A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Vol. 7 | Page 9

churches, and five monasteries, besides sending continual alms to the
Christians in China, Hainan, Japan, Tonkin, Cochin-china, Cambodia,
and Siam.
[Footnote 17: The xeraphin, as formerly mentioned, being 5s. 9d., this
yearly revenue amounted to L.52,250 sterling. But the state of Macao,
in the text, refers to what it was 150 years ago. It is still inhabited by
Portuguese, and remains a useless dependence on Portugal, owing its
principal support to the residence of the British factory for the greater
part of the year.--E.]
Albuquerque governed India from the end of 1619, to the month of
September 1622, during all which time so little care was taken in Spain
of the affairs of Portuguese India that he did not receive a single letter
from the king. In every thing relating to the civil government he was

equal to any of his predecessors, but was unfortunate in military affairs,
especially in the loss of Ormuz. In 1621, Don Alfonso de Noronna was
nominated viceroy of India; but sailing too late, was driven back to
Lisbon, being the last viceroy appointed by the pious Philip III. On the
news coming to Lisbon, of the shameful surrender of the city of Bahia,
in the Brazils, to the Hollanders, without considering his age, quality,
and rank, he listed as a private soldier for that service, an instance of
bravery and patriotism deserving of eternal fame, and an example that
had many followers.
Don Francisco de Gama, Count of Vidugueyra, who had been much
hated as viceroy of India, and sore affronted at his departure, as
formerly related, always endeavoured to obtain that command a second
time, not for revenge, as some asserted, but to satisfy the world that he
had been undeservedly ill used. At length he obtained his desire, after
twenty years solicitation, upon the accession of Philip IV. of Spain. He
sailed from Lisbon on the 18th of March 1622, with four ships. On the
coast of Natal, a flash of lightning struck his ship, and burnt his colours,
but killed no one. Under the line two of his ships left him, and arrived
at Goa in the end of August; another ship staid behind, and it was
thought they shunned his company designedly. At this time six Dutch
ships plied near the islands or Angoxa, or the Comoros, one of which
perished in pursuit of a Portuguese ship; and while standing on for
Mozambique, the viceroy encountered the other five, on the 22d of
June. His other ships had now joined him, and a terrible battle ensued,
which fell heaviest on the vice-admiral, whose ship was entirely
disabled, but the viceroy and Francisco Lobo rescued and brought him
off; yet the ship was so much battered that it sunk, some men and part
of the money on board being saved, but some of the men fell into the
hands of the enemy. Night coming on, the ships of the viceroy and
Lobo were cast upon certain sands and lost, when they saved what
goods, rigging, ammunition, and cannon they were able, and burnt the
rest, to prevent them from falling into the hands of the enemy. The
viceroy shipped all the goods that were saved on board some galliots,
with what men they could contain, and went to Cochin, whence he
went to Goa in September. On seeing him replaced in the dignity of
viceroy, his enemies were terrified lest he might revenge the affronts
formerly given him, but he behaved with unexpected moderation. He

wished to have punished Simon de Melo, and Luis de Brito, for the
shameful loss of Ormuz. Melo had fled to the Moors, and Brito was in
prison; so that he only was punished capitally, and the other was hung
in effigy.
About the year 1624, some of the Portuguese missionaries penetrated
into the country of Thibet, in which are the sources of the river Ganges.
The natives are well inclined, and of docile dispositions; zealous of
their salvation, and value much the devotions enjoined them by their
priests, called Lamas, who profess poverty and celibacy, and are much
given to prayer. They have churches and convents like the most curious
of those in Europe, and have some knowledge of the Christian religion,
but mixed with many errors, and with strange customs and ceremonies;
yet it plainly appears that they had formerly the light of the true
gospel[18]; and they abhor the Mahometans and idolaters, being easily
converted to the Christian faith. The habit of the Lamas is a red cassock,
without sleeves, leaving their arms bare, girt with a piece of red cloth,
of which the ends hang down to their feet. On their shoulders they wear
a striped cloth, which they say was the dress of the Son of God; and
they have a bottle of