- E.
[42] This seems to be the same office with that named Kadhi, or Khazi, by
the Turks and Persians, which is rather the title of a judge than of a
priest, which is named Moulah. - E.
[43] It is probable that this passage should be thus understood, "The
king sent him a pilot, who was an idolater from Guzerate, &c." - E.
[44] The addition to, or observations on the text, inserted in this place
within inverted commas, are from Clarke, I. 486, 487. - E.
[45] In Lichefild's translation this date is made the 22d; but the Friday
after Sunday the 21st, must have been the 26th of the month. - E.
[46] The difference of longitude between Melinda and Calicut is thirty-
four degrees, which at 17-1/2 leagues to the degree, gives only 575
Portuguese leagues, or 680 geographical leagues of twenty to the
degree. Thus miserably erroneous are the estimated distances in old
navigators, who could only compute by the dead reckoning, or the log.
- E.
[47] The course from Melinda to Calicut is about E. N. E. the former being
about three degrees to the S. and the latter almost eleven degrees to
the N. of the line. - E.
[48] This vague account of the extent of Malabar is erroneous or corrupt,
as sixty-one Portuguese leagues would barely reach from Cape Comorin
to Calicut. The extreme length of the western maritime vale of India,
from Cambay to Cape Comorin, exceeds 250 Portuguese leagues. - E.
[49] The proper name of this prince who is said to have thus divided the
kingdom of Malabar, was Shermanoo-Permaloo. - Clarke, I. 395.
[50] This must be erroneous, as the Mahometans reckon from the year of the
Hegira, or flight of Mahomet from Mecca, which commences in 622 of the
Christian era. - E.
[51] This story seems an Arabian tale, perhaps partly founded upon some
real revolution in the government of Malabar. But it would much exceed
the bounds of a note to enter upon disquisitions relative to Indian
history. - E.
[52] Laker is a kind of gum that proceedeth of the ant. This marginal note,
in Lichefild's translation of Castaneda, indicates the animal origin
of lac, which has been elucidated of late by Dr Roxburgh. - E.
[53] From the sequel in the narrative of Castaneda, this Colastrian rajah
seems to have been the sovereign of Cananor. - E.
[54] This word pagoda, applied by the Portuguese, to denote an Indian,
temple, is said to be derived from a Malabar or Indian word,
_Pagabadi_, signifying any idol. - Astley, I. 51.
[55] This is described by Castaneda as a coin equal in value to three
crowns.
[56] By De Faria, this man is named Monzayde. - Astl. I. 30.
[57] The title of kutwal is of Arabic origin, and properly signifies the
governor of a fort or castle, but the office may be different in
different places.
