Pilgrimage, Book 5 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
Of the Regions and Religions of Malabar.
MAlabar extendeth it selfe aMaginu….from the Riuer Cangeracon to the Cape Comori; which some take to bee the Promontory Cory, in Ptolomey: Maginus doubteth whether it be that which hee calleth Commaria extrema. bPiol.l.7. ca. 1.In the length it containeth little lesse then three hundred miles, in bredth from that ridge of Gate to the Sea, in some places, fiftie. It is full of people, diuided into many states, by varietie of Riuers, which cause horses to be vnseruiceable in their Warres, and nourish many Crocodiles, enrich the soile, and yeeld easie transportation of commodities, which are spices of diuers kindes. They hauehave Batts, in shape resembling Foxes, in bignes, Kytes. The chiefe kingdomes in this Tract are Kano…or, Calecut, Cranganor, Cochin, Carcolam, and Tranancon. About cLop. Castaneda L.1. Od. Barbosa. G. Bot Ben. Linscot. G. Arthus hist. c.26.27. & seq.seuen hundred yeares since it was one kingdome, gouerned by Scma, or Sarama Perimal, who by perswasion of the Arabian Marchants became of their Sect, in which he proued so deuout, that hee would end his daies at Mecca. But before his departure hee diuided his estate into these petty Signories, among his principall Nobles and kindred: leauing vntounto Coulam the spirituall preheminence, and the Imperiall Title vntounto his Nephew of Calicut, who onelyonly enioyed the Title of Zamori or Emperour, and had prerogatiue of stamping Come. Some exempt from this Zamoria Empire and Allegeance, both Coulam, the papall Sea of the High Bramene, and Cananor: and some hauehave since by their owne force exempted themselues. This Perimal died in his holy voyage: and the Indians of Malabar reckon from this diuision their Computation of yeares, as wee doe from the blessed Natiuitie of our LORD. Hee left (saith Castaneda) to himselfe but twelue leagues of his country, which lay neere to the shore where hee meant to imbarke himselfe, neuer before inhabited: this hee gaue to a Cousin of his then his Page, commanding, that in memory of his imba…king there it should bee inhabited, commanding the rest to take him for their Emperour (except the Kings of Coulan and Cananor) whom yet with the rest hee commanded not to Coine money, but onelyonly the King of Calacut. For Calecut was therefore here built: and the Mores for the imbarking tooke such deuotion to the place, that they would no more frequent the Port of Coulan, as before (which therefore grew to ruine) but made Calicut the staple of their Marchandise.
Calicut, the first in order with them, shall bee so with vsus. The Citie is not walled nor faire built, the ground not yeelding firme foundation, by reason of the water which issueth if it bee digged. This Kingdome hath not aboue fiue and twenty leagues of Sea-coast, yet rich both by the fertilitie of the soile, which yeeldeth corne, spices, Cocos, Iaceros, and many other Fruits: and by the situation; as the Staple, especially before the Portugales vnfriendly neighbourhood, of Indian Merchandise, and therefore in her varietie of Marchants beeing a Mappe (as it were) of all that Easterne vvorld. The dlosephus IndusAegyptians, Persians, Syrians, Arabians, Indians, yea, euen from Catay the space of six thousand miles iourney, here had their trade and traffique. The Pallace also contained foure halles of Audience, according to their Religions, for the Indians, Mores, Iewes, Christians. Of their Bramenes or Priestes wee hauehave already said. They yeeld Diuine honours to diuers of their deceased Saints, and foreign (dedicated to an A…e) hath large porches, and hath (saith Maffaus) seuen hundred Marble Pillars, not interiour to … of Agrippa in the Romane Panthcon. It seemeth that the ground in that place is not of so queasie and waterie a stomach, but that it can digest deepe foundations. To Elephants they attribute like Diuinitie: but most of all to Kine, supposing that the soules of men departed doe most of all enter into these beasts. They hauehave many bookes of their superstition approching to the Augur…il discipline of the He… ans, and fond Fables of the Graecians: and diligently conceale the same from vulgar knowledge, except some Bramene Proselyte doe detect those Mysteries. They beleeue One GOD Maker of Heauen and Earth, but adde that hee could hauehave no pleasure in so weightie a charge of gouerning the World, and therefore hath delegated the same to the Diuell to reward eueryevery