An open access multilingual discovery tool with book data from 1531 to 2026 and ebooks before 1937. Un outil de découverte multilingue en libre accès offrant une bibliographie de livres publiés entre 1531 et 2026 et des livres numériques datant d'avant 1937.
Note : this is the French translation of an anthology of Dutch travel narratives, whose original title is Begin ende Voortgangh van de vereenighde Nederlantsche geoctroyeerde Oost-Indische Compagnie. According to Dodds (1990) they were widely read in France in the eighteenth century. Note: traduction française d’une compilation de relations de voyages hollandaises (dont le titre original est « Begin ende voortgangh van de vereenighde Nederlantsche geoctroyeerde Oost-Indische Compagnie ») écrites entre 1594 et 1620 qui a, selon M. Dodds (1980), beaucoup circulé en France au XVIIIème s.
1556 [No Author]. L’institution des loix, coustumes et autres choses merveilleuses & memorables tant du Royaume de la Chine que des Indes contenues en plusieurs lettres missives envoyées aux Religieux de la Compagnie de Jesus , Traduictes d’italien en francoys. Paris: Chez Sebastien Nyvelle libraire demourant à l’enseigne des Cicongnes, rue Sainct Jacques, 115 pp. Gallica
POLO, Marco. La description géographique des provinces & villes plus fameuses de l’Inde orientale, meurs, loix, & coustumes des habitans d’icelles , mesmement de ce qui est soubz la domination du grand Cham empereur des Tartares. Par Marc Paule,… et nouvellement réduict en vulgaire françois. Gruget, François Traducteur. Paris: Groulleau, 1556, 265 pp. Gallica
1683 RELATIONS. Relations de divers voyages curieux: qui n’ont point esté publiées ou qui ont esté traduites d’Hacluyt, de Purchas et d’autres voyageurs anglois, hollandois, portugais, allemands, espagnols, et de quelques persans, arabes, & autres auteurs orientaux. Enriches de figures de plantes non décrites, d’animaux inconnus à l’Europe & de cartes geographiques de pays dont on n’a point encore donné de cartes. Troisiesme et quatriesme partie. Paris: André Pralard, 1683, 492 pp. Google Books – volume 1 1663 edition. Google Books – volume 2 1664 edition. Google Books – volumes 3 & 4 1683 edition
This volume contains parts 3 and 4 of the 4 parts of this compilation.
Part 3: the first chapters concern the Dutch ambassadors to China and specifically to Pekin. One chapter describes the route to Pekin. However all the places described are in China. There is a chapter on the geography of China and its 15 provinces (up to p. 216). The following chapter is a report by the directors of the Dutch East Indies Company which includes Coromandel (p. 222), Bengale, Oriza, Cochin (p. 223), Surate (p. 224).
Part 4: this starts on p. 229. Early chapters concern South America, including the river Plate and Perou. There are later chapters about a voyage to China in Italian and Latin, followed by Voyage de P Greuber in which he discusses a French merchant called Tavernier, who travelled throughout India (p. 130). Later there are chapters on Ethopia, Abyssins, les sources du Nil, Sayd and Mexico.
1652 PHILIPPUS. Voyage d’Orient du R. P. Philippe de la tres-saincte Trinité carme deschaussé ou il descrit les divers succez de son voyage, plusieurs religions d’Orient, leurs montagnes, leurs mers & leurs fleuves, la chronologie des princes qui y ont dominé, leurs habitans tant chrestiens qu’infideles. …traduit du latin par un religieux du mesme ordre. Lyon: Iullieron, 1652, 640 pp. Google Books
This book describes the travels to the Inde Oriental. The description of India starts in Chapter 13 (pp. 114-146). Subsequent chapters describe the coast of India including Cochin, Surrat and particularly Goa. There are subsequent chapters on l’Ocean Oriental de Indes, le Ganges et l’Indus. There are some chapters on “Roys” and “Roys des Indes Orientales”, notably Chapter 17 (p. 252). Other chapters discuss the Portuguese and Christians in Inde and on p. 328, there is a chapter on “des Mahometans Indiens”. Further chapters describe the animals, fish and trees of Inde. Towards the end of the book there are chapters on the missions in Inde and les terres du Grand Mogor. The chapters referring to India are interspersed with chapters from other eastern areas such as Syria and Persia.
