The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c12.124

v1.c12.124

It happened that a Christian Malabarian named Joao da Cruz, who had been in Portugal as an ambassador of the Zamorin of Calicut, found himself on the Fishery Coast at this time. He advised the Paravas that since they could not expect help from the Viceroy of Madura, as the past events showed, they must go to the Portuguese Captain of Cochin who would willingly help them. Accordingly, fifteen of the most influential Paravas, whom Fr. de Sousa calls *Patengatis*, accompanied by da Cruz proceeded to Cochin. The Captain of that place was then Dr. Pero Vaz de Amaral, who received them in a very fatherly way and promised to take up arms against the Muhammadans, and to take the Paravas under the protection of the Portuguese nation on condition of their all becoming Christians. To this they gladly consented, and being instructed in the Christian faith by Fr. Miguel Vaz, Vicar General of India, who was then at Cochin, they were baptized some days after¹.