WESTERN HINDOOS TAN. 169 



inflated Triumpara, the reigniiig prince, but only to fit him for 

 a new mortification. In the traafpoits of his gratitude he per- 

 mitted the Fortugiiefe to build a fort. This gave them fidl 

 power over their faithful ally ; and, under pretence of reducing 

 his rebellious fubje<fts, made a conqueft of the whole country. 

 In a little time the poor prince found himfelf enllaved. Cochin 

 became, under its new mafiers, a place of great com.merce, till 

 the year 1660, fatal to the Portugiiefe power in this part of 

 India, It was attacked by the Commodore Goem. The gar- 

 rifon made a moft gallant defence, nor was it taken till after 

 great lofs on both fides. The Dutch found the city much too 

 large for their purpofe; they reduced it confiderably. The 

 titular king did not find any improvement in his fituation, and 

 it is faid, that the prefent prince lives near Cochin, with an in- 

 come of little more than fix hundred pounds a year. Some of 

 the race of the Jcto'i/Jj captives, and fome of the Chrijlians of St. 

 Thomas, refide here. The laft are miferably poor and ignorant ; 

 but the church of St. Andrea, not far from hence, is ferved by 

 their clergy. 



In this city breathed his laft the great Vafco de Gama, the Of Vasco de 

 difcoverer of India, and, with the illuftrious Albuquerque^ the 

 founder of the Portuguefe empire in that inexhauftible region 

 of wealth. Gania was born at Sines, a port in the province of 

 Alentejo, in Portugal, of a faafily rendered illuftrious by the 

 valour of the individuals. Vafco was only the fifth ia heraldic 

 hiftory, which does not even acquaint us with the time of his 

 birth.. He had ferved in France, and he was Gentleman of the 

 Bedchamber to the great Emmanuel, when he was appointed, in 



Vol. I. Z 1497, 