1625 NONNUS, of Panoplis. Les Dionisiaques ou les metamorphoses, les voyages, les amours, les advantures et les conquestes de Bacchus aux Indes. Nouvellement traduittes [by C. Boitet de Frauville] du Grec de Nonnus. Paris: Foüet, 1625, 789 pp. Google Books
1646 JESUITS. Relation de ce qui s’est passé depuis quelques années, jusques à l’an 1644, au Japon , à la Cochinchine , au Malabar, en l’isle de Ceilan, et en plusieurs autres isles et royaumes de l’Orient compris sous le nom de Provinces du Japon et du Malabar, de la Compagnie de Jesus. Divisée en deux parties, selon ces deux provinces(Première partie. Relation de la Prouince du Iapon. Escrite en Portugais par le Père François Cardim … Traduitte & reueuë en François [by Jacques de Machault, signing himself: I. M.]. Seconde partie. Relation des missions de la Prouince de Malabar … Escrite en Italien par le Père François Barretto procureur de cette province à Rome,… et puis traduit & corrigée en François.). Paris: Henault et Henault, 1646, 335 pp. Lettres japon, ca
The first part of this book, although described as the Privince du Iapon, includes references to Tunquim, Cochinchine, Hainam, Siam, Giangoma, Cambogia and Laïs. Part 2, which the Province of Malabar, commences on p. 186 and continues until the end of the book (p. 314). It encompasses sections on the Royaumes of Bisnaga, Malabar (ou Meliapor), Cochin, Tabor, Calecut (ou du Zamorin), Muserte, Travancor, Coste de la Pescherie, Cap de Comorin, Maduré, Ceilam, Candie, Jesanapatam, Manar, Giomandel, Narsingue, Bengala, Tibet, Puissant, Pegu, Mamaca, Macassa, Sumatra and the Moluques.
1663 MAGISTRIS, Giacinto de. Relation derniere de ce qui s’est passé dans les royaume de Maduré, de Tangeor et autres lieux aux Indes Orientales. Composé par Hiacinthe de Magistris, traduite par un autre pere.. Paris: Cramoisy, 1663, 440 pp. Google Books
This book is about Southern India. It mentions Malabar, Maduré and a number of cities in what is now Tamil Nadu e.g. Tangeor (Tanjore), Tricierapelli (Tiruchirappalli). The book chronicles the last 4 years (1656-59) of the 20 years spent in missionary work by P. Hiacinthe de Magistris when he left for Europe in October 1659.
RELATIONS. Relations de divers voyages curieux: qui n’ont point esté publiées ou qui ont esté traduites d’Hacluyt, de Purchas et d’autres voyageurs anglois, hollandois, portugais, allemands, espagnols, et de quelques persans, arabes, & autres auteurs orientaux. Enriches de figures de plantes non décrites, d’animaux inconnus à l’Europe & de cartes geographiques de pays dont on n’a point encore donné de cartes. 4 volumes. Paris: Google Books – Volume 1 Paris: Langlois, 1663 Google Books – Volume 2 1664 edition Google Books – Volumes 3 & 4 1683 edition
Volume 1. Paris: Langlois, 1663, 397 pp. This book is a collection of short works about various voyages to overseas territories some of which have been translated into French and some are still in their original language. The book does not have continuous page numbering, so each chapter/ section is numbered from its start.
The first section is on the pyramids of Egypt. The second section is about Tartares. The first main section on India starts around p. 139 within the book entitled Relation de la cour du Mogol par le capitaine Hawkins. This is followed by Memoires de Thomas Rhoe ambassedeur du Roy d’Angleterre aupres du Mogol, then Voyage de Edoüard Terri aux Indes Orientales. The next section is in Greek and the one after that relates to Description des animaux et de plantes des Indes. Later there is a section on Relation des royaumes de Golconda, Tannassery, Pegu, Arecan etc.. On p. 157 there is a chapter entitled Journal de Pierre Will Floris – son voyage à Patane & à Siam. This voyage seems to have gone via Ceylon and the East coat of India via Petapoli and Golfe de Bengale. The final section on p. 235 is a Routier pour la navigation des Indes Orientales – in essence describing various routes to the Far East.
