Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 634

612

History of the Ming Dynasty.

Nov.

The native states of Luçonia sent tribute-bearers at various times to court. During Wánli's reign some Chinese men-of-war were cast on the coasts of the island, and found the Franks in possession. They were however well treated, and sent back to their country accom- panied by soine Dominican friars. Our author tells us, that these Franks got possession of the island by warily asking for a piece of territory as large as a cow's hide would cover, which they then cut into long pieces and inclosed a large tract of land, and this they claimed as their own in virtue of their agreement.

Omitting all further notices of the intercourse carried on with islands south of Luçonia, and the Moluccas, as well as that with Bor- neo, Malacca, Camboja, and India, we pass to what the historian says of European nations. The Franks live in the neighborhood of Malac- ca, but up to the time of Chinte they are not mentioned; they drove away the king of Malacca, and sent an embassador to court, one cap- tain Mot and others, in 1519, who brought the produce of their coun- try as a tribute offering. They lingered when ordered to depart, and began to rob and plunder, and even ate little children. The emperor, who kept two of this race with him, learned their language as an amusement. At this act two censors became indignant, and one of them sent in a memorial, advising that they should not be allowed to send any more tribute to the court, until they had rein- stated the rájá of Malacca in his dignity. The other said, “that they were a dangerous set of knaves, skillful in holding arms, and the shrewdest of all the foreigners. They had entered Canton last year with a large vessel, and the roar of their guns had shaken the earth about the provincial city. Now they had found their way to the capital, and were going on trading as fast as they could; but if there was not an end put to their proceedings, the south of China would be soon involved in a bloody war. These and other considerations pre- vailed on the court to adopt measures for their expulsion. Koyung attacked them in 1524, took two of their ships, and beheaded thirty- five individuals. After taking this signal revenge, the emperor re- solved upon casting cannon according to the model of the captured

guns.

There was only one obstacle in the way of making these fire- arms effective, and this was, that the Chinese soldiers were unable to handle them. Undaunted by this reverse, the Franks pitched their tents and took possession of some parts of the country.

The go- vernor of Canton even went so far in his partiality towards these fo- reigners as to petition the emperor, to allow them to trade, because goth the public and private resources of the province depended upon