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. XV. Antonio de Faria's setting forth for the Isle of Ainan, his arrival at the River of Tinacoren; and that which befell us in this Voyage. (Book 15)

* 1.1AS soon as Antonio de Faria was ready, he departed from Patana on a Saturday the ninth of May, 1540. and steered North North-west, towards the Kingdom of Champaa, with an intent to discover the Ports and Havens thereof, as also by the means of some good booty to furnish himself with such things as he wanted; for his haste to part from Patana was such, as he had not time to furnish himself with that which was necessary for him, no not with victual and warlike ammunition enough. After we had sailed three days 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 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 Lequios, that was going to the Kingdom of Siam with an Embassador from the Nautauquim of Lindau, who was Prince of the Island of Tosa, and that had no sooner discovered us but he sent a message by a Chinese 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 true love of the Law of God, and of his in••inite clemency, who by his death had given life to all men, and a perpetual inheritance in the house of the good, and that they beleeved 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 wh••n the Chinese arrived with this message they were distant above a league at Sea from us. Hereupon we went ashore, where we spent three days in taking in fresh water, and fishing. Then we put to Sea again, laboring to get to the firm Land, there to seek out a River, named Pullo Cambim, 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 re∣mained twelve days in peace, during the which we made our provision of all things necessary. Now b••cause Antonio de Faria was naturally curious, he endevored to understand from the people of the Country what Nation inhabited beyond them, and whence that mighty River took its sou••ce; whereunto he was answered, that it was derived from a lake, named Pinator, d••stant from them Eastward two hundred and sixty leagues in the Kingdom of Quitirvan, and that it was invironed 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 on••s, called Xincaleu, there was such a huge myne of gold, as by the re∣p••••t of 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 millions 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 Raiahitau, had in an inner yard of his house, in pots under ground, that were full to the very brims, above six hundred bars of gold in powder, like to that of Mexancabo of the Island of Samatra; And th•••• if three hundred

Harquebusiers of our Nation should go and assault it, without doubt they would carry it: Moreover that in another of those 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 Lava and Taniampura in the Isle of Iaoa. Whereupon Antonio de Fa∣ria 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 conquered, and that with little charge.

Being departed from this River of Pullo Cambim,* 1.2 we sailed along the Coast of the Kingdom of Champaa, till we came to an Haven, called Saleyzacau, seventeen leagues farther on to∣wards 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 ven∣ture to enter into it, for that he had never been there before, and therefore knew not the depth of it. As we were contesting hereabout, some for to enter, and others gainsaying it, we dis∣cerned a great sail making towards this Port from the main Sea. Hereupon, without stirring from the place where we were, we prepared to receive them in a peaceable manner, so that as soon as they came neer us, we saluted them, and hung up the flag of the Country, called Cha∣rachina, which is a sign of friendship, used among them in such like occasions. They of the ship, in stead 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 us very vile and base words, and from the top of their poup made a capher slave hold up his arse bare to us 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 sho•• 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 se∣curity, or let her pass by: This counsel was approved both by Antonio de Faria, and us all, so that keeping good watch, and giving order for all that was necssary, we continued in that place expecting day; now about two of the clock in the morning we perceived three black things close to the water coming towards us, which we could not well discern, whereupon we wakened 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, cryed out presently, Arm, Arm, Arm, wherein he was straightway 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 Pyrat coming to set upon us, who thinks we are not above six or seven at the most, as the manner is in such kinde of Vessels; wherefore let every man stoop down, so as they may not see any of us, and then we shall soon know their design; in the mean time let the pots of powder be made ready, with which, and our swo••ds, I hope we shall give a good end to this adventure: 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 three Vessels, being come within a ••light shoot of our••, went round about her, and after they had viewed her well, they joyned all close together, as if they had entred into some new consulta∣tion, 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 con∣veniently they could, so that in less then half a quarter of an hour above forty men were got∣ten in, which seen by Antonio de Faria, he issued out from under the hatches with some forty Soldiers, and invoking Saint Iames our Patron, he fell so couragiously upon them, that in a short time he killed them almost all; Then with ayd of the pots of powder, that he caused to be cast in amongst those that were remaining in the three Vessels which he presently took, he made an end of defeating them, the most of them being constrained to leap into the Sea, where they were all drowned but five, whom we took up alive, whereof one was the capher slave that

