Storia do Mogor 338.16.7

338.16.7

I have read in the Lusitanian Chronicles about the early times of their conquest in India, where it is noted that the ships of that nation visited many places. It happened that one of their ships was lost on the coast of China, but all of the crew were saved and some of their property. It is the custom of that country to report minutely to the court everything that occurs. When the emperor heard of the shipwreck he felt compassion, and ordered the viceroy who ruled those territories to assign the men a place near the sea for them to dwell in, and give them ground to cultivate. He conferred on them many other favours. They began to trade, and the population increased. In time they became rich, when they began to think of ruling over lands which were not theirs, collecting thieves, escaped criminals and fugitive debtors, abducting the daughters of other men, and angering the governors. They ignored the benefits they had received, and showed no want of the pride which always develops in the Portuguese when prosperous as those men were.