Varthema, Ludvico Di a European traveller who came to Bengal via Cairo, Beirut, Damascus, Makka, Hormuz, and different parts of the Deccan. He has left behind an account that contains the description about the customs and manners of the people, products of the countries as well as the details of the Portuguese attempts to get a foothold in India.
An inhabitant of Bologna, he began his travel in 1502 through overland route to India. Leaving Europe at the end of 1502, Varthema travelled to Makka via Cairo, Beirut and Damascus. At Makka he was imprisoned as a Christian spy. With a flair for languages and posing as a Muslim, Varthema escaped to northwest coast of Africa, from where he took a ship to Diu. On the way, he stopped at Hormuz, took a ship for Cambay and reached there on 10 October 1504. He found large production of cotton as well as mixed cotton and silk stuff, which were exported to various countries. The inhabitants would not kill any living being and were neither Hindus nor Muslims.
Varthema then moved on to Chaul, Dabhol, Goa and Bijapur, where he found a beautiful palace and a liberal king, then in war with Vijayanagar. He then moved to Sadasivgarh, a port under Vijayanagar and then to the Island of Anjediva. Around 18 November 1504, he reached Honavar, then under Vijayanagar. He also mentioned the port of Mangalore, from where fifty to sixty ships were laden with rice. He liked the port of Cannore, built by the Portuguese, who brought horses to this port for sale at Vijayanagar. He found many Muslim merchants in this city. (1st of 3rd Part) To be continue....
An inhabitant of Bologna, he began his travel in 1502 through overland route to India. Leaving Europe at the end of 1502, Varthema travelled to Makka via Cairo, Beirut and Damascus. At Makka he was imprisoned as a Christian spy. With a flair for languages and posing as a Muslim, Varthema escaped to northwest coast of Africa, from where he took a ship to Diu. On the way, he stopped at Hormuz, took a ship for Cambay and reached there on 10 October 1504. He found large production of cotton as well as mixed cotton and silk stuff, which were exported to various countries. The inhabitants would not kill any living being and were neither Hindus nor Muslims.
Varthema then moved on to Chaul, Dabhol, Goa and Bijapur, where he found a beautiful palace and a liberal king, then in war with Vijayanagar. He then moved to Sadasivgarh, a port under Vijayanagar and then to the Island of Anjediva. Around 18 November 1504, he reached Honavar, then under Vijayanagar. He also mentioned the port of Mangalore, from where fifty to sixty ships were laden with rice. He liked the port of Cannore, built by the Portuguese, who brought horses to this port for sale at Vijayanagar. He found many Muslim merchants in this city. (1st of 3rd Part) To be continue....
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