Indian Antiquary Vol 52

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

Page 472

44
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
( NOVEMBER, 1923
166. In 1599-1600 six ships manned by Japanese corsairs from Satsuma went out to plunder Chinese and other ships trading to Manilla (de Morga, 148).
Malabarese. 167. On the Malabar Coast, between Ceylon and Goa, the Portuguese trade was harass. ed at this time by the Nairs. Of these Nairs, Fitch, who was in Cochin from the 22nd March to November 1589, says :-" The Nairs, which be under the King of Samorin, which be Malabars, have always wars with the Portugals. The King has always peace with them but his people go to the sea to robbe and stealc. Their chief captaine is called Cogi Alli [Khwaja Ali], he hath three castles under him. When the Portugals complaine to the King, he sayeth he doth not send them ont; but he consenteth that they go. They range all the coast from Ceylon to Goa, and go by foure or five parowes (prows) or boats together, and have in them fifty or three score men and boord presently [i.e., immedintely). They do much harme on that const and take every yere many foists [light galleys) and boats of the Portugals. Many of these people be Moores. This King's countrey-beginneth twelve leagues from Cochin and reacheth neere unto Goa." (Fitch in Hakluyt, V, 592; Bomb. Gaz., XV, ii, 119; Ryley's Fitch, p. 187; Foster, Early Travels, p. 65.)
168. In 1595 Mulammad Kunhale Markar succeeded his uncle Paté Markar ani finished the fort of Padepatam, which he strongly fortified. In the pride of his power he assumed the title of King and Lord of the Indian Seas' and began to plunder the Mala. bars as well as the Portuguese. In defiance of the Zamorin, „who hitherto had shared his booty, he cut off the tail of one of his elephants and indecently mutilated one of his Nairy. The Zamorin accordingly agreed with the Portuguese to effect his destruction. In 1597 Luis de Silva ravaged the Island of the Sanganes (i.e., coast of Kathiawar) tor harbouring the pirates and, near Chaul, without the loss of a single man, took a galleot with a crew of 200 men commanded by Kunhale's nephew (Faria, III, 97). In 1598 the Portuguese and the Zamorin blockaded Padepatam by sea and land. In the first assault, though Kunhale lost many men of note, the Portuguese alone lost three hundred men and were forced to retire. This was, next to the defeat of Ruy Gonsales de Camara at Ormuz, the greatest disgrace that had ever befallen the Portuguese arms in Asia (Faria, III, 30, 105). So pleased was Kunhale with this success, that he assumed the title of Defender of the Muham. madan Faith and Conqueror (or Expeller) of the Portuguese.' But in March 1600 Hurtado and the Zamorin forced him to surrender on the mere promise of his life. "He accordingly marched out, having a black veil 40 on his head and carrying his sword downward, which he surrendered to the Zamorin, who immediately handed it to Hurtado." He was about 50 years of age, of low stature but (see para. 157 above) strong and well made. He and his nephew Cinale (Chinale and Cotiale, Pyrard, II, 523) with 40 prisoners of note were well treated so long as they were on board the fleet, but when they arrived at Goa, some of them were torn in pieces by the rabble, and Kunhale and his nephew were publicly beheaded, "so that the Government and the mob went hand in hand to commit murder and a flagrant breach of faith." Before his death he was asked if he would become a Christian, but being informed that conversion would not save his life, he preferred to die a Muhammadan (de Couto, XIV, 63; Bomb. Gaz., I, ii, 61; Faria, III, 76-7; 97-116; Danvers, II, 112). The murder of Kunhale by the Portuguese was never forgiven by his Moplah countrymen. "More than fifty years later a rock off the shore, perhaps that called in English times
40 in 673 A.D. Wamba, King of Spain, having taken Nismos and captured Paul, the commander of the city, he and his chiefs were brought into the city, the others carried on camels, but "Paul in the midst of them barefooted, with a crown of Wack leather on his head, instead of that of gold he had aspired to; all their beards long and their heads shaved" (Faria, Hist. of Portugal, p. 104). When Orsini and Pieri were condemned for attempting to murder Napoleon III in 1868, they were led out to execution as parricides with black veils about their heads.