Antonio Would
Have Made A Return, But The Vessel Could Not Be Overtaken.
From thence
Antonio proceeded to the river Pulo Cambier, which divides the
kingdoms of Cambodia and Tsiompa.
At the town of Catimparu, he was
informed that great river took its rise in the lake of Pinator, 260
leagues westwards in the kingdom of Quitirvam, encompassed with high
mountains, around which lake there are 38 towns, 13 of which are
considerable, where was a gold mine that yielded 22 millions of crowns
yearly. It belonged to four lords, who were engaged in continual wars
for its possession. At Bauquerim likewise there is a mine of the
finest diamonds: and from the disposition of the people they might
easily be conquered by the Portuguese.
[Footnote 355: Pulo Condor, off the mouths of the Japanese river, is in
lat. 8 deg. 40' N. perhaps the figure 3 in the text is a typographical
error. - E.]
[Footnote 356: Possibly Luzon in lat. 16 deg. N. may be here meant. Unless
we can suppose some part of Japan may be intended, which is in the
latitude of the text - E.]
[Footnote 357: This strange oracular message, and indeed most of the
wonderful deeds of Antonio de Faria, smells strongly of Mendez de
Pinto, the factor of Pedro de Faria, who has been characterised as the
prince of liars. Indeed the editor of Astleys Collection says that his
name ought to be Mendax de Pinto. - E.]
Coasting along, Antonio came to anchor in the mouth of the river
Toobasoy, fearing to go up. At this place he espied a large vessel to
which he made signs of peace, but received a rude answer. As night drew
on, it was thought proper to wait for day; but in the dark first one
vessel and then three more were descried coming towards them, and forty
men from the first vessel boarded them, but were all slain, their vessel
taken and the others burnt. A black, who was taken on this occasion,
declared himself a Christian, saying he had been slave to Gaspar de
Melo, who had been taken by the pirate Similau along with 26 other
Portuguese, all of whom he had barbarously put to death. The black said
that Similau had another vessel in the port richly laden, having only a
few men on board. Similau with the other prisoners were put to the same
death they had used to inflict on others. As soon as day appeared that
other vessel was taken, and the booty in silver only amounted to 60,000
ducats, besides other goods. Thus enriched, Antonio went on to the river
Tinacoreu or Varela, where the ships of Siam and Malacca, trading
with China, barter their goods for gold, calamba, and ivory, with
which that country abounds. He anchored off a small town called
Tayquileu, the inhabitants of which called the Portuguese the bearded
people; for though these people had beards, theirs were short and thin,
whereas those of the Portuguese were at their full growth, many of them
reaching to their girdles.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 312 of 423
Words from 163123 to 163635
of 221361