shewed us his tail, and the other four were one Turk, two A••hems, and the Captain of the Junk, named Similau, a notorious Pyrat, and our mortal Enemy. Antonio de Faria com∣manded 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 an∣swered most brutishly; and when as we were going about to torment the slave in like maner, 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 Faria 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 replyed 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 Mello, whom this dog Simila••, here present, slew about two years ago in Liampao, with five and twenty other Portugals that were in his ship. Antonio de Faria hear∣ing 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, answered he, it is he, and that meant likewise to have done as much to you, thinking that ye were not above six or seven, for which effect he came away in haste with a purpose, as he said, to take you alive, for to make your brains fly out of your heads with a frontal of cord, as he did to my Master, but God I hope will pay him for all the mischief he hath committed. Antonio de Faria being also advertised by this slave, that this dog Similau 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 fly out of their heads with a cord, as Similau had done to Gaspar de Mello, and the other Portugals in Liampao: Where∣fore he presently imbarqued himself with thirty Soldiers in his Boat, and the three Machna••, wherein the Enemies came, and by means of the ••lood and a favorable wind, he arrived with∣less then an hour, where the Junk rode at anchor 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 cast in among the Rascals that were asleep upon the hatches, he made them all leap into the Sea, where nine or ten of them were drowned, the rest crying out for help were taken up and saved, because we stood in need of them for the navi∣gation 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 them. The next morning, taking an inventory of this prize, we found six and thir∣ty thousand Ta••is in silver of Iapan, which amounts in our mony to fifty four thousand duckets, 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 constrained us to make a∣way with all speed.

* 1.3Antonio de Faria parted from this River of Toobasoy on a Wednesday morning, being Corpus Christi Eve, in the year 1540. and sailed along by the Coast of the Kingdom of Champaa, fearing to abandon it, the wind being Easterly, which in that place is oftentimes very impetuous, especially in the conjunction of the new and full Moons. The Friday follow∣ing we found our selves just against a River, called by the inhabitants of the Country Tinaco∣reu, and by us Varella, whereinto we thought fit to enter, as well to be informed of certain things Antonio de Faria desired to know, as also to see whether he could learn any news of Coia Acem whom he sought for, in regard that all the Junks of Siam, and of all the Coast of Malaya, that sail to China, use to trade in this River, where many times they sell their com∣modities well in exchange of gold, Calembouc wood, and Ivory, whereof there is abundance in that Kingdom; and having cast anchor a little within the mouth of the River, over against a Village, named Taquilleu, there came a number of Paroos, and many other small Boats with fishermen, full of refreshments, who having never seen men made like unto us, said one to another; Lo, this is a strange novelty wherewithall God doth visit us, let us beseech him he will be pleased, that these bearded men may not be such as for their particular profit do spy Countries like Merchants, and afterwards rob them like Theeves. Let us get to the woods for fear lest the sparks of these firebrands do not burn up our houses, and reduce the fields of our labors into ashes, as they use to do unto the Lands of other men. Whereunto some of them

