The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c23.s3.71

v4.c23.s3.71

De Brito (p. 478) had made himself independent at Syriam, defeating all attacks whether by his old Arakanese master or by other chiefs. He had a hundred Portuguese, some negro and Indian slaves, and the Talaings who came in from the neighbourhood. He was liked, because he gave folk settled government. He had several ships cruising round the coast to prevent merchant vessels from putting in save at Syriam, where he could make them pay customs duty. He became so successful that the Portuguese viceroy at Goa acknowledged him as official Portuguese governor of Syriam. But he continued to do as he pleased, and he did wrong in pillaging pagodas. He would scrape the gold off images and beat it into gold-leaf for sale to pilgrims; and he melted down some of the beautiful bronze bells at the Shwedagon to save himself the expense of importing bronze to make cannon. He was allied to Martaban and Toungoo.