man according to his workes; him they call Deumo: they name God Tamerani. fLud.vert.l.5.c.2.The King hath in his Palace the Chappell of Deumo, carued full of Deuils, and in the middest fi…teth this Image of met…all in a Throne of the same matter, with a triple crowne like the Popes, and foure hornes, with teeth, eyes, and mouth wide and terrible, with hooked hands, and feete like a Cocke. In each corner of this square Chappell is a Diuell set in a fietie Throne, wherein are many soules, the Diuell putting one with his right hand into his mouth, and taking another from vnderunder him with his left hand. This Idoll is washed by the Bramenes with sweet water, incensed and worshipped eueryevery morning. Sometime in the weeke they sacrifice on this manner. They hauehave an Altar strewed with Flowers, on which they put the bloud of a Cocke, and coales of fire in a Siluer Chafingdish, with much persumes, incensing about the Altar, and often tinging with a little Bell of Siluer. They hold in their hands a siluer knife, with which the Cocke was killed, which they dippe in the bloud, and put into the fire with many Apish gestures. All the bloud is thus burned, many Waxe-candles burning meane-while. The Priest hath on his wrists and legges as it were Morrice-Bels foreign at his necke: and when hee hath ended his Sacrifice, hee taketh his hands full of Wheate, goeth …ackewar… from the Altar (on vvhichwhich hee alwaies sixeth his eyes) to a certaine tree, and then …urleth the Corne vp ouer his head as high as hee can: after vvhichwhich hee returneth and vnfurnisheth the Altar. The King of Calicut eateth no meate, before foure principall Bramenes hauehave first offered thereof to the Deuill, which they doe lifting both their hands ouer their heads, and shutting their fists draw backe the same with their thumbe, presenting of that meate to the Idol, and then carry it to the King on a great Leafe, in a treene platter. The King fitteth on the ground at his meate, vvithout any thing vnderunder him, attended with Bramenes, standing foure paces off, with their hands before their mouthes in great reuerence. And after the King hath eaten… those Priests carry the reliques into the Court, where they clap thrice with their hands, whereat presently certaine Crowes resort thither to eate the Kings leauings, which crowes are hereunto accustomed and may not be hurt of any.
When the King marrieth a Wife, gCastaneda and Barbosa saith, that she is not married but as his Concubin…one of the principall Bramenes hath the first rights lodging with her, for which hee hath assigned him by the King foure hundred, or fiue hundred ducats. The King and his Gentlemen, or Nairos, eate not flesh without licence of the Bramenes. The King committeth the custodie of his Wife to the Bramenes, when hee trauelleth any whither, and taketh in too honest part their dishonest familiaritie. But for this cause, the Kings sonne succeedeth not in the crowne, but his Sisters sonne, as being certainly of his bloud. These sisters of the King chuse what Gentleman they please, on whom to bestow their Virginitie, and they proue not in a certaine time to bee with childe, they betake them to these Bramene-stallions.
The Gentlemen and Marchants hauehave a custome to exchange wiues in token of great friendship. Some women amongst them hauehave six or seuen husbands, fathering her children on which of them she best pleaseth. If a debter breake day with his creditor, and often disappoint him, hee goeth to the principall of the Bramenes, and receiueth foreign circle about him chargeth him in the name of the King, and the said Bramena, not to depart thence till ne hath satisfied the debt, which if he doe not, he must sterue in the place; for if hee depart, the King will cause him to bee executed. The new King for one yeares space cateth neither Fish not Flesh, nor cutteth his Haire, or Nailes: vseth certaine prayers dayly, eateth but one meale, and that after he hath washed, neither may hee looke on any man till he hath ended his repast. hOd.Barbosa.At the yeares end be maketh a great Feast, to which resort aboue ten thousand persons to confirme the Prince and his Officers: and then much almes is giuen. Hee entertaineth ten thousand women in diuers offices in his Pallace. These make to the King (after his fasting yeere is out) a Candlemasse-Feast, each of them carrying diuers lights from the Temple (where they first obserue many Idoll and idle ceremonies) vntounto the pallace with great musicke and other iollitie.
