Storia do Mogor 338.15.5

338.15.5

This came on October 5 in the above-named year [1704], when the procession of the Most Holy Rosary was held. Many Mahomedans mingled in or followed this procession, making many insolent remarks and taking the candles out of the hands of the Christians, paying respect to neither man nor woman, interfering with the charolas and flags, uttering scoffs and abuse. These interferences had occurred at every festival, and no one would listen to my advice to conduct such devotions more quietly, with the doors of the church closed. This would have hindered the entry of the Mahomedans, and prevented them sitting on the altar-steps, smoking tobacco, laughing, and gazing at the women during the saying of Mass and the delivery of the sermon. They might find an excuse in all this pomposity and vain display paid for by the alms raised from the devout of Madras and other places, with no regard to the fact of these San Thomé Christians being Mahomedan subjects, a thing contrary to our holy religion.