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. XVI. Antonio de Faria's Arrival at the Bay of Camoy, where was the fishing of Pearls for the King of China; the Relation made to him of the Isle of Ainan; with that which happened to him by the means of a renegado Pyrat, and otherwise. (Book 16)

* 1.1THe 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 Pearls, and being unresolved what course to take, he bestowed all the forenoon in counsel with his company thereabout, whereof some were of the opinion that he should seize upon the Boats that were fishing 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 Pearls, 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, Antonio 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. Whereunto we answered by an Interpre∣ter, that we were Merchants born in the Kingdom of Siam, and were come thither to sell or barter our Commodities 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 Traffique used, but in another place ••urther forward, called Guamboy, where all strangers that came from Cantan, Chincheo, La∣mau, Comhay, Sumbor, Liampau, and other Sea-coast Towns, did ordinarily trade: Wherefore he counselled him to get him suddenly from thence, in regard this was a place de∣stined only to the fishing of Pearls for the Treasure of the house of the son of the Sun, to the which, by the Ordinance of the Tutan of Comhay, who was the soveraign Governor of all the Country of Cauchenchina, no Vessel was permitted to come, but only such as were ap∣pointed for that service, and that all 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 transgressed the same, not out of contempt, but want of knowledg, he thought fit to advertise him of it, to the end he might be gone from thence before the arrival of the Mandarim of the Army, which we call General, to whom the Government of that fishing appertained, and that would be within three or four days at the most, being gone not above six or seven leagues 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 Mandarim had with him: Whereunto the old man answered, that he was accom∣panied with forty great Junks, and twenty five Vancans with oars, wherein there were seven thousand men, namely, five thousand Soldiers, and the rest Slaves and Mariners; and that he was there every year six Months, during the which time was the fishing for Pearls, that is to say, from the first of March to the last of August. Our Captain desiring to know what du∣ties were payd 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 h••lf less, and of seed Pearl the third part; and that this Revenue was not always alike, be∣cause 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 Ta••is. 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 well pleased. He also demanded of them, of what bigness this Isle of Ainan might be, whereof so many wonders were spoken. Tell us first, replyed they, who you are, and wherefore you are come hither, then will we satisfie you in that you desire of us; for we vow unto you, that in all 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 ne••t; 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 stollen, which made him tell them, that they did this like young men, who were the sons of very rich Merchants, and in that regard valued things far under that they were worth, and had cost their fathers; dissembling then what they thought, they answered in this manner, It may very well be as you say. Whereupon Antonio de Faria gave a sign to the Soldiers to leave off their play, and to hide the pieces of Silk that they were playing for, to the end they might not be suspected for Rob∣bers by these folks, which immediately they did, and the better to assure these Chineses 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 that 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.

The old man desiring to satisfie Antonio de Faria's demand, Sir, said he,* 1.2 since now I know what you are, and that only out of curiosity you fairly require to learn this particular of me, I will clearly tell you all that I know thereof, and what I have heard others deliver concerning it, that have been elder then my self, and which have a long time governed this Archipelague; They said then, that this Island was an absolute State under a very rich and mighty King, who, for an higher and more transcendent title then other Monarchs his Contemporaries car∣ried, caused himself to be stiled Prechau Gam••u; He dying without heirs, so great a discord arose amongst the people about the succession to the Crown, as encreasing by little and little it caused such effusion of blood, that the Chronicles of those times affirm, how only in four years and an half sixteen Lacazaas of men were slain, every Lacazaa containing an hundred thousand, by means wheroof the Country remained so deserted of people, that unable to defend it self the King of Cauchin conquered it, only with seven thousand Mogores, which the King of Tartarie sent him from the City of Tuymican, that then was Metrapolitan of all his Empires. This Island of Ainan being conquered, the King of Cauchin returned into his Country, and for Governor thereof left behind him a Commander of his, named Hoyha Paguarol, who revolted from him for certain just causes, as he pretended, that invited him thereunto. Now to have the assistance and support of the King of China, he became his Tributary for four hundred thousand Taeis by the year, which amount to six hundred thousand duckets, in consideration whereof the King of China obliged himself to defend him against all his enemies, whensoever he should have need: This accord continued be••ween them the space of thirteen years, during the which the King of Cauchin was five several times defeated in open Battel; At length this Hoyha Paguarol coming to dye without issue, in regard of the good offices that in his life time he had received from the King of China, he by his testament declared him for his Successor and lawful Heir, so that ever since, being now two hundred thirty and five years ago, to this present, this Isle of Ainan hath remained annexed to the Scepter of the great Chinese. And touching that you have further demanded of me concerning the Treasures, and Revenue of this Island, I am able to say no more then what I have learnt of some ancient Personages, who, as I have related before, have governed it in quality of Teutons, and Chaems, and I remember they said, that all the Revenues thereof, as well in Mynes of Silver, Customs, and otherways, amounted unto two Millions and an half Taeis yearly; And perceiving that our Captain was amazed to hear him speak of so mighty a riches, continuing his discourse, Truly, my Masters, said he laughing, if you make such a matter of that little I have spoken of, what would you do if you saw the great City of Pequin, where the son of the Sun (the name they give to their King) with his Court is always resident, and where the Revenues of two and thirty Kingdoms, that depend on this Monarchy, are received, of which out of fourscore and six Mynes of Gold and Silver only is annually drawn above fifteen thousand Picos, which according to our weight comes to twenty thousand quintals? After Antonio de Faria had given him many thanks for satisfying him so fully in his demands, he d••sired him to tell him in what Port he would advise him to go and sell his Commodities, 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 says 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 Straight always with the plummet in your

