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. XLIV. The expedition of the Pangueyran, Emperor of Jaoa, and King of Demaa, against the King of Passeruan, and all that which passed in this war. (Book 44)

* 1.1THe King of Zunda being departed from the Port of Banta the fifth day of Ianua∣ry, in the year one thousand five hundred forty and six, arrived on the nineteenth of the same at the Town of Iapura, where the King of Demaa, Emperor of this Island of Iaoa, was then making his preparatives, having an army on foot of eight hundred thou∣sand men. This Prince being advertised of the King of Zundaes coming, who was his brother-in-law and vassall, he sent the King of Panaruca, Admirall of the Fleet, to re∣ceive him, who brought along with him an hundred and threescore Calaluzes, and nine∣ty Lanchares, full of Luffons from the Isle of Borneo: With all this company he arrived where the King of Zunda was, who entertained him very courteously, and with a great deal of honor. Fourteen daies after our coming to this Town of Iapara, the King of Demaa went and imbarqued himself for the Kingdome of Passar••an in a Fleet of two thousand and seven hundred sails, amongst the which were a thousand high-built Juncks, and all the rest were Vessells with oars. The eleventh of February he arrived at the ri∣ver of Hicandurea, which is at the entrance of the bar; and because the King of Pana∣ruca, Admirall of the Fleet, perceived that the great Vessells could not passe unto the Port, which was two leagues off, by reason of certaine shelves of sand that were in divers parts of the river, he caused all those that were in them to be disimbarqued, and the other V••ssells with oars to go and anchor in the road before the Town, with an in∣tention to burn the Ships that were in the Port, which indeed was accordingly execu∣ted. In this Army was the Emperor Pangu••yran in person, accompanied with all the grande••s of the Kingdome; the King of Zunda, his brother-in-law who was Generall of the Army, went by land with a great part of the forces, and being all arrived at the place where they meant to pitch their Camp, they took care in the first place for the fortifying thereof, and for placing the Canon in the most commodious places to bat∣ter the Town, in which labour they bestowed the most part of the day. As for the night ensuing it was spent in rejoycings, and keeping good watch untill such time as it was day, whenas each Captain applied himself to that whereunto his duty obliged him, all in generall imploying themselves according to the ingineers directions, so that by the second day the whole Town was invironed with high Pallisadoes, and their Plat∣formes fortified with great beames, whereupon they planted divers great pieces of Ordnance, amongst the which were Eagles and Lions of metall, that the Ache••s and Turks had cast by the invention of a certain Renegado, born in the Kingdome of Al∣gar••es, appertaining to the Crown of Portugal, and by reason this wicked wretch had changed his belief, he called himself Coia Geinal, for as for the name which he had be∣fore

when he was a Christian, I am contented to passe it over in silence for the honor of his Family, being indeed of no mean extraction. In the mean time the besieged ha∣ving taken notice how ill-advised they had been in suffering the enemies to labour two whole daies together peaceably in fortifying of their Camp, without any impeachment of theirs; and taking the same for a great affront, they desired their King to permit them to fal upon them the night following, alledging how it was probable that men vvearied vvith labour could not make any great use of their arms, nor be able to resist this first im∣petuosity. The King, who at that time commanded the Kingdom of Passaruan, was young, & indued with many excellent qualities vvhich made him to be exeeedingly beloved of all his subjects, for as it was reported of him, he was very liberal, no manner of Tyrant, ex∣ceedingly affable to the common people, a friend to the poor, and so charitable towards Widovvs, that if they acquainted him vvith their necessities, he relieved them instantly, and did them more good then they asked of him. Besides these perfections that vvere so recommendable, he possessed some others so confor••able to mens desires, as there vvas not any one that vvould not have exposed his life a thousand times for his service if need ••ad been. Furthermore he had none but choice men vvith him, even the flovver of all his Kingdome, besides many strangers, upon vvhom he conferred much vvealth, honor, and many graces, which he accompanied vvith good vvords, that being indeed the means vvhereby the minds both of great and small are so strongly gained, that they make them Lions of sheep, vvhereas carrying ones self other vvayes, of generous Li∣ons, they are made fearfull hares. This King then examining the request vvh••ch his peo∣ple made unto him, and referring himself to the advice of the antientest and most pru∣dent Councellors of his State vvhich vvere vvith him, there vvas a great contention a∣bout the successe that the affairs might have, but in the end, by the counsell of all in ge∣nerall, it vvas concluded That in case ••ortune should be altogether adverse unto them in this sally which they m••ant to make against their enemies, yet would it be a much lesse evill, and lesse consider••ble affront, then to see the King so besieged by vile people, who against all reason would reduce them by force to quit their beliefe, w••erein they had been bred by their Fathers, to imbrace another new one by the suscitation of the Farazes, who place their salva∣tion in washing their parts behind, in not eating of swines flesh, and mar••ying of seven wives, whereby the best advised may easily judge▪ that God was so much their enemy, as he would not assist them in any thing, seeing that with so great offence they would under pretext of Religi∣on, and with reasons so full of contradiction, compell their King to become a Mahometan, and render himself tributary to them To these reasons they added many others, which the King, and they that were with him found to be so good, as they all with one com∣mon consent agreed thereunto, which is en evident mark, that it is a thing no lesse na∣turall for a good Subject to expose his life for his King, then for a vertuous wife to conserve her chastity for the husband which God hath given her: This being so, said they, a matter of so great importance was no longer to be deferred, but we all in gene∣rall, and each one in particular, are by this sally to make demonstration of the extreme affection which we bear to our good King, who we are assured will never be unmindfull of them that shall fight best for his defence, which is all the inheritance we desire to leave to our children Whereupon it was resolved that the night following they should make a sally upon their enemies.

