India in the Fifteenth Century (Facsimile of 1858 ed)

This is a very interesting book that is about 4 travelers who visited India prior to the discovery of the sea route to India by Vasco Da Gama.

The travelers noticed are Abd-er-Razzak of Herat in Afghanistan.

He was sent by the king of Herat on an embassy to the king of Vijayanagar.

He came into India from Hormuz to Calicut; and via Mangalore and Belloor he reached Vijayanagar.

The 2nd traveler mentioned is Niclo Conti a Venatian.

He came into India at Cambay and went to Vijayanagar, Pennacoda, Tellicherry, Mailapur and then goes onto Ceylon.

The Russian Nikitin is next. He landed in India at Chaul and made his way to Beder and from there to Calicut.

The last is the Genoese Stefano. He sailed to Calicut from Cairo and having spent time there he proceeded to Pegu via Ceylon.

The book has a lengthy introduction that discusses the various travelers who have visited India down the ages from the time of Alexander to the date of this book and even mentions the tales of Sindabad in it.

Abd-ar-Razzak traveled from 1442 to 1444; Nikitin form 1468 to 1474; Conti from 1419-1444 and Stefano around 1498-1499.