Storia do Mogor 275: John de Britto and Rameshwaram.

275

Now, not so very long ago, our martyr, Joao de Brito, established Christian congregations in Marava, and when he won the martyr's palm, almost all the nobles were catechumens. All the Hindus who go to purify themselves at the temple of Rameshwaram are obliged to pass close to the place where was executed that martyr for Christ. It is only a few leagues from Utiar (see ante, III. 167), which is the passage over the strait which they so call. This strait lies between the dry land in the island of Jafhapatam and Manar (Mannar), [436] called Costa da Emsiada (? Gulf Coast), a land of about eighty leagues in length, beginning at the point of Coniumeres (Comorin), and reaching as far as Tutucurum (Tuticorin). The narrowest part is the passage of Utiar.
The Hindu princes, thinking that in time a Portuguese fleet might do some damage to their temple, so highly venerated by them, resolved to narrow the passage to two leagues in length and one league in breadth. They obstructed it with blocks of marble, so that even a small boat could not pass, although in any danger they could be succoured. A few small unladen vessels could pass with their crews when they knew the place.
This land of Utiar (? Udayar), where this temple stands, is a rough country without any trees beyond tall thorny bushes with branches and thorns the thickness of a finger. In short, it must be the place that the devil has chosen for himself and his false worshippers.
The lands of that Tavarem (Tevara) end at Tuticorin, where begins the Christian country, that of the Paravas [437], converted by the Portuguese. They display a Christian exterior, were always very loyal to the Portuguese, and by fishing gained much money. Nowadays they are subject to the Dutch and are much oppressed. Already the seas of Tuticorin and of Marar (Manar) no longer yield the quantity of pearls that they anciently did, supposing they were fished for annually. But the best are carried off by the Dutch.
From Tuticorin as far as Cochin there is at every five leagues a church close to the sea. From Cochin another Christian diocese begins, that of the Cassanarios (Kattanar), who call themselves Christians of St. Thomas — that is, converted by St. Thomas. When the Portuguese arrived in India, this diocese was already established. These Christians live in a hilly country, and have over a hundred churches. Their priests say Mass in the surrjana (? Syrian) language, and a Cassanario bishop always held the see. In my time the bishop was the son of a Portuguese, but born [438] in India. His name was Dom Raphael Selgado. The country is very fertile and luxuriant, possessing much game — harts, wild-pig, deer, buffaloes, and elephants.