Sonderlinge reysen van Joseph, den geboornen Indiaan; bevattende een aanmerklijke beschrijvingh der landen,...

VIII. CHAPTER.

Description of the city of Calicut.

The city of Calicut lies to the west of the city of Caranganor, over ninety miles by the sea, and has a renowned harbor. It is also larger than the city of Caranganor. It is still a renowned merchant city today and the foremost of a large kingdom, in the western part to the south of the East Indies, with a reasonable harbor on the coast of Malabar, almost halfway between Cananor and Caranganor. Pagan king. Their lord, or king, is an idolater of the same sect as that of Caranganor. In their religion, unbelief, and manners, one can notice no difference. Therefore, we do not need to speak further of this.

Merchants

Here are and come many merchants: Persians, Moors, Indians, Medes, Syrians, Assyrians, Arabians, Egyptians, and furthermore from almost all regions of the world. Each of them brings something here, so that here is found everything that is necessary for the maintenance of mankind.

from all regions of the world

Among these merchants are some whom one calls Guzuratters Gujaratis, and they drive trade with many kinds of merchandise. All of India brings precious goods here. The number of merchants was greatest here when those from Cathay came thither. These Cathayers believe in Christ and are white people, like the Europeans. driving their trade here. They used to trade heavily at Calicut with precious goods. But when this king began to treat them poorly, they moved away from there; they came thither again after some time and struck down very many of the inhabitants of Calicut; after which time they did not betake themselves there again, but moved