The Inhabitants Are Wonderfully Superstitious,
And Do Not Suffer Those Of One Trade Or Profession To Marry With Those
Of A Different Occupation, Or To Put Their Children To Learn Any Other
Trade But That Of Their Fathers.
The Nayres, who are their nobles, if
they chance to touch any of the common people, purify themselves by
ablution, as was done by the Jews and Samaritans.
The women among the
Nayres axe common to all, but chiefly those, of the Bramin cast, so that
no one knows his father, nor is any one bound to maintain the children.
These Nayres are wonderfully expert in the use of their weapons, in
which they begin to exercise themselves at seven years of age. They are
prone to all the ancient superstitions of augury and divination.
SECTION IV.
Continuation of the Portuguese Transactions in India, during the
Viceroyalty of Almeyda.
Besides the forts already erected on the eastern coast of Africa at
Quiloa and Mozambique, and the factory at Melinda, King Manuel
determined to build a fort at Sofala to secure the trade in gold at that
place; for which purpose he sent out Pedro de Annaya with six ships in
the year 1506: three of these ships being destined to remain on the
African coast, and the other three to proceed to India. This fleet was
separated in a storm, during which one of the captains was washed
overboard and drowned, and another lost sixteen men who were slain by
the natives of an island on which they landed.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 140 of 809
Words from 38073 to 38329
of 221361
