NO. 59. — 1907.] PORTUGUESE IN CEYLON. 



375 



C 18. 



Letter sent by Giovanni da Empoli to his father Lionardo regarding 

 the Malacca Voyage. 1 



[August-September (?) 1514.] 



We left Cuccin for the said voyage 2 with nineteen sail, 



and setting out in not very favourable weather, it being late, we 

 tacked hither and thither, until we doubled the island of Zolore, 3 

 where commences the gulf towards Malacca ; which is three 

 hundred and fifty leagues ...... 



In the country of India called Melibar, the province that 



commences at Goa and extends as far as Cape Comedis, 4 grow 

 pepper and ginger ; the prices of which you have already learnt. 

 Passing beyond Cape Comedi, they are heathen ; and between this 

 and Gael 5 is where the pearls are fished ; and near there is the 

 body of Saint Thomas the apostle. Passing forward between the 

 land and the sea is the island of Zolan, where are produced the 

 cinnamon, sapphires, and oriental rubies in great abundance : a 

 most beautiful country, well populated and situated 



1 Printed in Archivio Storico Italiano, App. torn. iii. 35-84. The 

 writer, a Florentine factor in the Portuguese service, went to India 

 with Albuquerque in 1503 and made many voyages. He died in 

 Canton in October 1517 (see my Letters from Port. Captives 12). 



2 To Malacca in 1511. 



3 This name has greatly puzzled the editor of the letter in the 

 Archivio, who appends a footnote making various suggestions as to its 

 meaning. Undoubtedly Ceylon is intended, " Zolore " being, like 

 " Zolan " in the next paragraph, probably an error for " Zelan." 



4 Comorin. 



5 Cael or Kayal (see supra, A 16, note 2 ). 



C 19. 



Correct, ii. 393. 



[September (?) 1514.] 



...... and he [Heytor Hodrigues] managed to get bases and 



falcons, and two camellos, 1 and powder and balls, from an 

 old. foist that came on shore there near the port [of Coulao], which, 

 it was given out, was crossing over to Ceylao, and craftily went 

 ashore and was wrecked, having left Cochym with orders to do 

 this. 2 



1 All the foregoing are varieties of cannon. 



2 So as to build and mount a fortress at Coulam (see B 2, note 8 ). 



