Book I. Travels /// India. 



large, at leaft not fo eafie Cbnquefts in the Indies. Thefe Blacks are very 

 couragious and good Soldiers, and feveral of the Religious Orders haveafiur'd 

 me, that they will learn more in fix months in one of their Colledges, than 

 the Portugal Children in a year, whatever Science you put them to ;. which is 

 the reafon that the Portugais keep them fo low. The natural Inhabitants of 

 the Country about Goa, are Idolaters, and worfhip feveral forts of Idols, which 

 they fay are the Refemblance of feveral that have done good works, to whom 

 they ought to give praife by adoring their Portraitures. There are many of 

 thefè Idolaters who worfhip Apes. And therefore in the Ifland of Salfete, there 

 was a Pagod, where the Idolaters kept in a Cheft, like a Tomb, the Bones and 

 Nails of an Ape, which they faid had been mighty fèrviceahle to their Anceftory, 

 by bringing news and intelligence to them, when any hoftile Princes profecuted 

 them ; for which purpofe they would fometimes fwim through the very Sea 

 it felf. The Indians come from feveral parts in proceffion, and make Offerings 

 to this Pagod. But the Clergy of Goa, efpecrally the Inquifitors, caus'd the 

 Tomb one day to be taken away, and brought it to Goa, where it remained a 

 good while, by reafon of the difference which it made between the Ecclefiafticks 

 and the people. For the Idolaters offering a great fum of Money to have their 

 Reliques again, the people were willing to have reftor'd them 3 faying, that thé 

 Money would do well upon any occafion of War, or elfe to relieve the poor. 

 But the Clergy were of a contrary opinion, and maintained that fuch a piece of 

 Idolatry was not to be endur'd upon any account whatfoever. At . length the 

 Arch-Bifhop and the Inquifitors, by their own Authority., took away the Tomb, 

 and fending it in a VefTel twenty Leagues out to Sea, caus'd it to be thrown 

 to the bottom of the Ocean. They thought to have burn'd it, but the Idola- 

 ters would have rak'd up the Afhes again, which would have been but a new food 

 to their Superftition. 



There are in Goa abundance of Clergy-men ; for befides the Arch-Bifhop and 

 his Clergy, there are Dominicans 3 sluflir-Fryars , Franciscans, Barefoot Carme- 

 lites, fefmts, and Capuchins, with two Religious Houles, whereof the Auftin- 

 Fryars are Directors or Governours. The Religious Carmelites, that came laft, 

 are the beft feated ; for though they are fomewhat at a diftance from the heart 

 of the City, yet they have the advantage of a fine Air, and the moft healthy 

 fcituation in all Goa. It ftands upon a riling ground, free to the refreshment of 

 the Wind j and it is very well built, with two Galleries one over the other. 

 The Auftin-Fryars, who were the firft that came to Goa, were indifferently well 

 lèated, at the foot of a little rifing ground, their Church alfo ftanding upon a 

 rifing ground, with a fair PidzXa before it ; but when they had built their Ha- 

 bitation, the fefuits defir'd them to fell that rifing ground, which was then a 

 void place, under pretence of making a Garden in it for the recreation of their 

 Scholars. But after they had purchased it, they built a moft ftately College 

 upon the famé ground, which quite ftops and choaks up the Auftin-Fryars jOo- 

 vent, fo that they have no Air at all. There happen'd feveral Contefts about 

 this bufinefs, but at length the fe/uits got the better. The fefuites at Goa, 

 are known by the name of Paulifis j by reafon that their great Church is dedi- 

 cated to St. Paul. Nor do they wear Hats or Corner-Caps, as in Europe, but 

 only a certain Bonnet, refembling the Skull of a Hat without the Brims ; fome- 

 what like the Bonnets which the Grand Segnors Slaves wearj of which I have 

 given you a defcription in my relation of the Seraglio. They have five Houfes 

 in Goa, the College of St. Paul, the Seminary, the Profeffors Houfe, the No- 

 viciate, and the Good Jefus. The paintings in this Houfè are admirable pieces 

 of Workmanfhip. In the year 1663 the College was burnt by an accident 

 which happen'd in the night, fo that it coft them near fixty thoufand Crowns 

 to rebuild it. 



The Hofpital of Goa was formerly the moft famous in all India. For in re- 

 gard the Revenues thereof were very great, the fick perfons were very care- 

 fully look'd after. But fince the change of the Governours, there is but very 

 bad accommodation 5 and feveral of the Europeans that have been f>ut in, have 

 never come forth again, but in their Coffins. However, they have lately found 

 out a way to fave fome by frequent Bloodletting, They let Blood fometimes_, 



as 