made answer, God forbid it should be so; but if by misfortune they should come amongst us, let us carry our selves in such sort, as they may not perceive we fear them as Enemies, for so they would set upon us with the more confidence; wherefore the best course for us will be, in a fair way, and with gentle words, to endevor to learn of th••m what they would have of us, that upon knowledg thereof we may certifie it unto Hoyaa Paquir, who is now at Congrau. Antonio de Faria, making as though he did not understand them, although all that they said was delivered to him by an Interpreter, received them very courteously, and bought the re∣freshments, which they brought, of them at their own price, wherewithall they were very well satisfied; And they demanding of him from whence he came, and what he would have, he answered them, that he was of the Kingdom of Siam, and as a Merchant was going to traf∣fique in the Isle of Lequios, being come into that place only to learn some news of a friend of his named Coia Acem, that was also bound thither: whereupon he enquired of them whether he were past by, or no; howsoever he intended to depart thence suddenly, both for to lose no time, as for that he knew he could not sell his commodities there. To which they replyed, You say true, for in this village of ours there is nothing but nets and fisher Boats, wherewith we get our living, and that poorly enough God knows. Howbeit, added they, if thou wilt go up the River to the Town of Pilaucacem, where the King is, thou wilt sell not only the com∣modities which are in thy ships, be they never so rich, but likewise more then ten such ships as thine could carry, by reason that there are Merchants in that place so wealthy, and that drive so great a trade, as they go with whole Troops of Elephants, Oxen, and Camels, whom they send laden with goods to the Lands of the Lauhos, Pafuaas, and Gueos, which are inhabited by very rich people. Antonio de Faria seeing a good occasion offered to inform himself of that he desired to know, questioned them at large concerning many things, whereunto some of them, that seemed to be of more authority then the rest, answered very aptly, how the River, where we rode at anchor, was called Tinacoreu, and that it extended to Moncalor, a moun∣tain dist••nt from thence some fourscore leagues, and that further upwards it was far broader, but not so deep, where in many places there was great shelves of sand, and a world of land overflown with water, in the which wer•• such a multitude of fowls, as they covered all the Country thereabout; And how beyond that it was all mountainous and rocky, and so full of Elephants, Rhinoceroses, Lions, wilde Boars, Buffles, and such other wilde bea••ts, as men could not possibly live there for them; And moreover, how in the midst of that continent there was a great Lake, which the inhabitants thereof called Cunebetea, and others Chiammay, from whence this River took its beginning, as also three others, that watered a good part of this Country; And that the said Lake, according to the report of those who have written of it, was threescore Jaos about, each Jao containing three Leagues, all along the which there were many Mynes of Silver, Copper, Tin, and Lead, from whence great quantities thereof were conti∣nually drawn, which the Merchants carryed away with Troops of Elephants and Rhinoceroses, for to transport it into the Kingdoms of Sornau, by us called Siam, Passiloco, Sarady, Tangu, Prom, Calamniham, and other Provinces, that are very far within land, and distant from these Coasts two or three months journey. Further, they told us, that these Countries were divided into Kingdoms, and Regions inhabited with people, that were white, tawny, and others somewhat blacker; and that in exchange of those commodities they returned Gold, Diamonds, and Rubies. Having thereupon demanded of them whether those people had Arms, they an∣swered none, but staves hardened in the fire, and daggers with blades two spans long; They also assured us that from hence one could not go thither by the River in less then half two months, or two months and an half, by reason of the impetuosity of the waters descending with a great and ••trong current the most part of the year, and that one might return in eight or ten days at the most. After these demands Antonio de Faria made them divers others, wherein they also gave him good satisfaction▪ and reported many other particulars unto him, whereby it may be gathered, that if the Country could be taken, it would, without so much labor and loss of blood, be of greater profit, and less charge, then the Indiaes.

