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. XLV. The death of the King of Demaa by a very strange accident, and that which arrived thereupon. (Book 45)

TO come again now to our history, you are to understand, that the Pangueyran of Pata, King of Demaa, being certified by some of the enemies,* 1.1 whom his men had taken prisoners, of the piteous estate whereunto the besieged were reduced, the most part of them dead, their ammunition failing, and their King dangerously hurt; all these things together carried him more ardently then ever to the assault, which he had purpo∣sed with himself to give to the besieged Town. He resolved then to scale it in plain day, and to assault it with more violence then before, so that instantly great preparations were made over all the Camp, where divers Serjeants at Armes, on horseback, and car∣rying Maces on their shoulders, went proclaiming aloud after the men of war had been made to assemble together with the sound of trumpets, The Pangueyran of Pata by the power of him who hath created all things, Lord of the Lands which inviron the Seas, being willing to discover unto all in generall the secret of his soul▪ doth let you know, that nine daies hence he will have you be in a readiness, to the end that with the courages of Tygers, and re∣doubled forces, you assist him in the assault which he intends to give unto the Town, for a re∣compence whereof he liberally promiseth to do great favours, as well in money, as in honorable and remarkable titles, those to the five souldiers▪ which fi••st of all shall plant colours on the enemies walls, or that shall perform actions which shall be agreeable to him. Whereas contra∣rily, they which do not carry themselves valiantly in this enterprise, conformably to his plea∣sure, shall be executed by the way of justice, without any regard had to their condition. This Ordinance of the Kings, full of menaces, being published over every part of the Camp, put them into such an alarm, as the Commanders began incontinently to make them∣selves ready, and to provide all things necessary for this assault, without scarce taking a∣ny rest either day or night, making withall so great a noyse, by intermingling their hues and cries with the sounds of drums, and other instruments of war, as it could not be heard without much terror. In the mean time, whereas of the nine daies, destined for the purpose aforesaid, seven were already p••st, so as there rested no more but two, at the end whereof an assault was to be given to the Towne, one morning as the Pan∣gueyran sate in Councell, to resolve of the ••ffairs of this siege with the principall Lords of his Army, as also of the means, of the time, and places, whereby they were to as∣sault the Town, and of other necessary things, it was said, that from the diversity of o∣pinions, which the one and the other had, there arose so great a contention amongst them, as the King was constrained to take every ones advice in writing. During this time, whereas he had alwayes neer about him a young Page, who carried Bethel, an herb whose leaves are like unto Plantain, which these Pagans are accustomed to chaw, because it makes them have a sweet breath, and also purges the humours of the stomack; he ask∣ed this Page then for some of it, who at first seemed not to hear him, being much about twelve or thirteen years old, for I hold it fit to make mention of his age, in regard of that I am to say of him hereafter. Now to return to the Pangueyran, as he vvas conti∣nuing his discourse vvith his Councell of War; thorough much speaking, and somevvhat in choler, his mouth became dry, so that he asked the Page again for some Bethel, which he ordinarily carried in a little box of gold, but he heard him no more this se∣cond time, then he had done the first; insomuch as the King having asked him for some the third time, one of the Lords that vvas neere to the Page pulled him by the sleeve, and bid him give the King some Bethel, vvhich immediately he did, and falling on his knees he presented him vvith the box vvhich he had in his hands; the King then took tvvo or three leaves of it, as he used to do, and vvithout being othervvise angry, giving him a light touch vvith his hand on the head, art thou deaf, said he unto him, that thou couldst not hear me? and thereupon re-entred into discourse vvith them of his Coun∣cell. Novv because these Iaoas are the most punctillious and perfidious Nation of the vvorld, and that vvithall they of this country hold it for the greatest affront that can be done thena, vvhen one gives them a touch on the head, this young Page imagining that the King had touched him so out of a mark of so great a contempt, as he should thereby be made infamous for ever, though indeed none of the company took notice of

