[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Storia do Mogor](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci) › [Storia do Mogor (Irvine)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine) › 265.4 # Storia do Mogor 265.4 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 265.4 - **Language:** English ### [265.4.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.265.4.1) This prince of Tanjor was the first to give permission to Father Ruberto Nobre (Roberto de' Nobili), a Jesuit and Italian by race, to build churches and preach our holy Faith and argue with the Brahmans. He held this father in much respect. Nobili was the first to begin that mission which at present, by God's grace, finds itself with more than one hundred churches. Continually it increases in the number of its Christians, to the greater glory of its founder. But at this moment, for the Christian communities in these provinces there is a great lack of missionaries. In the year one thousand six hundred and eighty-two (1682) the Dutch commissary with a fleet of thirty vessels tried to destroy the temple of Ramanavarao (Rameshwaram), and remove the great treasures buried within it. While this work was in progress he received a letter from the principal Hindus, wherein they wrote that if he determined to do any damage, or if his people got as far as within the shadow of the temple, they were prepared to set on fire and destroy all the cities, fortresses, and factories upon this coast, and the name of the Dutch would be blotted out for ever. Upon reading the letter, he made sail at once in the direction of Turuchorim (Tuticorin), and thus abandoned his intention in order not to lose the great wealth they drew from that coast. ### [265.4.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.265.4.2) Since I am speaking of that coast, I will state how they obtain seed-pearls on the shores of Tutochorim (Tuticorin) and in Manar. The inhabitants know the time of year for removing the pearls. It is in the months of March and April. The Dutch, as lords of the sea-shore on the coast of Tuticorin, and of the coast of Manar in the island of Ceylon, give licenses to fish for twenty-one different days. In this way they begin at the end of March, and spread the fishing out to May 20 or thereabouts. In this fishery participate six hundred toni (Tamil, toni), which are vessels sufficient for the purpose. Every vessel has a crew of thirty men, who pay the Dutch six patacas a head if they are Christians, nine if Hindu, twelve if Mahomedans. The Christian boats are three hundred, those of the Hindus one hundred, and of the Mahomedans two hundred. Added together, these come to eighteen thousand men. These are the divers. Many more people collect as traders, carriers, including women and children. Ordinarily, during the fishing season there are forty thousand people. Each vessel pays one pataca for a cartajo (a license or permit). All this money together amounts to one hundred and forty-four thousand three hundred patacas. Besides this, the Dutch provide supplies of rice, pulses, salted fish, and flour, et cetera, for sale to all \[172\] this crowd. From this they derive great profit, for they sell at whatever prices they like. ### [265.4.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.265.4.3) The way of obtaining the seed-pearls is as follows : These vessels anchor in ten, twelve, or even sixteen fathoms. The divers are naked and oiled all over. In entering the water they lay hold of a rope, at the end of which a stone is attached, and this helps them to get nearer the bottom. Another separate rope is tied round the man's waist. He has a basket hung across his shoulder, and holds in his hand a coita (? rod) which he uses to detach any shells which may be stuck to stones. Thus he rapidly fills the basket, and this done, he shakes the rope round his waist. His companions in the vessel, on getting this signal, haul him up as fast as they can to the surface, and take the shells. The diver who went down first takes a rest, and another man takes his place. Thus they continue the whole day, taking it in turns, and in the evening they withdraw, and from every boat they collect the shells and put them in a place set apart for them. ### [265.4.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.265.4.4) Some merchants take the chance of buying unopened oysters, the highest price given being one pataca per thousand. If the oysters turn-out not to be rich in pearls, they do not lose their money ; while some have such good fortune as to enrich themselves at the cost of one pataca. The fishing being over, they leave the oysters to rot, and the smell makes anyone ill who is present. They leave the oysters to decay, because in this way the pearls turn out of a better colour, and the Dutch as over-lords of the site purchase the best, and at the cheapest rates. Every year at this fishery there die without fail a considerable number of the divers while diving. There is also another fishery of a shell-fish they call changos (sankh), which is a business carried on by the Dutch only ; they carry them to Bengal and earn large profits. For the Hindus make from them bracelets, rings, and other curiosities for their women. They are always at a good price, for when any man dies all the female relations of the defunct break their bracelets and rings in sign of grief, when new ones have to be made. In this same way they fish, but at all seasons, for seed-pearls in the Persian Gulf, whence are derived a larger quantity and of higher value. ### [265.4.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.265.4.5) While I was in Madrastapatao (Madras) there came a barque from Macao, and among other news they told of an extraordinary case that had lately happened. A vessel sailed from Siao (Siam) for Manila. In the latitude of Paragoa it met a typhoon, by which it was driven on a rocky shore and perished. The greater number of the crew got into a boat in the hope of reaching some port, but to this day nothing has been heard of them. Fourteen men, however, took refuge on a peak of land, where they dwelt for nine years. They lived for six months on birds and for six months on turtle, according to the seasons, together with roots that served to sustain them, also on shell-fish. They suffered much for want of water, and forced by necessity, they searched diligently throughout the isle, until at one spot, digging a hole among the stones, it ended in a very sweet water springing up sufficient for their necessities. They lived on in this manner till there was a quarrel, when they divided into two settlements, each with its own chief. This continued for some time, and then they reunited. ### [265.4.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.265.4.6) In the said isle they often held council how to get out of it. To effect this, they decided to make a boat ready for the time when Fortune should favour them. All the timber and the trees driven to the island by the currents were collected, and the best kept for the above purpose, and the rest served for cooking. They kept the nails and pieces of iron found in the timber, and with these prepared the necessary iron and woodwork in the best way they could; only files and hand-saws they could not procure. With the skins and feathers of birds they clothed themselves, and of the gut they made string. The coverings of the turtles served as bowls and plates. As soon as they had timber enough, they began to build their boat, which looked like a box. They made in it a tank to carry water, and put on a deck. The mast alone delayed them six months, shaving and paring it; it was twelve cubits long. With the skins and feathers of birds they manufactured sails. The boat having been completed in the best way they could, they provisioned it with flesh of birds salted with salt they had made, and other flesh fried in tortoise fat, and of their shells they made water-jars and vessels. Dried yams served instead of biscuit. During their stay in the island two of the company died. ### [265.4.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.265.4.7) Having worked at their preparations for fifty days, they embarked and set sail, abandoning themselves to the will of Fate, and leaving behind one of their companions who had lost the use of his limbs. After the lapse of some days they came in sight of an island and made for it, and, beaching their boat, enjoyed themselves for two months. They caught a large number of birds, which they easily seized with their hands, they captured turtles, dug yams, and collected other wild productions. After two months they revictualled the boat, and once more set sail, navigating without knowing where they were going. After thirty days they perceived an island straight ahead of the boat, whereat they greatly rejoiced, for \[174\] they were suffering much from the want of water. Keeping on the same course there appeared a number of islands, which they recognised as the islands of Aisnaos, inhabited by Chinese. They were thus reassured, and made every effort to reach land and search for water, for they were dying of thirst. The natives, seeing such a boat and such figures, fled in fright, carrying off with them their children and all that they could carry, those who caused all this confusion not knowing what was the matter. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.265.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.265.4) · Pramāṇa