Volume Eleven
The Portuquese in the Sea of Oman Annals of History 1497 CE – 1757 CE Volume Eleven by: Al Qasimi Publications Author: Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi (United Arab Emirates) Publisher: Al Qasimi Publications, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Edition: First Year of publication: 2025 ©All rights reserved * ISBN: 978-9948-715-26-9 * Printing Permission: UAE Media Council No. MC 03-01-7885096, Date: 17-03-2025 Printing: AL Bony Press- Sharjah, UAE Age Classification: E The age group that matches the content of the books was classified according to the age classification issued by UAE Media Council * Al Qasimi Publications, Al Tarfa, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Zayed Road PO Box 64009 Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Tel: 0097165090000, Fax: 0097165520070 Email: info@aqp.ae
_ 5 _ Contents Introduction to Volume Eleven 7 • Episodes of the year 1562 9 • Episodes of the year 1563 13 • Episodes of the year 1564 55 • Episodes of the year 1565 81 • Episodes of the year 1566 383 • Episodes of the year 1567 403 • Episodes of the year 1568 427 • Episodes of the year 1569 491 Researchers’ Guide 495 Volume Eleven Reference 505
_ 7 _ Introduction to Volume Eleven This volume covers the events of eight years, from 1562 to 1569. The events highlight the Ottomans' request for peace and friendship, while a Portuguese Embassy was established in Persia. As a result of this rapprochement, the route between Basra and Aleppo was opened, extending further to Venice, following the ancient path for the transportation of spices to Europe. After the Portuguese occupation of Aden, a revolt erupted on the Arabian Peninsula along the Red Sea coast against the Ottomans. Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi
_ 9 _ (1) Document no. and reference. Episodes of the year 1562 A letter from the Inquisition of Goa to Dom Sebastiao, Goa, on the 23rd of December 1562, stating that the arrival of some white Jews from Turkey via Ormuz was a harmful matter that required the issuance of a law of censorship:(1) The arrival in this State, via Ormuz, of white Jews from Turkey and their contact with the new Christians already residing here, is very prejudicial to the purity and preservation of the faith. It is therefore very important that they should not enter here and that those who already in residence should leave. This objective could be achieved if you would legislate that all white Jews found in the region of Ormuz, in any of your fortresses, settlements, or ports under the command
_ 10 _ of your Chief Captains should be allowed to die or be taken into captivity: that their property should be confiscated and either used for the riverside works or given to those who betray them: that the vessel in which they are found, or on which it can be proved that they travelled, should be seized if they have not departed by a given date. This would prevent any more coming and those who are here would return to Turkey as they would not be able to trade with the Portuguese nor sail the seas. (if they were to have the freedom of the seas, they would already be in Upper Cochin, or in other lands of the infidel, and carrying their goods by sea). If such a law were enacted, the arrival of new Christian from Turkey would be less prejudicial as there would be no Jews here to mingle with and therefore less danger. No prohibition should be applied to the black Jews of Malabar, as they are natives of that land and, not being seafarers, they do less harm. Neither are they on familiar terms with us and because of their ignorance, they are less likely to corrupt those with whom they have contact. Apart from this we have lost all hope of converting them as long as the white Jews live amongst them, causing great harm by encouraging them to persist in the error of their ways.
_ 11 _ Concerning the request for the appointment of André Pires as Alcaide-mor of the sea of Ormuz. André Pires, alcaide of the prison, chamberlain of our lady Queen, is a good man, carries out his duties well and on the salary, he earns can scarcely keep himself, such is the high cost of living in this land. He came out a bachelor and to better suit this post, got married here, as is usual and more respectable. He is poor and Your Highness should grant him some position for which he is qualified and which would give him enough to live on. All appointments here are dependent on royal approval and if your now do him this favour, by the time he takes office he will have greatly merited it. He is fit for any of the following positions: corretor-mor (Senior Agent) in Diu, alcaide of the sea of Diu, or alcaide of the sea of Ormuz, and if Your Highness would appoint him to any one of them we would be very grateful. Written in Goa on 23 December 1562. Franscisco Marques Botelho Aleix Diaz Falcão
_ 13 _ Episodes of the year 1563 Father Andre Fernandes sent a letter to Father Pero da Vonsica in Portugal, Cochin, on the 16th of January 1563, mentioning the springs of Bahrain in the salt sea:(2) In the Persian Gulf near an island called Bahrain,(A) which is nearer the land Arabia than Persia, a great deal of fresh water is obtained well out to sea, in the following way. The sailors swim down when it is low tide, so as not to dive so deep, holding wineskins with their mouths closed in their hands; and they open them in some large springs that discharge and abundance of water. In this way they fill them and the water is very good. (A) Bahrain. This part of the sentence has been added in another hand below the text and perhaps does not belong to the body of the original document. (2) Document no. and reference.
_ 14 _ I serve Your Reverence in the Lord. Andre Fernandes
_ 15 _ In the same year (1563) Father Antonio de Guadro sent a letter to Father Diogo Leones, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Cochin, on the 18th of January 1563, and in his letter, he mentioned the island of Socotra:(3) The third place, nearest to where we are, is the island of Socotra. It is full of Christians who remained there after the rime of St. Thomas S. sent two Fathers there last year to help those who were Christian in little else but name. However, the Father who went as Superior died.(A) Since the language is unknown(B) and there is no interpreter, little progress can be made. Another Father, wiser than the (A) Father Joao Lopes. (B) The Sokotri language, which a kind (dialect) of southern Arabic language. (3) Document no. and reference.
