Indian Antiquary Vol 31

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 30

26
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JANUARY, 1902.
and Cantão : these all had janks. All the janks of Cantão were of these robbers of whom I have spoken. By the capture in the year 1521 of the junks that remained at the island 7 they became rich, and by the booty of Syảo and Patane; and through the conquest of the two ships in the year 1522 they became so arrogant that it seemed to them that now no one could come whom they could not defest. Wherefore in the year 1523 they prepared a fleet of one hundred junks watching for Portuguese: half of them lay in front of Nanto, and the other half at sea among the islands watching. At the end of August a hurricane barst upon them which lasted a day and a night, which dashed in pieces all the principal ones that were at sea so that not one escaped. The other half that was before Nanto put into the river and took refuge in Anyameha, which is a safe port; if al bad been at sea all would have perished. There are no other junks, nor had they any other force than there was in these men, of whom there is not one, and the rest have gone because they did not pay them. In the year 1524 they equipped a fleet of salt janks which they took by force; and until the year 1528 they prepared fleets. The janks went on decreasing until they left off doing this, and of the junks that escaped to Aynamehs there is not one, -all were defeated by robbers who after these appeared on the sea, who now live on land with the security that they have given them: they must have some seven (f. 119) or eight junks. Now there are no others except it be those of these men. If they go without victuals they do not equip fleets, nor have they junks of which they would wish to form them. There is now no other strength than that which lies in the walls of Cantão.
In this fleet that the Chinese prepared to watch for ours there was not one man of arms of the soldiers of China: all were people from those villages and janks taken by, force and weak and low people and the majority children. Nevertheless every one of them is better than four men of arms: it is a mere mockery to talk of men of arms of this country of China. In this fleet that they sont to Nanto are some captains, it appearing to them that they could capture Portuguese as in the year 1522. If this gentry had a taste of the Portuguese sword they would soon fraternize with the Portuguese, because the most are people of floating possessions, and with little or no root in the soil. This people of Cantão is very weak in comparison with the people of the interior, who are strong. In this Cantão, - I mean in the district of Cantão and throughout the province, - because it is a region distant from the rivers, they quickly rise. They attack villages, and kill much people: this happens every day in many places, and they cannot do them any harm, and they send for men to the province of Cancy which lies to the west of Cantão. They call these Langås or Langueas :60 these are of somewhat better bearing ; nevertheless the whole is a trumpery affair. The Chinese say that if the Portuguese should land they would summon many of these men ; and they cannot come except by river, so that if a hundred came it would profit nothing, because when the river was freed from their craft and our vessels were clear and began to proceed under bombards there is nothing that would appear within ten leagues. These Chinese of Cantão when they go to fight with people who have risen never [f. 119v] kill like robbers. They surprise these abodes of robbers and kill an immense number therein, and bring their heads and many others as prisoners : they say that they are robbers, and there is no more need of proof. They kill them all in a cruel manner. This they do every day. The people is so docile and fearful that they dare vot speak. It is like this throughout the whole country of China, and it is much worse than I have said ; wherefore all the people long for & revolt and for the coming of the Portuguese. So much for Cantão.
4T That is, the Laland of Trado. (800 Introd.) Of. Fa, Biool in Hak. Soe. Mendona, Introd. p. lrxx.
• Orig. bona boya. The writer is probably making punning Allwaion to the large floating (literally) popul tion of China.
The writer seems to refer to some of the Laos (Shea) triber inhabiting Kwanghal, and to have attached to them the name of the Dragon Biver, Lang-liang.