cause he knew that he was a nobleman in Canboja. The others who
were with him he made captives. This deponent, while in Canboja, saw
some of the Portuguese who were captured in Don Jhoan de la Gama's
junk, which was lost there. They were deprived of all their toes by
order of the said king of Chanpan, because they had once escaped,
but were caught again. About ten years ago, while this witness was
at Malaca, he learned that a vessel coming from Canboja to Malaca,
laden with munitions and supplies for the fortress at Malaca, went
ashore near Chanpan, and many Christians, who were on the vessel,
were captured. The king of Jor [Johore] being at war with Malaca about
five years ago, the said king of Chanpan sent him aid, and otherwise
assisted him considerably; so that with the assistance which the
said king of Chanpan lent him, they put many Portuguese and other
Christians to death. Captain Francisco de Villegas being at Chanpan,
with a ship and some men, the king made them embark upon his own
ships to rob and plunder with him. They went to Canboja, where they
captured a large number of people, because when the latter saw bands
of Portuguese coming, they thought that they were friends. The king
is an obstacle to both trade and general commerce, for quite commonly
he is wont to coast with his fleet, along Cochinchina and Canboja,
doing considerable damage to the merchants going from Canboja and
Cian to trade, to Malaca and other neighboring places--as Patan and
China, for instance--without sparing anyone whom he meets. The said
king of Chanpan is guilty every year of murdering many of the people
of his own land, to possess himself of their bile, in order to bathe
in it. The latter the witness has heard from people who were captives
there, and who saw him commit these and many other abominations. He
has also heard it said that when any noble or chief dies, the king
orders some women to be burnt alive, with terrible cruelty, with the
body of the deceased; for, according to their religion, the dead are
burnt. Lastly it was about a year ago, when Gregorio de Vargas and
his companion Blas Ruiz escaped from Chanpan to Canboja; they said
that their ship had been stolen from them in Chanpan, with all their
property aboard it. Their captors even ordered no food to be given to
them. Considering all the above, it is the opinion of this witness,
that it will be a great service to God and his Majesty, to attack
the said king of Chanpan,