Storia do Mogor 354.1
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 354.1
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354.1.1
attended at the church. They found the Jesuit father Mansilha in the pulpit. He preached in three languages — that is, Chinese, of which nation there are many in that country ; Tagalla, the vernacular of the place ; and Spanish. When he was at the end of his sermon, they set up a sound of drums and trumpets. In a short while there appeared close to the high altar a masked black man wearing white gloves and carrying a heavy cross upon his shoulder. Round his neck was a thick rope, and he came forward step by step very slowly, followed by twelve masked black men holding spears and swords. As the man carrying the cross was about to mount the altar-steps he was so held back that he could not advance another footstep. It was the others following him who had put their feet upon the rope, which was dragging on the ground [98]. This stoppage gave rise among those low fellows to some disputing. Then those who took the parts of the Hebrews laughed at the Christ. He fell into a rage, and turned towards them, and gave them a lot of abuse. This abuse they returned ; from words they came to blows, and interchanged shoe-beatings. On seeing this outbreak, the father scrambled down from the pulpit as quick as he could, and with a rattan administered several blows to the Christ and the Hebrews, rushing after them in all directions. Thus ended the Passion. The principal persons present, chiefly foreigners, were unable to maintain their gravity, and gave a loud laugh.
354.1.2
On the other hand, the Jesuit was all indignation and scolded them severely, ordering them to leave the church at once and never enter it again. In fact, the merchants of the country were from this time forced to go into the city to say their prayers, which occasioned them great inconvenience. However, after some months they obtained leave to go back and enter the church, but only upon Christmas Day, and even that was the effect of several donations that from time to time they gave the Jesuit. At that church it is the custom of those fathers to enter the pulpit holding a rattan cane. If while [99] they are preaching they see any man and woman of the country talking together (as is the habit all over India, as I have noticed), and not behaving devoutly, the preacher leaves the pulpit and, without reserve, applies the cane several times. This admonishment finished, he mounts to his desk again and resumes his sermon. At nine o'clock at night upon September 5, 1705, the Jesuits of Pondicherry entered a Hindu temple by forcing in the doors. At the time a festival was being celebrated, which had been sanctioned in the hope of increasing the number of new Hindu settlers. Several of the Brahmans were beaten with shoes, and their hair was pulled, which is the greatest dishonour that can be inflicted. The other men present were treated in the same way. The idols they defiled by making water upon them, and then broke them into pieces.
354.1.3
Owing to this insult the whole Hindu population rose in revolt, quitted their houses, and assembled preparatory to departing. In number they were close upon forty thousand persons. The governor, Monsieur Martin, when the facts were reported to him, doubled the sentries at the gates, thus preventing these Hindus from getting away, but this only gave rise to greater confusion. The shops were shut, the fishermen took to flight, the officials disappeared; so also did the masons and carpenters working upon the erection of the new fortifications. These men, to the number of two thousand, were forced to leave, owing to the cessation of all supplies. This exodus was a great loss [100] to the population. The rising lasted for twelve days, when by the governor's wise conduct the people were appeased, though still far from well content. For this was the second time that the Jesuits had behaved badly to them.
354.1.4
Many traders who had means of living comfortably left the territory owing to the insults of the Jesuits, who would not let the people live in peace. When they met Hindus in the street they spat in their faces, making use of various abusive words about them and their idols. When the whole of the Hindus had assembled, as I said, in a street of some width and length preparatory to quitting the town, Father Taxar [Tachard], the Jesuit general, who was the principal leader in this disturbance, resorted to the fortress in a passion, and urged the governor to fire cannon at the people. The father suggested that it was a good opening for killing them.
354.1.5
The father behaved rudely to Monsieur Flacour (Flacourt), who is the second of the Royal Company, and abused him. Nay, he behaved in the same way to all who were not of his faction, uttering the further menace that he would write to France and would secure their dismissal from the service. All the persons present were thrown into a state of amazement, and were wearied out by this sort of talk. They cooled him down with gentle words, and then sent him away. The governor convened all the militia officers, [101] and made them sign a long letter wherein they laid before the French Court how the Jesuits had unjustly raised disturbances among the people. This paper it was intended to send to France for the information of His Most Christian Majesty. When this news reached the ears of the Jesuits, they used every effort to sow discord and enmity among those officers, in the hope of securing some loophole for exculpating themselves.
354.1.6
Nearly five years have gone by since Dā,ūd Khān came to govern the Karnātik. The Dutch, always energetic in business, sent an envoy to him at once with a valuable present. They asked as a favour that he would cede to them a small town called Coniumeri (Conimere or Kunimedu), close to the sea and five leagues from Pondicherry on the north. The place was granted to them, and as the Dutch wanted settlers for it they invited people from Pondicherry and elsewhere to come there, offering them the fullest liberty and an absence of all interference. At the present time this town is growing with considerable hurt and damage to those who do not know how to make their subjects contented. I must not forget to tell what happened to me on the day of the Virgin's Feast — that is, on December 18, 1705. It was at this Monte Grande (Big Mount) at three o'clock in the afternoon. I was in the middle of entertaining several guests, who on that day never fail to appear, for a great crowd assembles there for this solemnity.
354.1.7
While I was in the middle of conversation with my friends, men of different nations, [102] I noticed that a serious dispute was going on at my gate. My servants were hindering the entrance of certain audacious persons who wanted to come in by force. I, too, proceeded to the spot. Although I saw they did not mean to listen to argument, all the same I attempted to prevent any violence, but quite in vain. The insolent fellows persisted in their attack, but were finally put to flight. There remained in our hands the captain of the men ; he was a Brahman officer, who ruled over some villages not far from Big Mount. He was drunk. I ordered the man to be tied to a tree over against my gate, and he received a good thrashing. He was then taken before the Mahomedan governor [faujdār] Mullā Murād, in San Thomé. He is the present governor of the territory, and is a nominee of the great dīwān and minister of the Karnātik. When the captive reached the faujdar's, the principal officers and some of his relations presented themselves. They tried hard to throw the whole blame of the misdeed upon me, and they accused me as the culprit. Some of the Mahomedan officials supported their contentions. The judicious governor was not taken in by these fabrications, but on dismissing my servants he sent me a letter full of ceremonious expressions. He paid no heed to the contrary suggestions of the Brahmans, my enemies.
354.1.8
Perhaps he had doubts that if he acted otherwise [103] he would be either reproved from court or dismissed from his office. He knew very well that the chief ministers were my friends. The man who has no friends in these lands is nowadays despised, and it is of no use for him to be in the right. As it seems to me, I have not explained in detail the way in which I was treated when in the service of the prince, Shãh 'Alam. Now, to demonstrate once more their policy, their style of government, and the mode in which their business is done, also how much the ladies at this court can accomplish, I will resume the subject. By this means the reader will learn what is the value of friends upon an occasion.