hand for to sound your way, because there are very many dangerous shelvs all along till you come to a River called Tanauquir, 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 days, put off all your commodities, and much more if you had them. Nevertheless I will not counsel you to dis∣imbarque 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 inclination 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 accompanyed him, took leave of 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 pearls of a pretty bigness, craving his par∣don for that they durst not traffique with him in this place, for fear lest if they should do so, to be all put to death, conformably to the Law of the rigorous justice of the Country; and they again intreated him to make haste away before the Mandarims arrival with his Army, for if he found him 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 Tanauquir, where just over against a little village, called Neytor, he cast anchor.

* 1.3We remained all that day, and the next night, at the mouth of the River of Tanauquir, in∣tending the next morning to 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 commodities 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 con∣cluded that before we did any thing else we were to sell away our commodities, so that we la∣bored 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 Falconets, and field-pieces: Antonio de Faria, as a man verst in such affairs, seeing them chained one to another, perceived their drift, and therefore made as though he fled, as well to win time to prepare himself, as to make them beleeve that they were no Christians; whereupon they, like cunning thieves, desi••ing 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: Antonio de Faria, to avoyd this storm, retired under the half deck, with five and twenty Soldiers, 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 va∣liant then the rest, longing to finish their enterprize, leaped into our Junk, with a purpose to make themselves master 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 with∣in an hour to give us the upper hand by the sl••ughter of four and twenty of their forty in the place: Thereupon twenty of ours, pursuing this good success, 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 Faria went with all speed to succor Christovano Borral••o, 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 company, the b••tter to understand what this victory had cost us, and we found there was one Portugal, five Boys, and nine Mariners 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, Antonio de Faria caused as many Mariners to be taken up as could be saved, and commanding 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 alive or dead, whereunto not one of them would make any answer, but chose rather to dye in torments like mad dogs, when as Christovano Borralho cryed out from the Junk where he was, Signior, Signior, come hither quickly, for we have more to do then we think of; whereat Antonio de Faria, accompanyed 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 Iesus have mercy upon us; and that in such a woful manner, as struck u•• 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 little 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 Nicau∣lem, and his Christian name Francisco d•• Saa, being Christned at Malaca, at such time as Garcia de Saa was Captain of the Fortress, and for that he was his godfather, and had caused him to be baptized, he gave him that name, and marryed him to an orphan maid, a very hand∣som wench, the daughter of an honorable Portugal, to oblige him the more to our Religion and Country; but in the year 1534. setting sail for China in a great Junk of his, wherein there accompanyed him twenty of the wealthiest Portugals of Malaca, as also his wife, and arriving at the Island of Pullo Cat••n, they stayd two days to take in fresh water, during which time he and his Company, who were all Chineses like himself, and no better Christians, con∣spired the death of the poor Portugals for to despoyl them of their goods, so that one night whil'st the Portugals were asleep, and little dream'd of such Treason, they killed them all with their little hatchets, and their servants likewise, not sparing the life of 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 Tucan, who in exchang•• would give him a sister of hi••to wife, that was a Chinese, and there with him. But in regard she would nei∣ther adore the Idol, nor consent to the rest, the dog struck her over the head with his hatchet till her brains fl••w out, and then departing from thence went to the Port of Liampoo, where the same year before he had traded; and not daring to go to Patana, for fear of the Portugals that resided there, he wintered at Siam, and the year following he returned to the Port of Chincheo, where he took a little Junk that came from Su••da, with ten Portugals in her, all which he slew; And because the wickedness that he had done us was known over all the Coun∣try, doubting to encounter some Portugal forces, he had retired himself into this straight of Cauche••china, where as a Merchant he traded, and as a Pyrat robbed those he met withall that were weaker then himself. It being now three years since he had taken this River for a refuge of his Robberies, thinking himself secure here from us Portugals, by reason we have not used to traffique in the Ports of this straight, and Island of Ainan. Antonio de Faria asked of him whether those children belonged to the Portugals he had mentioned before; whereunto he answered, that they did not, but that both they, and the boys and girls, were the children of Nuno Preto, Gian de Diaz, and of Pero B••rges, whom he had killed at Mompollacota, near the mouth of the River of Siam in Ioano Oliveyra's Junk, where he also put sixteen Portu∣gals more to death, only he saved their two lives, because one was a shipwright, and the other a Caulker, and had carryed them along with him 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 Portugal••, but some Chinese Merchant, like such as he had accustomed to rob when he found them at advantage, as he thought to have found us. Antonio 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, and taking him by the hand, went with him into the other Junk, that was fastned to his, and having made him view all that lay dead upon the hatches, he

