JOURNAL 
OF THE 
ASIATIC SOCIETY. 
Part I.-HISTORY, LITERATURE, &e. 
No. III.—1873. 
Authorities for the History of the Portuguese in India.—By 
T. W. H. Tolbort, B. C. S. 
The History of the Portuguese in India is a subject of considerable 
interest, though the attention given to it, of late years, by English orienta¬ 
lists is scant. As a contribution to the subject I submit a list of the authors 
whose works are most valuable. The list does not profess to be exhaustive, 
but it will be found to embrace the most important sources of informa¬ 
tion. 
I limit the range of these authorities to the period between 1498, when 
Vasco da Grama discovered India, and 1668, when the capture of Cochin by 
the Hutch finally broke the power of the Portuguese, and established the 
supremacy of others in the East. During that period, the adventures of the 
Portuguese form a chapter of Universal History. In years subsequent to 
1663, the subject, though not devoid of incidents of gallantry and romance, 
dwindles to one of national rather than universal interest. 
As an introduction to the subject must be read Mr. Major’s interest¬ 
ing Life of Prince Henry the Navigator. This is founded chiefly on old Por¬ 
tuguese authorities, an account of whom is given in the preface ; but Mr. 
Major’s narrative is, to all appearance, so complete and accurate, that we may 
accept it, coupled with the well written summary by Barros, without consult¬ 
ing: other authors. 
Eor our present purpose, research must begin where the main thread of 
Mr. Major’s work ends. Starting then from 1497, we have first— 
(} a s p a r C o r r e a. Lendas da India, 4 Vols., 4to. Correa is the oldest 
historian, and is by many considered the most reliable ; but, strange to say, his 
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