_ 16 _ one who survived,(A) is on his way there so that if there is any possibility of producing fruit, he will stay there and, if not, he will bear a letter from the Viceroy ordering them to handover four or five young lads, chosen by the Father, for them to receive instruction there. Then, after they have been brought here and have learnt the Portuguese language, they can become interpreters and can return there from there in three or four-years’ time. The fourth place we are in is Ormuz, where we had nobody up to the present because of a shortage of priests. This year, however, Father Vicente Tonda, who came from Italy, is going there because the captain who is presently going there,(B) with whom he sailed in the same nau, was greatly edified by him and asked me for him. Although Father Superior Francisco of illustrious memory gave great importance to Ormuz,(C) experience (A) Father Gaspar Coelho stayed in Socotra. It would appear, however, he was in no way sent as a helper. (B) The name of the district governor was D. Pedro de Sousa (CF COUTO Dec VII Bk 10 chap 7). (C) For example, Xavier wrote to Father Simao Rodriques on 20th January 1549: “The needs of the member of our Society are very great in this area, especially in the cities of Ormuz and Diu more so than in Goa; because of a shortage of preachers and spiritual persons many Portuguese live outside our religion” (EX II 36; cf ibid 45 69 218).
_ 17 _ has later shown that little fruit is produced there. This is because it is a frontier territory and one of conflicts, where the only results come from confessions and sermons to soldiers stationed there, who number between 400 and 600, for whom the Dominican friars are enough. Because nothing is done among the Moors and there si no hope of doing so, especially while the Turks are so intent on taking Ormuz as they are. A Father who as there(A) was among souls and in Our Lord's service. (A) The last to work there was Brandao just before returning to India "in the winter" of 1560 (cf Documenta Indica Vol IV 738, 835).
_ 18 _ In the same year (1563) Father Melchior Nunes Baretto sent a letter to Father Diego Leones, the Superior General of the monks of the Society of Jesus, Cochin, on the 24th of January 1563, mentioning Massawa which was invaded by the Turks:(4) You must have already been informed through the letters of recent years of how difficult and virtually impossible it is for us to set foot in the land of Prester John due to the invasion of Massawa by the Turks who have built a fort there. Because of this, they do not allow anyone from here to sail in that part of the Red sea. So unless a large fleet is assembled to transport a thousand fighting men we shall not be able to enter there. (4) Document no. and reference.
_ 19 _ What happened subsequently we learned through the ships that came from Mecca, namely that the King who was a Catholic had died and Bishop Andre and his companions(A) were suffering there. A heretical King, much opposed to the ideals of the Catholic faith,(B) succeeded to the kingdom. He arrested the Bishop and his companions and holds them captive with many other Portuguese at the far end of Ethiopia, beyond a lake which is the source of the River Nile in the land of Egypt.(C) Only Father Manoel Fernandes escaped from captivity by taking refuge in the lands of the Barnagais, the Commander-in-Chief of the coastal strip,(D) who did not wish obey the heretical King. However, in the six years that they have been in the land of Prester John up to the present, we have had no news of any of them by which we can be guided. Last August, 1562, the Viceroy(E) received letters from a captive in Masawa saying that the Barnagais had (A) Andres de Oviedo, a bishop and his companions (cf catal., doc 89, 14). (B) Minas (Adamas Sagad). (C) Lake Tana. (D) Cf the report of the Ethiopian Fathers of 29th July 1562 to the Father General, in BECCARI X 152 ff. (E) D. Francisco Coutinho.
_ 20 _ joined with three hundred Turks and overthrown the heretical King(A). If such were the case, the Viceroy would have shown great willingness, in answer to the Father Patriarch’s request, to send us there this year. It was later learnt with greater certainty, however, that the heretical King [384] was still reigning and persecuting the Christians living there. Consequently, two important problems remain: the first. that of the Turks who have captured the entrance the second, that of the heretical King opposed to the Catholic Church. Because of this and because of the many places that have to be attended to in India, the Viceroy cancelled our departure and told the Patriarch frankly that we could not be sent to Prester John this year. And in fact, there is no allowance here from the King of Portugal for anything for the Viceroy to send the Patriarch with the rest of the Fathers and an ambassador to the land of Prester John. Nor is there any order from the King in which he commands that money be spent on a fleet of one thousand men to attack the Turks who are in Massawa and to force the heretics of that Kingdom to give their obedience to the Roman Church. (A) Cf the report of the Ethiopian Fathers in the works of BECCARI X 153.
_ 21 _ According as the Turks go on increasing and the King and the people of Prester are opposed to receiving the Roman Patriarch, it seems that if two or three thousand men do go to conquer the land of Prester and destroy the Mamluks, they will never properly receive the faith of the Roman Church nor submit to the obedience of their patriarch. I do not know when it will be possible, with this state of India being do diffuse and over growing in necessities of war, which have to be attended to.
