decorated and richly covered with a sumptuous entertainment.  When Antonio was seated, the whole multitude departed, except about 80 of the principal citizens who were to dine along with him, and 50 soldiers who attended, while the halberdiers stood at a distance to keep off the people.  As soon as the company was seated, the music began to play, and eight beautiful maids came forwards playing on instruments and dancing, eight others being placed beside Antonio singing.  The dishes were brought in by a number of fine women, and set upon the tables by men, the abundance and costliness of the entertainment being wonderful.  After dinner the company adjourned to another place, where there was a bull-feast, with several wild horses among them, and at the death of each animal there followed dancing music and other entertainments.

De Faria continued here five months, entertained in great splendour, having dogs and horses to go a hunting, as the environs abounded in game.  The time being come for going to the mines of Quamgiparu, Quiay Panjau who was to have accompanied him thither was carried off by sickness.  After this another Chinese named Similau dissuaded Antonio from attempting the adventure of the mines, as attended with too much difficulty and danger, and proposed to him to undertake an expedition to the island of Calempluy, in which were the tombs of the ancient kings of China, which were said to contain great treasures.  To this Antonio gave ear, as covetousness had great sway even upon his generous mind.  Happy had it been for him if he had returned to India, satisfied with the victories he had already achieved.  About the middle of May 1542, he set sail accompanied by Similau in two galliots with 146 men, 52 of whom were Portuguese, and among these the priest Diego Lubato.  Next day they discovered the islands of Nangnitur, and then entered upon seas till then unknown by the Portuguese.  Having crossed a gulf of 40 leagues, they discovered the high mountain, of Nangalaci, and held on their course northwards.  At the end of ten days they anchored in a river where they saw white people like the Chinese, but differing in language, and could never prevail to have any intercourse with them.  After eight days sailing they entered the strait of Silcapaquim, in which they spent five days in sight of many populous towns.  But this course appearing dangerous, they steered up the river Humbepadam by the advice of Similau, passing to the east of the mountain Fangus, and came thirteen days afterwards to the bay of Buxipalem in the latitude of 30 deg., which produces fish, serpents, and crocodiles of wonderous size, and many sea-horses.  Farther on they came to the bay of Calinclam, surrounded with high mountains, whence four great rivers fall into the sea.  They next sailed under the great mountain Botinasora, abounding in lions, rhinoceroses, tigers, ounces, and other wild beasts, and then past Gangitanu, inhabited by the Gigahui, a wild gigantic people, some ten and some eleven spans high, of whom they saw fourteen of both sexes.  They have good complexions, being white and red, but very ill-favoured features.  Antonio gave them some procelain dishes and silk, for which they seemed thankful, and brought some cows and deer in return, but their language could not be understood.