Storia do Mogor 338.17.1

338.17.1

Seeing this surprising novelty, the Chinese asked the Portuguese what personage this was who had newly arrived. With all the signs of dread they said he was the son of a very great man. For his father held the office of farrier for the horses of His Lusitanian Majesty, whom God preserve. Thereby they insinuated that the King of Portugal was greater than the Emperor of China. The governor of the place, who was unfavourable to these people, wrote the whole story in detail to the court. Remembering the care that he had always bestowed on them, and fearing they might raise an insurrection in his country, the emperor ordered them all to be put to the edge of the sword, not sparing one of them. The order was forthwith carried out : three thousand human beings were beheaded, and the town was ruined. From this anecdote will appear their (the Portuguese) pride and their unreasonable conduct.