Indian Antiquary Vol 52

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 448

20
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ Mar, 100
Vorthema says that in 1608 one Mamal-marikar'a man' of great riches and wisdom' wms sont by the King of Cannanore to make peace with the Portuguese (Kerr, VII, 138).
88. In 1503 Vinoonte Sodre went with a fleet towards Cambay to capture the rich Moor ships which traded from India to the Red Sea. There he took five ships, the booty of whloh, in cash alone, amounted to 200,000 pardaos. Most of the Moors were killed in fight and the ships were burnt (Kerr, II, 456). In 1504 Duarte Pacheco arrested at Cannanore Belinamaoar, one of the chief Moors, who, with others, was preparing to quit the city (Castanheda, in Kerr, II, 474). The exploits of Duarte (i.e., Edward) Pacheco produced such an effect upon the Egyptians that the Soldan (Sultan) threatened to destroy the Holy Sepulohre, unless the Portuguese desisted from their conqueste in India (Faria, Hist. of Porhugal, p. 319).
Malabarese. 87. In 1498 when Vesco da Gama was at Anjediva, two vessels belonging to Timoja (da Cunha, BBRAS. Journal, XI, 297) entered the port making every sign of friendship, but, being warned that they were pirates, be opened fire as soon as they were within rango whereupon they filed in confusion (Walokenaar, Histoire des Voyages, I, 171). Taris say that Timoja's ships were linked together and so covered with branches n to look like floating island (Faria, I, 81).
88. In 1498 the pirate craft of Goa are described by Castanheda as amall brigantinos Alled with men, ornamented with flags and streamers, the crew beating drums and sounding trumpets. Such were the pirate boats sent by the Zamorin in that year to attack da Gama's fleet. Some pirate beats taken at Goa in 1500 had small guns and cannon, javelina, long swords, large wooden buoklers covered with hides, long light bows and long broad-painted AITOW (Gama's Three Voyages, Hak. Soc., S. 1, 42, p. 252; Bom. Gar., XIII, 472 n.).
69. The Timoja, driven into Onore River by Vasco da Gama in 1502, was "Timmaya of Honavar, a great sea-robber, who paid part of his plunder to this King of Gersappa (18 miles east of Onore) who ruled the country." Correa (Three Voyages, 309, 335) calls him a foreign Moor, but probably he was a Hindu (Bom. Gaz., XV, ii, 102). In 1505, according to Osorio (I, 237) or 1507 according to Faria (I, 92), after Francisco de Almeyda had at. taoked Onore and burnt many vessels, some of which belonged to Timoja, 11 the latter permuaded the Portuguese to accept the King of Onore as their vassal. In 1608 Timoja warned the Portuguese of the approach of the Egyptian fleet under Mir Husain. In 1510 it was his advice which decided Albuquerque to attack Goa instead of Ormuz. He assisted in its oapture and was appointed Governor of the native inhabitants (Faria, I, 162-66). In recognition of his services the King of Portugal sent him a letter of thanks (Osorio, II, 23) And Albuquerque honoured with his presence his marriage to the daughter of the King of Glersappa (Faria, I, 177). In 1511, together with Melrao, son of the King of Onore, he was deteated by the troops of the Zamorin and Hidalcao (Adil Shah) and took refuge at Bisnagar, where he died (Comment of Albuquerque, III, 188).
70. In September 1807 Francisco de Almeyda attacked Cutiale, Admiral of tho Zamorin, at Panane, defeated him and burned the town (Osorio, I, 291).
71. The Portuguese experienoed great diffioulty in dealing with the swift sailing boats of the Malabar pirates. When Vasco da Gama came to India in 1624 he was, on his voyage
11 Faria (I, 162) ascribes Timoja's friendship for the Portuguese to the fact that he had been ill. treated by his kindred and neighbours and dispossessed of his fortune. This would bo sooounted for it ovigly. Hindu, he had embraced Muhammadanism.