Volume 2. Paris: SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY, 1664, 365pp. This volume like the first volume, is made up of translations of other works and does not have continuous page numbering. The first few chapter discuss Dutch and Portuguese commerce in the Indes Orientales and includes various towns on the Malabar and Coromandel coasts. This is followed by an expanded chapter “Routier pour la navigation des Indes Orientales” – in essence describing various routes to the Far East (62pages) including Goa and Cochin. The following chapter is “Voyages de Gen Beaulieu aux Indes Orientales”, however whilst there is discussion of the coasts of Malabar and Coromandel and passing Cap Coromin, it does not seem that he landed in India on his way to Ticou, Achen and Sumatra (137pages). The next few chapters are “Relation des Isles Philipines” followed by “Relation de l’Empire du Japon” and then “Relation de la Chine”.
Volumes 3 and 4. Part 3 – the first chapters concern the Dutch ambassadors to China and specifically to Pekin. One chapter discusses the route to Pekin, however all the places described are in China. There is a chapter on the geography of China and its 15 provinces (up to 216p). The following chapter is a report by the directors of the Dutch East Indes Company which includes Coromandel (222p), Bengale, Oriza, Cochin (223p), Surate (224p). Part 4 starts on 229p and early chapters concern South America, including the river Plate and Perou. There are later chapter about a voyage to China in italian and latin, followed by “Voyage de P Greuber” in which he discusses a french merchant called M Tavernier, who travelled in India (130p). Later there are chapters on Ethopia, Abyssins, des sources du Nil, Sayd and Mexico.
1665 MAFFEI, Giovanni Pietro. L’histoire des Indes Orientales et Occidentales, traduite en François par M. M[ichel]. d[e] .P[ure].. Paris: de Ninville, 1665, 706 pp. Google Books
This book is divided into 2 parts with separate page numbering. Part 1: 390 pp. and Part 2: 316pp.
This is a history of the discovery of countries outside Europe by the Portuguese. The first 17 chapters are centred mainly on Africa. Chapter 18 mentions India and its rivers. However, it is not until Chapter 24 and Gamma that Malabar, the Zamorin of Calecut becomes the main focus of the text until the end Chapter 29 which is the end of the Part 1. Goa and Cochin are mentioned throughout the remaining parts of the book.
1666 L., P. L. C. C.. Relation nouvelle & curieuse de Royaumes de Tunquin, & de Lao; traduite de l’Italien du P. Mariny. Paris: Gervais Clouzier, 1666, 446pp. Google Books
This book is listed in the BL main catalogue, but does not seem to be in Goldsmith. The book is the history, geography and moeurs of the people of Tunquin and Lao. There are references to Inde in a section, 189p, on different sects and how they were introduced into Tunquin – the most relevant pages being 193-196p. On 194p, mention is made of Royaumes de l’Inde, de Bengala as well as Sinde and Cambaye, Royaumes de Narlinga, Canaram, Idalcam and Malavar.
VĀTSYĀYANA. Théologie hindoue : Le “Kama Soutra”, règles de l’amour de Vatsyayana (morale des brahmanes). Translated by E. Lamairesse. Paris: Carré, 1891, 326 pp. Gallica
1892 FAUCHE, Hippolyte. Le Ramayana, poème sanscrit de Valmiky. Translated from Sanskrit into French by Hippolyte Fauche, preface by Ch. Marcilly. Paris: Flammarion, 1892, 332 pp. Gallica
1894 HEROLD, André-Ferdinand (Translator). L’Upanishad du grand Aryanaka (Brihadâranyakopanishad), traduit pour la première fois du sanskrit. Paris: Librairie de l’art indépendant, 1894, 172 pp. Gallica
VINSON, Jules (ed. and trans.). Les Français dans l’Inde: Dupleix et La Bourdonnais; extraits du Journal d’Anandarangappoullé (1736-1748), courtier de la compagnie française des Indes. Translated from Tamil. Paris: Leroux, 1894, 339 pp. Gallica NUMM – 5441000 Gallica NUMM – 6158630 Google Books
Ananda Ranga Pillai (1709-1761) a été le plus célèbre parmi les courtiers de la Compagnie des Indes. Il vécut entre deux mondes: la communauté indienne de Pondichéry et la société européenne qui gravitait autour du gouverneur français. Un extrait de son journal, qui nous présente une confrontation exceptionnelle du monde indien avec la civilisation occidentale, a été publié en 1894 par l’orientaliste français Julien Vinson, pour souligner les différences entre la colonisation française et celle britannique: en particulier les Britanniques sont accusés soit d’être irrespectueux des religions et des mœurs locales, soit d’être intéressés seulement au profit, aux dépens du bien-être des sujets indiens. Parallèlement, dans le livre on trouve aussi un certain regret pour la désastreuse expérience «impérialiste» de la France dans le sous-continent (attribuée à l’incompétence de la monarchie française).
