Storia do Mogor 353.4.9

353.4.9

From and to this port of Madras there go and come every year many ships trading with Bengal ; hence one of my friends promises to send me by these occasions a statement drawn up by a person worthy of credit, dealing with these subjects [i.e., the conduct of the Jesuits] . Should this reach me, I will without fail communicate it to the enquiring reader. In Manila in the year 1703 there was another ridiculous instance. Early in the month of August there set sail from this port of Madras a Portuguese vessel called Nossa Senhora do Rosário. Many merchants of different nations took passages in her. When these people reached Manila they took up their quarters in a town half a league from the city; its name is Santa Cruz. The greater number of the merchants live there as finding it [97] more agreeable. In the place is a church called Santa Cruz, belonging to the Jesuit fathers. They performed in it a representation of our Lord Jesus Christ's passion with living figures, being black men residents of the country. It took place in the middle of Lent, and they represented Christ carrying the cross on His shoulder. Upon that day, moved by piety, many of the merchants from this city of Madras, as well as many from Macao,