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. LXXI. A continuation of that which happened in the Kingdome of Pegu, as well during the life, as after the death of the King of Bramaa. (Book 71)

TO return now unto the history which heretofore I have left, you must know, that after the King of Bramaa had obtained that memorable victory neer to Pegu,* 1.1 as I have declared heretofore, by means whereof he remained peaceable possessor of the whole Kingdom, the first thing he imployed himself in was to punish the offendors, which had formerly rebelled; for which effect he cut off the heads of a great many of the Nobility, and Commanders, all whose estates were confiscated to the Crown, which (according to report) amounted unto ten millions of gold, besides plate and jewells, whereby that common Proverb, which was common in the mouths of all, was verified, namely, That one mans offence cost many men very deare. Whilest the King continued more and more in his cruelties, and injustice, which he executed against divers persons during the space of two moneths and a half, certain newes came to him, that the city of Martabano was revolted, with the death of two thousand Bramaas, and that the Cha∣logomin, Governour of the same city, had declared himself for the Xemindoo. But that the cause of this revolt may be the better understood by such as are curious, I will (before I proceed any further) succinctly relate, how this Xemindoo had been of a religious order in Pegu, a man of noble extraction, and (as some affirmed) neer of kin to the precedent King, whom this Bramaa had put to death twelve years before, as I have already decla∣red. This Xemindoo had formerly to name Xoripam Xay, a man of about forty five years of age, of a great understanding, and held by every one for a Saint: he was withall very wel verst in the Laws of their Sects & false Religion, and had many excellent parts, which rendered him so agreeable unto all that heard him preach, as he was no sooner in the Pulpit, but all the assistants prostrated themselves on the ground, saying at every word that he uttered, Assuredly God speaks in thee. This Xemindoo, seeing himself then in such great credit with the people, spurred on by the generosity of his nature, and the occasion which was then so favourable unto him, resolved to try his fortune, and see to what degree it might arrive. To this end, at such time as the King of Bramaa was fal∣len upon the kingdom of Siam, and had laid siege to the city of Odiaa, the Xemindoo preaching in the temple of Conquiay at Pegu, which is as it were the Cathedrall of all the rest, where there was a very great assembly of people, he discoursed at large of the losse of this Kingdom, of the death of their lawfull King, as also of the great extortions, cruell punishments, and many other mischiefs which the Bramaas had done to their Na∣tion; with so many insolencies, and with so many offences against God, as even the very houses which had been founded by the charity of good people, to serve for Temples wherein the Divine Word might be preached, were all desolated and demolished; or if any were found still standing, they were made use of, either for stables, lay-stalls, or o∣ther such places accustomed to lay filth or dung in. These, and many other such like things, which the X••mindoo delivered, accompanied with many sighs and tears, made so great an impression in the minds of the people, as from thenceforward they acknow∣ledged him for their lawfull King, and swore allegeance unto him; so that instead of calling him, as they did before, Xoripam Xay, they named him Xemindoo, as a soveraigne title which they gave him above all others. Seeing himself raised then to the dignity of King, the first thing during the heat and fury of this people, was to go to the King of Bramaas palace, where having found five thousand Bramaas, he cut them all in pie∣ces, not sparing the life of one of them; the like did he afterwards to all the rest of them that were abiding in the most important places of the State, and withall he seized on the Kings treasure, which was not small. In this manner he slew all the Bramaas that were in the Kingdom, which were fifteen thousand, besides the women of that Na∣tion of what age soever, and seized on the places where they resided, which were in∣stantly demolished; so that in the space of three and twenty dayes onely he became ab∣solute possessor of the Kingdom, and prepared a great Army to fight with the King of Bramaa, if he should chance to return upon the bruit of this rebellion, as indeed he

