The Portugues Asia, or, The history of the discovery and conquest of India by the Portugues containing all their discoveries from the coast of Africk, to the farthest parts of China and Japan, all their battels by sea and land, sieges and other memorable actions, a description of those countries, and many particulars of the religion, government and customs of the natives, &c. : in three tomes / written in Spanish by Manuel de Faria y Sousa ... ; translated into English by Cap. John Stevens.

CHAP. XVIII.

The Government of John de Mendoza, for six Months of the Year 1564, in the Reign of King SEBASTIAN.

1. JOhn de Mendoça, late Comma•…•…er of * 1.1 Malaca, succeeded the Vice-R•…•… with the Title of Governour. As soon as he had taken the Sword, there came to him Em∣bassadours from Zamori, complaining of the Harm Dominick de Mesquita had done the beginning of the year to his Subjects, con∣trary to the Peace so solemnly sworn. The Governour answered as the Count designed to have done; That it was perhaps some Por∣tugues who was in Rebellion; that they might punish him if taken, and he would do the same. The Embassadours had nothing to say; but before their departure came in Dominick de Mesquita, and the Governour (not to carry on the Shew too far) caused him in their presence to be apprehended. As soon as their backs were turned he released, and rewarded him as his good Service de∣served.

2. A Woman of a bold Spirit, and of good Repute among her People, Wife to one of those killed by Mesquita, running about the City of Cananor with loud Cries and Complaints, stirred up the Moors to

revenge that Action. They all run to Arms, swearing not to lay them down, till they had rooted out the Portugueses from among them. They beset the Fort where D. Payo •…•…e Noronha Commanded, and the King un∣expectedly set fire to above thirty Ships that •…•…ode under the shelter of it. The Gover∣nour sent immediately Andrew de Sousa with six Sail to the relief of that Fort, where Adé Rajao already was with a great Power. Thus began the War of Malabar, and went on slowly.

3. It being now the beginning of Sep∣tember, the Ships arrived from Portugal, in which went the Vice-Roy D. Antony de No∣ronha, to whom the Governour delivered the Sword, and went out of India poor, after bearing honourable and advantagious Em∣ployments. He was the 22th Governour, and held it half a year, was the second of the Name, and first of the Sirname.

4. Since the short time of his Govern∣ment afforded not Matter enough for a Chapter, I will give some Account of the Zamories and Preaching of St. Thomas the Apostle. It is before related how Perimal, who divided the Empire of Malabar into several Kingdoms, was persuaded to Maho∣metanism, and went to end his days at Meca. This was a false Invention of the Moors; for there were several Sovereign Princes in Malabar 500 years before the Birth of Christ. Malabar lies between the Points of Cananor and Cape Comori, 150 Leagues in length, and about 15 in breadth up the In∣land,

expiring at the Foot of a Mountain that runs through all that length. The chief Sovereignties therein are Cananor, Tanor, Moringue, Cranganor, Parum, Mungate, Repelim, Cochim, Diamper, Pimienta, Turun∣gule, Maturte, Porca, Marta, Pitimene, Cale∣coulam, Coulam, Changernate, Gundra and Travancor.

5. The differences that often arose be∣tween these Sovereigns, obliged them to chuse an Arbitrator, who was to be but of indifferent Fortune, to prevent his growing too powerful; and the Office was not to be hereditary, but he always chose by consent of those Princes. This Arbitrator they cal∣led Xara Perimal, and appointed his resi∣dence to be in the City Calicut; so ancient is this Employment. The great concourse of Merchants from all parts to that City, caused it in time to rise to an Empire, though such care had been taken to prevent it. This Dignity of Emperour (which is signified by the word Zamori) continued till the Year of Grace 347, according to the Records of Calicut; but according to those of Cochim, till 588. Whensoever it was, Xara Perimal then Reigned, who tired with the Cares of a Crown, and having some knowledge of the Evangelical Doctrin, as being a great Favourer of the Christians of St. Thomas, inhabiting at Cranganor, he resolved to end his days at Meliapor, serving in that Church. By Consent of all his Princes he resigned the Crown to Manuchem Herari his Page, esteemed worthy and able

to Govern that Empire. Perimal died at Meliapor, and it is thought one of those Bodies found with the Apostles was his. Since his time till now have been above 110 Zamories, of whose Names we do not make a Catalogue, because they are all called Manuchem and Zamori, in memory of that first Successor of Perimal. Another Relation says; This Perimal was one of the three Kings that went to adore our Saviour, new Born at Bethlehem, and perhaps that might be the Reason of his following the Apostle St. Thomas. In an ancient Manu∣script of two hundred years standing, I have found what follows: Melchior was King of Nubia and Arabia; Baltasar, of Goli and Saba; Gaspar, of Tharsis, Insula, and Grisola, where the Body of St. Thomas lies, and they were afterwards by him made Bishops, and suffered Martyrdom with him.