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VYÃSA. Sakountala. Translated by Philippe-Édouard Foucaux. Paris: Dentu, 1894, 137 pp. Gallica
Les références aux plans et aux cartes et les liens Gallica vers celles-ci se trouvent ci-dessous:
[No Author]. Plan de Thiagar pris par l’armée française en 1759. NP: 1759, 1 pp. Gallica
[No Author]. Théâtre des guerres : guerre de Sept ans, côte de Coromandel, 10 septembre 1759. – Position de l’escadre françoise et angloise dans le commencement du combat du 10 septembre 1759, à la côte de Coromandel. NP: 1759, 1pp. Gallica
[No Author]. Théâtre de la guerre, dans les Indes orientales ou coste de Coromandel tirée des cartes de la Compagnie. Paris: Chez Le Rouge geographe rue des Grands Augustins, 1759, 1 pp. Gallica
1670 ROGER, Abraham. La Porte ouverte pour prévenir à la connoissance du paganisme caché, ou la Vraye représentation de la vie de la religion et du service divin des Bramines qui demeurent sur les costes du Chormandel , par le sieur Abraham Roger,… traduite en françois par le sieur Thomas La Grue,…Amsterdam: Schipper, 1670, 408 pp. Gallica
This book is a description of Brahmins, their religion and moeurs and is centred on those encountered on the Coromandel coast.
1673 BARTOLI, Daniello. Les Miracles de S. François Xavier apostre des Indes. Traduits de l’italien du P. Bartoli. Avec un discours sur la créance des miracles. Paris: M. Le Petit, 1673, 379pp. Google Books
This book refers to the many miracles of St Francis which occurred in Inde as well as other places in Indes. There are many references to places in Inde throughout the book including Goa, Cochin, Travancor etc.
1603 MAFFIE, Giovanni Pietro. Histoires des Indes, de Iean Pierre Maffee bergamesque, de la Societé de Iesus. Où il est traicté de leur descouuerte, navigation, & conqueste faicte tant par les portugais que castillans. Ensemble de leurs mœurs, ceremonies, loix, gouuernemens, & reduction à la foy catholique. Traduict par F.A.D.L.B. Lyon: Jean Pillehotte, 1603, 1005pp. Google Books
The book is divided into 16 livres with continuous page numbering. The book uses “Indes” in the general sense and does not mention Indes Orientales as such, however it does discuss Africa, Bresil, Japon and Inde. There are multiple references to places in Inde throughout the book including Goa, Coromin, Cocin, Guzarates, Coromandel, Malabares, Meliampor, Zamorin, St Thomas, Mangalor, Narsingan, Cananor, Colan, Tanor, Calecut, Brachmanes etc from 49p onwards. There is an extensive index from 945p.
1604 JAVIER, Jéronimo. Nouveaux, advis de royaume de la Chine, du Jappon et de l’estat du Roy de Mogor…& d’autres royaumes des Indes à luy subjects. Tirez de plusieurs lettres, memoires & aduis enuoyez à Rome: et nouuellement traduits d’Italien en François., Paris: Chappelet, 1604, 264 pp. Gallica
The first 2 sections of the book concern China and Japan with no references to Inde. The section on le Grand Roy de Mogor commences on p. 193 and includes references to other roys such as those of Agra, Calicut, Echebar. The discussion includes elephants, the religious mores of the kingdom, as well as places such as Goa, Surratte, Fatepur, Gange, Lahor. The letters seem to have been written in 1595.
