Volume 1

A new general collection of voyages and travels. Consisting of the most esteemed relations, which have been hitherto published in any language; comprehending everything remarkable in its kind, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America.

Date:
1745-1747
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A new general collection of voyages and travels. Consisting of the most esteemed relations, which have been hitherto published in any language; comprehending everything remarkable in its kind, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    1500. Cabral. Refufed ‘Trade there. R Mdinc’a. option at Witchcraft a. Being informed that he had over- fhot Sofala, he proceeded, and the twentieth ar¬ rived at Mozambik, where he took in Water and a Pilot to carry him to JJuiloa, an Ifland 100 Leagues beyond, in about nine Degrees South, where he was joined to two of the fepara- ted Ships. The Dominions of this Prince ex¬ tended from Cape Corientes almoft as far as Mom- bajfa, near 400 Leagues of Coaft, which is very populous and full of Towns, befides innumera¬ ble Iflands along it, that paid Taxes; yet for all this he was of no great Power, not being able to raife any confiderable Force. The Country is very fruitful, and ftored with fmall Cattle: The Water is excellent, ghiiloa is a Place of great Trade for Sofala Gold, for which there is great Refort of Merchants from Arabia Falix, and other Parts. The Ships here, as in all other Places, were built without Nails, and done over with wild Frankincenfe, inftead of Pitch; there being none in thefe Parts. Being arrived at the ancient and noble City oi fjuiloa, (where Ibrahim, a Man renowned among his People, and rich with the Trade of Sofala, then reigned) the General fent to ac¬ quaint the King, that he was come with a Let¬ ter from the King of Portugal, and Merchan¬ dize, in order to fettle a Trade with him; defi¬ ring an Interview, and that it might be on the Water; he having had exprefs Orders not to land. The King confented, and next Day met him in a Pinnace, accompanied with many At¬ tendants in Boats, the Streamers flying, and Trumpets founding. The King’s Letter being read, the Sheikh confented to a Trade, and de- iired an Account of the Merchandizes might be fent him next Day, promifing to give Gold in Fxchange. But next Day, when the Fadlor waited on him, he excufed himfelf from per¬ forming his Promife, alledging firft, that the Goods were not for his Purpofe; fecondly, that he fufpedted the General came with a Defign to conquer his Country. The true Reafon was, that finding they were Chrijlians, he had no mind to have any Trade or Correfpondence with them. The General after this Baulk, flayed three or four Days, to fee if the King would alter his Mind: But perceiving, that inftead of complying with their Demands, he was fortify¬ ing himfelf for Fear of an Attack, it was re- folved to go on to Melinda b, where they arrived the fecond of Augujl. Here they found three Moorijh Ships of Gu- zarat, but the General would not fuffer them to be attacked, in Friendfhip to the King of Me- a linda. Being come to an Anchor, he faluted 1500. the City with all his Ordnance. The King Cabral, immediately fent to vifit him, with a Prefent of -v*—1 Provifion and Fruits, faying he might command whatever his Country afforded. Cabral return¬ ed Thanks by a Meffenger, and gave him to urr- derftand, that he came with a Prefent and Let¬ ter from the King his Mafter ; offering to ferve him with his Fleet, wherever he fhould com¬ mand it. The Prefent was the rich Furniture b of a Horfe. Ayres Correa, chief Fadlor of the Fleet, being fent, with others, to carry the Let¬ ter and Prefent, was met by feveral Nobles at the Water-fide before the Palace, attended by Women with perfuming Pans ; and in this Man¬ ner he was conducted to the King, who was much pleafed with the Letter, written both in Portugueze and Arabic, and kept Correa to dif- courfe with him about Portugal. Next Day the King had an Interview with the General on the c Water (the latter not caring to land.) He told him how much he was infefted by the King of Mom- ' ‘ haffa, for admitting the Friendfhip of the Portu¬ gueze, and gave him two Guzarat Pilotsfor Kalekut. Although the Palace flood near the Shore, Odd Super» the King would needs ride down to the Water-ftition* fide in his new Furniture. On this Occafion, fome of his Courtiers had got a live Sheep at the Foot of the Steps, before his Palace; and while the King was coming down, they opened its d Belly and took out the Bowels, over which the King rode, pronouncing certain Words : A fu- perftitious Cuftom in this Place. The General left with the King two banifhed Men to inform themfelves of the Country ; one of thefe, who was afterwards called Machedo, learned the Ara¬ bic, and went by Land to the Streights of Mek- ka. From thence palling to Balagat, by Way of Kambaya, fettled with Sabay, who was then Lord of Goa, pretending to be a Moor ; and be- c came afterwards very fcrviceable to Alonfo de Al¬ buquerque. SECT. II. Cabral arrives at Kaleku-t, and fettles a Faflory there. TH E leventh of Augujl, Cabral left Melin- Arrive at da, and on the twentieth, arrived at An-Kalekut- fadiva, [Anchediva'] where after waiting a few T Days for the Ships of Mekka, and finding they did not come, he proceeded on his Voyage ; and the thirteenth of September, caft Anchor within a League of Kalekut. Prdently there came a- board feveral Pinnaces, with Provifions to fell; ■* 1 nis was a great Falfity, lince no People are Hill more fuperftitious that Way, than moll: Popiffi Nations • nor are we quite free from the fame Infatuation, notwithHanding the Statute in Favour of Witchcraft be reoealed’ Melinda is called by the Mohammedans in the Indies, Maland. * ^ and