Storia do Mogor 266.4.1

266.4.1

From what I have observed, Hindu doctors do not exercise their profession or prescribe without having given offerings to the devil. These men imagine that the drugs will not operate if these incantations I have described are omitted. From such doctors and such drugs libera nos, Domine! In order that everyone who visits this country may guard himself against entering into certain kinds of friendship, which the young mostly count mere civility and pastime, I will relate what happened to me in the year one thousand six hundred and fifty-five (1655) at the city of Dihli. There was a woman of eighteen years of age (the same age as myself), who was the daughter of a European, and her name was Maria Veronea. She was very desirous of forming a close friendship with me. As I found she did not suit me, I drew back. Desirous of satisfying her inclinations, she pursued me to my very house. Aware that an intimacy such as she desired was unsuitable to me, I ordered my servants to say when she came that I was not at home. A few days afterwards she turned up, and my servants, in obedience to my orders, gave her the above message. They stopped her entry into the house. She was put out at this message, and went off to a sorcerer called Dolang (whose name remains in my memory from the experience I had of him). The magician performed his spells, and assured the woman that it would not be long before I was in her presence.