destitute of pity, have spared neither age, nor sex, nor condition, 
in human sacrifices to the God of mercy, and the compassionate 
Redeemer of man! Mistaken zealots! truly do ye fulfil the awful 
words, that he came not to send peace upon earth, but a sword! 
a sword too often wielded by those who are strangers to the mer- 
ciful spirit of his gospel. 
rc Mercy is as the gentle dew from heaven 
Shed on the earth beneath — it is twice bless’d; 
“ It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes: 
“ It is the attribute of God himself.” Shakespear. 
Goa, situated in 15° 28' north latitude, and 72° 45' east longi- 
tude, was one of the finest European settlements in India; where 
the Portugueze generally kept a strong force of Europeans, and 
Topasses, who are the offspring of the Europeans and natives; 
their pay was small, but procured them a sufficiency of rice and 
fish (the usual food of the lower classes in that country): the ocean 
supplies great variety of the latter, and the rice grounds are very 
productive. The oil expressed from the cocoa-nut is exported 
from Goa, and forms a considerable article of commerce; it was 
also famous for the arrack, to which it gave its name; but that 
made at Batavia is now generally preferred: this spirit is distilled 
either from rice, sugar-cane, or the juice of the cocoa-nut tree: 
the fruit and flowers of several other trees in Hindostan produce 
by distillation, a spirit, to which the Europeans give the general 
name of arrack. Goa is famous for the Alphonso mango, a deli- 
cious fruit, which is sent in presents to other parts of India: 
mangos are abundant in the adjoining districts, but the Al- 
