The voyages and adventures of Fernand Mendez Pinto, a Portugal, during his travels for the space of one and twenty years in the Kingdoms of Ethiopia, China, Tartaria, Cauchinchina, Calaminham, Siam, Pegu, Japan, and a great part of the East-Indiaes with a relation and description of most of the places thereof, their religion, laws, riches, customs, and government in time of peace and war : where he five times suffered shipwrack, was sixteen times sold, and thirteen times made a slave / written originally by himself in the Portugal tongue and dedicated to the Majesty of Philip King of Spain ; done into English by H.C. Gent.

CHAP. XIV. The Misfortune that befell us at the entry into the River of Lugor; our hiding our selves in a Wood, with that which happened unto us afterwards; and our return unto Malaca. (Book 14)

* 1.1HAving sojourned six and twenty days at Patana for to sell away some few commodities of China that I had, there arrived a Foyst from Malaca, commanded by one Antonio de Faria, who came thither by the express commandment of Pedro de Faria to treat with the King about some accord, as also to confirm the ancient league anew which he had with Ma∣laca,

and withall to give him thanks for the good entertainment he gave in his Kingdom to those of the Portugal Nation. This business was carryed with a fair shew of an Embassie, ac∣companyed with a Letter and a Present of Jewels, sent in the name of the King of Portugal our Master, and taken out o•• his Coffers, as all the Captains of that place used to do. Now for as much as the said Antonio de Faria had brought along with him some ten or twelve thou∣sand crowns worth of Indian woolen and linnen cloth, which he had taken up on his credit at Malaca, and that he saw there was so little utterance of that commodity, as he could not meet with any Merchant that would deal for it, he was fain to resolve for to spend the winter there until such time as he might meet with some opportunity to put it off; Howbeit he was ad∣vised by some of the best experienced of the Country to send it unto Lugor, which is a great Town in the Kingdom of Siam, an hundred leagues lower towards the North, for they alledg∣ed that this Port was very rich, and of great vent, by reason of a world of Junks that arrived there dayly from the Isle of Iaoa, from Lava, Taniampura, Iapara, Demaa, Panaruca Sy∣dayo, Passarvan, Solor, and Borneo, whose Merchants were used to give a good rate for such like commodities, in exchange of gold, or stone. This advice was well approved of by Anto∣nio de Faria, who instantly went about to put it in execution; To which end he took order for the providing of a vessel, by reason the Foyst wherein he came was altogether unfit for a further voyage: Matters thus disposed of, he deputed one, named Christovano Borhalho, for his Factor, a man exceeding well vers'd in business of Traffique, with whom there imbarqued some sixteen men, as well Soldiers as Merchants, with a hope that one crown would yield them six or seven, what in the commodities they should carry, as in those they should return. Here∣upon▪ wretched I being one of the sixteen, we parted from the Port on a Saturday, and sailed with a favorable wind along the coast till Thursday next in the morning, that we arrived at Lu∣gor Road, and anchored at the mouth of the River; There it was thought fit to pass the rest of the day, to the end we might inform our selves of what was behoveful for us to do, as well for the sale of our commodities, as for the safety of our persons: And to say truth, we learnt such good news, that we were confident of gaining above six times double, and to be sure of freedom and liberty during all the month of September, according to the Ordinance of the King of Siam, because it was the month of the Kings Sumbayas. Now the better to clear this, you must know, that all along this coast of Malaya, and within the Land, a great King commands, who for a more famous and recommendable Title above all other Kings, causeth himself to be called Prechau Saleu, Emperor of all Sornau, which is a Country wherein there are thirteen Kingdoms, by us commonly called Siam, to the which fourteen petty Kings are subject, and yield homage, that were anciently obliged to make their personal repair unto Odiaa, the Capi∣tal City of this Empire, as well to bring their Tribute thither, as to do the Sumbaya to their Emperor, which was indeed to kiss the Courtelas that he ware by his side; Now because this City was seated fifty leagues within the Land, and the Currents of the Rivers so strong, as these Kings were oftentimes forced to abide the whole winter there to their great charge, they petitioned the Prechau, King of Siam, that the place of doing this their homage might be al∣tered, whereupon he was pleased to ordain, that for the future there should be a Viceroy resi∣dent in the Town of Lugor, which in their language is called Poyho, unto whom every three years those fourteen Kings should render that duty and obedience they were accustomed to do unto himself, and that during that time they spent there in performing the same, being the whole month of September, both their own merchandize, and that of all others, as well natives as strangers, that either came in, or went out of the Country, should be free from all manner of imposts whatsoever: So that we arriving in the time of this freedom, there was such a multi∣tude of Merchants that flocked thither from all parts, as we were assured there was no less then fifteen hundred Vessels in the Port, all laden with an infinity of Commodities of very great value: And this was the good news we learnt at such time as we arrived at the mouth of the River; wherewith we were so well pleased, that we presently resolved to put in as soon as the wind would permit us. But alass! we were so unfortunate, that we could never come to see what we so much desired; for about ten of the clock, just as we had dined, and were preparing to set sail, we saw a great Junk coming upon us, which perceiving us to be Portugals, few in number, and our Vessel small fell close with our prow on the larboard side, and then those that were in her threw into us great Cramp-irons, fastened unto two long chains, wherewithall they grappled us fast unto them, which they had no sooner done, but straightway some seventy or eighty Mahometans came flying out from under their hatches, that till then had lien lurking

