Bobk III. Travels inl N vi L 



the Prince of Patinfaloa. The firft thing they did, was to pay two hundred Loaves 

 of Gold to redeem the Royal Fortrefs again ; and then fubmitting to the Con- 

 ditions which the Dutch Admiral had propos 'à, the General of Batavia fign'd 

 the Articles, which were pun&ually oMèrv'd. For the Portugais immediately 

 quitted the Country, fome departing for Siam and Camboja, others for Macon 

 and Goa. Macao, formerly one of the moft famous and richeft Cities of , the 

 Orient, was the principal motive that enclin'd the Hollanders to fend an Em- 

 baflàdour into Chinai for being the beft ftation which the Portugais had in all 

 thofe parts, the Dutch had a defign to win it wholly. Now, this City, lying 

 in twenty-two Degrees of Northern Latitude, in a fmall Ifland next to the 

 Province of Ronton, which is a part of China, has very much loft its former 

 lufter. 



But this was not all which the fffuits and the Portugal Merchants fuffer'd. 

 The Chief of the Dutch Fadory at Mingrela, which is but eight Leagues from 

 this City, underftanding the bad fuccefs of the Dutch in China, had a contri- 

 vance by himfelf to be reveng'd. He knew that the fefuites of Goa and other 

 places, drove a great trade in rough Diamonds, which they fent into Europe, 

 or elfe carry'd along with them when they return'd ; and that for the more 

 private carrying on of their trade, they were wont to fend one or two of 

 their Order, that knew the language, in the habit of a Faquir, which confifts 

 of a Tygers Skin to cover their back-parts, and a Goats Skin to cover the 

 breaft, reaching down to the knees. Thereupon the Chief of the Factory of 

 Mingrela taking his opportunity., and having notice that two of the fuppos'd 

 Faquirs were gone to the Mines, to lay out 400000 Pardo's in Diamonds, gave 

 order to two men, which he had fee'd for the purpofe, that as foon as the 

 Fathers had made their purchafe, he fhould give notice to the Officer of the 

 Cuitom-Houfe at Bicholi. . 



Bicholi is a great Town upon the Frontiers of thofe Lands that part the 

 Kingdom of Vifapur from the Territories of the Portugais-, there being no 

 other way to pals the River, which encompaflès the Ifland where the City 

 of Goa is built. * 



The Fathers believing that the Cuftomer knew nothing of their purchafë, 

 went into the Boat to go over the River -, but as foon as they were in, they 

 were ftridtly fearch'd, and all their Diamonds confifcated. 



To return to the King of Macajfar ; you muft know, that the fefmts once 

 endeavour'd to convert him ; and perhaps they might have brought it to pafs, 

 had they not neglected one propofal which he made them. For at the fame time 

 that the fefuits labour'd to bring him to Chriftianity, the Mahometans us'd all their 

 endeavours to oblige him to ftick to their Law. The King willing to leave his 

 Idolatry, yet not knowing which part to take, commanded the Mahumetans to 

 lend for two or three of their moft able MotilMs, or Doctors from Aiccca ; and 

 the fefuits he order'd to fend him as many of the moft learned among them a 

 that he might be inftrudted in both Religions ; which they both promis'd to 

 do. But the Mahometans were more diligent then the Chriftians, for in eight 

 months they fetch'd from Mecca two learned MoulWs ; whereupon the King 

 feeing that the fefuits fent no body to him, embrae'd the Mahumetan Law. 

 True it is, that three years after there came two Portugal fefuits, but then it 

 was too late. 



The King of Macajfar being thus become a Mahumetan, the Prince his Bro- 

 ther was fo mad at it, that when the Mofquve, which the King had caus'd to 

 be built, was finifh'd, he got into it one night, and caufing the throats of two 

 Pigs to be cut, he all befmear'd the walls of the new Mofquee, and the place 

 which was appointed for the Moulla to perform Divine Service with the blood j 

 fo that the King was fore'd to pull down that, and build another. After which 

 the Prince with fome Idolatrous Lords ftoleout of the Ifland, and never fince 

 appear'd at Court. 



G H A F(j 



