called by the general name of Malabar; a name CHAPTER IX. which should properly be applied only to southern end between Cananore and Comorin. the ligious status of people. The territory of Malabar, thus limited, is per- Social and rehaps one of the most curious regions in all India. the Malabar The higher class natives are a relic of primitive civilization when the marriage tie was unknown or disregarded. Being walled off as it were from the more orthodox Hindú empire of Narsinga, they obstinately adhered to their depraved mode of living, although they accepted the form of religion which was taught by the Bráhmans. Their original worship was that indescribable idolatry of sex, which was associated with the worship of Siva; but they had subsequently professed the worship of Vishnu, under his great incarnations of Ráma and Krishna, which was the national religion of the Rais of Narsinga. They also propitiated a demon-goddess, named Mari or Mariamma, who was supposed to be the originator and distributer of all diseases. They were divided into a number of petty kingdoms, each of which was governed by a Raja; but these Rajas acknowledged the authority of a suzerain, who reigned at the ancient sea-port of Calicut, under the title of Zamorin or emperor. ports of Malabar. From time immemorial the sea-ports of Malabar, Shade of especially Calicut, had been famous for their trade in spices, pepper, ginger, and other Indian commodities. The Rajas of the several kingdoms were deeply interested in this trade, for they levied a tax on every sale, and often supplied the cargoes. The principal traders, however, were Mussulmans from Arabia and Egypt, who went by the name of Moors. These men carried away not only rich cargoes to CHAPTER IX. the Red Sea, but shiploads of pilgrims going to Mecca. They landed their pilgrims at Jedda, and their goods at Suez. The goods were then carried through Egypt on the backs of camels to the city of Alexandria, where they were again shipped in the vessels of Venetian and Genoese merchants, and conveyed to the different ports in the Mediterranean. Portuguese fleet anchors at Calicut. Visit of the Portuguese at the amma. The three Portuguese vessels under Vasco de Gama anchored off Calicut on the 20th of May, 1498; and their arrival must have caused no little excitement at the court of the Zamorin, as well as in the city bazaars. Vasco de Gama opened up communications with the shore through his pilot, and announced himself as ambassador from the sovereign of Portugal, and bearer of a letter to the Zamorin from king Emanuel. The Zamorin naturally expressed a wish to see the strangers; and the Portuguese admiral, accompanied by twelve of his officers, entered a boat, and landed for the first time on the shores of India. The reception of Vasco de Gama was precisely pagoda of Mari- what might have been expected from a Hindú Raja of the period, inflated with pride and arrogance, but having a special regard to his own interests. No sooner had Don Vasco landed, than he was offered a palanquin, and carried through the sun to a neighbouring pagoda. The building with its surroundings is described as equal to the greatest of the Portuguese monasteries. On the top of the gateway were five bells, and opposite to it was a tall pillar of brass, with a cock on the summit. Within the gate Vasco de Gama was received by four Malabar Brahmans, who were only half clothed, precisely as they would appear in the present day. They wore nothing above their waist but the Brah- CHAPTER IX. manical thread; and only a white cotton cloth from their waist downwards. The Brahmans sprinkled the Portuguese strangers with scented water, and presented them with powdered sandal-wood, according to ancient custom. About the walls of the pagoda were painted several horrible figures of monsters and wild beasts. In the middle was a round chapel with brass gates; and within the chapel was the statue of a woman enshrouded with darkness. The Portuguese gazed eagerly around, and presently they asked whom the statue represented. The Malabars cried out with joyful reverence, "Mari,” "Mari;" and at once prostrated themselves on the ground. The Portuguese immediately took it for granted that the demon-goddess was the Virgin Mary, and prostrated themselves in like manner; but in a few moments they discovered their folly, and could only laugh at the idea of having been induced to worship a demon. Vasco de Gama From the pagoda Don Vasco and his Portuguese Reception of officers were carried to the palace of the Zamorin; by the Zamorin. it was built of mud, but pleasantly situated amidst trees and gardens. The strangers were ushered in with all the ceremonial that Asiatic princes assume on such occasions. The chief Bráhman received them at the gate, and then led Don Vasco into the audience-chamber. Here the Zamorin was seated in state on an elevated couch of silk which was ascended by steps. A grave official stood by his side holding a gold plate of betel. The Hindú prince was arrayed in white cotton flowered with gold. He wore rich jewels in his ears; bracelets and bangles on his legs and arms; and on his head CHAPTER IX. Was a diadem of pearls. He received Don Vasco Intrigues of the Mussulman merchants at Calicut. Reprisals of with dignified hauteur, whilst the noble Portuguese was directed to sit on one of the steps of the throne. The letter from King Emanuel was then received, and Don Vasco was promised a speedy answer. But intrigues were already on foot against the strangers. The Mussulman merchants naturally regarded the Portuguese as Christian dogs, and were extremely indignant that such men should have appeared in India as commercial rivals. They bribed the officials of the Zamorin, and whispered that the strangers were not in any way envoys from the king of Portugal; that the presents which had been brought were too poor for such a king to have sent, or for the Zamorin to receive; that the would-be ambassadors were in reality dangerous pirates, who had already committed several outrages on the coast of Africa, and probably intended to work more mischief in India. Don Vasco, who had been made over to the care of one of these officials, soon found that he was virtually a prisoner. He was perpetually urged to bring his ships nearer to the shore; and he suspected or discovered that the Mussulmans only wanted to burn them. At length he assumed a bold tone, and fairly frightened the Zamorin. He was now permitted to return to his ship and land a portion of his cargo; and a house was made over to him, and placed in the charge of a Portuguese factor. But the Mussulmans did not rest a moment from their intrigues. The factor could neither buy nor sell a single article, and soon found that he also was a prisoner. Don Vasco seized some fishermen by way of reprisals, and thus procured the release of the factor. Unfortunately he did not release all the fishermen, but kept some on board to carry to CHAPTER IX. Portugal. This proceeding confirmed the suspicion that he was a slave-hunting pirate, and excited such alarm along the coast that vessels began to assemble from all the neighbouring ports for his destruction. Accordingly he once more steered out into the Indian Ocean, and returned to Portugal by the way he came. In 1499 he entered the river Tagus after an absence of two years; but of one hundred and sixty men who had accompanied him from Lisbon, only fifty-five returned. He had lost two-thirds of his force by scurvy, privation, and disastrous encounters. But the survivors were the heroes of the day. Public thanksgivings were offered up in all the churches and cathedrals, and the whole nation was filled with joy and exultation. Spain had discovered America, but Portugal had found her way to the riches of the Indies.1 tuguese fleet, King Emanuel was now convinced that force was Second Pornecessary for the establishment of a trade in India, under Cabral. A flect of thirteen ships was manned with twelve hundred men, and sent to India under Alvarez Cabral. Of this fleet more than half were foundered on the voyage, and only six ships anchored at Calicut. The fishermen brought away on the previous voyage were soon landed and left to tell their own story. Negotiations were opened with the Zamorin. Six Bráhman ministers of state were sent on board the ships as hostages; whilst Cabral and his officers went on shore and eventually concluded a treaty. A house in Calicut was again made over to the Portuguese for the purposes of trade; and a Portuguese factor with sixty picked men were sent to transact business, and protect the premises. 1 Portuguese Asia by Faria y Sousa, translated by Stevens. London, 1695. |