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. XVIII. What Antonio de Faria did with the Captain of the Pyrats Iunk; that which past be∣tween him and the people of the Country; with our casting away upon the Island of Theeves. (Book 18)

ANtonio de Faria having obtained this Victory in the manner I have related,* 1.1 the first thing he did was to see his hurt men drest, as that which chiefly imported him; then being given to understand that the Pyrat Hinimilau, the Captain of the Junk he had taken, was one of the sixteen he had saved, he commanded him to be brought before him, and after he had caused him to be drest of two wounds that he had received, he demanded of him what was become of the young Portugals which he held as Slaves? Whereunto the Pyrat, being mad with rage, having answered that he could not tell, upon the second demand that was made him with menaces, he said, that if first they would give him a little water, in regard he was so dry as he was not able to speak, that then he would consider what answer to make. Thereupon having water brought him, which he drunk so greedily as he spilt the most part of it without quenching his thirst, he desired to have some more given him, protesting, that if they would let him drink his fill, he would oblige himself by the Law of Mahomets Alcoran voluntarily to confess all that they desired to know of him. Antonio de Faria, having given him as much as he would drink, questioned him again about the young Christians, whereto he replyed, that he should find them in the chamber of the prow; thereupon he commanded three Soldiers to go thither and fetch them, who had no sooner opened the scuttle to bid them come up, but they saw them lie dead in the place with their throats cut, which made them cry out, Iesus, Iesus, come hither we beseech you, Sir, and behold a most lamentable spectacle; hereat Antonio de Faria, and those that were with him, ran thither, and beholding those youths lying so o••e

upon another, he could not forbear shedding of tears; having caused them then to be brought upon the deck, together with a woman and two pretty children, about seven or eight years old, that had their throats also cut, he demanded of the Pyrat why he had used such cruelty to those poor innocents: Whereunto he answered, that it was because they were Traytors, in discover∣ing themselves to those, which were such great Enemies to him as the Portugals were, and also for that having heard them call upon their Christ for help, he desired to see whether he would deliver them; as for the two infants, there was cause enough to kill them, for that they were the childr••n of Portugals, whom he ever hated: with the like extravagancy he an∣swered to many other questions, which were propounded to him, and that with so much obstinacy as if he had been a very Devil. Afterwards being asked whether▪ he were a Christian, he answered, no, but that he had been one at such time as Don Paulo de Ga∣ma was Captain of Malaca. Whereupon Antonio de Faria demanded of him, what moved him, since he had been a Christian, to forsake the Law of Iesus Christ, wherein he was assured of his salvation, for to embrace that of the false Prophet Mahomet, from whence he could hope for nothing but the loss of his Soul. Thereunto he answered, that he was induced so to do, for that so long as he was a Christian, the Portugals had al∣ways contemned him, whereas before when he was a Gentile they called him Quiay Ne∣coda, that is to say, Signior Captain, but that respect immediately upon his Baptism for∣sook him, which he verily believed did arrive to him by Mahomets express permission, to the end it should open his eyes to turn Mahometan, as after he did at Bintan, where the King of Iantana was in person present at the ceremony, and that ever since he had much honored him, and that all the Mandarins called him brother, in regard of the vow he had made upon the holy Book of Flowers, that as long as he lived he would be a sworn Enemy to the Portugals, and of all others that profest the Name of Christ, for which both the King and the Cacis Moulana had exceedingly cōmended him, promising that his Soul should be most blessed if he performed that vow. Being likewise demanded how long ago it was since he revolted, what Portugal Ves∣sels he had taken, how many men he had put to death, and what Merchandize he had despoyled them of? He answered, that it was seven years since he became a Mahometan; that the first Vessel he took was Luiso de Pavia's Junk, which he surprized in the River of Liamp••o with four hundred Bars of Pepper only, and no other spice, whereof having made himself master, that he had put to death eighteen Portugals, besides their slaves, of whom he made no reckon∣ing, because they were not such as could satisfie the Oath he had made; That after this prize he had taken four ships, and in them put to death above an hundred persons, amongst whom there was some threescore and ten Portugals, and that he thought the Merchandize in them amount∣ed to fifteen or sixteen hundred Bars of Pepper, whereof the King of Pan had the better moity for to give him a safe retrait in his Ports, and to secure him from the Portugals, giving him to that purpose an hundred men, with commandment to obey him as their King. Being further demanded, whether he had not killed any Portugals, or lent an hand for the doing thereof, he said no, but that some two years before, being in the River of Choaboquec on the Coast of China, a great Junk arrived there with a great many Portugals in her, whereof an intimate friend of his, named Ruy Lobo, was Captain, whom Don Estevan de Gama, then Governor of the Fortress of Malaca, had sent thither in the way of commerce, and that upon the sale of his commodities going out of the Port, his Junk about five days after took so great a leak, as not being able to clear her, he was constrained to return towards the same Port from whence he parted, but that by ill fortune clapping on all his sails to get the sooner to Land, she was overset by the violence of the wind, so as all were cast away saving Ruy Lobo, seventeen Portu∣gals, and some slaves, who in their skiff made for the Island of Laman, without sail, without wa∣ter, or ••ny manner of victual; That in this extremity Ruy Lobo, relying on the ancient friendship that was between them, came with tears in his eyes, and pray'd him on his knees to receive him and his into his Junk, which was then ready to set sail for Patana, whereunto he agreed upon condition that therefore he should give him two thousand duckets, for the performance where∣of he bound himself by his Oath of a Christian. But that after he had taken them in, he was counselled by the Mahometans not to trust unto the friendship of Christians, lest he might en∣danger his own life, for when they had recovered strength, they would without doubt seize upon his Junk, and all the goods that were in her, it being their usual custom so to do in all places where they found themselves the strongest: wherefore fearing lest that which the Maho∣metans suggested should befall him, he slew them all on a night as they slept, for the which not∣withstanding

