Vol. IX, No. 10.] The Twelve Bhiiiyas of Bengal, -- 445 
[NV.8.] 
away by a tidal wave. This theory, lately revived by one of 
our University lecturers, has no chance of finding favour.' 
Since the twelve Bhiiyas are invariably represented as 
vassals of a King Emperor, we should understand that the 
King was not himself one of the Twelve. This conclusion is 
borne out by the practice still in vogue in Arakan in 1631. (Cf. 
infra). We saw above (p. 442) that the Bhiiiydsare spoken of in 
1610 as subject to the King of Gaur. Manrique says that the 
Monarch of Bengala ‘‘who resided formerly at Gaur’? (cf. 
p. 20, col. 2) had under him ‘‘ twelve petty Kings in the twelve 
Provinces under him.’’ The Bhiliya of Manrique’s Bengala must 
then have been governor, not of a mythical city, but of the dis- 
trict where the King or Emperor had his capital at the time being. 
Now, since the twelve Bhiliiyas depended in 1640 from the 
Moghul Emperor, and Gaur was reduced to a heap of ruins, 
can, who had been Emperor of Bengal before the Moors 
conquered it,’’ which I find in an unpublished letter of Fr. 
John Cabral, S.J., November 12, 1633, serves to puzzle 
i by Babi 
Cosmographie, ou okes, é 
of the whole World, and all the principall Kingdomes, Provinces, 
Isles thereo on 652, jons the following towns in Benga 
r possibly Chittagong], Ta 
on, 
ala, Gouro, Catigan [Satgaon, I ge <p 
[Tanda], Porto Grande [Chittagong], and Porto Pequeno [Higli]. Ben- 
gala is thus described: it ‘‘ gave name to t py 
he 
@ branch of the River Ganges, and reckoned for on 
ful towns of all the Indies. Exceedingly enriched by trade, but m “ 
by Pilgrimages, by reason of holyness and divine operations ascribe 
y the dans the waters of it: there being few years in which PS 
visited by three or four thousand Pilgrims.’’ (Cf. Bengal Past and. P a 
sent, Vol ). Now, this part of Heyleyn’s compilation is yap 
n Purch Description of India, Ch. II J. TALBOY habe hd 
aca Travels in India, Calcutta, i p. 5.) : Pati she oa Risen ¢ saa 
Speaks anga Sagar which I SO : 
Cay alone, and w an ;m three Ae Res hundred pari pilgrims 
ng ed at 
there is question in Purchas of a Governor of Bengala w 
Particulars. 
