part with him till he hath taught me to shoot as well as himself. Hereupon Christovano Borralho, and I, greatly satisfied with the Na/utaquAm's courtesie, answered him, that we kissed his Highness hands for the exceeding honor he did us in vouchsafing to make use of us ; and seeing it was his pleasure so tp do, that he should for that effect make choice of which of us two he thought best, and he should not fail to be suddenly ready for the voyage. At these words standing a while in musing to himself, he looked on me, and said, I am resolved to send him there, because he seems not 268 TEE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES SO solemn, but is of a more lively humour, wherewith those ot Jcuppan are infinitely delighted, and may thereby chear up tha sick man, whereas the too serious gravity of this other, said he, turning him to Borralho, though very commendable for more important matters, would serve but to entertain his melancholy instead of diverting it. Thereupon falling into merry discourse, and jesting with those about him, whereunto the people of Ja^pan are much inclined, the Fingeandono arrived, unto whom he presented me, -with, a special and par- ticular recommendation touching the assurance of my person, wherewith I was not onely well satisfied, but had my minde also cleared from certain doubts, which out of the little knowledge I had of these peoples humors, had formerly troubled me. This done, the Nautaquim commanded 200 Taeis to be given me for the expence of my voyage, whereupon the Fingeandono and I imbarqued our selves in a vessel with oars, called a Punce, and in one night having traversed all this island of Tanixumaa, the next morning we cast anchor in an haven, named Hiamangoo, from whence we went to a good town, called Quanguixumaa, and so continuing our course afore the winde, with a very fair gale, we arrived the day ensuing at a very sweet place, named Tanaro, whence the morrow after we went to Minato, and so forward to a fortress of the King of Bungoes, called Osquy, where the Fingeandono stayed some time, by reason that the captain of the place (who was his brother in law) found himself much indisposed in his health. There we left the vessel in which we came, and so went by land directly to the city, where being arrived about noon, the Fingeandono, because it was not at a time fit to wait upon the King, went to his own house. After dinner having rested a little, and shifted himself into a better habit, he mounted on horsbaok, and with certain of his friends rode to the court, carrying me along with him, where the King was no sooner advertised of his coming, but he sent a son of his about nine or ten years of age to receive him, who accompanied with a number of noblemen, richly apparelled, and his ushers with their maces going before him, took the Fingeandono by the hand, and beholding him with a smiling countenance ; Ma/y thy entrance, said he unto him, into the house of the King my OP FERDINAND MENDBZ PINTO. 269 lord, bring thee as rrnich content and honour as thy children deserve, and are worthy, being thine, to sit at table with me in th£ solemn feasts. At these words the Fingeandono prostrating himself on the ground ; My lord, answered he, I most humbly beseech them that a/re in heaven above, which ha/oe ta/ught thee to be so courteous and so good, either to answer for me, or to give me a tongue so voluble, as may express my thankfulness in terms agreeable to thy ears for the great honour thou art pleased to do me at this present ; for in doing otherwise I should offend no less, then those ungratefull wretches which inhabit the lowest pit of the profound and obscure house of smoak. This said, he offered to kiss the curtelass which the young prince wore by his side, which he would by no means permit, but taking him by the hand, he led him to the King his father, unto whom, lying sick in his bed, he delivered a letter from the Na/utaguim, which after he had read, he commanded him to call me in from the next room where I staid attending, which instantly he did, and presented me to the King, who entertaining me very graciously ; Thy arrival, said he unto me, in this my country is no less pleasing to me, then the rain which falls from heaven is profitable to our fields that are sowed with rice. Knding my self somewhat perplexed with the novelty of these terms, and this manner of salutation, I made him no answer for the instant, which made the King say to the lords that were about hira, I imagine that this stranger is daunted with seeing so much company here, for that peradventure he hath not been accustomed unto it, wherefore I hold it fit to remit him unto some other time, when as he may be better ac- quainted, and not be so abashed at the sight of the people. Upon this speech of the Kings I answered by my truchman, that whereas his Highness had said that I was daunted, I confessed that it was true, not in regard of so many folks as were about me, because I had seen far many more, but that my amazement proceeded from the consideration that I was now before the feet of so great a king, which was sufficient to make me mute an hundred thousand years, if I could live so long. I added further, that those which were present there seemed to pie but men, as I my self was, but as for his High- ness, that God had given him such great advantages above 270 TEE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 all, as it was His pleasure he should be lord, and that others .should be mere servants, yea, and that I my self was but a silly ant, in comparison of his greatness, so that his Majesty coijd not see me in regard ot my smalness, nor I in respect thereof be able to answer unto his demands. All the assistants much such account of this mad answer of mine, as clapping their hands by way of astonishment, they said unto the King, Mark, I beseech your Highness, how he speaks to purpose ; verily it seems that this man is not a merchant, which meddles with base things, as buying and selling, but rather a Bonze, that offer sacrifices for the people ; or if not so, surely he is some great captain that hath a long time scoured the seas. Truly, said the King, I am of the same opinion, now that I see him so resolute ; but let every man be silent, because I purpose that none shall speak to him but my self alone ; for I assure you that I take so much delight in hearing him talk, that at this instant I feel no pain. At those words the Queen and her daughters, which were set by him, were not a Httle glad, and falling on their knees, vrith their hands lifted up to heaven, they thanked God for this His goodness unto them. CHAPTBE XXXVIII. The great mishap that befell the Eing of Bungo's son, mth the extreme danger that I yrae in for the same ; and what followed thereupoUi A LITTLE after the King caused me to approach imto his bed, where he lay sick of the gout, when I was near him. I prithee, said he unto me, be not unwilling to stay here by me, for it does me rrmch good to look on thee, and talk with thee ) thou shalt also obUge me to let me know whether in thy country, which is at the further end of the world, thou hast not learn'd any remedy for this disease wherewith I am tormented, or for the lack of appetite, which hath contimced with me now almost these two moneths without eating any thing to speak of. Hereunto I answered, that I made no profession of physick, for that I had never learn'd that art, but that in the junk, wherein I came from China, there was a certain wood, which OF FEBDINANB MENDEZ PINTO'. 271 infused in water healed far greater sicknesses then that where- of he complained, and that if he took of it, it would assuredly help him. To hear of this he was very glad, insomuch that transported with an extreme desire to be healed, he sent away for it in all haste to Tanixumaa, where the junck lay, and having used of it 30 days together, he perfectly recovered of his disease, which had held him so for 2 years together, as he was not able to stir from one place to another. Now during the time that I remained with much content in this city of Fuchea, being some 20 days, I wanted not occasions to entertain my self withall ; for sometimes I was imployed in answering the questions, which the King, Queen, princes, and lords asked of me, wherein I easily satisfied them, for that the matters they demanded of me were of very little consequence. Other-whiles I bestowed my self in beholding their solemnities, the temples where they offered up their prayers, their warlike exercises, their naval fleets, as also their fishing and hunting, wherein they greatly delight, especially in the high-flying of falcons and vultures. Oftentimes I past away the time vrith my harquebuse in killing of turtles and quails, whereof there is great abundance in the country. In the mean season this new manner of shooting seemed no less marvellous and strange to the inhabitants of this land, then to them of Tamxumaa ; so that beholding a thing which they had never seen before, they made more reckoning of it than I am able to express, which was the cause that the Kings second son, named ArichaMdono, of the age of 16 or 17 years, and whom the King wonderfully loved, intreated me one day to teach bim to shoot ; but I put him off, by saying that there needed a far longer time for it then he imagined, wherewith not weU pleased he complained to his father of me, who to content the prince desired me to give him a , couple of charges for the satisfying of his minde ; whereunto I answered that I would give him as many as his Highness would be pleased to command me. Now because he was that day to dine with his father, the matter was referred to the afternoon, howbeit then too there was nothing done, for that he waited on his mother to a village adjoyning, whither they came from all parts on pilgrimage by reason of a certain feast, which was 272 THE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTVBE8 celebrated there for the health of the King. The next day this young prince came with dnely 2 young gentlemen waiting on him to my lodging, where finding me asleep on a mat, and my harqu&htise hanging on a hook by, he would not wake me till he had shot off a couple of charges, intending, as he told me afterwards himself, that these two shoots should not be comprised in them I had promised him. Having, then com- manded one of the young gentlemen that attended him, to go softly and kindle the match, he took down the hwrquehise from the place where it himg, and going to charge it, as he had seen me do, not knowing how much powder he should put in, he charged the piece almost two spans deep, then putting in the bullet, he set himself with it to shoot at an orange tree that was not far off ; but fire being given, it was his ill hap that the harquebuse brake into 3 pieces, and gave him 2 hurts, by one of the which his right hand thumb was in a manner lost ; instantly whereupon the prince fell down as one dead, which the 2 gentlemen perceiving, they ran away towards the court, crying along in the streets that the strangers harquebuse had killed the prince; At these sad news the people flocked in all haste with weapons and great cries to the house where I was. Now God knows whether I was not a little amazed when coming to awake I saw this tumult, as also the young prince lying along upon the floor by me weltring in his own bloud without stirring either hand or foot. All that I could do then was to imbrace him in my arms, so besides my self, aa I knew not where I was. In the mean time, behold the King comes in a chair carried upon 4 mens shoulders, and so sad and pale, as he seemed more dead then alive; after him followed the Queen on foot leaning upon 2 ladies, with her 2 daughters, and a many of women aU weeping. As soon as they were entred into the chamber, and beheld the young prince extended on the ground, as if he had been dead, imbraced in my arms, and both of us wallowing in bloud, they all concluded that I had killed him; so that 2 of the company drawing out their scymitars, would have slain me ; which the King perceiving, Stay, stay, cried he, let ms know first how the matter goes, for I fear it comes further off, and that this fellow here 'hath been corrupted by some of those OP FEBDINANB MENDEZ PINTO. 273 traitors kinred, whom I caused to be last executed. Thereupon commanding the 2 young gentlemen to be called which had accompanied the prince, his son, thither, he questioned them exactly. Their answer was, that my harquebuse with the inchantments in it had killed him. This deposition served but to incense the assistants the more, who in a rage address- ing themselves to the King. What need, sir, have you to hear more, cried they ? Here is but too much, let him be put to a cruel death. Therewith they sent in all haste for the Jarabuca, who was my interpreter, to them; now for that upon the arrival of this disaster he was out of extreme fear fled away, they brought him straight to the King ; but before they fell to examining of him, they mightily threatned him, in case he did not confess the truth ; whereunto he answered trembling, and with tears in his eyes, that he would reveal all that he knew. In the mean time being on my knees, with my hands bound, a Bonzo, that was President of their Justice, having his arms bared up to the shoulders, and a poiniard in his hand dipped in the blond of the young prince, said thus unto me, I conjwre thee, thou son of some devil, and culpable of the same crime for which they are damned that inhabit in the house of smoak, where they Ue buried in the obscure and deep pit of the centre of the earth, that thou confess unto me with a voice so loud that every one viay hear thee, for what cause thou hast with these sorceries and inchantments killed this young innocent, whom we hold for the hairs, and chief ornaments of our heads. To this demand I knew not what to answer upon the sudden, for that I was so far besides my self, as if one had taken away my lite, I believe I should not have felt it; which the president perceiving, and beholding me with a terrible countenance, Seest thou not, continued he, that if thou doest not answer to the questions I ask thee, that thou moAjest hold thy self for con- demmed to a death of bloud, of fire, of water, and of the blasts of the winde ; for thou shalt be dAsmembred into air, like the feathers of dead fowl, which the winde ca/rries from one place to another, separated from the body with which they werejoyned whitest they lived. This said, he gave me a great kick with his foot for to rowse up my spirits, and cried out again, Speak, confess who they are that have corrupted thee ? what sum of 19 274 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES money heme they given thee ? how me they called, ? and where a/re they at this present ? At these words being somewhat come again to my self, I answered him, that God knew my innocence, and that I took him for witness thereof. But he not contented with what he had done began to menace me more than before, and set before mine eyes an infinite of torments and terrible things ; wherein a long time being spent, it pleased God at length that the young prince came to him- self, who no sooner saw the King his father, as also his mother and sisters dissolved into tears, but that he desired them not to weep ; and that if he chanced to die, they would attribute his death to none but himself, who was the onely cause thereof, conjuring them moreover by the bloud, wherein they beheld him weltring, to cause me to be unbound without all delay, if they desired not to make him die anew. The King much amazed with this language, commanded the manacles to be taken off which they had put upon me ; whereupon came in i Bonzoes to apply remedies unto him, but when they saw in what manner he was wounded, and that his thumb hung in a sort but by the skin, they were so troubled at it, as they knew not what to do ; which the poor prince observing, Away, away, said he, send hence these devils, and let others come that have more heart to judge of my hurt, since it hath pleased God to send it me. Therewith the 4 Bonzoes were sent away, and other 4 came in their stead, who hkewise wanted the courage to dress him ; which the King perceiving was so much troubled as he knew not what to do ; howbeit he resolved at length to be advised therein by them that were about him, who counselled him to send for a Bonzo, called Teixeandono, a man of great reputation amongst them, and that lived then at the city of Facataa, some 70 leagues from that place ; but the wounded prince not able to brook these delays ; I know not, answered he, what you mean by this counsel which you gi/ve my father, seeing me in the deplorable estate wherein I am ; for whereas I ought to have been d/rest already, you would ha/oe me stay for an old rotten man, who cannot be here unUll one hath made a jowney of an hundred and forty leagues, both in going and commg, so that it nmst be a moneth at least before he can a/rrifoe ; wherefore speak no more of it, but if you desire to OP FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 275 do me a pleasure, free tMs strmger a Uttlefrom thefewr you have put him in, and clear the room of all this throng, he that you beUeye hath hu/rt me mil help me, as he moA/, for I had rather die under the hands of this poor wretch ; that hath wept so much for me, then be touched by Bonzo of Facataa, who at the age he is of, of rdnety and two yea/rs, can see no further then his nose. CHAPTBE XXXIX. My curing the young Prince of Bungo ; with my return to Tanixumaa, and imbarquing there for Liampoo ; and also that which happened to us on land, after the shipwraok we suffered by the way. THE King of Bungo being extremely grieved to see the disaster of his son, turned himself to me, and behold- ing me with a very gentle comitenance; Stranger, said he unto me, try I pray thee, if them canst assist my son in this peril of Ms Ufe, for I swea/r unto thee, if thou camst do it, I will mahe no less esteem of thee, then of Mm Mmself, and will gvoe thee whatsoever thou wilt demand of me. Hereunto I answered the King, that I desired his Majesty to command all those people away, because the coyl that they kept confounded me, and that then I would see whether his hurts were dangerous; for if I found that I was able to cure them, I would do it most willingly. Presently the King willed every one to be gone; whereupon approaching unto the prince, I perceived that he had but two hurts ; one on the top of his forehead, which was no great matter ; and the other on his right hand thumb, that was almost cut off. So that our Lord inspiring me, as it were, with new courage, I besought the King not to be grieved, for I hoped in less then a month to render him his son perfectly recovered. Having comforted him in this manner, I began to prepare my self for the dressing of the prince ; but in the mean time the King was very much reprehended by the Bonzoes, who told him, that his son would assuredly die that night, and therefore it was better for him to put me to death presently, then to suffer me to kill the 276 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES prince outright, adding further, that if it should happen to prove so, as it was very likely, it would not only be a great scandal unto him, but also much alienate his peoples affections from him. To these speeches of the Bonzoes the King replied, that he thought they had reason for that they said, and there- fore he desired them to let him know how he should govern himself in this extremity. You must, said they, stay the coming of the Bonzo Teixeandono, and never think of any other course ; for we assure you, in regard he is the holiest man living, he will no sooner lay his hand on him but he will heal him strait, as he hath healed many others in our sight. As the King was even resolved to follow the cursed counsel of these servants of the devil, the prince complained that his wounds pained him Ln such sort that he was not able to endure it, and therefore prayed that any handsome remedy might be instantly appUed to them; whereupon the King, much distracted between the opinion of the Bonzoes, and the danger that his son was in of his life, together with the extreme pain that he suffered, desiring those about him to advise him what he should resolve on, in that exigent ; not one of them but was of the mind, that it was far more expedient to have the prince drest out of hand, then to stay the time which the Bonzoes spake of. This counsel being approved of the King, he came again to me, and making very much of me, he promised me mighty matters if I could recover his son ; I answered him with tears in my eyes, that by the help of God I would do it, and that he himself should be witness of my care therein. So recommending my self to God, and taking a good heart unto me, for I saw there was no other way to save my life, but that, I perpared all things necessary to perform the cure. Now because the hurt of the right hand thumb was most dangerous, I began vrith that, and gave it seven stitches, whereas peradventure if a chirurgion had drest him, he would have given it fewer ; as for that of the forehead, I gave it but four, in regard it was much slighter then the other ; that done, I applyed to them tow wet in the whites of eggs, and so bound them up very close, asl had seen others done in ihelmMaes. Five days after I out the stitches, and continued dressing him as before, until that at the end of twenty days it pleased God he OF FEBDINAND MBNDEZ PINTO. 277 was throughly cured, without any other inconvenience remain- ing in him than a little weakness in his thumb. Eor this cause after that time the King and his lords did me much honour ; the Queen also, and the princesses her daughters presented me with a great many sutes of silks, and the chiefest of the court with cymitars, and other things, besides all which the King gave me six hundred Taeis; so that after this sort I received in recompence of this my cure above fifteen hundred ducates, that I carried with me from this place. After things were past in this manner, beiag advertised by letters from my two companions at Tamxvmaa, that the Chinese pirate, with whom we came thither, was preparing for his return to GMna, I besought the King of Bungo to give me leave to go back, which he readily granted me, and with much acknowledgment of the curing of his son he willed a Funce to be made ready for me, furnished with all thiags necessary, wherein commanded a man of quaUty, that was attended by twenty of the Kings servants, with whom I departed on Saturday morning for the city of Fuoheo, and the Friday following about sun-set I arrived at Tamxumaa, where I found my two camrades, who received me with much joy. Here we continued fifteen days longer, till such time as the junck was quite ready, and then we set sail for Liampoo, which is a sea-port of the kingdom of GMna, whereof I have spoken at large heretofore, and where at that time the Portiigals traded. Having continued our voyage with a prosperous wind, it pleased God that we arrived safe at our desired port, where it is not to believed how much we were welcomed by the inhabitants of the place. [Pinto sets sail with the Portuguese from lAamvpoo, and is shipwrecked on the Island of the Leqmos ; Ms imprisonment in the town of Pungor, and other ad/oentwes, till his safe return to Liampoo, x»mitteJ»«] 278 TEE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES CHAPTEE XL. My sayling from Liampoo to Malaoa, from whence the captain ot the fortress sent me to the Chaubainhaa at Martabano ; and all that befel ub in our voyage thither, BEING arrived at Liampoo, we were very well received by the Portugals, that lived there. IVom whence within a while after I imbarqued my self in the ship of a Porttigal, named Tristano de Gaa, for to return unto Malaca, with an intention once more to try my fortune, which had so often been contrary to me, as may appear by that which I have dehvered before. This ship being safely arrived at Malaca, I went presently unto Pedro de Fama, Governour of the fortress, who desiring to benefit me somewhat before the time of his Government was expired, he caused me to undertake the voyage of Ma/rtahan, which was usually very profitable, and that in the junck of a Mahometam, named Necoda Mamtode, who had wife and children at Malaca. Now the principal designe of this voyage was, to conclude a peace vrith the GhoMhamhaa, King of Ma/rtabano ; as also to continue the commerce of those of that country vnth us, because their juncks did greatly serve for the provisions of our fortress, which at that time was unfurnished thereof by reason of the success of the wars of Jaoa. Besides I had a designe in this my voyage of no less consequence, then the rest, which was to get one, called Lanca/rote Chuerreyro, to come thither, who was then on the coast of Tanaii^arim, with an hundred men in four foists, under the name of a rebel or mutiner ; I was to require him to come to the succour of the fortress, in regard it was held for certain, that the King of Achem was suddainly to fall upon it ; so that Petro de Fa/ria, seeing himself destitute of aU that was necessary for him to sustain a siege, and of men like- wise, found it fit to make use of these hundred men, the rather for that they were nearest, and so might be the sooner with him. In the third place, he sent me upon another important occasion, namely, to give advice to the ships of Bengala, that they should come all carefully in consort OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 279 together, lest their negligence in their navigation should be the cause of some disaster. This voyage then I undertook very unwillingly, and parted from Malaoa upon a Wednesday, the 9th day of Janua/ry, in the year 1545 ; being under saU I continued my course with a good wind to Pullo Pracelwr, where the pilot was a little retarded by means of the shelves, which cross all that channel of the firm land, even unto the island of Swmatra. "When we were got forth with much labour, we passed on to the islands of Pullo Scmbillcm, where I put my self into a Manchua, which I had very well equipped ; and sayling in it the space of twelve days, I observed, accord- ing to the order Ped/ro de Faria had given me for it, all the coast of that country of Malaya, which unto ' Tunoalan con- tains an hundred and thirty leagues, entring by all the rivers of Ba/rlmhaas, Salangor, Panaagim, Qttedam, Paries, Pendan, and Sambilan, Siam, vnthout so much as hearing any news at all of his enemies in any of them. So continuing the same course nine days more, being the three and twentieth of our voyage, we went and cast anchor at a little island, called Pisandurea, where the Necoda, the Mahtimetan captain of the junck, was of necessity to make a cable, and furnish himself with wood and water. With this resolution going on shore every man applyed himself to the labour he was appointed unto, and therein spent most part of the day. Now whilest they were thus at work the son of this Mahumetan captain came and asked me whither I would go with him, and see if we could kill a stag, whereof there was great plenty in that island ; I answered him that I woidd accompany him with all my heart, so that having taken my Harquebuse, I went along with him athwart the wood, where we had not walked above an hundred spaces, but that we espied a many of wild boars, that were rooting in the earth near to a pond. Having dis- covered this game, we got as near to them as we could, and discharging amongst them, we carried two of them to the ground. Being very glad of this good success we presently gave a great shout, and ran straight to the place we had seen them rooting. But (0 dreadful to behold) in this place we found above a dozen bodies of men digged out of the earth, and some nine or ten others half eaten. Being much amazed 280 TEE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 at this object, we withdrew a little aside by reason of the great stench which proceeded from these dead bodies. Here- upon the Sa/racen told me, that he thought we should do well to advertise his father of this, to the end we might instantly surround this island all about for to see whether we could discover any vessels with pirats ; for, said he, there may be some lie hidden behind yonder poynt, whereby we may very well run the hazard of our lives, as it hath often befallen other ships, where many men have been lost by the carelessness of their captains. This advice of the Saracen seemed so good unto me, that we presently returned back unto the rode, where he gave an account to his father of that we had seen. Now for that the Necoda was a very prudent man, and scalded (as one may say) with the like inconveniences, he straight way gave order to have the island surrounded; then causing the women, children, and linnen, although it were but half washed, to be imbarqued, he himself being followed by forty men, armed with harquebuses and lances, went directly to the place where we had discovered those bodies, and viewing them one after another, with stopping our noses by reason of the stench, which was insupportable, he was so moved with compassion, that he commanded the mariners to dig a great pit for to bury them in. But as they were about to render them this last duty, and looking over them again, there was found upon some of them little daggers garnished with gold, and on others bracelets. Whereupon the Necoda, understanding well this mystery, wished me with all speed to dispatch away the rowing vessel that I had to the captain of Malaca, for that, as he assured me, those dead men, which they saw there, were Achems, who had been defeated near to Tanaucarim, whither their armies ordinarily retired because of the war which they had with the King of Siami. The reason he alledged to us for this was, that those which we saw there lying dead, having golden bracelets about them, were captains of Achem, who had caused themselves to be buried without permitting them to be taken away, and that he would lose his head if it were not so. For a greater proof whereof, he further added, that he would make some more of them to be dis-enterred, as incontinently he did; and having digged some seven and OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 381 thirty of them out of the earth, there was found about them sixteen bracelets of gold, twelve very rich daggers, and many jewels, so that thinking of no other but hunting, we got a booty worth above a thousand ducates, which the Necoda had, besides what was concealed ; but the truth is, this was not altogether to our advantage, for the most part of our men became sick with the extream stench of those bodies. _At the very instant I dispatched away the rowing vessel that we had to Malaca, and advertised Ped/ro de Faria of the whole success of our voyage. Withall I certified him what course we had held ; as also into what ports, and into what rivers we had entred, without hearing any other news of his enemies, then that it was suspected they had been at Tancmoarim, where by the appearances of those dead bodies, it was to be believed that they had been defeated ; whereunto I added, for a conclusion, that if I could light on any more assured news concerning them, I would presently acquaint him with it, in what part soever I were. After I had dispatched away the rowing vessel to Malaca, with the letters which I had directed to Pedro de Faria, and that our junck was furnished with all things necessary for her, we sayled towards the coast of Tancmcarim, where, as I said before, I had order to land for to treat with Lancerote Gwer- reyro, that he, and the rest of the Portugals of his company, might come to the succour of Malaca, which the Achems in- tended to besiege, according to the report that went of it. Being under sail then we arrived at a Utile island, a league in circuit, called Pulho Hinhor, where a Pa/rao came unto us, in the which were six tawny Moors, poorly clad, with red bonnets on their heads ; their boat being close to our junck, which was then under sail, they saluted us in the way of peace, where- unto we answered in the like manner. That done, they demanded of us if there were any Portugals amongst us ? We told them that there were, but mistrusting it, they desired to see one or two of them upon the hatches, because, added they, it imports much that it should be so. Whereupon the Necoda prayed me to come up, which incontinently I did, though at that time I was shut up in my cabbin below some- what indisposed in my health ; when I was on the deck I 282 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTVBE3 called to them that were in the Pa/rao, who had no sooner seen me, and known me to be a Portugal, but they gave a great shout; and clapping their hands for joy, they came aboard our junck. Then one of them, who by his countenance seemed to have more authority then the rest, began to say unto me : Seigmor, before I cra/ve leave of thee to speak, I desire thee to read this letter, to the end it may induce thee the more readily to believe that which I am to say unto thee. Thereupon, out of an old filthy clout he took a letter, wherein (after I had opened it) I found this written: Sigrdors Portugals, which are true Christians, this honou/rable man, that shall shew you this letter, is king of this island, newly con/verted to the faith, and called Dom Lancerote. Ee hath rendred many good offices, not onely to them who ha/ve subscribed this writing, but to us also who home navigated on these coasts. For he hath given us very important advertisements of the treasons which the Achems and Turks ha/ve plotted agadnst us, so that by the means of this honest man we ha/ve discovered all their designs : withall God hath made use of him for to give us not long si?ice a great victory against them, wherein we ha/oe taken from them one gaily, four galliots, and five foists, with the death of above a thousand Sar- razins. Wherefore we intreat you, by the wounds of owr Lord Jesus Christ, and by the merits of His holy passion, not onely to keep him from all wrong, but to assist him with all your power, as the manner is of all good Portugals, that it ma/y serve for an example to those which shall htow this, to do the like in imita- tion of you. And so we kiss your hands, this 13th day of November, 1544. This letter was signed by more then 50 Portugals, amongst whom were the 4 captains that I fought for,- namely, Lancerote Guerreyra, Antorde Gomez, Pedro Fer- reyra, and Cosmo Bernaldes. When I had read this letter, I made a tender of my person to this petty king, for otherways my power was so small, as it could not reach further then to the giving him a bad dinner, and a red bonnet I had on, which all worn as it was, was yet better then his own. Now after this poor king had made some declaration to me of himself, and of his miseries, hfting up his hands to heaven, and shed- ding abundance of tears. Owr Lord Jesus Christ, said he unto me, whose slave I am, doth know what great need I have now of OF FEBDINAND MMNDEZ PINTO. 283 the favow and succour of some Christians ; for becmse I am a Christian, as they a/re, a Mahometan sla/oe of mine, about fow monthes ago, redmed me to that extrermty wherein I behold my self at this instant, being not able in the state I am into do arvy other then cast wp mine eyes to heamen, and lament my mis- fortune, with much sorrow, and Utile remedy. And I assu/re thee, by the verity of that holy and new law, whereof I now make profession, that not onely for being a Christian, and a friend of the Portugals, I am persecuted in this sort. Now for that being alone, as thou art, it is not possible for thee to assist me. I beseech thee, Signior, to take me along with thee, to the end that this soul which God hath put into me may not perish, and in recompence thereof I promise to serve thee as a slave all the days of my life. Lo this is that which this poor king said with so many tears, as it was great pity to behold it ; in the mean time the Necoda, who was of a good disposition, and charitably inclined, was very much moved with the disaster of the unfor- tunate king, so that he gave him a little rice, and some linnen to cover him withall, for he was so ragged, that one might see his naked skin every where about him. After he had informed himself from bim of certain particulars, the knowledge where- of concerned him, he demanded him where his enemy was, and what forces he had ? Whereunto he answered, that he was a quarter of a league from thence, in a cabbin covered with straw, having not above thirty fishermen with him, who were most of them without arms. Hereupon the Necoda cast his eye upon me, and seeing me sad, for that I was not able of my self to succour this poor Christian, thinking withall that he should much oblige me thereby, Signior, said he imto me, */ thou wert now captain of my junok, as I am, what remedy wouldst thou give to the tears of this poor man, wherewith also thy eyes do pa/rticipate ? I knew not what reply to make him, for that I was greatly moved to behold my neighbour, a Christian like my self, to suffer in that manner, which the Necoda' s son perceiving, who was, as I have said, a young man of a good spirit, and brought up amongst the Portugals, and guessing at the shame and sorrow I was in, he desired his father to lend him 20 mariners of his junck, that by their means he might re-establish this poor King, and chase the 284 TEE TRAVELS, VOYAQES, AND ADVENTURES thief out of the island. To this the Necoda answered, that if I would demand so much of him, he would do it very wil- lingly ; whereupon casting my self at his feet, and embracing him, which is the humblest complement used amongst them, I told him with tears in my eyes, that if he would do me this favour I would be his slave whilest I lived, and that both he and his children should finde how ready I would be always to acknowledge the same. He presently granted my request, so that causing the junck to approach near the shoar, he prepared himself in 3 boats with one faulcon, 3 bases, and 60 men, Jaos and Lesons, all well armed, for 30 of them carried Ha/rgue- bmes, the rest lances, and bowes and arrows, besides grana- does, and other such like fire-works, as we thought were convenient for our design. It was about 2 of the clock in the afternoon when we landed, and so we went directly to the trench where the enemies were. The Necoda's son led the vanguard, consist- ing of 40 men, whereof 20 were armed with Hanrquebuses, and the rest with bowes and arrows. The Necoda himself brought on the rear; wherein were 30 souldiers, carrying a banner, which Pedro de Faria had given him at his parting from Malaca, with a cross painted in it, to the end that he might be known for a vassal to our king, in case he should encounter any of our ships. Marching in this order by the guiding of this petty king, we arrived where the rebell was with his men set in order, who by the shouting and cries seemed in shew not to make any reckoning of us. There were in number about 50, but weak, unarmed, and utterly destitute of all things necessary for their defence, having for all their arms but staves, 10 or 11 lances, and 1 Harquebuse. As soon as we had discovered them we gave fire to the faulcon and bases, discharging withall 20 Ha/rquebmes, whereupon the thieves betook themselves presently to flight, being in great disorder, and most of them hurt. We pursued them then so close, that we overtook them on the top of a little hill, where they were defeated in the space of 2 Credo's, not one of them escaping with life save onely 3, whom we spared for that they said they were Christians. That done, we went to a village, where there were not above 20 poor low cabbins, covered with straw ; OF FEBDINAND MENDFZ PINTO. 