42 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [N.S., XVIII, 
ed. "The governor, however, was only dissembling. The 
Portuguese vessels were attacked by a swarm of war boats, 
which they repulsed, but were obliged to retire to Ceylon in a 
very crippled state.! 
Another account is, that Silveira, being sent to establish 
a factory in Bengal, met with a most unfriendly reception 
owing to a rumour that his fleet was a piratical one. The ex- 
pedition passed the winter amid great hardships, especially 
from famine, and the crews would have perished miserably but 
for the opportune arrival of another flotilla under Juan Coello.” 
It is in connection with this expedition that Dacca is first 
mentioned in history. Fonseca refers to a governor of the city 
of ** Daracea,’’ and Castanheda styles him “‘do Sefior da Cidade 
Darracao. ’”* 
In 1527 a Portuguese vessel was wrecked on the coast of 
Chakaria, south of Chatigan. The crew on reaching dry land 
were ill-treated by the inhabitants and one of them killed.* 
s early as 1528 the Emperor Baber casually mentions that 
the Bengalis were famous for their knowledge of artillery, ac- 
quired, there is reason for believing, from the Portuguese. 
few years later Mahmdd Shah, king of Bengal, hard pressed by 
the Afghans under Shir Shah, applied for aid to the Viceroy at 
Goa [Nunode Cuna}. In 1537 a small force was sent under 
Martin Alfonso de [p. 410] Melo, but before it could reach 
Gaur, that city had been taken by the Afghans. The Portuguese 
soldiers were at first ill-used, but their bravery in holding the 
pass of Taliagarh gained them better treatment, and permission 
was granted to build a fort at Chatigan. 
The Portuguese had no established government, settle- 
ment, or fortress in Bengal at the end of the sixteenth century. 
As a writer remarks, having no laws, no police, and no religion 
they lived like the natives. A lucrative and thriving trade, 
however, was carried on at Hughli, or, as it was then called, 
Golin and Porto Pequéno, as well as at Chatigan, or Porto Grande. 
i urthermore, numerous Portuguese adventurers resided with 
their families in Bandels 5 trading in salt and cotton goods, 
which were shipped in “ Foists,” or Jaleas, to Dianga,® and the 


= ee oe da Fonseca,” p. 412; ‘*Lopez de Castanheda,” Lib. iv, 
: = aie eee r= i, 220. 
8 ** Fonseca,’’ Lib. xi, 413; ‘‘ Castanheda ” I : 
ten notes that Dr. Wise is at fau mnt se teenies 
of Dae le reference is to Arakan— Racad in Portuguese. | 
( 41. 
tom Persian ‘‘ Bandar,” an empori 
: he site of Dianga is still doubtful. 
‘‘une ville sise en ce port de Chatigam, 
mouillent lanchre.” 
aven van Chatigam 
Dianga is near the mouth of the Karnafuli River, on the left bank. 
um, mart. 
Du Jarric (Liv. vi) says it is 
: am, ou les nefs qui viennent de I’Inde, 
oy an der Heiden describes it as ‘‘ eene Stadt in de 
