Storia do Mogor 266.2
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 266.2
- Language
- English
266.2.1
There was another case of a woman named Luiza Barboza. She was excessively corpulent, and therefore asked a sorcerer for some cure for this excess of fat. His orders were that she should take the stoutest slave-girl she had in her house, should bind her hand and foot, and place her on the ground flat, so that she could not move. Then she was to sit over the negress, and bathe herself, and not to rise up until the slave expired. This was done by Luiza Barboza. Next the sorcerer ordered that within eight days the corpse must be carried to the river. He handed to her some ointment to be applied to the soles of the feet; and while carrying away the body she fell into a quagmire and disappeared, a merited chastisement for her cruelty. It would take me a great deal of space to detail all the wiles of sorcerers that I have seen and heard, for they are infinite and quite common in Indian countries. I will tell one small instance that happened at Agrah to a Portuguese named Pero Gomes de Oliveira. He was friends with a sorcerer, whom he entreated to show him something of the art. To gratify him, the sorcerer took him with him at midnight outside the citadel, and advised him not to breathe a word, whatever he might see during that night, nor ask him any questions, until the sun had risen. If he disobeyed it would cost him his life. The inquisitive Portuguese accepted this condition, and in the company of the sorcerer left the city.
266.2.2
They travelled half a league, and then took a rest beneath a large tree. The sorcerer lighted a candle, and made a sign to Pero Gomes to stay where he was. The sorcerer, with the lighted candle, went off to search under the tree for a man who had been hung on it. When he reached the body, he put the light below the soles of the corpse's feet. When four minutes had elapsed, the body turned gently three times and gave forth a most affrighting yell, at which Pero Gomes fell flat on the earth and covered his eyes with his two hands. Thus did the corpse move three times in twelve minutes. At the completion of this the sorcerer scraped from the soles of the executed man's feet the lamp-black made by his candle, and carried it off to employ in his spells. When these were finished, Pero Gomes came up, took the candle and carried it, and both men re-entered the city before daybreak. Pero Gomes himself told me of this case that had happened to him, and he swore an oath that he would never again have any intercourse with a sorcerer, owing to what he had undergone during the terrors of that night.
266.2.3
During the time when Masqat was governed by the famous Ruj Freori de Andradi, Portuguese, many complaints were brought to him of a Mahomedan sorcerer whose name was Cafata. It was said that he could by a simple look kill people whenever he pleased. As there was no proof of this power the governor declined to believe it. Then it happened that a woman had a child two years old, stout and in perfect health. Suddenly it died. The mother carried it to the presence of Rey Freire, and with lamentations [260] and complaints said the sorcerer had looked on the child and killed it. Rey Freire caused the child to be dissected, when it was found that its heart and liver had gone entirely. He recognised the evil deed of the sorcerer, but, pretending to be angry, he ordered the woman to be turned out, and assuming the side of the sorcerer, he said it was false that the man had taken the child's life. When the sorcerer heard the result he lost the fear he had that Rey Freire would do him an injury. Therefore, taking some trays of fruit, he offered them as a mark of gratitude, and made offers of service. Rey Freire received him affectionately, and begged him to frequent the house, for his conversation and talk pleased him. The Mahomedan was gratified, and, being entirely reassured, came back and fore to the house.
266.2.4
Some days afterwards the said Rey Freire feigned anger and depression about a man of rank with whom he had some difference. He was in search of revenge, and pretended that he wanted to slay his opponent. He took the Mahomedan into his counsels as to how this could be effected. The man replied that if orders were issued he would find a way to execute them. Rey Freire made out he was satisfied with what the sorcerer said, but expressed some doubts, and asked how he would set to work. The man answered that he would employ a sorcerer who would teach him certain words, and through these he could effect the business, should the person not be clad in scarlet; should that be the case, the words would have no effect. The following day the Mahomedan came and said that he was now prepared. Rey Freire answered that he would never be satisfied till he had first afforded some proof. With this object, he placed a melon on the table, and told him to consume it by those words he knew. Gazing intently at the melon, he moved his lips as if reciting words, and then stopped. Rey Freire cut the melon open, and found it void of seeds and pith, with nothing left but the rind. He was satisfied, and said to the man: 'Now I am certain you have the power to do what I want. To-morrow I will point out the man concerned.'
266.2.5
As he had already knowledge from the sorcerer that, should the person be dressed in scarlet, the magic would not work, Rey Freire made use of the fact. Next day when the sorcerer appeared there fell on him four men clad in scarlet cloth. He was bound hand and foot, and thrown into the sea with an anchor attached to his neck. Rey Freire assumed that, having been plunged into the sea, the sorcerer had died. Five days or so afterwards the man's mother and wife came to the [governor's] gate and complained that the guards on the beach would not allow them to carry away and eat what was at the bottom of the sea. Rey Freire ordered that they should be allowed to draw out the food. When they began to pull it up, he [the sorcerer] came out. The governor sent the four men in scarlet with orders to apprehend him once more. They were to place him at the mouth of a cannon and fire it off. This was the end of the sorcerer. If he could with his eyes consume the entrails of living beings, the cannon consumed him bones and all. They say that, to this day, similar sorcerers are found in the regions of Masqat and Arabia. I was assured of the truth of this story by an ancient Portuguese called Joao Carvalho, who was very intimate with me, and he had actually been a soldier in Masqat, in addition to which the matter is notorious in India [261].
266.2.6
This Rey Freire was a leader of much valour, and fortunate in war. I have heard this from persons who served with him, and I have seen in his chronicles many marvels, principally done against the Arabs, a warlike race, among whom the name of this captain roused great terror. To pacify any restless or crying child, it sufficed to pronounce Rey Freire's name to suppress and subdue the noise. The Arabs, finding themselves thus oppressed by this governor, concerted with the neighbouring princes to eject the famous Rey Freire, so that they might enjoy more liberty. With this object they made ready a great fleet, and came out with great resolution to attack the hero. They met near Masqat. He brought out only a small force, leaving the rest in port, in reliance upon his own valour, as he was used to do.
266.2.7
On this occasion fortune did not smile upon him. After many deaths and the spilling of much blood, he was defeated and taken prisoner. The Arab general received him with a great show of affection, doing him much honour, as his bravery deserved. His only object in flattering him was that through this means he might become master of the fortress of Masqat, a very strong place — nay, impregnable. Rey Freire pretended that he wished to cede him the fortress, hoping to gain his own liberty. During the days that this negotiation lasted Rey Freire seemed much cast down and full of melancholy. The Arab general asked the reason of this depression. The deceiver replied that he was sorrowful because, being a prisoner, he was unable to celebrate the festival of his birthday, as he had hitherto been used to do. The Arab general replied that he would provide all the supplies that were required, and he might do what he wished. The trickster remarked that without wine there was no gladness. He was then permitted to send for some, boats being provided which brought a large supply of wine. Then the general and other Arab officers joined him, and they sat all night drinking deeply. In this way they all became intoxicated. The astute prisoner fell on the ground and made out he had drunk too much, rolling about and vomiting. The Arabs, who were also drunk, returned to the island without any one of them taking possession of his boat.