island the old people are sold by their
children or their relations and afterwards are eaten, 255-257. Fathers when aged sold in the market for food, 255; sick persons killed and sold, 256; Varthema's comrade takes alarm.
Chapter where, at midday, the sun casts a shadow in the island of
Giava, 257, 258.
The sun casts a shadow to the south in June, 257; their fear of being eaten; purchase of emeralds and mutilated children, 258.
Chapter concerning our return, 258-263.
Charter a junk and return to Malacha, 258; part with the Christians
of Sarnau, to the great grief of these, 259 ; sail to Cioromandel, and take another ship to Colon (Quilon); they proceed to Calicut, where Varthema finds two Milanese Christians who made ordnance for the king; Varthema plays the hypocrite, pretending to be a Mussulman saint, and is much venerated, 262.
Chapter showing how I made myself a physician in Calicut,
263-266.
Varthema called to visit a silk merchant, 263; his medical practice, 264; and its success; his fame as a saint spreads, but he keeps up secret communication with the Christians, 265.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Chapter concerning the news of the ships of the Portuguese which
came into Calicut, 266.
Two Persian merchants of Cannanore report the arrival of the Portu- guese fleet there, and the commencement of a fort; Varthema pre- tends to denounce them, 266.
Chapter showing how the Moors summon to the church those who
are of their sect and faith, 267, 268.
Takes occasion to describe the call to prayer (adhan), 267 ; Varthema sets forth (as Imam) to lead the prayers of the congregation in the mosque; gives his version of the prayer (Fatihah); pretends illness, and his comrade proposes his going to Cannanore for change, 268.
Chapter concerning the flight from Calicut, 268-270.
Varthema after doubts and fears sets out by sea with the two mer- chants of Cannanore, 268; they are stopped by the Nairs ; they start by land till they find a boat which takes them to Cannanore, 270 ; where a friend of his (Mussulman) comrade receives him hospitably.
Chapter showing how I escaped from Cananor to the Portuguese,
270-274.
He makes his way to the Portuguese factory, and takes refuge with Don Lorenzo de Almeyda, 271; to whom he relates all the prepara- tions at Calicut; and is then sent to the Viceroy at Cochin, 272; the Viceroy receives him well and gives him a safe conduct for the two Milanese; he makes many attempts to induce them to escape alone with their jewels and money; but their avarice causes delays and they are betrayed, 273; the Moorish merchants combine to bribe the King of the Gioghi, who was then at Calicut, to have them murdered, 274; Varthema protects the son of one of them, who dies a year later.
Chapter concerning the fleet of Calicut, 274-280.
Description of the great fleet which issued from the ports of Calicut, 274; the Viceroy's son having but eleven ships to meet them, 275; he exhorts his officers and men; the chaplain follows with a discourse and absolution; but the main fight takes place next day near Can- nanore, 277; gallantry of Captain Joan Sarrano and of Captain Simon Martin, 278; rout and pursuit of the Calicut fleet, 279 ; great slaughter of the enemy; bravery of the Portuguese; and joy of the Viceroy, 280.
Chapter showing how I was sent back to Canonor by the Viceroy,
280-286.
Varthema made factor by the Viceroy and sent to Cannanore, 280; King of Cannanore dying, the new king is hostile, 281; war breaks out and the fort is beleaguered from April to August, 282; when they are relieved by the fleet from Portugal; miraculous aid hinted at, 284; superstition of the Moors, 285; enchanters among them, 286.
Chapter concerning the assault of the Portuguese upon Pannani,
286-288.
Varthema obtains leave to go to Europe, 286; but first takes part in the assault on Pannani, 287; desperate fighting; Varthema is knighted by the Viceroy, 288; return to Cannanore.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
THE BOOK CONCERNING ETHIOPIA.
Chapter concerning the various islands in Ethiopia, 289, 290.
They sail from India, and arrive at Mozarubich, 289; notices of Me- lindi, Mombaza, Chiloa (Kilwah or Quiloa), Zaphala (Sofala), Gogia (Angoxa), Pati (Pate), Brava, the islands of Socotra, of Cumere (Co- moro), and Penda (Pemba), 290.
Chapter concerning the island of Mozambich and its inhabitants,
291-296.
Products of Mozambich are gold and oil, 291; natives, their low state, 292; wild elephants, 293; extraordinary speech of the negroes; barter with them, 294; proceed on then- voyage, passing the island of San Lorenzo (Madagascar); the Portuguese conversions in India merit success for the king's arms.
Chapter concerning the Cape of Good Hope, 296-298.
Pass the Cape of Good Hope at a distance of 200 miles, 296; pass near St. Helena, where they see two great and extraordinary fishes, 291; find the island of Ascension, and certain stupid birds thereon; begin to see the north star; reach the islands of Astori (Azores); and Lisbon; Varthema has an interview with the King of Portugal, 298, who con- firms his patent of knighthood; Varthema proceeds to Rome.
PREFACE,
BY THE TRANSLATOR.
_____
THE following translation has been made from the first edition of Varthema's work printed at Rome in the year 1510, or, as stated in the colophon: "Nel Anno M.D.X. a di • vi de Decembrio." It is impos- sible to peruse Varthema's narrative and not feel a conviction that the writer is telling the truth, that he is recording events which actually took place, and describing men, countries and scenes which he had examined with his own eyes. There is a manifest absence of all attempt at composition. The tale is told with a charming simplicity and all the concise freshness of a note-book, and the author has evi- dently not stopt to consider whether the word he used was Bolognese, Venetian, or "Lingua Toscana." Neither has he felt any qualms of conscience as to his grammar. This latter circumstance has occa- sionally rendered the meaning of a passage somewhat doubtful. The printers also have added their mite to the obscurity by sometimes uniting two words or sentences together, or separating one word or sentence into two, or by leaving out a word alto-
b
ii PREFACE.
gether. This edition, however, is the only one which gives Varthema's text truly. Even the Latin trans- lation by Archangelus Madrignanus (a monk of the abbey of Clairvaux), which was finished on the 25th day of May 1511, or within six months