285 in it were found some threescore and four women, with a many of httle children, who no sooner perceived us, but all of them with tears fell a crying out. Christian, GhrisUan, Jesus, Jesus. At these words being fully perswaded that they were Christians, I desired the Necoda that he would cause his son to retire, and not to suffer any of them to be killed, because they were not Gentiles, which he presently yielded unto, and yet for aU that he could not keep the cabbins from sacking, though in them all there was not found the value of 5 ducates. For the people of this island are so poor, that scarce one of them is worth a groat ; they feed on nothing but a little fish, which they take with anghng, and eat it broiled on the coals without salt ; yet are they so vain and presumptuous, that not one almost amongst them but terms himself a king of some vile piece of ground, wherein there is little more then one poor cabbin ; besides, neither the men nor the women have wherewithall to cover their nakedness. After the slaughter of the rebellious Sa/racen and his followers, and the re-establishment of the poor Christian king, putting him in possession of his wife and children, whom his enemy had made slaves, together with above threescore and three Christian souls, we ordained a kinde of church amongst them, for the instruction of those that were newly converted. And then returning to our jimck, we presently set sail, and continued our course towards Tcmnacarim, where I was perswaded I should finde Lanoerote Guerreyra, and his' companions, for to treat with them about the business, whereof I have formerly spoken. But for as much as in the letter, which the petty king shewed me, the Portugals made mention of a victory which God had given them against the Turks and Achems of this coast, I hold it not amiss to relate here how that hapned, as well for the content the reader may take therein, as to shew that there is no enterprise which valiant souldiers at a need may not bring to pass, in regard whereof it imports much to cherish, and make esteem of them. For eight moneths and more our himdred Portugals had scoured up and down this coast in four well rigg'd foists, wherewith they had taken three and twenty rich ships, and many other lesser vessels, so that they which used to sail in those parts were so terrified with the sole name of the 286 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 Porkigals, as they quitted their commerce without maWng any further use of their shipping: by this surcease of trade the custom-houses of the ports of Tanauccmm, Juncalan, Merguvm, Vagaruu, and Tamay, fell much in their revenue, in so much that those people were constrained to give notice of it to the Emperor of Sorna/w, King of Siam, and soveraign lord of all that country, beseeching him to give a remedy to this mischief, whereof every one complained. Instantly whereupon, being then at the city of Odiaa, he sent with all speed to the frontire of Lcmhos for a Turkish captain of his, named Hered/rm Mahomet, the same who in the year 1538 came from Suez to the army of SoUman the Basha/w, Vice-roy of Gcmo, when as the great Tii/rk sent him to invade the Indies ; but it fell out that this man slipping from the body of the army arrived in a gaily on the coast of Tanauca/rim, where he was entertained by the Somau King of Siam, and for a pension of twelve thousand ducates by the year served him as a general of that frontire. Now for that the King held this Turk for invincible, and made more account of him then of all others, he commanded him from the place where he was, with three hundred Jamzanes that he had with him, and giving him a great sum of money he made him General of all the coast of this sea, to the end that he might free those people from our incursions ; withal he promised to make him Duke of Banchaa, which is an estate of great extent, if he could bring him the heads of fom* Portugal captains. This proud Turk, becoming more insolent by the reward and promises which the King made him posted presently away to Tanauca/rim, where being arrived he rigged forth a fleet of ten sails for to fight with us, being so confident of vanquishing us, as in answer of certain letters, which the Somau had written unto him from Odiaa, these words were found in one of them. From the time that my head was esloigned from the feet of your Bigness for to execute tMs small enterprize, wherein it seems you a/re pleased I should serve you, I conUnued m/y voyage till at the end of rdne days I arrived at Tanauearim, where I presently provided my self of such vessels as were necessary for me, and indeed would have had hut only two, for I hold it most infallible that those would suffice to chase aivay these petty tMeves ; howbeit not to disobey the commission, OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 287 which Combraealon the Governor of the Erwpi/re hath given me under yowr great seal, I ha/oe made ready the great gaily, as also the four Utile ones, and the five Foists, with which I purpose to set forth with all speed ; for I fea/r lest these dogs should haA)e news of my coming, and that for my sins God should be so much their friend, as to give them leasure to fly, which would be so great a grief unto me, that the very imagination thereof might be my death, or through an excess of despa/i/r render me like unto them ; but I hope that the Prophet Mahomet, of whose law I hme made prof ession from mine infancy, will not permit that it should so happen for my sins. This Heredrin Mahomet being arrived at Ttmauca/rim, as I have delivered before, presently- made ready his fleet, which was composed of five foists, four galliots, and one gaily royal: within these vessels he im- barqued eight hundred Mahometans, men of combat (besides the mariners), amongst the which were three hundred Janizaries, as for the rest they were Turks, Greeks, Malabo/res, Achems, and Msgores, all choyce men, and so disciplined, that their captain held the victory already for most assured; assisted with these forces he parted from the port of TanoMcarim for to go in the quest of our men, who at that time were in this island of Pulho Himhor, whereof the foresaid Christian was king. Now during those levies of men of war, this petty king going to the town for to sell some dryed fish there, as soon as he perceived what was intended against us, he left all his commodities behind him, and in all haste returned to this island of his ; where finding our men in great security, as little dreaming of that which was in hand against us, he related it all vmto them, whereat they remained so much amazed, as the importance of the matter did require; in so much that the same night and the next day having well caulked their vessels which they had drawn ashore, they lanched them into the sea, after they had imbarqued their provisions, their water, their artillery, and ammunition. So falling to their oars, vnth a purpose (as I have heard them say since) to get to Bengala, or to Bacan, for that they durst not withstand so great an army; but as they were unresolved thereupon, and divided in opinion, behold they saw all the ten sails appearing together, and behind them five great ships of 288 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES Guzwrates, whose masters had given Heredrin Mahomet thirty thousand duoates for to secure them against our Portugah. The sight of these fifteen sails put our men into a very great confusion ; and because they were not able at that time to make to sea for that the wind was contrary, they put them- selves into a creek, which was on the south-side of the island and invironned by a down, or hill, where they resolved to attend what God would send them. In the mean time the five Chizarat ships shewed themselves with full sails at sea, and the ten sails with oars went directly to the island, where they arrived about sun-set. Presently thereupon the Tv/rkish captain sent out spies to the ports, where he was advertised that they had been, and entered by little and little into the mouth of the haven, that so he might render himself more assured of the prize which he pretended to make, with hope that as soon as it was day he should take them all, and so bound hand and foot present them to the Soma/u of Siam, who in recompence thereof had promised him the state of Banchaa, as I have said before. The Manchua, which had been at the port to spy them out, returned to the fleet about two hours within night, and told Heredrin for news, that they were fled and gone ; wherewith it is said this barbarian was so afflicted, that tearing his hair, I aVivays feared, said he weeping, my sins would he the cause that in the execution of thds enterprize God would shew Himself more a Christian, then a Sarazin, and that Mahomet would be Uke to these dogs, of whom I go in quest. This said, he fell down all along in the place, and so continued a good while without speaking a word. Nevertheless being come again to himself he gave order, like a good captain, to all that was necessary. First of all then he sent the four galliots in quest of them to an island, called Tanbasoy, disi^ant from that of Pulho Hinhor about seven leagues, for he was perswaded that our men were retired thither, because this was a better harbor then that of the island from whence they were gone. As for the five foists he divided them into three, whereof he sent two to another island, named Sambikm, and other two to those which were nearest to the firm land, for that all these places were very proper to sheltor one in ; as for the fifth foist, in regard she was flatter then the rest, he sent OF FSBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 289 her along with the four galliots, that she might before it was day bring him news of that which shonld happen, with promise of great reward for the same ; but during these things our men, who had always a watchful eye,^ seeing the Twk had rid himself of his greatest forces, and that there was no more remaining with him but the gaily wherein he was, they resolved to fight with him; and so sailing out of the creek, where they had shrouded themselves, they rowed directly to her. Now in regard it was past midnight, and that the enemies had but weak sentinels, for that they thought them- selves most secure, and never dreamt of any body lying in wait to attaque them there, our four foists had the opportunity to board her all together, and threescore of their lustiest men leaping suddenly into her, in less then a quarter of an hour, and before the enemies knew where they were for to make use of their arms, they killed above fourscore Turks ; as for the rest they cast themselves all into the sea, not one man re- maining aMve : the dog Heredrin Mahomet was slain amongst the rest, and in this great action God was so gracious to our men, and gave them this victory at so cheap a rate, that they had but one young man killed, and nine Portugals hurt. They assured me since, that in this gaily, in so short a time, what by water, and the sword, above three hundred Maho- metans lost their lives, whereof the most part were Janiearies of the Gold Chain, which among the Turks is a mark of honour. Our Portugals having past the rest of the night with much contentment, and always keeping good watch, it pleased God that the next morning the two foists arrived from the island whither they had been sent ; who altogether ignorant of that which had past, came carelessly doubling the point of the haven, where the gaily lay, so that the four foists made themselves masters of them in a little space, and with the loss of but a few men. After so good a success they fell dihgently to work in fortifying the gaily and the two foists, which they had taken, and then flanked the south-side of the island with five great pieces of ordnance to defend the entry into the haven. Now about evening the other two foists arrived, making to land with the same indiscretion as the others ; and although they had much ado to reach them, yet 20 290 TSS TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES were they constrained at length to render themselves, with the loss onely of two Portugals. Hereupon our men resolved to attend the four galliots that remained, and which had been sent to the next island, but the next day so great a wind arose from the north, that two of them were cast away upon the coast, not one that was in them escaping. As for the other two, about evening they discovered them very much in dis- order, destitute of oars, and separated above three leagues the one from the other; but at last about sun-set one of them came to the port, and ran the same fortune as the former, without saving any one of the Sa/razins lives. The next morning an hour before day, the wind being very calm, our men discovered the other galliot, which for want of oars was not able to recover the port, in regard whereof our men resolved to go and fetch her in, as accordingly they did, and coming somewhat near her with two cannon shot, they killed the most part of them that were in her, and boarding her took her very easily ; now because all her men were either slain, or hurt, they drew her to land by force of other boats ; so that of the ten sail of this fleet, our men had the gaily, two galliots, and four foysts ; as for the other two galliots, they were cast away on the Isle of Taubasoy, as I have delivered before ; and touching the fift foyst, no news could be heard of her, which made it credible that she also suffered shipwraok, or that the vnnd had cast her upon some of the other islands. This glorious victory, which it pleased God to give us, was obtained in the month of September, 1544, on Michaelmas Eve, which rendred the name of the Portugals so famous through all those coasts, that for three years after there was nothing else spoken of ; so that the Chcmbainhaa, King of Ma/rtabano, hearing of it, sent presently to seek them out, and promised them great advantages if they would succour him against the King of Bramaa, who at that time was making preparation in his city of Pegu, for to go and besiege Martabano, with an army of seven hundred thousand men. OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 291 CHAPTEE XLI. Tha continuance of our voyage to the Bar of Martabano; and certain memorable particularities bapning there, BEING departed, as I said, from the Island of Pulho Hmhor, we continued our course towards the port of Tarnassery, for the affair of which I have spoken ; but upon the approach of the night, the pilot desiring to avoid certain sands that were to the prow-ward of him, put forth to sea, with an intention as soon as it was day to return towards land with the westerly wind, which at the instant blew from the Indiaes by reason of the season. We had now held this course five days, running vnth much labour by many different rhombs, when as it pleased God that we accidently discovered a little vessel ; and for as much as we thought it to be a fisher-boat, we made to it, for to be informed from them in her where- abouts we were, and how many leagues it was from thence to Twrnassery; but having passed close by her, and haled her without receiving any answer, we sent off a shallop, well furnished with men for to compel her to come aboard us : our boat then going directly to the vessel, we entred her, but were much amazed to find in her only five Portugals, two dead, and three aUve, with a coffer, and a sack full of Tangues, and Larius, which is the mony of that country, and a fardle, wherein there were basins and ewers of silver, and two other very great basins. Having laid up all this safely, I caused the Portugals to be brought into our junk ; where looking very carefidly unto them, yet could I not in two days get one word from them ; but at length by the means of yelks of eggs, and good broaths, which I made them take, they came again to themselves; so that in six or seven days they were able to render me a reason of their accident. One of those Portugals was called CMistovamo Doria, who was since sent into this country for a captain to Saint Tome ; the other Ltvys Tdbonda, and the third Svnumo de Brito, all men of credit, and rich merchants. These same recounted unto us, that coming from the Indies in a vessel belonging to Jorge Manhoz, that was married at Goa, with a purpose to go to the port of CJumngan, 292 THB TBAVBLS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUSES in the kingdom of Bengala, they were oast away in the sands of BMcano for want of taking heed; so that of fourscore persons, that they were in the vessel, onely seventeen being saved, they had continued their course ail along by the coast for five days together, intending if possibly they could to recover the river of Cosmira in the kingdom of Pegu, there to ship themselves for the Indiaes in some vessel or other that they should meet with in the port ; but whilst they were in this resolution, they were so driven by a most impetuous westerly wind, that in one day and a night they lost the sight of land, finding themselves in the main sea without oars, without sayls, and all knowledge of the winds, they continued in that state sixteen days together, at the end whereof their water coming to faU, all died but those three he saw before him. Upon the finishing of this relation we proceeded on in our course, and within four days after we met with five Portugal vessels, which were sayling from Bengala to Malaca. Having shewed them Pedro de Fcma's order, I desired them to keep in consort together for fear of the Achems army, that ranged all over the coast, lest through their imprudence they should fall into any mischief, and thereof I demanded a certificate from them, which they willingly granted, as also furnished me very plentifully with all things necessary. Having made this dispatch we continued our course, and nine days after we arrived at the bar of Martahano, on & Friday, the 27th of Ma/rch, 1545, having past by Ta/rnassey, Tova/y, Merguin, Juncay, Pullo, Gamuda, and Vaga/nm, without hearing any tidings of those hundred Portugals, in search of whom I went, because before that they had taken pay in the service of the Ghcmbadnhaa, King of Martabano, who, according to report, had sent for them to assist him against the King of Bramaa, that held him besieged with an army of seven hundred thousand men, as I have declared before ; howbeit they were not at this time in his service ; as we shall see presently. It was almost two hours within night, when we arrived at the mouth of the river ; where we oast anchor with a resolu- tion to go up the next day to the city. Having continued some- time very quiet, we ever and anon heard many cannon shot, whereat we were so troubled, as we knew not what to resolve OF FEBOINAND MENDE2 PINTO. 293 on ; as soon as the sun rose, the Necoda assembled his men to councel; for in semblable occasions he always used so to do, and told them, that as sure as they were all to have a share in the peril, so it was fit that every one should give his advice about it ; then he made a speech, wherein he represented unto them that which they had heard that night, and how in regard thereof he feared to go unto the city. Their opinions upon it were very different, howbeit at length they concluded, that their eyes were to be witnesses of that whereof they stood in such doubt. To this end we set sail, having both wind and tyde, and doubled a point, called Mownay, from whence we discovered the city, invironed with a world of men, and upon the river almost as many vessels, and although we suspected what this might be, because we had heard something of it, yet left we not off from sayHag to the port, where we arrived with a great deal of care, and having discharged our ordnance according to the usual manner, in sign of peace, we perceived a vessel very well furnished came directly to us from the shore, wherein there was six Portugals, at which we exceedingly rejoyced ; these presently came aboard our junck, where they were very well entertained ; and having declared unto us what we were to do for the safety of our persons, they counselled us not to budge from thence for any thing in the world, as we had told them our resolution was to have fled that night to Bengala ; because if we had followed that design, we had assuredly been lost, and taken by the fleet which the King of Bramaa had in that place, consisting of seventeen hundred sayls, wherein were comprised an hundred gaUies very well furnished vyith strangers. They added withal, that they were of opinion I should go ashore with them to Joano Gayeyro, who was captain of the Portugals, for to give him an account of the cause that brought me thither, the rather for that he was a man of sweet disposition, and a great friend of Pedro de Faria's, to whom they had often heard him give much com- mendation, as well for his noble extraction, as for the goodly qualities that were in him ; besides they told me that I should find Lancarote Gueyreyo, and the rest of the captains vyith him, imto whom my aforesaid letters were directed, and that I should do nothing therein prejudicial to the service of God, 294 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES and the King. This counsel seeming good unto me, I went presently to land with the Portugals to wait on Joano Gayeyro, to whom I was exceeding welcome, as likewise to all the rest that were in his quarters, to the numher of seven hundred PorPugals, all rich men, and of good esteem. Then I shewed Joano Gayeyro my letters, and the order that Ped/ro de Faria had given me ; moreover I treated with him about the affair that led me thither : whereupon I observed that he was very instant with the captains, to whom I was addrest, who answered him that they were ready to serve the King in all occasions that should be presented; howbeit since the letter of Ped^o de Faria, Governour of Malaca, was grounded on the fear that he was in of the army of the Achems, composed of an hundred and thirty sayl, whereof Bijaya Sora King of PedAr was General ; and it having fallen out, that his Admiral had been defeated at Tarnasery by those of the country, with the loss of seventy Lanchares, and six thousand men, it was not needful they should stir for that occasion; for according to what they had seen with their own eyes, the forces of that enemy were so mightily weakned, as they did not think he could in ten years space recover again the loss he had sustained. To this they added many other reasons, which made them all to agree, that it was not necessary they should go to Malaca. After these things I desired Joamo Gayeyro to make me a declaration of all that had past in this business, that it might serve me, as it were, for a certificate at my return to our fortress, determining as soon as I had it to get me from this place, for that I had nothing more to do there. With this resolution I stayed there with Joano Gayeyro, in continual expectation to be gone when the season should serve for the junck to depart, and remained vrith him at this siege the space of six and forty days, which was the chief time of the King of Bramaa his abode there ; of whom I will say something here in a few words, because I conceive the curious would be weU. content to Imow what success the Ghaubainhaa, King of MartaboMO, had in this war. This siege had lasted now six months and thirteen days, in which space the city had been assaulted five times in plain day, but the besieged defended themselves always very valiantly, and like men of OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 295 great courage. Howbeit in regard they were insensibly con- sumed with length of time, and the success of war, that no succour came to them from any part, their enemies were without comparison far more in number then they, in such sort as the Chcmbcdnhaa, found himself so destitute of men, as it was thought he had not above five thousand soldiers left in the city, the hundred and thirty thousand which were said to be there at the beginning of the siege, being consumed by famine, or the sword, by reason whereof the Council assembling for to deliberate what was to be done thereupon, it was resolved that the king should sound his enemy by his interest, which he presently put in execution. For that effect he sent to tell him, that if he would raise the siege he would give him thirty thou- sand hisses of silver, which is in value a million of gold, and would become his tributary at threescore thousand ducates by theyear. The answer made by the King of Bramaa, hereunto was, that he could accept of no conditions from him, if he did not first yield himself to his mercy. The second time he propounded unto him, that if he would suffer him to depart away with two ships, in one of which should be his treasure, and in the other his wife and children, that then he would deliver him the city, and all that was in it. But the King of Bramaa would hearken no more to that then the former. The third proposition which he made him was this, that he should retire with his army to Tagalaa, some six leagues off, that so he might have liberty to go away freely with all his, and thereupon he would deliver him the city, and the kingdom, together with all the treasure belonging to the king his predecessor, or that in lieu thereof he would give him three miUions of gold. But he also refused this last offer, insomuch that the Ghauhamhaa utterly dispairing of ever making his peace with so cruel an enemy, began to meditate with himself what means he might use to save himself from him. Having long thought upon it he found no better an expedient then therein to serve himself of the succour of the Porimgals, for he was perswaded that by their means he might escape the present danger. He sent then secretly to tell Joano Cayeyro, that if he would imbarque himself in the night in his four ships, and take him in with his wife and children, and so save them, he would give him half bis treasure. In this 296 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTVBEB affair he very closely imployed a certain Portibgal, named Pauh de Seixas, born in the tovm of Obidos, who at that time was with him in the city. This same having disguised himself in a Pegu habit, that he might not be known, stole one night to Gayeyro's tent and deUvered him a letter from the Chcmbamhaa, wherein this was contained. VaUant and faithful Commander of the Portugals, through the grace of the King of the other end of the world, the strong and mighty Lion, dreadfully roaring, with a crown of majesty in the Rouse of the Sun, I the umha^ppy Chaubainha's, heretofore a prince, but now no longer so, finding my self besieged in this wretched and infortunate city, do give thee to understand by the words pronounced out of my mouth, with an asswrance no less faithful then true, that I now render my self the vassal of the great king of Portugal, soveraign lord of me, and my children, with an acknowledgement of homage, and such tribute as he at Ms pleasure shall imvpose on me : wherefore I require thee on his behalf, that as soon as Paulo Seixas shall present this my letter unto thee, thou come speedily with thy ships to the bulwark of the Chappel-key, where thou shalt find me ready attending thee, and then without taking further counsel, I will deliver my self up to thy mercy, with all the treasures that I have in gold, and precious stones, whereof I will mast wilWngly gi/oe the one half to the King of Portugal, upon condition that he shall permit me with the remainder to levy in his kingdom, or in the fortresses which he hath in the Indiaes, two thousand Portugals, to whom I will give extraordinary great pay that by their means I ma/y be re-established in this state, which now I a/m constrained to abandon ; since my ill fortune will home it so. As for that which concerns thee, and thy men, I do promise them, by the faith of my verity, that in case they do help to save me, I will divide m/y treasure so liberally among them, that all of them shall be very well satisfied and contented ; and for that time will not suffer me to enlarge any further, Paulo de Seixas, by whom I send this unto thee, shall assure thee both of that which he hath seen, and of the rest which I have communicated vm,to him. Joano Ga/yeyro had no sooner received this letter, but he presently caused the chief of his followers secretly to assemble together in Councel. Having shewed them the letter, he represented unto them how important and profitable it would be for the service of God, and OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 297 the King, to accept of the offer, which the Ghmbmnhm had made them. Whereupon causing an oath to be given to Pernio de Sewas, he willed him freely to declare all his knowledge of the matter, and whether it were true that the Ghcmbmnhaa his treasure was so great, as it was reported to be. Thereunto he answered by the oath what he had taken, that he knew not certainly how great his treasure was, but that he was well assured how he had often seen, with his own eyes, an house in form of a church, and a reasonable bigness, all full up to the very tyles of bars and wedges of gold, which might very well lade two great ships. He further said, that he had more- over seen six and twenty chests bound about with strong cords, wherein according to the Chaubamhaa his own report was the treasure of the deceased Presagvsan King of Pegu, which said treasure containing an hundred and thirty thousand hisses, and every biss in value five hundred ducates, made up all together the sum of threescore millions of gold. He said also, that he knew not certainly the number of wedges of gold which he had seen in the Temple of the God of Thunder, but he was most assured notwithstanding that they would fully lade four good vessels. And for a conclusion, he told them, that the said Chaubamhaa had shewed him the golden image of Qmay Frigau, which was taken at Degwn, all full of such rich and resplendent stones as it was thought the like again were not in the whole world. So that this declaration which this man made upon oath astonished them so that heard it, as they could not possibly believe it to be true. Howbeit after they had sent him out of the tent, they entered into consultation about this affair, wherein nothing was resolved,of which I verily believe our sinswere the cause; for there were in this assembly as many different opinions, as Babel had diversities of languages, which proceeded especially from the envy of six or seven men there present, who would needs perswade the rest, that if this affair should happen to have such success as was hoped for, Joano Gayeyro (unto whom they all bore no good will) would go then into Portugal with so much honor and reputation, as it would be a small matter for the King to make him an earl, or a marquis, or at least recom- pence liim with the government of the Indies ; so that after these ministers of the devil had alledged many reasons where- 298 THE TRAVELS, VOYAQES, AND ADVENTUBE-S fore it might not be done, which I think was but the mask of their weakness and ill nature, though it may be they did it out of the fear they were in of losing both their goods and lives if this matter should come to be discovered to the King of Bramaa; howsoever they would not agree to accept of this offer, but contrariwise they threatened Joano Cayeyro, that if he desisted not from his purpose, which was to comply with the Ghcmhainhaa, they would disclose it to the Bramaa ; so that Ga/yeyro was constrained to abandon this business, lest if he should persist therein the Portiigals themselves would discover him, as they threatened to do, without either fear of God, or regard of men. Joano Cayeyro, seeing he could not possibly bring his desire to pass, vrrote a letter to the GoMbamhaa, wherein he used many weak excuses for not performing that which he demanded of him, and giving it to Pa/uh de Seixas, he speedily dispatched him away with it ; so that departing about three hours after midnight he arrived safe at the city, where he found the GoMbamhaa, attending him in the same place which he had named in his letter, unto whom he dehvered the answer he had brought. After he had read it, and thereby found that he could not be succoured by our men, as he always thought he should, it is said that he remained so confounded, that for very grief and sorrow he sunk down to the ground like a dead man, and continuing a pretty while in that manner, at length he came again to himself, and then beting his brest, and bewaiUng his miserable fortune. Ah PortugaU, said he with tears in his eyes, how ill do you acknowledge that which I have done for yoUj imagining that thereby I should make acquisition of your friendship, as of a treasv/re, to the end that Uke faithful men you would be assisting to me in so great a necessity as this is which now I am in, whereby I desired no other thing then to sct/oe my child/rens lives, imrich your king, and state you m the number of my chiefest friends ? And would it had pleased ham who raigns in the beauty of these stars, that you had merited before him the doing me this good office, which onel/y for my sins you ha/ve refused me; for in so doing you had by my means augmented his la/w, amd I been sa/ued in the promises of his truth. Thereupon sending away Paulo de Seixas, with a OF FERDINAND MBNDEZ PINTO. 299 young wench, by whom he had had two sons, he gave him a pair of bracelets, and said unto him, I desire thee not to think of this Utile which now I gi/oe thee, but of the great love I ha/ve always bom thee ; above all, forget not to tell the Portugals, with how much cause and grief I complain of thei/r extream in- gratitude, whereof I will render them culpable before God at the last and dreadful day of judgement. The night following Paul de Seixas came back to the Portugals, with two children, and a very fair young damosel their mother, with whom he married afterwards at Goromandel, and shewed to Simon de Binto, and Ped/ro de Bruges, lapidaries, the bracelets which the Ghau- bainhaa had given him, who buying them of him payd six and thirty thousand ducats for them, and had afterwards fourscore thousand for them of Trvmi/ra Baia Govemour of Narsingua. Five days after Pauh de Seixas coming to the camp,, where he recounted aU that I have related before, the Chaubainhaa, seeing himself destitute of all humane remedy, advised with his Gouncel what course he should take in so many misfortunes, that dayly in the neck of one another fell upon him ; and it was resolved by them to put to the sword all things living that were not able to fight, and with the blood of them to make a sacrifice to Qwiay Nwandel, God of Battels, then to cast all the treasure into the sea, that their enemies might make no benefit of it, afterward to set the whole city on fire, and lastly that all those which were able to bear arms should make themselves Amoucos, that is to say, men resolved either to dye, or vanquish, in fighting with the Bramaas. The Cha/ubainhaa very much approved this counsel, and concluding of it accordingly they fell presently to the de- molishing of houses, and were preparing all other things for the effecting of their design, when as one of the three principal commanders of the city, apprehending that which was to follow the next day, fled the night ensuing to the enemies camp, and there rendered himself with four thousand men under his leading to the Bramaa. Hereupon the courages of all the rest were so abated by such a strange infidelity and flight, that not one of them cared afterwards either to keep watch, maintain the breaches, or do any other service what- soever, but coutrarily all that remained stuck not to say 300 THE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES publiquely, that if the Chcmbadnhaa would not suddenly re- solve to yield himself to the Bramaa, they would open the gates and let him in, for that it would be better for them to dye so, then to languish and consume away like rotten beasts as they did. The Ghaubainhaa seeing them stifly bent there- unto, for to appease them, answered, that he would perform their desire ; howbeit withal he caused a review to be made of those that would fight, but he found them to be not above two thousand in aU, and they too so destitute of coiu:age, as they could hardly have resisted feeble women. Beholding himself then reduced to the last cast, he communicated his mind to the Queen onely, as having no other at that time by whom he might be advised, or that indeed could advise Mm. The onely expedient then that he could rest on, was to render himself into the hands of his enemy, and to stand to his mercy, or his rigor. Wherefore the next day about six of the clock in the morning he caused a white flag to be hung out over the wall in sign of peace, whereunto they of the camp answered with another like banner. Hereupon the Xemmbrum, who was as it were marshal of the camp, sent an horseman to the bulwark, where the flag stood, unto whom it was delivered from the top of the wall. That the Ghau- bainhaa desired to send a letter to the King, so as he might have a safe-conduct for it; which being signified to the Xemmbrum, he instantly dispatched away two of good quaUty in the army with a safe-conduct, and so these two Bramaas remaining for hostages in the city, the Ghaubainhaa sent the King a letter by one of his priests, that was fourscore years of age, and reputed for a saint amongst them. The contents of this letter were these : The love of children hath so much power in this house of our weakness, that amongst us, who a/re fathers, there is not so much as one that for their sakes would not be well contented to descend a thousand times into the deep pit of the house of the serpent, much more would expose his Ufe for them, a/nd put himself into the hands of one that useth so mu£h clemency towards them that shall do so. For which reason I resohed this night with my wife and children, contrary to the opinions that would disswade me from this good, which 1 hold the greatest of all others, to render my self vnto your Sigh OF FERDINAND MBNDMZ PINTO. 801 ness, that you may do with me as you thinh fit, and as shall be most agreeable to yov/r good pleasure. As for the fault where- with I may be charged, and whAoh I submit at you/r feet, 1 humbly beseech you not to regard it, that so the merit of the mercy, whdch you shall shew me, may be the greater before God and men. May your Highness therefore be pleased to send some presently for to take possession of my person, of my wife, of my children, of the city, of the treasme, and of all the kingdom ; all whdch I do even now yield up unto you, as to my sovereign lord, and lawful king. All the request that I home to make unto you hereupon with my knees on the ground, is, that we may all of us with yowr permission finish ov/r days in a cloister, where I have aheady vowed ccmtinualhj to bewail and repent my faitilts past. For as touching the honors and estates of the world, wherewith yowr Highness might inrich me, as Lord of the most part of the Earth, and of the Isles of the Sea, they are things which I utterly renounce for evermore. In a word, I da solemnly swea/r unto you before the greatest of all the gods, who with the gentle touch of His Almighty hand makes the clouds of heaven to move, never to leave that reUgion which by yowr pleaswre I shall be commanded to profess, where being freed from the vain hopes of the world, my repentance may be the more pleasing to Him that pardoneth all things. This holy Grepo, Dean of the Golden House of Sadnt Qtiiay, who for his goodness and austerity of Ufe hath all power over me, will make a more ample relation unto you of what I have omitted, and can more particularly tell you that which concerns the offer I make you of rend/ring my self ; that so relying on the reality of his speech, the unquietness wherewith my soul is incessantly troubled may be appeased. The King of Bramaa having read this letter instantly returned another in answer thereunto full of promises and oaths to this effect, That he would forget all that was past, and that for the future he would provide him an estate of so great a revenue, as should very well content him. Which he but badly accom- plished, as I shall declare hereafter. These news was pub- lished throughout all the camp with a great deal of joy, and the next morning all the equipage and train that the King had in his quarter was set forth to view. First of all there were to be seen fourscore and six field-tents, wonderful richj each 302 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 of them being invironed with thirty elephants, ranked in two files, as if they had been ready to fight, with castles on their backs full of banners, and their Panares fastened to their trunks, the whole number of them amounted unto two thousand, five hundred, and fotirscore. Not far from them were twelve thousand and five hundred Bramaas, all mounted on horses, very richly accoustred ; with the order, which they kept, they inclosed all the Kings quarter in four files, and were all armed in corslets, or coats of mayl, with lances, cymitars, and gilded bucklers. After these Horse followed four files of Foot, all Bramaas, being in number above twenty thousand. For all the other souldiers of the camp, there were so many as they could not be counted, and they marched all in order after their captains. In this publique muster were to be seen a world of banners, and rich colours, and such a number of instruments of war sounded, that the noise thereof, together with that which the souldiers made, was most dreadful, and so great as it was not possible to hear one another. Now for that the King of Bramaa would this day make shew of his greatness, in the reddition of the Chcm- hcvmhaa, he gave express command, that all the captains which were strangers, with their men, should put on their best clothes, and arms, and so ranged in two files, they should make as it were a kind of street, through which the Ghaubainhaa might pass ; this accordingly was put in execu- tion ; and this street took beginning from the city gate, and reached as far as to the "Kings tent, being in length about three quarters of a league, or better. In this street there were six and thirty thousand strangers, of two and forty different nations, namely Fortugals, Grecians, Venetians, Turks, Jawi- za/ries, Jews, Armenians, Tarta/rs, Mogores, Ahyssins, Bads- butos, Nobins, Goracones, Persians, Tupa/raas, Qiza/res, Tamaoos, Malabares, Jaos, Aohems, Moens, Siams, Lussons of the Island Borneo, Chacomas, Arracons, Predine, Papuaas, Selebres, Min- dancas, Pegus, Bramaas, and many others whose names I know not. All these nations were ranked according to the XemMbrums order, whereby the Portugals were placed in the vanguard, which was next to the gate of the city where the Chabainhaa was to come. After them followed the Armenians then the Janiza/ries and Twrks, and so the rest. OF FMEDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 303 CHAPTEE XLII. In what manner the Ghaubainhaa rendred himself to the King of Bramaa, and the ornel proceeding against the Queen of Martabano, and the ladies, her attendants. ABOUT one of the clock in the afternoon a cannon was shot off, which was the signal for the instant opening of the gates of the city; whereupon first of all issued out the souldiers, whom the King had sent thither for the guard of it, being 4000 Siams and Bramaas, all harquebusiers, halber- diers, and pikemen, with above 300 armed elephants; all which were commanded by a Bramaa, uncle to the King, named Monpocasser BaMia, of the city of MeUetay. Ten or eleven paces after this guard of elephants marched divers princes, and great lords, whom the King had sent to receive the Ghaubainhaa, all mounted on elephants, richly harnessed, with chairs upon their backs, plated over with gold, and collars of precious stones about their necks. Then followed at some 8 or 9 paces distance the BoJrni of Mouitay, Sovereign Talapoy of aU the priests of the kingdom, and held in the reputation of a saint, who went alone with the Ghmibamhaa, as a mediatour between the King and him ; immediately after him came in a close chair, carried upon mens shoulders, Nhay Canateo, the daughter of the King of Pegu, from whom this Bramaa had taken his kingdom, and wife to the Ghaubainhaa, having with her 4 small children, namely, 2 boys, and 2 girls, whereof the eldest was not 7 years old ; round about her and them went some 30 or 40 young women of noble extraction, and wonderfull fair, with cast down looks, and tears in their eyes, leaning upon other women. After them marched in order certain Talagrepos, which were amongst them as the Ca/pibchms with us, who bare-foot and bare-headed went alone praying, holding beads in their hands, and ever and anon comforting those ladies the best they could, and casting water in their faces for to bring them to themselves again, when as they fainted, which they did very often; a spectacle so lamentable, as it was not possible to behold it without shedding of tears. This desolate company was attended by 304 TEE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES another guard of Foot, and 500 Bramaas on horsback. The Ghaubainhaa was mounted on a little elephant, in sign of poverty and contempt of the world, conformable to the re- ligion which he intended to enter into, being simply apparelled in a long cassock of black velvet, as a mark of his mourning, having his beard, head, and eye-brows shaven, with an old cord about his neck, so to render himself to the King. In this equipage he appeared- so sad and afflicted, that one could not forbear weeping to behold him. As for his age, he was about threescore and two years old, tall of stature, with a grave and severe look, and the countenance of a generous prince. As soon as he was arrived at a place which was near to the gate of the city, where a great throng of women, children, and old men, waited for him, when they saw him in so deplorable an estate, they all made (7 times one after another) so loud and dreadfull a cry, as if heaven and earth would have come together. Now these lamentations and complaints were presently seconded with such terrible blows, that they gave themselves without pity on their faces with stones, as they were most of them all of a gore-bloud. In the mean time things so horrible to behold, and mournful! to hear, so much afflicted all the assistants, that the very Bramaas of the Guard, though men of war, and consequently but little inclined to compassion, being also enemies to the Ghaubainhaa, could not forbear weeping. It was likewise in this place, where Nhay Ganatoo, and all the other ladies that attended on her, fainted twice, by reason whereof they were fain to let the Ghcmbaanhaa ahght from his elephant for to go and comfort her ; whereupon seeing her lying upon the ground in a swoon with her 4 children in her arms, he kneeled down on both his knees, and looking up to heaven with his eyes full of tears, mighty power of God, cried he, who is able to com- prehend the righteous judgments of Thy dmine justice, in that Thou, having no regard to the innooency of these poor creatwres, gvvest way to Thy wrath, which passeth far beyond the reach of owr weak capacities 1 but remember, Lord, who Thou a/rt and not what I am. This said, he fell with his face on the ground, near to the Queen his wife, which caused all the assembly, who were without number, to make another such OS' FBB1)INAND ME^DEZ PiNTO. 