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.

    84/764 (page 48)
    48 Voyages to ^ East Indies Indian Chriftians. Invitation from other Kings. fition ; and that their differing with the Samorln, ; was the bed: Fortune that could have attended them a. The Ships being loaden, and the General on Shore, there came two Indian Chriftians (from Krangalor, or Kranganor, a City near Kuchin) who were Brothers (one of them named Jofepb b) and defirous to go to Portugal, with a Delign to vifit Rome and Jerufalem. Cabral alked them, if the Place they came from was inhabited folely by Chriftians; and, whether they belonged to the Greek or Latin Church ? One of them an- fwered, that the Inhabitants were a Mixture of Gentiles, Chriftians, Jews, and Strangers, who were Merchants of Syria, Egypt, Perfta, and Arabia ; that the Chriftians paid the King Tri¬ bute, and dwelt in a Part of the City by them- felves; that they had a Church in which they had Croffes, but no Images or Bells; (but the Priefts, in calling the People to Prayers, obferved the Order of the Greeks). That they had their Popes, under whom were twelve Cardinals, and two Pa¬ triarchs, with many Bifhops and Archbifhops, who all refided in Armenia: That thither went the Bifhops of Krangalor to receive their Dignity; and that he himfelf had been there to be ordained Prieft by the Pope; that the fame Method was obferved by all the Clergy within his Jurifdi&ion, which extended over India and Katay ; that the two Patriarchs refided in thofe two Provinces, and the Bifhops were difperfed in the Cities be¬ longing to them ; that their Pope is called Catho- licos, and their Tonfure is made in Form of a Crofs. They were both admitted on board. After this, there came two Meffengers from the Kings of Kananor and Koulan, inviting him to their Harbours, and promifing him Spices cheaper than he could have them at Kochin. The General returned them Thanks, and excufed him¬ felf from going, in Regard he had already laden ; but promifed to vifit them on his Return to India. He had fcarce taken in his Cargo, when twenty- five great Ships, befides fmaller Veffels, appeared on the Coaft. The King of Kochin being informed of their Delign, immediately fent the General Word, that they came on Purpofe to feek him out, and had 15,000 Soldiers on board; offering, at the fame Time, to affift him with what he wanted. Cabral returned Thanks; but Paid, he fhould be 1501* able, with the few he had, to make them re- Cabral, pent their Errand. The General obferving, thatv— they hovered about, and did not venture within a League of his Fleet, weighed Anchor, and went out againft them: But a Storm arifing, and the Wind fhifting contrary, he was obliged to return. Next Day, the tenth of January, 1501, theEfcapes^the Wind proving very fair, the General prepared to ]^ekut move towards the Enemy ; but miffing Sancho de Toar’s Ship, which was the biggeft next to his own, and beft provided with Men, he thought fit to change his Refolution, and make the beft of his Way home. He was followed all Day by the Kalekut Fleet, which at Night left him. This Accident prevented him from returning to Ko- chin, as he had propofed, to fet on Shore the Nayres Hoftages; who, after five Days falling, were re¬ conciled to eating on board, by the General’s good Words. On the fifteenth, they anchored before Kananor, thirty-one Leagues to the North of Kochin. This City is very large. The Houfes are of Comes to Ka-> Earth, and covered with Slates. There is a fine Bay nanor* before it. The Country produces Plenty of Gin¬ ger, Cardamoms, Tamarinds, Mirabolans, Caflia, and the like; but no more Pepper than is con- fumed in the Country. The Moors drive here a great Trade. The Pools, near this City, breed Aligators. Here are Adders likewife fo poifon- ous, that they kill Men with their Breath ; and Bats as large as Kites, the Head being like that of a Fox. They are very good to eat. Provi- fions are plenty. The King is a Bramen, and one of the three independent Princes of Malabar ; but not fo rich as either him of Kalekut, or Kou¬ lan. Here the General took in 400 Quintals of Cinnamon: And it being judged, that theReafon why he did not buy more, was for Want of Mo¬ ney, the King fent to tell him, he might have what he would in Truft. This generous Offer Cabral declined with Leaves Thanks; and took on board an Ambaffador, fentIndia* by the King to cultivate Friendlhip with the Court of Portugal. Afterward he departed, mak¬ ing his Way acrofs the Gulf, lying between India and Africa : About the Middle of which, on the mom De Banos fays, Trimumpara was offended with the Samorln, on feveral Accounts; and among the reft, for opolizing the 1 rude of that Coaft. b This Jofepb lived to get to Portugal, (his Brother dying by the Way) and is the Jofphus Indus, under whofe Name there is a Voyage given by Grynseus, containing 12 Pages: But properly it is no more than an Account of Krangonor, and its inhabitants, (particularly the Chriftians, and their religious Rites) with home Defcription of Kalekut, Kambaya, Guzarat, Ormuz, and Narftnga; but very Ihort, and not very fatisfa&ory. Nor is tins any Wonder, fince Gryneus, or whoever took the Relation from Jofcphius Mouth, telis us, he couid fcarce underftand him; and that this Indian, being a Chriftian, feldom converfed with his Pagan Countrymen. It is a common Vice of Travellers, out of a religious Averfion, to fhun the Company of thole who are^ beft able to inform them concerning the State of their Country: Which is the Reafon, that among the great Number of Relations of foreign Parts to be met with, fo few of them give either a full or £xact Account of Things. .