it, he went aside weeping and sobbing by himself, and in the end resolved to revenge the injury which the King had done him, so that drawing out a little knife which he wore at his girdle, he stabbed the King with it into the midst of the left pap, and so because the blow was mortall, the King fell instantly down on the ground, not able to say any more then these two or three words, I am dead: wherewithall those of the Councell were so frighted, as it is not possible to expresse it. After that this emotion was a lit∣tle calmed, they fell first unto looking to the King, to see if some remedy might not be applied to his wound; but because he was hurt just in the heart there was no hope of recovery, so that he died within a very short time after: Presently they seized on the Page, whom they put to torture, by reason of some suspitions which they had upon this accident, but he never confessed any thing, and said nought els, save▪ That he had done it of his own free will, and to be revenged of the blow which the King had given him on his head by way of contempt, as if he had struck some dog that was barking up and down the streets in the night, without considering that he was the son of the Pate Pondan, Lord of Sure∣bayaa. The Page then was impaled alive, with a good big stake, which was thrust in at his Fundament, and came out at the nape of his neck. As much was done to his Fa∣ther, to three of his brothers, and to threescore and twelve of his kinsmen, so that his whole Race was exterminated, upon which so cruell and rigorous an execution, many great troubles ensued afterwards in all the country of Iaoa, and in all the Islands of ••ale, Tymor, and Madura, which are very great, and whereof the Governors are Sove∣raigns by their Lawes, and from all antiquity. After the end of this execution, que∣stion was made what should be done with the Kings body, whereupon there were ma∣ny different opinions amongst them, for some said, that to bury him in that place was as much as to leave him in the power of the Passeruans; and others, that if he were tran∣sported to Demaa, where his Tomb was, it was not possible but that it would be cor∣rupted before it arrived there; whereunto was added, that if they interred him so putri∣fied and corrupted, his soul could not be received into Paradis••, according to the Law of the country, which is that of Mahomet, wherein he died. After many contestations thereupon, in the end they followed the counsell which one of our Portugals gave them, that was so profitable to him afterwards, as it was worth him above ten thousand duckats, wherewith the Lords rewarded him as it were in vye of one another for a re∣compence of the good service which he did then to the deceased. This counsell was, that they should put the body into a Coffin full of Lime and Camphire, and so bury it in a Junck also full of earth; so that albeit the thing was not so marvellous of it self, yet left it not to be very profitable to the Portugals, because they all found it very good, and well invented, as indeed the successe of it was such, as by means thereof the Kings body was carried to Demaa, without any kind of corruption or ill savour.

As soon as the Kings body was put into the Iunck appointed for it, the King of Zun∣da,* 1.2 Generall of the Army, caused the great Ordinance and the ammunition to be im∣barqued, and with the least noyse that might be, committed to safe custody the most precious things the King had, together with all the treasures of the Tents. But what∣soever care and silence was used therein, the enemy could not be kept from having some inkling of it, and from understanding how things went in the Camp, so that in∣stantly the King marched out of the Town in person, with only three thousand soul∣diers of the past confederacy, who by a solemn vow caused themselves to be annoynted with the oyle which they call Minhamundi, as men resolved, and that had vowed them∣selves to death. Thus fully determined as they vvere, they went and fell upon the ene∣mies, whom finding busie in trussing up their baggage, they intreated so ill, as in lesse then half an hours space, for no longer lasted the heat of the fight, they cut twelve thou∣sand of them in pieces. Withall they took two Kings, and five Pates, or Dukes prison∣ers, together with above three hundred Turks, Abyssines, and Achems, yea and their Ca∣••ismoubana, the Soveraign dignity amongst the Mahometans, by whose counsell the Pangueyran was come thither. There vvere also four hundred ships burnt, vvherein vvere the hurt men, so that by this means all the Camp vvas neer lost. After this the King retreated into the Tovvn vvith his men, vvhereof he lost but four hundred. In the mean time the King of Zunda having caused the remainder of the Army to be re-im∣barqued vvith all speed the same day, being the nineth of March, they set saile