305 loud and horrible cry, as my words are not able to express it. The Chaubmnhaa then took water in his mouth, and spurted it on his wife, by which means he brought her to her self again, and so taking her up in his arms, he fell a comforting her with speeches so full of zeal and devotion, as any one that heard him would have taken bim rather for a Christian, then a Gentile. After he had employed about half an hours time therein, and that they had remounted him on his elephant, they proceed on their way in the same order as they held before, and as soon as the Chaubmnhaa was out of the city gate, and came to the street which was formed of the several companies of the strangers, ranked in 2 files, he by chance cast his eye on that side where the 700 Portugals were, all of them in their best clothes, with their buff-coats, great feathers in their caps, and their harquebusiers on their shoulders, as also Joano Cayeyro in the midst of them, in a carnation sattin suit, and a gilt partisan in his hand, wherewith he made room ; the afflicted prince no sooner knew him, but he presently fell down on the elephant; and there standing still without passing on, he said with tears in his eyes, to those that were about him ; My brethren, and good friends, I protest unto you, that it is a less grief unto me to make this sacrifice of my self, which the dmine justice of God perndts ms to make him this day, then to look upon men so wicked and ingratefull as these same here are : either kill me then, or send these away, for otherwise I will not stir a foot fv/rther. Having said so he turned away his face three times that he might not behold us, thereby shewing the great spleen that he bore us; and indeed all things well considered there was a great deal of reason that he should carry himself in that sort towards us, in regard of that which I have related before. In the mean time the captain of the guard seeing the stay which the Ghcmbamhaa had made, and imderstanding the cause why he would not go on, though he could not imagine wherefore he complained so of the Portugals, yet he hastily turned his elephant towards Cayeyro, and giving him a scurvy look ; Get you gone, said he, and that instantly, for such wicked men as you are do not deserve to stand on arvy ground that bears fruit ; a/nd I pray God to pa/rdon him which hath put it into the Kings head that 21 806 THE TBAVELS. VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES you can he any ways profitable unto him. It were fitter for you therefore to sha/ve away your heanrds, that you may not deceive the world as you do, and we will ha/oe women in your places that shall serve us for ou/r money. Whereupon the Bramaas of the guard, heiug incensed against us, drove us away from thence with a great deal of shame and contumely. And truly, not to lye, never was I so sensible of anything as this, in respect of the honour of my country-men. After this, the Ghaubainhaa went on till he came to the tent of the King, who attended him with a royal pomp : for he was accompanied with a great number of lords, amongst the which there were 15 Bainhaas, who are as dukes with us, and of 6 or 7 others, that were of greater dignity then they. As soon as the ChoM- bainhaa came near him, he threw himself at his feet, and so prostrated on the ground he lay there a good while, as it were in a swoon, without speaking a word; but the BoUm of Mounay, that was close by him, supplied that defect, and like a reUgious man, as he was, spake for him to the King, saying ; Sir, here is a spectacle able to move thy heart to pity, though the crime be such as it is. Bemember then that the thing most pleasing to God in this world, and whereunto the effects of His mercy is soonest communicated, is such an action, and voluntary submission, as this is, which here thou beholdest. It is for thee now to imitate His clemency, and so to do thou art most humbly intreated by the hearts of all them that are mollified by so great a misfortime as this is. Now if thou grantest them this their request, which with so mv,ch instance they beg of thee, he assured that God will take it in good part, and that at the how of thy death He will stretch forth His mighty hand over thee, to the end thou mayst be exempted from all manner of foMlts. Hereunto he added many other speeches, whereby he perswaded the King to pardon him ; at leastwise he promised so to do, wherewith the BoVm, and all the lords there present, shewed themselves very well contented, and commended him exceedingly for it, imagining that the effect would be answerable to that which he had engaged himself for before all. Now because it began to be night, he com- manded the most of them that were about him to retire ; as for the Ghaubainhaa, he committed him into the hands of a OF PEBDINAND MENDBZ PINTO. 807 Bramaa commander, named Xemm Commidau ; and the Queen his -wife, with his children, and the other ladies were put into the custody of Xendn Ansedaa, as well because he had his wife there, as for that he was an honourable old man, in whom the King of Bramaa much confided. The fear which the King of Bramaa was in lest the men of war should enter into the city of Martabano, and should piUage it now that it was night before he had done all that which I am hereafter to relate, was the cause that he sent to all the gates of the city, (being 24) Bramaa captains for to guard them, with express commandment, that upon pain of death no man should be suffered to enter in at any of them, before he had taken order for the performance of the promise which he had made to the strangers, to give them the spoil of it; howbeit he took not that care, nor used such diligence for the consideration he spake of, but onely that he might preserye the Chaubadnhaa's treasure ; to which effect he spent two whole diys in conveighing it away, it being so great that a thousand men were for that space altogether imployed therein ; at the end of these two days the Sing went very early in the morning to an hill, called Beidao, distant from his quarters some two or three ffight-shoot, and then caused the captains that were at the guard of the gates to leave them, and retire away ; whereupon the miserable city of Martabano was delivered to the mercy of the souldiers, who at the shooting off of a cannon, which was the signal thereof, entred presently into it pell-mell, and so thronging together, that at the entring into the gates, it is said, above three hxmdred men were stifled ; for as there was there an infinite company of men of war of different nations, the most of them without king, without law, and without the fear and knowledge of God, they went all to the spoil with closed eyes, and therein shewed themselves so cruel minded, that the thing they made least reckoning of was to kill an hundred men for a crown ; and truly the disorder was such in the city, as the King himself was fain to go thither six or seven times in person for to appease it. The sack of this city endured three days and an half, vnth so much avarice and cruelty of these barbarous enemies, as it was wholly pillaged, without any thing left that 308 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES might give an eye cause to covet it. That done, the King vdth a new ceremony of proclamations caused the Chaubain- haa's palaces, together with thirty or forty very fair rich houses of his principal lords, and all the Pagodes and temples of the city to be demolished ; bo that according to the opinion of many, it was thought that the loss of those magnificent edifices amounted to above 10 millions of gold : wherewith not yet contented he commanded all the buildings of the city that were still afoot, to be set on fire, which by the violence of the winde, kindled in such manner, as in that onely night there remained nothing unbumt, yea the very walls, towers, and bulwarks were consumed even to the foundations. The number of them that were killed in this sack was threescore thousand persons; nor was that of the prisoners much less. There were an hundred and forty thousand houses, and seventeen hundred temples burnt, wherein also were consumed threescore thousand statues, or idols of divers metalls ; during this siege they of the city had eaten three thousand elephants. There was found in this city six thousand pieces of artillery, what of brass and iron, an hundred thousand quintals of pepper, and as much of sanders, benjamin, lacre, Uguum aloes, camphire, silk, and many other kindes of rich merchan- dise, but above all an infinite number of commodities, which were come thither from the Indiaes in above an hundred vessels of Camha/ya, Achem, Meliiida, Ceilam, and of all the Straight of Mecqua, of the Leqmos, and of China. As for gold, silver, precious stones, and jewels, that were found there, one truly knows not what they were, for those things are ordinarily concealed ; wherefore it shall suf&ce me to say, that so much as the King of Bramaa had for certain of the Ghaubainhaa's treasure, amounted to an -hundred millions of gold, whereof, as I have said before, our King lost the moity, as well for our sins, as through the malice and envy of wicked dispositions. The next day after the city was pillaged, de- molished, and burnt, there was seen *n the morning upon the hill where the King was, one and twenty pair of gallows, twenty of the which were of equal height, and the other a little lower erected on pillars of stone, and guarded by an hundred Bramaa horsmen; there were also round about the OF FBBBINANB MENDEZ PINTO. 809 place very large trenehes, where a great many banners spotted with drops of blond were planted. As this novelty promised somewhat which no man had heard of before, six of us Portugals ran thither to learn what the matter might be ; and as we were going along we heard a great noise made by the men of war from the camp, whereupon we saw come out of the Kings quarter a number of horsmen, who with lances in their iands prepared a great street, and cried out aloud ; Let no man upon pcdn of death appear in arms, nor utter that with his mouth which he thinks in his hea/rt. A pretty way off from these horse was the Xemimbrimi, with an hundred armed elephants, and a good many foot; after them went fifteen hundred Bramaas on horsback, cast into four orders of files, each of them six in a rank, whereof the Talanagyhras, Viceroy of Tangu, was commander : then marched the Ghauferoo Siammon with three thousand Sia^mms, armed with Ha/rquebu&es and lances, all in one battalion : in the midst of these were an hundred and twenty women tied and bound four and four together, and accompanied with Talagrepos, men of great austerity, and are such as the Capuchins amongst us, who laboured aU they might to comfort them in this last act of life ; behinde them were twelve ushers with maces, that went before Nhay Ganatoo, daughter to the King of Pegu, from whom this Bramaa tyrant had usurped his kingdom, and wife to the Ghauhainhaa, with four children of hers, which were carried by so many horsmen : all these sufferers were the wives or daughters of the principal commanders that the Gha/uhainhaa had with him in the city, upon whom in the way of a strange revenge this Bramaa tyrant desired to wreak his spight, and the hatred that he had always born unto women. The most of these poor wretches were between seventeen and five and twenty years of age, all of them very white and fair, with bright aubom hair, but so weak in body, that of ten-times they fell down in a swoon, out of which certain women upon wliom they leaned, endeavoured still to bring them again, presenting them comfits, and other such things fit for that purpose, but they would take none of them, for that they were, as I have said, so feeble and benummed, as they could scarce hear what the Talegrepos spake unto 810 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES them ; onely now and then lifted up their hands to heaven. After this princess marched threescore Orepos, in two files, praying with their looks fixed on the ground, and their eyes watered with tears, saying ever and anon in a dolefull tone ; Thou wMch holdest Thy Being of none but Thy self, so jv^tifie our works, that they may be agreeable to Thy justice. Where- unto others answered weeping ; Grant, Lord, that it may be so that through ov/rfoMlt we lose not the rich gifts of Thy promises. After these Grepos followed a procession of three or four hundred little children, quite naked from the girdle-sted downwards, having in their hands great white wax lights, and cords about their necks; these, like the others, with a sad and lamentable voice, which moved every one to com- passion, uttered these words : We most humbly beseech Thee, Lord, to give ear unto our cries and groans, and shew mercy to these Thy caplmes, that with a full rejoycing they may have a pa/rt of the graces and benefits of Thy rich treasures ; and much more they said to that purpose, in favour of these poor sufferers : behinde this procession was another guard of foot- men, all Bramaas, and armed with lances, arrows, and some Harquebuses. As for the rearward, it consisted of an hundred elephants, like to them that marched first of all, so that the number of the men of war that assisted at this execution, as well for the guard, as for the pomp thereof, was ten thousand foot, and two thousand horse, besides the two hundred elephants, and a world of other people, both strangers and natives, that came thither to behold the end of so mournfull and lamentable an action. CHAPTBE XLIII. In what sort the eentence of death was executed on the person of the Chauhainhaa £^ng of Martaban, Nbay Canatoo his wife, and an hundred and forty women ; with that which the King of Bramaa did after his return to Pegu. THESE poor sufferers having been led in the order before mentioned clean through the camp, they came at last to the place of execution, where the six ushers with a loud OP FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 811 voice made this proclamation : Let all manner of people see and observe the hlou&y justice, which is here to be done by the Uoing God, Lord of all truth, and our King the Sovereign of ow heads. Who of His absolute power doth commamd that these hundred and forty women be put to death, and thrown into the air, for that by their counsel and incitement their fathers amd husbands stood out against us in this city, and at times killed twelve thousand Bramaas of the kingdom of Tangu. Then at the ringing of a bell all the officers and ministers of justice, pell-mell together with the guards, made such a cry, as was most dreadfull to hear ; whereupon the cruel hangmen being ready to put the sentence of death in execution, those poor wretches embraced one another, and shedding abundance of tears they addressed themselves to Nhay Ga/natoo, who lay at that time almost dead in the lap of an old lady, and with their best complements one of them spake for aU the rest unto her in this manner ; Excellent lady, that art as a crown of roses wpon our heads, now that we thy humble servants are entring into those mou/mful mansions where death doth reside, comfort ^^s we beseech thee with thy dear sight, that so we may with less grief quit these bodies full of angwish, for to present oursehies before that Almighty just Judge, of whom we will for ever implore His justice for a perpetual vengeance of the wrong that is done us. Then Nhay Canatoo beholding them with a countenance more dead then alive, answered them with a feeble voice, that could scarce be heard, Go not away so soon, my sisters, but help me to sustain these Utile children. That said, she leaned down again on the bosom of that lady, without speaking a word more; whereupon the ministers of the arm of vengeance, so they term the hangmen, laid hold on those poor women, and hanged them up all by the feet, with their heads downwards, upon twenty gibbets, namely, seven on each one : now so painfull a death as this was, made them give strange and fearfull groans and sobs, untill at length the bloud stifled them all in less then an hour. In the mean time Nhay Gamatoo was conducted by the four women, upon whom she leaned, directly to the gallows, whereon she and her four children were to be hanged, and there the Bolim of Mounay, who was held amongst them for a holy man, used some speeches imto her 312 TBE TB4.VEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES for to encourage her the better to suffer death ; whereupon she desired them to give her a little water, which being brought unto her, she filled her mouth with it, and so spurted it upon her four children, whom she held in her arms ; then having kissed them many times, she said unto them weeping, my children, my children, whom I hcwe conceived anew within the interior of my soul, how happy would I think my self if I might redeem yowr lives with loss of mine own a thousand times over, if it were possible ! for in regard of the fear and anguish wherein I see you at this present, and wherein every one sees me also, I should receive death with as good an hea/rt from the hand of this cruel enemy, as I wilUngly desire to see my self in the presence of my Sovereign Lord of all things, within the repose of His celestial habitation. Then turning her to the hangman, who was going to binde her two little boys, Good friend, said she, he not I pray thee, so void of pity, as to make me see my children die, for in so doing thou wouldst commit a great sin : wherefore put me first to death, and refuse me not this boon which I crawe of thee for Gods sake. After she had thus spoken she took her children again in her arms, and kissing them over and over in giving them her last farewell, she yielded up the ghost in the ladies lap upon whom she leaned, not so much as once stirring ever after ; which the hangman perceiving, ran presently unto her and hanged her as he had done the rest, together with her four little children, two on each side of her, and she in the middle. At this cruel and pitiful spectacle there arose from amongst all this people so great and hideous a cry, that the earth seemed to tremble under the feet of them that stood upon it, and withall there followed such a mutiny throughout the whole camp, as the King was constrained to fortifie himself in his quarter with 6000 Bramaa horse, and 30000 foot, and yet for all that he thought not himself secure enough from it, had not the night come, which onely was able to calm the furious motions of these men of war ; for of seven hundred thousand which were in the camp, sis hundred thousand were by nation Pegu's, whose king was the father of this queen, that was thus put to death ; but this Tyrant of Bramaa had so disarmed and subjected them, as they durst not so much as quich upon any OF FEBDINAND MENBEZ PINTO. 313 occasion. Behold in what an infamous manner NhoAf Canatoo finished her days, a princess every way accompUshed, wife to the Chmibainhaa King of Martdbano, and the daughter of the King- of Pegu, Bmperour of 9 kingdoms, whose yearly revenue amounted unto 3 millions of gold. As for the infortunate king her husband, he was the same night cast into the river with a great stone tied about his neck, together with 50 or 60 of his chiefest lords, who were either the fathers, husbands, or brothers of those hundred and forty ladies, that were most unjustly put to such an ignominious death, amongst the which there were 3, whom the King of Bramaa had demanded in marriage at such time as he was but a simple earl, but not one of their fathers would condescend unto it ; whereby one may see how great the revolutions of time and fortune are. After the Tyrant of Bramaa had caused this rigorous justice to be done, he stayed there 9 whole days, during the which many of the inhabitants of the city were also executed; at last he departed for to go to Pegu, leaving behinde him Bainhaa Chaque, lord steward of his house, to take order for all things that might conduce to the pacifying of that kingdom, and to provide for the repairing of what the fire had consumed ; to which purpose he placed a good garison there, and carried with biTTi the rest of his army ; Joomo Ca/yeyro followed him also with seven hundred Portugals, not above three or four remaining behinde in the ruines of Ma/rtahcmo, and those too not very considerable, except it were one, named Qoncalo Falcan, a gentleman well bom, and whom the Gentiles commonly called Crisna Pacani, that is to say, Flmver of Flowers, a very honourable title amongst them, which the King of Bramaa had given him in recompence of his services : now forasmuch as at the departure from Malaca, Pedro de Faria had given me a letter directed unto him, whereby he desired bim to assist me with his favour, in case I had need of it in the affair for which he sent me thither, as well for the service of the King, as for his own particular ; as soon as I arrived at Martahamo, where I found him resident, I delivered him this letter, and withall gave him an account of the occasion that brought me thither, which was to confirm the ancient League of Peace that the Cha/ubadnhaa had made by 814 TEE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES his ambassadours with them of Malaca, at such time aa Pedro de Ftmia was first governour of it, and whereof he could not chuse but have some knowledge; adding moreover, how to that effect I had brought the GhoMbadnhaa letters full of great protestations of amity, and a present of certain very rich pieces of China. Hereupon the Goncah Falcon imagining that by means hereof he might insinuate himself much more into the good grace of the Kin g of Bra/maa, to whose side he turned at the siege of Martahano, quitting that of the Ghmbbcdnhaa, whom formerly he served, he went three days after the Kings departure to his said governour, and told him that I was come thither, as ambassadour from the captain of Malaca to treat with the Ghaubadnhaa, unto whom the captain sent an offer of great forces against the King of Bramaa ; in so much that they of the country were upon the point of fortifying themselves in Man-tabano, and chasing away the Brwmaa's out of the kingdom ; whereunto he added so many other such like matters, that the Governour sent presently to apprehend me ; and after he had put me into safe custody, he went directly to the junck, in which I came from Makwa, and seized upon all the goods that were in her, which were worth an hundred thousand duoates, committing the Necoda, captain and master of the junck, to prison, as also all the rest that were in her, to the number of an hundred threescore and four persons, wherein comprized forty rich merchants, Malayes, Menancabo's, Mah/wmetoMs, and Gentiles, natives of Malaca. All these were incontinently condemned to the confiscation of their goods, and to remain the Kings prisoners, as well as I, for being complices in the treason, which the captain of Malaca had plotted in secret with the Gha/ubamhaa against the King of Bramaa. Having thus caused them to be put into a deep dungeon, he made them to be so cruelly scourged, that within a moneth after their imprisonment, of an hundred sixty four of them, which they were, there died nineteen, either of a lethargy, or of hunger, or thirst. As for the rest, they were put into a miserable shallop without sails or oars, wherein they were exposed down the river; being delivered in this sort to the mercy of fortune, they were cast by the winds into a desert island, OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 815 Pulho Camdda, seated 20 leagues -within the sea of this bar, where they furnished themselves with some sea-fish and such fruits as they found in the woods; and in this necessity making a kinds of sail of the clothes they had, and with 2 oars, which it may be they met withall there, or made themselves, they took their course all along by the coast Jimcalan, and from thence to another place, wherein they imployed the space of 2 moneths, arriving at length at the river of Pa/rles, in the kingdom of Qiceda, where they all died of certain imposthumes, which rose in their throats, like unto carbuncles, two onely excepted, who came to Malaca, and recounted to Pedro de Faria the whole success of this sad voyage, and how that I was condemned to die, as indeed I expected every hour to be led to execution, when it pleased God to deliver me miracu- lously; for as soon as the Neooda, and the merchants were banished in the manner that I have declared,! was committed to another prison farther off, where I remained six and thirty days laden with chains and irons in a most cruel and insup- portable manner. During all that time the traitor Goncalo exhibited against me daily new and false allegations, wherein he charged me with a world of things which I never so much as thought of, and that to no other intent but to procure my death, that so he might rob me, as he had done all the rest that were in the junck. To which end, having questioned me 3 several times in judgment, I never answered any thing to his interrogatories that was to purpose, whereat he and other of my enemies were much enraged, saying, that- 1 did it out of pride, and in contempt of justice ; so that for a punishment thereof they caused me to be openly whipped, and a great deal of lacre, which is like unto hard wax to be dropped scalding hot upon me, whereof the pain was such as it had almost killed me ; and indeed all that were by held me for a dead man. Now because for the most part I knew not what I spake, but talked like a desperate man, I happened 3 or 4 times to say, that for to rob me of my goods I had all these false accusations put upon me, but that Captain Joamo Gayeyro, who was at Pegu, would ere it were long acquaint the King with this cruel usage of me, which was the cause of saving my life ; for even as this wicked Governour was going to have 316 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUEES the sentence executed, -which was given against me, some of his friends counselled him to forbear, saying, that if he put me to death no doubt but that all the Portugals, which were at Pegu would complain of him to the King, and tell him, that for to rob me of an hundred thousand ducates, which I had there in Commodities, appertaining to the captain of Malaca, he had most unjustly taken away my life ; and that this being so, the King would demand an account of him of all those commodities, or of the money for them ; and that if he rendered him even all that he had taken from me, yet would not that content him, imagining still there was somewhat more, whereby he would so put himself out of the good grace of the King, as he would never recover it again, which would be the cause of the utter overthrow both of himself and his children, besides the dishonour that would redound to him over and above. This dog the Govemour Bainhaa Ghaque, fearing lest that should come to pass which they had said, de- sisted from his former obstinacy, and correcting the sentence he had given, he ordained, that I should not die, but that my goods should be confiscated, and my self arrested for the Kings prisoner. As indeed, so soon as I was healed of the hurts which the burning of the lacre, and the stripes of the whips had made upon me, I was conducted in chains to Pegu, and there as a prisoner was put into the hands of a Bramaa, treasurer to the King, named Diosoray, who had also in his custody 8 other Portiigals, whose sins had procured them the same misfortune which mine had caused unto me ; for it was now full 6 moneths since these poor wretches had been in his power, being taken in the ship of Don Amrique Deca of Cananor, which by a tempest was cast on that coast. Now seeing that hitherto I have discoursed of the success of my voyage to Martabano, and of the benefit that redounded to me by my going thither for the service of the King, which was no other then to loss of my goods, and the imprisonment of my person ; before I engage my self further in these relations, I am resolved to entreat of the divers fortunes which I ran in that kingdom for the space of 2 years and a half that I travelled therein, being the time of my captivity, as also of the several countries through which I was carried by my crosses OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 317 and mishaps; as holding it altogether necessary for the declaration of that which I am going on withal. I say then, that after this the King of Brwmaa was departed from the city Ma/rtabano, as I have related before, he journeyed so long that at length he came to Pegu, where, before he dismissed his commanders, he caused a muster to be made of his army, and found that of seven hundred thousand men, which he had carried along with him to the besieging of the Chaubainhaa, there was fourscore and six thousand of them wanting. And for as much as he had about that time some inckhng how the King of Avaa confederated with the Savadis and Ohaleus, would give entry unto the Siawmon (whose country borders on the west and north-west side of the Calcmdnhcm, Bmperour of the indomitable forces of the elephants of the earth, as I will shew hereafter when I speak of him) to the end he might win from this Bramaa the chiefest strengths of his kingdoms, he like a good captain as he was, and very cunning in matter of war, before he passed on further, caused men to be levied, with whom, as also with all other necessary things, he furnished those principal fortresses from whence his greatest fear proceeded. Then having resolved to go and besiege the city of Prom, he retained the army which he had already a-foot, and made new and great preparations throughout the kingdom, using such diligence therein, and in six moneths time he had got together the number of nine hundred thousand men, whom he imbarqued in 12000 rowing vessels, whereof 2000 were Seroos, Laulers, Gatwros, and Foists. Now all this great fleet set forth from Pegu the 9th of March, 1545, and going up the river of Ansedaa, it went to DanapVuM, where it was furnished with all such provisions as were necessary. Prom this place following on their way through a great river of fresh water, called Piccm Malacou, which was above a league broad, at length upon the 13th of April they came within view of Prom. There, by some whom they took that night, they learned, that the King was dead, and how he had left for his successour to the kingdom a son of his of 13 years of age, whom the King his father before he died had married to his wives sister, the aunt of the said young prince, and daughter to the King of Avaa. The young King was no sooner advertised of 318 THE TSAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVMNTUBES the King of Bramaa his coming to besiege him in his city of Prom, but he sent presently away to the King his father in law for succour, which he instantly granted, and to that end speedily raised an army of 30000 Mons, TarSes, and Ghalems, choice men and trained up in the wars, of whom he made a son of his, and brother to the Queen, General. In the mean time the Bramaa, having intelligence thereof, used all possible diligence for to besiege the city before so great a succour might arrive. To which purpose, having landed his army in a plain, called Meigavotau, some 2 leagues below the city, he continued there 6 days in making ready such preparations as were needfuU. Having given order for all things, he caused his army to march one morning before day directly to the city, with the sound of drvmis, fifes, and other such instruments of war ; where being arrived about noon without any opposition, he began presently to settle his camp ; so that before it was night, the whole city was environed with trenches, and very great ditches, as also with six rows of cannons, and other pieces of ordnance. CHAPTBE XLIV. That which passed between the Queen of From, and the Bong of Bramaa, together with the first assault that was given to the city, and the success thereof. THE King of Bramaa had been now five days before the city of Prom, when as the Queen that governed the State in the place of her husband, seeing_ her self thus besieged, sent to visit this her enemy with a rich jewel of precious stones, which was presented unto him by a Talagrepo, or religious man, of above an hundred years old, who was held amongst them for a saint, together with a letter, wherein was written Ifm offer to fay homage if the city was spa/re^ . The Bramaa received this letter and ambassage with a great deal of authority, and entertained the religious man that delivered it unto him with much honour, as well in regard of OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 819 his age, as for that he was held as a saint amongst them ; -with all he granted him certain things which were at first demanded, as a cessation of aims till such time as articles should be agreed on ; as also a permission for the besieged to converse with the besiegers, and other such things of little consequence. In the mean time judging with himself that aU those offers, which this poor queen made him, and the humble submissions of her letters, proceeded from weakness and fear, he would never answer the ambassadour clearly, or to purpose. ContrarUy he caused all the places there abouts that were weak, and un- armed, to be secretly ransaked, and the poor inhabitants there- of to be unmercifully butchered by their barbarous enemies, whose cruelty was so great, that in five dayes, according to report, they killed fourteen thousand persons, the most part whereof were women, children, and old men, that were not able to bear arms. Hereupon the BoUm, who brought this letter, relying no longer on the false promises of the Tyrant, and discontented with the little respect he used towards him, demanded leave of him to return to the city, which the Bramaa gave him, together with this answer : that if the Queen would deliver up her self, her treasure, her kingdom, and her vassals to him, he would recompence her another way for the loss of her State ; but withallthat she was to return him a peremptory answer to this propositions of his the very same day, which was all the time he could give her, that so he might upon the knowledge of her resolution determine upon what he had to do. The Bolvn went herewith back to the city, where he gave the Queen an account of all things, saying, That this Tyrant was a man without faith, and replete with damnable intentions ; for proof whereof he represented unto her the siege of Mwrtabano, the usage of the Ghaubainhaa after he had rendred himself unto him upon his word, and how he had put him, his wife, his children, and the chiefest nobility of his kingdom, to a most shamefull death. These things considered it was instantly concluded, as well by the Queen, as by all those of her Councel, that she should defend the city, till such time as succour came from her father, which would be within 15. days at the furthest. This resolution taken, she (being of a great courage) without further delay took order for all things 320 THE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTVBES that were thought necessary for the defence of the city, animating to that end her people with great prudence, and a man-like spirit, though she was but a woman. Moreover, as she liberally imparted to them of her treasure, so she promised every one throughly to aoknowledg their services with all manner of reoompences and honours, whereby they were mightily encouraged to fight. In the mean space the King of Bra/maa, seeing that the Bolmt, returned him no answer within the time prefixt, began the next day to fortifie aU the quarters of his camp with double rows of cannon, for to batter the city on every side ; and for assaulting of the walls he caused a great number of ladders to be made, publishing withall throughout his whole army, that aU souldiers upon pain of death should be ready within three days to go to the assault. The time then being come, which was the 3rd of May, 1545, about an hour before day the King went out of his quarter, where he was at anchor upon the river with two thousand vessels of choice men, and giving the signal to the commanders which were on land, to prepare themselves, they altogether in one body assaUed the walls, with so great a cry, as if heaven and earth would have come together, so that both sides falling to encounter pell-mell with one another, there was such a conflict betwixt them, as within a little whUe the air was seen all on fire, and the earth all bloody ; whereunto being added the clashing of weapons, and noise of guns, it was a spectacle so dreadful, that we few Portugals, who beheld these things, remained astonished, and almost besides our selves. This fight indured full five hours, at the end whereof the tyrant of Bramaa seeing those within defend themselves so valiantly, and the most part of his forces to grow faint, he went to land with ten or eleven thousand of his best men, and with all diligence re-inforcing the companies, that were fighting, the bickering renewed in such sort, as one would have said it did but then begin, so great was the fury of it. The second trial continued till night, yet would not the King desist from the fight, what counsel soever was given him to retire ; but con- trarily he swore not to give over the enterprise begun, and that he would lie that night within the inclosure of the city walls, or cut off the heads of all those commanders that were OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 821 not wounded at their coming off. In the mean time this obstinacy was very prejudicial to him, but continuing the assault till the moon was gone ^own, which was two hours past midnight, he was then forced to sound a retreat, after he had lost in this assault, as was the next day found upon a muster, fourscore thousand of his men, besides those which were hurt, which were thirty thousand at the least, whereof many died for want of dressing ; whence issued such a plague in the camp, as well through the corruption of the air, as the water of the river, (that was all tainted with blood and dead bodies), that thereby about fourscore thousand more perished, amongst whom were five hundred Portugals, having no other buriall then the bodies of vultures, crows, and such like birds of prey, which devoured them all along the coast where they lay. The King of Bramaa, having considered that this first assault had cost him so dear, would no more hazard his men in that manner, but he caused a great terrace to be made with bavins, and above ten thousand date-trees, which he com- manded to be cut down, and on that he raised up a platform so high, as it over-topped the city two fathoms, and more, where he placed 80 pieces of ordnance, and with them con- tinually battering the city for the space of nine dayes together, it was for the most part demolished, with the death of fourteen thousand persons, which quite abated the Queens courage, especially when she came to understand that she had but six thousand fighting men left, all the rest, which consisted of women, children, and old men, being unfit and unable to bear arms. The miserable besieged seeing themselves reduced to such extreamity, assembled together in councel, and there, by the advice of the chiefest of them, it was concluded, that all in general should anoint themselves with the oil of the lamps of the chapel of Qumy Nwcmdel, God of Battel of the field Vitau, and so offering themselves up in sacrifice to him, set upon the platform,, with a determination either to dye, or to vanquish, in vowing themselves all for the defence of their young king, to whom they had so lately done homage, and sworn to be true and faithful subjects. This resolution taken, which the Queen and her nobility approved of for the best and most assured, in a time wherein all things were wanting to them for the longer 322 THE TBATEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES defending themselves, they promised to accomplish it in the manner aforesaid by a solemn oath, which they aU took. Now there being no further question but to see how they should carry themselves in this affair, they first of all made an uncle of the Queens the captain of this resolute band, who assembling these six thousand together, the same night, about the first quarter of the watch, made a sally out of the two gates that were neerest to the terrace and platform, and so taking courage from their despair, and resolution to dye, they fought so valiantly that in less then half an hour the whole camp was put in disorder, the terrace gained, the fourscore pieces of cannon taken, the King himself hurt, the pallisado burnt, the trenches broken, and the Xenimhrum, General of the army, slain, with above fifteen thousand men more, amongst the which were five hundred Turks; there were moreover forty elephants taken, besides those that were killed, and eight hundred Bramaas made prisoners ; so that these six thousand resolute men did that which an hundred thousand, though valiant enough, could hardly have effected. After this they retreated an hour before day, and upon a review they found, that of six thousand which they were, there was but seven hundred slain. This bad success so grieved and incensed the King of Bramaa, as attributing the cause thereof to the negligence of some of his captains in the ill guarding of the terrace, that the day following he caused two thousand Pegu's to be beheaded, which had stood sentinel that night. This adventure rendred things quiet for the space of twelve days, during which the besieged stirred not ; in the mean time one of the four principal captains of the city, named Xemim Meleytay, fearing that which all others in general misdoubted, namely, that they could not escape from falling into the hands of so cruel an enemy, treated secretly with the Tyrant, and upon condition that he woidd continue him in his charge, nor meddle with any of the houses of his friends, and make him Xemm of Ansedaa in the kingdom of Pegu, with all the revenue which the Badnhaa of Malacou had there, being thirty thousand ducates a year, he would deliver him up the city by giving him entrance into it through the gate which he com- manded. The King of Bramaa accepted