_ 22 _ In the same year (1563) Antonio Mendes de Castro sent a letter to the Queen, on the 1st of August 1563, mentioning the story of the King of Qishn, and revenge for the Portuguese:(5) Senhor, At these islands there remains two ships, viz: the ship Rainha and the São Vicento in which I came. I left Cochim on the twenty ninth of January, and the Rainha on the thirtieth, and on the twenty eighth of this month departed the ship Frol de la Mar, which, on the brow of the Cape, stress of weather carried away the helm, and the grogings of the rudder, the ship Rainha spoke her, and went in her company two or three days, they say they have already made a new helm, and were at the pumps. They awaited fair weather to set them, I sighted her, but as it was by night and on the brow of the Cape of Good (5) Document no. and reference.
_ 23 _ Hope with rough wind, I was unable to speak with her, the ship must be at Sam Torré because on the following day the pilots made for her doubling the Cape; this ship does not bring any pepper, but these two that remain here bring seven thousand seven hundred odd quintals of it. The ship “Cedro” in which comes as Captain Dom Vazio de Tayde must have departed on the second or third of February and she also brings no pepper, but coir, black wood (palonegre) mast heads and other things; the ship “Capitayna” and the ship “Esperança” did not leave Cochim until after the fifteenth of February: in the Esperança comes as Captain, Dom Francisco Mascarenhas, and it appears she does not bring more than six or seven thousand quintals of pepper, and this if resort will be had of what the Kings of Malvar had promised the Viceroy, which was much more than what I stated above, and the Ship “Tygre” the Viceroy had arranged should come without cargo. What things happened during the time I was in India, were, in Damão the victory obtained by Garcia Rodriques de Tavora against an Abyssinian Captain, whom he himself slew and likewise did they kill a great portion of those he had brought with him; he had come in order to live on the lands of Damão, and was in revolt, and Cambaya is at peace.
_ 24 _ In November last there came to the Viceroy one Coje Naçurala a Baçorian by nation, as Ambassador of the Baxa of Baçorá, and this person came via Ormuz to arrange the peace, and brought powers from the Turk for the said peace treaties and that they would break up the galleys they had in Baçora, and after the Viceroy had had a council on the subject, he replied he had no powers from the King his lord, to arrange any such peace treaties, but that he would make it known to him, and that he would write to him both by these ships and overland, and that as soon as His Highness should send him instructions as to what he should do. He would send him a reply, and he then dismissed the Ambassador, and with him one Antonio Teixera, a married man of Ormuz, to go with him as far as Baçorá, and that they would give him passage for him to take the message to His Highness. At the end of November last, the Viceroy left Goa for Cochin, with fifty sails; owing to having had news that the pepper was not circulating and on the road, he had an interview at Coulete with the Çamorim where the Viceroy came forth with all the men be brought with him, and the Çamorin awaited him in a palm grove a little removed from the beach.
_ 25 _ Where they saw one another and remained in great friendship, and after the Viceroy had departed from Goa it happened that there came to Cochim one Roman ruler of the King of Cochin, and whilst going from the city to his town, from a house before leaving the city itself, he was shot at with a musket wounding him in the arm and Killing one of his Brahmen, and then he commenced to kill all the Portuguese and Christians who came along on the road that he met up to Cochim de Cima, and in this turn they slew Amrique de Macedo former Captain oz, in a ship that was being repaired in this town. Thus it is said that the slain, between Portuguese and native Christians, numbered twenty or thirty and others say more: the King of Cochim from the other side proceeded at once to pacify masters, and had his Ruler apprehended, who was a very badly disposed man, and unfriendly towards us, but he escaped after being arrested, and after a few days the King of Cochim came with the Prince his nephew to our Fortress, and ordered some seven Naires who were guilty to be brought to him and before the Captain and men had them put to death by the dagger. Ceylon was strictly besieged and in great distress for food, the Viceroy had arranged to send Dom Francisco
_ 26 _ Mascarenhas the Captain in Chief of the Sea to winter there and preparations had already commence to that effect. At the small port of Bengala where Affonso Furtado was Captain in Chief, they rose up in rebellion and it is affirmed that the loss in money and goods was over three hundred thousand pardaos in gold, and they slew between Portuguese and Christians more than a hundred persons, and captured over three hundred; they took and burnt thirty ships and vessels with a large quantity of artillery and musketry and other arms, and Affonso Furtado had already arrived to Cochim. The loss was very great, and one that was very keenly felt, for there was no one who was not affected by it, and after Affonso Furtado had come there arrived some persons doryxa and these gave out the news that the Bengalese said they would come to peace terms, and would allow the Captives to come and the vessels; I know no what occurred about this. Of Malacca there is some trouble there, and a great fear, owing to the fact that already last year two ships that came from China to winter in India had found Dachem with over two hundred sails, much artillery and fighting men, this is thirty leagues beyond Malaca, and they told the ships men to pass certifi-
_ 27 _ cates as they were our friends, but it is held for certain that this was some dissimulation, owing also to Dom Francisco Deça Captain of Malaca having written to the Viceroy, that there was some presumption of a siege, due to that fleet going out so powerfully prepared and not having any thing to call it out in that part, where it had been sent to, which was to Jantanaa, hence, for this reason as well as for awaiting the arrival of Gomes Baneto, and of a galleon of one Simão de Cunha, an inhabitant of Goa who had both wintered in Malaca, and who had to depart very soon in order to take the ships that come for the Kingdom, and up to the thirtieth of December. I mean January, nothing had come from Malacca, nor had any news arrived of its having come to the coast, there was apprehension that she was besieged, and with some trouble, which may our Lord in His Mercy avert, and bring to these ships that are here bringing no post, and one of them bringing “Frol de la Mar”. I judged right to give an account of these things to Your Highness, as also did it seem right to Dom Diogo de Menezes Captain in Chief of the Fleet, to send a man of those that come from India, to Your Highness in order [to] give information respecting some of the things of India, should you desire to Know them, this individual being
_ 28 _ Belchior Rabeto, former Captain of Coulão, who came with me in this ship, who was very pleased to go on this mission holding that by so doing, he would serve Your Highness whom may Our Lord give increase of life and augment Your Royal Estate for many years. From this ship the São Vicente on the first day of August five hundred and sixty three Antonio Mendes de Castro. On the Superscription For the Queen our lady.
