The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c31.138

v1.c31.138

15. A special feature introduced by the Jesuit missionaries of the Empire of Vijayanagara in the literary activity of India, was the casting of Tamilian characters; and consequently the printing of the first books in Tamil. According to Fra Paolino de San Bartolomeo, the first to cast Tamilian characters was the Jesuit Lay Brother Giovanni (Joao) Gonsalves. The same traveller affirms that the first book was printed in the year 1577. It was a summary of the Christian doctrine⁶. Fra Paolino does not name the author of this book; but it seems quite probable to us that Fr. Henrique Henriquez, a zealous Jesuit on the Fishery Coast, and a contemporary of St. Francis Xavier, was at least its translator. Fr. du Jarric states that Henriquez wrote many books in the language of Malabar, *in lingua Malabarica*, viz. in Tamil ¹. Now we know for certain that one of these books was a translation of a Christian Doctrine written in Portuguese by Fr. Marcos Jorge. Sartorius, while in Tranquebar, saw a copy of this book printed in 1679 ². This must be a later edition, for Fr. Henriquez had died by that time. Both editiors of this little book were printed at Cochin in the Jesuit College of the *Madre de Deus* ³. Fra Paolino says, moreover, that a new Tamil book appeared in 1578. It was entitled *Flos Sanctorum*, from which title we may assume that it contained the lives of some Saints ⁴. This work seems to have been printed at Punnei Kayal with Tamil type cast by Fr. Joao de Faria ⁵. Fr. De Souza, speaking of these early printings adds:—" Those countries were marvelling at the new invention, and pagans as well as Christians tried to obtain these printed books and prized them highly" ⁶.