Frederick, Caeser a Venecian who had travelled in the East from 1563 to 1581 and has left behind an account about some important cities, ports and business centres of India and of Bengal. His account covers the socio-economic and cultural life of the people.
Frederick returned to Goa to travel to Cochin. He threw interesting details on the life of the Nairs. From there he went to Quilon and thence to Ceylon. He then seems to have gone to Negapatnam from where he travelled to Orissa and Bengal. Frederick was one of the earliest European travellers to have visited Sandwip Island, which he found inhabited. The Island was very fertile and a river channel divided it into two parts. The inhabitants set up a market on the beach after seeing the ship. He was amazed by the cheapness of the provisions. The people were Muslims ruled by a Muslim King. The Island belonged to the King of Bengal.
Frederick then moved to Chittagong where he found a great store of rice, cloth and sugar for export to various parts of India. Coming through the Ganges, he entered satgaon (Saptagram) and reached the mouth of the Ganges by boat after eighteen hours of rowing with the tide. He had first come to Bettore, opposite Howrah, and it is probable that he had taken the Saraswati, which had begun to silt by that time. He says that from there "upwards the river is very shallow" with little water. Frederick found Bettore with infinite number of people and ships anchored in front. (1st part, To be continue.......)
Frederick returned to Goa to travel to Cochin. He threw interesting details on the life of the Nairs. From there he went to Quilon and thence to Ceylon. He then seems to have gone to Negapatnam from where he travelled to Orissa and Bengal. Frederick was one of the earliest European travellers to have visited Sandwip Island, which he found inhabited. The Island was very fertile and a river channel divided it into two parts. The inhabitants set up a market on the beach after seeing the ship. He was amazed by the cheapness of the provisions. The people were Muslims ruled by a Muslim King. The Island belonged to the King of Bengal.
Frederick then moved to Chittagong where he found a great store of rice, cloth and sugar for export to various parts of India. Coming through the Ganges, he entered satgaon (Saptagram) and reached the mouth of the Ganges by boat after eighteen hours of rowing with the tide. He had first come to Bettore, opposite Howrah, and it is probable that he had taken the Saraswati, which had begun to silt by that time. He says that from there "upwards the river is very shallow" with little water. Frederick found Bettore with infinite number of people and ships anchored in front. (1st part, To be continue.......)
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