_ 29 _ In the same year (1563) A copy of a letter from Pero da Cruz came to the brothers in the Society of Jesus in Evora, Goa, on the 23rd of November 1563, mentioning the Comoros Islands:(6) Paras. No: 24-26 24. On the third day after leaving we could see the islands of Comoro, which is the highest land I have ever seen in my life. They say that they are inhabited by some Mulatto(A) people and that they carry on trade with the Moors of Mecca, Persia and Arabia. This land can be seen above the clouds, and when one is distant from it one would (A) The islands of Comoro, excluding the smaller ones, are four in number, and one of them called Comoro is larger than (Angasija]: today they are under French control. The inhabitants, who 30 years ago numbered 130,000, are mixed, negroes, Malagasies, Persians, Arabs, etc. (6) Document no. and reference.
_ 30 _ not believe that it was land, but rather a black cloud, very high, with white clouds beneath it, until one approaches it and can see that it is land. They say there is none higher in theworld.(A) 26. Before reaching Goa, as the waters flow towards the Strait of Mecca, we were held back a little. We had a very difficult day, because as we were already within the reaches of Goa, lying at sixteen and a half degrees, we were in calm waters, and did not know how far we were from Goa, nor did we have much water, so much so that it was not enough for a quartillo a day for each man. However, the following day, when we could see land, there was no longer a lack of water - indeed there was an abundance of everything. We all arrived together and were received by the priests and brothers who came in some rafts.(B) In St Pablo in Goa we were received with the usual charity, and we, Father Dionisio, Father Marcos,(C) Brother Jacome(D) and I, are doing that which obedience orders us to do. Father Cabrera went to Bassein and Father Cabral(E) (A) The volcano Kartala, 2450m on the principal island. (B) Manchua: a vessel from Malabar with one mast and a square sail: a galliot. From the Malayali mañji, Machvä in Marathi (Dalgado II 19). (C) Moech. (D) de Braga. (E) Emmanuel Cabral.
_ 31 _ yesterday(A) 22 November, to Ormuz, where Fathers Tonda and Gonçalo Vaz are. We are now all full of fervour, due both to the expulsion of the Brahmins,(B) and also to the solemn baptisms which are now being carried out as they used to be. (A) Ontem in Portuguese, but this text is in Spanish. (B) On 6th March 1563 the King of Portugal signed a document to the effect that Brahmins, witch-doctors and others, who had been standing in the way of the propagation of the Christian faith, had been expelled from there. (See Doc 4A Silva Rego Documentacao IX pp 174-77, 195-8) Viceroy, 27th November 1563 received notice of this in Goa.
_ 32 _ In the same year (1563) Letters from the Great Turk arrived for King Dom Sebastiao, on the 24th of November 1563, requesting peace and friendship:(7) First letter Translation of the letter which is written by His Highness the Grand Signore of the Mussalmen, to the most Serene and Most illustrious Lord Sebastian King of Portugal, etc. In the faith of Jesus Nazarene most serene, most excellent, valerous prince, the greatest, and elected lord above many greatest princes, great among the Christian lords, powerful famous and full of every virtue, more honoured than all other grandest lords, and administrator of justice none worthy (?) of greater honour, and greatness (7) Document no. and reference.