said that it was none of them. Whereupon he commanded a Manchuas, which is a little boat, to be made ready, wherein he and this man went and sought for him amongst the other dead bodies that floated on the water, where they found him with a great cut over his head, and a thrust quite through the body; so causing him to be taken up, and layd 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 Faria 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, having the tail and paws enammelled with green and black, and com∣manding him to be drawn towards the prow, he caused his head to be chopt off, and the rest of the body to be cut in pieces, which were cast into the Sea.

* 1.4Having obtained this victory in the manner I have before declared, 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 Portugal upon them, for the Pyrat had taken them in the three ships where he killed the forty Portugals. The next day Antonio de Faria went about once more to get into the River, but he was advised by fishermen, 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 Chileu, 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 a safe retreat in his Country; so that his loss now being 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 combustible stuff, to be placed at the entering 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 hun∣dred Paraos, 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, named Mutipinan, distant from thence above ••orty leagues towards the East, for that there were many rich Merchants, as well Natives as Strangers, which came in great Troops from the Countries of Laubos, Pafuaas, and Gu••os, with great sums of mony. So we set sail with the three Junks, and the Lor••h, wherein we came from Patana, coasting the Land from one side to the other, by reason of a contrary wind, until we arrived at a place called Tilaumera, where we anchored, for that the current of the water ran very strong against us. After we had continued so three days together, with a contrary wind, and in great want of victual, our good fortune about Evening brought four Lanteaas unto us, that are like unto Foysts, in one of the which was a Bride, that was go∣ing to a Village, named Pandurea: Now because they were all in jollity, 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 Tanauquir's Army, who insulting, for that we were already in their power, gave this testimony thereof. Antonio de Faria left his anchors in the Sea, and preparing himself to sustain all that might happen unto him, he displayed all his Banners and Flags, and with demonstration of joy attended the arri∣val 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 salu∣ted one another after the manner of the Country, they went and anchored by the shore. And because we could not comprehend the mystery of this affair, all our Captains concluded that they were spies from the Enemies Army, which forbore 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 then 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 honor, assure thy self that to kiss thy tardy feet my body would fly as doth the hungry Faulcon

after the fearful Heron; But since I am parted from my fathers house, for to seek thee out here, come thy self hither to me, where indeed I am not, for I cannot see my self, but in see∣ing thee; Now if thou dost not come to see me in the obscurity 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 Vncle 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 deprived of thy so much desired sight; Wherefore I pray thee come unto me, or permit 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 good∣ness keep thee as many years, as the Sun and Moon have 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 ap∣proached 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 presently under hatches; now because the most part of them were drunk, those that were in the Lanteaa ne∣ver heard our bustling with them, nor if they had, could they have had time to escape, for sud∣denly from the top of our poup we fastned a cable to their mast, whereby they were so arrest∣ed, as it was impossible for them to get loose of us; whereupon casting in some pots of pow∣der amongst them, the most of them leapt into the Sea, by which time six or seven of our Sol∣diers, and 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 cryed out that they drowned: Having made them sure, Antonio de Faria went towards the other three Lanteaas, that anchored some quarter of a league from thence, and coming to the first, wherein was the Bride, he entred 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 boys her brothers, that were very white, and certain ancient women, of such as in China are hired for mony to dance, sing, and play of instruments upon like festival occasions. The other two Lanteaas beholding this sad 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 re∣turned 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 Faria 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 a shore, retaining only the Bride, and her two brothers, because they were young, white, and well-favored, and some twenty Mariners, which afterwards were of great use to us for the navigation of our Junks. This Bride, as since we learned, was daughter to the A••chary of Colem (which signifies Governor) and betroth∣ed to a youth, the son of the Chifuu, Captain of Pandurea, who had written unto her that he would attend her in this place with three or four Junks of his fathers, who was very rich, but alass! 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 carryed away his wife. In this jollity he doubled the Cape of Ti∣la••mera, where the day before we took this prize, and there anchored attending his Bride, according as he had written to her, whil'st we sailing on arrived three days after at the Port of Muti••iman, which was the place we aymed at, in regard of the advice that Antonio de Fa∣ria had, that there he might sell off his commodities.

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 1.
• * 1.2

  §. 2.
• * 1.3

  §. 3.
• * 1.4

  §. 4.