Storia do Mogor 281.23.9

281.23.9

With regard to these ridiculous interments, I knew a Malabar macou (mukkava), or boatman, who, in terror of being buried in this way, sent, when at the point of death, to have the measure taken of the Capuchin tombs, in order to be buried like a Christian. To this the Jesuits were opposed, and the poor man died eight or ten days afterwards, still claiming to be buried as a Christian. In the end the Jesuits granted the request, but consent was forced from them. Some time afterwards a man named André, broker to the French Company, died. His relations and Monsieur le Gouverneur (F. Martin) pressed for his burial in the fortress. To this the Jesuits would never consent, because they wanted liberty to bury him like a Hindu. I know not if they carried out all the ceremonial above described, but they had a night procession. In this the body was carried ; there were drums and trumpets, followed by a number of matchlock-men, who from time to time fired off their pieces. After them came a throne like that described above, fashioned like a pagoda, and adorned with mirrors, et cetera. Next came the cross, along with the Jesuit fathers and Monsieur Appiany. The body was in a palanquin, preceded by several persons driving away the night flies (? mosquitoes) with handkerchiefs and cloths ; others walked beside the palanquin and fanned the deceased. This funeral pomp struck one as rather more of a nuptial display than anything else.