_ 33 _ of estate, the supreme head which lowers and rules in the Kingdom of Portugal, King Sebastian, on whom may happiness always be in the increase with all good and prosperous end in eternity. After the reception of this present our letter under the worthy and imperial seal of us to all who shall see this, as at present to our sublime high and invincible most powerful potentate, which is full of all the virtue of the world and repository of great magnanimity and worthy of all honour and of the greatest princes and seignors of the world, it was made known to us by route of Arabia, brought by one of your honourable men who was sent from your India, and had been elected from among his peers and Christian lords, and empowered with sufficient credentials and powers by name Antonio Tessen Asevedo. How it was your desire to heal for peace and conclude an armistice with our elected Governors of our country whom we have chosen and placed in that part, and as by way of Italy there had been sent a letter of yours for the self same cause, forwarded by a signed letter of the aforesaid Ambassadors through Nicolo Petro Coejino, according to the ancient custom and usage observed which requires that a second letter be received in which the same intention
_ 34 _ and desire be expressed for our greatness to graciously, and amicably. To respond in the same sense, nevertheless before the arrival of the said envoy for the self same business, it was agreed upon on receipt of your first letter, and whereas he had discharged his embassage and business, well and honourably, and with much prudence and most wisely, as we have witnessed, we have honoured him, accepting the said intentions graciously on account of his merit, and in his praise, we by our high imperial and friendly letter and reply, have entrusted him with it and dispatched him with full powers to proceed to wherever Your Majesty may be, and when he arrives, by the great power of God, and stands attentive before you. As you most certainly have informed me of your will and desire, more particularly as it is so worthy a thing and most useful to have peace for the welfare of the aforesaid, and the people of that country, you having expressed the desire and aspiration for this friendship, and have requested it of our Imperial Majesty conformably with what was written in that first letter, and we, sending a letter from our high state, you having sent a worthy Ambassador of your own with ample powers, with whom to be able to negotiate and confirm the said friendship
_ 35 _ on our part, which I endorse, from which friendship and intention we shall not withdraw nor refute, we graciously accepting it, imperially, fully, and gratefully we shall have tranquillity with much honour and a good result; a reply to that effect he shall relate with to Your Majesty as we promise, and by him, by our Imperial permission, you will please send a reply whenever you generously please, and with all God speed. Given in our Imperial seat of Constantinople, anno domine 1563, on the twenty fourth day of November. I was ordered by the Turkish Emperor to translate this Ibrahim Bech, Chief Interpreter of the Court……. Of his Magnificent Empire, etc. Second letter (incomplete) Translation of the letter which His Highness the Grand Signor of the Mussalmen, etc., wrote to the Most Serene and Most Illustrious King of Portugal. In the faith of Jesus Nazarene, most honourable prince, highest among the elected lords and Christian princes, magnificent, powerful, valorous and filled with all virtue, most renowned of all magnanimous lords and administrators of judicial justice, worthy of all dignity and state, head and supreme guardian above all other magnanimous lords of the Kingdom of Portugal, most
_ 36 _ serene and most excellent King Sebastian, etc., to whom may happiness be always on the increase with all good and prosperous end, and afterwards, by the right path salvation of all eternity. After receiving the summary sent under the due and imperial seal, as was manifest now, there arrived to our imperial sublime and high Pate, which is replete with all virtue of the world, worthy of the dignity and to be the centre of many great and worthy princely lords of the word, about the middle of May our aforenamed Nicollas Petro Coejino, by whom we received your friendly letter. In which it has been notified how on the part of India, peace and friendship is desired to be established with our governors and lords whom we have appointed in that country, and who has come to discover the spirit of our will if he be content to negotiate and carry out the said wish of yours, by which friendship with our most enviable and powerful magnificence is so much desired, and therefore our permission and sire conduct is granted to your envoys, who, by coming here to us may be enabled to look upon this business and the friendly wishes you entertain. There having arrived your said envoy at our sublime and most potent Pate, all these said wishes having been
_ 37 _ declared to me on your behalf, as well as all that in our first letter had not been previously written, all having appeared to us very good and excellent, it has been given to me to understand what we, of our own knowledge and intelligence had summarized and understood to be good and excellent, and on this being investigated, the invincible most potent and highest Pate is wide open to all and with country and its neighbouring people, should appeal to us, and in good faith safely negotiate with our high state, and acting on this principle and this understanding from the commencement it is manifest, not through unfriendliness. But through friendship that all may come and go, nor was it ever prohibited to do so, more particularly in respect to all such as on behalf of peace, friendship and the public tranquillity and welfare of the Inherent nature according to our custom we have discussed with our best, and numberless great men, the affair, and decided to embrace and accept friendliness, as is the desire graciously by our manner manifested, and which we shall always, for all time manifest, by the fact that we accepted it even previous to the arrival of your said envoy hearing the embassage of armistice.
_ 38 _ Your envoy fulfilling his charge and service prudently and with honour to the end, hence we have empowered him and dispatched him with the favourable reply, trusting in the great God that he has arrived, and by him have notified that if this affair is as you have stated, and that in all certitude you have still at heart the negotiating this affair well to the end, that you will send an ambassador on your part, honoured with ample powers with whom the said peace and friendship with that country may be amicably negotiated and concluded, in the manner it merits to the honour, renown, and repute of both our majesties.
_ 39 _ In the same year (1563) Simao da Costa sent a letter to Dom Sebastiao, Goa on the 11th of December 1563, regarding the arrival of the Turkish envoy to Ormuz to conclude a peace agreement:(8) Sir, In the year 1562 an envoy of the Turk sent by the Pasha of Basra came to Ormuz to ask the Viceroy of India for peace. In Ormuz, where I serve Your Highness, I was enlisted to bring him to India and to present him to the Viceroy, which I did. From Goa, by order of the Viceroy, I myself took him back to Ormuz and from there to Basra so that I could note where Basra was and what entrances, forces and defences it had, together with its fleet of galleys. I would also observe how the land was governed and I was (8) Document no. and reference.
_ 40 _ told to make a note of anything that might be of interest to Your Highness. I was told to correspond with the Gizares(A) in such a way as not to make them lose hope of becoming vassals of Your Highness. They live in hope of this as I could see from the letters they showed me and by the hatred they continually bear the Turks. I did all this with the help of Our Lord and the wish to serve Your Highness. The Viceroy asked me to inform Your Highness of the smallest details of what I saw and the information of the land I obtained. This Your Highness will see that I fulfilled when reading the Report which I enclose. Regarding the favour which Your Highness granted me in appointing me consul of Ormuz, I trust in Our Lord that Your Highness may have found me worthy of this post and I hope you may grant me other favours after you have received reports about me and how I serve Your Highness in these parts. May Our Lord grant Your Highness long life in His service, increase you Royal Estate and give you life to conquer the whole of Africa. (A) The Gazares were an Arab people.
