112 WESTERN HINDOO STAN. 



and, after feveral fliarp adlions, made himfelf again mafter of 

 the city, by a moft fierce and bloody affault -, the defence being 

 equally obftinate as the attack. 



From that moment the able Vice-roy determined to make 

 Goa the capital of his mailer's new acquired dominion in Lidia : 

 he gave it every ftrength his military fkill could fuggeft, and 

 every encouragement that his vvifdom and commercial know- 

 lege could invent. The fuccefs was, for a long feries of years, 

 equal to the greatnefs of the defign, and it flourillied with un- 

 rivalled fplendor. It became the center of the riches of India^ 

 and one of the greateft marts in the univerfe. At length the 

 common confequences of wealth, pride, luxury, effeminacy, and 

 every fpecies of fraud, cruelty, and oppreffion pofTefTed the 

 minds of thefe once brave and gallant people ; they degenerated 

 into every vile adlion ; and thought nothing wrong that 

 brought in advantage. They eftabhfhed here an inquifition to 

 enflave the minds of the people. They perfecuted the poor 

 natives in every Ihape, and in every place. The Abbe Raynaly 

 in mofl animated terms, defcribes the fad change. To him I 

 refer the reader. After the fall of the Portuguefe empire in 

 India., a prieft of Goa being afked, when he thought his nation 

 might again refume its power, fenfibly replied — " As foon as 

 " your wickednefs fhall exceed that of my people." Let me 

 only fay, that the meafure of their iniquity being filled, they 

 were beaten, and expelled from the very feats conquered by the 

 intrepidity and chivalry of their anceftors ; and that by a fmall 

 nation, who, fallying from the fens o^ Hollajtd, by temperance, 

 wifdoro, and fi)rtitude, drove from almoft every part of India 



that 