…. Ba…bosa reckoneth eighteene Sects that hauehave no mutuall conuersation, nor may marry but in their owne rankes or order. Next to the king and Bramenes, hee placeth the Nayros, which are Gentlemen and Souldiours, and are not professed Nairos (notwithstanding their-bloud) till they bee by their Lords or by the King made Knights or Souldiours. And then hee must neuer from that time goe without his weapons, which commonly are a Rapier and a Target, and sometimes Peeces or Bowes. They neuer marry, but lie with such of the Nairos Women or Daughters as like them, leat…ng his weapons meane-while at the doore, which forbid any man else, although it be the good-man himselfe to enter, till hee hath ended his busines and bee gone. And if one of the common people once touch a Nairo, it is lawfull for the Nairo to kill him: and hee is also vncleane, and must bee purified by certaine washings. And for this cause they cry as they goe in the streetes, Po, Po, that the baser raskallity may giuegive place. They hauehave a pit of standing water at their doores hallowed by the Bramenes, wherein eueryevery morning they wash themselues, although it be greene, s…mie, and stinking, imagining thus to bee clensed of their sinnes. They are brought vp altogether to foates of Armes and actituitie from their Child-hood, admirably able to winde and turne themselues, and are very resolute and desperate, binding themselues by Oath to liue and die with their King or Lord. No Nairo's women may enter into Calicut but one Night in the yeare, vvhen the Citie is full of lights: and they goe vvith the Nairos, to behold and gaze their fill. They intend nothing but their lust, and thinke that if they die Virgins they shall neuer enter into Paradise.
The Biabari are another sort, and are Merchants, Gentiles, and enioy great priuiledges. The King cannot put them to death, but by sentence of the principall of themselues. They vvere the onelyonly Ma…chants before the Mores traded there, and still enioy many possessions. These marry one Wife, and their Children inherit, and they may touch the Nairo's. The Cugianem are a Sect of the Nairo's, hauing a law and Idols by themselues, which they may neuer alter. They make Tiles to couer the Temples and the Kings Palace. The Nairo's may lye with their women, but must wash themselues before they goe home.
Another Sect is called Mananta…ar, which are Landerers, nor may they or their posteritie be of other function: nor may they mingle themselues with any other generation. They hauehave Idol-ceremonies and temples by themselues. The Nairos may vse their wiues (or women rather.) Their brethren or Nephewes are their heires. The Calien are Weauers, and hauehave a distinct idolatrous Sect; otherwise are as the former.
Besides these of better condition, there are of baser sort eleuen Sects, which may not marry nor meddle with others. The first of these are called Tiberi, husbandmen; the second, Moger, and are Marriners; both hauing their proper superstitions, and vse their women in common. The third, are Astrologers, whom they call Caniun. Great men aske their counsell, but may not touch their persons. The Aggeri are Masons and workers in metalls. The Muchoa or Mechoe are Fishers; dwelling in Villages by themselues; the men, theeues, the women Harlots, with whom they please. The Betua are Salt-makers: The Paerun are Iugglers, Inchanters, and Physicians (if such damnable deuillish practises may deserue so honourable name.) which, when any are sicke and require their helpe, vse coniuration to cause the Diuell to enter into some of them, and then by his suggestion declare the euent of the disease, and what sacrifices or other things are to bee performed. They may not touch or bee touched of other men. The Reuolet are a baser sort of Gentiles, vvhichwhich carry wood into the Citie to sell, and Hearbes. The Puler are as Excommunicate persons, and liue in desert places, where the Nairos hauehave no occasion to passe, and when they goe neere any these Nairos, or any of the better sort, they crie as loude as they can (as iL…u.13.45.the Lepers among the Iewes) that others may auoide them. For if any touch them, their kindr…o may for such action or passion slay them, and as many of these Puler also, as may make satisfaction for such disparagement. Some nights they will goe of purpose, seeking to touch some of the Nairo-women with hand, sticke, or hurling of a stone: vvhichwhich if they effect, there is no remedie for the vvoman but to get her forth and liue with these Villaines, or to bee solde, to escape killing by the hands of her kindred. These Puler are Theeues and Sorcerers. The Pareas are of worse esteeme, and liue in Deserts vvithout commerce of any, reputed worse then the Diuell. These tenne sorts (or eleuen if you reckon two sorts of the Tiberi, as our Authour doth; whereof one are warriours, distinguished by a certaine cudgell, which they must carry in their hands, from the Nairos) are as well differing in Religions, as matters of common life: though, for their seuerall rites, it vvere wrong to the Reader at large to recite them, if we had the particulars to deliuer.