he was sorry afterwards. This declaration so much incensed Antonio de Faria, and all that were about him, as indeed the enormity of so wicked a fact did require, that pre∣sently, without questioning or hearing of him further, he commanded him to be put to death with four more of his company, and so they were all thrown into the Sea.

This justice being executed on the Pyrat and his four companions,* 1.2 Antonio de Faria caused an Inventory to be taken of all that was in the Junk, which was adjudged to amount unto forty thousand Taeis ••o raw and twisted Silk, pieces of Sattin, Damask, Musk, fine Pource∣lains, and other less valuable commodities, which with the Junk we were constrained to burn, because we wanted Mariners for our navigation. With these valorous exploits the Chineses were so amazed, as they stood in dread of the very mention of the name of the Portugals, in so much that the Necodae••, or Masters, of the Junks, that were in the Port, fearing the like might be done to them, assembled all together in councel; and there making Election of two of the principal amongst them, whom they held most capable of performing their charge, they sent them as Embassadors unto Antonio de Faria, desiring him, that as King of the Sea he would protect them upon the assurance of his word, so as they might pass safely out of the pl••ce where they were, for to make their voyage whil'st the season served; in consideration whereof, as his Tributar••es, subjects, and slaves, they would give him twenty thousand Taeis in Ingots of Silver, wherof payment should be made out of hand by way of acknowledging him to be their Lord. Antonio de Faria received them very courteously, and granting their request, protested and sware to perform the same, and upon his word to protect them for the future from having any of their goods taken from them by any Pyrat. Whereupon one of the Embassadors remained as surety for the twenty thousand Taeis, and the other went to fetch the Ingots, which he brought an hour after, together with a rich present of many several things sent him over and above by the Necodaes. This done, Antonio de Faria desiring to ad∣vance a servant of his, named Cost••▪ made him Clark of the Patents that were to be granted to the Necodaes, whereof he presently set a rate, namely five Taeis for a Junk, and two Ta••is for a Vaneo, Lanta••, and small Barq••e, which proved so beneficial to him, that in the space of thirteen days, wherein these Patents were dispatched, he got (according the report of those that envyed him) above four thousand Taeis in silver, besides many good gratuities that were given him for expedition: The form of these Patents was thus, I give assurance up∣on my word to Necoda such a one, that he shall sail safely all about the Coast of China with∣out any disturbance of any that belongs to me, upon condition that wheresoever he meets with any Portugals he shall ••••••reat them as brethren; and underneath he signed, Antonio de Faria: All which Pa••ents were most exactly observed, and by that means he was so redoubted all a∣long this Coast, as the Ch••••m himself of the Island of Ainan, who is the Viceroy thereof, up∣on the report which he heard of him, sent to visit him by his Embassador, with a rich present of Pearls and Jewels, as also a Letter, whereby he desired him to take entertainment from the son of the Sun, a name which they give to the Emperor of this Monarchy, for to serve him as Commander General of all the Coast from Lamau to Liampoo, with ten thousand Taeis Pension yearly, and that if he carryed himself well, according to the renown went of him, he assured him that upon the expiration of his three years charge he should be advanced into the rank of the Chaems of the State, and that such men as he, if they were faithful, might at∣tain to be one of the twelve Futoens of the Empire, whom the soveraign son of the Sun, be∣ing the Lion crowned on the Throne of the World, admitted to his bed and board, as mem∣bers united to his person by means of the honor, power, and command that he gave them, with an annual Pension of an hundred thousand Taeis. Antonio de Faria gave him many thanks for this offer, and excused himself with complements after their manner; saying, that he was not capable of so great f••vor as he would honor him withall, but that without any re∣gard at all of mony he would be ready to serve him as often as the Tutoens of Pequin would be pleased to command him. After this going out of the Port of Mad••l, where he had been fourteen days, he ran all along the Coast of that Country for to find out Coia Acem, it being the main design of all his voyage, as I have declared before: Imagining then that he might meet with him in some of these places, he stayd there above six months, with much pain and h••zard of his person; At length he arrived at a very fair Town, named Quangiparu, wherein were goodly buildings and Temples: In this Port he abode all that day and the night follow∣ing, under colour of being a Merchant, peaceably buying that which was brought him aboard; And because it was a Town of fifteen hundred fires, as we guessed, the next morning by break

