WESTERN HINDOOSTAN', 61 



^' carvers, and other handicraftfmen. They cut out letters in 

 *' fhells, and inlay with them very curioufly. They alfo make 

 " beautiful inkftands, and fmall boxes. They manufadure: 

 " gold and filver ftufFs, velvets, 8>:c. ; and they imitate the 

 *' fluffs of furkey, Europe, and Perfia. They alfo make very 

 « good fwords, Jemdbers, Kewpwehs, and bows and arrows, 

 " Here is like wife carried' on a traffic in precious ftones. Silver 

 " is brought hither from Room and Irak.'''' 



Along the coaft, quite from Cape Jigat, were a number of 

 antient towns. Simylla, on the very cape, was once a con- 

 fide^'able mart, in the days of Ptokmy. 



The famous Pagoda Jumnaut flood clofe to Putfan, on the Pagoda Juh:^ 

 weftern fide of Guzzerat. It was deflroyed in 1022, by the ^^'''^'^' 

 bigotted Mahmood*. The Hindoos believed that the fouls of 

 the departed went to this place, to be transferred into other 

 bodies, human or animal, according to their deferts. The 

 riches in gems, gold, Sec. would be incredible, did we not 

 know the power of fuperllition in thofe remote and unen- 

 lightened times. 



On the Bceonzis injula flands D/V^, which long flourifiied un- Dir;. 

 der its native owners. The judicious Jllbuquerque had cafl his 

 eye on this ifland as a fit poll to enfure fafety and permanency 

 to the Portugueje empire in India. He endeavoured to obtain 

 leave from the monarch of Cambaya to eredl a fort, but the 

 governor, as wife as himfelf, obltrudted the defign. In 1535, 

 Nugno CAcugna fucceeded, and in forty-nine days made it 

 io flrong, as to baffle the attempts of the prince, who, re- 

 penting of his conceflion, endeavoured to wrefl it from the 



* Ferifhta, i. p. 7 1 to 86. 



Portuguefey 



