Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 3.10.8

3.10.8

To comprehend the nature of the expedition meditated by Chah-hestkan, and form a correct idea of the occurrences in the Gulf of Bengale, it should be mentioned that the Kingdom of Rakan, or Mog, has harboured during many years several Portuguese settlers, a great number of Christian slaves, or half-caste Portuguese, and other Franks collected from various parts of the world. That kingdom was the place of retreat for fugitives from Goa, Ceylon, Cochin, Malacca, and other settlements in the Indies, held formerly by the Portuguese; and no persons were better received than those who had deserted their monasteries, married two or three wives, or committed other great crimes. These people were Christians only in name; the lives led by them were most detestable, massacring or poisoning one another without compunction or remorse, and sometimes assassinating even their priests, who, to confess the truth, were too often no better than their murderers.