Thomas and his descendants for ever: and the same time seventy-two houses which immediately were erected there, and gardens, and trees with their enclosures, and with their paths and boundaries and inner yards. And he granted him seven kinds of musical instruments, and all the honors, and to speak and walk like a king and that at the weddings the women might give a certain signal with their finger to their mouth, and he granted him distinct weight, and to adorn the ground with cloths, and he granted them royal fans and to double the sandal (mark) on the arm, and a tent and a royal canopy in every part of the kingdom for ever, and besides five tributes to Thomas, and to his lineage, and to his confederates, for men, and for women, and for all his relatives, and to the children of his law for ever. The said king gave it in his name" Witnesses: Diogo Do Couto: Serving as the official historian and keeper of archives of Portuguese India, Diogo Do Couto spent over 50 years of his life in Kerala. In 1611, Do Couto wrote on the history and traditions of the Syrian Christians of Kerala. Do Couto notes that Thomas Cananeo was an "Armenian" merchant who arrived to Kodungallur in the year 811 A.D., acquired copper plates and built three churches dedicated to St. Mary, St. Thomas, and St. Kuriakose. Do Couto states that he had witnessed the plates first hand at the Portuguese factory of Cochin and notes their later disappearance as well. Additionally Do Couto notes that knowledge on Knai Thoma is also known from old Chaldean books in the possession of the Christians of Kerala. On the division of the Christians, Do Couto states that the Knanaya are descended from Thomas Cananeo and the people who came with him. Do Couto further notes that the Knanites had primary settlements at Diamper (Udiamperoor), Kottayam, and Kaduthuruthy. Do Couto also states that after the arrival of Knai Thoma, came the two Syrian bishops Mar Sapor and Mar Proth who arrived at Kollam. Do Couto's account: "From the people who had come with him proceed the Christians of Diamper, Kottayam and Kaduthuruthy, who without doubt are Armenians by caste, and their sons too: the same, because they had brought their wives; and afterwards those who descended from them married in the land, and in the