The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c10.100

v1.c10.100

8. This was only a passing cloud brought on by the cupidity of Rama Raya; for the intercouse between Vijayanagara and Portugal continued in the following years as friendly as ever. Caesar Frederick, who was an eye-witness of the trading of the Portuguese in the city of Sao Thome at the end of the reign of Sadasiva, says to this effect: "It is a marvellous thing to them which have not seene the lading and unlading of men and merchandize in Saint Tome as they doe: it is a place so dangerous, that a man cannot be served with small Barkes, neither can they doe their business with the Boates of the ships, because they would be beaten in a thousand pieces, but they make certain Barkes (of purpose) high which they call Masadie, they be made of little boards; one board being sowed to another with small cordes, and in this order are they made. And when they are thus made, and the owners will embarke any thing in them either men or goods, they lade them on land, and when they are laden, the Barke-men thrust the Boate with her lading into the streame, and with great speed they make haste all that they are able to row out against the huge waves of the Sea that are on that shore untill that they carrie them to the ships: and in like manner they lade these Masadies at the ships with merchandise and men. When they come neere the shore, the Bark-men leape out of the Bark into the Sea to keep the Barke right that shee cast not thwart the shore, and being kept right, the Suffe of the Sea setteth her lading drie on land without any hurt or danger, and sometimes there are some of them that are overthrown, but there can bee no great losse, bacause they lade but a little at a time. All the Merchandise they lade outwards, they emball it well with Oxe hides, so that if it take wet, it can have no great harme" ¹.