_The chapter doth treate of many kingdomes of the Newe
World, and of the particular and curious things of
them._
[Sidenote: The kingdome of Cananor, Tanaor, and Calicart.]
The aforesaid father went from Cochin to the kingdome of Cananor, and
passed by Tanaor and Calicut, which is called of the naturall people
Malabar, they are like kingdomes, but in them much people. In that of
Cananor, there are inhabited many Portingals and religious men of the
order of S. Francis: it is a countrie in all things like vnto Cochin,
for which cause, and for that they obserue and keepe one maner of
customs and rites, I remit the touching of this kingdome to the other
aforesaide.
Then forwards on there are other two small kingdoms, the one is called
Barcelor, and the other, Mangalor; there be in them some Christians: it
is a good countrie and rich, and hath it for certaine, that within a
little time they will be all baptised. From this kingdome they went vnto
Goa, a principall citie, and inhabited with Portingals, and is as the
metropolitan of all those kingdomes: it is in fifteen degrees of height,
and is set from Cochin vnto it a hundreth leagues, this citie is
situated in a little iland, compassed round about with water, and in
compasse but onely four leagues, and is diuided from the firme land of
Odialcan by a mightie riuer. It is a good countrie and peaceable, and
doth inioy a very faire and pleasant riuer. In this citie ordinarily is
resident the viceroy of the India and the archbishoppe: there are many
churches and conuents; and besides the high church, there are fourteene
parish churches, besides fifteen hermitages that are within and without
the citie: there be four conuents, all very sumptuous, of S. Dominicke,
of S. Austin, of S. Francis, and of the company of Iesus. And without
the cittie there is another of _Recoletos Franciscanos_, reformed
Francis friers.
[Sidenote: Ilandes Salcete and Bardes.]
Nigh vnto this iland are those of Salcete and Bardes, there whereas the
religious men of S. Francis, and the companie of Iesus haue certaine
Christian townes. Few yeares past, the Gentiles of Sancete[106] did kill
certaine fathers of the company of Iesus, in abhorring the faith, who
died with great spirite and strength: so that I beleeue they went into
ioy with God.
[106] Misspelt for Salcete--Salsette.
[Sidenote: The towne of Chaul, Basayn, Damaun, Cambaya.]
[Sidenote: The cittie of Diu.]
Beyond Goa, on the same coast towardes the north, is in eighteene
degrees and a halfe from the towne of Chaul, and beyond that Basayn, and
nigh thereunto Damaun; all these three townes are inhabited with
Portugals; and the farthest is the prouince of Cambaya, subiect vnto the
grand Tartar, or Mogor, by an other name. Two and fortie leagues beyond
that is the cittie called Diu, whereas is a very faire and good
fortresse of Portugals, with a very great hauen and sure, whose name
doth extend throughout all Turkey.
[Sidenote: The cittie of Oromuz.]
Two hundred and seuentie leagues beyond that is the citie of Oromuz, on
the coast of Persia, and in the same hath the saide Portugals an other
fortresse, much better then that of Diu, and more inexpugnable: it is
the biggest in al the Indians, but not of so great name as that of Diu.
In this cittie of Oromuz they gather nothing else but salt, and that in
great aboundance; yet, notwithstanding, it is replenished of all that
may be imagined, for that there is brought thither from Persia and
Arabia great prouision, and many other curiosities. They say, that from
this place they may easily go to Venice, taking their way to Aleph, and
to Tripoli in Soria.
[Sidenote: Odialon.]
[Sidenote: Mogor.]
[Sidenote: Persia.]
All this coast of the Indias vnto Persia is inhabited with many and
mightie kingdomes, in which there are an infinite number of people: one
of them is that of Odialon, the which is very rich, and of much people,
and all Moores. Nigh vnto this is another called Disamaluco, harde by
the kingdome of the great Tartar, which, in their language, is called
Mogor, the which, next vnto that of China (I doo thinke), is the
greatest in all the world, as may be collected in that which is declared
of the mightinesse thereof, both in ancient and latter histories. On the
other side of Oromuz is the kingdome of Persia, whose king is Xactamas,
or Ismael Sophi, great Soldan of Egypt, descending by lyneall desent
from the Soldan, Campson Guario, whom Selim, emperor of the Tartaros did
ouercome in battell, nigh vnto Damasco, in the yeare 1516.
All those of this kingdome are Moores, although they and the Turkes are
as the Christians and heretikes, for that the Persians do follow the
interpretation of the lawe of Mahomet of certain alies, or doctors. And
the Turkes go a different way, and do follow others. This contractation
and different interpretation of the lawe, is the occasion that betwixt
the one and the other there is ordinarily cruell warres: and it is the
great mercy of God, for that the Turke may not haue any space to come
and do euil vnto his Christians; or if he do come, he shall be ouertaken
with the Persians, his enimy the Sophi, and intrapped with all the euill
that they can do vnto him: who that although he be a Moore, and of the
sect of Mahomet, yet he is a friend vnto Christians.