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. IV.

A Continuation of the same Matter.

1. BEfore they build a Pagod they sow the Ground with Kidney-beans, when they are green they turn in a greyish Cow to seed on them, and where she Dungs, they believe is the place for the Pagod, placing on the very spot a Pillar, and on the top of it the Idol, to whom it is dedicated: Then they build the Walls, which are never of great extent, but rich, as being black Mar∣ble well carved, covered with Copper-plates, with Globes of Gold, or gilt. The inside is set thick with monstrous Images with ma∣ny Heads and Arms, and girt with Serpents. Then they build a square Wall about it, on each side of it is an entrance with a sumptu∣ous Portal, with Histories of their Gods carved about them. They are covered in the same nature as the Temples. Under∣neath are Heads of Elephants, Bears, Lions,

Tigers, and other wild Beasts with terrible Eyes and Teeth. It is thought these things are to terrifie those that resort thither, and move them to give Alms; though their Poet Palcanar laughs at it. Those who go to visit the Idol enter the inclosure, but not the Temple. The Inhabitants of Pande, Sub∣jects of Bisnagar, are singular in these Works.

2. The most famous Pagods are, that of Rettora built by Cheram Perimal living at Cranganor, who placed in it the Statue of a Man ten Cubits in length, lying on a Snake with five Heads in the Sea of Milk. The Temple was covered with Plates of massy Gold, but because they were subject to be stole he put them into the Treasure of the Pagod, and instead of them placed others of Copper. The Idol is still covered with pure bright Gold that shines like Fire; his Crown is of an inestimable value, and has many precious Stones, in the Forehead three Rubies that exceed all price, on his Feet Buskins valued 200000 Ducats.

3. In the Treasure, besides the covering Plates there laid up, there are nine Boats of Gold set with rich Stones, each big enough to contain three Men; the same number of Kettles of the same Matter, each deep enough to hide the Bramene with the Idol upon his Head, many Pots, Peacocks and Cocks of Gold and Silver, and an infinite quantity of Co•…•…. These are useless Vessels, those that are of use and the same Metal are kept more at hand. At the entrance of the Pagod hangs a Gold Candlestick so big, no Man can

lift it from the ground, and with the conti∣nual smoak looks like Ebony. Several Idols and Candlesticks that stand before the prin∣cipal Idol are of the same Metal. In fine, the Treasure is unmeasurable, if we may believe a Bramene who turned Christian, and had many good Qualities that show he merited Credit.

4. The Revenues of this Pagod are incre∣dible, and very many live on them. The enclosure is of Marble six Yards high, and above one in thickness; it is about half a League from the Shore, a beautiful Way leading to it. At each of the wonderful Gates can enter at once four Elephants with all their Furniture. It is guarded by 1000 armed Men: The Coast is dangerous, which secures many great Men who keep their Treasures there.

5. The Pagod called Comori, from which that famous Point of Land takes name, is also remarkable. Comori Pagod, signifies, The Church of the Virgin. It is like the other in Structure, but not in Riches, because they trust them not there, since our Fleets Sail upon those Coasts. The Pagod is dedi∣cated to a Virgin Daughter to a Shepherdess, that was changed for a Son of Davagni Sister to the Giant Maveli, who killed all her Chil∣dren, because he was told one of them would be his Death. He thought to kill this Virgin, and she giving him a kick flew through the Air into the Desert to the place where the Pagod now stands on the Shore, having been formerly 60 Leagues from the Sea. She after

flew a great Giant by the help of the God Vistnu, and set his Head on a Rock that now appears in the Sea, and is above 400 Fathom round. In the very place where the Virgin sate after this Victory, was erected the Pa∣god.

6. The Pagod of Trivate is more ancient than that of Rettora, but poor, having been plundred by the Nayque of Madure. It is not much frequented. This Temple was insti∣tuted in memory of the Giant Naragecoguer∣poli, who by destroying the World provo∣ked the God Vistnu; and still came to Life again, though overcome and killed by him. Vistnu, to end the dispute, laid him on the ground and sate down upon him. This is what is represented in the Pagod.

7. That of upper Cranganor has an Idol on whose Head one of the Bramenes gives se∣veral strokes of a hammer every day. For they think if this were not done, he would by this time touch the Stars with his head. In the Frontispiece are several Images in the Portugues Habit, whence is concluded either that Work was finished after their arrival, or such a Habit was formerly used there.

8. That of Canari in the Island Salsete, is bigger than all the others, and exceeds them in sumptuousness of building. It seems to have taken the name from some Builder of that Country, or from Canara King of Bis∣nagar, the grandure of the Work requiring so great a Founder. It is dug out of a Moun∣tain that looks like one solid Stone, and is black Marble. The Body is very high, the

Isles low, but altogether of a vast bigness, somewhat dark, as dug out of the middle of a Mountain. Among at least 3000 Habita∣tions that are cut out about it with each a Cistern by the Door, there are some large Rooms, and one of an extraordinary big∣ness, in which 'tis said are read Lectures of all Sciences. We have already spoke in the Second Chapter of the Second Part of this Tome, of the Way cut under this Mountain said to run as far as Cambaya, of the Fran∣ciscan that attempted to discover that Secret, and the Princes that are believed to have made it.

9. The Pagod of Maliassa is in the same Island. At the foot of a Mountain is a Portal of a moderate bigness: The two Pillars that support it are in the Shape of Giants well carved. There are other Figures like those of Angels among Christians. This leads into a large Porch, and on the left hand is the Gate of the Pagod through which the Water runs: Then follows a great A∣partment, after that other little ones, and then a strait way, all dug out of the solid Mountain.

10. The Pagod called of the Elephant, because the Figure of one stands upon a Rock at the entrance of it, is in one of the many Islands of the River Bombaim between Bacaim and Chaul. It is like the others, in that it is cut out of a Mountain, but exceeds them much in curious work. The first entrance is into a spacious Room supported by vast Pillars in the form of Giants curiously carved.

It has three Isles: The Pillars are all compo∣sed of Figures of the same height as the Tem∣ple: On one of them is the Giant Briareus with his hundred Hands; on another the God they call Mahamurte, who has three Faces to one Body, on his Head a Pontifical M•…•…tre, though of Marble, wrought to ad∣miration. In a Chapel is the Angel turning our first Parents out of Paradice. Pa•…•…ipbae and the Bull are there also: On one of the Walls is a sort of Altar, and over it are car∣ved many wild Beasts, the most remarkable one with seven Heads. Some Soldiers attem∣pted to enter an Apartment that is very dark, and being fearful took Lights, but were drove out by a multitude of Bats that were frighted at the Light▪ There are Galleries with rich carved Work of Men and Women, most of them in very immodest Actions and Postures. This (they say) was the Choire of their Ceremonies. Their are o∣ther Buildings to be admired for their Great∣ness and Structure, and two remarkable Se∣pulchres.

11. To conclude, the Pagod dedicated to the Monkey is so great, that only the Cloi∣ster in which they shut up the Cattle designed for Sacrifices, has 700 Columes of Marble nothing inferior to those of the Roman Pan∣theon.