[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Les six voyages de Jean-Baptiste Tavernier](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier) › [Travels in India (Ball)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball) › 32 # Travels in India (Tavernier) 32: CHAPTER XIV Concerning what the Author did during his sojourn at Goa on his last journey in 1648. Travels in India (Ball) 32 - **Language:** English ## Contents - [32.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.1) — 10 parts - [32.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.2) — 6 parts - [32.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.3) — 8 parts ### CHAPTER XIV Concerning what the Author did during his sojourn at Goa on his last journey in 1648. ### [32.1.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.1.1) Two days before my departure from Vengurla for Goa I wrote to M. de Saint Amant, the chief engineer, to beg him to arrange to have an armed boat sent for me, on account of the Malabaris who infest these coasts ; this he immediately did. I departed from Vengurla on the 20th of January 1648, and arrived at Goa on the 21st. As it was late, I postponed till the morrow going to pay my respects to the Viceroy Dom Philippe de Mascarehnas, who had formerly been Governor of Ceylon. He received me well, and during nearly two months which I spent at Goa, on five or six occasions he sent a gentleman to conduct me to the Powderhouse, outside the town, where he very often resided. He took pleasure in showing me guns and other things of that nature, regarding which he asked my opinion ; and, among several presents which I made to him on my arrival, he was specially pleased with a pistol very curiously and richly decorated. When passing Aleppo, the French Consul had given it to me as a present, its fellow having been unfortunately lost. It was a present which the nation intended to make to the Pasha , who would have been able to boast the possession of a pair of the most beautiful and best made pistols in all Asia. The Viceroys of Goa do not permit any one, whoever he may be — not even their own children — to sit at their table ; ### [32.1.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.1.2) but in the hall where they take their meals there is a small space partitioned off, where covers are laid for the principal officers, as is done in the Courts of the Princes of Germany. On the following day I went to pay a visit to the Archbishop, and I set apart the day after for that which I owed to the Inquisitor. But when I went to his house he sent one of his gentlemen to say that he much regretted that he was unable to see me upon that day on account of the despatches which he was preparing for Portugal, and which were waited for by two vessels that were about to sail. Nevertheless, if it was in reference to a matter of conscience, he would leave everything in order to speak to me. Having informed the gentleman that I had only come to pay my respects, and wishing to withdraw at once, he begged me to tarry a moment ; and after he had reported what I had said to him to the Inquisitor, he returned to assure me, on the part of his master, that the latter was much obliged to me, and that as soon as the vessels had started he would send to let me know, so that we might have our interview at leisure. ### [32.1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.1.3) As soon as the vessels had left, the same gentleman came, on the part of the Inquisitor, to tell me that the latter would expect me at about two or three p.m. in the house of the Inquisition, for he dwelt in another, and both houses are very magnificent. I did not fail to be at the place indicated at the prescribed hour ; and on my arrival a page appeared, who conducted me into the great hall, where, after I had walked up and down for about a quarter of an hour, an officer came to conduct me into the room where the Inquisitor was. After having passed through two grand galleries and some suites of rooms, I entered a small chamber where the Inquisitor awaited me, seated at the end of a large table, made like a billiard table, and both the table and all the furniture of the room were covered with green cloth brought from England. As soon as I entered he told me that I was welcome, and after I had presented my compliments he asked me what my religion was. I replied that I professed the Protestant religion. He then asked me whether my father and mother were also of the same religion, and having replied that they were, he repeated that I was welcome, calling out to some persons who were close by that they might come in. At the same moment a corner of the curtain was lifted, and I caught sight of ten or twelve persons who were in a small chamber at the side. ### [32.1.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.1.4) The first who entered were two Augustin friars, who were followed by two Dominicans, two Barefoot Carmelites, and some other ecclesiastics, to whom the Inquisitor straightway explained who I was, that I had no forbidden books with me, and that, being aware of the order to that effect, I had left my bible at Vengurla. We conversed together for more than two hours concerning many things, and particularly regarding my travels, all the company telling me that they enjoyed hearing the recital. Three days afterwards the Inquisitor sent to invite me to dine with him at a fine house which is situated at half a league from the town, and belongs to the Barefoot Carmelites. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in India, and I shall relate in a few words how these monks acquired possession of it. There was in Goa a nobleman whose father and grandfather had made much by trade, who built this house, which might be regarded as a splendid palace. He did not desire to marry, and, not caring for anything but religion, he was most frequently with the Augustines, for whom he manifested such affection that he made a will by which he bequeathed them all his wealth, provided that on his death they would inter him on the right side of the great altar, where they were to make him a splendid tomb. According to common report this gentleman was a leper — a report which some persons diligently spread, seeing that he had given all his goods to the Augustines. ### [32.1.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.1.5) It was said that the place on the right side of the altar was for a Viceroy only, and that it was not proper to place a leper there, to which the public generally and some even of the Augustines assented. Some Fathers of the convent having gone to speak to him in order to beg him to select some other place in the Church, the gentleman was so annoyed by the suggestion that he never returned to the Augustines, and went to his devotions with the Barefoot Carmelites, who received him with open arms, and accepted the conditions which the others had refused. He did not live long after he had made friends with these monks, who buried him with magnificence, and succeeded to all his property, including this superb mansion, where we were splendidly entertained with music during the repast. ### [32.1.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.1.6) I remained at Goa from the 21st of January to the 11th of March, on the evening of which day I quitted it, after taking leave of the Viceroy. I also begged leave for the departure of a French gentleman named Du Belloy, which was granted me; but by his imprudence, this gentleman, who had not told me why he was at Goa, had a very narrow escape of being brought back, and I of being carried along with him, before the Inquisition. The following is the way in which he came to India, and his history as he told it to me : He had left his father’s house in order to visit Holland, where, having spent more than he ought, and not meeting any one who would lend him money, he resolved to go to India. He enlisted under the Dutch Company as a common soldier, and arrived at Batavia at the time when the Dutch were fighting with the Portuguese in the island of Ceylon. As soon as he had arrived he was included among the recruits who were being sent to that island, and the General of the Dutch troops, seeing a reinforcement of brave soldiers commanded by a French captain named St. Amant, full of courage and experience, resolved to lay siege to Negumbo, one of the towns in the island of Ceylon. Three successive assaults were made upon it, in which all the Frenchmen bore themselves bravely, especially St. Amant and Jean de Rose, who were both wounded. ### [32.1.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.1.7) The Dutch General, recognising in these two, men of courage, promised them as a reward that if Negumbo were taken one of them would be made Governor of it. The place having been taken the General kept his promise to St. Amant, but the news of it having been sent to Batavia, a young man who had only recently arrived from Holland, and who was a relative of the General, was appointed Governor of Negumbo, to the prejudice of St. Amant, and came, bringing orders from the Council at Batavia to displace him. St. Amant, finding himself thus treated, deserted with fifteen or twenty soldiers, the majority of whom were French, and among them MM. Belloy, Des Marests, and Jean de Rose, and went over with them to the Portuguese army. This small number of brave men gave courage to the Portuguese, who advanced to the attack of Negumbo, from whence they had been driven, and took it at the second assault. At this time Dom Philippe de Mascarenhas was Governor of the island of Ceylon, and of all the places dependent on Portugal. He lived in the town of Colombo, and having received letters from Goa which informed him of the death of the Viceroy, with an invitation from the Council and all the nobility to take the vacant place, before leaving he desired to see St. Amant and those whom he had brought over in order to reward them. ### [32.1.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.1.8) Dom Philippe was a gallant gentleman, and when he had seen them he resolved to take them with him to Goa, either because he thought he would have there the best opportunity of promoting them, or because he liked to have with him a body of resolute men on account of the Malabaris, who were lying in wait for him with about forty vessels, whereas he had but twenty-two. When near Cape Comorin the wind became so contrary, and so violent a tempest arose, that the whole fleet was dispersed, and many vessels were unhappily lost. Those who were in that of Dom Philippe exercised all their skill to bring it to land, but seeing that they were unable to accomplish their object, and that it was breaking up, St. Amant, with five or six others of his companions, which number included Des Marests, Du Belloy, and Jean de Rose, threw themselves into the sea with cords and pieces of wood, and managed so well that they saved Dom Philippe, and they themselves also escaped together with him. To shorten this long story, on their arrival at Goa, Dom Philippe, as soon as he had made his entry as Viceroy, gave to St. Amant the post of Grand Master of Artillery and Inspector-General of all the fortresses belonging to the Portuguese in India. He subsequently brought about his marriage to a young girl, with whom he received a fortune of 20,000 écus. Her father was an Englishman, who had quitted the service of the Company, and had married the illegitimate daughter of a Viceroy of Goa. ### [32.1.