There are besides these Gentils, Naturall of Malabar, many strangers of Indians, Mores, and Christians. But in other Kingdomes of Malabar, the heathenish Religion is little differing from that in Calicut. kI. op.de Castanedo. G.B.B.Generally amongst them, the Bramenes and Kine are had in such honour, that when the Kings create their Nairos, he girdeth them with a sword, and embracing them one by one, bids them hauehave care of the Bramenes and the Kine.
Cranganor is a small Kingdome: the Inhabitants of the Citie, which giueth name to the Region, are Christiana of Saint Thomas prosession, about seuentie thousand in number. Cochin is now growne great by the Portugales traffique and friendship. Of the rest there is not much worth recitall. The Papall lMaglnus.honour among the Bramenes, which some ascribe to Coulam, Maginus bestoweth on the King of Cochin. In these parts are now many Christian proselytes of the Iesuites conuersion, besides many of the old Thomas-Christians.
The King of Coulams Dominion mOd. Dar.stretcheth beyond the Cape Comori (where Malabar endeth) on the East side fourescore and ten miles, as farre as Cael: which diuers great Lords hold vnderunder him. Among the rest is the Signiorie of Quilacare. In the Citie of Quilacare is an Idoll of high account, to which they solemnize a Feast euerie twelfth yeere, where the Gentiles resort as the Popish Christians in the Romish Iubilee. The Temple sacred to this Idoll hath exceeding great reuenue. The King (for so he is called) at this Feast erecteth a Scaffold couered with silke, and hauing washed himselfe with great solemnitie, hee prayeth before this Idoll: and then ascendeth the scaffold, and there in presence of all the people cutteth off his nose, and after that, his eares, lippes, and other parts, which hee castes towards the Idoll, and at last hee cutteth his throate, making a butcherly sacrifice of himselfe to his Idoll. Hee that is to bee his successor must bee present hereat: for he must vndergoe the same martyrdome, vvhen his twelue yeares Iubilee is come. Along this coast dwell the Paraui, simple people, and Christians, vvhichwhich liue by fishing of Pearles. The Nairos make such holes in their eares, that Caesar Frederike nCaes.Fred.saith he thrust his arme vp to the shoulders in one of them. They are prodigall in their liues in the honour of their King: Osorius oOsorius.telleth of some, which, like the renowmed Decij. had vowed themselues to death, and not to returne from the enemy without victorie.
Besides those former Sects, Stephanus de Brito pStep.de Brit. 1600.speaketh of the Maleas which inhabit small Villages in the mountaines, which are hunters of Elephants: amongst whom are no thefts or robberies, and therefore they leaue their doores open when they goe abroad. They are skilfull in Musicke, and Magike. They hauehave no Idoll amongst them; onelyonly they obserue their auncestors s…pulchers.
Of the Feast which all the Malabar-kings hold eueryevery twelfth yere in honour of the Riuer Ganges, wee hauehave there spoken qSupra cap. 5.where we hauehave discoursed of the Riuer: This Feast lasteth eight and twenty or thirty daies with great solemnitie, to the furtherance whereof certaine souldiours; to the number of thritie; rush among the people, and kill as many as they can; themselues certaine to bee killed of the Kings Souldiors. This is the Tribute imposed by the King of Calecut on one of his vassals, to honour this solemnitie with such a number that shall thus sell their liues as deare as they can. Of the Election and erection of the Zamoryn, we hauehave spoken in the beginning of the Chapter: Let vsus here adde out of Castaneda rHernan. …opes de Castaneda. ….1.c.14.concerning his deuotion. Hee saith that this King of Calycut is a Bramene, as his predecessors also. And for that it is a custome that all the Kings die in one Pagode or Idol. temple, he is elected for that cause. For alwaies there is and must be in that house a King to serue those Idols, and when he that serueth there, dieth, then must the King that then raigneth leaue his Empire, and goe serue in that place as the other did; another being elected to succeede him in the Kingdome. And if any refuseth to forsake his Court for the Pagode, they enforce him therevnto.
