By Instructions From The
Viceroy, Abdela Was Appointed Bendara, Or Governor, Of The Natives,
Which Office Had Till Then Been Enjoyed By Ninachetu, Who Was Now
Displaced On Account Of Some Miscarriage Or Malversation.
Ninachetu, who
was a gentile, so much resented this affront, that he resolved to give a
signal demonstration of his fidelity and concern.
He was very rich, and
gave orders to dress up a scaffold or funeral pile in the market-place
or bazar of Malacca, splendidly adorned with rich silks and cloth of
gold, the middle of the pile being composed of a vast heap of aromatic
wood of high price. The entire street from his dwelling to the pile was
strewed with sweet-scented herbs and flowers, and adorned with rich
hangings, correspondent to the magnificence of the pile. Having
collected all his friends, and clad himself and family in splendid
attire, he went in solemn procession to the bazar, where he mounted the
scaffold and made a long harangue, in which he protested his innocence
and declared that he had always served the Portuguese with the utmost
zeal and fidelity. Having ordered the pile to be fired, and seeing the
whole in flames, he declared that he would now mount to heaven in that
flame and smoke, and immediately cast himself into the flaming pile, to
the great admiration of all the beholders.
[Footnote 135: Faria omits any mention of the year, but from the context
it appears to have been in 1513.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 248 of 809
Words from 67625 to 67874
of 221361
