IN SOTJTHEEN INDIA. 
171 
coins was published in Bombay in 1883 by Dr. Gerson da 
Cunba, but tbis is now out of print and no longer procur- 
able, except by ebance. In this interesting little work the 
following is given as the extent of the Portuguese power 
in India when at its height. 
" When their star was in the ascendant, and consequently 
they, in the zenith of their energy and vitality, the Portugiiese 
held dominion over the eastern coast of Africa, the Persian Gulf, 
the Malabar Coast, Ceylon, the Malay Peninsula to the confines 
of China. The quims then floated over the following fortified 
towns : Ormus, Diu, Damao, Goa, Bassein, Chaiil, Hanowar, 
Mangalore, Cannanore, Cranganore, Cochin, Calaiate, Colombo, 
Malacca, Ternate, Tidore, Amboina, Macao, Solor and Timor. 
Out of these towns, eight had estabUshed in them mints which 
issued money more or less regularly in gold, silver, copper, and 
tutenag, but two of them in the last two metals only, until the 
forcible abolition through their capture by the Dutch. The fol- 
lowing were the mint marks of six of these towns : — 
B 
C— Lo 
D 
D, or D— 0 
G, or G— A 
M, or M — A 
Bassein. 
Ceylon.^ 
Damao. 
Diu. 
Goa. 
Malacca. 
"No mark of the Chaul and Cochin mints has yet been made 
out, although the Archivo Portuguez Oriental contains authentic 
documents relating to their foundation and their operations, 
besides preserving for posterity interesting decrees and pro- 
clamations, referring to various coinages and changes in the 
value of money." 
' Mr. H. C. P. Boll, C.C.S., to wiLom I am greatly indebted for inform- 
ation regarding the coins of tlie Dutch, in Ceylon in the following pages, 
informs me that Rhys Davids (loc: cit :, p. 36) is in error in asserting that 
"no coins are known to have been struck by the Portuguese in or for 
Ceylon." Mr. Bell's cabinet contains two bearing the Ceylon mint mark 
(C— Lo). 
