Storia do Mogor 265.19
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 265.19
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265.19.1
In the palace of the viceroys is a large hall, which is called the salla real (royal hall). At its end on the wall is a large picture, the portrait of the King of Portugal; beneath it the seat of the viceroy with a canopy. It is here that he receives ambassadors. Round the hall hang the portraits of all the viceroys who have ruled in India, with their names and their period of office. The Bijapur ambassador was received in audience in this hall. As he advanced very slowly he inspected minutely the features of the viceroys, and asked who they were. They replied that these were the conquerors and governors of India. On hearing this he shook his head, and said : ' I see none with their heads off; it is impossible they all ruled well, and a king who decapitates no one secures neither good decisions nor quiet government.' He instanced his own king, who beheaded anyone who governed badly. There was in Goa an archbishop, a man of virtue, who made attempts to put an end to so much disorder and evil practices. So they resolved to kill him ; and he being informed of their purpose, lived most cautiously. But all his efforts were of no avail, because they took his life through poison put into the sacred elements. It is sixty years ago, or thereabouts, that a viceroy named Conde Dovido ruled in India, and as he endeavoured to suppress the disorders existing in India, the gentry seized him, put him in chains, and sent him back to Europe.
265.19.2
The accusations against him included many falsehoods. The complaints were rejected, and to punish such a rebellion they sent to Goa as viceroy the Conde de Sargides. He tried to reduce the rebel gentry (fidalgos), but in a few months he was poisoned. It is also related of another viceroy who wanted to decide uprightly that the insolent gentry, accustomed to disobey, took counsel together to have him assassinated. The viceroy knew of this plot, to be executed when he passed in his boat a place called ' Beco de bacharel ' (Bachelors' Alley). It is near the river bank, where they collect materials for ships. He knew that at this spot the traitors meant to carry out their plot, therefore he told off a servant to take his place in the boat. As the boat passed close to that landing the blunderbuss men slew the servant, fancying he was [221] the viceroy. They were delighted, and rumour reported throughout the city that the viceroy was dead. Hence throughout that night confusion prevailed; but at dawn the viceroy came forth, and ordered the traitors to be arrested. During the execution of these orders some were found, but the rest escaped. The well-born among them were sent back to Portugal in custody. For such men could not be beheaded in India, and those who were not well-born were put to death by hanging.
265.19.3
In the year ninety-six (1696), at the same place (Goa), they killed the commander of the fleet, named Antonio Machado Supico, by firing a blunderbuss through a window, breaking his sword. Seeing that he was not totally dead, a gentleman called Tristao de Mello, the doer of this deed, went into the house with some companions and finished him (Supico) off with sword-thrusts. In spite of this, in the midst of the pain, Supico failed not to plant his mark on Tristao de Mello, giving him a cut on the head with his broken sword. Among the conspirators was a man expelled from the convent of the Order of St. Dominic, who a few months before had held the post of Secretary of State. The reason for killing Antonio Machado Supico was his unbridled tongue, which spared neither priests, householders, nor widow women. He abused everybody in disgraceful language, and for this he was done to death by treachery. He is the same Antonio Machado who travelled with me to Agrah, of whom I spoke in the Second Part of my book (II. 178). Further, I noticed in this city (Goa), and in all its districts, much injustice done by the officials. They studied only their own convenience, interests, and consideration, without regard to the fear of God. I could recount many things under this head, but I have no wish to let myself go, and will confine myself to the following instance.
265.19.4
In that city dwelt a rich merchant, a widower, who had one son. At the time of the father's death the son was away from home. As there was no other heir, the defunct entrusted all he had to the hands of a Hindu clerk (in India everybody employs such men). When the son arrived, the clerk made over to him everything that was in the house, but, as the deceased [222] had made no will, he retained the best of the jewels. The youth, who knew what the house had contained, demanded from the said clerk the remaining articles. The man declined most decisively to do so. The dispute went into court, and it was a long time before any finding could be secured, putting the youth to considerable expense. Finally the Hindu, who had bribed highest, was favoured by the court, and obtained a decree in his favour. The young man, perceiving the wrong, and the little effort they made [at Goa], had recourse in secret to the Mahomedan governor of Bicholim, near the island of Goa, where was the home of the said Hindu clerk. The governor held his appointment from the King of Bijapur. The young man explained the case to him, and stated what had happened. The Mahomedan governor reassured him, and said he should get back his jewels. Meanwhile he might take a rest, and in due time he would send him word. To get at the truth the governor had recourse to the following plan.
265.19.5
It was as follows : He allowed it to be noised abroad that a captain from Bijapur was coming to him on a visit. He set on foot fictitious preparations, and prayed the Hindu merchants to give him the loan of jewels for the decoration of his dancing-girls. As a security to them he gave the sums they asked, and promised that he would return the jewels with the interest for the time they should be in his possession. Seeing that the jewels would be quite safe, the merchants came in numbers, attracted by the interest to be earned. Among them appeared also the Hindu clerk to lend the jewels that he had embezzled along with those that he had of his own.
265.19.6
When all this had been carried out, the governor sent for the young man, and showed him the whole stock of jewellery, telling him to pick out those articles that were his. As he knew them all, he forthwith pointed them out. The governor was convinced that the youth spoke the truth, for he never touched any of the other jewels, claiming solely those he had been deprived of by the said Hindu clerk. When certified of this fact, the governor returned to each man his jewels, and took back his security money, paying to them the promised interest. But the young man's jewels he kept back. Finally he sent for the Hindu clerk, and asked him whose jewels these were, and how he had obtained possession of them. The Hindu was terrified, and could give no sufficient account of them. Then the youth entered, throwing the clerk into still greater confusion, and, apprehensive of some severe punishment, he confessed the truth. Thus did the young man recover his jewels, and the governor sent to inform the Goa law-court that, whenever it found itself in a difficulty about the decision of any case, they should make it over to him, and he would willingly dispose of it.
265.19.7
The first time I was in the city of Goa (II. 128) I lived in the street called Santo Aleixo, opposite some large houses. In one of these lived a widow called Dona Christiana ; she was rich and led a quiet life [223]. She wanted to marry me, a thing I never dreamt of. Seeing that I made no approaches and made no effort, she resorted to a trick. This consisted in sending for the prior of the Carmes, Friar Pheliciano de Santa Teresa, a native of Milan and a great friend of mine. To him she complained that I had been pursuing her, sending her offers of marriage, to which she had replied that she had no thought of such a thing. The father believed her words, being unaware of Indian women's trickish ways ; and coming to pay me a visit, as he constantly did, he prayed me with the greatest gentleness not to persecute Dona Christiana with such proposals as I had sent her, saying I wanted to marry her. When I heard the padre talk like this, I was plunged in thought, trying to remember if on any day I had given the widow occasion for such a complaint about me. Examining my mind thoroughly, I found I had not the least remembrance of her, and said so to the father. He smiled, and said he hoped there would be no more complaints against me. As a satisfaction to him I left the neighbourhood and lived elsewhere.