The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c27.65

v1.c27.65

Nevertheless, the riots in the city of St. Thome continued in the following years. "When I reached this country on September 3rd, 1606", writes Fr. M. Roiz from St. Thome itself, "I found the Portuguese quarrelling and fighting among themselves, as they were doing two or three years ago" ³. And another letter, recounting the affairs of the same year 1606, states: "This city of Sao Thome is for the best divided into factions and there are often terrible fights, as in times of civil war. No remedy can be found for that, since it is situated in the country of the Hindu King, and far from the capital; and neither the judicature nor the captain is so provided with military force as to arrest and punish the criminals. Great troubles however have been checked by our (fathers). One Friday during Lent the preacher spoke so fervently and zealously against hatred and strife that the chief of one of those factions, who was hearing the sermon together with other people carrying arms and muskets, was so deeply moved that he determined to change his life at once and to become a friend of his foe; as he did in the Mother Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, where he made amends for the damage and loss he had caused and went to confession with signs of contrition and amendment. At present there is no hatred nor strife" ⁴.