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.1.9) As for Jean de Rose, he asked the Viceroy to send him back to Colombo, where, by his permission, he married a young Mestive widow, who brought him a large fortune. Dom Philippe, who had a very high opinion of Des Marests, having witnessed the gallant acts which he performed, and the several wounds which he received at the siege of Negumbo, made him Captain of his bodyguard, which was the best office at the Court. It may be added that he was especially indebted for his own life to him, Des Marests being the one who saved him from the wreck by taking him on his shoulders. Du Belloy asked to be permitted to go to Macao, which was granted to him. He had heard that some of the nobility retired thither after having acquired fortunes by trade, that they received strangers well, and that they loved gambling, which was Du Belloy’s own strongest passion. He remained two years at Macao, greatly enjoying himself, and when his cash ran low these nobles lent him some willingly. One day, after winning about 6000 écus, and going back to play, he had the misfortune to lose all, and a considerable sum besides, which his friends had lent him. When he realised his loss, and that no one was willing to lend him more, he began to swear at a picture which was in the room, and which represented some holy subject, saying, in the rage common to the majority of players, that this picture which was before his eyes was the cause of his loss, and that if it had not been there he would have won. ### [32.1.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.1.10) Forthwith the Inquisitor was informed, for in all the towns in India which belong to the Portuguese there is one of these officials, whose power, however, is limited, for he has only authority to arrest the person who has said or done anything against religion, to examine the witnesses, and to send the offender with the informations by the first ship which starts for Goa. There the Inquisitor-General has the power to acquit him or to condemn him to death. Du Belloy was accordingly put on a small vessel of ten or twelve guns with his feet in irons, while the captain was warned that he should watch him well, and would be personally answerable for him. But as soon as they got to sea, the captain, who was a gallant man, and knew that Du Belloy was of good family, caused his irons to be removed, and even made him eat at his table, taking care to supply him with clean linen and the clothes necessary for the voyage, which lasted some forty days. ### [32.2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.2.1) They arrived at Goa on the 19th of February 1649, and the vessel had scarcely reached port when St. Amant came on board on the part of the Viceroy, both to receive the letters and to get news of what was going on in China. His surprise was great on seeing Du Belloy in this condition, and learning that the captain would not allow him to land till he had made him over to the Inquisitor. Nevertheless, as St. Amant then possessed great authority, by force of his entreaties he obtained permission from the captain for Du Belloy to go with him to the town. Du Belloy purposely again put on his old clothes, which were all in rags and full of vermin, and St. Amant, who knew that it would not do to play with the Inquisition, went first to present him to the Inquisitor, who, seeing this gentleman in so poor a condition, took some pity on him, and allowed him the run of the town as his prison till he should see what had been written regarding him, on condition that he should return when required to do so. After these proceedings St. Amant brought Du Belloy to my lodging, as I was on the point of going out to see the Bishop of Mire (i.e. Myra in Lycia), whom I had formerly known at Constantinople when he was guardian of the Franciscans of Galata. I asked them to wait my return for a while, and to dine with me, which they did, after which I offered board and lodging to M. du Belloy, who stayed with me, and I ordered three suits of clothes and whatever linen was necessary for him. ### [32.2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.2.2) I remained eight or ten days longer at Goa, during which it was impossible for me to induce M. du Belloy to put on the new clothes. But he would never tell me why, whilst from day to day he promised me to put them on. Being on the point of departure I told him I was about to take leave of the Viceroy, and he besought me earnestly to try to obtain permission for him to go too. I did so willingly and successfully. We left the same evening in the vessel in which I had come, and immediately M. du Belloy began taking off his old clothes and putting on the new ones, threw his old ones into the sea, and continued swearing against the Inquisition without my knowing the reason, for I was still unaware of what had passed. In my amazement at hearing him swear in this manner, I told him that he was not yet out of the hands of the Portuguese, and that he and I, with my five or six servants, would never be able to defend ourselves against the forty men who rowed our boat. I asked him why he swore in this way against the Inquisition, and he replied that he would tell me the whole story from beginning to end; this he did when we reached Vengurla, where we arrived at eight o’clock in the morning. Having landed, we found some Dutchmen with the Commander, who had come to the seashore to eat oysters and drink Spanish wine. They asked me at once who it was whom I had with me. ### [32.2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.2.3) I told them that he was a gentleman, who, having come with the French Ambassador to Portugal, had embarked for