NUNES (Nuniz), Fernão. 1500? — 1550?. Portuguese Jewish Horse Trader in India. In 1535-37 stayed in Vijayanagar and then wrote an account, including a short history of the Vijayanagara Empire. The manuscript came to Portugal and was used by Barros, but then forgotten for many years. Later on he was…
NIKITIN, Afanasij. Tver 1433 (?) — Smolensk 1472 or 1475 (?). Russian Traveller in India. A merchant from Tver, he visited Persia and India, and wrote a good account of these countries. Probably he had travelled much even before, in Baltic and Caucasian countries and Ottoman Empire. The chronology of…
NIEUHOFF, Johan. Uelsen, Grafschaft Bentheim (Germany) 22.7.1618 — Madagascar 8.10.1672. Dutch Traveller in India in the middle of the 17th century. Son of the mayor of Uelsen, Jan van Nijhoff, of Zwolle, and Egberta Picardt. In 1640-49 in Brazil during the Dutch attempt to establish a colony there, then in…
MUNDY, Peter. Before 1609 (1597?) — after 1667. British Trader and Traveller. From Penryn in Cornwall, son of a pilchard trader. In 1609-10 in Rouen and Gascony in France. In 1611 he became a cabin-boy in a merchantman, gradually arose to higher positions. Visited Constantinople (1617), returned overland via Bulgaria,…
MILDENHALL (Midnall), John. Little Bedwell, Wiltshire 1560 (?) — Ajmer June 1614. British Traveller in India, self-styled envoy of the E.I.C. to Mughal Court in 1603. Son of Sir John Mildenhall (?). Being a London merchant, he travelled on his own account, without any official position, although he often pretended…
MANDELSLO, Johann Albrecht von (Johan Albert von M.). Schönberg, Mecklenburg 15.5.1616 — Paris 16.5.1644. German Traveller in India. Son of Hermann Clamor von Mandelslo (1573–1648), an administrator, and Anna Pflug. Started 1636 his travels together with his friend Adam Olearius (1599–1671) in Holstenian embassy to Persia, on his own he…
LE COQ, Albert von. Dahlem, Berlin 8.9.1860 — Berlin 21.4.1930. German Archaeologist and Central Asian Scholar. Born in a huguenot family in Berlin, son of André Auguste Le Coq (1827–1894; knighted “von” 1875) and Marianne Poppe (1826–1902). He was educated at Französisches Gymnasium (Berlin) and at Darmstadt gymnasium, but was…
HOUTMAN, Cornelis de. Gouda 2.4.1565 —off Acheh 1.9.1599. Dutch Traveller in India. Son of Pieter Cornelisz de Houtman, a brewer, and Agnes Frederiksd., elder brother of —> Frederick de Houtman (1571–1627). With his brother remained in 1592-93 as merchant in Lisbon, spying on Asian trade for an Amsterdam company. They…
JOURDAIN, John. 15?? — 17.7.1619. British Traveller in India. Son of John Jourdain, a merchant and mayor of Lyme Regis in Dorset. In 1595 trading in the Azores. Participated in the English Indian voyage of 1608, remained in Surat when others went to the Mughal court (—> Hawkins). In 1610…
HARE, Edward Miles. Leicester 4.3.1893 — Oldham, Hampshire 26.10.1955. British Pāli Scholar in Sri Lanka. Son of Charles Edward Hare and Agnes Pruen. Educated at Stamford School in Lincolnshire, where F. L. Woodward was his teacher and introduced him into Pāli. Served in WW I as Lieutenant. In 1918-50 tea…