Indian Antiquary Vol 41

SR No.: 032533
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 320
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 39 MB

Page 245

DE SOUZA'S EXPEDITION TO SOUTH INDIA
241
OCTOBER, 1912.]
At Cochin the Governor resolved to go to the port of Paleacate and thence to proceed to the Temple of Tremelle with 400 cavalry, 2,000 musqueteers and 2,000 slaves; the latter were intended to get together the riches of the temple and carry the same every one of them a sack on his back. Accordingly, he steered towards Cape Comorin, doubled the same and went along the coast up to Beadala (Vadaulay), where he took some native pilots on board and reached the island of Vaqas,15 There he remained for some days awaiting the arrival of a catur-16 which he had sent to Paleacate to get some information about that port. The catur brought news that there was not sufficient water in the river of Paleacate and that only a small ship could cater it with spring tide. Furthermore, the Governor came to know that the news of his expedition had already reached the Court of Bisnega, who were well prepared to defend the temple at all risks, and that even in spite of this, if he were to go there with two to three thousand well armed men and ten thousand musqueteers, not one of them would escape the people of that place who, for their multitude, could, with handfuls of earth bury alive any number of Portuguese troops. The prospect of a big aul was thus frustrated, and one of the holiest and the richest shrines of Southern India was saved from the iniquitous designs of Martim Afonso de Souza.
The Governor then retreated to Quilon. In the neighbourhood of this place, at a distance of about a league, in the interior, there was a rich temple, the riches whereof consisted chiefly in precious stones. The king Dom João III, having learned of this fact from his captains at Quilon, had instructed the Governor to sack the temple. The time seemed very favourable to the plunderer, as one of the jangadess of the temple had gone with a force of 10,000 men to Cape Comorin to assist the king of the place against the much suspected Portuguese invasion.
The Governor accompanied by his men crossed the river that lay between Quilon and the temple and went along a narrow way that led through woods and palmgroves. The natives of the place knowing his object, offered him 50,000 pardaos and requested him to withdraw; but he refused their offer and proceeded on his way and having missed it at some point, reached the temple late in the evening.
Near the temple, there were some huts thatched with grass. Here was a great deal of merchandise of all sorts, especially white linen manufactured at Cape Comorin.
A high enclosure of stone wall surrounded the temple, within which the Governor rallied all his troops and gave them strict orders not to step out of it. The natives, armed with bows and arrows and some muskets, gathered fast outside the wall, but they could not resist the plunderers who far outnumbered them. The Governor entered the temple with some men of his choice and having fastened the door behind him, learnt from the black men of the temple where the treasure lay; he then ordered his slaves to dig the particular spot and after some big stones were removed, he dismissed them; next, he gathered all that was found in the hole and put it into two big barrels and wrapped them up with cloth. By a stratagem the barrels were made to drip to make the people believe that they contained nothing but water; but the people knew full well that the contents were such as could not be damaged in spite of their being in water. 19
The next morning, the Governor ordered the place to be set on fire. He did not suffer his men to rob anything; for he did not want them to be overloaded with heavy burdens that would prevent
14 A port of the ancient kingdom of Vijayanagar, on the Ramnad coast, Madura district. 15 Near Cape Comorin. 16 A small ship of war with oars
11 Lendas da India, Vol. IV, Lenda de Martim Afonso de Souza, ohap. XLIII.
1 The kings and the chiefs of the land appoint, according to their usage, two respectable gentlemen as captains to guard their temples. They are called jangades. They have many men under them and perform the duty of councillors and administrators of the temples. They get their living out of the revenue of the temples and are discharged by the king at his will and replaced by others. (Lenda de Martim Afonso de Souza, chap. XLIV). 19 Lendas da India, Vol. IV, Lenda de Martim Afonso de Souza, chap. XLIV.