India with four or five others, who were still at Goa, and that, as neither his residence in the town nor the manners of the Portuguese were pleasing to him, he had asked me to help him to get back to Europe. Three or four days later I bought him a country mount, i.e. an ox, to enable him to go to Surat, and I gave him an attendant to serve him, with a letter to the Capuchin, Father Zenon, begging the Father to give him, through my broker, 10 écus a month for his expenditure, and to obtain from the English President permission for him to embark on the first opportunity. This, however, did not come about, for Father Zenon took him back to Goa when he went thither on the business of Father Ephraim his comrade, of which I shall speak in the next chapter, Father Zenon thought, no doubt, that Du Belloy, by showing himself to the Inquisition and asking pardon, would obtain it easily. It is true that he did obtain it, but only after being two years in the Inquisition, and coming out of it wearing a brimstone-coloured shirt with a great St. Andrew’s cross on the front of it. He had with him another Frenchman called Maitre Louys de Bar-sur-Seine, who was treated in the same fashion, and they both had to go in procession with those who were led to torture. M. ### [32.2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.2.4) du Belloy had done ill in returning to Goa, and did much worse in showing himself at Vengurla, where the Dutch, who had learnt that he had previously escaped from their service, by the advices which they had received from the Commander at Surat, seized him immediately, and placed him on a vessel which was going to Batavia. They said that they had sent him to the General of the Company to be disposed of as that officer should think proper. But I know on good authority that when the vessel was a short distance from land they put this poor gentleman into a sack and threw it into the sea. This, then, was the end of M. du Belloy, but that of M. des Marests had nothing tragical about it, as will be seen from his history, which I shall relate in a few words. M. des Marests was a gentleman of Dauphiné, from the neighbourhood of Loriol, who, having fought a duel, and having killed his man, fled into Poland, where he did some gallant acts, which secured for him the esteem and affection of the General of the Polish army. At this time the Grand Seigneur kept two Polish Princes as prisoners at Constantinople in the Castle of the Seven Towers, and this General, knowing the valour and skill of Des Marests, who was enterprising, and a good engineer into the bargain, proposed to him to go to Constantinople to see if by any means he could manage to get the Princes out of prison. ### [32.2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.2.5) Des Marests accepted this commission very willingly, and he would no doubt have had the good fortune to succeed if he had not been discovered by certain Turks, who accused him of having been seen examining the Seven Towers with too much attention, and with pencil in hand making a plan in order to accomplish afterwards some evil design. It had been sufficient to cause the destruction of this gentleman if M. de Cesi, the Ambassador of France, had not so arranged that the matter was promptly stifled by a present (this is in Turkey the most sovereign remedy in such troublesome matters), and by representing that he was a young gentleman who was travelling for his pleasure, and proposed going to Persia by the first opportunity he could meet with. It was not, however, the intention of the Sieur des Marests to go farther, and he was waiting his opportunity to return to Poland after having done all that was possible to get the Princes out of prison; but to escape from the hands of the Turks it was necessary to say that he was going to Persia, and to act in such a manner that he did in fact go thither. The Grand Seigneur had resolved never to give liberty to these Princes, but they were lucky enough at length to find means of winning over a young Turk, son of the Captain of the Seven Towers, to whom the father generally entrusted the keys to open and close the doors of the prison. ### [32.2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.2.6) On the night destined for their flight this young man pretended to lock certain doors, but left their padlocks open, afterwards taking the keys to his father; but he did not dare to do the same to the two principal doors—at one of which the captain with the main guard was stationed—for fear of being discovered. This young man, who was entirely devoted to these Princes, having well considered his plans, had made timely provision of rope-ladders in order to get over two of the walls. But for that purpose it was necessary to have some correspondence outside, and also some one inside who shared this important secret. As the severest rigour was not observed towards these Princes they were allowed to receive some dishes from the kitchen of the French Ambassador, and the groom of the kitchen, who was in the plot, having sent them on different occasions some pastry filled with ropes, they made ladders to aid them in their escape. The matter was so well planned and so well carried out that it succeeded, and the young Turk followed the Princes into Poland, where he became a Christian, and received an ample reward in appointments and money. It was the same in proportion with the others who had aided in the escape of the Princes, and the latter, when they reached Poland, made ample acknowledgment of the services which had been rendered to them by each individual. ### [32.3.