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SLAVE RAIDS IN BENGAL or HEINS IN ARAKAN By U Ba Tha

I wrote about the Roewengyas, the descendants of Arabs, Pathans and the then immigrants from Bengal in a previous article entitled "Roewengyas in Arakan" which was published in this magazine's Vol: VII, No. 5 for May 1960. Now I take great pleasure in writing about the North Arakan people who descended from the captives of Bengal who were captured by the Portuguese and the Arakanese pirates.
Slave raids were made by the Arakanese Mughs and Portuguese. The Portuguese were crusaders, conquerors and traders. They came to eastern countries after Vasco da Gama had found the sea route to India. Vasco da Gama with 160 men in three small ships sailed to India on the 8th of July 1497, and at Melinde on the African coast he engaged an India pilot with whose assistance they crossed the Arabian Sea, and on the 20th May 1498 they arrived at Calicut, the port on the West Coast of India, and the capital of an independent Hindu Kingdom.
He sent a civil message to the king of Calicut. In return a personage came aboard to conduct him into the city. In return a personage came aboard to conduct him into the city. On visiting the city, da Gama presented the King with a letter in which a request was made by King Emanuel of Portugal for trade between the two countries. The King replied that he would return his answer in consultation with his ministers.