there, who with a mighty cry cast so many stones, darts, and lances, which ••ell as thick as hail upon us, that of us sixteen Portugals twelve rested dead in the place, together with six and thirty others, as well Boys as Mariners. Now for us four remaining Portugals, after we had escaped so dreadful ••n incounter, we leapt all of us into the Sea, where one was drowned, and we three that were left getting to land as well as we could, being dangerously hurt, and wading up to the wast in mud, went and hid our selves in the next adjoyning wood. In the mean time the Mahometans of the Junk, entring into our Frigot, not contented with the slaughter they had made of our men, like mad dogs they killed six or seven Boys out-right, whom they found wounded on the D••ck, not sparing so much as one of them: That done, they imbarqued all the goods of our Vessel into their Junk, then made a great hole in her, and so sunk her: Im∣mediately whereupon, leaving their anchor in the Sea, and the Cramp-irons wherewithall they had grappled us unto them, they set sail, and made away as fast as ever they could for fear of be∣ing discovered.

* 1.2After this our escape, seeing our selves all sore hurt, and without any hope of help, we did nothing but weep and complain, for in this disaster we knew not what to resolve on, so much were we amazed with that which had befaln us within the space of half an hour. In this de∣solation we spent the rest of that sad day, but considering with our selves, that the place was moorish, and full of Adders and Lizards, we thought it our safest course to continue there all the night too, as accordingly we did, standing up to the middle in the Owze: The next morn∣ing as soon as it was day we went along by the Rivers side, until we came unto a little channel, which we durst not pass, as well for that it was very deep, as for fear of a great number of Lizards that we saw in it, so that in great pain we stayd not only that night there, but five days a••ter, being not able either to go forward, or turn aside, by reason of the bogs round about us, all covered over with rushes: In the mean time one of our companions dyed, whose name was Bastian Anriques, a rich man, and that had lost eight thousand crown•• in the Lanchara, in so much that of all the company we were before there remained none but Christovano Bor∣ralho and my self, that with tears sat lamenting over the poor dead mans body, which we had covered with a little earth as well as we could, for we were then so weak, that we could hard∣ly stir, or almost speak, so as we had set up our rest to make an end of those few hours we hoped to live in that place. The next day, being the seventh of our disaster, about Sun-set we espyed a great Barque coming rowing up the River, whereupon as soon as it was near us, we prostrated our selves on the ground, beseeching those that were aboard her to take us in; They wondering at us, presently made a stand, seeming much amazed to see us so on our knees, and our hands lift up to Heaven, as though we were at our prayers; nevertheless without speaking at all to us, they made as if they would go on, which constrained us afresh to cry aloud to them with tears that they would not suffer us for want of succor to dye miserably there. Upon thos•• our cries and lamentations an ancient woman came forth from under the hatches, whose grave countenance represented her to be such as afterwards we found her to be; she seeing us in so pitiful a plight, moved with our misfortune, and our wounds that we shewed her, she took up a stick, and therewith struck three or four of the Mariners because they would not take us in, whereupon approaching to the bank, five or six of them leapt on shore, and by her command∣ment took us upon their shoulders, and carryed us into the Barque. This honorable woman, much grieved to behold us so hurt, and our shirts and linnen drawers all bloody and mired, caused them straightway to be washed, and having given each of us, a linnen cloth to cover us withall, she would needs have us to sit down by her, where commanding meat to be brought us, she her self presenting it to us with her own hand, Eat, eat, said she, poor strangers, and be not afflicted to see y••ur selves reduced unto the estate you are in; for I, whom now you look upon, and that am but a woman, not having as yet attained to the age of fifty years, have seen my self a slave, and despoyled of above an hundred thousand duckets worth of goods: Nor is that all, for to this misfortune was the death of three of my sons adjoyned, and that of my husband, whom I held far more dearer then these eyes of mine, these eyes, alass! wherewith I beheld both the father and the sons torn in pieces by the King of Siams Elephants, together with two brothers, and a son-in-law I had; Ever since I have had a languishing life, and to all these miseries have many others far greater succeeded, for so implacable hath fortune been unto me, that I have seen three daughters of mine ready to be marryed, as also my father, mother, and two and thirty of my kinsmen, nephews, and cousins, thrown into burning fur∣naces, where their cries and lamentations could not chuse but reach unto Heaven, for God to