Whereas the joy,* 1.2 which this designed sally brought to all the inhabitants of the Town was generall, they never stayed till they were called, but two hours after midnight, and before the time which the King had appointed, they assembled all in a great place, which was not far from the Royall Palace, and where they of the country had accu∣stomed to keep their Fairs and to solemnize their most remarkable feasts on those prin∣cipall dayes which were destined to the invocation of their Pagod••s. The King in the mean time, wonderfully content to see such heat of courage in them, of seventy thou∣sand inhabitants which were in the Town, drew out twelve thousand only for this en∣terprise, and divided them into four companies, each of them containing three thou∣sand, whereof an Unkle of the Kings was Generall, a man whom experience had ren∣dred very knowing in such undertakings, and that marched in the head of the first com∣pany. Of the second was Captain another of the principall Ma••dacins; Of the third a stranger, a Champaa by Nation, and born in the Island of Barneo; and of the fourth

one called Panbacaluio; all of them good Commanders, very valiant, and exceeding expert in matters of war. When they were all ready, the King made them a Speech, whereby he succinctly represented unto them the confidence which he had in them touching this enterprise. After which, the better to incourage them, and assure them of his love, he took a cup of gold and drunk to them all, causing the chiefest of them to pledge him, and craving pardon of the rest, for that the time would not permit them to do the like. This gracious carriage of his so incouraged the souldiers, that without further delay the most part of them went and annoynted themselves with Mi••hamun∣di, which is a certain confection of an odoriferous oyle, wherewith these people are ac∣customed to frote themselves with, when they have taken a full resolution to die, and these same are ordinarily called A••acos. The hour being come wherein this sally was to be made, four of twelve gates that were in the Town were opened, thorough each of the which sallied forth one of the four Captaines with his company, having first sent out for Spies into the Camp six Orobalons, of the most valiant that were about the King, whom he had honored with new titles, and with such speciall favours, as use to give courage to them that want it, and to increase it in them that are indued with some resolution. The four Captains marched a little after the six Spies, and went and joyned all together in a certain place, where they were to fight with the enemies: whereupon falling into the midst of them with a marvellous impetuosity, they fought so valiantly, that in lesse then an houres time, which the fight indured, the twelve thousand Passaru∣ans left above thirty thousand enemies upon the place, besides those that were wound∣ed, which were in a far greater number, and whereof many died afterwards. Further∣more they took prisoner three Kings, and eight Pates, which are as the Dukes amongst us, the King of Zunda too, with whom we forty Portugalls were, could not so save himselfe, but that he was hurt with a Lance in three places, a number being killed in de∣fending him. Thus was the Camp put in so great disorder, as it was almost destroyed, the Pa••gueyran himself being wounded with a dart, and constrained to leap into the water, where little lacked but that he had been drowned. Whereby one may see what the force of a number of resolute and fearlesse men is against such as are surprised when least they think of it; for before that the enemies could know what they did, or the Commanders could put their souldiers into order, they were twice routed. The next morning, as soon as the day gave them leave to know the truth of the businesse, the Passeruans retired into the Towne, where they found that they had not lost a∣bove nine hundred of their men, nor more then two or three thousand hurt.

