625 
CHAP. XVI L K^sf-^, 
A Defcriftion of Calecut and Panane. The Arrival of Vafco de Gama. His 
Treaty with the Samtrioryn. Panane fortifed, kfeg'd, and demoltflji'd by the 
Portuc'uefes. Alliance betwixt the Dutcfi and the Sammoryn. The Portu- 
guefe Fort in Calecut attacked by the Sammoryn, and defended by John de 
Lima, 
the King- 
dom of Ci- 
kciit. 
An. 1502. 
tke Sam- 
moryn 
brought in- 
to tke field 
60000 
Men -, and 
100000. 
An odd 
C'uftow of 
Siicccjfion 
to the 
Crown, 
Panane. 
TH E fecond Kingdom of Malabar is 
that of Calecut under the Jurifdidi- 
on of the Sammoryn • it begins about three 
or four Leagues to the South of Bcrgera^ 
and ends an the River Cranganor ^ its 
whole extent being in length 32 Leagues, 
and 20 in breadth. This King is the moft 
Potent of all the Malabar Kings, having 
a confiderable number of NaWos under 
his JurifdiSion, who are very expert 
both in handling the Bow and Fire-Arms. 
He has made confiderable Encroachments 
upon his Neighbours of late years •, the 
Revenues of his new Conquefts amount- 
ing now to 300000 Fanams yearly. The 
Sammoryn who reign'd i652. was when I 
faw him not above years of Age, and 
yet inuGh impair'd in his intelledual 
Parts by the exceffive ufe of Opium, a 
Drug much in requeft among the Ma- 
lab ars. " ; 
In the Kingdom of the Sammoryn, and 
in moft others along the Goaft of Ma- 
labar, the Crown is not inherited by the 
Son of the King, but by him who is next 
of kin to his Mother or Sifter for they 
looking upon that as the furer fide, they 
have introduc'd this Cuftom to prevent 
the baftardizing of the Crown, Thus 
the King who reign'd 1642. was fuc- 
ceedcd by his Uncle on the Mother's fide, 
and he was to be fucceeded by his Sifter's 
Son. The Sammoryn monopolizes all the 
Pepper of the growth of his Country, 
none of his Subjects being allow'd to fell 
it to any but his Faftors. 
Betwixt Cananor and Calecut lies the 
Town of Panane, feated upon the Sea- 
ihoar : Here the Dutch came 1507. to 
treat with the Sammoryn,h\it he being then 
in the field againft the Portuguefes, the 
Admiral fent three Deputies to him with 
a Letter from Prince Maurice of NaJ]aw. 
In this place the Sammoryn kept his Refi- 
dence at that time, when Don Vafco de 
Gama came into thefe parts. He having 
caft Anchor before Calecut, difpatch'd 
imm.ediately a MelTenger to the Sammoryny 
to give notice of his arrival, and to let 
the King know that the Renown of his 
great Name having reach'd the Ears of 
Vol IIL 
the King of Portugal, his Majefty had 
intrufted him with a Letter, whicff he 
being defirous to deliver in Perfon, there- 
fore deur'd leave to wait on his Ma- 
jefty. 
The Sammoryn being extremely pleas'd 
vvich the Complement, fent immediately 
certain Pilots to condnft the Portuguefe q^^^ 
Fleet into the Harbour of Capocate^ ames h 
where there was much better and fafer Pacane. 
Anchorage, from whence he was con- 
dufted with extraordinary Pomp to the 
Sammoryn. 
for Don Gama being got afhore at- 
tended by eight Gentlemen richly attir'd, 
was receiv'd in the Sammoryn s Name by p^^^^p^ 
the Cat Hal lor he that manages all Fo- tm. 
reign Affairs ) accompanied with a vaft 
number of Guards, Hautboys, Drums and 
Litters, and thence carried through Ca- 
lecut to Panftne (where the Sammoryn then 
^efided ) under fuch a vaft concourfe of 
Spedators, that feveral were crowded to 
death. At Court Gama was welcom'd 
by the Caimales (or chief Conxtx^xs') hu Kecey- 
and afterwards by the High-Prieft of the tion at 
Brabmans drefsM in white Callico, who 
taking Gama by the hand conduced him 
to many fpacious Apartments (at the 
Door of each whereof ftood about ten 
Sentinels ) into a fpacious Hall, the Walls 
and Floor whereof were cover'd with 
rich Tapeftry, and Carpets of Silk and 
Gold, the chief Men of the Kingdom 
fitting round the Hall upon Wooden 
Seats, artificially wrought one above ano- 
ther, like the Seats in an Amphitheater. 
The Sammoryn himfelf was feated ( ac- 
cording to the Cuftom of the Country ) 
upon an Alkatyf, or Carpet, drefs'd in 
white fine Callico, brocado'd with Flowers 
of Gold, adorn'd with divers rows of 
Diamonds of great value: In his Ears he 
had ftately Pendants of precious Stones, jk^ g^^^ 
and on his Head a Cap ( after their Coun- morynv 
try faihion ) cover'd with Diamonds, ^lefy. 
Pearls, and other precious Stones*, his 
bare Feet being likewife adorn'd with 
Rings fet with all forts of precious 
Stones. 
M m m ra 
On9 
