Indian Antiquary Vol 31

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

Page 66

62
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(FEBRUARY, 1902.
With wbich, Sir, I leave this subject of this Aynio, [. 132v] and return to this city of Cantão, which is the capital of this province: that is to say, here reside the chief mandarins, all the acts of justice are dispatched here, and the revenues. Consequently it is a fine and popalous city, and is. thing very suitable for the force of our lord the king to perform bold deeds therein. It is of the fashion of the city of Lisbon; and a galleon that entered this city would make it surrender, because it would place the city under its power, and not a man would appear when the artillery fired : not a man would appear, neither any that governed the people nor any of lower rank in the city.
A fleet having come with three thousand men, they should build a fortress in the city, holding it for our lord the king; the which fortress they should make where Christovão Vieyra Writes, with a breastwork going towards the gate of the city, of three or four stories, which would dominate half the city. Within the city they should build a fortress on a mount where are some churches of the Chinese. The which fortress should be of the fashion of that of Calecu ; it should control the wall that goes towards the north by a large tower that would play on that side, and the city would be entirely subjugated. In which place there are stone, wood and tiles enough to build two fortresses with the masons of the country, and servants like the sands on the sea-shore. There should be stationed in this fortress up to one hundred men, and the keys of the city must be given at night to the captain of this fortress; the gates that lead to the north and east and west should be closed, and the entrance should be on the side towards the river.
There must also be appointed porters, at each gate a Portuguese and fifty men of the country who shall bave charge of the gate. These people have a wage: every day two fanams should be paid to them, which will be according to the custom of the country. They will have to know who enters the city, and what he comes to do, and they must come for the keys in the morning to the fortress that is inside the city.
Above this city where two rivers are formed must be built a fortress made with high walls with much artillery and with two hundred [f. 133) men and boats ; so that if any people should say that they would get to them by the river they may have no way by which they can come to this city. For, Sir, it is more difficult to sustain Goa than it would be to sustain this province; and besides our lord the king's having great riches all the rest of the people will be rich, because the country affords room for all, by reason of the many offices that there have to be in the country.
Wherefore, Sir, at first it will be needful to have some of these largo paraor of the country, which are sufficient for that purpose; and they must scout as many rivers as there are there, and born as many boats as they shall find, and junks. If at present this were burnt and destroyed they would die of hunger, because they would have no moans by which food could reach them; and if they bad soy way they would not dare to go by it, for the reason that there are robbers everywhere. In the whole world there will not be found a country of sach wealth and so easy to bring under power as this, and not much power either; and if the power were great, how much more wealth would be obtained.
At first, Sir, they must be severely punished with artillery; for speaking of it now they put their finger in their mouth amazed at such a powerful thing, by reason of being people that have no stomach, and from the time they are born until they die they take nothing in their hand bats knife without a point to cut their food, saving, Sir, the people that act A6 soldiers, who are employed in guarding with those captains the ports and rivers from robbers, and that they may not build large janks, so that the people may not rise and become robbers; because they live in great subjection, as Christovio Viagra relates in these letters, in which, Sir, he has given a fall account.
Wherefore, Sir, there will be created in this city another Casa da India, nothing being brought from Portagal, but there being taken bence a shipload of silver and gold for the purchase in India of cargoes for the shipe for Portugal and for expenditure in India. There would go hence copper,
The orig. is here not quite intelligible.