Sales catalogue 519: Maggs Bros

Date:
1929
Reference:
WA/HMM/CM/Sal/13/75
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sales catalogue 519: Maggs Bros. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    72/292 page 58
    Barros (Joao de)—continued. 1526 in forty ‘‘ books,’’ and is a classic, as much for the accuracy of ‘ea data as for the style, which had a permanent influence upon the Portuguese language. Joao de Barros was born at Vizen circa 1496, and died at the age of 74, having served under three Portuguese Kings: Manuel, John III, and Sebastian. The first three decades only were published in Barros’ lifetime; the manuscript of the fourth being purchased by Philip II (in 1591, after his accession to the throne of Portugal) who, greatly impressed by the fine chronicle of Barros and the further work on the same lines, carried on by Diogo de Couto, resolved to have the whole Portuguese history of India brought up to date and published. Diogo de Couto was therefore commissioned to write the later decades from the material in the archives at Goa, of which he was appointed official keeper. Joao de Barros hag become known as the Portuguese Livy through his great historical work. Decade I comprises the period 1420-1505, and describes the first discoveries of the Portuguese on the West Coast of Africa, the circumnavigation of the most southerly part of Africa, The Cape of Good Hope, by Bartholomeu Dias, the first journey to India by Vasco de Gama, the journey and deeds of Pedro Cabral, the second journey by Vasco da Gama, the expeditions under Francisco and Alfonso d’Albuquerque, under Lopo Soares and the activities of Francisco d’Almeida, the first Viceroy of India till the year 1505. Of importance also are the following descriptions:—The early commercial relations between the East and the West (Book VIII, Chapter I), the East Coast of Africa (Book VIII, Chapter IV), the state of politics, economics, etc., in India (Book IX, Chapters 1-3), the political conditions in Sofala, on the East Coast of Africa (Book X, Chapter I). Decade II describes the events of the years 1506-1515, and deals with the activities of Francisco d’Almeida, to the year 1508, and also those of the second Viceroy of India, Alfonso d’Albuquerque (1508-1515). Of special importance are the descriptions of Socotra, Ormuz, Goa, the ,King- dom of Deccan, and Malacca. Decade III is exceedingly rare. It covers the period 1516-1525 and relates to the exploits of the Viceroys Lopo Soarez d’Albergaria, Diogo Lopez de Sequeira, Duarte de Menezes, and Henrique de Menezes. It especially relates to Ceylon, — Siam, China, Pegu, the Maldive Islands, Ethiopia, Sumatra, and the Moluccas. Decade 1V was published posthumously from Barros’ manuscript in the year 1615. De Couto had, however, already published a fourth decade at Lisbon in 1602 roughly covering the same period, prior to the discovery of this manuscript. The work of Barros covers the period 1526-1538 and relates to the rule of Lopo Vaz de Sampaio, and of Nuno da Cunha, the ninth Viceroy of India. Of special interest are the particulars concerning Sunda, Guzerat, the Mongol Kingdom in India, Conversion of Tabarija, King of Ternate, Bengal, The Mission of Antonio Galvao in Ternate which formed the foundation of the Indian Missions.
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