The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c24.37

v1.c24.37

One of the missionaries residing at the court of Venkata II, Fr. Antonio Rubino, after studying the causes of the lack of conversions, arrived independently at the same conclusions almost at the same time. In one of his letters to Fr. C. Aquaviva, he wrote: "It is astonishing how well barred is the entrance of this kingdom against the Holy Faith. This comes from the aversion and implacable hatred they have (towards us), based on the impression that we are the priests of the Portuguese, who eat beef and drink wine... We keep ourselves away from all these things, in this kingdom. Yet our black dress is quite enough to rouse such opposition and abhorrence; we are therefore looked upon by them as a pestilence. And to them it is quite enough, as said before, that they know us to be the priests of the Portuguese. It is necessary, in order to obtain different results, to dress oneself, to eat, and to keep other social customs, just as they do, in quantum fieri potest (as much as possible). I often wrote this to Fr. Provincial. He wishes to send me, dressed according to their fashion, to a city of this kingdom where I am unknown " ².