The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c13.221

v1.c13.221

16. The end of the viceroyalty of Vitthala was not the end of their troubles for the Paravas of the Fishery Coast; because in the year 1560 Visvanatha, the Nayak of Madura, again invaded the country, demanding the catch of two days’ fishing as the tribute due to him. The vanguard of his army, headed by a Deccani captain named Melrao, reached Punney Kayal some day in the month of August, early in the morning. They set fire to all the houses they could. But it happened that at the time there was in Punney Kayal a strong detachment of soldiers, who had come to the Fishery Coast some days before under the command of Dom Duarte de Menezes, a Portuguese noble. On learning the cause of the revolt, Dom Duarte immediately proceeded with his forty soldiers to encounter Melrao and his army. The fight was long and indecisive. Meanwhile the whole population was able to take refuge in the mud fort which overlooked the river. Manoel Rodrigues Coutinho, who was still the captain of the fort, set out to drive the enemies out of the town. They were on the point of succeeding in this enterprise. For Dom Duarte de Menezes had valliantly killed Melrao and had put to flight the rest of his enemies. But just then the main body of the army commanded by Visvanatha Nayaka himself appeared on the scene ¹.