going into church they use holy water.  They hold the writings of the four Evangelists in great veneration.  They fast during Lent and Advent with much solemnity, and on Easter Eve they neither eat nor drink the whole day.  They have regularly sermons on the night of Holy Friday, and they observe the day of the Resurrection with great devotion.  Likewise the two following days, and the ensuing Sunday, are particularly kept holy, because on that day St Thomas thrust his hand into the side of our Saviour.  Ascension Day, Trinity Sunday, the Assumption and Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, Candlemas Day, Christmas Day, all the days of the apostles, and all the Sundays throughout the year, are kept with much devotion.  They sanctify in a particular manner the first day of July every year in honour of St Thomas, but they could give no reason why this was done.  They have also native friars and nuns, who live with much regularity.  Their priests also live chastely, as those who do otherwise are debarred from executing their functions.  They allow of no divorce between married people, who must live together till death.  They receive the sacrament regularly three times in every year.  They have among them certain learned men, or great doctors, who keep schools, in which they teach the Scriptures, and likewise some excellent interpretations which were left in old times by their ancient doctors.  Their dress is similar to that of the Moors.  Their day consists of forty hours; and, having no clocks, they judge of the time of the day by the sun, and in the night by the motion of the stars[32].  The general was very glad to receive this Joseph and his brother, and gave orders to provide them with a good cabin in his ship.

While Cabral remained at Cochin, he received messages from the kings of Cananor and Coulan, both considerable princes in the province of Malabar, requesting him to come to their ports, where he should be supplied cheaper than at Cochin, and giving him many offers of friendship.  He made answer, with his hearty thanks, that he could not now visit their ports, having already begun to take in his loadings bet that he should certainly visit them on his return to India.  Immediately after the Portuguese ships were laden, a fleet of twenty-five great ships, and other small vessels was descried in the offing; and notice was sent by the rajah of Cochin to our general, that this fleet contained fifteen thousand fighting men, and had been fitted out on purpose to make him and all his people prisoners.  At the same time the rajah offered to send men to his assistance, if he stood in need; but the general answered he had no need of any such aid at the present, as he trusted, with God’s blessing, to convince his enemies they were ill advised in seeking now to attack him, having already given them a trial of his strength; alluding to what he had already done to them at Calicut.  The enemy continued to hover off at sea, but did not venture to come nearer