hereof, and for a gage OF FEBBINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 328 of performance on hia part, he sent him a rich ring from off his finger. This treason so concluded, was effected on the 23rd of August, in the year 1545. wherein this Tyrant of Bramaa carried himself with all the barbarousness and cruelty that he used to practice in the like cases. And for as much as I conceive that I should never have done, if I should recount here at large how this affair past, I will say no more, but that the gate was opened, the city delivered up, the inhabitants all cut in pieces, without so much as sparing one ; the king and queen made prisoners, their treasurers taken, the buildings and temples demolished, and many other inhumani- ties exercised with such outragiousness, the belief whereof is beyond the imagination and thought of man ; and truly I never represent unto my self in what manner it was done, as having seen it with mine own eyes, but that I remain as it were astonished and besides my self at it. For as this tyrant was touched to the quick with the affront he had lately received, so he executed all the cruelties he could imagine against those miserable inhabitants, for to be revenged of the ill success he had had in the siege, which could not proceed from any other but a base mind and vile extraction ; for it ordinarily falls out, that barbarousness finds place in such kind of people, rather then in generous and valiant hearts; whereunto maybe added, that he was a man without faith, and of an effeminate disposi- tion, though he was nevertheless an enemy to women, albeit there were in that kingdom, and in aU the others whereof he was lord, those that were very white and fair. After the bloudy ruine of that wretched city, the Tyrant entred into it in great pomp, and as it were in triumph, through a breach that was made of purpose in the wall, and by his express commandment. When he was arrived at the young kings palace, he caused himself to be crowned King of Prom ; and during the ceremony of this coronation, he made that poor prince, whom he had deprived of his kingdom, to continue kneeling before him, with his hands held up, as if he adored some god, and ever and anon they constrained him to stoop down and kiss the Tyrants feet, who in the mean time made shew as if he were not pleased therewith. This done, he went into a balcone, which looked on a great market place, -whither a24 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES he commanded all the dead children, that lay up and down the streets, to be brought; and then causing them to be hacked very small, he gave them, mingled with bran, rice, and herbs, to his elephants to eat. Afterward, with a strange kind of ceremony, at the sound of trumpets, drums, and other such Kke instruments, there was above an hundred horses led in, loaden with the quarters of men and women, which also he commanded to be cut small, and then cast into a great fire, kindled expresly for it. These things so done, the queen was brought before him, that was wife to the poor Uttle king, who, as I said before, was but thirteen years of age, and she thirty and six, a woman very white, and well favoured, aunt to her own husband, sister to his mother, and daughter to the King of Avaa, which is the country from whence the rubies, saphirs, and emeralds do come to Pegu; and it was the same lady, whom the Bramaa had sent to demand in marriage of. her father, as it was then spoken, but that he refused him, saying to his ambassador, for an answer. That the thoughts of his daughter soared a pitch higher then to be the wife of the Xemim of Tangmi, which was the family whence this Tyrant was issued ; but now that she was fallen into his hands as his slave, whether he used her so, either out of a revenge of that aflEront, or out of scorn and contempt, so it was that he made her to be publiquely stript stark naked, and to be torn and mangled with whipping, and then in that manner to be led up and down all the city, where amidst the cries and hooting of the people, he exposed her to other cruel torments, wherewith she was tortured tiU she gave up the ghost. When she was dead, he made her to be bound to the little king her husband, who was yet living ; and having commanded a great stone to be tyed about their necks, they were oast into the river, which was a kind of cruelty very dreadful to all that beheld it. To these barbarous parts he added many others so inhumane, as it is not likely that any other but he could imagine the like. And for a conclusion of his cruelties, the next day he caused all the gentlemen that were taken alive, being some three hundred, to be impaled, and so spitted Uke rosted pigs, to be also thrown into the river, whereby may be seen how great and unheard of the injustice of this Tyrant was, which he exereised on these miserable Y?retches. OP PBRDINAN]) MENDE2 PiNTO. S25 CHAPTEE XLV. The King of Bramaa his besieging ol the Fortress of Meleytay, with his going from thenoe to Avaa ; and that which passed there. FOUETEBN days were past since the doing of these things, during the which the Tyrant employed himself in fortify- ing the city with a great deal of diligence and care, when as his spies, whom he had sent out, brought him word, that from the city of Avaa a fleet of four hundred rowing vessels was come down the river of Queitor, wherein there were thirty thousand Siamon souldiers, besides the mariners, of which the King of Avaa's son, and brother to the poor queen, was general; for this prince having received advertisement of the taking of the city of Prom, and of the death of his sister and brother-in- law, went and lodged in the fortress of Meleytay, which was some twelve leagues up the river from Prom. This news much troubled the Tyrant, howbeit he resolved to go himself in person against his enemies before that other succours came to joyn with them, as indeed the report went, that fourscore thousand, all Mons by nation, and led by the King of Avaa, were on their way thither. -With this resolution the Tyrant of Bramaa set forth towards Meleytay with an army of three hundred thousand men, namely, two hundred thousand by land alongst the rivers side, whereof the ChoMmigrem his foster-brother was the commander in chief, and the other hundred thousand under his own conduct, being all choyce men, and imbarqued in two thousand Seroes. Being come within sight of Meleytay, the Avaas desiring to shew that the resolution wherewith they were come thither was of far more power with them, then any fear they could have, and that also their enemies might not receive any benefit by their fleet which lay on the river, and do them an affront beside by taking it, they set all their vessels on fire, and burnt them every one. Then, without any dread of that which the flesh doth naturally most fear, they got all into the field, and ranged themselves into four battalions, in three of which, whereof each one made ten thousand men, were the thirty thousand Mons; and in the other, that were somewhat bigger, were all the mariners of 326 THE TMAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES the four hundred vessels they had burnt. These same they placed in the vaunt-guard, with an intention that they should weary the enemies, with whom they made a cruel fight, which lasted about half an hour, wherein all these mariners were cut in pieces; presently after them the thirty thousand Mens, close compacted together in three battalions, presented them- selves, and with wonderful violence set upon their enemies, between whom and them followed so extraordinary and cruel a battel, as not longer to insist upon it, nor to recount in particular how things past, which also I cannot well do, it shall suffice me to say, that of the thirty thousand Mons, eight hundred only escaped out of it ; who being routed made their retreat into the fortress of MeUytwy ; but that which was most memorable herein was, that of the King of Bramaas two hundred thousand men, an hundred and fifteen thousand lay dead in the field, and all the rest for the most part were wounded. In the mean time the Tyrant, which came along on the river in the two thousand Seroos, arrived at the place of battel, where beholding the strange massacre which the Mons had made of his people, he became so enraged at it, that dis-imbarquing his forces, he instantly layd siege unto the fortress, with a purpose, as he said, to taJie all those eight hundred that were in it alive. This siege continued seven whole days together, during the which those without gave five assaults to it, and the besieged defended themselves always very valiantly ; howbeit seeing that the last hour of their life was come, and that they could no longer hold that place for their king, as they had hoped they might, by reason of the fresh forces which the King of Bramaa had landed, like couragious men, as they were, they resolved to dye in the field, as their companions had done, and vaUantly revenge their deaths with that of their enemies ; whereunto they were the more wiUingly carryed, because they perceived well that if they continued still in the place, they should never make use of their valour, as they desired to do, for that the Tyrants ordnance would by little and Httle consume them. This resolu- tion taken, they under the favour of a very dark and rainy night sallyed forth, and first of all fell upon the two first courts of guard that were on the lands side, cutting all in OF PEBDINAND MENDMZ PINTO. 827 pieces that they met withall. Then following their design they passed on Ute desperate men ; and whether they did it, either to shew that they regarded not death which threatened them, or for the desire they had to gain honor, so it was that they behaved themselves so couragiously, and pressed the Tyrant so neer, as they forced him to leap into the river, and swim for his life, insomuch that all the camp was in disorder, and broken through in I know not how many places, with the death of above twelve thousand men; amongst whom were fifteen hundred Bramaas, two thousand strangers of divers nations, and all the rest Pegu's. This fight lasted not above half an hour, in which time the eight hundred Mons were all slain, there being not so much as one of them that would yield upon any composition whatsoever. Hereupon the Tyrant of Bramaa seeing the [fight ended, and all things quiet, went and reassembled his forces together, and so entered the fortress of MeleytoA), where he presently commanded the Xemvms head to be cut off, saying, that he was the sole cause of that disaster, and that he who had been a traytor to his king could not be faithful unto him : behold the recompence which this traytor made him for delivering up the city of Prom unto him, how- soever it justly belonged unto him for a punishment of his perfidiousness, that carried him to betray his king and his own country into the power of his enemies. After this they fell to dressing of the hurt men, which were in very great number. We past all this night with much apprehension, always keeping good watch ; and the next morning as soon as it was day, the first thing that we did was to rid away the dead bodies, which were in so great number all over the camp, that the ground was quite covered with them. After this we took a view of those that were killed, as well on the one, as the other party, and we found that on the Bramaas side there were an hundred and fourscore thousand, and on the Prince of Avaas forty and two thousand, wherein were comprized the thirty thousand Mons. That done, after the Tyrant had for- tified the city of Prom, as also the fort of Meleytay, and made two other forts upon the bank of the river, in such places as he judged to be niost important for the safety of that kingdom, he went up the river or Queitor in a thousand rowing Seroos, 328 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES wherein were imbarqued seventy thousand men. In this voyage, his intention was to go in his own person, for to observe the kingdom of Avaa, and to see the city himself, the better to consider the strength of it, and thereby judge what forces he should bring for to take it. So he proceeded still on for the space of eight and twenty days, and during that time passed by many goodly places, which vnthin the kingdom of Ghaleu and Jaewpalaon were upon the bank of the river. At length he arrived at the city of Avaa, the 13th of October, the same year, 1545. Being come to the port, he remained there thirteen days, and that while burned between two and three thousand vessels that he found there. Moreover, he set fire on many villages thereabout, which cost him not so Uttle but that he lost in all these degasts eight thousand of his men, amongst the which were threescore and two Portugals. Now whereas this city was very strong, as well in regard of the scituation of it, as of the fortifications which were newly made there, it had besides within it twenty thousand Mons, who (as it was said) were come thither some five days before from the mountains of Pondaleu, where the King of Avaa, by the permission of the Siamon, emperour of that monarchy, was levying above fourscore thousand men for to go and regain the city of Prom: for as soon as that king had received certain news of the death of his daughter and son-in-law, perceiving that he was not strong enough of himself to revenge the wrongs this Tyrant had done him, or to secure himself from those which he feared to receive of him in time to come, namely, the depriving him of his kingdom, as he was threat- ened, he went in person with his wife and children and cast himself at the Siamom feet, and acquainting him with the great affronts he had received, and what his desire was, he made himself his tributary at threescore thousand bisses by the year, which amount to an himdred thousand ducates of our money, and a g^l£ta of rubies, being a measure like to our pint, therewith to make a jewel for his wife ; of which tribute it was said that he advanced the payment for ten years before- hand, besides many other precious stones, and very rich plate, which he presented him with, estimated in all at two millions; in recompenee whereof the Siamon obliged himself to take him OF FEBDINANJD MBNDEZ PINTO. 829 into his protection, yea and to march into the field for him as often as need should require, and to restablish him within a year in the kingdom of Prom, so as for that effect he granted him those thirty thousand men of succour, which the Bramaa defeated at Jlfe%ia2/ ; as also the twenty thousand that were then in the city, and the fourscore thousand which were to come to him, over whom the said King of Avaa was to be the general. The Tyrant having inteUigence thereof, and appre- hending that this, above all other things he could fear, might be the cause of his ruine, he gave present order for the fortify- ing of Prom with much more care and diligence then formerly : howbeit, before his departure from this river where he lay at anchor, being about some league from the city of Avaa, he sent his treasurer, named Diocory (with whom we eight Portugals, as I have related before, remained prisoners) embassador to the CalamdnhoM ; a prince of mighty power, who is seated in the midst of this region in a great and spacious extent of country, and of whom I shall say something when I come to speak of him. The subject of this embassage was to make him his brother in arms by a league and contract of new amity, offering for that effect to give him a certain quantity of gold and precious stones ; as also to render unto him certain frontier lands of his kingdom, upon condition that the spring following he should keep the Siamon in war for to divert him from succouring the King of Avaa, and thereby give him means the more easily to take his city fromliim, without fear of that assistance which the King hoped should servo for an obstacle to his design. This embassadour departed then after he had imbarqued himself in a Lwulea, that was attended on by twelve Seroos, wherein there were three hundred men of service, and his guard, besides the watermen and mariners, whose number was Uttle less. The presents which he carried to the Calcm/inhan were very great, and consisted in divers rich pieces, as well of gold as of precious stones, but above all in the harness of an elephant, which according to reports was worth above six hundred thousand ducates ; and it was thought that all the presents put together amounted to a million of gold. At his departure, amongst other favours which the king his master conferred on him, this 330 TEE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTVBES same was not the least for us, that he gave us eight unto him for to be his perpetual slaves. Having clothed us then very well, and furnished us abundantly with aU things necessary, he seemed to be exceedingly contented with having us along with him in this voyage, and ever after he made more account of us, then of all the rest that followed him. CHAPTEB XLVL Our going with the King of Bramaa's ambassadour to the Calaminham, with the course which we held until we arrived at the Temple or Fagode of Timagoogoo. IT seems fit unto me, and conformable to that which I am relating, to leave for a while this Tyrant of Bramaa (to whom I will return again when time shall serve) for to en- treat here of the way we held for to go into Timplan, the capital city of the Empire of the Calaminham, which signifies. Lord of the world; for in their language Gala is Lord, and Minham the world. This prince also entitles himself. The absolute Lord of the indonwptdble force of the Elephants of the Earth. And indeed I do not think that in aU the world there is a greater lord than he, as I shall declare hereafter. This am- bassadour then departing from Avaa in the moneth of October, 1545, took his course up the river of Queitor, steering west, south- east, and in many places eastward, by reason of the winding of the water ; and so in this diversity of rhombes we continued our voyage seven days together, at the end whereof we arrived at a channel, called Cfuampanoo, through which the Bhoha/mo,' who was our pilot, took his course, that he might decline the Siamons country, being so commanded to do by the express order of the King. A while after we came to a great town, named Gataldy, where the ambassadour stayed three days to make provision of certain things necessary for his voyage. Having left this place we went on still, rowing up through his channel eleven days longer, during which time we met not with any place that was remarkable, only we saw some small OP FERDINAND MENDE2 fINTO. 331 villages, the houses whereof were covered with thatoh, and \ peopled with very poor folks, and yet for all that the fields are j full of cattel, which seemed to have no master, for we killed ' twenty and thirty of them in a day in the sight of those of the country, no man so much as finding fault with it, but con- trarily they brought them in courtesie to us, as if they were glad to see us kill them in that sort. At our going out of this channel of Chwmpanoo, we entred into a very great river, called Angegumaa, that was above three leagues broad, and in some places six and twenty fathom deep, with such impetuous currents as they drove us often-times from our course. This river we coasted above seven dayes together, and at length arrived at a pretty little walled town, named Gumbiin, in the kingdom of Jangromaa, invironed on the lands side for five or six leagues space vnth forrests or Binjamin, as also with plains of lacre, wherewith they ordinarily traded to Ma/rtahano, and do also lade there many vessels with those commodities for to transport them into divers countries of the Indians, as to the Streight of Mecqua, to Alcocer, and Jvdaa. There is also in this town great store of musk, far better then that of China, which from thence is carried to Martabano and Pegu, where those of our nation buy of it, therewith to traffique at Na/r- siiigua, Orixaa, and Masuhpatan. The women of this country are all very white and well-favoured ; they apparel themselves with stuffs made of silk and cotton-wool, wear links of gold and silver about their legs, and rich carcanets about their necks. The ground there is of it self exceedingly fertile in wheat, rice, millets, sugar, wax, and cattel. This town, with ten leagues of circuit about it, yields every year to the King of Jangomaa threescore altars of gold, which are seven hundred thousand ducates of our money. From thence we coasted the river southward, for the space of above seven dayes, and arrived at a great town, named Catammas, which in our language signifies, the Golden Crevice, being the patrimony of Baicdmoaa Tinhau, the Calaminhams second son. The Naii- gator of this town gave good entertainment to the ambassadour, and sent him many sorts of refreshment for his followers; withall he gave him to understand that the Cala/rmnham was at the city of Timplan. We departed from this place on 332 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTVBE8 a Sunday morning, and the day after about evening we came to a fortress, called Gampalagor, built in the midst of the river in the form of an island upon a rock, and invironed with good free-stone, having three bulwarks and two towers seven stories high, wherein, they told the ambasaadour, was one of the four and twenty treasures, which the Calaminham had in this kingdom, the most part whereof consisted in lingots of silver, of the weight of six thousand OavMns, which are four and twenty thousand quintals ; and it was said, that all this silver was buried in wells under ground. After this we still continued our course for the space of thirteen days, during the which we saw on both sides of the river many very goodly places, whereof the most were fair towns, and the rest stately high trees, delicate gardens, and great plains full of born, as also much oattel, red deer, shamoises, and rhiaocerots, under the keeping of certain men on horsback, who looked to them whilst they fed. On the river there were a great number of vessels, where in much abundance was all things to be sold which the earth prodaceth, wherewith it hath pleased God to enrich these countries more then any other in the world. Now forasmuch as the ambassadour fell sick here of an impos- tume in his stomack, he was counselled to proceed no further till he was healed, so that he resolved to go with some of his train for to be cured to a famous hospital, some twelve leagues from thence, in a Pagode, named Tinagoogoo, which signifies the God of thousand Gods, and so departing at the same instant he arrived there on Saturday about night. [Here follows an account of the Temple of Tinagoogoo, ptnitteii,] CHAPTEE XLVII. The great and Bumptuoua procession made in this Pagode, together with their saorifices ; and other partienlarities. WHILB8T this feast of these Gentiles, as also the fair, which was kept all the time thereof, endured for the space of fifteen days, with an infinite concourse of merchants OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 833 and pilgrims, that came flocking thither from all parts, as I have declared before, there were many sacrifices made there with different ceremonies, not a day passing without some new thing or other. For amongst many of great charge, and very worthy of observation, one of the chiefest was a Jubile, after their manner, which was published the fifth day of the moon, together with a procession, that was above three leagues in length, as we could guess. It was the common opinion of all, that in this procession there were forty thousand priests of the four and twenty sects, which are in this empire ; most of them were of different dignities, and called Orepos, Tala- grepos, BooJdms, Neejaois, Bicos, Saoarens and Chanfa/rauhos. Now by the ornaments they wear, as also by the devices and ensigns which they carry in their hands, they may be dis- tinguished; and so every of them is respected according to his dignity. Howbeit these went not on foot as the other ordinary priests, for that they were on this day forbidden upon pain of great sin to tread upon the ground, so that they caused themselves to be born in Pallaquins, or arm-chairs, upon the shoulders of other priests their inferiors, apparelled in green sattin, with their stoles of carnation damask. In the midst of the ranks of this procession were all the inventions of their sacrifices to be seen, as also the rich custodes of their idols, for the which each of them had a particular devotion. They that carried them were clothed in yellow, having each of them a big wax candle in his hand ; and between every fifteen of those custodes went a triumphant charet, all which charets put together were in number an hundred twenty and six. AU these charets were four, and some five stories high, with as many wheels on either side. In each of them there were at the least two hundred persons, what with the priests and the guards, and on the top of all an idol of silver, with a miter of gold on its head, and all of them had rich chains of pearl and precious stones about their necks ; round about every charet went little boys, carrying siver maces on their shoulders, and behind them were a many of caskets full of exquisite perfumes, as also divers persons with censers in their hands, who ever and anon censed the idol to the tune of certain instruments of musiok, saying three times, with a lamentable voyce, Lord, 334 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES asswage the pains of the dead, to the end they may praise Thee peaceably ; whereunto all the people answered with a strange noise, Such may Thy pleasv/re be, amd so may it coine to pass every day wherein Thou shewest us the sun. Bach of these charets was drawn by above three thousand persons, who for that purpose made use of very long cords, covered with silk, and thereby gained to themselves plenary remission of their sins, without restitution to be made of any thing at all. Now that many might participate of this absolution by drawing the coard, they set their hands to it one after and close to another, continuing doing so to the very end, in such sort that the whole coard was covered with hands, and nothing else to be seen ; but that they also which were without might gain this indul- gence, they helped those that had their hands on the coard by putting theirs about their shoulders ; then they that were behind them did the like, and so consequently all the rest. In this manner throughout the whole length of the coard there were six or seven ranks or files, and in each of them above five hundred persons. This procession was environed with a great number of horsemen, that carryed staves with pikes at both ends, who riding all about, went crying to the people, which were infinite in number, that they should make way, and not interrupt the priests in their prayers. Many times also they struck those so rudely whom they first met withal, as they beat down three or four together, or hurt them grievously, no man daring to find fault vrith, or so much as speak a word against it. In this order this marvelous procession passed through above an hundred streets, which to that end were all adorned with boughs of palms and myrtle, amongst the which were many standards and banners of silk planted. There were also many tables set . up in divers places, where all that desired it for Gods sake were admitted to eat of free-cost ; yea and in other parts they had clothes and money given them. There likewise enemies reconciled themselves one to another, and the rich men forgave them their debts which were not able to pay. In a word, so many good works were done there, more proper for Christians than for Gentiles, as I must needs conclude, that if they had been done with faith, and baptism, for the love of our Lord Jesus OF FERDINAND MENDED PINTO. 885 Christ, and without any mixture of the things of this world, assuredly they would have been acceptable to him. But alas 1 the best was wanting to them, and that both for theirs and our sins. Whilest this procession, together with the chariots wherein the idols were, passed along in this manner, and that with a dreadful noise of drums, and other such instruments, behold where out of certain wooden sheds made expresly for the purpose, six, seven, eight, or ten men, all besmeared with odours, and wrapped up in silk, wearing gold bracelets about their wrists, start forth all at once, and room being instantly made them by the people, after they had saluted the idol which was on the top of the chariot, they went and laid themselves down athwart on the ground, so that the wheels coming to go over them crush'd them all to pieces, which the assistants beholding, cried out aloud together. My soul be with thine. Presently whereupon nine or ten of the priests descending from the chariot took up these blessed, or rather accursed, creatures, that sacrificed themselves in this sort, and putting the head, bowels, and all the other members so crushed in pieces into great bowls made for that purpose, they shewed them to the people from the highest part of the chariot where the idol stood, saying with a pitifull voice. Miserable sinners, fall ye to praying, that God may make you worthy to be a saint, as this here is, who hath now offered himself up as a sweet smell- ing sacrifice. Whereunto all the people, prostrated on the ground, answered with a fearfull noise. We hope that the God of a thousand Gods will permit it to be so. In this manner many other of these poor wretches sacrificed themselves, to the number, as we were told by certain merchants worthy of credit, of six hundred and more. After these followed other martyrs of the devil, whom they called Xixaporaus, which sacrificed themselves before the said chariots, by most merci- lesly slashing themselves with sharp rasors, that to behold them how they did it, one could not think but that they were altogether insensible; for they cut off great gobbets of their flesh, and holding them on high at the end of arrows, as if they would shoot them up to heaven, they said, That they made a present thereof to God for the souls of their fathers, of their wives, of their children, or of such an one, for whose sake^ 336 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 they did this wicked work. Now wheresoever this gobbet of flesh chanced to fall, there ran so much people to catch it up, as oftentimes many were stifled in the press, for they held it as a very great relick. In this sort these miserable wretches stood upon their feet, all bathed in their ovra bloud, without noses, without ears, and vrithout any resemblance at all of a man, untill at length they fell dovm stark dead on the earth ; then came the Chepos in all haste down from the top of the chariot, and cutting off their heads, shewed them to all the people, who kneeKng on the groxmd, and lifting up their hands to heaven, cried out with a loud voice. Let us, Lord, live to that time, wherein for thy service we may do as this same here hath done. There were others also whom the devil drew thither after another manner. Those same craving an alms, said. Give me an alms for Gods sake, or if thou dost it not, I will kill my self. So that if they were not presently contented they woxild instantly cut their own throats with rasors which they held in their hands, or stab themselves into the belly, and so drop down stark dead, whereupon the Grepos ran suddenly to them, and having cut off their heads, shewed them, as before, to the people, who reverenced them prostrated on the ground. Of the 15 days that this feast was to last, 9 being past, all the people, which were there assembled, feigning that the gluttonous serpent of the house of smoke (who is their Luci- fer, as I have said elsewhere) was come for to steal away the ashes of them that were dead in these several sacrifices, and so to keep their souls from going into heaven, there arose among them so great and dreadfull a noise, as words are not able to express it ; for to the confused voices that were heard from every part, there was adjoyned such a ringing of bells and basins, beating of drums, and winding of horns, as it was not possible to hear one another ; and all this was done to fright away the devil. Now this noise endured from one of the clock in the afternoon till the next morning ; and it is not to be beheved what a world of lights and torches were spent that night, besides the infinite number of fires that were kindled every where ; the reason hereof was, as they said, For that Tinagoogoo, the God of thousand Gods, was in quest of the glut' OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ i?Ili'fO. 837 tonous serpent, for to hill him with a sword which had been given him from heaven. After the night had been past thus amidst this infernal noise and tumult, assoon as it was day, the whole hill, whereon the temple was built, appeared full of white banners, which the people beholding, they fell straight to giving thanks imto God, and to that end they prostrated themselves on the ground with great demonstrations of joy, and then began to send presents one to another, for the good news they received from the priests by the shew of those white banners, an assured sign that the gluttonous serpent was killed. So all the people, transported with incredible gladness, fell to going up the hill, whereon the temple stood, by four and twenty several accesses that there were unto it, for to give thanks unto the idol, and chaunt his praises, for the victory he had the night past obtained over the gluttonous serpent, and cutting off his head. This throng of people continued three days, and three nights ; so during that time it was not possible to break through the press on the way, but with much pain. Now we Portugals having little to do, resolved to go thither also to see those abuses, wherefore we went to ask leave of the embassadour, but he denied us for the present, willing us to stay till the next day, and that then we should wait on him thither, for in his last sickness he had vowed to visit it ; hereat we were very glad, because we thought that by this means we should the more easily see all that we desired. The morrow after, which was the third day of this assembly, the greatest croud being over, we went along with him to the Temple of Tinagoogoo, and at length arrived, though with much ado, at the hill whereon it was built. There we saw six very fair long streets, all full of scales hanging on great rods of brass. In these scales a number of people weighed themselves, as well for the accomplishment of the vows they had made in their adversities and sickness, as for the remission of all the sins they had committed till that present ; and the weight which each of them laid in the other scale was answerable to the quality of the fault they had done. So they that found them- selves culpable of gluttony, and had not all that year used any abstinence, weighed themselves with honey, sugar, eggs, and butter, which were things not displeasing to the priests, from 23 S38 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES whom they were to receive absolution. They that were addicted to sensuality weighed themselves with cotton- wool, feathers, 61oth, apparel, wine, and sweet odours ; because, say they, those things incite a man to that sin. They that were un- charitable to the poor weighed themselves vdth coin of copper, tin, and silver, or with pieces of gold. The slothfull with wood, rice, coals, pork, and fruit ; and the envious, because they reap no benefit by their maligning the prosperity of others, expiated their sin by confessing it pubUckly, and suffering a dozen boxes on the ear to be given them in the memory and praise of the twelve moons of the year. As for the sin of pride, it was satisfied with dried fish, brooms, and cow-dung, as being the basest of things. And touching them that had spoken ill of their neighbours, without asking them forgiveness, they put for that a cow into the scale, or else a hog, a sheep, or a stag; so that infinite was the number of those which weighed themselves in the scales that were in those six streets, from whom the priests received so much alms, as there were great piles of all sorts of things made up all along. Now for the poor that had nothing to give for the remission of their sins, they offered their own hair, which was presently cut off by above an hundred priests, who for that effect sate in order one by another on low stools, with sizzars in their hands. There also we saw great heaps of that hair, whereof other Grepos, which were a thousand at least, and ranked also in order, made wreathes, tresses, rings, and bracelets, which one or another bought for to carry home to their houses, even as our pilgrims use to do, that come from Santiago de Gompostella, or other such places. Our embassadour, being amazed at the sight of these things, inquired further of the priests concern- ing them, who besides other particulars told him, that all those ahns, and other offerings which were given there during the fifteen days of this assembly, amounted to a great revenue and that even of the hair of the poor alone there were raised every year above an hundred thousand Pa/rdarm of gold, which are fourscore and ten thousand ducates of our money; whereby one may judge what a world of wealth was made of all the rest. After that the embassadour had staid some time in the streets of the scales, he passed on through all the other OF FMBDINAND MENDBZ PINTO. 