The Kings of Malabar bee browne men, and goe naked from the Girdle vpward, and from thence downe ward they are couered with cloth of Silke and of Cotton, adorned with Iewels. For their Children; the sonnes inherit not, but the brother, or if there bee none, the Sisters sonne. When their Daughters are ten yeares old, they send out of the Kingdome for a Nayro, and presenting him with giftes, request him to take her Virginitie: which hauing done, he tieth a Iewell about her necke, which shee weareth during her life, as a token that from thence-forth she hath free power of her body, to doe what she will, which before she might not. After their death sFunerall Rices.these Kings are carried forth into a plaine field, and there burned with sweet Wood, very costly, their kindred and all the Nobilitie of the country being present: which done, and the ashes buried, they shaue themselues, without leauing any haire except on the browes and eye-lids, euen on the least child; and for the space of thirteene daies cease to eate *A lease, of which see Cap. 12.Betele (his lips are cut that doth it) and all that time is an Interregnum, wherein they obserue if any will come in to obiect any thing against the new future King. After this tInauguration of the new King.hee is sworne to the Lawes of his predecessor, to pay his debts, to recouer whatsoeuer belonged to his kingdome being lost, which oath hee taketh hauing his sword in his left hand, and in the right a Candle burning, which hath a ring of Gold vponupon it, which hee toucheth with two of his fingers and taketh his oath. This being done, they throw or poure vponupon him a few Graines of Rice, with many other ceremonies and prayers, and he worshippeth the Sunne three times: after which, all the Caymailes or principall Nobles sweare their feal…ie to him, handling also the same Candle. The thirteene daies ended, they eate their Betele againe, and flesh and fish as before; the King except, who then taketh thought for his predecessor, and for the space of one whole yeere (as is before obserued in part out of Barbosa) eates no Betele, nor shaueth his beard, nor cutteth his Nailes: eateth but once a day, and before he doth it, washeth all his body, and observeth certaine houres of prayer daily. The yeare being ended, he obserueth a kinde of Dirige for his predecessors soule, whereat are assembled a hundred thousand persons, at which time he giueth great Almes, and then is confirmed. All these Malabar-kings hauehave one especiall man, which is the cheefe administrator of Iustice, who in matters of gouernment is obeyed no lesse then the King himselfe. The Souldiors are Nayros, none of which can bee imprisoned or put to death by ordinarie iustice: but if one of them kill another, or else kill a Cowe, or sleepe with a Country-woman, or speake euill of the King; the King after information giues his warrant to another Nayro, who vvith his associates kill him wheresoeuer they finde him, hewing him with their swords, and then hang on him his warrant to testifie the cause of his death. These Nairos may not weare their weapons, or enter into combat, till they bee armed Knights, although that from the age of seuen yeares they are trained vp in feates and practise of Armes. Hee uThe dubbing of the Nairo's.is dubbed or created by the King, who commandeth to gird him with a Sword, and laying his right hand vponupon his head, muttreth certaine words softly, & afterward dubbeth him, saying; HaueHave a regard to keep these Bramenes, and their Kine. When they yeeld themselues to any mans seruice, they binde themselues to die with him, and for him, which they faithfully performe, fighting till they be killed. They are great Soothsayers, hauehave their good and bad dayes, worship the Sunne, the Moone, the Fire, and the Kine, and the first they meete in the morning. The Deuill is often in them (they say it is one of their Pagodes) which causeth them to vtter terrible words; and then he goeth before the king with a naked Sword, quaking, and cutting his flesh, saying with great cries; I am such a God, and I am come to tell thee such a thing; and if the king doubteth, he roareth lowder, and cutteth himselfe deeper till he be credited. The Portugalls hauehave much eclipsed the greatnesse of the king of Calycu…, and caused many other alterations in all the East in this last Age of the world. Of whose exploits Castaneda, Barrius, Maffaeus, Osorius, and others hauehave written at large.