of day we set sail without any great notice taken of us. So returning to Sea, although it were with a contrary wind, in twelve days with a troublesom navigation he visited the shores both of the South and North Coasts, without incountring any thing worthy the observation, al∣though they were replenished with a many of little Villages, whereof divers were inclosed with walls of brick, but not strong enough to withstand the force of thirty good Soldiers, the people of themselves being very weak, and having no other Arms but staves hardned in the fire; howsoever the scituation of this Country was under one of the best and fertilest Climates on the Earth, abounding with great store of cattel, and many goodly large fields, sowed with Wheat, Rice, Barly, Millet, and sundry other kinds of grain; as also replenished with many great groves of Pine, and Angeline trees, as in the Indiaes, able to furnish a world of ship∣ing: Moreover, by the relation of certain Merchants, Antonio de Faria was informed, that in this Land there were many Mynes of Copper, Silver, Tin, Saltpeter, Sulphur, and an infi∣nite deal of untilled, but excellently good ground, altogether neglected by this weak Nation, which were it in our power, we might in all probability be more advanced in the Indiaes, then now we are through the unhappiness of our sins.

* 1.3After we had been seven months and an half in this Country, sometimes on the one side, sometimes on the other, from River to River, and on both Coasts, North and South, as also in the Isle of Ainan, without hearing any news of Coia Acem, the Soldiers, weary of so long and tedious travel, assembled all together, and desired Antonio de Faria to make a partition of that which had been gotten, according to a promise before made to them by a note under his hand, saying that thereupon they would return unto the Indiaes, or where else they thought good, whereby a great deal of stir arose amongst us; At length it was agreed, that we should go and winter in Siam, where all the goods which were in the Junk should be sold, and being reduced into gold, division should be made of it, as was desired. With this accord, sworn and signed by all, we went and anchored in an Island, called the Island of Thieves, in regard it was the outermost Island of all that Bay, to the end that from thence we might make our voyage with the first fair wind that should blow. So having continued there twelve days with an earnest desire to effect the agreement we had made together, it fortuned, that by the conjunction of the new Moon in October, which we had always feared, there arose such a tempest of rain and wind, as seemed to be no natural thing, in so much that lying open to the South wind, as we traverst the Coast, the waves went so high, that though we used all means possible to save our selves, cutting down our Masts, and all the dead works from poop to prow, as also casting into the Sea even the most part of our merchandize, reducing our great Ordnance into their places again, out of which they had been toss'd, and strengthening our Cables, that were half rotten, with ropes; But all this was not able to preserve us, for the night was so dark, the weather so cold, the sea so rough, the wind so high, and the storm so horrible, that in these extremities nothing could deliver us but the meer mercy of God, whom with continual cries and tears we called upon for help: But for as much as in regard of our sins we did not de∣serve to receive this grace at his hands, his divine justice ordained, that about two hours after midnight there came such a fearful gust of wind, as drove our four vessels foul one of another upon the shore, where they were all broken to pieces, so that four hundred and fourscore men were drowned, amongst which were eight Portugals, and it pleased God that the remainder, being fifty three persons, were saved, whereof three and twenty were Portugals, the rest slaves and Mariners. After this lamentable shipwrack we got half naked, and most of us hurt, into a Marish hard by, where we stay'd till the next morning, and as soon as it was day we return∣ed to the Sea side, which we found all strewed with dead bodies, a spectacle of that dread and horror as scarce any one of us could forbear swooning to behold it; over them we stood lamenting a great while, till such time an Antonio de Faria, who by the mercy of God was one of those that remained alive, whereof we were all very glad, concealing the grief which we could not dissemble, came where we were, having on a scarlet coat, that he had taken from one of the dead, and with a joyful countenance, his eyes dry and voyd of tears, he made a short speech unto us, wherein he remonstrated how variable and uncertain the things of this world were, and therefore he desired us as Brethren, that we would endevor to forget them, seeing the remembrance of them was but a means to grieve us; for considering the time and ••i••erable estate whereunto we were reduced, we saw how necessary his counsel was: And ••ow he hoped that God would in this desolate place present us with some good opportunity to ••ame our selves, and how we might be assured that he never permitted any evil but for a greater

good; moreover how he firmly believed, that though we had now lost five hundred thousand crowns, we should ere it were long get above six hundred thousand for them. This brief ex∣hortation was heard by us all with tears and discomfort enough, so we spent two days and an half there in burying the dead, during which time we recovered some wet victuals and provi∣sions to sustain us withall, but they lasted not above five days of fifteen that we stayed there, for by reason of their wetness they corrupted presently, and did us little good. After these fif∣teen days it pleased God, who never forsakes them that truly put their trust in him, miracu∣lously to send us a remedy, whereby we escaped out of that misery we were in, as I will de∣clare hereafter.

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 1.
• * 1.2

  §. 2.
• * 1.3

  §. 3.