_ 41 _ Written in Goa on 11 December 1563. Simão da Costa With this letter is the following report: Report which I, Simão da Costa, wrote. regarding Basra for our Lord the King. Item: The island of Morzique emerges at the mouth of the river of Basra and divides it in two. One branch is called the river of Basra and the other that of Arabia. Those coming from Bahrain and Katif enter through the latter. Three quarters of the way from the mouth of the river to Basra the island ends, at which point the river becomes one. The distance from there to the city of Basra makes up the other quarter of the way. As previously mentioned, at the end of the island the river becomes one and the distance up the river to the fortress of Basra is twenty-five leagues. Beyond the island of Morzique, next to Persia, there is a small and very luxuriant island. Item: From the entrance of the river Basra until you reach fresh water the channel is three, four or five fathoms deep. From the point where there is fresh water to the end of the island of Morzique it is seven or eight fathoms deep. After you pass the island the river becomes larger, and in the middle, it is twelve or more fathoms deep.
_ 42 _ Item: Opposite the end of the island of Morzique stands a fortress with a captain and some Turkish musketeers and cavalry. They receive from the local farmers rice, wheat and barley twice a year from their early crops. Item: This same island of Morzique is very lush and it is not fully populated. The interior of the island, where there is a mosque, began to be populated three years ago. It has a population mainly of farmers, who cultivate plentiful rice, wheat and barley. It rapidly grew in population because the Pasha of Basra gave the farmers freedom to live and farm there. They demanded a tribute of only one tenth. This was very favourable, very different from the tribute payable in Basra, which is one third and so the population of this island is therefore quickly expanding. Item: At the extreme end of the island of Morzique there was a fortress in previous times which was pulled down by D. Antão de Noronha when he went to Basra. Up until now it has not been rebuilt or made use of. From the mosque which I mentioned above to the end of the island where the fortress was pulled down the population consists mostly of farmers. They produce abundant foodstuffs. Item: The entrance to the river stretch at Basra is very narrow. It is six to seven fathoms deep at high tide and four
_ 43 _ to five at low tide. The water flows with great force both at high and low tides. Item: At this point, at the side of Basra, there is a bastion surrounded by a protective wall which forms a triangle and two big bombards are mounted there. Beside the river, at the shore level, there is a fishery and there is another inside the waterway. The bastion has battlements all round it for the musketeers. On the other side of the waterway there is a tall mosque with some houses. It is in this mosque that the Pashas are buried. Item: There is a small area of bare land around the bastion of Basra, bordering both the waterway and the river, which was made by the cutting down of the many palm trees which surrounded it. The entrance to the waterway does not have an iron chain as has been reported. Item: Opposite the entrance to the waterway, on the Persian side, there is a fortress which is large, stronger and taller than the bastion. It seems to be for the defence of the passage way upstream, but they would not be able to prevent passage to anyone determined to do so. On the day I entered it they fired many shots from three artillery pieces at this fortress. From the bastion at the entrance to the waterway they likewise fired at
_ 44 _ the landing stage which is next to the fortress, where there is a pontoon bridge measuring a little more than a third of a league, with an iron chain. From Basra to the customs-house, which is at the rear of this bridge, there are fourteen creeks on the way, which contain a lot of water at both high and low tides. Seven of them are wide and are without bridges. The other seven have drawbridges made from palm trees. These creeks cut deep into the land and supply water for irrigating all the palm groves outside the village walls. Inside the palm groves beyond these walls there are many tall drawbridges everywhere. This is the main reason why this entrance is so strong and well guarded, for beyond these creeks all the palm groves are surrounded by walls, with narrow paths which give much protection. Item: The bridge has eight pontoons, which are anchored at both low and high tides and are linked one to another by a chain of iron. This chain is very stout and made in two parts. When the galleys sail out a hook is detached from a link that is attached to the pontoons. The same happens when the galleys come in through the space left by the pontoons. The latter are made of wooden planks and people cross them continuously both on foot and on horseback. These planks are movable, and they are lifted
_ 45 _ at night so that nobody can pass from the other side into the city. Item: From this bridge the waterway continues to stretch upstream, but it is very narrow. A little way up from this bridge there is the shipyard where the galleys are built. The new galleys are beached at a refuge of the fortress and those which work with them are beached elsewhere, as with those in the river, for when they are needed. Item: Every night men pass on horseback along this bridge from the other side to guard it. They retire at day-break. They do this because they fear their neighbours, especially the Gizares, who could set free to the galleys and enter the city. Item: The fortress is at one point of the city along the waterway in front of the bridge mentioned above. The two ends of the walls that encircle the city lead to this fortress to enclose it within them. The fortress has a small ditch which fills and empties of water from the river with the tide. There is nothing between that fortress and the houses of the city but this ditch. It appears that the fortress has very little artillery. There is a camelo of metal at the gate of the fortress. It also has cão chimbero, and an espalhafato which is broken.
