--Astl. I. 52. a.

[10] By the straits of Mecca are here meant the straits of Bab-el-mandeb,
or the entrance from the Indian Ocean into the Red Sea; and by the
coast of Cambaya, what is now called Guzerat.--E.

[11] The rajah or king of Cochin has already been named Triumpara, or
Trimumpara, on the authority of De Barros, De Faria, and other ancient
authors; yet De Faria, in other instances, calls him Uniramacoul--Astl.
I. 52. b.

[12] It is difficult to say what may have been meant by this last article.
In old French writings _Rouge comme Sendal_ means very high red, or
scarlet; from which circumstance, this may have been a piece of
scarlet satin or velvet.--E.

[13] Of the animal called bulgoldolf in the text we have no knowledge,
nor of this stone of wonderful virtue; but it may possibly refer to
the long famed bezoar, anciently much prized, but now deservedly
neglected.--E.

[14] According to De Faria, this messenger was a bramin, who left his son
and nephew at Cochin as hostages, and accompanied De Gama to Calicut,
where he carried various messages between the zamorin and the admiral.
--Astl. I. 53. b.

[15] De Faria says he was accompanied by a caravel.--Astl. 1.53. b.

[16] The son and nephew of the messenger, according to De Faria.--Astl. I.
53. c.

[17] In addition to the narrative of Castaneda, De Barros, Maffi, and De
Faria relate, that ambassadors came to De Gama while at Cochin from
the Christian inhabitants in Cranganore and that neighbourhood, who
they said amounted to 30,000. They represented, that they knew he was
an officer of the most Catholic king in Europe, to whom they submitted
themselves; in testimony of which, they delivered into his hands the
rod of justice, of a red colour, tipped with silver at both ends, and
about the length of a sceptre, having three bells at the top. They
complained of being much oppressed by the idolaters; and were
dismissed by De Gama with promises of a powerful and speedy
assistance.--Astl. I. 53. d.

[18] De Faria alleges that the persons who were appointed to settle
matters relative to trade at this port, differed much upon the price
of spices: on which occasion many threatening messages were sent to
the rajah, who at length through fear complied with all the demands of
the Portuguese. He says that the rajahs of Cochin and Cananor were as