The Friday following we left this River of Tinacoreu,* 1.4 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 Cauchenchina in forty degrees and a third to the Northward; Being come to it, we cast anchor in an Haven, where there was good and safe riding, and there we remained three days, 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 Acem there whom we sought for, and ar∣riving

at Pullo Capas, 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 Faria came from Pa••ana, leaked very much, ••e commanded all his Soldiers to pass into another better Vessel, which was immediately performed, and ar∣riving 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 withall in this Voyage, he sent Christovano B••rralho with fourteen Soldiers in the Lorch up the River to discover what fires 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 le••t it was the Mandarims 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 B••r∣ralho no sooner perceived, but he presently without noise weighed ••nchor, 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 Soldiers, that were in the Lorch, went on shoar with two of those Chinese••es, that 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 outside, 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 Ri∣ver, as also the Junk, which they had left rid••••g 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 undoubt∣edly 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 pass unto 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 Soldiers leaping in made themselves Masters of her without any resist∣ance, for the most of her men threw themselves into the Sea, the rest that were more couragi∣ous valiantly made head against our people; but Antonio de Faria presently getting in with twenty Soldiers 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 so then to confe•••• any thing; and as they were about to do the like to a little boy, an old man, his father, that was layd on the deck, cryed out with tears in his eyes for to give him the hearing before they did any hurt to the child; Antonio de Faria made the Executioner stay, and bade 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 shoar, and restore unto him whatsoever he would take his oath did appertain unto him: Whereunto the old Ma∣hometan answered, I accept of the promise which thou makest 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 h••ldest may well divert me from it, in regard it is no way conformable to the Christian Law, which thou hast profest in thy Bap∣tism▪ An answer, that rendred Antonio de Faria so confounded and amazed, as he knew not wha•• ••o reply; Howbeit he caused him to come ne••rer to him, and questioned him gently with∣out any further threat••ning.

* 1.5This 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 nei∣ther,

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 Christians. To which the old man answered, that he was a Merchant of a good family, named Tome Mo∣stanguo, and that riding one day at anchor in a Ship of his in the Port of Iudaa, in the year one thousand five hundred thirty and eight, Soliman the Bassa, Vice-roy of Cairo, took his, and sev••n others Ships, to carry Victual and Munition for his Army of threescore Galleys, where∣with he went by the Command of the grand Signior 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 Turks, 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 layd him in Irons, and continually scourging him they stript him of all his goods, to the value of six thousand duckets and better, saying, that it was not lawful for any to enjoy the blessings of God, but the holy and just Mouss••limans, 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 Diu, from whence he went by Land to Surrat, and so to Malaca in a ship of Garcia de Saas, Captain of Bacaim; then how by the commandment of Estevano de Gama, going to China with Chri∣stovano Sardinha, which had been Factor at the Molucques, one night as they rode at anchor in Cincaapura, Quiay Taijano, Master of the Junk, surprized them, and killed the said Sar∣dinha, 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 brest, as a man amazed at this discourse, Lord, Lord, said he, this seems to be a dream that I hear; then turning himself to his Soldiers 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 despoyled them of an hundred thousand duckets at least; And though his name was such, as this Armenian delivered, to wit, Quiay Taijano, yet after he had killed Christovano Sar∣dinha in Cincaapura, in a vain-glory of that which he had done he caused himself to be called Captain Sardinha. 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 Soldiers, 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 above 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 Antonio de Faria received two downright blows on his head, 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 forty Junks that were in the River: So getting far from Land, about evening we went and anchored on the other side of Cauchenchina, where Antonio de Faria causing an Inventory to be taken of all that was in this Pyrats Junk, there was found in her five hundred Bars of Pepper, after fifty quintals to the Bar, forty of Nutmegs and Mace, four∣score 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 duckets; besides a little field Piece, four Faulcons, 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, Oliveyra, and Bartole∣meu de Matos: There were also found three Coffers covered with Leather, full of Silk quilts, and the apparel of Portugals, with a great Bason and Ewer silver and guilt, and a Salt-seller of the same, two and twenty Spoons, three Candlesticks, five guilt Cups, eight and fifty Har∣quebuzes, twelve hundred twenty and two pieces of Bengala Cloth, all which were Portu∣gals 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.

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 1.
• * 1.2

  §. 2.
• * 1.3

  §. 3.
• * 1.4

  §. 4.
• * 1.5

  §. 5.