Storia do Mogor 265.6
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 265.6
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265.6.1
I will relate a ridiculous affair that happened in the town of Cochin when it was held by the Portuguese. There was a Portuguese merchant, married and very rich, who started on a voyage to China. After the lapse of three years he arrived again in the port with much wealth, and in possession of a slave to whom he meant to give his liberty. At the same time he wished to puzzle his wife, and test the depth of her love for him. He sent the man to her house with instructions as to what he was to say to the lady. On his reaching home all were rejoiced — above all, the lady. She asked the slave how her husband was. He replied joyfully that his master was hearty and well : God had brought him back in safety with much wealth. On hearing this, all of them grew happier and still more pleased. The lady gave orders to deck the bed with rich curtains and adorn the whole house. They were to set to work in the kitchen, and prepare all that was required. After these orders had been given she called the slave apart, and asked him quietly what sort of life his master led, and how many lady acquaintances he had made (for it is a usual thing for wives to spy on their husbands, and find out what they have been doing). The slave simulated sorrow, and told her that when his master reached the house she would be able to see. The wife fell into a state of mind and renewed her questions, urging him to state the truth, and she would keep his secret. The slave declined and showed fear of telling.
265.6.2
His mistress, still more confused, asked again more urgently, and became more eager than ever to find out. Finally, the slave told her quietly that his master was afflicted with a complaint which made him impotent. He then left the house. On hearing this the lady withdrew into her room and wept, and sadly bewailed her miserable fate. The women servants in the house ran to her, and asked the cause of her tears and complaining. She replied impatiently that God desired to chastise her youthful follies, and she repeated what the slave had told her. On hearing this, each began to express her ideas: some said it were better their master did not return, but stopped in China; others said he ought to be ashamed of himself to come home in that condition, having a young wife at home; others asked of what use were riches, when one was unable to enjoy them; others expressed other opinions. All were up in arms for their mistress. She took to her bed and shut herself up in her room, and countermanded all her former orders. She instructed her women that, should the husband arrive, they were to say to him that their mistress was unwell [178]. From joy the whole household was turned to mourning. In the afternoon the husband came ashore, and reaching his house, found that no one came out to greet him; all was silence.
265.6.3
The joker, though he knew the cause, pretended he did not, and rushed off to the room where his wife was, and going in, embraced her and asked her the cause of her keeping her room thus. Pretending to be ill, she answered softly and slowly that she was troubled with pains in the head, and could not bear loud talking. The cunning fellow came out hurriedly from the room and went after the servant girls, shouting to them and enjoining some of them to go within and look after their mistress. He ordered the cooks to prepare some dishes for their mistress to eat; others he sent to heat water to bathe his body. Then he took up position in the middle of the house, and complained that if his wife were only well, the house would not be in such disorder, nor would the negro women be thus careless. The women pretended not to hear, and neglected to carry out his orders. He affected anger, and ran about with a stick to oblige them by force to bring the hot water. Then, tying on a cloth round his waist, he bathed his body, the negro women attending on him. While washing he negligently allowed the cloth to drop. . . . The negresses reported to the wife. She rose up, and all the sad sentiments that afflicted her were dissipated. She ordered that as quickly as possible they should return to wait on him. She got up hastily and peeped through a window, and observed that there was nothing wrong, and the negresses were right.
265.6.4
Undeceived about the falsehoods reported by the slave, she came out in a great rage with the negro women, wanting to know why they had not looked better after their master. She ordered clean, perfumed sheets and linen to be brought, that the bed be made ready at once, that the cooks without delay, prepare to cook everything that was necessary. The husband, on seeing his wife's energy, was satisfied, and joined in her diatribes at the neglect of the negro women during her illness. The lady was pleased at her husband's return, and made great complaint of the slave, who by this time had disappeared. She thought the mis-statement was due to malice on the slave's part, and made secret efforts to catch him in order to punish him.
265.6.5
Thus, as I would wish to show, before anyone marries it is well for him to reflect deeply whether marriage is suitable for him. For I have seen many in India who no sooner were settled than they repented themselves, and were obliged to give up their wives. They became the mock of many. Just as happened once when I was in Goa, it was the rumour that seven of the principal inhabitants were impotent. In the case of one of these, whose name I will not mention, his wife left his house and published the matter all through the city. Then she laid a complaint before the Lord Archbishop that her husband was totally impotent. His Lordship's order to the lady was that she must retire for three years to a respectable household. Meanwhile all possible remedies would be tried, and if the doctors did not succeed, she might marry again. His Illustriousness sent for the chief physician, and confided the young man to him. He was to make a minute examination, and do all he possibly could to restore him fit to resume cohabitation. Instead of prescribing some drug to give him vigour, the physician directed him to be placed in a tub of cold, then into one of hot water. His object was to see if any change was effected, and he administered no other ingredients, but pronounced him impotent.
265.6.6
Ten days before the term at which the woman was to receive liberty to marry again I arrived in Goa. The Theatine fathers informed me of the case, and begged of me to try some remedy. I sent for the young man, and found him suffering from obstruction of the spleen, and his body swollen. Having put the necessary questions, I found that if freed from this complaint he would be capable of matrimony. I advised him to go to the Lord Archbishop and ask him for forty days more for treatment, after which, if he was not restored, the said lady might take another husband. His Illustriousness gave permission. I set to work at once to get rid of the obstruction, and gave him sustaining and fortifying medicine. In this way the youth became capable of marrying, and going before the Lord Archbishop, demanded his wife. The Archbishop called for the chief physician and the chief surgeon to test his statements. . . . They admitted that he was entitled to be married, and reported truthfully to the Lord Archbishop ; and the latter told the man to take his wife to his house. This was against her will, for she had taken a dislike to him, fancying he would be as heretofore. Afterwards she found out he was as she wanted, and they lived happily.
265.6.7
In Negopatao (Negapatam) there was a man called Joao Soares Cove, married to a beautiful woman. He went on a journey, and left his wife at home. There was another man named Christovao Pexoto, married, rich, and influential. I saw his wife at Madras when she was very old. This man fell in love with the wife of Joao Soares Cove, sending her a message that he wished to be her friend. As an honourable woman she declined to accept, stopped at home, and never came out for fear of this Christovao Pexoto. Paying neither respect nor heed to the citizens, he entered the woman's house in open day and used force. In this way he began to go and come as if it were his own house [180]. He carried off the woman in his palanquin, and traversed the town. He mocked the magistrate and the inhabitants, and showed that he was afraid of no one.