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186 C H A P T E R XX The vast commerce that used to exist in the city of Melaka at the time when I lived there, and how I returned to India from the South and married in the city of Goa in the year 1603 After I returned from Johor, I took steps to go to the city of Goa to wed, even though I was without a penny in my pocket since I had lost all my goods in Patani, which I had striven so hard to earn, and despite the fact that I was exhausted on account of the many journeys I had made. During the period when I resided in the city of Melaka, apart from the aforesaid [territories] I went to the kingdoms of Indragiri, Jambi, Pariaman, Palembang and those of Siak and Kampar,10 which are all located on the inside of the Strait of Kundur11 on the island of Sumatra. In fact,12 I set sail aboard a patache owned by Álvaro Mendes. However, in this  Ms. sur. Here broadly used in the sense of Southeast Asia.  Ms. fol. 76 recto–80 recto.  Ms. un real por haver.  Ms. hasienda.  Ms. here and subsequently: Andreguiri or variant spelling.  Ms. here and subsequently: Jamba.  Ms. Priman. See the list of place names (Priman).  Ms. Pelimbran. See the list of place names (Pelibam).  Ms. here and subsequently: Çiaca or variant spelling. See the list of place names (Siaca). 10 See the list of place names (Canpar). 11 Ms. Estrecho de Saban. See the list of place names (Estrecho de Saban). 12 Ms. En effecto. 19-20 MJdC.indd 186 10/22/13 2:37:59 PM 187 Jacques de Coutre’s Life in Southeast Asia: Chapter XX context, before describing the events that occurred during my voyage, I will mention the vast trade that used to take place in the city of Melaka during the time when I lived there. It is important to note that in the past, before the Portuguese captured Melaka, it was a very big city with an equally large population. It was the governing centre13 of the Malay empire and was where those emperors maintained their court, whose successors are the kings of Johor.14 Most of the kingdoms of the South belonged to the empire, which disintegrated15 over time. The kings of Johor were once emperors; but [now] he is the most insignificant king in the South and also the least powerful. It is easy to see that the city of Melaka used to be a sprawling city in the past because it is still possible to see extremely large orchards measuring two or three leguas16 in the vicinity, full of sublime fruit, and many fencedin sections of wild palm trees. At low tide it is possible to see fences that were once part of houses all the way to Cape Rachado.17 At that time all the houses were built of wood, however, everything has been overwhelmed by very dense jungle.18 The Portuguese built a wall around what was left of the city. It is located on the coast. It has a small river; large ships cannot enter this river, only bantins, lancharas, balas,19 sloops20 and batels can navigate its waters. However, even though it is a rough coast, ships can be anchored in front of the city, no matter how large they are. Then, what can one say about the city’s commerce? Years ago it was normal for there to be more than 500 baxeles from the South anchored in that port: carracks, ships, pinnaces, junks, balas, lancharas, all laden with merchandise. The junks used to come from the islands of Banda, Makassar21 and Java, and from all those kingdoms their vessels would come laden with mace, nutmeg, cloves, benzoin, sugar, rattan, beeswax22 and other wares. Other junks used to come from 13 Ms. cabeça. 14 European sources claim that the kings of Johor styled themselves as “Emperor of the Malay Kings” in the late 16th century. See GPFT, pp. 365–6, note 66. 15 Ms. fue perdiendo. 16 About 11–18.5 kilometres. 17 Ms. Cabo Rachado. See the list of place names (Cabo Rachado). 18 Ms. bosques. 19 A type of small craft. See also the glossary (balas). 20 Ms. chalupas. A type of vessel. See also the glossary (sloop). 21 Ms. Macaçal. Port and polity based in southern Sulawesi. See also the list of place names (Macasar...

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