Travels in India (Tavernier) 31.1.6

31.1.6

The Governor of Mozambique trades also with the Negroes who inhabit the length of the coast of Melinda, and they generally pay for the goods which they take with ivory or with ambergris. On my last voyage to India the Governor of Mozambique, who returned to Goa after having completed the three years of his government, had a parcel of ambergris which was alone worth about 200,000 écus, without counting the gold and ivory, which amounted to a larger sum. The second Government was formerly that of Malacca, on account of the dues which had to be paid there. For it is a strait where all the vessels which leave Goa for Japan, China, Cochinchina, Java, Macassar, the Philippines, and other places must pass. They are indeed able to pursue another route along the western coast of the island of Sumatra, and either traverse the Strait of Sonde, or leave the island of Java to the north; but when the vessels return to Goa they are required to show the free pass of the Malacca custom-house — this compels them to follow that route.