1606 ACOSTA, Joseph de, Jesuit. Histoire naturelle et moralle des Indes tant Orientalles qu’Occidentalles….Traduite en François par Robert Regnault Cauxois. Paris: Marc Orry, 1606, 757pp. Google Books
This book is numbered on alternate pages, hence it has 352 numbered pages but 704 pages of written text. It compares and contrasts les Indes Orientales and Occidentales and also describes the remarkable things that can be found in these places such as metals, plants, animals as well as the ceremonies, moeurs, laws, governments and wars of les Indiens. The book seems to concentrate more on Indes Occidentales and America. No places in Inde are mentioned, apart from Goa, 33p, once as a place to travel from Lisbon and Cap de Comorni, 22p. The term Indien is used somewhat loosely to describe people from both Indes.
1607 MAGINI, Giovanni Antonio. Histoire universelle des Indes Orientales, divisée en deux livres, faicte en latin par A. Magini: nouvellement traduicte: contenant la descouverte, navigation, situation et conqueste, faicte tant par les Portugais que par les Castillans. Douay: Fabri, 1607, 156 pp. Google Books
This book is the second part of a compilation of the Histoire Universelle des Indes Occidentales translated by Wytfliet and Histoire Universelle des Indes Orientales. The 2 livres in the Indes Orientales section have continuous page numbering (76 pp.).
Livre 1 (pp. 1-44): the early chapters review the voyage of Vasque de Gama to Indes via Mozambique, finding un pilote Indien for the voyage to Calicut (p. 16) and meeting the Roy de Calicut. After the return of de Gama to Portugal there is the description of other voyages to Calicut and then to Cochin (p. 30). In 1505 there is a meeting with the Roy de Narsinge (p. 32), and then descriptions of various battles. Goa starts being mentioned from p. 36. Although there are some chapters on Malaca, Livre 1 concentrates on Inde.
Livre 2 (pp. 45-72) has sections on other countries in Indes Orientales such as Japan, China, Borneo etc., as well as Bengals (p. 62), Malabar (p. 65), Cranganor (p. 67), Narsinde & Decan (p. 68) and Cambaia (p. 70).
After Livre 2 there is another book with a separate frontispiece called La suite de l’histoire des Indes Orientales, de la conversion des Indiens. Douay: Fabri, 1607, 80 pp.
This book includes a chapter on Goa (p. 9), Cocin (p. 15), Damana, Coulan, Cap de Comorin plus other towns, including Macao. Later in this book there is a description of the conversion to the Indes Occidentales and the final pages are a list of chapters and the contents for the Indes Orientales books.
ROGER, Abraham. La Porte ouverte pour prévenir à la connoissance du paganisme caché, ou la vraye représentation de la vie de la religion et du service divin des Bramines qui demeurent sur les costes du Chormandel. Translated into French by Thomas La Grue. Amsterdam: Schipper, 1607, 408 pp. Gallica
1609 GOUVEA, Antonio de, Bishop of Cyrene. Histoire orientale des grans progres de l’Eglise Cathol. Apost. & Rom. en la reduction des anciens chrestiens dits de S. Thomas, de plusieurs autres schismatiques & heretiques a l’union de la vrai Eglise. Conversion encor des Mahometains, Mores & Payens, 2 volumes. Anvers: Verdussen, 1609, 950 pp. Google Books
This book is divided into 3 livres, each with separate chapter numbering. Livre 1 (pp. 1-360); Livre 2 (pp. 361-572); Livre 3 (pp. 573-748). From p. 749 there is a separate part with separate page numbering on La messe des anciens chrestiens which has both French and Latin text.
There are multiple references to Inde and places in Inde in this book. As the book is about the Roman Catholic Church in Inde, Goa and the Archevesques de Goa are mentioned throughout and includes their visits to multiple other places in Inde where there were churches – Cochin, Cassanor, Malipur, Calicut, Travancor, Cranganor, Malabar etc.