839 quarters, where were comedies, dancing, wrestling, and ex- cellent consorts of all kinds of musick, till at length we arrived at Tinagoogoo, but with much labour and pain, because the throng was so great, as none could hardly break through it. This temple had but one isle, that was very long and spacious, and fuU of great wax lights, each of them having ten or eleven wicks in it, set up all about in silver candlesticks ; there was also great store of perfumes of aloes and benjamin. As for the image of Tinagoogoo, it was placed La the midst of the temple upon a stately tribunal, in the form of an altar, environed with a number of silver candlesticks, and a many of children, attired in purple, which did nothing but cense it at the sound of instruments of musick, whereon the priests played reason- able well. Before this idol danced, to the tune of the said instrument, certain ladies, which were wonderfull fair, and richly clad, to whom the people presented their alms and offerings, which the priests received for them, and then laid them before the tribunal of the idol with a great deal of cere- mony and complement, ever and anon prostrating themselves on the ground. The statue of this monster was seven and twenty spans high, having the face of a giant, the hair of a negro, wide distorted nostrils, mighty great lips, and a very sowre and ill-favoured countenance. He had in his hand an hatchet in the form of a cooper's addis, but with a far longer handle. With this addis, as the priests made the people believe, this monster the night before killed the gluttonous serpent of the home of smoke, for that he would ha/ve stoln away the ashes of those that saorifioed themsehies. There also we saw the serpent amidst the place before the tribunal in the form of an adder, more horrible to behold then the wit of man can imagine, and done so to the life, as all that looked on it trembled for fear. It was laid all along, with the head cut off, being eight fathom long, and the neck of it as thick as a bushel, so lively represented, that though we knew it to be an artificial thing, yet could we not chuse but be afraid of it. In the mean time all the assistants ran thronging about it, some pricking it with the points of their halberds, and some with their daggers, every one with railing speeches, cursing and calling it, Provd, presumpPuous, accursed, wifemal monster, 340 THE TBAVELS, VOYAQES, AND ADVENTURES pool of damnation, ewoious against God's goodmess, h/imger-sta/rved dragon, in the midst of 'the rdght, and many other names, which they delivered in such extraordinary terms, and so fitted to the effects of this serpent, as we coiild not but admire them. That done, they put into basins which stood at the foot of the idols tribunal a world of alms, of gold, silver, jewels, pieces of silk, fine callicoes, money, and a hundred other things in very great abundance. After we had seen all these things, we continued following the embassadour, who went to see the grots of the hermits or penitents, which were at the utmost end of the wood, all cut out of the hard rock, and in such order, as one would have thought that nature, rather then the hand of man, had laboured in it. There were an hundred forty and two of them, in some of the which remained divers men, whom they held for saints, and that did very great and austere penance. They in the first grots wore long robes like the Bonzes of Ja/pan, and followed the law of an idol, that had sometimes been a man, called Situmpor Michay, who during his life enjoyned those of his sect to lead their lives iu great austerity, assuring them that the onely and true way to gain heaven, was to subdue the flesh, and that the more they laboured to afflict themselves, the more liberally God would grant them all they could demand of him. They which accompanied us thither, told us, that they seldom eat any thing but herbs boiled, a few beans of Aricot rested, and wilde fruit, which were provided for them by other priests, who as the purveyors of a cloister took care to furnish these penitents with such things as were conformable to the law whereof they made profession. After these we saw in a grot others of a sect of one of their saints, or rather of a devil, named Angemacur ; these lived in deep holes, made in the midst of the rock, according to the rule of their wretched order, eating nothing but flies, ants, scorpions, and spiders, with the juice of a certain herb growing in abundance thereabouts, much like to sorrel. These spent their time in meditating day and night, with their eyes lifted up to heaven, and their hands closed one within another, for a testimony that they desired nothing of this world, and in that manner died like beasts ; but they are accounted greater saints then all the rest, and as such, after OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 841 they are dead, they burn them in fires, whereinto they cast great quantities of most precious perfumes. The funeral pomp being celebrated with great state, and very rich offerings, they have sumptuous temples erected unto them, thereby to draw the living to do as they had done, for to obtain this vain-glory, which is all the recompense that the world gives them for their excessive penance. We likewise saw others of a .sect altogether diabolical, invented by a certain Gileu Mitra/y. These have sundry orders of penance, and are not much different in their opinions from the Abissins of Ethiopia. Now that their abstinence may be the more agreeable to their idol, some of them eat nothing but bitter fruits and herbs brought to them from the wood, by reason whereof they live but a short time, and have so bad a look and colour, as they fright those that behold them. I wiU pass by them of the sect of Godomem, who spend their whole life in crying day and night on those mountains, Godomem, Godomem, and desist not from it untUl they fall down stark dead to the ground for want of breath. Neither will I speak of them which they call Taxilacons, who die more brutishly then the rest ; for they shut themselves up in certain grots made of purpose for it, that are very little and close, stopped on all sides, and then burning green thistles and thorns in them, they choke them- selves with the smoke thereof. Whereby one may see how by such rude and different ways of living these miserable creatures render themselves the devil's martyrs, who in reward thereof gives them everlasting hell-fire ; and verily it is a pitifull thing to behold the great pains which these wretches take to lose themselves, and the little that we do to be saved. CHAPTEE XLVin. Wliat we saw in the oontinning of our voyage, nntil we arrived at the city of Timplan. APTEH we had seen all these things with wonder enough, we departed from this Pagode of Tinagoogoo, and continued on our way for thirteen days together, at the end whereof we 842 THE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES arrived at two great towns, scituated on the bank of the river, just opposite the one against the other, about the distance of a stones cast, one of the which was called Mana/oedea, and the other . SingilapoM. In the midst of this same river, which was there somewhat narrow, there was an island by nature formed round, and in it a rock six and thirty fathom high, and a cross-bow shot broad ; upon this rook was a fort buUt, with nine bulwarks and five towers ; without the rampire of the wall it was in- vironed vnth two rows of great iron gates, and from the bulwarks to the other side of the river ran a huge chain of iron, to keep vessels from passing along, so that nothing could possibly enter there. At one of these two towns, which was called SingilapoM, the ambassadour landed, where he was ex- ceedingly well entertained by the Xemimbrum, or governour of it, who likewise furnished all his train with great store of refreshments. The next morning we left this place, accom- panied with twenty Lemles, wherein there were a thousand men and better, and about evening we arrived at the custom- houses of the kingdom, which are two strong places, and from the one to the other run five mighty great chains of latten all athwart the whole breadth of the river, so that nothing can pass in and out vrithout leave. Hither came a man in a swift Seroo to the ambassadour, and told him that he was to go ashore at Gampalagro, which was one of the two castles on the south- side, for to shew the letter which this king had sent by him to the Galammham, to see if it were written in the form that was required in speaking to him, as was usually observed. The ambassadour presently obeyed, and being come to land he was lead into a great hall, where were three men set at a table, with a great niany gentlemen, who gave him good entertain- ment, and demanded of him the occasion of his coming thither, as they that knew nothing of it. Whereunto the ambassadour answered ; That he came thither from the King of Bramaa, Lord of Tanguu, and that he had a message to deliver unto the holy Calaminham concerning matters greatly importing his estate. Then having made further answer to other questions, which were put to him in a way of ceremony by the three principal persons that were at the table, he showed them the letter, wherein they corrected some words, which were not of the OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 848 style where-with they were accustomed to speak to the Cala- minham ; together with this letter the ambassadour shewed them the present which he had brought for him, whereat they very much wondred, especially when they saw the chair for an elephant of gold and precious stones, which in the judge- ment of divers lapidaries was worth above six hundred thou- sand ducates, besides the other rich pieces that he carried him also, as I have before related. After we had our dispatch from this first custom-house, we went to the other, where we found more venerable men then the former, who with another new ceremony looked likewise on the letter, and the present, and put to all the several parcels of it strings of wreathed carnation silk,* with three seals in lacre, which was as the conclusion of the receiving of the ambassy by the Galawmham, The same day there came a man from the next town of Queitor, sent by the govemour of the kingdom to visit the ambassadour with a present of refreshments of flesh, fruit, and other such things after their manner. During nine days that the ambas- sadour stayed in this place he was abundantly furnished with all things necessary, both for his own person, and his train, and withal was entertained with sundry sports of hunting and fishing, as also with feasts, accompained with musick and comedies represented by very beautiful women, and richly attired. In the mean time we Portugals went, with the permission of the ambassadour, to see certain things which they of the country had much commended unto us, namely very antique buildings, rich and sumptuous temples, very fair gardens, houses and castles that were all along the side of this river, made after a strange fashion, well fortified, and of great charge, amongst the which there was an hospital for to lodge pilgrims in called Mafdoafa/rcm, signifying in our tongue, The Prison of the Gods, which was above a league in breadth. Here we saw twelve streets, all vaulted over, and in every one of them two hundred and forty houses, namely, sixscore on each side, which made in all two thousand, eight himdred, and fourscore, all full of pilgrims, who the whole year through came thither in pilgrimage from divers countries; for, as they hold, this pilgrimage ought to be of far greater * The first mention in history of red-tape 7 844 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES merit then all others, because that these idols imprisoned by strangers have need of company. All these pilgrims, which, as they of the country say, are all the year long without dis- continuing above six thousand, have meat given them the whole time of their abode there, at the charge, and out of the revenue of the house. They are served by four thousand priests of Mcmicafa/ran, who with many others reside within the same inclosure in sixscore religious houses, where there are also as many women that serve in like manner. The temple of this hospital was very great, with three isles after the fashion of ours, in the midst whereof was a remarkable chappel built round, and invironed with three very big ballisters of latten; within it there were fourscore idols of men and women, besides many other little gods, that lay prostrated on the ground ; for the forescore great idols onely stood upright, and were all tied together with chains of iron. As for the little ones, they were, as I said, laid along on the pavement, as the children of these greater, and tied six to six by the middle with other sleighter chains. Moreover without the baUisters in two files there stood two hundred, forty and four, giants of brass, six and twenty spans high, with their halberds and clubs upon their shoulders, as if they had been set there for the guard of the captive gods. There was over-head upon iron rods, that traversed the isles of the temple, great store of lamps hanging, having seven or eight matches apiece in them, in the fashion of candlesticks, like to them of the Indiaes, all varnished without, as also the walls were, and every thing else that we saw there, in token of mourning, by reason of the captivity of these gods. Being amazed as well at that which I have recounted, as at many other things which I pass over in silence, and not able to comprehend what they meant by the imprisonment of these gods, we demanded the signification of it of the priests, whereunto one amongst them, that seemed of more authority then the rest, made us this answer. Since I see that being strangers you desi/re to learn of me that which I know very well, and which you have never heard spoken, tior read of in your books, I will declare the matter unto you as it past, according as it is truly delivered by our histories. Know then, that it is now seven thousand, three hundred, and OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 845 twenty moons, which make six h/undred and ten years, after the sv/pputation of other nations, since the tvme that an hoVy Cala- minham, named Xixivarem Melentay, commanding over the mona/rchy of the six and twenty kingdoms of thds crown, waged wars with the Siamon, Emperour of the Mountains of the Earth insomuch that there assembled, what on the one part and the other, threescore and' two kings, who putting themselves into field, fought so cruel and bloody a battel, as it endured from an hour before day till night, and there was slain on both sides sixteen Laquesaas of men, each of which makes an him&red thousand. At length the victory remaining to our Oalaminham, " without any more resting alvve of hds forces then two hmidred and tM/rty thousand, he ruined in four moneths space all the enemies countries, with such a destruction of people, as (if credit may be given otir histories, or to what any other besides have asswred) there died fifty 'L&qa.eaaa,^ of persons. This battel was fought in the first of the said seven thousand, three hundred, and twenty moons, in the renowned field Vitau, where Qtiiay Nivandel appea/red to the Calaminham, sitting in a chmr of wood, who acqwred unto himself in this place a greater and more famxms title of honour, then all the other gods of the Mons and Siammes ; in rega/rd whereof so often as they that inhabit the earth desire to make oath of thiiigs which pass the belief of men, they use for the more authorizing thereof to swear by the holy Quiay Nivandel, God of Battels of the field Vitau. Now in a great city named Sarocatam, where five hundred thousand persons were slain, all these gods, which here yoii see before you, were made prisoners in despight of the kings that believed in them, and the priests that served them with the perfumes in their sacrifices. Thus by reason of so glorious a victory all those people become subject to us, and tributaries to the crown of the Calaminham, who at this day holds the scepter of this monarchy, whereunto he was not raised but with m/uch labour, and the shedding of a world of blood, d/wring the threescore and fowr rebellions made by the said people since that tvme until this present ; who not able to endure the captivity of their gods, for that, to say the truth, is a mighty affront unto them, they do still in memory of so unhappy a success continue making great demon- strations of sorrow for it, renewing every yea/r the vow they home 346 THE TBAVBLS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 made not to celebrate any feast, nor to rejoyce in any kind of sort whatsoever, until they have provided for the deUverance of these prisoners ; which also is the cause that no lamps are seen in their temples, and that they are resolved to light up none during the capti/oity of their idols. Some of us seeming to doubt the verity hereof, because it seemed strange unto them, the Grepo swore that it was most true, and that also there had been killed at sundry times, about the deliverance of these Gods, whom there we saw captive, above three millions of men, besides those that fell in precedent battels ; whereby one may clearly see in what a strange manner the devil keeps these poor blinded wretches subjected unto him, and with how much abuse and extravagancy he precipitates them into hell. When we had well observed aU the singularities of this temple, we went to see another, called Urpanesendoo ; to speak of which I desire to be excused, that I may not be forced to treat of infamous and abominable matters ; wherefore omitting the great abundance of riches, and other things which we saw there ; it shall suffice me to say, that this temple is served by none but women, who are all of them the daughters of princes, and of the principal lords of the kingdom, which dedicate them from their infancy to offer up their honour in sacrifice there. Now this filthy and sensual sacrifice is performed with so great charge, that many of them bestow above ten thousand ducats in it, besides the offerings which are made to this idol Urpanesendoo, to whom they sacrifice their honour. This idol is in a chappel that is round, and gilt all over ; it is made of silver, and set upon a tribunal in form of an altar, environed over-head with a great number of candlesticks, which are all of silver likewise, every light in them having sis wicks. Eound about this tribunal are many other idols gilded over, of very comely and well-favoured women, who with their knees on the ground, and hands hfted up, adore this idol. These same, as the priests told us, are the holy souls of certain young ladies, which finished their days there to the great honour of their parents, who made more esteem of that then of all the King could give them. They assured us, that the revenue belonging to the idol was three hundred thousand ducates by the year, besides the offerings and rich OF FBBDINAND MBNDEZ PINTO. 847 ornaments of their abominable sacrifices, which was yet worth more. In this diabolical temple were shut up within many religious houses that we saw above five thousand women, being all of them old, and for the most part exceeding rich ; so that coming to die, they make a donation of all their wealth to the Pagode; wherefore it is no marvel, if it have the revenue I spoke of. From this place we went to see the companies of strangers, which came thither in pilgrimage in the manner that I have declared. These companies were forty and six in number, every one of an hundred, 200, 300, 400, or 500 persons ; nay, some of them were more, and were all lodged along by the river, as if it had been a camp. Amidst these troops of strangers we met by chance with a Portugal woman, whereat we wondred more then at all we had seen before; so that desiring to" know of her the reason of so strange an accident, she told us, with tears, who she was, what occasion had brought her thither, and how she was at that instant the wife of one of those pilgrims, to whom she had been married three or four and twenty years ; whereunto she further added, that not daring to go and live amongst Christians, because of her sin, she continued still in her wickedness, but that she hoped God would at length be pleased to bring her into some country, where before she ended her days, she might repent her of her hfe past ; and that although we foimd her in the company of people devoted to the service of the devil, yet she left not for all that to be still a true Christian ; we remained much amazed at so strange a relation, and not a little sorrowfull also to see and understand to what a point of misfortune this poor woman was reduced, so that we told her our opinion, and what we thought was fit for her to do; whereupon she concluded to go along with us to Timpla/m, and so to Pegu, and from thence to set sail for Coromandel, there to finish her days in the island of St. TomS. Having vowed unto us to do thus we quitted her, not doubting that she would lose so good an opportunity to retire her self out of the errours wherein she was, and to restore her self to an estate wherein she might be saved, since it had pleased God to permit her to meet with us in a country so far distant from that which she could hope for. Howbeit she performed 348 TEE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES nothing, for we could never see nor hear of her afterwards, which made us to believe, that either something had befallen her that kept her from coming to us ; or that through the obstinacy of her sins, she deserved not to make her profit of the grace which our Lord had offered to her out of His infinite goodness and mercy. CHAPTER XLIX. The magnificent reception of the King of Bramaa his Ambassadour, at the city of Timplam. NINE days after the King of Bramaa his ambassadour had reposed himself there by way of ceremony, accord- ing to the fashion of the country, for the more honour of his ambassage, one of the govemours of the city, called Gampano- grem, came to fetch him, accompanied with fourscore Seroos and La/iilees, very well equipped, and full of lusty able men. Throughout this fleet they played on so many barbarous and ill accorded instruments, as beUs, 'cymbals, drums, and sea- cornets, that the din thereof coming to joyn with the noise which the rowers made, terrified all those that heard it ; and indeed one would have thought it at first to be some inchant- ment, or to say better, a musick of hell, if there be any there. Amidst this stir we drew near to the city, where we arrived about noon. Being come to the first key, that was named Gampala/rraia, we saw a great many men, both horse and foot, all richly accoutred, as also a number of fighting elephants, very well furnished, having their chairs and fore-head pieces garnished with silver, and their warlike Panares fastened to their teeth, which rendered them very terrible. The am- bassadour was no sooner come on shore, but the Campanogrem took him by the hand, and falling on his knees presented him to another great man that attended for him at the key in great pomp. This same was called Patedacan, one of the chiefest of the kingdom, as we were told. After he had with a new complement of courtesie received the ambassadour, he offered him an elephant furnished with a chair and harness of gold ; OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 849 but whatsoever the Manclarin could do to make the ambassa- dour accept of it, he could by no means draw him thereunto ; whereupon he caused another almost as well furnished to be brought, and gave it to him. As for us nine Portugals, and fifty or threescore Bramaas, they provided horses, on which we mounted. In this manner we departed from that place, having his chariots before us full of men, that amidst the acclamations of the people played upon divers kindes of instruments ; namely, on silver cymbals, beUs, and drums. Thus we were conducted through many long streets, whereof nine were environed with ballisters of lattin, and at the entrance into them, there were arches very richly wrought, as also many chapiters of pillars gilt, and great bells, which like imto clocks, struck the hours, nay, the quarters of the hour of the day, whereby the people were ordinarily directed. After that with much ado, by reason of the great press of people that was in the streets, we were come to the outward court of the Galomdnhan's palace, which was as long, or little less, as a faulcons shot, and broad proportionably thereunto, we saw in it above six thousand horses, all trapped with silver and silk, and those that were mounted on them were armed with corslets of lattin and copper, head-pieces of silver, carrying ensigns in their hands of divers colours, ^nd targets at their saddle-bows. The commander of these troops was the Quietor of Justice, who is as the superintendent over all the other civil and criminal ministers, which is a jurisdiction separate by it self, from whence there is no appeal. The ambassadour being come near unto him, who was also advanced to receive him, and the two govemours, they all prostrated themselves on the ground three times, which is amongst them a new kinde of complement, whereupon the Quietor spake not a word to the ambassadour, but onely laid his hand on his head, and then gave him a rich scymitar that he wore by his side, which the ambassadour accepted of very thankfully, and kissed it thrice. That done the Qwietor set the ambassadour on his right hand, and leaving the two Manda/rms a Uttle behinde, they passed along through two rows of elephants, which made a kinde of a street of the length of the outward court, they being fifteen hundred in number, all furnished with castles, and rich chairs 350 THE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES of divers inventions, as also with a great many of silk banners, and gorgeous coverings ; round about v^ere a great company of halberdiers, and many other shews of greatness and majesty, which made us believe that this prince was one of the mightiest in the country. When we were come to a great gate, that stood between two^ high towers, two hundred men which guarded it no sooner saw the Qmetor, but they all fell down on their knees. Through this gate, we entered into another very long outward court, where the Kings second guard was, composed of a thousand men, who were all in gilt arms, their swords by their sides, and on their heads helmets wrought with gold and silver, wherein stuck gallant plimies of several colours. After we had past through the middle of all this guard we arrived at a great hall, where there was a Mandarin, uncle to the king, called the Mowvaganm, a. man of above seventy years of age, accompanied with a great number of nobility, as also with many captains and officers of the king- dom. About him were twelve little boys richly clad, vnth great chains of gold three or four times double about their necks, and each of them a silver mace upon his shoulder. Assoon as the ambassadour was come near him, he touched him on the head with a Ventiloe that he held in his hand, and behelding him. May thy entrance, said he, into tMs palace of the Lord of the World be as agreeable to his eyes, as the rain is to our field of rice, for so shall he grant thee all that thy King demands of him. From thence we went up aa high pair of stairs, and entered into a very long room, wherein there were many great lords, who seeing the Mon/oaga/rvM stood up on their feet, as acknowledging him for their superior. Out of this room we entered into another, where there were 4 altars, very well accommodated with idols of silver; upon one of these altars we saw the statue of a woman as big as a giant, being eighteen spans high, and with her arms all abroad looking up to heaven. This idol was of silver, and her hair of gold, which was very long, and spread over her shoulders. There also we saw a great throne, encompassed round about with thirty giants of brass, who had gilded clubs upon their shoulders, and faces as deformed as those they paint for the devil. From this room we passed into a manner of a gallery, OP FEBDINAND MENBEZ PINTO. 851 adorned from the top to the bottom with a number of little tables of ebony, inlayed with ivory, and full of mens heads, under every one of the which the name of him to whom it belonged was written in letters of gold. At the end of this gallery there were a dozen of iron rods gilt, whereon hung a great many silver candlesticks of great value, and a number of perfuming pans, from whence breathed forth a most ex- cellent odour of amber, and calambiico, or Ugmim aloes, but such as we have none in Christendom. There on an altar environed all about with three rows of ballisters of silver, we saw thirteen kings visages of the same metall, with golden mitres upon their heads, and under each of them a dead mans head, and below many candlesticks of silver, with great white wax lights in them, which were snuffed ever and anon by little boys, who accorded their voices to those of the Grepos that sung in form of a letany, answering one another. The Grepos told us that those thirteen dead mens heads which were under the visages were the skulls of thirteen Galarrdnhans, which in times past gained this empire from certain strangers, called Eoparons, who by arms had usurped the same upon them of the country. As for the other dead mens heads which we saw there, they were the skulls of such commanders as by their heroic deeds had honourably ended their days in helping to recover this empire, in regard whereof it was most reasonable, that though death had deprived them of the recompenoe which they had merited by their action, yet their memory should not be abolished out of the world. When we were gone out of the gallery, we proceeded on upon a great bridge, that was in the form of a street, railed on either sides with ballisters of lattin, and beautified with a many of arches curiously wrought, upon which were scutcheons of arms, charged with several devices of gold, and the crest over them were silver globes, five spans in circumference, all very stately and majes- tical to behold. At the end of this bridge was another build- ing, the doors whereof we found shut, whereupon we knoieked 4 times, they within not deigning to answer us, which is a ceremony observed by them in such occasions. At the length after we had nmg a bell 4 times more, as it were in haste, out comes a woman of about 50 years of age, accompanied with 6 352 TEB TBAVBLS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES little girls, richly attired, and Bcymitars upon their shoulders garnished -with flowers wrought in gold. This ancient woman having demanded of the Moiwagcmm why he had rung the bell, and what he would have, he answered her with a great deal of respect, That he had there an ambassadour from the Eing of Bramaa, the Lord of Tanguu, who was come thither to treat at the feet of the Calaminhan about certain matters much import- ing his service. By reason of the great authority which this woman was in she seemed little to regard this answer, whereat we wondred much, because he that spake to her was one of the chiefest lords of the kingdom, and uncle to the Galaminhan, as it was said. Nevertheless one of the 6 girls that accom- panied her, spake thus in her behalf to the Motwaga/rim, My Lord, may it please your greatness, to have a Utile patience till we may know whether the time be fit for the hissing of the foot of the throne of this Lord of the World, and advertising him of the coming of this stranger, amd so according to the grace which our Lord will shew him therein, his heart may rejoyce, and we with hmn. That said, the door was shut again for the space of three or four Credo's, and then the six girls came and opened it, but the ancient woman that at first came along with them we saw no more ; howbeit instead of her there came a boy of about nine years of age, richly apparelled, and having on his head an Hu/rfa/ngiM of gold, which is a kinde of mitre -(but that it is somewhat more closed all about, and without any overture) he had also a mace of gold, much like a sceptre, which he carried upon his shoulder; this same, without making much reckoning of the Monvaga/ruM, or of any of the other lords there present, took the embassadour by the hand, and said unto him. The news of thy a/rrival is come unto the feet of Binaigaa the Calaminhan, and sceptre of the kings that govern the earth, and is so agreeable to his ea/rs, that with a sm/iUng look he now sends for thee to give thee a/uMence concerning that which is desired of him by the King, whom he newly receives into the number of his brethren, with the love of the son of his enWals, that so he may remain powerfull and victorious over his enemies. Thereupon he caused him, together with the Kings uncle, and the other governours that accompanied him, to come in, leaving all the rest without ; the embassadour then OF FEBDINAND MENBEZ PINTO. 358 seeing none of his train follow him, looked three or four times back, seeming by his countenance to be somewhat discon- tented, which the Moti/oagaruu perceiving, spake to the Qidetor, who was a little behinde, that he should cause the strangers to be let in, and none else ; the doors being then opened again, we Portugals began to go in with the Bramaas ; but such a number of others came thrusting in amongst us, as the gentlemen ushers who were above twenty, had much ado to keep the doors, striking many with battoons which they had in their hands, and (of those) some that were persons of quahty, and yet could they not therewith, neither with their cries, nor menaces, stop them all from entering. Thus being come in, we past along through the midst of a great garden, made with such art, and where appeared so many goodly things, so divers, and so pleasing to the eye, as words are not able to express them. For there were there many alleys environed with baUisters of silver, and many arbors of extra- ordinary scent, which we were told had so much sympathy with the moons of the year, that in all seasons whatsoever they bare flowers and fruits ; withall there was such abundance and variety of roses and other flowers, as almost passetb belief. In the midst of this garden we saw a great many young women, very fair, and well clad, whereof some past away their time in dancing, and others in playing on sundry sorts of instruments much after our manner, which they per- formed with so much harmony, as we were not a little delighted therewith: some also bestowed themselves in making of curious needle-works and gold-strings, some in other things, whilest their companions gathered fruit to eat ; and all this was done so quietly, and with such order and good behaviour, as made us admire it. At our going out of this garden, where the MowoagwrvM would needs have the embassadour to stay a while, that he might there observe something worthy to enter- tain his king with at his return to Pegu, we went into a very great antichamber, where many commanders and lords were sitting, as also some great princes, who received the embassa- dour with new ceremonies, and complements, and yet not one of them stirred from his place. Through this antichamber we came to a door, where there were six gentlemen ushers 24 864 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES with silver maces, by which we entered into another room very richly furnished : in this was the Galaminhan seated on a most majestical throne, encompassed with three rows of ballisters of silver. At the foot of the degrees of his throne sate twelve women that were exceeding beautifull, and most richly apparelled, playing on divers sorts of instruments, whereunto they accorded their voices. On the top of the throne, and not far from his person, were twelve young damsels about nine or ten years old, all of them on their knees round about him, and carrying maces of gold in the fashion of sceptres ; amongst them there was also another that stood on her feet and fanned him. Below, all along the whole length of the room, were a great many of old men, wearing mitres of gold on their heads, and long robes of sattin and damask, curiously embroidered, every one having silver maces on their shoulders, and ranked in order on either side against the walls. Over all the rest of the room were sitting, upon rich Persian carpets, about two hundred young ladies, as we could guess, that were wonderfull fair, and exceeding well-favom'ed. Thus did this room, both for the marvellous structure of it, and for the excellent order that was observed therein, represent so great and extraordinary a majesty, as we heard the embassa- dom' say afterwards, talking of it, that if God would grant him the grace to return to Pegu, he would never speak of it to the King, as well for fear of grieving him, as of being taken for a man that reports thingSj which seem altogether incredible. Assoon as the embassadour was entered into the room where the Galaminhan was, accompanied with the four princes that coBduoted him, he prostrated himself five times on the ground, vrithout so much as daring to behold the Calarmnhan, in sign of the great respect he carried towards him, which the Monvaga^iiM perceiving, willed him to advance forwajrd; so that being arrived near to the first degree of his throne, with his face still bending downward, he said to the Galaminhan, with so loud a voice as every one might hear him ; The clouds of the air, which recreate the fruits whereof we eat, have pub- lished over the whole monarchy of the world the great majesty of thy power, which hath caused my King, desiring to be honov/red. OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 355 with thy amity, as with a rich pea/rl, to send me for that purpose, and to tell thee from him, that thou shalt much oblige him, if thoupleasest to accept of him for thy brother, with the honour- able obedience which he will always render to thee, as to him that is the elder, as thou a/rt. And for that end it is, that he sends thee this letter, which is the jewel of all his treasure that he prizes most, and wherein his eyes take more pleasure, for the honour and contentment they receive by it, then being lord of the kings o/Avaa, and of all the precious stones of the mountmn of Falent, of Jatir, and Pontau. Hereunto the Gala/mnhan made him this answer following, and that with a grave and severe countenance ; For my part, I accept of this new amity, thereby to give full satisfaction to thy king, as to a son newly bom of nvy inirals. Then began the women to play on instruments of musiok, and six of them danced with Uttle children for the space of three or four Credo's. After that, other six little girls danced with six of the oldest men that were in the room, which seemed to us a very pretty fantasticalness. This dance ended, there was a very fine comedy represented by twelve ladies, exceeding beautifull, and gorgeously attired, wherein appeared on the stage a great sea-monster, holding in his mouth the daughter of a king, whom the fish swallowed up before them all, which the twelve ladies seeing went in all haste weeping to an hermitage that was at the foot of a mountain, from whence they returned with an hermit, who made earnest supplications to Quday PaPwreu, God of the Sea, that he would bring this monster to the shore, so as they might come to bury the damsel according to her quality. The hermit was answered by Qmay Patwreu, that the twelve ladies should change their lamentations and complaints into so many consorts of musick, that were agreeable to his ears, and he would then command the sea to cast the fish upon the strand to be done withall as they thought good; whereupon comes on the stage six little boys with wings and crowns of gold upon their heads, in the same manner as we use to paint angels, and naked all over, who falling on their knees before the ladies, presented them with three harps and three viols, saying, that Quiay Patureu sent them these instruments from the heaven of the moon, therewith to cast the monster of the sea into a 356 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 sleep, that so they might have their desire on him ; whereupon the twelve ladies took them out of the hands of the little boys, and began to play upon them, tuning them unto their voices with so lamentable and sad a tone, and such abundance of tears, that it drew some from the eyes of divers lords that were in the room. Having continued their musick about half a quarter of an hour, they saw the monster coming out of the sea, and by little and little as it were astonished, making to the shore where these fair musicians were ; aU which was performed so properly, and to the life, that the assistants could hardly imagine it to be a fable, and a matter devised for plea- sure, but a very truth, besides the scene was set forth with a world of state and riches. Then one of the twelve ladies drawing out a poniard, all set with precious stones, which she wore by her side, ripped up the fish, and out of the belly of it drew the Infanta aUve, which presently went and danced to the tune of their instruments, and so went and kissed the Galaminhan's hand, who received her very graciously, and made her sit down by him. It was said that this young lady was his niece, the daughter of a brother of his ; as for the other twelve, they were all the daughters of princes, and of the greatest lords of the country, whose fathers and brothers were there present. There were also three or four comedies more like this, acted by other young ladies of great quality, and set forth with so much pomp and magnificence, as more could not be desired. About evening the Calaminhan retired into another room, accompanied with women onely; for all the rest they went along with the Momiaga/mu, who took the embassadour by the hand, and led him back to the outermost room of all, where with many complements, after their manner, he took his leave of him, and so committed him to the Queitor, who straightway carried him to his house, where he lodged all the while that he was there, being two and thirty days, during which time he was feasted by the principal lords of the court, in a splendid and sumptuous manner, and continually enter- tained with several sports of fishing, hunting, hawking, and other such like recreations. {Here follows a discov/rsh on the Christian religion between a priest omd the ForPug'uese, pmitteirt] OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 857 CHAPTEE L. An ample relation of the empire oJ the Calaminham, and of the kingdoms of Pegu, and Bramaa, with the oontinuauoe of our voyage, and what we saw among the same. AMONETH after our arrival at this city of Timplan, where the court then was, the ambassador demanded an answer to his ambassie, and it was immediately granted him by the Calaminham, with whom he spake himself, and being graciously entertained by him, he referred him for his dispatch to the Monvaga/ruu, that was, as I have heretofore delivered, the chief man in governing the kingdom, who gave him an answer on the behalf of the Calaminham, as also a present. in exchange of that which the King of Bramaa had sent him, withal he wrote him a letter [entering into the proposed alliance with him] . The ambassador having received this letter, departed from the court the 3rd of November, 1546, accom- panied with certain lords, who by the express commandment of the Calaminham went along with him to Bidor, where they took their leave of him, after they had made him a great feast, and presented him with divers gifts. But before I entreat of the way which we held from this place till we came to Pegu, where the King of Brwmaa was, I think it convenient and necessary to make a relation here of certain things which we saw in this country, wherein I will acquit my self as succinctly as I can, as I have done in all other matters whereof I have spoken heretofore ; for if I should discourse in particular of all that I have seen, and of that which hath past as well in this empire, as in othe'r kingdoms, where I have been during my painful voyages, I had then need to make another volume far bigger then this same, and be indued with a wit much above that I have : howbeit that I may not whoUy conceal things so remarkable, I am contented to say so much thereof as my gross stile will permit me to deliver. The kingdom of Pegu hath in circuit an htmdred and forty leagues, is scituate on the south side in sixteen degrees, and in the heart of the country towards the rhomb of the east it hath an hundred and forty leagues, being invironed all above with a high ground, named 858 THE TBAVBLS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES PangwviroM, where the nation of the Bramaas doth inhabit, whose country is fourscore leagues broad, and two hundred long. This monarchy was in times past one sole kingdom, which now it is not, but is divided into thirteen estates of sovereigns, who made themselves masters of it by poysoning their king in a banquet which they made him in the city of Ghaleu, as their histories relate: of these thirteen estates, there are eleven that are commanded by other nations, who by a tract of another great country are joyned to all the boTinds of the Bramaas, where two great emperors abide, of which the one is called the Siamon, and the other the Galaminliam, who Is the same I purpose onely to treat of. According to report, the empire of the prince is above three hundred leagues breadth, and as much in length, and it is said that anciently it contained seven and twenty kingdoms, the inhabitants whereof spake all one language : within this empire we saw many goodly cities, exceedingly well peopled, and abounding with all provisions necessary for mans life, as flesh, fresh water, fish, corn, pulse, rice, pastures, vines, and fruits ; the chief of all these cities is Timplan, where this emperor, the Calaminham, with his court commonly resides : it is seated along by a great river, named Pituy, and invironed aU about with two broad walls of earth, made up with strong stone on either side, having very broad ditches, and at each gate a castle with high towers. Certain merchants affirmed unto us, that this city had within it some four hundred thousand fires ; and albeit the houses are for the most part not above two stories high, yet in recompence thereof they are bidlt very stately, and with great charge, especially those of the nobility, and of the merchants, not speaking of the great lords, which are separated by great inclosures, where are spacious outward courts, and at the entring into them arches after the manner of China, as also gardens, and walks planted with trees, and great ponds, all very handsomely accommodated to the plea- sures and delights of this life, whereunto these people are very much inclined. We were also certified, that both within the inclosure of the city, and a league about it, there were six and twenty hundred Pagodes, some of which, wherein we had been, were very sumptuous and rich ; indeed (for the rest) the most OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 859 of them were but petty houses in the fashion of hermitages. These people follow four and twenty sects, all different one from another, amongst the which there is so great a confusion of errors, and diabolical precepts, prinijipally in that which concerns their bloody sacrifices, as I abhor to speak of them ; but the idol which is most in vogue amongst them, and most frequented, is that whereof I have already made mention, called Quiay Frigau, that is to say. The God of the Moats of the Sun; for it is in this false god that the Galaminham believes, and does adore him, and so do all the chiefest lords of the kingdom, wherefore the Grepos, Menigrepos, and Tala- grepos of this false god, are honored far more then all others, and held in the reputation of holy personages ; their superiours, who by an eminent title are called Gdbizondos, never know women, as they say ; but to content their bructish and sensual appetites they want not diabolical inventions, which are more worthy of tears then recital. During the ordinary fairs of this city, called by them Ghaiiduhos, we saw all things there that nature hath created, as iron, steel, lead, tin, copper, lattin, salt-peter, brimstone, oyl, vermillion, honey, wax, sugar, lacre, benjamin, divers sorts of stuffes and garments of silk, pepper, ginger, oinamon, linnen cloth, cotton wool, alum, borax, corna- Unes, cristal, camphire, musk, ivory, cassia, rhubarbe, turbith, scamony, azure, woad, incense, cochenel, saffron, myrrhe, rich porcelain, gold, silver, rubies, diamonds, emeraulds, saphirs, and generally all other kind of things that can be named, and that in so great abundance, as it is not possible for me to speak that which I have seen, and be believed; women there are ordinarily very white and fair, but that which most commends them is, that they are of a good nature, chast, charitable, and much inclined to compassion. The priests of all these four and twenty sects, whereof there are a very great number in this empire, are oloathed in yellow, like the BooUms of Pegu; they have no money either of gold or silver, but all their com- merce is made with the weight of cates, caeis, maazes, and eonderins. The court of the Galaminham is very rich, the nobihty exceeding gallant, and the revenue of the lords and princes very great, the king is seated and respected in a mar- vellous manner ; he hath in his court many commanders that 360 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 are strangers, unto whom he giveth great pensions, to servo him for the safety of his person ; our ambassador was assured, that in the city of Timplan, where most commonly the court is, there are above threescore thousand horse, and 10000 elephants. The gentlemen of the country live very hand- somely, and are served in vessels of silver, and sometimes of gold, but as for the common people they use porcelain and lattin ; in summer they are apparelled in sattin, damask, and vprought taffeties, which come from Persia, and in winter in gowns furred with marterns ; there is no going to law amongst them, nor does any man enter into bond there ; but if there be any difference among the common people, certain magistrates, like to our aldermen of wards, do decide it ; and if contention happens to arise between persons of an higher quality, then they submit to the judgement of certain religious men, who are expresly deputed for that purpose, and from them matters pass on in manner of appeal to the Queitor of Justice, which is as the superintendent thereof, from whose sentence there is no appeal, how great and important soever the business be. The monarchy of these seven and twenty kingdoms hath seven hundred provinces, that is six and twenty in every kingdom ; and in the capital town of each of those provinces doth a governor preside, all of them being of like and equal power. Now on every new moon, each captain is bound to muster the souldiers that are under his charge, which ordinarily are two thousand foot, five hundred horse, and fourscore fighting elephants, one of the which is called by the name of the capital town of the same province ; so that if one should make a just computation of all those men of war that are in those seven hundred companies of those provinces, they would appear to be seventeen hundred and fifty thousand, whereof there are three hundred and fifty thousand horse, and five and fifty thousand elephants ; for in regard of the great number that there are of those beasts in that country, this emperor stiles himself, in his titles. Lord of the indomitable force of Elephants. The revenue which the monarch draws from his royal prerogatives, by them called, the price of the Scepter, as also from his mines, amounts to twenty millions of gold, without comprising therein the presents which are given him OF FEBDINAND MENBEZ PINTO. 