fought with him to his great damage, being defeated by him, as I have heretofore de∣clared. And thus having methinks said enough for the intelligence of that which I am to recount, I will come again to my first discourse. This King of Bra••aa being advertised of the revolt of the Town of Martabano, and of the death of those two thousand Bramaaes, gave order immediately to all the Lords of the Kingdome for their repair unto him with as many men as they could levy, and that within the te••m of fifteen daies at the furthest, in regard the present necessity would not indure a longer delay. This done, he parted the day following with a small train from the City of Pegu, to give example to others to do the like, and wept and lodged at a Town called Mouchan, with an intention to tarry there those fifteen days he had li∣mited the Lords to come unto him. Now whenas six or seven of them were already past, he was advertised that Xemin de Satan, Governor of a Town so named, had secretly sent a great sum of gold to the Zemindoo, and had withall done him homage for the same Town where he commanded. This news somewhat troubled the King of Bramaa, who devising with himself of the means which he might use to meet with the mischief that threatned him, he sent for Xemin de Satan, who was then in the said Town of his Government, with a purpose to cut off his head; but he, be∣taking himself to his bed, and making shew of being sick, answered, that he would wait upon the King as soon as he was able to rise. Now in regard he found himself to be guilty, and misdoubting the cause wherefore he was sent for, he communica∣ted this affair to a dozen of his kinsmen that were there present with him, who all of them concluded together, how since there was no better way to save himself then in killing the King, that without further delay it was to be put in execution, so that all of them offering secretly to assist him in this enterprise, they speedily assembled all their Confidents, without declaring unto them at first the occasion wherefore they did it; and withall, drawing others unto them with many fair promises, they made up of all being joyned together a company of six hundred men. Whereupon being informed that the King was lodged in a certain Pagode, they fell upon it with great violence, and fortune was so favourable unto them that finding him almost a∣lone in his chamber, they slew him without incurring any danger. That done, they retired into an outward Court, where the Kings Guard having had some notice of this treason, set upon them, and the conflict was so hot between them, that in half an hours space, or thereabout, eight hundred men lay dead in the place, whereof the most part were Bramaaes. After this Xemin de Satan making away with four hun∣dred of his followers, went to a place of a large extent, called Poutel, whither all those of the country round about resorted unto him, who being advertised of the death of the King of Bramaa, whom they mortally hated, made up a body of five thousand men, and went to seek out the three thousand Bramaaes which the King had brought thither vvith him: And forasmuch as these same vvere dispersed in se∣verall places, they vvere all of them easily slain, not scarce so much as one escaping. With them also vvere killed fourscore of three hundred Portugals that Diego Sua∣rez had with him, vvho, together vvith all the rest vvhich remained vvith their lives saved, rendred themselves upon composition, and vvere received to mercy, upon con∣dition that for the future they should faithfully serve Xemin de Satan, as their proper King, vvhich they easily promised to do. Nine days after this mutiny, the Rebell see∣ing himself favoured by fortune, and such a multitude of people at his devotion, which were come to him out of this Province, to the number of thirty thousand men, caused himself to be declared King of Pegu, promising great recompences to such as should follow and accompany him, untill he had wholly gained the King∣dome, and driven the Bramaaes out of the country. With this design he retired to a fortresse called Tagalaa, and resolved to fortifie himself there out of the feare he was in of the forces vvhich vvere to come to the succour of the deceased King, thinking to find him alive, having been advertised that many vvere already set forth from the City of Pegu for that purpose. Now of those Bramaaes which Xemin de Satan had slain, one by chance escaped, and cast himself all wounde•• as he vvas into the river, and swimming over, never left travelling all that night, and the day fol∣lovving,