6. In this Empire (so in all the Kingdoms of it) the Sons do not Inherit, but the Ne∣phews born of Sisters, by reason of the ill conceit they have of the Mothers, believing this way they secure the Royal Descent. The Princesses that bring forth these Heirs, get them in this manner: The Princess is Married to a Neighbouring Prince, who leaves her untouched; a Nayre of the Fa∣mily of Naburii, destined for this Employ, gets her Maidenhead, and then departs, ne∣ver more to be seen in the Country upon pain of Death. The Princess afterwards chooses others among the Naburiis, of whom she makes use till she has Conceived.

She has liberty to choose among them all, but none of them can court her upon pain of Death. The Nayres are very poor, few of them can maintain a Wife; and he that can, need not fear another corrupting of her. For this Reason three or four of them joyn to maintain a Woman, and that is their manner of Marriage: When one goes to the Wife, he leaves his Buckler at the Door, which is a sign one is within; and if ano∣ther comes, he must stay. The Kingdom of Cochin was subject to this Empire, though without paying Tribute, and made free by the Portugueses in requital, for the fidelity of the King Uniramacoul, who Reigned when we first discovered India, and exposed himself to utter danger of being ruined, rather than deliver up the Portugueses to Zamori. King Emanuel sent him a Crown of Gold by the Vice-Roy D. Francis de Al∣meyda, which he received, submitting him∣self as a Subject to Portugal, without any other acknowledgment; but is yearly pre∣sented with two pieces of Gold; the one a Portugues, being a Coin worth 18 Ducats, on the 1st of Ianuary; the other on the day of the Epiphany, is a Cup worth 640, Thus much of the Empire of Malabar.

7. As to Meliapor, for what relates to the Apostle: It is the received Opinion he was killed at Antenodur, a Mountain a League distant from the Town, where he had two Caves, whither he retired to Pray. The nearest now belongs to the Jesuits, the other is the Church of our Lady of the Mount.

He being one day at Prayer in the former, opposite to a Clift that gave Light to it, one of the Bramens, who was watching, thrust a Lance through that Hole in such manner, that a piece of it remaining in his Body, he went to the other Cave, and there died, embracing a Stone on which a Cross was carved. Hence his Disciples removed and Buried him in his Church, where he was found by Emanuel de Faria, or Frias, and the Priest Antony Penteado, sent thither on pur∣pose by King Emanuel.

8. In the Year 1547, being about to re∣pair that Oratory where the Apostle died, digging they found a Stone, which seems to be the same he held then. It is about a yard long, and three quarters wide, the Colour grey, with some red spots. In the middle of it is carved a Portal round at the Top, with Letters between the two Borders; within two Banisters, rather than Pillars; being turned, on which are two twisted Figures, like Dogs sitting, from whose Necks rises a graceful Arch of five Borders, and between every two are knots like Beads. In the hollow of this Door is a Pedestal of two Steps, from the uppermost of which rises a Branch on each side, and over them, as it were in the Air, is a Cross, the ends of it like to that of the Military Order of Alcantara, as the History relates; but the Print shews them like three half Moons, the Convex sides outwards, and the Points meeting, as commonly we see in many ancient Churches in Europe. Over all is a

Dove flying, as it were descending to touch the Cross with its Beak. There are ancient Pillars in the East with Doves after this man∣ner. One preserved in the Pagod of Negapatan, has carved on it a Cock, a Rope and a Can∣dle. There is a Tradition, it came of it self to those parts by Sea, with a Candle burning.