861 by the princes, lords and captains, and a great quantity of money that is distributed amongst the men of war, according to every one's merit, which are not of that account. In all this country, pearl, amber, and salt, are very much esteemed of, because they are things that come from the sea, which is far distant from the city of Timplan ; but of all other commodities they have infinite store. The country of it self is very healthy, the air very good, and likewise the waters. When they sneeze they use to say, the God of truth is three and one, whereby one may judge that these people have had some knowledge of the Christian religionv Being departed from the tovra of Bidor, we held on our ooiu:se down the great river of Pituy, and the same day at night we went and lodged at a certain Abby of the land of Quiay Jarem, the god of married folks ; this abby is seated on the bank of the river in a plain, where are a great many of trees planted, and very rich buildings, here the ambassador was well entertained by the Gahizondo and the Talagrepos ; then continuing our voyage seven days longer, we arrived at a town named Pa/oel, where we staid three days, to furnish our vessels with some provisions which we needed ; in this place the ambassador bought divers knacks of China, and other commodities that were sold there at a very cheap rate, as musk, fine porcelains, wrought silks, ermins, and many other sorts of furs, which are much used in that country, because it is extreme cold there ; these wares were brought thither by great troops of elephants and rhinocero's from a certain far distant province, as the merchants told us, called Friouca- rarmm, beyond the which, they said, was a kind of people called Calogens, and Funcaos, tawny men, and great archers, having their feet like unto oxen, but hands like unto other men, save that they are exceeding hairy, they are naturally inclined to cruelty, and have below at the end of the backbone a lump of flesh as big as ones two fists, their dwelling is in mountains that are very high and rough on some parts, where there are nughty deep pits, or caves, from whence are heard in winter nights most dreadful cries, and doleful lamentations. We were told likewise, that not far from these people there were others, called Calouhos, Timfates, and Bugems, and a 332 THJH TBAVELS, VOYAOES, AND ADVENTUBES good way beyond them some, named Oqtisns and Magores, I who feed on wild beast3 which they cateh in hunting, and eat 'raw, as also on all kind of contagious cr,eatures, as lizards, serpents, and adders ; they hunt those wild beasts mounted on certain animals, as big as horses, which have three horns in the midst of their foreheads, with thick short legs, and on the middle of their backs a row of prickles, wherewith they prick when they are angry, and all the rest of the body is like a great lizard ; besides they have on their necks, instead of hair, other prickles far longer and bigger then those on their backs, and on the joynts of their shoulders short wings like to the fins of fishes, wherewith they fly, as it were, leaping the length of five or six and twenty paces at a jump. These creatures are called Banazes, upon which these savages ride into the country of their enemies, with whom they hold con- tinual war, and whereof some pay them tribute in salt, which is the thing they make most account of, in regard of the need they have of it, for that they are very far distant from the sea. "We spake also with other men called Bwmioens, who live on high mountains, where there are mines of alum and laore, and great store of wood ; of this nation, we saw a troop conducting of above two thousand oxen, on [whom they had put pack saddles, and so made them to carry their mer- chandise ; these men were very tall, and had eyes and beards like the GJdneses. We saw others likewise, that had reason- able long beards, their faces full of freckles, and their ears and nostrils pierced, and in the holes thereof small threds of gold made into clasps, these were called Qinaphogaas, and the province whereof they were natives Surobosay, which within the mountains of the Lcmhos are bounded with the lake of Ghiammay, and are cloathed with hairy skins, going bare-foot and bare-headed, certain merchants told us that these had great riches, and that all their traflfique was in silver, whereof they had great store. We spake also with another sort of men, called Tv/pmoens, who are tawny, great eaters, and much addicted to the pleasures of the flesh ; these gave us better entertainment then all the rest, and oftentimes feasted us. Now because in a certain banquet, where we nine Porttigals were with the ambassador, one of us, named Francisco Temuda, OF PEBDINAND MENBEZ PINTO. 363 challenged them to drink, they taking it for a great affront, caused the feast to continue the longer for the recovery of their honour ; but the Porlmgal set on them so lustily, twenty that they were, as he laid them all along drunk on the ground, himself remaining still sober; when they were out of their drink, the Sa/piton, that was their captain, and in whose house the feast had been made, called his company together, which were above three hundred, and, whether the Portugal would or no, made him to mount upon an Elephant, and bo lead him through all the town, accompanied with a great multitude of people that followed him at the sound of trumpets, drums, and other such instruments; the captain himself, as also the ambassador, and the rest of us, together with all the Bramaas, marching on foot after him, with boughs in our hands, and two men before him on horseback, that rode crying, all ye people, pra/ise with gladness the beams which proceed from the midst of the sun, who is the god that makes our rice to grow, for that you home lived to see a man so holy, that knowing how to drink better then all the men of the world, hath laid on the ground twenty of the principal dnnkers of ov/r troop, to the end his renown may be dayly more and more augmented, Where- unto all the crowd of people that accompanied him, answered with such cries and acclamations, as the very noise thereof frighted all that heard it. In this equipage they lead the Portugal to the ambassadors house, where they set him down with a great deal of respect and many complements ; then on their knees they rendred him to the ambassador, desiring him to have a care of him as of an holy man, or the son of some great king, for, said they, it cannot be otherwise, seeing God hath bestowed so great a gift on him, as to know how to drink so well. Whereupon having made a gathering for him, they got together above two hundred lingots of silver, which they gave him ; and until the time that we departed he was continually visited by the inhabitants, whereof many presented him with rich pieces of silk, and other gifts, as if they had made an offering to some saint upon a solemn day of his invocation. After these we saw other men that were very white, named Pa/vilens, great archers, and good horsemen, apparrelled in cassocks of silk like those of Japan, and that 364 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES carried their meat to their mouths with Uttle sticks, after the mamier of the Ghineses ; these same told us that their country was csJled Binagorem, and that it was distant from thence about two hundred leagues up the river ; their merchandize was store of gold in powder, liie to that of Meuancaho, of the island of Sumatra, as also lacre, aloes, musk, tin, copper, silk, and wax, which they exchanged for pepper, ginger, salt, wine, and rice : the wives of these men which we saw there are very white, of better conversation then all the rest of those countrys, well natured, and exceeding charitable ; demanding of them what was their law, and what was the divinity that they adored, they answered us. That thew gods were the sun, the heaven, amd the stars, for that from them they received by an holy comnmnication all the good that they enjoyed v/pon earth ; and furthermore, that the soul of man was but a breath which ended in the death of the body, and that afterwards tumbling up and down in the air she mingled her self with the clouds, until such time as coming to be dissolved into water, she dded again upon the earth, as the body had done before. I omit an infinite many of such extravagances which were told us, and that gave us good cause to wonder at the bhndness and confusion of these wretches, and doth also oblige us to render thanks continually unto God for deUvering us from these errors, and this false beUef. Now from the diversity of these unknown nations, which we saw in these parts, it is easie to infer, that in this monarchy of the world there are many countries yet undivided, and unknown to us. CHAPTEE LI. Onr arrival at Pegu. CONTINUING our course from this town of Pavel, we came the next day to a village, called Luncor, invironed about the space of three leagues, with a great number of trees of Benjamin, which from this place is transported into the kingdoms of Pegu, and Siam. From theaoe we sailed for nine OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 865 days together down that great river, all alongat the which we saw many goodly towns; and then we arrived at another river, called Ventrau, through the which we continued our voyage to PenaucMn, the first borrough of the kingdome of Jangwmaa, where the ambassador registred his vessels, and all that were within them, because such was the custom of the country. Being departed from thence, we went and lay that night at the BcmMtens, which are two strong places belonging to the Prince of Pancanor. Pive days after we came to a great town, called Magdaleu, which is the country from whence lacre is brought to Martabano ; the prince thereof, during the time that we stayed there, shewed the ambassador a general muster of all the men of war that he had levied against the King of the Lauhos, with whom he was at difference, because he had repudiated a daughter of his, which he had married three years before, intending to espouse a gentlewoman by whom he had had a son that he had legiti- mated, and made choice of for heir of his kingdom, thereby frustrating his nephew (by his daughter) of his right. Passing on then through the streight of Mad/wr, wherein we sailed five days, we arrived at a village called Mouchell, the first place of the kingdom of Pegu ; there one Glialagomm, a famous Pyrat, that went up and down robbing in this place with thirty Seroos, well equipped, and full of warlike men, assailed us one night, and fighting with us till it was almost day, he handled us in such sort, as it was the great grace of God that we escaped out of his hands ; nevertheless it was not without the loss of five of the twelve vessels that we had, together with an hundred and fourscore of our men, whereof two were PorH- gals. The ambassador himself had a cut on one of his arms, and- two wounds besides with arrow shot, which had almost cost bim his life ; all of us likewise were cruelly hurt ; and the present which the Calcmdnham sent to the King of Bramaa, being worth above an hundred thousand ducates, was taken by the pyrat, together vnth a great deal of rich merchandize that was in the five vessels, whereof he had made himself master. In this sad equipage we arrived three days after at the city of Mourtahwno, from whence the ambassador vyrote the King a letter, wherein he rendred him an account of all that had 366 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES hapned to him in his voyage, as also in his disaster. Where- upon the King sent presently away a Meet of sixscore Seroos, with a number of choice men, amongst which were an hundred PorPugals in quest of this pyrat. This fleet having by good fortune discovered him, found that he had put on shore his thirty Seroos, wherewith he had assailed us, and was, with all his forces retired into a fortress, which was full of divers prizes that he had taken in several parts thereabout; our men immediately attacqued the place, and carried it easily at the very first assault, only with the loss of some few Bramaas and one Portiigal, howbeit many were hurt with arrows, but they recovered in a short time without the maiming of any one. As soon as the fortress was gained, all that were found within it were put to the sword, not sparing the life of any, but that of the pyrat, and sixscore others of his company, which were led aUve to the King of Bramaa, who caused them to be cast to his elephants, that instantly dismembred them. In the mean time the taking of this fortress was so advan- tagious to the Portugals that were sent thither, as they returned from thence all very rich ; and it was thought that five or six of them got each of them the value of five and twenty, or thirty thousand ducates apiece, and that he which had least had the worth of two or three thousand for his share. After that the ambassador was cured at Martabano of the hurts which he had received in the fight, he went directly to the city of Pegu, where, as I have declared, the King of Bramaas court was at that time ; who being advertised of his arrival, and of the letter which he brought him from the Calaminham, (whereby he accepted of his amity, and aUied himself virith him) he sent the Gha/mrdgrem, his foster-brother, and brother-in-law, to receive him ; to which end he set forth, accompanied with all the grandees of the kingdom, and four battalions of strangers, amongst the which were a thousand Portugals commanded by Antonio Ferrevra, born in Braguenca, ■a man of great understanding, and to whom this king gave twelve thousand ducates a year pension, besides the presents which he bestowed on him in particular, that came to httle less. Hereupon the King of Bramaa seeing that by this new league God had contented his desire, he resolved to shew OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 367 himself thankful for so great a favour, wherefore he caused great feasts to be made amongst these people, and a number of sacrifices to be offered in the temples, where there was no spare of perfumes, and wherein it was thought there were killed above a thousand stags, cows, and hogs, which were bestowed for an alms among the poor, besides many other works of charity, as the cloathing of five thousand poor folks, and imploying great sums of money in the releasing of a thousand prisoners which were detained for debt. After that these feasts had continued seven whole days together, with a most ardent zeal, and at the incredible charge of the King,, lords, and people, news came to the city of the death of the- Aixquendoo, BooUm of Mommy, who was as it were their sovereign bishop, which caused all rejoicings to cease in art instant, and every one to fall into mourning, vnth great expressions of sorrow. [Here follows a description of the funeral ceremonies and an account of the installation of tlie new Boolim, ptnitteb,^ CHAPTER LII. That which the King of Bramaa did after his arrival at the city of Fegu, together with his besieging of Savady. TWO and twenty dayes after the King of Bramaa arrived at the city of Pegu, he perceived by the letter which his ambassadour brought him from the Oalaminham, that he had concluded the league with him against the Siamon ; yet in regard the season was not fit for him, either to commence that war, or to assail the kingdom of Avaa, as he desired, he resolved to send his foster-brother, unto whom, as I have ah'eady declared, he had given the title of lawfull brother, to the siege of Savady, which was some hundred and thirty leagues from thence to the north-east. Having assembled an army then of an hundred and fifty thousand men, amongst whom were thirty thousand strangers of divers nations, and 368 THE TBA7EL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 five thousand fighting elephants, besides three thousand others that carried the baggage, and the victualls ; the Ghaumigrem departed from Pegu with a fieet of thirteen hundred rowing vessells, the 15th of the moneth of Ma/rch. Fourteen dayes after he arrived in the sight of Savady; and having oast anchor neer to a great plain, called Gwn/palaor, he arrived there six dayes in attending the five thousand elephants which were to come to him by land, which were no sooner arrived, but he began to besiege the town; so that having begirt it round, he assaulted it three times in the open day, and re- treated still with very great loss, as well in regard of the notable resistance which they within made against him, as of the extream trouble his people were at in planting their ladders against the walls, by reason of their bad scituation, which was all of slate ; whereupon consulting with his com- manders about what he should do, they were all of opinion to have it battered with the canon on the weakest side, untill that* by the overthrow of some part of the wall, a breach might be made, whereby they might enter with more ease and less danger. This resolution was as soon executed as taken, BO that the ingineers fell to making of two maimer of bull- works on the outside upon a great platform, composed of great beams and bavins, which in five dayes they raised up to suoh an height, as it surpassed the wall two fathom at the least. This done, they planted on each bulwark twenty great pieces of ordnance wherewith they began to batter the town so valiantly, that in a little time they beat down a pane of the wall; and besides those pieces of battery, there were above three hundred falcons that shot incessantly, with an intention only to kill those that were in the streets, as indeed they made a great havoc, which was the cause that seeing themselves so ill entreated, and their people slain in that manner, they re- solved, like valiant men as they were, to sell their lives as dearly as they could; so that one morning having sallied forth by the same breach of the wall which the cannon had made, they gave so vahantly upon those of the camp, that in less then an hour they almost routed the Bramaas whole army. Now because it began to be day, the Sawadis thought it fit to re-enter into the town, leaving eight thousand of their OF FERDINAND MBNDEZ PINTO. 869 enemies dead on the place. After this they repaired the breach in a very little time by the means of a rampire of earth, which they made up with bavins and other materialls, that was strong enough to resist the cannon. Hereupon the Chaumigrem seeing the bad success he had had, resolved to make war, both upon the places neer about, as also upon the frontiers that were furthest off from the town ; for which purpose he sent Diosanay, high treasurer of the kingdom, whose slaves we Portugals were, colonel of five thousand men, to spoil a certain borrough, called Valeutay, which furnished the besieged town with provisions ; but this voyage was so infortunate unto him, that before his arrival! at the designed place, his forces were by two thousand Savadis, whom he incountred by the way, aU cut in pieces in less then half an hour, not one escaping with life that fell into their enemies hands. Nevertheless, it pleased our Lord that amidst this defeat we saved our selves by the favour of the night, ther four, wherein we continued in this case, we had nothing ilse to eat but the foam and slime of the sea ; for we resolved o die with hunger rather then feed on any of those four 396 TEE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES Portugals whicli lay dead by us. After we had wandered thus at the mercy of the sea, it pleased our Lord out of His infinite goodness to let us discover land on the twelfth day, which was so agreeable a sight to us, as the joy of it proved mortal to some of ours ; for of fifteen of us that were still alive, four died suddenly, whereof three were Portugals ; so that of eight and thirty persons which had been imbarqued on the raft, there was but eleven that escaped, namely, seven Portiigals, and four of our boys. In the end, having got to land, we found our selves in a shallow rode, fashioned much like to an haven, where we began to render infinite thanks to God for having thus delivered us from the perils of the sea, promising our selves also, that through His infinite mercy He would draw us out of those of the land. Having then made pro- vision of certain shell-fish, as oisters, and sea-crabs, to nourish our selves withall, because we had observed how all this country was very desert, and full of elephants and tigres, we got up into certain trees, to the end we might avoid the fury of these beasts, and some others which we saw therd ; then when we thought that we might proceed on our way with less danger, we gathered us together, and went on through a wood, (where to secure our lives) we had recourse to loud cries, and hoUow- ings. In the mean time, as it is the property of the divine mercy never to forsake the poor sufferers that are upon the earth, it permitted us to see coming along in a channel of fresh water, that ran ingulphing it self into the sea, a little barque, laden with timber and other wood, wherein were nine Negroes, Jaoas, and Papuas. As soon as these men saw us, imagining that we were some devils, as they confessed to us afterwards, they leapt into the water, and quite left the vessel, not so much as one of them abiding in her. But when they perceived what we were, they abandoned the fear they were in before, and coming unto us they questioned us about many particulars, whereunto we answered according to the truth, and withall, desired them, for Gods sake, to lead us whither- soever they would, and there to sell us as slaves to some that would carry us to Malaca ; adding that we were merchants, and that in acknowledgment of so good an office, they should get a great deal of money for us, or as much in commodities OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 897 IS they would require. Now whereas these Jaoas are natu- L-ally inclined to avarice, when they heard us talk of their -nterest, they began to be more tractable, and gave us better words, with hope of doing that which we desired of them ; 3ut these courtesies lasted no longer but till such time as they jould get again into their barque, which they had quitted ; for IS soon as they saw themselves aboard her, they put off from the land, and making as though they would part without taking us in, they told us, that to be assured of what we had 3aid to them, they would have us before they proceeded any further, to yield up our arms to them, whereas otherwise they would never take us in, no not though they saw us eaten up with lions. Seeing our selves thus constrained by necessity, and by a certain despair of finding any other remedy to our present extremity, we were enforced to do all that these men required of us, so that having brought their barque a little nearer, they bid us swim to them, because they had never a boat to fetch us from the shore, which we presently resolved bo do. Whereupon two boys and one Portugal leapt into the sea to take hold on a rope, which they had thrown out to us Erom off the poup of the barque ; but before they could reach it, they were devoured by 3 great lizards, nothing of the bodies of these three appearing to us, but onely the bloud, wherewith bhe sea was all dyed. Whilest this passed so, we the other 8 that remained on the shore were so seized with fear and terrour, 9,8 we were not our selves a long time after, wherewith those dogs which were in the barque were not a whit moved ; but Bontrarily, clapping their hands together in the sign of joy, bhey said in the way of jearing, O how happy are these three, for that they home ended their days without paAn 1 Then when a.s they saw that we were half sunk up into the ouze, without so much strength as to get our selves out of it, 5 of them leaped a shore, and tying us by the middle, drew us into their barque, with a thousand injuries and affronts. After this setting sail they carried us to a village called Gherbam, which was some dozen leagues from thence, where they sold all eight of us, namely, six Portugals, one Chinese boy, and a Capha/r, for the sum of 13 pardains, which are in value 300 reals of our money. He that bought us was a Pagan merchant of the Isle of Zele- 398 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 bres, in whose power we continued for six or eight and twenty days, and without lying, we had no lack with him, either of clothes or meat. The same merchant sold us afterwards for twelve pistols to the King of Calapa, who used so great a magnificence towards us, as he sent us freely to the port of Zunda, where there were three Portugal vessels, where Jeronimo Gomes Surmento was general, who gave us a very good reception, and furnished us abundantly with all that was necessary for us, untill such time as he put to sea from the port, to set sail to China. CHAPTBE LVn. My passing from Zunda to Siam, where in the company of the Foitugals I went to the war of Chiammay; and that which the King of Siam did, untill he returned into his kingdom, where his queen poisoned him. AFTBE we had been very near a moneth in this port of Zunda, where a good number of Portugals were assem- bled together, so soon as the season to go to China was come, the three vessels set sail for Chincheo, no more Portugals remaining ashore, but onely two, who went to Siam in a junck of Patana vrith their merchandise. I bethought me then to lay hold on this occasion, and put my self into their company, because they offered to bear my charges in this voyage, yea and to lend me some money for to try fortune once more, and see whether by the force of importuning her, she would not use me better then formerly she had done. Being departed then from this place, in six and twenty days we arrrived at the city of Odiaa, the capital of this empire of Sa/rnwu, which they of thiscountry"ordinarily call Siaam, wEere^we were wonderfully well received and intreated by the Portugals, which we found there. Now having been a moneth and better in this city, attending the season for the voyage to China, that so I might pass to Japan in the company of six or seven Portugals, who had imbarqued themselves for that purpose, I made account to imploy in comuK)dities some OP FEBBINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 399 hundred ducates, which those 2, with whom I came from Zunda, had lent me. In the mean time very certain news came to the King of Siam, who was at that time with all his court at the said city of Odma, thg4.Jhe_ King piCU arn may, atoaA.38f>th. the JPtmpco,itfeQ&JQga2g, and gzfcoi. people whiohjan %®_.?L0^%--6?:st hold the _mo,st-, pj.£ QjL.tbat . country above Caggiw^£X^SiB^P-assiloco, and are all sovereigns, ex ceeding r ich and mighty in estatesj hadlaifsiege to "the town of QuUeruan, with, the^dsath of-.ahave, thirty thousaad men, and of ,g^a^ ^MiW^Tj. Governour and Lieutenant General of all that frontire. The King remained so much appalled with this news, that without further temporising, he passed over the very same day to the other side of the river, and never standing to lodge in houses, he went and encamped under tents in the open field, thereby to draw others to do the like in imitation of him. Withall he caused proclamation to be made over all the city. That all such as were neither old nor lame, and so could not be dispensed with for going to this wa/r, should he ready to march within 12 days at the uttermost, upon pain of being hv/med aUve, with perpetual infamy for themsehes, a/nd their descendants, and confiscation of their estates to the Crown: to which he added many other such great an^-"' dreadfull penalties, as the onely recital of them struck terrour, not onely into them of the country, but into the very strangers, whom the King would not exempt from this war, of what nation soever they were, for if they would not serve, they were very expresly enjoyned to depart out of his kingdom within three days. In the mean time so rigorous an edict terrified every one in such sort, as they knew not what counsel to take, or what resolution to follow. As for us Portugals, in regard that more respect had always been carried in that Eountry to them, then to all other nations, this King sent to iesire them that they would accompany him in this voyage, (Therein they should do him a pleasure, because he would trust bhem onely with the guard of his person, as judging them more proper for it then any other that he could make choice 3f ; and to oblige them the more thereunto, the message was iccompanied with many fair promises, and very great hopes )f pensions, graces, benefits, favours, and honours, but above 400 THE TBA7EL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTVBES all, with a permission which should be granted them to build churches in his kingdom, which so^bliged us, that of anJbusdjreiandJhirtj^Por^t^faZ^ which we were, there were sixgcore of us that. affle&T together^ to go to this war. The twelve days limited being past, th e. King put himself into the field with an. army of Jour _hundred thousand men, whereof seventy thousand were, strangers, of .divers nations. They imbarqued all in three hundred Seroos, Lauleas, and langas, so that on the nineth day of this voyage the King arrived at a frontier town, named ^wro^isem, some 12 or JLS.leagues horn. Quitiruan, jyhich the enemies. Had'beiieged. There he abode above seven days to attend four thousand elephants which came to him by land. During that time, he was certified that the town was greatly prest, both on the rivers side, which the enemies had seized upon with two thousand vessels, as also towards the land, where there were so many men, as the number of them was not truly known, but as it was adjudged by conjecture, they might be some three hundred thousand, whereof forty thousand were horse, but no elephants at all. This news made the King hasten the more, so that instantly he made a review of his forces, and foimd that he had five hundred thousand men ; for since his coming forth many had joyned with biTn by the way, as also four thousand elephants, and two hundred carts with field-pieces. With this army he parted from Siiropisem, and drew towards Quitwucm, marching not above four or five leagues a day. At the end of the third, then he arrived at a valley called Siputay, a league and a half from the place where the enemies lay. Then all these men of war, with the elephants, being set in battel-aray by the three masters of the camp, whereof two were IWfts by nation, and the third a Portugal, named Dormngos de Soixas, they proceeded on in their way towards Quitwuan, where they arrived before the sun appeared. Now whereas the enemies were already pre- pared, in regard they had been advertised by their spies of the King of Sirnn's forces, and of the design which he had, they attended bim resolutely in the plain field, relying much on their forty thousand horse. Assoon as they discovered him, they presently advanced, and with their vant-guard, which were the said forty thousand horse, they so charged the King of Siam's OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 401 rsreward, composed of threescore thousand foot, that they routed them in less than a quarter of an hour-, with the loss of three princes that were slain upon the place. The King of Siam seeing his men thus routed, resolved not to follow the order which he had formerly appointed, but to fall on with the whole body of his army, and the four thousand elephants joyned together. With these forces he gave upon the battalion of the enemies with so much impetuosity, as at his first shock they were wholly discomfited, from whence ensued the death of an infinite company of men; for whereas their principal strength consisted in their horse, as soon as the elephants, sustained by the harquebuses and the field-pieces, fell upon them, they were defeated in less than half an hour, so that after the routing of these same, all the rest began instantly to retreat. In the mean time the King of Siam, following the honour of the victory, pursued them to the rivers side, which the enemies perceiving, they formed a new squadron of those that remained of them, wherein there were above an hundred thousand men, as well sound as hurt, and so past all the same day there, joyned together in one entire body of an army, the King not daring to fight with them, by reason he saw them fortified with two thousand ships, wherein there were great numbers of men. Nevertheless, as soon as it was dark iiight the enemies began to march away with all speed all along the river, wherewith the King was nothing displeased, because the most part of his souldiers being hurt, they were necessarily to be drest, as indeed that was presently executed, and the most part of the day and the night following imployed therein. After the King of Siam had obtained so happy a victory, the first thing that he did was to provide with all diligence for the fortifications of the town, and whatsoever else he thought to be necessary for the security thereof. After that he com- manded a general muster to be made of all his men of war, that he might know how many he had lost in the battel; whereupon he found that some fifty thousand were wanting, all men of little reckoning, whom the rigour of the King's edict had compelled to serve in the war, ill provided, and without defensive arms. As for the enemies, it was known 402 THE TMAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES the next day that an hundred and thirty thousand of them had been slain. As soon as the hurt men were recovered, the King, having put into the principal places of his frontier such guards as seemed requisite to him, was counselled by his lords to make war upon the kingdom oi^Choibem, which was not above fifteen leagues thence on the north side, to be revenged i on the Queen of Gmbem, for Shaving given free passage through iher dominions to those of Ghiammay, in regard whereof he attributed to her the loss of Oyaa Ca^pimper, and the thirty thousand men that had been killed with him. The King approving of this advice, parted from this town with an army of four hundred thousand men, and went and fell upon one of this queen's tovra, called Fumbacor, which was easily taken, and all the inhabitants put to the sword, not one excepted. This done, he continued his voyage till he came to Guitor, the capital town of the kingdom of Gmbem, where the Queen then was, who being a vndow governed the State imder the title of Begent, during the minority of her son, that was about the age of nine years. At his arrival he laid siege to the town, and forasmuch as the Queen foimd not her self strong enough to resist the King of Siam's power, she fell to accord with him to pay him an annual tribute of five thousand Turmes of silver, which are threescore thousand ducates of our money, whereof she paid him five years advance in hand. Besides that, the young prince her son did him homage as his vassal, and the King led him away with him to Siam. Hereupon he raised his siege from before the town, and passed on towards the north-east to the town of Tc^fMOJUh. where he had news that the King of Ghiammay was fallen off from league aforesaid. In the mean time, whereas he had been six days march in the enemies territories, he sacked as many places as he met vnthall, not permitting the life of any male whatsoever to be saved. So proceeding onward, he arrived at the lake of Singvpamwr, \ which ordinarily is called Ghiammay, where he staid six and ' twenty days, during the which he took twelve goodly places, environed vdth ditches and bulwarks after our fashion, aU of brick and mortar, vrithout any stone or lime in them, because in the country it is not the custome to build so; but they had no other artillery then some faulconets, and certain muskets OF FEBBINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 403 of brass.