for fear of the Pegues, untill he arrived at a place, called Coutasarem, where he incountred with the Chaumigrem, the deceased Kings Foster-brother, vvho vvas incamped there vvith an army of an hundred and ••ourscore thousand men, vvhereof there vvere but only thirty thousand Bramaaes, all the rest Pegues; finding him then upon the point of parting from thence, in regard of the heat that vvould be vvith∣in tvvo hours after, he acquainted him vvith the death of the King, and all that had past besides. Now though this news greatly troubled the Chaumigrem, yet he dissem∣bled it for the present with so much courage and prudence, as not one of his follow∣ers perceived any alteration in him: But contrarily, putting on a rich habit of Car∣nation Sattin, imbroidered with gold, and a chain of precious stones about his neck, he caused all the Lords and Commanders of his Army to assemble before him, and then speaking to them with the semblance of a joyfull man, Gentlemen, said he, this fellow which you saw come to me but now in such hast, hath brought me this Letter, which I have here in my hand, from the King, my Lord and yours; and although by the contents thereof he seemeth to blame us for our careless••ness in lingering thus, yet I hope e're long to render him such an accompt of it, as his Highnesse shall give us all thanks for the service we have done him. By this letter too he certifies me, that he hath very certaine intelligence, how the Zemindoo hath raised an army, with an intent to fall upon the Towns of Cosmin and Dal•••• and to gain all along the rivers of Digon and Me••doo, the whole Province of Danapl•••• even to Ansedaa; wherefore he hath expresly enjoyned me, that as soon as possibly I may, I put into those places (as the most important) such forces as shall be able to resist the enemy; and that I take heed nothing be lost through my n••gligence, because in that case ••e will admit of no excuse. This being so, it seems to me very impor∣tan•• and necessary for his service, that you my Lord Xemi••brum go instantly without all delay, and put your self with your forces into the Town of D••laa; and your brother-in-law Ba••••haa Quem into that of Digon, with his fifteen thousand men; as for Colonel Gi∣pray and Monpocasser, they shall go with their thirty thousand souldiers into Ansedaa, and Danapluu, and Ciguamcan, with twenty thousand men shall march along to Xaraa, and so to M••lacou; moreo••er Quiay Brazagaran, with his brethren and kinsmen, shall go for Generall of the Frontier, with an Army of fifty thousand men, to the end that assisted with those forces, he may in person give order wheresoever need shall be. Behold, what the King hath written to me, whereof I pray you let us make an agreement, and all sign it to∣gether, for it is no reason that my head should answer for your want of care, and impru∣dence. His Commanders presently obeyed him, and without longer tarrying there, each of them went straight to the place, whither his Commission directed him. The Chaumigrem, by means of this so cunning and well dissembled a sleight, rid himself in lesse then three hours of all the hundred and fifty thousand Pegues, who he knew, if once they came to hear of the Kings death, would fall upon the thirty thousand Bramaaes that he had there with him, and not leave one of them alive. This done, as soon as it was night, turning back to the City, which was not above a league from thence, he seized with all speed on the deceased Kings Treasure, which amounted, according to report, unto above thirty millions of gold, besides jewells that were not to be estimated; and withall, he saved all the Bramaa••s wives and children, and took as many arms and as much ammunition as he could carry away. After this, he set fire on all that was in the Magazines, caused all the lesser Ordnance to be rived a∣sunder, and the greater, which he could not use so, to be cloyed. Furthermore, he made seven thousand Elephants that were in the country to be killed, reserving only two thousand for the carriage of his treasure, ammunition, and baggage. As for all the rest, it was consumed with fire, so that neither in the Palace, where were cham∣bers all seeked with gold, nor in the Magazines and Arsenalls, nor on the river, where were two thousand rowing Vessells, remained ought that was not reduced to ashes. After this execution, he departed in all hast, an hour before day, and drew di∣rectly towards Tanguu, which was his own country, from whence he came some fourteen years before to the conquest of the Kingdome of Pegu, which in the heart of the country was distant from thence about an hundred and threescore leagues. Now whereas fear commonly adds wings to the feet, it made him march with such

speed, as he and his arrived in fifteen days at the place whither they were a going. In the mean time, whereas the Chaumigrem had cunningly sent away the hundred and fifty thousand Pegues, as I have declared already, it happened that two days after they understood how the King of Bramaa was dead: Now in regard they vvere mortall enemies of that Nation, sixscore thousand of them in one great body turn∣ed back in hast for to go in quest of the thirty thousand Bramaaes, but when they ar∣rived at the City, they found that they were gone from thence three days before; this making them to follow in pursuit of them with all the speed that possibly they could, they came to a place, called Guinacoutel, some forty leagues from the City whence they came; there they were informed, that it was five days since they passed by, so that dispairing of being able to execute the design which they had of cutting them in pieces, they returned back to the place from whence they were parted, where they consulted amongst themselves about that which they were to do and resolved in the end, since they had no lawfull King, and that the Land was quite freed of the Bramaaes, to go to Xemin de Satan, as incontinently they did, who re∣ceived them, not only with a great deal of joy and good entertainment, but promi∣sed them mighty matters, and much honor, by raising them to the principall com∣mands of the Kingdome, as soon as time should serve, and that he was more peace∣ably setled. Thereupon he went directly to the City of Pegu, where he was received with the magnificence of a King, and for such crowned in the Temple of Comquiay, which is the chief of all the rest.

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 1.