Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/202

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168
HISTORY OF INDIA

168

HISTORY OF INDIA.

[lioOK I.

A.D. 1501. their cargoes at the fonner, and proceed with the two others to the latter town. As a precautionary measure the experlition was to call at San Bhis, situated east of the Cape of Good Hope, and wait ten days to give an opportunity of meeting with any of Cabral's ships which might be on their way home. Here they found a letter which had been left for them, detailing the events which had

taken place at Calicut and Cochin. In corLse- «juence of this informa- - ' tion, Juan de Nueva

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De Nueva arrives at Cocliin.

j*S%'iti?.:

Cananore. — Bnin et Ho^jenburg, 1574.

^' deemed it imprudent to

separate his vessels, and proceeded with the whole for India, arrivinir in November at Anchediva, a small i.sland on the coast south of Goa. Shortly after he anchored off Cananore, the rajah of which was very urgent that he shoidd lade there; but anxiety to learn the state of matters at the factory induced liim t(j decline and hasten on to Cochin.

On arriving, he learned that the rajah, though greatly offended with Cabral for leaving without notice and carrying off his hostages, had proved a faithful ally, and given full protection to all the members of the factory ; but that the Moors had carried their hostility so far as on one occasion to set fire to it, and in various ways, by depreciating the value of their merchandise, had prejudiced the native traders against them to such a degree, that they refused to part with their spices except for ready money. As this was a commodity with which Juan de Nueva was very scantily provided, he immediately retiu-ned to Cananore, where the rajah dealt with him much more liberally, and furnished him with 1000 (quintals of pepper, 50 of ginger, and 450 of cinnamon, together with some cotton cloth, to be paid out of the proceeds of the goods which he had lodged for sale in a Portuguese factory established there. While occupied with these commercial transactions, Juan de Nueva received intelligence that a large fleet belonging to the zamorin was on the way to attack him. The rajah who sent the intelligence advised him to land his men and ordnance, and make an enti'enchment on shore, as the only effectual means of defence. He Defeats the was not SO casily intimidated ; and, on the next da}^ when 1 00 vessels were seen entering the bay, he advanced to meet them, and poured in his shot with such good effect, that the zamorin's commander hung out a flag of truce, and, after a parley, agreed to quit the bay, and make the best of his way back to Calicut

zjimoriii s

fleet

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