_ 46 _ Item: There are many buttresses all around the walls of the city which have a further protective low wall with battlements. On this protective wall there is no artillery. On the outside of this same wall there is a ditch all round it which fills and empties with the river. The ditch is deep but not very wide and always contains water. Item: The fortress and the encircling walls are very well watched over at night at certain points and especially at the gates, by a captain and soldiers. The captain has been there for three years and never leaves the fortress except when he is called by the Pasha on important business. Item: The city has four gates, which are each guarded with men-at-arms in four watches per day. They are opened at day-break and closed while it is still daylight. The gates are located north, south, east and west. On Fridays, when everyone is in the mosque, the gates remain closed until they come out. Item: Basra appears to have better artillery because Turks are braggarts and put it all at the entrance to the pontoon bridge which has the chain. On the ground, resting on planks, they placed the following pieces of artillery: two espalhafatos, one lião, one espera, two cameletes, a large camelo, two small cannons, one falcão and another espera which is broken. It burst on the day I entered Basra.
_ 47 _ Item: From what they showed on the day I entered they had seven hundred men, one hundred and fifty of whom had muskets and the rest bows and arrows. But I was certain the one thousand men had been deployed in Basra, five hundred of whom were horsemen. This is because from Basra they go to help wherever it is needed, to places like Al Qurna, Zaquia, Medina and other fortresses on the Persian side, because of the many skirmishes they have with their neighbours. Item: The names of the captains of the fortresses of Al Qurna, Zaquia, Medina and another on the Persian side they call Capan, are Mira, Sam, Jacques and Beques. They have both infantry and cavalry and they help each other when it is necessary. When the Pasha died these captains, fearing treason, went instantly to Basra to help, and as soon as he dieu they sent a messenger to Baghdad to ask for some men. They were sent fifty janisssaries to guard the city, they being so trustworthy. Item: The best landing stage that Basra has is in an Arab village called Saragy, which is half a league from Basra. The route is easy, open and level, and from there to the walls of the city the distance is about half a musket shot. Opposite one of the gates on the south side and between there and the walls of the city there are houses and a bazaar. It is a wide road.
_ 48 _ Item: When Antonio Teixeira left he went by way of the territory of the Gizares and I went with him for half a league from Basra. He went out by the bridge of pontoons with the iron chain. Immediately on the other side of the bridge the palm groves begin and they extend a great distance. These palm groves are in rows and have very high walls. All of them have ditches with water storage, and this area is very well kept. From there to the open country it is flat and in some places marshy. Item: What I have felt about these people from the very beginning of my sojourn and now more than ever, is that they are very anxious to have peace, as it is very much in their interests, on account of their prosperity. They are so prosperous because all the goods which pass through the Straits of Ormuz to Basra, i. e. cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, benzoin, indigo and clothing, and which go as far as Turkey, pay duty of 10% in Basra. From Basra to Baghdad, which is a journey of twelve to fifteen days, the duty paid in 11% and from Baghdad to Aleppo it is 21%. There are also many other expenses. Therefore, the merchant who leaves Ormuz with goods worth 1000 cruzados pays 500 cruzados in duties when he reaches Aleppo, but these goods are so valuable that they compensate amply for these duties. Other foods also come
_ 49 _ along this route and pay the same. It is for this reason that they are so interested in peace. Basra and the other places through which these goods pass have found great importance. The black cloths of Cambay and other places are used in Basra and the surrounding country and also by the Gizares. In Basra they pay 8% for these. Item: On the 8th August the Pasha of Basra gave me leave to go and see the galleys and the places where they are built. I found five new galleys, not one of them caulked, but otherwise finished. There was nothing lacking in them, the largest having twenty two benches, three having eighteen and one sixteen. Each galley has a capstan and cable on the poop and all the supporting beams have been installed which each needs, sealed and joined together so that they do not shift, and all the other necessary things. Item: The wood used in these galleys, which I touched with my own hands, is of beech and pine. The timbers are two fingers thick, and one palm or a little less in width, and between them they put some teak to strengthen the structure, because these planks are small in width and thickness and do not last long and split easily. Item: The joins in the timbers of these galleys are very fine and filled with wax. Their keels are narrow and
_ 50 _ the nails used are small, but they serve well enough. The galleys are very slender, their holds have little depth and they can withstand very little artillery. Their prows are very plain. Item: Outside the shipyard in front of the fortress there is a beached galley with twenty benches. It is newly repaired and is one of those brought by Pir Beque. Next to it there is a galliot with seventeen benches and a brig with fifteen benches, which were built a year and a half ago. They are now being repaired because they have rotted a great deal. On the river, upstream from the pontoon bridge, there is another galliot and another brig in the same state which are used only when necessary. There are also four small copra boats which fire a small metal cannon from their prows. These four boats are used continuously to go to Al Quarna and Medina to send aid and carry messages to the Gizares, because they are very easy to manoeuvre. Item: Thus the whole armada consists of eight ships, with as previously mentioned from sixteen to twenty two benches, two brigs with eleven benches and the above four small boats which together come to fourteen vessels. Item: They have no more because the fustas which they took from the Arabs in Cairo and another which they took
_ 51 _ from Balthazar do Prado in Katif are rotten and of no use. The galleon “Badur” which was brought by Pir Beque is in a creek, rotten and full of water. In the shipyard I found a quantity of planks of the type I mentioned and also a deal of joining wax. I found much timber, but it was of a very weak type and is only useful for repairing the galleys when they are damaged. Item: I also saw a great many large and small masts and many yards made of pine in all about fifty. They have large and small anchors of iron, which they make in Basra and send to Persia, and many large and small cannon balls made of stone, and lots of narrow beams on which they beach their galleys. Item: I certainly found these teak boards coming here, which they use and mix with the other board they have. It is brought from India in Moorish naos going to Bahrein, and Juefar. They carry it under the ballast. These naos leave from Dabul, Bassein, Bombay, Damão and Diu. Some board is also brought to terradas going from Ormuz to fetch provisions as an extra cargo carried above, and in the Persian language they call it derabas. It is sold there. In this place they use another board made from palms, which they have in Basra.