succor them in the violence of that insupportable torment; but alass! the enormity of my sins no doubt so stopped the ears of the clemency of the Lord of Lords, that he would not hea•• our request, which seemed very just to me; nevertheless I deceived my self, since nothing is just but what it pleaseth his divine Majesty to ordain. Hereunto we answered, that the sins which we also had committed against him were the cause of our calamities. Seeing it is so, re∣plyed she, mingling her tears with ours, it is always good in your adversities to acknowledg, that the touches of the hand of God are evermore righteous, for both in that, as also in a con∣fession of the mouth, in a sorrow for having offended, and in a firm resolution to do so no more, consisteth all the remedy of your sufferings and mine. Having entertained us thus with the discourse of her misfortune, she enquired of us the occasion of ours, and by what means we came to be in that miserable estate, whereupon we recounted unto her all that had past, and that we neither knew who it was that had so ill intreated us, nor wherefore he did it; Her people, hearing us, said, that the great Junk, whereof we spake, belonged to a Mahometan, a Guzarat by Nation, named Coia Acem, who the same morning went out of the River laden with Brazil, and was bound for the Isle of Ainan: Hereat the good woman smote her brest, and seeming to be much moved, Let me not live, said she, if it be not so, for I have heard that Mahometan, of whom you speak, vaunt publiquely before all that would give ear unto him, that he had s••ain a great number of the race of those of Malaca, and that he hated them in such sort, as he had promised to his Mahomet to kill more of them in time. Being amazed hereat, we desired her to declare unto us who that man was, and why he was so much our enemy, whereunto she answered, that she knew no other reason, but for that a great Captain of our Nation, named Hector de Sylv••ira, had killed his father and two of his brothers in a ship, which he took from them in the straight of M••cqua, that was going from Iudas to Dabul. Thus much did this good Matron tell us, and many other things afterwards concerning the great hatred this Mahometan bore us, as also what lyes he devised to render us infamous.

This honorable woman, departing from the place where she found us,* 1.3 went some two leagues up the River, till she came to a little Village, where she lay that night; The next morn∣ing parting from thence, she made directly to the Town of Lugor, which was above five leagues further. Arriving there about noon, she landed, and went to her house, whither she carryed us with her, and kept us there three and twenty days, during which time we were very well looked unto, and plentifully accommodated with all that was necessary for us▪ This woman was a widow, and of an honorable family, as afterwards we learnt, and that had been marryed to the Captain General, which they call Xabandar of Prevedim, whom the Pata of Lasapara King of Quaijuan had put to death in the Isle of Iaoa the year 1538. At the time she met with us, as I have related, she came from a Junk of hers, that lay at the Road laden with Salt; and because it was great, and could not pass up by reason of the shelves, she caused it to be unladen by little and little with tha•• Barque. By that time the three and twenty days, I spake of, were expired, it pleased God to restore us to our perfect health, so that this virtuous D••me seeing us able to travel, recommended us to a Merchant, her kinsman, that was bound for Patana, with whom, after we had taken our leave of that noble Matron, unto whom we were so much obliged, we imbarqued our selves in a Cataluz with Oars, and sail∣ing on a River, called Sumh••chitano, we arrived seven days after at Patana. Now for as much as Antonio de Faria looked every day for our return, with a hope of good success in his business, as soon as he saw us, and understood what had past, he remained so sad and discontent∣ed, that he continued above an hour without speaking a word; in the mean time such a number of Portugals came in, as the house was scarce able to contain them, by reason the greatest part of them had ventu••ed goods in the Lanchara, whose lading in that regard amounted to seven∣ty thousand duckets and better, the most of it being in silver coyn, of purpose with it to re∣turn gold. Antonio de Faria seeing himself stripped of the twelve thousand duckets he had borrowed at Malaca, resolved not to return thither, because he had no means to pay his Cre∣ditors, but rather thought it fitter to pursue those that had robbed him of his goods; so that he took a solemn Oath upon the holy Evangelists to part incontinently from that place for to go in quest of those Pyrats, for to revenge upon them the death of those fourteen Portugals, and thirty six Christians, Boys and Mariners, killed by them as aforesaid; Adding withall, that if such a course were not taken, they should every day be used so, ••ay far worse. All the Assistants very much commended him valorous resolution, and for the execution thereof there were many young Soldiers amongst them that offered to accompany him in that voyage; some

likewise presented him with mony, and others furnished him with divers necessaries: Having accepted these offers and presents of his friends, he used such diligence, that within eighteen days he made all his preparations, and got together five and fifty Soldiers, amongst whom poor unfortunate I was fain to be one; for I saw my self in that case, as I had not so much as a single token, nor knew any one that would either give or lend me one, being indebted besides at Malaca above five hundred duckets, that I had borrowed there of some of my friends, which, with as much more, that dog had ••obbed me of amongst others, as I have related be∣fo••e, having been able to save nothing but my miserable carcass, wounded in three places with a Javelin, and my skull crackt with a stone, whereby I was three or four times at the point of death; But my companion Christovan Borralho was yet ••ar worse entreated then my self, and that with more hurts, which he received in satisfaction of five and twenty hundred duckets that he was robbed of as the rest.

Notes

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