* Now forasmuch as winter began to approach, and that it was very rainy weather, the King too feeling himself not very well, he retired back again to the town of QwiHriMn, where he tarried three and twenty days and better, in which space he made an end of fortifying it with walls, and many broad and deep ditches, so that having put this town into an estate of being able to defend it self against any attempt, he imbarqued his army in the three thousand vessels which brought him thither, and so returned towards Siam. Nine days after he arrived at Odiaa, the chief city of his whole kingdom, where for the most part he kept his Court. At his arrival the inhabitants gave him a stately reception, wherein they bestowed a world of money upon divers inventions, which were made against his entry. Now whereas during the six moneths of the King's absence, the Queen his wife had com- mitted adultery vrith a purveyor of her house, named Uquwm- cheniraa, and that at the Kings return she found her self gone four moneths with childe by him, the fear she was in lest it should be discovered made her, for the saving of her self from the danger that threatned her, resolve to poison the King her husband, as indeed, without further delaying her pernicious intention, she gave him in a mess of milk, which wrought that! effect, as he died of it within five days after ; during which 1 time he took order by his testament for the most important affairs of his kingdom, and discharged himself of the obliga- tion wherein he stood ingaged to the strangers which had served him in this war of CMwmmay. In this testament, when as he came to make mention of us Portugals, he would needs have this clause added thereunto. It is my intent that the six- score Portugals, which home always so faithfully watched upon the guard of my person, shall receive for a recommence of their good services, half a years tribute which the Queen of Guibem i gives me; and that in my custom-houses their merchandise shall I pay no custom for the space of three years. Moreover myj intent is, that their priests may throughout all the towns of my kingdom publish the law whereof they make profession, namely, of a God made man for the salvation of manhinde, as they home many times assured me. To these things he added many others such like, which well deserire to be reported here, though I 404 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES pass them over in silence, because I hope to make a more ample mention of them hereafter. Furthermore, he desired all the grandees of his Court which were present with him, that they would give him the consolation before he died, to make his eldest son be declared king, which was incontinently executed. For which effect, after that all the Oyaas, Con- chalis, and Monteos, which are sovereign dignities over all the rest of the kingdom, had taken the oath of allegiance to this young prince, they shewed him out at a window to aU the people, who were in a great place below, and they set upon his head a rich crown of gold in the form of a mitre, and put a sword into his right hand, and a pair of balances in his left, a custom which they always observe in such a like ceremony. Then Oya Passilico, who was the highest in dignity in the kingdom, falling on his knees before the new king, said unto him with l^ears in his eyes, and so loud that every one might hear hivaf^lessed childe, that in so tender an age doth hold from the good influence of thy star the happiness to be chosen by heaven there above for Governor of this Empire of Sornau ; see how God puts it into thy hand by me who am thy vassal, to the end thou moist take thy first oath, whereby thou dost protest to hold it with obedience to His divine will, as also to observe justice equally to all the people, without having any regard to persons, whether it be in chastising or recompensing the great or small, the mighty or the humble, that so in time to come thou maist not be reproached for not having accomplished that which thou hast sworn in this solemn action. For if it shall happen, that humane considerations shall make thee swerve from that which for thy justification thou art obliged to do before so just a Lord, thou shalt be greatly punished for it in the profound pit of the house of smoke, the burning lake of insupportable stench, where the wicked and damned howl continually with a sadness of obscure night in their entrails. And to the end thou maist oblige thy self to the charge which thou takest upon thee, say now Xamxaim- pom, whdch is as nvuch as to say, amongst us. Amen. The Passilico having finished his speech, the young prince said weeping Xamxaimpom; which so mightily moved all the assembly of the people, as there was nothing heard for a good while together, but sighing and wailing. At length, after that OF FSBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 405 this noise was appeased, the Passilico proceeding on with his discourse in looking on the young king. This sword, said he unto him, wMah thou holdest naked in thy hand, is given thee as a scepter of sovereign power upon earth for the subdiling of the rebellious, which is also to say that thou a/rt truly obliged to be the support of the feeble and poor, to the end that they which grow lofty with their power, may not overthrow them with the puffe of their pride, which the Lord doth as much abhor, as he doth the mouth of him that blasphemeth against a, Uttle infant which hath never sinned. And that thou ma/yest in all things satisfie the fair enamelling of the stars of lieaven, which is the perfect, just, and good God, whose power is adnwrable over all things of the world, say once again Xamxaimpom ; whereunto the Prince answered twice weeping, MaxinoM, Maxirum, that is to say, I promise so to do. After this, the Passilico having instructed him in divers other such like things, the young prince answered seven times Xamxaimpom, and so the cere- mony of his coronation was finished, only there came first a Talagrepo, of a sovereign dignity ahove aU the other priests, named Quiay Ponuedea, who it was said was above an hundred years old. This same prostrating himself at the feet of the prince, gave him an oath upon a golden bason full of rice ; and that done, they put an end to it, after they had created him thus anew ; for time would not permit them to hold him there longer, in regard the king his father was at the point of death; besides there was so universall a mourning amongst the people, that in everyplace there was nothing heard but lamentations and wailing. CHAPTBE LVIII. The lamentable death of the King of Siam, with certain illustrious and memorable things done by him during his life ; and many other accidents that arrived in this kingdom. WHEN as the day and the night following had been spent in the manner that I have related, the next morning about eight of the clock the infortnnate king^^eldedj^ the 406 THE TRAVELS, V07AQE8, AND ADVENTVBES ghost in the presenoe^Hhe^most^ajdi..jelJheJords of his king- dom, for^thewEich all the j)eople made so^jreatdemonstrations of mourning, as every where there was nQtIiiftg..bMt-^ wailing and weeping. Now forasmuch as this prince had lived in the reputation of being charitable to the poor, liberall in his bene- fits and recompences, pitifuU and gentle towards every one, and above all incorrupt in doing of justice, and chastising the wicked ; his subjects spake so amply thereof in their lamenta- tions, as if all that they said of it was true ; we are to believe that there was never a better king then he, either amongst these Pagans, or in all the countries of the world. [Here follows am account of the memorable things done by the late king, 0tnitieii»] It is not to be believed with what infinite sorrow, both all the great lords, and generally all the subjects of this kingdom, bewailed the death of their good king ; but at length an assembly was made of all the priests of this city, who as it was said, were twenty thousand in number ; by whose direc- tion the principaU persons of the kingdom concluded upon the funerall pomp, and ceremonies which were to be used there- about, according to the custom of the country : whereupon a mighty great pile was forthwith erected, made of sandal, aloes, calembaa, and benjamin ; on the which the body of the deceased king being laid, fire was put to it, with a strange ceremony : during ^11 the time that the body was a burning, the people did nothing but wail and lament beyond all expres- sion ; but in the end, it being consumed to ashes, they put them into a silver shrine, which they imbarqued in a Laulea very richly equipped, that was accompanied with forty Seroos full of Talagrepos, which are the highest dignity of their Gentile priests, and a great number of other vessells, wherein there was a world of people : after them followed an hundred small barques laden with divers figures of idols, under the forms of adders, lizards, tygers, lions, toads, serpents, bats, geese, bucks, dogs, elephants, cats, vultures, kites, crows, and other such like creatures, whose figures were so well repre- sented to the life, as they seemed to be living. In another OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 407 very great ship was the king of all these idols, ■which they called, The gluttonous Serpent of the profound pit of the house of smoak. This idol had the figure of a monstrous adder, was as big about as an hogshead, and writhed into nine circles ; so that when it was extended, it was above an hundred spans long ; it had the neck standing upright, and out of the eyes, throat, and breast, issued flames of arfcificiall fire, which ren- dred this monster so dreadfuU and furious, as aU that beheld it trembled for fear. Now upon a theatre three fathom high, and richly gilt, was a very beautiful little boy, about four or five years old, covered all over with pearls, and chains, and bracelets of precious stones, having wings, and a bush of hair of fine gold, much after the manner as we use to paint angels. This child had a rich curtelas in his hand ; by which invention these Pagans would give to understand, That it was an angel of heaven sent from God to imprison all those many devils, to the end they should not steal away the kings soul, before it should arrive at the place of rest, which was prepa/redfor it there above in glory, for a recompence of the good works which he had done behw in the world. In this order all these vessells got to land at a Pagode, called Quiay Poutor, where after that the silver shrine, in which the Eings ashes were, was placed, and the little boy taken from thence, fire was put to all that infinite number of idolls, just in the manner as they stood in the barques ; and this was accompanied with so horrible a din of cries, great ordnance, harquebuses, drums, bells, cornets, and other different kinds of noyse, as it was impossible to hear it with- out trembling. This ceremony lasted not above an hour ; for whereas all these figures were made of combustible stuffe, and the vessels filled with pitch and rozen, so dreadfull a flame ensued presently thereupon, as one might well have said that it was a very pourtraiture of hell ; so that in an instant the vessells, and all that were in them were seen to be reduced to nothing. When as this, and many other very lively inventions, which had cost a great deal of money, were finished, all the inhabitants, which were come thronging thither, and whereof the number seemed to be infinite, retired back to their houses, where they remained with their doors and windows shut, not one appearing in the streets for the space of ten dayes, during 408 TEE TBAVELSy VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES whicli time all places were unfrequented, and none were seen stirring but some poor people, who in the night went up and down begging with strange lamentations. At the end of the ten dayes wherein they had shut themselves up so, they opened their doors and windows, and their Pagodes, or temples, were adorned with many ensigns of rejoycing, together with a world of hangings, standards, and banners of silk. Hereupon there went through all the streets certain men on horseback, apparelled in white damask, who at the soimd of very har- monious instruments, cryed aloud with tears in their eyes. Ye sad inhabitants of this Kingdom of Siam, hearken, hearken to that which is made known to you from God, and with humble and pure hearts praise ye all His holy name ; for the effects of His Divine justice are great ; withall laying aside your mourn- ing, come forth of yowr abodes wherein you are shut v/p, and sing the praises of the goodness of your God, since He hath been pleased to give you a new King, who fears Him, and is a friend of the poor. This proclamation being made, all the assistants, with their faces prostrated on the ground, and their hands lifted up, as people that rendred thanks to God, answered aloud weeping : We make the angells of heaven our attorneys, to the end they may continually praise the Lord for us. After this, all the inhabitants of the city coming out of their houses, and thinking of nothing but dancing and rejoycing, went to the Temple of QuA,ay Fanarel, that is to say, the god of the joy full, where they offered sweet perfumes, and the poorest sort, fruits, puUen, and rice, for the entertainment of the priests. The same day the new king shewed himself over all the city with a great deal of pomp and majesty, in regard whereof the people made great demonstrations of joy and gladness. And foras- much as the King was but nine years old, it was ordained by the four and twenty Bracalons of the Government, that the Queen his mother should be the Protectress or Eegent of him, and that she should bear rule over all the officers of the crown. Things past thus for the space of four moneths and an half, during the whichJiLem. was no manner of disorder, but^allwas peaceable in the^Mngdom ; howb^ at ihe^ end of that tim e, the Queea comings to be delivered of a son which she had_ had by her Purveyor, being displeased with the bad report that OF FEEDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 409 went ofher, s he resolved with her self _ to satisfie her desir e, which was to mat£jrj5aib.<.the father of this new son, for_that she was desperately in love with him : and further^, she wickedly enterprised to make away the new king, he r lawful l chil^to the end that by this means the crown might pass to the l^aatard hy right, ni inheritance. Now to execute this horrible design of hers, she made shew that the excess of her affection to the young king her son kept her always in fear, lest some attempt should be made upon his life ; so that one day having caused all the CounceU of the State to be assem- bled, she represented unto them, that having but this only pearl enchaced in her heart, she desired to keep it from being plucked from thence by some disaster ; for which effect she thought it requisite, as well to secure her from her apprehen- sions, as to prevent the great mischiefs which carelessness is wont to bring in such like cases, that-&ere should be a guard set about the pa lace, and the person of the ^hg. This affair was mamediately debated in the CounceU, and accorded to the Queen, in regard the matter seemed good of it self. The Queen seeing then that her design had succeeded so well, took instantly for the guard of the palace, and the person of her son, such as she judged were proper for the executing of her damnable enterprise, and in whom she most confided. She ordained a guard then of two thousand foot, and^five hundred horse,^ besides the^ordinary guard of henhouse, which were six hundred CoMchins an d Legmo s, and thereof she made captain (ffiS^aillfld T»:fe7/ito;^rt^^a^),,^^Jb9>.same Purveyor, by whom she had had a child, t o the end that by this mans favour she might dispose of things as she pleased, and the more easily bring to pass her pernicious design. Wherfijj.pQn..relying on the great Ji^siOidiich-sheiad--akea4xLori.ber party, she.began to revenge herself upon somg,of Jhe-gafeat-onesof -tkeJciags dorn, bec ause she kne w they despised her, and he ld her not in it on her knees by her fathers express commandment, to Diego Suarez ; but he that naturally was sensual and lasci- vious, instead of using civility, whereunto the laws of generosity and friendship obHged him, having taken the ring which the maid presented unto him, he reached out his hand, a.nd plucked her to him by force, saying, God forbid that so fair a maid as you should fall into any other hands but mine ; whereupon the poor old man seeing^ Dieg'o Suarez hale his daughter sojadely,^ lifting up both his hands to heaven, with his knees on the ground, and tears in his eyes. My lord, said he imto him, I humbly beseech thee for the love and respect of the great God, whom thou adorest, and which was conceived without any spot of sin in the Virgin's womb, as I confess and believe, according to that which I ha/ve heard thereof, that thou wilt not forcibly take away my daughter ; for if thou dost so, I shall assuredly die with grief and dn,spleasv/re at it ; but if thou desire of me that I should give thee her dovm/, together with all that is in OF FEBDINAND MBNDEZ PINTO. 438 my liouse, and that I deliver wp my self unto thee for. a sla/ve, I will instantly do it, provided thou wilt $errmt that her husband may possess her, for I have no other good in the world but she, nor mil I han)e any other as long as I Ime. "Where- upon offering to lay hold on his daughter, Diego Suaree, making no answer to him, turned himself about to the captain of his guard, who was a Turk by nation, and said unto him. ,^^;{^. t.hix dog. TH a Tur\ prp. sentlv dres L-out bis scymitar t o^kill thajooruld man, but Jbe_ suddenly fled away, leaving his daughter with all her hair alDout her ears in Diego §ua/rez his hands. In the mean time the bridegroom came running to this tumult, with his cheeks all bedewed with tears ; but he was scarcely arrived there, when as these barbarians slew him, and his father too, with six or seven other of his kinsmen. Whilest this past so, the women made such fearfull cries in the house as terrified all those that heard them, so that even the earth and the air seemed to tremble at it, or to say better, they demanded vengeance of God for the little respect which was had to His divine justice, and for so great a violence as this was ; and truly, if I do not more^ amplj.report the particularities of so^,^l§jCt4aijo^bominahJe an action . I deske_to, be, excused, in regard I pass them_byi foju-the^^iauauiu, of. .the. Portugal nation. Wherefore it shall suffice me to say, that this poor maid seeing her self upon the poiat to be forced, strangled her self with a string that she wore about her middle for a girdle ; which she chose rather to do, then suffer this sensual and brutish man to carry her away with him by force ; but he was therewith so displeased, as he was heard to say, that he repented him more for that he had not enjoyed her, then for using her in that sort as he did. Now from the day of this abhorred act, till four years after, the good old man, the father of the bride, was never seen to go out of his house ; but at length to give a greater demonstration of his sorrow, and to shew his extreme resentment of the matter, he covered himself with an old tattered mat, and in that sad equipage went up and down, begging an ahns of his very slaves, never eating any thing, but lying all along naked, and his face fixed on the ground. Thus continued he in so sad a manner of hfe, untUl 29 434 TSB TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES in the end he saw that the season invited him to have recourse unto justice, which he demanded in this sort; perceiving that in the kingdom there was another king, other governours, and other jurisdiction, alterations which time ordinarily produceth in every country, and in all kinde of affairs, he went out of his I house in the wretched fashion he had so long used, having a big cord about his neck, and a white beard, reaching almost down to his girdle, and got him into the midst of a great place, where stood a temple called Quiay Fantareu, that is to say, the God of the afflicted ; there he took the idol from off the altar, and holding it in his arms, he returned out of the temple, to the said great place, where having cried out aloud three times to draw the people together, as accordingly they came flocking in unto him, he said with tears in his eyes; O ye people, ye people 1 who with a clean and peaceable heart make profession of the truth of this god of the afflicted, which you see here in my arms, come forth like lightning in a dark and rainy night, and joyn with me in crying so loud, that our cries may » pierce the heavens, to the end the pitifull ear of the Lord may he drawn to hear our hea/oy lamentations, and by them he may know the reason we have to demand justice against this accursed stranger, as the most wicked man that ever was bom in the world ; for this abominable wretch hath not been contented with spoiling us of our goods, but hath also dishonoured our families; wherefore whosoever shall not with me accompany the god which I hold in my hands, and water with my tears, in detesting so horrible a crime, let the gluttonous serpent of the profound pit of smoke abridge his days miserably, and tear his body in pieces at midnight. This old mans words so mightily terrified the assistants, and made so deep an impression in their minds, that in a short time fifty thousand persons assembled in that . place, with so much fury and desire of revenge, as was won- derfull to behold. Thus the number of the people still more and more increasing, they ran thronging strait to the Kings palace, vrith so horrible a noise, as struck terrour unto all that heard them. In this disorder, being arrived at the outward court of the palace, they cried out six or seven times with a dreadfull tone ; Oh King come out of the place where thou art shut up, to hearken to the voice of thy god, who demands justice OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 435 of thee by the mouth of thy poor people. At these cries the King put forth his head out of the window, and affrighted with so strange an accident, would needs know of them what they would have ? whereunto they all answered unanimously with such loud cries, as seemed to pierce the heavens, JmPice, justice, against a wicked infidel, who to spoil us of owr goods hath killed owr fathers, our children, our brothers, and our kinsmen. The King having thereupon inquired of them who it was : It is, answered they, an accwsed thief, participating with the works of the serpent, who in the Fields of Delight abused the first man that God created. Is it possible, said he unto them, that there slwuld be any sv,ch thing as you tell me ? Whereunto they all replied. This same is the most accursed man that ever was bom on the earth, and is so out of his wicked nature and inclination, wherefore we all of us beseech tJiee in the name of this God of the afflicted, that his veins may be as much emptied of his bloud, as hell is filled with his wicked works. At these words the King turning towards them that were about him. What do you think hereof, said he unto them ? What am I to do ? and how am I to carry my self in so strange and extraordinary a matter ? To which they all answered. My lord, if thou wilt not hearken to that which this God of the afflicted comes to d&mand of thee, it is to be feared that he will take care no longer to a/id thee, and will refuse to support thee in tJi/y dignity. Then the King turn- ing himself again to the multitude that were below in the court, bade them go to the place where the great market was kept, and he would give order that the mam whom they required should be delivered unto them to be disposed of at their pleasu/re. Whereupon having sent to the Chirca of Justice, who is as the sovereign superintendent thereof above all others, he commanded him to go and apprehend Diego Sua/rez, and deliver him bound hand and foot to the people, that they might do justice upon him, for he feared if he did otherwise, that God would^ execute it upon him. The Chkca of Justice went immediately to Diego Suarez hia house, and told him that the King had sent for him ; he in the mean time was so troubled to see the Ghirca come for him, that he remained a pretty while not able to answer him, as a man that was almost besides himself, and had lost his understand- 486 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES ing ; but at length being somewhat come to himself again ; He earnestly desi/red him to dispense with him at this time for going with him, in regard of a great fain that he had in his head, and that in acknowledgment of so good an office, he would gi/ue Mm forty hisses of gold. Whereunto the Chirca replied, The offer which thou mahest me is too little for me to take v/pon me that great padn which thou safest thou hast in thine head, wherefore thou must go along with me, either by fair means or hy force, since thou obligest me to tell thee the truth. Diego Suaree then, seeing that there was no means to excuse him, would have taken along with him six or seven of his servants, and the Chirca not permitting it ; I must, said he unto him, fulfill the Kings command, which is, that thou slmlt come alone, and not with six or seven men, for the time is now past wherein thou wert wont to go so well accompanied, as I have oftentimes seen thee do ; all thy support is gone by the death of the tyroMt of Bramaa, who was the qmll wherewith thou blowedst up thy self to unsupportable pride, as is apparent by the wicked actions which thou hast committed, which at this present accuse thee before the justice of God. This said, he took him by the hand, and led him along with him, environed with a guard of three hundred men, whereat we remained very much dismayed. Thus marching from one street to another, he arrived in the end at the Bazor, which was a publick place where all kinde of wares was sold ; but as he was going thither, he met by chance with Balthazar Suarez his son, who came from a mer- chants house, whither his father had sent him that morning to receive some money that was owing to him. The son, seeing his father in this plight, alighted presently from his horse, and casting himaelf at his feet ; What means this, my lord, said he unto him with tears in his eyes, and whence comes it that you are led along in this sort ? Ask it of m/y sins, answered Diego Suarez, and they mil tell thee, for I protest unto thee, my son, that in the case I am in, all tMngs seem dreams unto me. Thereupon embracing one another, and mingling their tears together, they continued so, untill such time as the Chirca commanded Balthazar Suarez to get him gone, which he would not do, being loth to part from his father ; but the ministers of justice haled him away by force, and pushed him so rudely, as OF FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 487 he fell and broke his head, yea and withall they gave him many blows besides, whereat his father fell into a swomi. Being come again to himself, he craved a little water, which he had no sooner taken, but hfting up his hands to heaven, he said with tears in his eyes. Si iniqmtates observaberis, Domine, Domine qms sustiiiebit ? But, Lord, added he, out of the great confidence I ha/ve in the infinite price of Thy precious bhud, which Thou hast shed for me upon the cross, I may say with more asswance, Misericordias Dormni in cetemmn cantdbo. Thus altogether desolated as he was in this last affliction, when he was come in sight of the place whither the King had commanded him to be conducted, it is said, that perceiving so many people, he remained so exceedingly dismayed, that turn- ing himself to a Portugal, who was permitted to accompany bjm, Jesus, said he unto him, have all these accused me to the King ? Whereunto the Chirca made him this answer, It is no longer time for thee to think of this, for thou hast wit enough to know, that the people are of so unruly a hmrumr, that they always follow evil whereunto they a/re natwrally inclined. It is not that, replied Diego Suarez with tears in his eyes, for I know that if there be any unruliness in them, it proceeds from my sins. Thou seest thereby, said the Chirca, that this is the ordinary recompertce which the world is accustomed to give to them, who during this Ufe have lost the memory of the dmine justice, as thou iiast done, and God give thee the grace that in this Uttle time thou hast to Ime thou mayest repent thee of the fanilts thou hast committed, which possibly may avail thee more then all the gold that thou leavest behinde thee, for an inheritance to him, who peradoenture is the cause of thy death. Here Diego Suaree falling down on his knees, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, Lord Jesus Christ, cried he, my true Bedeemer^ I beseech Thee by the pains which Thou hast suffered upon the cross, to permit that the accusation of these hundred thousand himger-sta/rred dogs against me, may serve to satisfie tlie chastisement of Thy dmine justice in rwy behalf, to the end that the inestimable price which Thou hast imployed for the salvation of my soul, without any merit of mine, may not be unprofitable unto me. This said, he ascended the stairs which led to the market-place, and the Portugal that assisted him told me, how at every step he 438 THE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 kissed the ground, and called upon the Name of Jesus; at length -when he was come to the top, the Manbagoao, who held the idol in his arms, animating the people with great cries, said unto them. Whosoever shall not for the honowr of this god of the afflicted, whom I have here in my arms, stone this accursed serpent, let him for ever he miserable, and let the brains of his children be consumed in the mMst of the night, to the end that by the punishment of so great a sin, the righteous judgement of the Lord above may be justified in them. He had no sooner '^made an end of speaking thus, but there fell so great a shower of stones on Diego Su^rez, as in less then a quarter of an hour he wa,s buried^under' them, and they that ^ung^them- at him did it ao indiscreetly, as the most part of them hurt one another therewith. An hour after they drew, forth the poor Diego Suarez from under the stones, and with another new tumult of cries and voices they tore him i n pieces , with so much fury and hatredTof the whole. people in general, as there was not he which did not believe that he did a charitable and holy work in giving a reward to the most mutinous amongst those which dragged his members and entrails up and down the streets. This execution done, the King willing to confiscate his goods, sent men to his house for that purpose, where the disorder was so great, in regard of the extreme avarice which these hungry dogs had, they left not a tile unmoved ; and because they found not so much as they expected, they put all his slaves and servants to torture, vrith such an excess of cruelty, as eight and thirty of them remained dead in the place, amongst them were,sexenteeii Epriugals, who bore the pain of a thing where, of they were not guilty. In all this spoil there were no more then six hundred hisses of gold found, which are in value three hundred thousand duoates, besides some pieces of rich hous- hold-stuff, but no precious stones, nor jewels at all, which perswaded men that Diego Suarez had buried all the rest; howsoever it could never be found out, notwithstanding all the search that was made for it, and yet it was verified by the judgement of some who had seen him in his prosperity, that he had in means above three millions of gold, according to the eupputation of the country. Behold what was the end of the great Diego Suarez, whom fortune had so favoured in this UIP FMBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 489 kingdom of Pegu, as she had raised him tip to the deg.ee of the King's brother, the highest and most absolute title of all others, and given him withall two hundred thousand ducates /yearly rent, with the charge of general of eight hundred [ thousand men, and sovereign over all the other govemours and vice-roys of fourteen kingdoms, which the King of Bramaa had at that time in his possession. But it is the ordinary course of the goods of this world, especially of such as are ill gotten, always to serve for a way to disgraces and misfortunes. f I return now to the Xemindoo^ of whom I have not spoken U long time. 'Whereas thai,^wai.ariA^y^^ de /Sa „whQ, by Jway„of., right jof-inheritance held their estat^.frgmj^a^ crown. These extortions rendered him~so odious, as the most part of those that were with him^bandoned hkntp si de with the Xemindoo, who had for him at that time the towns , of Diaotk ..Meic[oo, I)a?att.'a»nd (laiLlam., even to the confines of ..Smif^. from whence he parted in haste to go and besiege this tyrant with an army of two hundred thousand men, and five thousand elephants. When he was arrived at the city of Pegu, where Xemin da Satan then kept his court, he invested it round about with palisadoes and very strong trenches, yea, and gave some assaults to it, but he could not enter it so easily as he believed, in regard of the great resistance he found from them within; wherefore, judging it requisite for him to alter his minde, being prudent as he was, he came very subtilly to a truce of twenty days with the tyrant upon certain conditions, whereof the principal was, that if within the term of those twenty days he gave him a thousand hisses of gold, which are in value five hundred thousand ducates, he would desist froiR 440 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES the pretention and right which he had to this kingdom ; and all this he did (as I have already said) cunningly, hoping by this means to bring him to hia bowe with less peril. So the time of the truce beginning to run on, all things remained peaceable on either side, and the besiegers feU to communicate with the besieged. During this pacification every morning two hours before it was day, they of the Xemindoo's camp played after their manner upon divers sorts of instruments very melodiously, at the sound whereof all they of the city ran to the walls to see what the matter was. Whereupon those instruments ceasing to play, a proclamation was made by a priest, accounted by every man a holy personage, who said these words with a very sad voice, ye people, ye people ! unto whom Nature hath given ears to hear, hea/rlcen to the voice of the holy captain Xemindoo, of whom God will make use for the restoring you to yov/r liberty and former quiet ; in order where- unto he admonisheth you from Qviiaj_,Nivand&l,- ^/se God of battels and of the fieldYitau, that none of you be so hardy as to lift up your hand against him, nor against this holy assembly wMoh he hath made, out of a holy seal towards these people of Pegu, as brother, that he is, to the least of all the poor. Other- wise whosoever shall come against the army of the servants of God, or shall home the mil to do them any harm, let him be accursed for it, and as deformed amd vile as the children of the night, who foaming with poyson make horrible cries, and be delivered into the burning jaws of the dragon of discord, whom the true Lord of all the Gods hath cv/rsed for ever ; whereas contrarily, to those that shall be so happy as to obey this pro- clamation, as his holy brethren and allies, shall be granted in this life a perpetual peace, accompanied with a great deal of wealth and riches ; and after their death their souls shall be no less pure and agreeable to God, then those of the saints which go dancing amidst the beams of the sun in the celestial repose of the Lord Almighty. This publication made, the musick began to play again with a great noise as before, which made such an impression in the hearts of them that heard it, as in seven nights that it continued above threescore thousand persons went and rendered themselves to the Xemindoo ; for most of them which heard those words gave as much credit thereunto, OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 441 as if an angel from heaven had spoken them. Jjuthfi.HaeaB time the besie ged tyran t, seeing that these seg^gLpsoalamatians QLibe-enemsLgaM-aot-pr eiudicial untp_. him, as. they cOBM.noL, chasaJbaiu-tiirnJio hij ntter ruine, brake_the truce. at twelve da3K^ ftiT(^^-n.nd dp.1ihArfli,adl,wit,h hfa nnnnoil. -tyTiftt Ifffi ahonld do^j^ojadvised^imbjjBO^aana ta sul^ir^WimseUJft. j^eiaain any longer besieged, for fear lest the inhabitants should mutiny, and fall from him to the enemy ; and that the best and surest vyay was, to fight with the Xemindoo in the open field, before he grew to any further strength. This resolution being approved of by Xenim de Satan, he prepared himself for the execution of it; to which effect he, two days after, before it was day, sallied out at five gates of the city, with fourscore thousand men, which then he had, and charged the enemies with strange fury. They then, in the mean time, who always stood upon their guard, received them with a great deal of courage; whereupon ensued so cruel a conflict between them, that in less then half an hour, for so long lasted the heat of the fight, there fell on both sides about forty thousand men ; but at the end of that time the new Kinp; Xewim was-b orn from bis '^kphai'i^' ^y at uharqufibuae. shot. dischar gfid^aJLhim byia Por- t^igal,Jaam^£lmwaIaJil£^£l^^h.ioh. caused all the rest to render themselves, and the city likewise, upon condition that the inhabitants should have their goods and lives saved. By this means the Xemindoo entred peaceably into it, and the very same day, which was a Saturday, the 23rd of Febnia/ry, 1551, h_fl^p.ansed himself to be crowned K ing of Pegu in theg reatest temple of the city. As for Go-ncalo iVe?57~Ee~gave him in recompence for killing the tyrant twenty hisses of gold, which are ten thousand ducates ; and to the other Port'ugals, being eighty in number, he gave five thousand ducates, besides the honours and priviledges which they had in the country ; he also exempted them for three years from paying any custome for their merchandise, which was afterwards very exactly observed. 442 TEE TBAVBLS, VOYAGES, AND AD7ENTUBE8 CHAPTEE LXIII. That which the Xemindoo did, after he was crowned King of Pegu, with the Chaumigrems ; the King of Bramaa'a foster-brothers coming against him, with an army ; and divers other memorable things. THE Xemindoo seeing himself crowned King of Pegu, and peaceable lord of all the kingdom, began to have thoughts far different from those which Xemin de Satan had had, being\ raised to the same dignity of King ; for the first and principal thing wherein he imployed himself with all his endeavour, was to maintain his kingdom in peace, and to cause justice to flourish ; as, indeed, he established it with so much integrity, as no man how great soever he was, durst wrong a lesser then himself : withall in that which concerned the government of his kingdom, he proceeded with so much virtue and equity, aa it filled the strangers that were there with admiration, so that one could not without marvel consider the peace, the quiet, and union of the wills of the people ; during the happy and peaceable estate of this kingdom, which continued the space of a year, and better ; at the end whereof the Chaumigrem, foster- brother to the same King of Bramaa, whom Xemin de Satan had slain, as I have before declared, having received adver- tisement, that by reason of the rebellions and wars, which since his departure from thence had happened in the kingdom of Pegu the principal men of state there, had lost their lives ; and the Xemindoo who then reigned was unprovided of all things necessary for his defence ; he resolved once again to adventure upon the same enterprise which had formerly been undertaken by his late king. With this design, he enter- tained into his pay a mighty army of strangers, unto whom he gave a tineal of gold by the moneth, which is five ducates of our money ; when as he had prepared all things in a readi- ness, he departed from Tanguu, the place of his birth. On the 9th day of March, 1552, with an army of three hundred thousand men, whereof onely fifty thousand were Bramaa's, and all the rest Mans, Ghaleus, Galaminlums, SoAmnis, Pam- crus, and Auaas. In the mean time the Xemindoo, the new King of Pegu, having certain inteUigence of these great forces, OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 443 which were coming to fall upon him, made preparation to go and meet them, with a design to give them battel ; for which effect he assembled in the same city where he was, a huge army of nine hundred thousand men, which were all Pegu's by nation, and consequently of a weak constitution, and less war- like then all the others, whereof I have spoken; and on Tuesday the 4th of April, about noon, having received advice that the enemies army was encamped all along the river of Meleytay, some twelve leagues from thence, he used such expedition, as the same day, and the next night, all his souldiers were put into battel-aray, for whereas they had prepared every thing long before, and had also been teained by their captains, there needed no great ado to bring them into order. The day ensuing, all these men of war began about nine of the clock in the morning, to march at the sound of an infinite number of warlike instruments, and went and lodged that night some two leagues from thence near to the river Pota/reu. The next day, an hour before sun-set the Bramaa Ghct/umigrem appeared with so great a body of men, as it took up the extent of a league and an half of ground ; his army being composed of seventy thousand horse, of two hundred and thirty thousand foot, and six thousand fighting elephants, besides as many more which carried baggage and victuals ; and in regard it was almost night, he thought fit to lodge himself all along by the mountain, that he might be in the greater safety. Thus the night past with a good guard, and a strange noise that was made on eith-er part. The day following, which was a Saturday, the 7th of April, in the year 1553, about five of the clock in the morning, these two armies began to move, but with different intentions ; for the design of the Bramaa was to pass the ford, and recover an advantageous piece of ground, which lay near to another river; and the Xendndoo had a desire to keep him from it, and to stop his passage; upon this contention, some skir- mishes ensued, which continued most part of the day, and wherein above five hundred men on the one side and the other were slain, howbeit the advantage remained with the Chaumi- grem, because he gained the place whereunto he pretented, and passed all the night there in banquetting, and making 444 TEB TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES great bonfires for tliis good successe. The next day, betimes in the morning, the Xemindoo, King of Pegu, presented the battail to his enemies, who did not refuse it; so that they encountred one another with all the fury that a cruel hatred is accustomed to kindle in such like cases ; the two vantgards then, who were the best souldiers amongst them, fell so lustily unto it, that in lesse then half an hour, all the field was covered with dead bodies, and the Pegties began to lack courage. Whereupon the Xeimndoo, seeing his men give ground, came to succour them with a body of three thousand elephants, wherewith he set upon the seventy thousand horse so couragiously, and to the purpose, as the Bramaa's lost all that they had gained; which perceived by the Chcmmigrem, who was better experienced in matters of warre, knowing full well what he was to do, to recover all again, made shew of retyring, as if he had been vanquished ; the Xemindoo there- upon, who understood not this stratagem, and that thought of nothing but the victory, pursued his enemy about a quarter of a league : but incontinently the Bramaa facing about with all his forces, fell upon his enemy with such violence and horrible cryes, as not only men, but even the very earth, and aU the other elements seemed to tremble at it. By this means the conflict renewed in such sort, as in a little time the ayre was seen all on fire, and the ground watered all over with bloud; for the Pegu lords and commanders, beholding their King so farre ingaged in the battle, and likely to lose the day, ran instantly to his succor ; the like did the Panonsaray, the Bramaa's brother, on his side, with fourty thousand men, and two thousand elephants ; so that there ensued betwixt them so bloudy and dreadfull a fight, as words are not able to expresse the truth of it ; wherefore I shall say no more, but that half an hour, or there about, before sun-set, the army of nine hundred thousand Pegues was utterly discomfited; and (as it was said) four hundred thousand of them were left dead on the place, and all the rest, or the most part of them, grievously wounded ; which the Xemindoo seeing, fled out of the field, and so escaped. Thus did the victory remain unto the Gha/wmigrem, who thereupon caused himself to be crowned King of Pegu, with the same royal ensignes, magni- OF FERDINAND MENDBZ PINTO. 