ir tyrannical and injurious usage
proceeded to a length that was the occasion {206} of a general
confusion and distraction amongst the population of the country.
This continued for a long period, for nearly eighty years, when the
affairs of the Moslems had arrived at the last stage of decay,
ruin, poverty and wretchedness; since whilst they were too
ill-practised in deceit to dissemble an obedience which was not
sincere, they neither possessed the power to repel nor means to
evade the evils that afflicted them. Nor did the Muhammadan princes
and chieftains who were possessed of large armies, and who had at
their command great military resources, come forward for their
deliverance or bestow any of their wealth in so holy a cause as in
the resistance to these tyrant infidels.' ...[1]

'Sorely did these Franks oppress the faithful, striving all of
them, the great and powerful, the old and young, to eradicate the
Muhammadan religion; and to bring over its followers to
Christianity (may God ever defend us from such a calamity!).
Notwithstanding all this, however, they preserved an outward show
of peace towards the Muhammadans, in consequence of their being
compelled to dwell amongst them; since the chief part of the
population of the seaports consisted of Muhammadans ... Lastly it
is worthy of remark that the Franks entertain antipathy and hatred
only towards Muhammadans, and to their creed alone; evincing no
dislike towards the Nairs and other Pagans of similar
description.'[2]

[Footnote 1: _Tohfut-ul-mujahideen_, Rowlandson's translation, pp. 6,
7.]

[Footnote 2: _Tohfut-ul-mujahideen_, Rowlandson's translation, pp.
109, 110.]

In the following terms, according to Dr. Burnell, does Venkatacarya,
a Brahman of Conjevaram, speak about the Portuguese:--

'This Brahman wrote about A.D. 1600 a Sanskrit poem called
Vicvagunadarca, often printed and once rudely {207} translated
(Calcutta, 1825, 4to.) In it he mentions the Portuguese, whom he
calls Huna. In abuse of them he says they are very despicable, are
devoid of tenderness, and do not value Brahmans a straw, that they
have endless faults, and do not observe ceremonial purity. But he
praises their self-restraint and truthfulness, their mechanical
skill, and their respect for law.'[3]

[Footnote 3: _A Tentative List of Books and some MSS. relating to the
History of the Portuguese in India Proper_, by A. C