The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c27.15

v1.c27.15

2. The above mentioned Gasparo Balbi has an interesting description of St. Thome which deserves to be quoted in full. It runs as follows: "The Front is towards the West, very strong by reason of the Blockehouses, which are upon the Port, along towards the sea. This port is so low that elephants cannot enter in at it, for the horses enter with not a little trouble. There are three Churches: one very fair, of Saint Thomas, which is well served with Priests, the chiefe of them is a Vicar (for so they call him) who was sent thither by the Archbishop of Goa. There is another of Saint Francis, very well served with Capuchins and another of Saint John the Baptist, where the Fathers of Saint Paul of the Companie of Jesus are in continuall prayer; to build this they had not so many transomes as were sufficient, when miraculously a great piece of timber was cast up by the Sea, which seemed to be made by the line and measure of that Church. I was here when this piece of timber was cast up; for one day going to Masse to the Church of our Lady, I saw great concourse of people running to the Sea-side, and I went also to see what was the matter, and saw this piece of timber cast upon the shoare. Then the Church of St. John the Baptist was finished, but because they wanted transomes to make the roofs they covered it with straw. The foresaid Fathers of Saint Paul have another Church in the Citie dedicated to our Lady, where they baptise the Gentiles, and exhort and instruct them in matters of Faith ³. There is another Church called of Our Lady of Light, which (is) served by Saint Thomas his Priests...Saint Thomas is as faire a Citie as I saw any in that Countrie, and the houses joyne one to the other, so to be able to succour one another" 1.