Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/260

 22f> HISTORY OF INDIA. [Book I.

A.D. 1599. townes, places, castlfs and fortresses, whereof they be, at this present, actual commauixlerH, beyond the Cape of ijueiia Sjjeranfa, eastward."

After a list of Spanish and Portuguese pos.sessions, arranged according to their positions "On the Coste of Africa," "In the Mouth of the Persian Golfe," and "From the Persian Golfe along the Coste of India, .southward," the memorial proceeds: — Memorial— « Thirdly, All the places which are under their govemement and commaund being thus tion third, exactly and truely put downe, and wee being able to avouch it to be so, by many evident and invinci1)le proof es, and some eye-witne.sses, if need recjuire : that there remayueth that all the rest rich kingdoms and islands of the East, which are in number very many, are out of their power and jurisdiction, and free for any other princes or people of the world to repayre unto, whome the soveraigne lords and governors of those territories wil bee willing to adniitte into their dominions : — a chiefe parte whereof are the.se here eusuinge." Here follows a catalogue under the title of "The names of the chiefe knowne islands and kingdoms beyond the Cape of Buena Speranca, wholy out of the dominion of the Portugalls and Spaniards, in the east, south-east, and north-east parts of the world."

Catalogue of As this Catalogue furnishes, in the very terms employed, a vivid idea of the

chief lino wn

islands in brilliant results anticipated from the establishment of an East India trade, it

the East. ., i • • i i i •

IS here subjomed verbatim : —

" The Isle of Madagascar, or San Lorenso, upon the backeside of Africa — The kingdoms of Orixa, Bengala, and Aracan, on the Gulfe of Bengala — The rich and might ie kingdome of Pegu — The kingdome of Jun9alaon — The kingdome of Siam — The kingdome of Camboia — The kingdome of Canchinchina — The most mighty and welthy empire of China — The rich and gouldeu island of Sumatra — The whole islands of Java Major, Java Minor, and Baly — The large and rich islands of Borneo, Celebes, Gilolo, and Os Papuas — The long tracte of Nova Guinea and the Isles of Solomon — The rich and innumerable islands of Malucos and the Spicerie, except the two small isles of Tidore and Amboyno, where the Portugals have only two smal forts — The large islands of Mindinas and Calamines — The gouldeu islands of the greate and smal Lequeos — The manifold and populos sylver islands of the Japones — The counti-y of Coray newly discovered to the north-east."

Immediately after this catalogue, the memorial reiterates the statement that " in all these, and infinite places more, abounding with gi'eate welthe and riches, the Portugales and Spaniards have not any castle, forte, blockehouse, or commaunderaent," and appeals in proof of it to numerous authorities, con- sisting of " Portugalle authors printed and written," "Spani.sh authors printed in Spayne, ' "Italiens," "Englishmen," and "Hollanders." The last two, which alone now pos.sess much interest, include under the former head — "Su* Francis Authoritie.s Drak's men yet living, and his own writing printed," "Mr. Thomas Candishes Companye, yet living, and his writings printed," "Mr. Ralph Fitche's Travayles through most of the Portugal Indies, in print," and "Mr. James Lancaster's and his Companye's voyage as farre as Malacca, printed;' and under the latter head — "John Huygen de Linschoten's worke, which lived above seven yeres in India," "The first voyage of the Hollanders to Java and Balj^, in printe, ' "The second voyage to Java, in Dutch and English," "The testimonie of William Pers, Englishman, with them in the sayd voj^age," and "The third returne of the Hollanders from the East Indies this 3^ere." After this anay