_ 52 _ Item: I also found that from these same places came many oars, as if making hajj pilgrimage. They are used for many purposes. Item: The river is very bad for these galleys, for they rot quickly in use and when beached they split in the dry winds and the sun. In themselves they are also not very reliable, and they are always having to be repaired. After I arrived in Basra they emptied a galliot and a brig because they were so damaged. They repaired the brig immediately whilst I was there. It was half rotten along the bottom, but they renewed it completely within a very short space of time. Item: In view of the position of the land I feel that this armada can very easily be burned, in collusion with the Gizares. Without doubt I believe they will cooperate when they see the power of the King our master in that Strait of Basra, because they desire nothing more. Item: The wood comes to Basra from a place called Haderna, where they cut the boards, joints, yards and masts. From here they go by river to Hamacy, which is another city eight days away from Baghdad. It takes three days for them to be taken in carts from this place to the river of Baghdad. On the river they are put on rafts and
_ 53 _ within ten days they reach Baghdad. From Baghdad to Basra they put them in daneques, which are like very big barges, and from this same place they bring rope and nails. Item: I spent the days I stayed in Basra investigating the things that are contained in this Report. This information is truly given by a man who desires and values service to Your Highness. Made in Goa on the 11th of December 1563. Simão da Costa
_ 55 _ Episodes of the year 1564 A letter was received from the king regarding Andre Amado, Lisbon, on the 1st of February 1564, mentioning the clerk of the death registry in Qalhat and Muscat:(9) Summary Letter from the King granting to André Amado, shieldbearer and nobleman of his house, so of Afonso Gonçalves Amado, the post of Factor and Registrar of Deaths of Kalhat and Muscat for a period of three years on their being vacated by those appointed by provisions issued prior to the present one or by any means whatsoever. Lisbon, 1st February 1564. (9) Document no. and reference.
_ 56 _ In the same year (1564) Giving the position of commanding the castle in Banjim, Lisbon, on the 4th of February 1564, and mentioning the honoring of Manuel de Milo:(10) Having regard for the services of Manuel de Melo who was Captain in Pangim and for the services of Enrique de Melo, his son, who found himself in the fortress at Bahrein under siege by Turks, he is given the captaincy of the fortress of Pangim on the death of his father. Lisbon 4 February 1564. Alvaro Fernandes (10) Document no. and reference.
_ 57 _ In the same year (1564) A letter from the king was received regarding Manuel de Milo and Enric de Milo, Lisbon, on the 23rd of February 1564, mentioning his recognition of the services of Manuel de Milo:(11) Summary Letter from the King in recognition of the services Manoel de Melo,, captain of the fortress of Panjim in India, and of the services of Enrique de Melo, his son, who was at the fortress of Bahrein when it was besieged by Turks, where he went from Ormuz at the orders of Dom Antao de Noronha, whom the King is now sending to India as Viceroy. As in the fortress of Bahrein the said Enrique de Melo suffered and fought well in its defence according to what (11) Document no. and reference.
_ 58 _ the King was told, on the death of Manoel de Melo he grants him the captaincy of the fortress of Panjim for his son Enrique de Melo in the same manner in which his father was appointed to it. Lisbon 23 February 1564.
_ 59 _ In the same year (1564) A letter was received from the king regarding Manuel de Milo, Lisbon, on the 23rd of February 1564:(12) Letter from the King making known that on 12 February of last year, 1563, he resolved to grant to Luis de Melo da Silva, nobleman of his house, now in India, the captaincy of the fortress of Ormuz for a period of three years on its being vacated by those appointed by provisions issued prior to the said decree, or when it falls vacant by any means whatsoever, and he should abandon the two voyages as captain and factor of the carrack of vessel. Which is to sail from India to the Bandel, which the King, his lord and grandfather (may be rest in holy glory) granted to him in the year 1557, the King now resolves to (12) Document no. and reference.
_ 60 _ issue the present letter concerning this captaincy as stated in the said decree. If it is the case that he has already served on one of the two said voyages, he is to abandon and renounce what remains of it for him to serve, or, if he has served on both, the King resolves to grant him the said captaincy as stated, although he has served on the said two voyages to the Bandel. Lisbon, 26 February 1564.
_ 61 _ In the same year (1564) Father Manuel Cabral sent a letter to Father Diego Mirao, Ormuz, on the 11th of April 1564, where he mentioned the atmosphere before arrival in Ormuz:(13) His Reverend Father, Peace in Christ. 1. Although the moment has not been opportune, and I have not felt disposed, as for three days I have not said Mass because my hands are swollen, the obligation I have towards Your Reverence and to the whole of this college(A) still compels me to do what I might well say I am incapable of doing. By the carracks to Portugal I have written to Your Reverence at length about our voyage and have told you of some of the events I experienced after leaving where you are. (A) The college at Coimbra (cf.the inscription at the end of the letter). (13) Document no. and reference.
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