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.3.1) In due course M. des Marests arrived at Ispahan, and having first addressed himself to the Rev. Capuchin Fathers, they brought him to my lodging, where I offered him a room, with a place at my table. He made some sojourn at Ispahan, during which he made acquaintance with the English and Dutch, who manifested a high regard for him, as he well deserved. But it happened one day that, his curiosity having made him undertake too rash an adventure, he nearly brought destruction on himself, and with himself on all the Franks at Ispahan. Near the caravansardi where we lodged is a large bath to which men and women go by turns on certain days, and where the Queen of Bijapur, during her sojourn at Ispahan on her return from Mecca, was very fond of going to talk with the wives of the Franks, because the garden of her house was in contact with the bath where they generally went. The Sieur des Marests, passionately desiring to see what passed there amongst these women, satisfied his curiosity by means of a crevice which he had observed in the roof of the bath, where he went sometimes; and mounting from outside upon this roof, which was flat, and such as I have described in my accounts of the Seraglio and of Persia—by a hidden way which adjoined the caravansardi where we were dwelling, he lay down on his stomach and saw by this crevice, without being himself perceived, that which he so much desired to behold. ### [32.3.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.3.2) He went in this way ten or twelve times, and not having been able to restrain himself from telling me one day, I warned him against returning, and told him that he was risking his own destruction, and with himself the destruction of all the Franks. But instead of profiting by my advice, he went again two or three times, and on the last occasion he was discovered by one of the women of the bath, who had charge of the sheets, and who in order to dry them upon the poles which project from the roof, had ascended by a small ladder which led to the top. Seeing a man thus stretched out she seized his hat and began to cry aloud; but the Sieur des Marests, to extricate himself from so dangerous a scrape, and to hinder the woman from making more noise, made a sign to her to be silent, and promptly placed in her hands two tomans, which by good luck he had with him out of the money which I had given him for his expenses. When he returned to the caravansarai I saw he had a scared appearance, and concluding that something unpleasant had happened to him, I pressed him to say what it was. He told me with some reluctance, and at length admitted that he had been discovered by this woman, but had sought to silence her with money. He had no sooner made this confession than I told him he must at once take flight, and that the danger was very much greater than he supposed. ### [32.3.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.3.3) The Dutch Commander, whom it was desirable to inform how the matter had occurred, in order to apply a quick remedy to an evil of which we feared the too prompt results, advised his immediate departure, and we gave him a mule and as much money as he required to enable him to reach Bandar, and to embark there on the first vessel which sailed for Surat. I gave him a letter of recommendation to the English President, who was a friend of mine, and whom I asked to advance him up to 200 écus if he should require them. I spoke very well of him in my letter, and I made mention of the offer which the Dutch Commander had made him at Ispahan, to send him to Batavia with letters to the General, who would not fail to give him employment according to his merit ; and, as a matter of fact, at this time, the Dutch being at war with the Portuguese in the island of Ceylon, a man of courage and intelligence like M. des Marests would be very useful to them. He was therefore strongly pressed to accept employment from them, and they showed him great kindness, caressed him much, and made him presents during his sojourn at Ispahan. But at length he told them that, not being of their religion, he felt some scruple in serving them against the Portuguese, and that it was the only reason that prevented him from accepting the offers which they so kindly made him. The letters which I gave him for the English President contained all this account ; ### [32.3.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.3.4) and the Sieur des Marests wishing to go to serve the Portuguese, the President, who wrote in his favour to the Viceroy, by whom he was much liked, laid stress to him upon the offer of the Dutch, in order to render this gentleman more acceptable. The Viceroy also gave him a good reception, and the Sieur des Marests making known to him that he desired to go to the island of Ceylon and take service in the Portuguese army, he left by the first opportunity with very favourable letters from the Viceroy for Dom Philippe de Mascarehnas, who was then still Governor of all the places which the Portuguese possessed in the island and its neighbourhood. He arrived three days after they had lost Negumbo, and when the Portuguese retook the place, as I have above said, the Sieur des Marests was one of those who received most wounds and acquired most glory. It was he also who did most to save Dom Philippe from the shipwreck ; and Dom Philippe, having become Viceroy, thought that he deserved no less a recompense than the office of Captain of his Guards, in which he died three or four months afterwards. He was deeply regretted by the Viceroy, by whom he was much loved, and he left all his property to a priest with whom he had established a very close friendship, on condition that he paid me 250 écus which I had lent him; this I had nevertheless much difficulty in obtaining from the hands of the priest. ### [32.3.