directly for the City of Demaa, bringing along with them the body of the Pangueyran, vvhich upon the arrivall thereof vvas received by the people vvith great cries, and strange demonstrations of a universall mourning. The day after a re∣vievv vvas taken of all the men of vvar, for to knovv hovv many vvere dead, and there vvas found missing an hundred and thirty thousand; vvhereas the Passeruans, according to report, had lost but five and tvventy thousand; but be it as it vvill, and let fortune make the best market that she can of these things, yet they never arrive, but the field is died vvith the bloud of the vanquishers, and by a stronger reason vvith that of the van∣guished, to vvhom these events do alvvayes cost far dearer, then to the others. The same day there vvas question of creating a nevv Pangueyran, vvho, as I have said heretofore, is Emperor over all the Pates and Kings of that great Archipelago, vvhich the Chineses, Tartar, Iapon, and Lequio, Historians are vvont to call Raterra Vendau, that is to say, the eye-lid of the world, as one may see in the Card, if the elevation of the heights prove true. Novv because that after the death of the Pangueyran, there vvas not a lavvfull suc∣cessor to be found that might inherit this Crovvn, it vvas resolved that one should be made by election; for vvhich effect by the common consent of all, eight men vvere cho∣sen, as heads of all the people, to create a Pangueyran. These same assembled then to∣gether in a house, and after order had been taken for the pacifying of all things in the City, they continued seven vvhole daies together vvithout being able to come to any agreement about this election; for vvhereas there vvere eight pretendents of the prin∣cipall Lords of the Kingdome, there vvere found amongst these Electors many different opinions, vvhich proceeded from this, that the most part, or all of them, vvere meerly allied to these ••ight, or to their kinsmen, so that each one laboured to make him Pan∣gueyran, vvhich vvas most to his mind. Whereupon the inhabitants of the City, and the souldiers of the Army, making use of this delay to their advantage, as men vvho imagi∣ned that this affair vvould never be terminated, and that there vvould be no chastise∣ment for them, they began shamelessly to break out into all kind of actions full of in∣solency and malice. And forasmuch as there vvas a great number of Merchants Ships in the Port, they got aboard them, and fell pell-mell to rifling both of strangers, and those of the country, vvith so much licentiousnesse, as it vvas said, that in four daies they took an hundred Juncks, vvherein they killed above six thousand men; vvhereof notice being given to the King of Panaruca, Prince of Balambuam, and Admirall of the Sea of this Empire, he ran thither with all speed, and of the number of those which were convicted of manifest robbery, he caused fourscore to be hanged all along the shore, to the terror of those that should behold them. After this action, Quiay Ansedeaa, Pate or Duke of Cherbom, who was Governor of the Towne, and greatly in authori∣ty, taking this which the King of Panaruca had done for a manifest contempt, because he had, said he, little respected his charge of Governor, was so mightily offended ••t it, as having instantly got together about six or seven thousand men, he went and 〈…〉〈…〉 this Kings Palace, with an intent to seize upon his person; but the Panaruca resisted him with his followers, and as it was said▪ he endeavoured with many complements to justifie himself to him all that ever he could; whereunto Quiay Ans••d••aa was so far from having any regard, as contrarily entring by force into his house he flew thirty or forty of his men; in the mean time so many people ran to this mutiny as it was a dread∣full thing to behold. For whereas these two heads were great Lords, one Admirall of the Fleet, the other Governor of the Town, and both of them allied to the principall families of the Country, the devill sowed so great a division amongst them, as if night had not separated the fight, it is credible that not one of them had escaped; neverthe∣lesse the difference went yet much farther, and ended not so; for the men of war, who were at that time above six hundred thousand in number, coming to consider the great affront which Quiay Ansedeaa, Governor of the Town, had done to their Admirall, they to be revenged thereof went all ashore the same night, the Pa••aruca not being of power enough to keep them from it, notwithstanding he laboured all that he could to do it. Thus all of them animated and transported with wrath, and a desire of re∣venge, went and set upon Quiay Ansedeaas house, where they slew him, and ten thou∣sand men; wherewith not contented, they assaulted the Town in ten or eleven places, and fell to killing and plundering all that ever they met with, so that they carried them∣selves

therein with so much violence, as in three daies alone, which was as long as the siege of this Town last••d, nothing remained that was not an insupportable object to the sight. There was withall so great a confusion of howling, weeping, and heavy la∣mentation, as all that heard it could think no other but that the earth was going to turn topsie turvy. In a word, and not to lose time in aggravating this with superfluous speeches, the Town was all on fire, which burnt to the very foundations, so that ac∣cording to report there were above an hundred thousand houses consumed, above three hundred thousand persons cut in pieces, and almost as many made prisoners, which were led away slaves, and sold in divers countries. Besides, there was an infinite of riches stollen, whereof the value, as it was said, only in silver and gold, amounted even to forty millions, and all put together, to an hundred millions of gold. As for the num∣ber of prisoners, and of such as were slain, it was neer five hundred thousand persons; and all these things arrived by the evill counsell of a young King, bred up amongst young people like himself, who did every thing at his own pleasure, without any body contradicting him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 1.
• * 1.2

  §. 2.