Storia do Mogor 265.16
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 265.16
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265.16.1
It is wonderful to see what is done when any Hindu rajah or prince expires. Before he is taken away to be burnt they shave his head, his beard, and his whole body, anointing it with essence of roses, binding it up in fine cloth all smeared with different jasmine oils mixed with saffron. The body is laid upon lathes of sandal and aloes wood, bound together in the shape of an open bier. The women who are to be burnt with him follow; they are women with whom the rajah had lived. The principal wife who has sons is preserved, with the idea of maintaining the family line. The women sacrificed are commonly fifteen, twenty, or even thirty in number, as I have seen at various times. It is a memorable thing to see these women on horseback surrounding the corpse, and calling out thousands of praises of their husband, the good life he led, and the pleasures he enjoyed here below. Feeling under an obligation for so many favours received, they look forward in the next life to receive still greater delight in his society there. All this is carried out with much joy and animation, they being richly clad, oiled, and perfumed.
265.16.2
Reaching the place of death, they descend gracefully from their steeds, and assist in lifting the bier on to the heap of wood. This stands in a pit. The principal wife among them places herself on one side, embracing the corpse and uttering innumerable praises; the others range themselves round the body in the same way. The burners set fire to the wood all round, and dexterously empty on it pots of oil and butter to increase the rapidity of the cremation. When the fire has taken they throw on more oil, and when the heat reaches them the women naturally move and begin to shriek. They are soon choked by the smoke [211], while the men surrounding the pyre raise a great noise with drums and gongs and loud shouts, while the burners skilfully force them to lie down by thrusting at them with poles. Thus are they burnt both for this life and the next.
265.16.3
The next day the Brahmans and many relations go to the spot and collect the bones, and send them to be thrown into the Ganges river, whatever the distance may be. Some people out of piety send them to be thrown in the river at the Tirth (place of pilgrimage), of which I have spoken (II. 58), flowing below the fortress of Allahabad. If such princes die in battle, the women immolate themselves with still greater alacrity on receiving the turban sent them as a sign of their husband's death. With it in their hands they are cremated. I have seen some die with their husband's body in their arms without making a sign of movement. The reason is that the Brahmans provide them with certain beverages — bhang (hemp), opium, and such like, which entirely stupefy them. Others, by use of sorcery, become eager, ardent, mad, demanding that the authorities put no hindrance in their way when in search of their beloved, alleging as a reason that they are suffering acutely from deprivation of their loved one. This happened at Vizagapatao (= visakha + patanam) at the time when Mestre Olca (Mr. Holcombe) governed it. He refused permission for the burning of some woman of this sort. She appeared in his presence, and with great anxiety prayed him to set no impediment to what was her desire. Mr. Holcombe and the rest of those present noticed that she seemed to have abandoned her feminine nature.
265.16.4
He entreated her in the cause of humanity, and offered her the good advice not to give herself up to die by burning. He undertook to support her for the rest of her life. This talk caused her pain, and she persisted in demanding permission. Mr. Holcombe, seeing he could not stop her, spoke secretly to a Brahman who was with her, promising him a sum of money if he removed the apprehensions that possessed the woman. If he did not effect this he would have to burn alongside of her, and also the rest of the Brahmans who had come with her. Saying this, he sent orders to close the factory gates as if quite ready to act. The Brahmans, not to lose the money, and not to put their own lives in danger, went behind the woman without her being aware of it, and gently touched her clothes at the back with their fingers. She totally changed colour, and, raising her hands to her face, and drooping her head in a shamefaced way, went back to her house.
265.16.5
When I was in Goa in the year one thousand six hundred and sixty-six (1666), at the time when Antonio de Mello de Castro governed, there happened to be a Portuguese named Antonio de Azevedo, not long arrived [212] from Portugal. He was Secretary of State. He wanted to marry a widow lady who was very rich, and he therefore sent her a message that he wanted to espouse her. She sent word back briefly that he might save himself taking that trouble, as she did not mean to marry him. This rumour went about in the city till some gentleman asked the secretary if what was spoken of were true. Magnifying his own merits, he replied that it was just the contrary, for the widow had sent him an offer of marriage, to which he had replied that he had no desire to espouse her. The widow heard of this, and to wipe out the affront sent a Kaffir to him with a note. The man had orders, when the secretary should be reading it, to give him a cut across the face. It was so effectually done that it went from ear to ear. When his wound had healed, he left for Europe, for fear his life might be taken. When he set out on this voyage, he invited me to accompany him. I made my excuses to him, as it was my intention to go back to the Mogul country. Thus does it happen often to boasters, who, in their desire to exalt themselves to the discredit of others, for reward earn some such chastisement, as will be seen from the following case.
265.16.6
There was another case in the same city in the same year. One day at early dawn they found a dead body lying near the arch of Misericordia, with the tongue rooted out, and in the mouth a note which read thus : ' For mixing in and speaking of things which did not concern you, you lost your life and your tongue as well.' These two cases will serve as examples to some people not to interfere in matters with which they have nothing to do. In the same city there happened to be a well-born man, left well off by his parents. His name was Lourenço da Cunha, and he was married. He had a difference in words exchanged with a trader of the same city, and this sufficed to deprive the poor merchant of his life. Lourenço da Cunha wrote a note, in which he placed a small awl, and made it over to one of his Kaffirs with instructions what to do. Off went the Kaffir to find his man, whom he met going by in a palanquin. The Kaffir went up to him and presented the note, suddenly striking him with it on the breast. Letting go of the awl and the note, he made a rush and got inside the church of Sao Paulo, where he obtained sanctuary. Lourenço da Cunha escaped and lived for some months in Bombaym (Bombay) [213] until he had arranged with the opposite parties and the magistrates. He remained unmolested, as was most often the case.
265.16.7
In the city of Goa there was a well-born man, well known among the nobles; his name was Ignacio Sarmento de Carvalho. He was governor of Cochim (Cochin) when the Dutch took that place, of whom I have already spoken (II. 110). This man married one of his daughters to a well-born Portuguese — I will not give his name — who claimed to be of high quality. At the end of some years he became a widower, but was all the same well treated and housed by his father-in-law. The confidence accorded him was such that he was guilty of something dishonest in the house, which involved discredit to the person of Ignacio Sarmento. The son-in-law, fearing that it might come to Sarmento's ears, plotted to take his life. To this intent, he selected and equipped twenty soldiers to carry out his plot at an opportune moment. He waited until his victim had confessed and taken the sacrament, which took place on Palm Sunday. At seven o'clock in the evening the soldiers entered the house all of a sudden, ten taking post at the door, while the other ten made haste to mount the stairs, drawn sword in hand. Ignacio Sarmento was seated with some accounts in his hands. Seeing the men, he perceived that treachery was to the fore, and endeavoured to seize his arms. He was unable to do so, and was forthwith dispatched by sword-thrusts.