108 WESTERN H I N D O O S T A N. 



Cochin-. Cocbiii lies ill Lat. 9° 58' N. on the fouthern fide of the chan- 



nel, on an illand oppolite to another that ftretches to the fouth. 

 It is a Rajahjlnp, poffibly dependent on that of Travancore, who 

 feems to have undertaken the defence of the whole trail fouth- 

 ward, by ere6ling the famous lines of Travancore, which begin 

 at Crangamre and extend alrnoft to the foot of the Ghauts. 

 The coaft is very low, fcarcely difcernible, except by the trees. 

 The foundings are gradual, and are, at the diftance of two miles 

 from fliore, ten or eleven fathoms. Ships ufually lie three or 

 four miles from land ; a dangerous bar is an obftrudlion to en- 

 tering the harbour ; and a moft furious furge at times beats on 

 the Iliore. 



This was one of the firfl places vifited by the Portuguefey 

 after their arrival at Calicut. It was at that time governed by 

 a prince, tributary to the Zamoriti, but who fliewed every adt 

 of friendfhip to the Admiral, Cabral, and his companions. At 

 his time the harbour was capacious and open. While he was 

 there, two of the Chrijlians of St. Thouias came and requefted 

 him to convey them to Portugal, that from thence they might 

 vifit Jerufakjn, and the Holy Land. Gama himfelf afterwards 

 vifited Cochin, and received every mark of refpecft. The prince 

 continued faithful to his new allies, and aflifted them with a 

 confiderable army againft the Zamorin. At length fortune de- 

 clared againft him ; the Zamorin burnt his capital, and made 

 himfelf mafter of his dominions. The Portuguefe under Fran- 

 cis Albuquerque, fays Lafitau, came, in 1503, to their affiftance, 

 expelled the Zamorin, and Duarte Pacheco, whom Albuquer- 

 que had left behind, by his aftoniQiing valor and prudence^ re- 

 inflated 