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.3.5) During my sojourn at Goa they told me the history of a caravel which had arrived a short time previously, having come from Lisbon. When she was about to make the Cape of Good Hope she was caught by a storm which lasted five or six days, and this so much upset the sailors that they knew not where they were. At length they entered a bay 30 leagues away from the Cape, where they found numerous dwellings, and as soon as they had anchored they beheld all the beach lined with men, women, and children, who showed their astonishment at seeing white people, and a vessel like the caravel. The difficulty was that they could only understand one another by signs, and after the Portuguese had given to these Cafres tobacco, biscuits, and spirits, they brought on the following day numerous ostriches and other birds which resembled large geese, but which were so fat that they had scarcely any lean upon them. The feathers of these birds are very handsome, and those of the belly good for stuffing beds. One of the Portuguese sailors who was in this vessel sold me a large cushion of these feathers, and told me all that had happened in the bay, where they remained twenty-seven days. ### [32.3.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.3.6) They made some presents to the Cafres from time to time, such as knives, hatchets, false coral, and false pearls, in the hope of finding if any trade could be established, and particularly if gold was to be obtained, — for they saw some among these people who had pieces of it in their ears, hammered on both sides, like nails (rivets) of a lock. They took two of these Cafres to Goa, as I shall presently relate, and I saw one who had these pieces of gold in each ear in five or six places. This sailor told me that there were also some of the women who wore them at the tip of the chin and in the nostrils. Eight or nine days after the Portuguese had arrived in the bay the Cafres brought them small pieces of ambergris, a little gold, and some elephants’ teeth — but very small — ostriches and other birds, and some deer. As for fish, they had a great quantity. They did all that they could by signs to ascertain where they obtained this ambergris, which was very choice. The Viceroy showed me a small piece which did not weigh half an ounce, but he told me he had never seen any so good. They also tried hard to discover from whence the gold was obtained, — for as regards the elephants’ teeth they had no difficulty, seeing, as they did every morning, numerous elephants which came to drink at a river that discharged itself into this bay. ### [32.3.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.3.7) At length the Portuguese, after a sojourn of three weeks, seeing that through inability to understand one another it was impossible for them to discover anything, resolved to make sail with the first favourable wind. There being always some of these Cafres on the vessel, because the crew were liberal to them with tobacco, biscuit, and spirits, two were carried off to Goa, in the hope that they would be able to learn Portuguese, or that some child who might be placed with them would acquire their language. The sailor told me that when they had set sail, the Cafres, observing that they carried off two of their people, who apparently were persons of consequence, tore their hair, striking themselves on the stomach like people in a frenzy, yelling and howling in a horrible manner. But, having arrived at Goa, they were never able to learn the Portuguese language, and thus nothing was ever ascertained from them regarding the special knowledge which it was hoped would be obtained of the country from whence the Portuguese carried away only about two pounds of gold and three pounds of ambergris, with thirty-five or forty elephants’ teeth. One of these Cafres survived only six months, and the other but fifteen, both having died of sorrow and pining. All that I have ascertained of this history was by means of M. de St. Amant, Engineer and Inspector-General of all the Portuguese fortresses in India, who had in his service this same sailor who told me of this new discovery. ### [32.3.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32.3.8) From Goa I returned to Vengurla, from whence I went to Batavia, as I shall elsewhere relate, wishing to give a full account of all that occurred to me during the voyage, and on my return by sea from Batavia to Europe. But I should not forget one thing which happened at Vengurla during the nine days I spent there, before I departed for Goa in the vessel which was sent to me by M. de Saint Amant. An Idolater having died, and the fire being ready in the pit to burn the body according to their custom, his wife, who had no children, having obtained the permission of the Governor, went to the pit with the priests and her relatives in order to be burnt with the body of her husband. While they made the three circuits which they are accustomed to make round the pit, there fell suddenly such heavy rain that the priests, wishing to withdraw, threw the woman into the pit. But the rain was so heavy and of such long duration that it put out the fire, and the woman was not burnt. Having risen at midnight, she knocked at the house of one of her relatives, where several Dutchmen and the Capuchin Father Zenon went to see her. She was in a frightful condition, hideous and disfigured, but the pain she had already suffered did not prevent her from going, attended by her relations, to be burnt two days later. I shall speak fully of this barbarous superstition in the discourse on the religion and the ceremonies of the Idolaters. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.32) · Pramāṇa