Indian Antiquary Vol 52

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

Page 451

MAY, 1923]
NOTES ON PIRACY IN EASTERN WATERS
to Calicut. Faria (I, 400) says that in this year Cutiale, Admiral of Calicut, took a galley from James Reymoso, but as has been already stated (see para. 81 above), Cutiale had been taken prisoner by the Portuguese in 1528.14 Possibly Faria means Kunhale.
86. In 1537, because a ship had sailed to Jedda without their pass, the Portuguese attacked Puranur and killed a number of people, amongst whom was Kutti Ibrahimi Markar, nephew of Ali Ibrahim Markar. The latter, with his brother-in-law Ahmad Markar (also called Paichi or Paté [Pati] Markar) and his brother Kunji Ali Markar, took command of a fleet of 22 grabs sailing towards Ceylon, where the reconciliation between the King of Kotta and Mayadune had been broken. On the 20th (? 29th) February 1538 the Marakkars were surprised at Bentalah or Beadala, near Ramiseram, by Martin Alphonsus de Mello (or Sousa) and completely defeated. The three chiefs escaped by swimming and Ali Ibrahim returning towards Malabar died on the way (Zainuddin, 141, 144; Faria, I, 412; Pieris, Ceylon and the Portuguese, p. 48), but Ahmad (or Paté) Markar and Kunji Ali Markar made their way to Ceylon and joined Mayadune, who was in 1539 besieged in his capital by Don Miguel Ferreira. The latter threatened to destroy the town and carry Mayadune in chains to Goa unless he surrendered the two young chiefs.15 Mayadune was at his wit's end, and arranged to do by cunning what he could not effect openly without dishonour. He informed Paichi Marca and Kunhale Marca of the demand and advised them to escape by night into the forest, where they should remain until Ferreira had left the country. Accordingly they made their way that night with seventy Moorish followers into the forest, where they were set upon by a large number of Pachas, the cruellest caste among the Chingalas, who are accustomed to cut off the noses and lips of the enemies whom they slay. By these they were shot down to a man and their heads cut off and sent to Ferreira. Peace was immediately made, the delighted King of Kotta distributing money among all the men in the fleet and presenting to the Captain pieces of jewellery and lending 30,000 cruzadoes for the expenses of the fleet (Faria, II, 9; de Couto, Dec. V, i). The Zamorin was so cast down by this disaster that he sent China Cutiale as his ambassadar to Goa and made peace with the Portuguese (Faria, II, 14; de Couto, V, v, vii), but the Marakkar family only nursed its hatred for that nation and bided its time for revenge (see Ribeiro, Ceilao, 13-20; RAS. Ceylon Journ., XX, 57-107; Courtenay I, 28-47).
23
87. In 1540 Christopher da Gama was sent against the King of Porka (Purakkat) to demand reparation for various acts of piracy. This being refused, da Gama laid waste the country and forced the King to submit to his demands (Faria, II, 17). In 1542 the Queen of Batecala (Bhatkal) on the Kanarese.coast, having refused tribute to the Portuguese and given shelter and encouragement to the pirates, Martin Alfonso stormed and plundered Batecala and laid waste the country (Faria, II, 71-74).
- French.
88. In 1506 the French corsair, Pierre de Mondragon, took a Portuguese ship com manded by Job Queimado in the Mozambique Channel. It was however much easier and less risky to pillage the Spanish and Portuguese nearer home. In November 1508 he took a fine ship in the Bay of Cadiz, and, a little later, a rich carrack from Calicut (La Roncière, III, 137). King Emmanuel demanded satisfaction from the King of France, and this not being forthcoming, he sent Duarte Pacheco in 1509 with four ships to arrest him. He came across Mondragon off Cape Finisterre. The pirate, though he had only 2 vessels, willingly
14 Faria (II, 14) says that in 1539 China Cutiale was sent by the Zamorin as his ambassador to Goa. 15 Don Miguel had previously defeated and captured Pate Marcar's fleet at Putulam (Faria, II, 9).