445 ficence, and triumph, as the other King of Bramaa, whom Xemi7i de Satan slew, had formerly been. And in regard it was abeady night, they bestowed the time in no other thing, but in dressing the hurt men, and keeping good watch in the camp. The next day, as soon as it was light, aU the victorious Bouldiers, as well wounded as unwoimded, ran to the spoil of the dead bodies ; wherewith divers amongst them were mightily enriched ; for they found there great store of gold and jewels, by reason the custome of those Gentiles is, (as I think, I have heretofore delivered) to carry all their wealth about them to the war. The souldiers being well satisfied in this particular, the new king of this miserable kingdome parted forthwith from the place were he had gotten the victory, and marched towards the oitie of Fegu, distant some three leagues from thence. Now forasmuch as he would not that day enter into it, for certain considerations which I will relate hereafter, he set himself down in the view of it, about half a league off, in a plain, called Sunday Patir : and after he had thus encamped his army, he gave order for the guard of the four and twenty gates thereof, by placing at each of them a Bramaa commander with five thousand horse. In this manner he remained there five dayes, without being able to resolve to enter into the citie, out of the fear he was in, lest the strangers should require of him the pillage of it, as indeed, he was obliged to grant it to them by the promise which he had made them for it at Tangim. Now the custom of men of war, who live but upon their pay, being to have regard to nothing but their interests, these six nations seeing the King thus defer his entry into the citie, which they could not brook, began to mutinie, and this by the instigation of a Portugal, named Christonano Surnento, a man of a turbulent spirit, but otherwise a good and valiant commander ; and this mutinie proceeded so far, as the King of Bramaa for his own safty was constrained to retire into a Pagode, where he fortified himself with his Bramaa' s, untill that the next morning about nine of the clock he came to a truce with them, and causing them to assemble together, from the top of a wall he spake to them in this sort. My worthy friends, and vaUant 446 THE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES commanders, I heme coMsed you to come to this holy resting- place of the dead, to the end that with a solemn oath I may discover unto you my intentions ; whereof, with my knees on the ground, and my eyes Uft up unto heaven, I take to witness Quiay Nivandel, the God of battel of the field Vitau, beseeching him to be judg of this between you and me, and to strike me dumb, if I do not tell you the truth. I very well remember the promise I made you at Tanguu, which was, to give you the pillage of this tumultuous citie ; as well because I believed you/r valour would be as it were the minister of my revenge, as in some sort to satisfie your amarice, wherewnto I know you are naturally very much inclined. Now having given you this promise for a gage of my faith, I acknowUdg that I am altogether obliged not to break my word with you. But when, on the other sid^e, I come to consider the great incon- veniences which may accrue to me thereby, and the strict account which I shall one day render for it before the equitable and rigorous justice of the Lord above, I must confesse unto you, that I am very much affraid of cha/rging my self with so heavie a bv/rthen : wherefore reason advises me to render my self foMlty towards men, ratJier than to fall into the displeasure of God. Besides, it is not reasonable that tlie innocent should pay for the guilty, and of whom I am sufficiently satisfied with the death which they ha/oe received in this last battel by your hands. Behold, how I earnestly intreat you, as children that you are of my bowels, that having regard to my good intention, you will not kindle this fire wherein my soul will be burnt, since you see well enough how reasonable that is which I desire of you, and how unjust it would be for you to refuse it me. Nevertheless, to the end you may not remain altogether without recompense, I do here promise you to contribute thereunto all that shall seem reasonable to you, and so supply this defemlt in part with my own goods, with my person, with my kingdom, and with my state. Hereupon the commanders of those six nations hear- ing the King's justification, and the promise which he made them, yeelded to agree unto wliatsoever he would do : howbeit, they prayed him above all things to have regard unto souldiers pretensions, who were not at any hand to be discontented, but greatly to be made account of. Whereunto the King OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 447 replyed, That they had reason, and that in all things he would endewoour to conform himself to whatsoever they should judg reasonable. In the mean time, to avoid disputes which might ensue hereupon, it was concluded, that they should referr themselves to arbitrators : for which effect the mutiners were to name three on their side, and the King three others on his, which made six in all, whereof three were to be religious men and the rest strangers, that so the judgment might be given with lesse suspicion. This resolution being taken between them, they agreed together, that the three reUgious men should be the Menigrepos of a Pagode, that was named Quia/y Hifaron, that is to say, the God of Povertie ; and that for the other three strangers, the King and the mutiners should cast lots, to see who should ohuse one or two of them on his side. The election being fallen to the King, he made a choice of two Portaigals, of an hundred and forty that were then in the citie; whereof the one was Gonsah Pacheco, the King our masters factor for lacre, a worthie man, and of a good con- science ; and the other a worshipful merchant, named Nuno Fernandez Teixeyra, whom the King held in good esteem, as having known him in the life time of the deceased king. By the same means the commanders of the mutiners elected another stranger, whose name I do not know. Things thus concluded, the judges destined for the resolution of this affair were sent for, because the King was not willing to stirre out of the place where he was, untill the matter was determined ; to the end he might dismisse them all peaceably before he entred into the citie, for fear lest if they entred with him, they should not keep their word. For this purpose then the King about midnight sent a Bramaa on horseback to the Portugals quarter, who were in no lesse fear then the Pegues of being plundered and killed. After that the Bramaa was come into the citie, and that he had asked aloud (for so they use to do when, they come from the King) where the caftain of the Portugals was, he was presently conducted to his lodging, where being arrived. It is a thing (said he to the captain) as proper to the nature of that Lord above, who hath created the armament and the whole heavens, to make good men for the conversion of the wicked, as it is ordinary with the pernioiom 448 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES dragon to nourish in his hosome spirits of commotion and, tumult, to bring disorder unto the peace which conserves us in the holy law of the Lord. I mean hereby (continued he) that amongst all those of your nation there is one wicked man found, vomiting out of his infernal stomach flames of discord and sedition, by means whereof he hath caused the three strange nations of the Chalons, Meleytes, and Savadis to nmtinie in the King my masters a/rmy, whereupon hath ensued so great a mischief, that besides almost the utter rmne of the camp, three thousand Bramaa's have been slain, and the King himself hath been in such danger, as he was fain to retire into a fort, where he hath remmned three dayes, and still is there, not da/ring to come out, beccmse he cannot put any trust in those strangers. Howbeit, for a remedy of so great unquietnesse, it hath pleased God, who is the true Father of concord, to inspire the King's heart with patience to endwe this injurie, being prudent as he is, to the end he may by that means pacific the tvmuU and rebellion of these three turbulent nations, who inhabit the most desa/rt parts of the mountains of Mons, and a/re the most accti/rsed of God amongst all people. Now, to make an entry into this peace and union, a treaty hath been had betiveen the King a/nd the commanders of the mutiners, whereby it hath been concluded on either part, with an oath. That to exempt this city from the plundering which had been promised to the souldiers, the King shall give them out of his own estate, as rrmoh as six men, deputed for that purpose, shall award ; of which number there a/re already four; so that to make up the whole six, there wants none hut thee, whom the King hath' chosen for him; a/nd another Portugal, whose name is written in this paper, whereby thou shalt be ascertained of that which I have said unto thee. Thereupon he delivered a letter unto him from the King of Bramaa ; which Gonsalo Paoheco received upon his knees, and laid upon his head, with exterior complements so full of oivilitie and cour- tesie, as the Bramaa remained very much contented and satisfied therewith, and said unto him, Sv/rely, the King m/y master must needs have a great knowledge of thee, in that he hath chosen thee for a judge of his honour amd estate. Here- upon Gonsalo Pacheoo read the letter aloud before all the Portugals, who heard it standing, with their hats in their OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 449 hands. The contenta of it were to this effect, Captain Gon- salo Pacheoo, my dear friend, and that appears before my eyes like a precious pearl, as being no less vertuous in the tranqmlUtie of thy life, them the holiest Menigrepos which live in the desa/rts ; I, the ancient Chaumigrem, and now King of fourteen states, which God hath now put into my hands by the death of the holy King my master, do send thee a smile of my mouth, to the end thou mayest be as agreeable to me, as those whom I cause to sit at my table, in a day of joy and feasting. Know (hen, that I ha/oe thought good to take thee for a judge of the affair that is in question, and therefore ha/ve sent for thee, together with my good friend, Nuno Fernandez Teixyra, to come presently unto me, for to give an end to this business, which I wholly comndt unto your trust. And for so much as concerns the secv/rity of yov/r persons, in regan-d of the fear you may be in of the late mutiny, I do engage my word, and swea/r to you by the faith which a king ought to have, whom God himself hath anointed, that I will take you, and all those of your nation, with all others that beleeve in you/r God, into my protection. After that this letter was read, to the great astonishment of all us that heard it, we could beleeve no other, but that by divine permission it came from heaven for the assurance of our Uves, whereof we stood in very great doubt until then, Gonsalo Pacheco and Nuno Fernandez, with ten other Portugals, which were chosen for that pur- pose, instantly prepared a present of divers rich pieces to carry to the King, unto whom they went that very same night an hour before day, in the company of the Bramaa who brought the letter, in regard, the haste the King was in would brook no delay. Gonsalo Pacheco, Nuno Fernandez, and the other Portugals, arrived at the camp an hour before sun-rising, and the King sent to receive them one of the chiefest Bramaa commanders that he had, and in whom ho very much confided, who was accompanied vrith above an hundred horse, and six Serjeants at armes that carried maces. This same received the Portu- gals, and lead them to the King, who did much honour unto Gonsalo Pacheco, and Nuno Fernandez ; and after he had talked with them of divers matters, he put them in miad of the importance of the businesse for which he had sent for them, 30 450 THE TRAVELS, VOYAQES, AND ADVENTUBE8 and willed them by any means, to leane rather to the commanders then to him, assuring them that he should be very well contented therewith, and said many things to them to that purpose. Then he caused them to be conducted by the same Bramaa lord to the tent, where the other four arbitrators were with the high treasurer, and two registers; when as they had commanded silence to all that were without, they fell to debating of the businesse for which they were assembled together; whereupon there were many opinions, which took up the most part of the day, but at last all six came to conclude ; that albeit on the one side the King, by the promise which he had made at Tanguu to the forreigne souldiers, for to give them the spoil or pillage of the places which he should take by force, was exceedingly obliged to the performance thereof, yet seeing that on the other side this promise was of great and notable prejudice to the innocent, because it could not be put in execution without greatly offending God; these things considered, they ordained by their award ; That the King, in rega/rd of the promise which he had made them, should pay unto them a thousand hisses of gold out of his own treasure ; and that upon the souldiers receiving thereof they should passe over to the other side of the river, and retire directly into their countries ; hut that they should first he also paid all that was due to them before this mutiny hegan, and that they should he furnAshed with victuals sufficient for twenty daies. This award being published was received with much content to either party ; so that the King commanded it to be instantly and punctually executed; and for a greater testimony of his liberaUty, after he had payed them all this sum of mony, he bestowed upon the commanders and officers of each company many bountifull rewards, wherewith they were all of them very well pleased, and satisfied. In this sort were these three mutinous nations discharged ; for the King would by no means trust, or make use of them any longer. Howbeit, he would not suffer these strangers to go all away together, but caused them to be divided into troups, each of them consisting of a thousand men, to the end that by this means they should give the lesse suspicion in their return, and should be less able to plunder the open towns, by which they were to passe ; and OF FEBDINAND MFNDEZ PINTO. 451 thug the next day they departed As for Gonsah Pacheoo, and Nuiio Fernandez Teixyra, the King gave them ten biases of gold, for being his arbitrators in this affair, whereunto he added a passport written with his own hand, whereby the PoHugals were permitted to retire freely into the Indies, without paying any custome or duty for their merchandize, whereof we made more account then of all the mony could have been given us ; because that, for three years before, the precedent kings had retayned us in this country, with exceed- ing much vexation and tyranny, whereby we were oftentimes in great danger of our lives, by reason of the suocesse of that which I have spoken heretofore. This done, there were pro- clamations made by men on horseback, to give notice that the day following, the King would enter into the city in a peaceable manner, threatning all such as should do the contrary, with a cruell death. Accordingly, the next morning at nine of the clock the King parted from the Pagode, whither he had retired himself ; and about an hour after arrived at the city, whereinto entring by the chiefest gate, he was received by an assembly (in form of a procession) of six thousand priests of all the twelve sects which are in this kingdome; by one of whom, called Gapizundo, an oration was made unto him, whereof the preface was thus. Blessed and praised be that Lord, who ought truly to be acknowledged of all men for such, in rega/rd of the holy works which He hath made with His Divine hands, testified to us by the light of the day, the shming of the night, and all the other magnificences of His mercy which He hath produced in us ; proAsed he He, I say, for that by the effects of His infinite power, which a/re agreeable unto Him, He hath been pleased to establish thee on the ea/rth above all the kings that govern it ; and seeing we hold thee for His faworite, we humbly beseech thee our lord, that thou wilt never more remember the foMlts amd offences which we have committed a^amst thee, to the end that these thy afflicted people mmj be comforted with the promise thereof, which they hope thy Majesty will make them at this present. This same request was likewise made unto him by the six thousand Grepos, all prostrated on the ground, and with their hands lifted up to heaven, who with a dreadful! tumult of voices said unto him ; Gramt, our Lord and King, 452 THE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 peace and pardon for that is past to all tht, people of this thy kingdom of Pegu, to the end they may not be troubled with the fear of their offences, which they confesse publikely before thee. The King answered them that he was contented so to do, and swore to them by the head of Quiay Nivandel, the God of Battle of the field Vitau, for the confirmation thereof. Upon this promise all the people prostrated themselves with their faces on the ground, and said unto him ; God make thee to prosper for infinite years in the victory over thy enemies, that thou mayest trample their heads under thy feet. Hereupon for a token of great gladness, they fel to playing on divers instru- ments after their manner, though very barbarously, and untunably; and the Grepo Capizondo set on his head a rich crown of gold and precious stones of the fashion of a mitre, wherewith the King made his entry into the city, with a great deal of state and triumph, causing to march before him all the spoLLe of the elephants and chariots, as also the statue of the Xemindoo, whom he had vanquished, bound with a great iron chain, and forty colours trayled on the ground ; as for him, he was seated on a very mighty elephant, harnessed with gold, and invironed with forty Serjeants at armes bearing maces : there marched likewise all the great lords and commanders on foot, with their soymitars covered with plates of gold, which they carried on their shouldiers, and three thousand fighting elephants, with their castles of divers inventions, besides a world of other people, as well foot as horse, which followed him without number. CHAPTEE LXIV. The finding of the Xemindoo, and bringing of him to the King ; with the manner of his execution and death ; and other particularities concerning the same. AFTEE that the King of Bramaa had continued peaceably in this citie of Pegu for the space of six and twenty dales, the first thing he did was to make himself master of the prin- cipal places of this kingdome, which not knovring the defeat of the Xemindoo, held still for him. To this purpose, having OF FEBDINAND MENDED PINTO. 453 given commission to some commanders for it, he wrote to the inhabitants of those places divers courteous letters, wherein he called them his dear children, and gave them an abolition of all that was past. He also promised them, by a solemn oath, to maintain them in peace for the time to come, and alwayes to minister justice to them, without any imposts or other oppression; but that he would (contrarily) do them new favours, as to the very Bramaas which served him in the warres. To these words he added many others, very well accommodated to the time and his desire ; for the better crediting whereof, they that were already reduced under his obedience wrote their letters also unto them, wherein they made an ample relation of the franchises and immunities which the King had granted to them. All this, accompanied with the fame which ran thereof in all parts, wrought so great an effect, as all those places rendred unto him, and put them- selves under his obedience : so that, in imitation of them all, the other cities, towns, states and provinces that were in the kingdom, did the like. For my part, I hold, that this king- dome whereof the King of Bramaa made at this time a new conquest, is the best, the most abundant, and richest in gold, in silver, and precious stones, that may be found in any part of the world. Things being thus accomphshed, to the great advantage of the Bramaa, he dispatches divers horsemen with all speed into all parts, to go in quest of the Xemindoo ; who (as I have already declared) had escaped from the past battel, and was so unhappy, that he was discovered in a place named Fcmlau, a league from the town of Potem, which separates the kingdom from Aracam : presently whereupon, he was lead with great joy, by a man of base condition, to this King of Bramaa, who in recompence thereof gave him thirty thousand ducates of yearly rent. Being brought before him, bound as he was with an iron collar, and manacles, he said unto him, in way of derision, Thou art welcome {King of Pegu) and maist well kisse the ground which thou seest ; for I assure thee, I have set my foot on it ; whereby thou rrwyest ;perceive how much I am thy friend, since I do thee an honour which thou couldst never imagine. To these words the Xemindoo made no answer ; so that the King falling to jeer this miserable man anew, who lay 454 THE TBAVEL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES before him with his face on the ground, said unto him, What means this ? Art thou amazed to see me, or to see thy self in so great honour ? Or what is the matter, that thou dost not answer to that which I demand of thee ? After thia affront, the Xermndoo, whether it were that he was troubled with his misfortunes, or ashamed of his dishonour, answered him in this sort ; If the clouds of heaven, the sun, the moon, and the other creatures, which cannot expresse in words that which God hath created for the service of man, and for the bea/utifying of the firmament, which hides from us the rich treasures of His power, could naturally with the horrible voice of their dreadful thunder explain to them which now look upon me, the estate whereunto I see my self reduced before thee, and the extreme affliction which my soul doth suffer, they would answer for me, and declare the cause I have to be mute in the condition wherein my sins have set me : and whereas thou canst not be judg of that which I say, being the party that accusest me, and the minister of the execution of thy designe, I hold my self for excused, if I do not make thee an answer, as I would do before that blessed Lord, who, how faulty soever I could be, would ha/ve pitie on me, moved with the least tear that I should shed. This said, he fell down with his face on the ground, and twice together asked for a little water: whereupon the King of Bramaa, the more to afflict him, commanded that the Xemindoo should receive this water from the hand of a daughter of his, (held by him as a slave) whom he exceedingly loved, and had at that time of his defeat promised to the Prince of Nautir, son to the King of Avaa. The princesse no sooner saw her father lying in that manner on the ground, but she cast her self at his feet, and straitly embracing him, after she had kissed him thrice, she said to him with her eyes all bathed in tears, my father, my lord, and my king, I intreat you for the extreme affection which I heme alwayes born you, and for that also which you have at all times shewed to me, that you will be pleased to lead me with you, thus Embracing you as I do, to the end that in this sad passage you may have one to comfort you with a cup of water, now that for my sins the world refuses you that respect which is due unto you. It is said, that the father would fain have answered to these words, yet could not possibly do it, so OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 465 much was he oppressed with grief and anguish of mind, to see this daughter whom he so dearly loved, in such a taking ; but fell as it were in a swoun, and so continued a good while ; wherewith some lords that were there present were so moved, as the tears came into their eyes ; which observed by the King of Bramaa, and that they were Pegues, who had for- merly been the Xemindoo's subjects, fearing lest they should betray him in time to come, he caused their heads to be presently strucken off, saying with a disdainfuU and fierce countenance, Seeing you hwve so great pitie of the Xemindoo your King, get you before and prepare a lodging for him, and there he will pay you for this affection which you testifie to ha/ve for him. After this, his wrath redoubled in such sort, as instantly he caused this very daughter to be killed in her fathers arms ; which truly was more then a brutish and savage cruelty, in seeking to hinder the affections which nature hath imprinted in us. Then no longer enduring the sight of the Xemindoo, he commanded him to be taken from thence, and to be carried to a close prison, where he passed all the night following under a sure guard. The next morning, proclamation was made over all the city, for the people to be present at the death of the unhappy Xemindoo. Now, the chiefest reason why the Bramaa did this, was, that the inhabitants seeing him dead, might for ever lose all hope of having him for their king, as all generally desired ; for whereas he was their countryman, and the Bramaa a stranger, they were in extreame fear, lest the Bramaa should become in time like unto him whom Xemdn de Satan slew, and that had been during his reign a mortal enemy to the Pegues ; entreating them with such extraordinary cruelty, as there scarcely passed a day, wherein he did not execute hundreds of them; and all for matters of small importance, and which deserved no punishment, had they been proceeded against by the waies of true justice. About ten of the clock, the unfortunate Xemindoo was drawn out of the dungeon where he was, in the manner ensuing. Before him marched through the streets, by which he was to passe, forty men on horseback with lances in their hands, to prepare and clear the waies ; there were as many behind as before him, which carried naked 456 TEE TBAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBES swords, crying aloud to the people, whereof the number was infinite, to make room: after them followed about fifteen hundred harquebusiers with their matches lighted; next to these last, which they of the country use to call, the avant courev/rs of the Kings wrath, went an hvmdred and threescore elephants armed with their castles, and covered with silk tapestry, marching by five and five in a rank ; after them rode in the same order, by five in a rank, fifteen men on horse- back, which carried black ensignes all bloudy, crying aloud, as it were by way of proclamation ; Let those miserable wretches, which are the slaves of hunger, and are continually persecuted by the disgrace of fortune, hearken to the cry of the arm of wrath, executed on them that have offended their king, to the end that the astonishment of the pain, which is ordained them for it, may he deeply imprinted in their memory. Behind these same were other fifteen, clothed with a kind of bloudy garment, which rendred them dreadful and of a bad aspect ; who at the sound of five bells, which they rung in haste, said with so lamentable a voice, as they that heard them were moved to weep : This rigorous justice is done by the living God, the Lord of all truth, of whose holy body the hairs of our heads are the feet. It is he that will have the Xemrndoo put to death, for usu/rping the estates of the great Kiiig of Bramaa, Lord of Tanguu. These proclamations were answered by a troupe of people, which marched thronging before with such loud cryes, as would have made one tremble to hear them, saying these words; Let him die without having pity on him, that hath committed su^h an offence. These were followed by a company of five hundred Bramaa horse, and after them came another of foot, whereof some held naked swords and bucklers in their hands, and the rest were armed with corselets, and coats of maile. In the midst of these came the poor patient, mounted on a lean ill-favoured jade, and the hangman on the crupper behind him, holding him up under both the armes. This miserable prince was so poorly clad, that his naked skinne was every where seen; withaU, in an exceeding derision of his person, they had set upon his head a crowne of straw, hke unto an urinaU case ; which crowne was garnished with muscle-shells, fastned together with blew thred; and round OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 457 about his iron collar were a number of onions tyed. Howbeit, though he was reduced to so deplorable an estate, and that his face was scarce like to that of a living man, yet left he not (for all that) from having something of I know not what in his eyes, which manifested the condition of a king. There was besides observed in him a majestical sweetnesse, which drew tears from all that beheld him. About this guard which accompanied him there was another of above a thousand horsemen, intermingled with many armed elephants. Passing thus thorow the twelve principal streets of the city, where there was a world of people, he arrived at last at a certain street called Gabam Bainhaa, out of which he went but two and twenty days before, to go and fight with the Bramaa, in such pomp and greatness, as by the report of them that saw it, and of which number I was one, it was (without doubt) one of the most marvellous sights that ever hath been seen in the world ; whereof notwithstanding I will make no mention here, either in regard I cannot promise to recount rightly how all past, or for that I fear some will receive these truths for lies; neverthelesse mine eyes having been the witnesses of these two successes, if I do not speak of the greatnesse of the first, I will at leastwise declare the miseries of the second, to the end by these two so different accidents, happening in so short a time, one may learn what little assurance is to be put in the prosperities of the earth, and in all the goods which are given to us by inconstant and deceitful fortune. When as the poor patient had past that street of Cabam Bainhaa, he arrived at a place where Gonsalo Pacheco our captain was, with above an hundred Portugals in his company; amongst the which there was one of a very base birth, and of a mind yet more vile, who having been robbed of his goods some years before, as he said, at such time as the patient reigned, and complained to Tiim of those who had done it, he would not vouchsafe to give him audience ; so that thinking to be revenged on Vi im for it now, with extravagant and imseemly speech ; as soon as this poor prince came where Gonsalo Pacheco was, with all the other Portugals, the witlesse fellow said aloud to him, that all might hear him, Bobber Xemindoo, remember how when I complained to thee of tJwse that had robbed me of 458 THE TBA7EL8, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 my goods, thou wouldest not do me justice ; but I hope that now thou shalt satisfie what thy works deserve : for I will at supper eat apiece of that flesh of thine, whereunto I will invite two dogs that I have at home. The sad patient having heard the words of this hair-brained fellow, lifted up his eyes to heaven, and after he had continued a while pensive, turning himself with a severe countenance towards him that uttered them. Friend, said he unto him, I pray thee, by the great goodness of that Gfid in whom thou believest, to pardon me that for which thou accusest me, and to remember that it is not the part of a Christian, in this painful estate wherein I see my self at this present, to put me in rrdnd of that which I have done heretofore ; for besides that, thou canst not thereby recover the loss which thou sayest thou hast sustained, it will but serve to afflict and trouble me the more. Paoheco having heard what this fellow said, commanded him to hold his peace, which immediately he did ; whereupon the Xemdndoo with a grave countenance made shew that this action pleased him ; so that seeming to be more quiet, it made him to acknowledge that with his mouth which he could not otherwise requite, I must confess, said he unto him, that I could wish, if God would permit it, I might have one hour longer of life to profess the excellency of the faith wherein you Portugals live ; for, as I ha/oe heretofore heard it said, your God alone is true, and all other gods are lyers. The hangman had no sooner heard these words, but he gave him so great a buffet on the face, that his nose ran out with bloud, so that the poor patient stooping with his hands downward. Brother (said he unto him) suffer me to save this bloud, to the end thou moist rwt want some to fry my flesh with all. So passing on in the same order as before, he finally arrived at the place where he was to be executed, with so little life as he scarcely thought of any thing. When he was mounted on a great scaffold, which had been expresly erected for him, the Chirca of Justice fell to reading of his sentence from an high seate, where he was placed ; the contents whereof were in few words these : The Uving God of our heads, Lord of the crown of the Kings of Avaa, commands, that the perfidious Xemindoo be executed as the pertv/rbator of the people of the earth, and the mortal enemy of the Bramaa Nation. This said, he made a sign with his OF FEBDINAND MENDE2 PINTO. 459 hand, and instantly the hangman out off his head at one blow, shewing it to all the people, which were there without number, and divided his body into eight quarters, setting his bowels and other interior parts which were put together, in a place by themselves ; then covering all with a yellow cloth, which is a mark of mourning amongst them, they were left there till the going down of the sun, at which time they were burnt in the manner ensuing. [Mendez Pinto embarks for Malacca, and thence for Ja/pan, with a strange accident that occurs at the Port of Fucheo, CHAPTEE LXV. Our passing from the iawa of Fucheo, to the port of Hiamangoo ; and that which befell us there ; together with my departure from Malaca and arrival at Goa. APTBE that this revolt had taken an end by the death of so many men on the one and the other side, we few - Portugals that remained, as soon as time would permit us, got to the port of the town, where seeing the country desolated, the merchants fled away, and the King resolved to leave the town, we lost all hope of selling our commodities, yea and of being safe in this harbour, which made us set sail, and go ninety leagues further to another port, called Hiamangoo, which is in the bay of Canguexvmaa ; there we sojourned two months and an half, not able to sell anything at all, because the country was so full of Chinese commodities, as they fell above half in halt in the price : for there was not a port or road in all this island of Japan, where there were not thirty or forty junhs at anchor, and in some places above an hundred ; so that in the very same year, at least two thousand merchants ships came from China to Ja;pan. Now most of this mer- chandise consisted in silk, which was sold at so cheap a rate, that the piece of silk which at that time was worth an hundred tales in China, was sold in Ja;pan for eight and twenty, or thirty at the most, and that too with much adoe ; besides, the 460 THE TRAVELS, VOYAGES, AND ADVENTURES prices of all other commodities were so low, as holding our selves utterly undone, we knew not what resolution or counsell to take. But whereas the Lord doth dispose of things according to his good pleasure, by waies which surpasse cor under- standing ; he permitted, for reasons only known to himself, that on the new moon in December, being the fifth day of the month, there arose so furious a tempest of wind and rain, as all those vessels, saving a few, perished in it : so that the losse caused by this storm amounted unto a thousand, nine hundred, and seventy two junks ; amongst the which were six and twenty Portugals ships, wherein five hundred and two of our nation were drowned ; besides, a thousand Christians of other countries, and eight hundred thousand ducates worth of goods cast away. Of Chinese vessels, according to report, there were a thousand; nine hundred, thirty and six, lost, together with above two millions of gold, and an hundred and threescore thousand persons. Now from so miserable a ship-wrack not above ten or eleven ships escaped, of which number was that wherein I was imbarqued, and that almost by miracle ; by reason whereof these same sold their commodities at what price they would. As for us, after we had uttered all ours, and prepared our selves for our departure, we put to sea on a twelfth day in the morning ; and although we were well enough contented in regard of the profit we had made, yet were we not a little sad, to see things fall out so to the cost of so many lives and riches, both of those of our nation, and of strangers. But when we had weighed anchor, and hoisted our sailes for the prosecution of our course, the ties of our main sail brake ; by which means, the saU-yard falling down upon the prow of the ship, brake all to pieces ; so that we were constrained, by this accident, to recover the port again, and to send a shallop on shore to seek for a sail-yard, and shipwrights to fit it for us. To this effect, we sent a present to the captain of the place, that he might suddenly give us necessary succor, as accordingly he did ; so that the very same day, the ship was put into her former estate, and better then before. Never- thelesse, as we were weighing anchor again, the cable of our anchor broke ; and because we had but one more in the ship, we were forced to endeavour all that we might for the recovery OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 461 thereof, by reason of the great need we stood in of it*; now, to do this, we sent to land for such as could dive, who in con- sideration of ten ducates that we gave them, fell to diving into the sea, where they found our anchor in six and twenty f athome depth ; so that by the means of the cordage which we f astned unto it, we hoisted it up, though with a great deal of labour, wherein we all of us bestowed our selves, and spent the most part of the night. As soon as it was day, we set saile, and parting from this river of Hia/mangoo, it pleased God, that in fourteen dales, with a good wind, we arrived at Chincho, which is one of the most renowned and richest ports of the kingdome of China ; there we were advertised, that at the entrance of this river, there lay at that time a famous pirate, called Gheo- pocheca, with a mighty fleet, which put us into such a fear, that in aU haste we got away to Lamau, where we made some provision of victuals, which lasted us untill our arrivall at Malaca. [Here follows the narration of Mendez Pinto's adventures until his arrival at the port of Zequa with a letter from the King of Japan, otttitteif.] CHAPTEE LXVI. What past after onr departure from Zequa, till my arrival in the Indiaes, and from thence into the Kingdom of Portugal. FEOM this port of Zequa we continued our course with northerly winds, which were favourable unto us in this season ; and on the 4th of December we arrived at the port of Lampacau, where we met vnth six Portugal ships, whereof was general a certain merchant, called Francisco Martinez, the creature of Francisco Barreto, at that time Governour of the State of the Indiaes in the place of Don Pedro Mascwrenhas. And because that then the season for navigation into Indm was almost past, our Captain Don Francisco Masca/renhas stayed no longer there than was necessary for providing of victual. We departed then from this port of Lampacau a 462 THE TBAVEL8, VOTAGES, AND ADVENTUBE8 little before Christmass, and arrived at Goa the 17tli of February. The first thing I did there was to go to Francisco, Barreto, unto whom I gave an account of the letter which I brought from the King of Japan : but he having referred it to the day following, I failed not to deliver it to him the next morning, together with the arms, the scymitars, and the other presents which that pagan king had sent. Whereupon, after he had seen all at leasure, addressing himself unto me, I assure you, said he unto me, that I prize these arms which you have brought me, as much as the Government of India : for I hope that by the means of this present, and this letter from the King of Japan, I shall render my self agreeable to the King our Sovereign Lord, that I shall be delivered from the fortune of Lisbon, where almost all us that govern this state, do go and land for our sins. Then, in acknowledgment of this voyage, and the great expence I had been at, he made me many large offers, which I would by no means accept of at that time. Nevertheless I was well contented to justifie before him by attestations, and acts past expresly for it, how many times I had been made a slave for the service of the king our master ; and how many times also I had been robbed of my mer- chandize : for I imagined that this would suffice to keep me, at my return into my country, from being refused that which I believed was due to me for my services : as indeed, the Vice- roy past me an act of all these things, adding thereunto the certificates which I presented unto him : withal, he gave me a letter, addrest to the king, wherein he made so honorable a mention of me and my services, that relying on these hopes, grounded as they were on such apparant reasons as I had on my side, I imbarqued my self for to return into the kingdom of Portugal; so contented with the papers which I carried along with me, that I counted them the best part of my estate ; at leastwise, I believed so, because I was perswaded that I should no sooner ask a reoompence for so many services, but it would be presently granted me. Upon this hope being put to sea, it pleased our Lord, that I arrived safely at the city of Lisbon, the 22nd of September, 1558, at such time as the kingdom was governed by Madam Katherina, our queen of happy memory. Having deUvered her the letter then from OF FEBDINAND MENDEZ PINTO. 463 the Vice-roy of the Indiaes, I told her by word of mouth all that I thought was important for the good of my business : whereupon she referred me to the minister of her state, who had the charge of deaUng in her affairs. At first he gave me very good words, but far better hopes, as indeed I held them for most assured, hearing what he said unto me. But in/ stead of letting me see the effect thereof, he kept me these/^ miserable papers of mine four years and an half ; at the end^ of which, all the fruit I reaped thereby was no other, then thel labour and pains which to no purpose I had imployed in these) vain sollicitations, and which had been more grievous unto me, then all the troubles I had suffered during my voyages. Wherefore seeing of what little profit all my past services were unto me, notwithstanding all the suit I could make, I resolved to retire my self, and remain within the terms of my misery, which I had brought along with me, and gotten by the means of many misfortunes, which was all that was resting to me of the time and wealth which I had bestowed in the service of this kingdom, leaving the judgement of this process to the Divine Justice. I put this design of mine then in execution, not a little grieved that I had not done it sooner, because I might thereby peradventure have saved a good piece of money. For a conclusion, behold what the services have been which I have done for the space of one and twenty years, during which time, I was thirteen times a slave, and sold sixteen times, by reason of the unlucky events of so long and painful a voyage, whereof I have made mention amply enough in this book. But although this be so, yet do I not leave to believe, that the cause why I remaiaed without the recompence whereunto I pretented for so many services and travels, rather proceeded from the Divine providence, which permitted it to be so for my sins, then from the negligence and fault of him whom the duty of his charge seemed to oblige to do me right. For it being true, that in all the kings of this kingdom, who are the lively source from whence all recompence do flow, though many times they ran through pipes more affectionate then reasonable, there is always found an holy and acknowledging zeal, accompanied with a very ample and great desire, not onely tc recompence those which serve them, but also to con- 46-4" TEE TRAVELS OF MENDEZ PINTO. fer great estates on them which render them no service at all ; whereby it is evident, that if I, and others, have not been satisfied, the same happens by the only fault of the pipes, and not of the source; or rather, it is a work of the Divine Justice, which cannot fail, and which disposeth of all things for the best, and as is most necessary for us ; in regard where- of, I render infinite thanks to the King of Heaven, whose pleasure it hath been, that His Divine will should be this way accomplished, and do not complain of the kings of the earth, since my sins have me unworthy of meriting more. Finis. UNWIN BBOTHEEB, THE OBEBHAM PBBSS, WOKINO AND LONDOH.