The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c13.189

v1.c13.189

Fr. Antonio Criminali, an Italian Jesuit, who had been appointed Superior of the missions among the Paravas of the Fishery Coast on St. Xavier's departure to Japan in May of the same year, was then in Rameswaram, instructing in the faith some Paravas who had been baptized shortly before ¹. On hearing that the Badagas were approaching Vedalai, he fled there to protect his Christians. He transported many in their frail craft. He was invited to do the same; but refused to do so until every one of his flock had left the village. From the landing place he walked to the small chapel of St. Vincent where many of the Christians had taken refuge: but before reaching it he encountered two detachments of Telugu soldiers, who however did not molest him. Then a third detachment arrived; and one of the solders in the rear, a Muhammadan on horse-back, pierced his left side with a lance. The father fell down, but getting up after a while walked again towards the chapel. There he met some other soldiers who finally beheaded him and, raising his head on the top of a spike, placed it afterwards as a sign of their valour over the door of the chapel ². Some Paravas were also murdered on this occasion, and others reduced to captivity. The chapel as well as the fort was razed to the ground, and the trench dug by the captain was filled up. The Jesuit chronicles conclude their account by saying that the soldiers went finally to Rameswaram to pay a visit to the temple. Probably on account of this and other similar expeditions, we read in the *History of the Karnataka Governors* that Visvanatha protected the pilgrims who used to go to Rameswaram¹.