It is scarcely to be believed how much the King of Demaa was grieved with the disa∣ster of the former day,* 1.3 as wel for the affront which he received from those within by the losse of his people, as for the bad successe of the beginning of this siege, whereof he seem∣ed in some sort to impute the fault unto our King of Zunda, saying that this fortune had happened by the bad directions he had given to the Centinells. Now after he had com∣manded that the wounded should be drest, and the dead buried, he called to Councell all the Kings, Princes, and Captains of the forces that he had, both by Land and Wa∣ter, unto whom he said, That he had made a solemn vow, and oath upon the M••zapho of Ma∣homet, which is their Alcoran, or the book of their Law, never to raise the siege from before this Town, untill he had utterly destroyed it, or lost his own State therein. Whereunto he added, That he protested he would put to death whomsoever should oppose this resolution of his, what reason soever he could alledge thereupon; which begot so great a terror in the minds of all that heard him, as there was not one that du••st contradict his will, but con∣trarily they infinitely approved and commended it. He used then all kind of diligence for the new fortifying of the Camp with good ditches, strong Pallisadoes, & divers Bul∣works made of stone and timber, garnished on the inside with their Platformes, where he caused a great many of Canons to be planted, so that by this meanes the Camp was stronger then the Towne it selfe, in regard whereof the besieged did often times jeere the Centinells without, telling them, That it must needs be concluded they were notorious cowards, since instead of besieging their enemies like valiant men, they besieged themselves like feeble women, wherefore they bid them return•• home to their houses, where it was fitter for them to fall to spinning, then to make war. These were the jeers which they ordinarily

put upon the besiegers, who vvere greatly offended vvith them. This Tovvne had been almost three moneths besieged, and yet had the enemies advanced but little, for during all that time, vvherein there had been five batteries, and three assaults given to it, with above a thousand ladders planted against the vvalls, the besieged defended themselves still like valiant and couragious men, fortifying them selves vvith counter-mires which they opposed to the breaches, vvhich they made vvith pieces of timber taken from the houses; so that all the power of the Pangueyran, which (as I have declared) was about eight hundred thousand men, whereof the number was much diminished, was not able to give him entrance into it. Hereupon the principall Ingineer of the Camp, who was a Renegado of Maillorque, seeing that this affair had not a successe answerable to what he had promised the King, he resolved to take another far different course. To that ef∣fect, with a great amasse of earth and bavins he framed a kind of a Platform, which he fortified with six rows of beames, and wrought so, that in nine dayes he raised it a fa∣thom higher then the wall▪ that done, he planted forty great pieces of Canon upon it, together with a number of Bases and Faulconets, wherewith he fell to battering the Town in such sort, as the besieged were therewith mightily damnified, so that the King perceiving that this invention of the enemy was the only thing in the world that could most incommodate him in the Towne, he resolved by the meanes of ten thousand Vo∣lunteers, who had offered themselves unto him for that purpose, and to whom for •• mark of honor he gave the title of Tygers of the world, to attacque this Fort, and they that were upon it; this matter was no sooner resolved upon, but was presently put in execution, and for the better incouragement of them, the King himselfe would be their Captaine, albeit this whole enterprise was governed by the four Panari••ons, which had formerly commanded in the first sally. Having put themselves into the field then with the rising of the Sun, they fought so valiantly without any fear at all of the dreadfull Ordnance; which were planted on the Platform, as in lesse then two Credoes they got to the top of it, and there setting on the enemies, who were thirty thousand in num∣ber, they defeated them all in a very short time. The Pangueyran of Pate seeing his forces thus routed, ran thither in person with twenty thousand choice souldiers, intend∣ing to beat the Passeruans from the place which they had gained, but they defended it so couragiously, as is not possible to expresse it in words. This bloudy battell having in∣dured till evening, the Passeruan, who had lost the most part of his men, made his re∣treat into the Towne by the gate that was next to the Platforme, whereunto having first set fire in six or seven places, it took hold of some barrells of powder, whereof there was great store there, which inflamed it so terribly in severall parts, as it was not possible to approach unto it by the space of a flight shoot; this accident was very favour∣able to the besieged, because the enemies were thereby kept from joyning together, and so the Towne was for this time preserved from the great danger wherewithall it was threatned; howbeit the Passeruans scap't not so scot-free, but that of the ten thousand Volunteers imployed in this service, six thousand remained dead on the top of the Plat∣forme. True it is, that in the Pangueyran part there vvas above forty thousand killed, amongst the vvhhich vvere three thousand strangers of divers Nations, the most part A∣chems, Turks, and Malabares, as also twelve Pates, or Dukes, five Kings, with many o∣ther Commanders, and men of quality.

