Hamilton’s account of the east indies.

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When the Portugueze came fird into India, the Samorin of Calecut was lord para-mount of Malabar; and, in his dotage, when he was well advanced in years, he. would needs he a Mahometan, and, to fhew his zeal, would go in pilgrimage to Mecca ,to vifit the tomb. Before he took his voyage, which was by fea, he made a will, andhaving four nephews, bequeathed each of them a part of his empires To the eldedhe bequeathed Callidree, whofe fea-coad reaches from Decully to Ticorie, about 24leagues. To the fecond, whom he loved bed, the title of Samorin and a fea-coadfrom Ticorie to Chitawa, about the fame didance. To the third, Attinge, whichreached from Chitawa to Cape Comorin , about 50 leagues, becaufe that part of thecountry is confined between the fea and the mountains of Gatti, and is divided by riversfrom thofe mountains, into more than 1000 iflands between Chitawa and Quoiloan.The younged had Coil, which reached from Cape Comorin to thejriver of Nayapatam,about 50 leagues more.

The old zealot dying in his voyage, made great didurbances in the date among thebrothers ; and, after a long and bloody war, they concluded on the partitions of theforegoing lid. Many of the tribes continue tributaries to the provinces mentionedin the old king’s will; but. many more are, independent. And fo I will return toDecully and proceed in my obfervations along the fhore.

Between Decully and mount Delly there is no harbour, though a fine deep riverkeeps its courfe to the fouthward, .along the fhore, for about eight leagues, never, inall that tract, going above a bow-diot from the fea. It difembogues itfelf by the footof mount Delly, over rocks and fands, in a channel of half a league broad. The in-habitants are a wild, fuperditious, uncivilized people. There is alfo a fmall river thatruns clofe by the foot of mount Delly, on the fouth-lide. And three leagues fouth frommount Delly is a fpacious deep river, called Balliapatam, where the Englifh Companyhad once a factory for pepper ; and the aforementioned Mr. Boucher was the lad chieffor their affairs there.

Cannanore was formerly a town belonging to the crown of Portugal , with a veryftrong fort to guard it, built on a point of land fo commodioufly, that the fea fortifi-ed above four fifths of it, and had the conveniency of a fmall bay for an harbour,that could fhelter fmall fhips from the fury of the fouth-wed monfoons. The Dutch■came with a deet about the year 1660, and landed a fmall army, and were joined by agreat number of the natives, who were weary of the tyranny of the Portuguefe.The very fird day that they opened their trenches a Portuguefe fidalgo was killedon a badion, by a fhot from the Dutch , which fo'frightened the governor of the fort,that, in the night, he made his efcape, and left the garrifon to capitulate for them-felves, which they did next day, to lave the effufion of Chridian blood by heretical■cannon.

The Dutch continue dill maders of the fort and added a large curtain, with tworoyal badions fronting the land avenues. They demolifhed the town, and, with itsdones, built thofe defences. There trade is very fmall, fo that their garrifon conddsof about forty foldiers and a captain, who is governor of the fort; but there is a prettylarge town built in the bottom of the bay, that is independent of the Dutch , andthat town, with fome circumjacent country, is under the government of Adda Rajaha Mahometan Malabar prince, who, upon occafxon, can bring near 20,000 meninto the field. His government is not abfolute, nor is it hereditary ; and, indead ofgiving him the trud of the treafury which comes by taxes and merchandize, theyhave cheds made on purpofe, with holes made in their lids, and their coin being all