9. The Chappel being repaired, or beauti∣fied in the Year 1551, the Stone was solemnly set up in it, and at the time the Priest pro∣nounced those words of the Gospel; Missus est Angelus Gabriel, &c. it began to change colour, and became black and shining, then sweating turned to its own colour, plainly discovering the spots of Blood which before were obscure. The Letters about it could not be understood till the Year 1561; a Learned Bramen said, they were 36 Hiero∣glyphicks, every one containing a Sentence, and were to this effect:

In the time of the Son of Sagad the Gentile, who Reign∣ed 30 years, came upon Earth one only GOD, and was Incarnate in the Womb of a Virgin: He abolished the Law of the Jews, whom he punished for the Sins of Men, after he had been in the World 33 years, and taught Twelve Servants the Truth he preached. A King of Three Crowns, Cheralacone, Indalacone, Cuspandiad; and King Alexander of the Kingdom Erti∣nabarad, with Catherine his Daughter, and many Virgins and six Families, voluntarily followed the Law of Thomas, because it was the Law of Truth, and he gave them the Sign of the Cross to adore. Going up

to the place of Antenodur, a Bramen run him through with a Lance, and he em∣braced this Cross, which was stained with his Blood, and his Disciples carried him to Maiale, and Buried him in his Church with the Lance in his Body. And because We the above-named Kings saw this, we carved these Letters here.

Hence, besides the Story, is gathered, That Maiale was the ancient Name of the City Meliapor, now called St. Thomas. This Stone afterwards sweated sometimes: Till the Year 1561 it was a good Omen; since then a bad one.

10. In the time of the Priest Penteado were also found three Brass Plates about a Span long, and half as broad, in shape like a Scutcheon, on the top a Ring. On the one side was a Cross and Peacock, the ancient Arms of Meliapor; on the other, Characters which were explained by another Learned Bramen. The first part was Titles of the King;

Boca Raja, Son of Campula Raja, and Grandson of Atela Raja.

He begins confessing, One God without begin∣ning, Maker of all things. And says of himself,

That he is as Great a Gentleman as the Beast Chigsan, and as one of the five Kings who conquered 99: That he is as strong as one of the eight Elephants that the World stands upon, and that he Conquered the Kingdoms of Otia Tulcan and Canara, cutting his Enemies to pieces with his Sword.

The other Plates con∣tained Grants of Lands to St. Thomas, di∣rected to himself, and calling him Abidarra

Modeliar. Whence may be gathered, these Princes Reigned at the time that Christ suffered. One of them begins thus:

After the Year 1259, in the first Year called Icarrana Rachan, on the 12th day of the New Moon of the good Year, I give in Alms to the Saint Abidarra Modeliar, &c.

Thus Another:

This is a Token of Alms∣deeds to purchase Paradice, and all Kings that perform them shall obtain much more, and he that disannuls them shall be 60000 years with the Worms in Hell, &c.

11. It has always been controverted, which way St. Thomas came into India. The Heathen History says,

That St. Thomas and St. Thaddeus being in Mesopotamia, they parted at the City Edessa; and the former sailing with some Merchants came to the Island Zocotora, and after Converting the People, passed to Mogodover Patana, a City of Paru in Malabar, where he built a Church. The King keeping there the Wedding of his Son, some Jewish Women came to sing, and their Musick was Texts of Scripture, many of them fulfilled by the Life and Death of our Saviour. St. Thomas being present, was so rapt, hearing those Prophe∣cies from them People, that a Heathen observing it gave him a Box on the Ear. Soon after going to fetch Water, a Tiger bit off his Hand. He came running to tell his Misfortune, and after him a Dog with the Hand in his Mouth. The Apostle took, and set it on again, so that no Mark re∣mained. Then he went to Calicut, and con∣verted

Xa Perimal.

There is an Account, That he went to the Mogol's Country, where Chesetrigal then Reigned, and after being in China recurned to India, visiting the Province of Tibet, and setled at Meliapor, where he ended.

12. In the Year 800 arrived at Mogodover, or Patana, a rich Christian Armenian, called Thomas Cananeus, who with his Company pre∣sented himself to the King: He received him with Kindness, and soon after won by his Pre∣sents, gave him the Lands of Cranganor and City Patana, where there was scarce any Footsteps of St. Thomas his Church. On those Foundations he built another; another at Cranganor by the name of St. Thomas, now standing within our Fort; another of our Lady, and another of St. Ciriacus. These be∣ing the Works of Thomas Cananeus, made them erroniously be believed the Apostles. Afterwards were found other Plates contain∣ing Grants of Lands to the Disciples and Suc∣cessors of the Apostles.

12. It may reasonably be believed, that Pagod where Gama entred, as he went from Calicut to Zamorie's Palace, was of this Foun∣dation, because the Image of our Lady was there called Mary by the Heathens; and it being believed one of the three Kings that went to Bethlehem was of Malabar. The Heathens yearly celebrate a Feast to St. Tho∣mas, to preserve their Ships; because formerly many of them used to be Cast-away sailing to Parvi.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1564.