All this night was spent on both sides in lamentations and complaints, as also in dressing the vvounded, and casting the dead into the river.* 1.4 The next morning as soone as it was day the Pangueyran of Pata seeing the bad successe which his enterprise had had untill that present, could not for all that be dravvn to desist from it, so that he caused all his souldiers to prepare themselves for a nevv assaulting of the Tovvne, being persvvaded that the besieged had no great force lef•• to defend them vvithall, considering their vvalls vvere overthrovvn in many places, their ammunition spent, the most part of their people slaine, and their King dangerously hurt, at leastvvise it vvas so reported. Novv the better to be assured thereof, he caused some of his forces to be laid in ambush in certain avenues, by vvhich he had been advertised, that divers of the frontizing inhabitants vvould passe, to bring unto the Tovvne Eggs, Pullaine, and o∣ther such like things necessary for the recovery of sick persons. Novv they, vvhom he had sent for that purpose, arrived at the Camp a little before day, and brought nine

prisoners with them, amongst the which there was one Portugal. After then that they had racked and tortured the other eight, & were come to do as much to the Portugal, who was the last, he imagined that it may be they would shew him some favour if he de∣clared unto them what he was, so that upon the first torment he cried out, That he was a Portugal, he not knowing hitherto any thing of us, nor we of him: Our King of Zun∣da no sooner heard this Declaration of his, but he commanded him to be taken from the rack, and instantly sent for us to know whether that which this wretch delivered was true; whereupon six of us that were the least hurt went unto him, and at the first sight we judged him by his countenance to be a Portugal, so that prostrating our selves before the King, we besought him to give us this man, representing unto him, that in re∣gard he was of our Nation we were bound to make this suit for him, which he very willingly granted us, and so we in way of thankfullnesse kissed his feet. After we had received him, we carried him to the place where our companions lay wounded, and then we would needs understand of him whether he were a Portugal indeed, because he look∣ed so strangely as we could not well know him, no not by his speech; but after he was a little come to himselfe, and that he had shed a many of teares, My Masters, said he un∣to us, I assure you that I am a Christian, and a Portugal, both by father and mother, al∣though as you see I do not weare the habit of one; my country is Penamocor, and my name Nuno Rodriguez Taborda; I went out of Portugal in the year one thousand five hundred and thirteen, after I had inrolled my self in the Marshalls Army, and in the Ship called the S. Joano, whereof Ruy Diaz Pereyra was Captaine. Now because in those first beginnings I shewed my self in all occasions a worthy man, Alphonso d'Albuquerque made me Cap∣tain of the four brigandines which he had in the Indiaes at that time; afterwards I was pre∣sent with him at the taking of Goa and Malaca; withall I laboured in the foundations of Or∣muz and Calecut, never failing in any of the services performed in those times by that famous Commander, to whom so many different Nations do at this day give the title of Great. I con∣tinued the same proof of my courage during the Governments of Lopo, Suarez, of Diego, Lopez de Siqueyra, and of other Governors of the Indiaes, even unto Don An••iaque de Me∣nesez, who succeeded to that charge by the death of the Vice Roy Vasco de Gama; who at the entrance into his Government made Francisco de Sa Generall of a Fleet of twelve Vessells, wherein were three hundred men which he was to make use of for the building of a Fort at Zunda, in regard of the feare they were then in of the Spaniards, who at that time went to the Molucca••s by the new way which Magellan ••ad discovered unto them; in this Fleet I was made Captain of a Brigandine, called the S. Jorge, where I commanded over six and twen∣ty very couragious and valiant men. We departed then from the bar of Bintan, whenas Pe∣dro de Mascarenhas destroyed it; but when we arrived at the Isle of Lingua, we were beaten with so furious a tempest, that unable to resist it, we were forced to make towards Jaoa, where of seven rowing Vessells that we were, six were lost, and my sins would have it that mine was one of that number; besides for my greater infortune, the tempest cast my Brigandine upon the coast of this Country, where I have now remained these three and twenty years, not one of all that were in the Vessell escaping save three of my companions, who are every one dead but my self, and would to God it had pleased him to shew me the grace that I had been so too, that so I might not have offended him as I have done since, for seeing my self continually pressed by th••se Gentiles to follow their pernicious errors, I withstood them a long time, but whereas the flesh is fraile, being very poor, far from my country, and without hope of liberty, my sins made me at their intreaties to yeeld to that which they desired of me with so much im∣portunity; by reason whereof this King•• Father did me many great favours; and being sent for yesterday from a place where I was to look unto two of the chiefest Gentlemen of this coun∣try, it pleased God that I fell into the hands of these dogs, to the end I should no longer be one, for which the Lord be blessed for evermore. This mans discourse exceedingly astonished us, and as much as the novelty of so strange an accident required, so that having com∣forted him as well as we could in such termes as we thought were necessaty for the time wherein we were, we asked him whether he would go with us to Zunda, and from thence to Malaca, where God might shew him the grace to die in his service like a good Christian. Whereunto having made answer, that he desired nothing more, and that he had never had other design, we gave him another habit, because he was cloathed like a Pagan, and kept him alwayes with us as long as the siege lasted.

Notes

• * 1.1

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• * 1.2

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• * 1.3

  §. 3.
• * 1.4

  §. 4.