Dear Cornel,
(1) Many joined seminaries and nunneries in Goa and elsewhere in India as a good path of social mobility. (2) It was a way of gaining good education without much cost in the days of poor family resources under the Portuguese dispensation. (3) The priests and nuns had to declare their «patrimony» / dowry on being accepted for ordination or final vows in the religious order. The land properties that entered this way into the Church possession were called «main mort» in Europe and explained large land possessions of the Church. The celibacy ensured their continuity in the Church. The extinction of religious orders in some countries (including Portugal in 1759 and 1834) were motivated by this factor. --------------------- From: "cornel" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Goanet] How much emigration of the well to do took place from Goa? To: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original Most Goans are well aware of the outflow of many thousands of fellow Goans, over a long period, seeking economic betterment outside Goa. But did the outflow include many from those families which owned large tracks of land and controlled substantial resources accruing from such ownership? I should like to suggest that such 'landed gentry' had no impetus to leave Goa, apart from a few adventurous souls. Their prime concern was to stay in Goa, or reasonably close, to safeguard their extensive properties for their progeny. Indeed, I have come across some reading about how wealthy families took great pains to consolidate property by ensuring that some sons and daughters were directed into the Church as priests and nuns and others simply did not marry so that land did not get fragmented. I am quite curious to discover how such a land ownership/consolidation process operated among the wealthy landed class in Goa. I hope we can discuss this issue without making it personal in any way please. Cornel http://campussocial.ulusofona.pt/index_ingles.htm _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list ([email protected]) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
