648 
A Defcripion of the Coafls of 
rvjv^ of Popiih Priefts yet remaining in that 
Bald£us. Country ; and fuppofing a Reformati- 
w'-'V^ on could liave been introduced, there 
were no Minifters to maintain it in fo 
large a Trad of Land, where the Paru- 
as were for the molt part great Favourers 
of the Portugueses^ and blind Zealots in 
their Religion, of which I had fufficient 
Proofs before at Tutecoryn. For the Dutch 
being become Mafters of that Place,i658. 
I was foon after employed in the buiinefs 
of Reformation, but without Succcfs i 
for when I preach'd in Ponuguefe^ fcarce 
anyone of the Paruas durlt enter into 
the Church, but remained in the Porch, 
for fear of the Romi/h Priefts living a- 
mong them ^ for tho thefe Priefts did 
not then live in the City, neverthelefs the 
Inhabitants would carry their Children a 
great way into the Country, to be bap- 
tized by the Priefts, 
Blind I remember that pafllng one time thro 
the Market-place of Tutecoryn, a great 
number of People, at the accidental 
ringing of a Bell, proftrated themfelves 
upon the Ground, whom I ask'd whether 
they thought this a fit place for their De- 
votion, when the Church was fo near 
at hand, defiring them to follow me thi- 
ther; they anfwered, that fince the 
Church was defpoil'd of the Images and 
other Ornaments by us, they muft look 
upon us as Enemies to their Religion. I 
replied, that we were no Enemies of I- 
mages, but only of the worfhipping of 
them, as appeared by feveral Hiftories of 
theBaptifmof our Saviour, theConver- 
fion of S. Paul and others, remaining in 
the Churches: Tobelhort, I found that 
the whole knowledg of the Paruas (both 
young and old) confifted in being able to 
fay by Heart the Creed, Our Father, the 
Ten Commandments, and the Ave Ma- 
ry. 
Fereira After my Departure the Reverend Mr. 
employed John Fereira Almeyda a Native of Lisbon, 
in reform- vvasfora whole Year employed in the 
mgtheVi- Rcformationof ihz Paru(vs, but with lefs 
Succefs than my felf, they having concei- 
ved an Odium againft him, as one who 
had quitted that Religion, and whofe £/- 
jigies upon that fcore was burnt at Goa. 
Tutcco- In the Year \6%%\^Jcm. we fet fail 
ryn tnken from Negumbo, and in the beginning of 
by the Febr. landed near Tutecoryn, after fome 
Dutch. refiftance from the Natives, who fet the 
City and their fmall Galleys on fire, and 
fo retired deeper into the Country. T it- 
tecoryn is properly no more than a large 
Village without Walls, Ditches, or 
Gates i it has three fpacious Churches, 
and abundance of goodly Houfes builc 
of Stone, which afford a good Profped 
at Sea. Hereabouts they make the beft 
Lime in India. The Dutch Company has 
been feveral times endeavouring to e- 
red fome Fortifications here ; but the 
Naike, or Lord of the Country, not wil- 
ling to confent to it, they have hitherto 
been contented with a badory in one of 
the three Churches ; where always re- 
fides a Fador and Under- Fadtor, with 
three AITiftants, and (ix or eight Soldi- 
ers, 
Near this Place is the famous Pearl-Fiflie- j/,^, p^^,^. 
17, whereof there are no more than three fijiery. 
in the Eaft, o'/^.one near Ormus,the fecond 
in the Bay of y^inam on the Chinefe Coaft, 
and the third in the Bay betwixt Cape 
Comoryn and the Ifle of Ceylon^ wherein 
are alfo comprehended Alanaar and A- 
ripou. The Pearls are found in certain 
Oyfter Shells (which are not good to eat) 
and are taken by diving 7, 8, 9, or 10 
Fathom deep, fometimes not without 
great danger. The Pearl-Fifhery, is not 
allowed every Year, fometimes the Oy- 
fter-banks being cover'd with Sand, and 
fometimes the Oyfters not being come to 
their full Maturity. To make a Trial of 
the laft, they take out a few, and by 
the quantity and quality of the Pearls ta- 
ken in them, judg whether it will quit 
coft to filhor not. If the Filhing be re- 
folved upon, the Inhabitants of the cir- ^^''1^^^° 
cumjacent Parts come m great Numbers clmjVians, 
with their Families and Boats, and pitch never dive 
their Tents near the Seafide, where they ^^^y 
remain until the Filhery is over. The ^'^'^^^'^'^ 
Dutch Company has a certain (hare in Strl/i- 
what is taken for their Proteftion, the onj ^(j ^re- 
reft being fold publickly in the Markets w«*^*«> 
of T utecoryn and Calipatnam. The Pa- ^""i 
ruoi alfo dive fometimes for certain hours f/*L 
for a kind of Sea-Snails called Chancos, 
whereof they make Rings, that bear a 
good Price atBengale. 
The Pearls of Tutecoryn and Manaar 
are neither in colour nor brightnefs com- 
parable to thofe taken near Ormiis on the 
Per/ian CoaQ:. The Pearls arequeftion- 
lefs nourilhed both by the Sea and River 
Water, as being often found at the time 
of low Tides in the Rivers. Abundance 
of Pearl Duft is from hence tranfported 
into Europe, where it is ufed in the Cor- 
dial Medicines. The large Pearls are 
valued according to their bignefs, lhape 
and whitenefs. Much Cloth is made at 
Tutecoryn, the Weaving- Trade being ve- 
ry confiderable here, which together 
with the plenty of Eatables, Rice, Su- 
gar, &c. makes this Place to be much re- 
garded by the Company. 
This 
