Teotonio R. de Souza wrote: My ancestry links with that of Bernardo some 90 generations ago. For unknown reasons my ancestors settled in Moira and were integrated in its fifth vangoD of ganvkars, while their cousins, Bernardo's ancestors settled in Aldona as 4th of the 12 vangoD of the so-called Comunidade Fraternal, to distinguish it from the Communidade de Boa Esperan?a, made of five vangoD of kulachari of Chardo and Sudra castes.
Gilbert Lawrence responds: I read Teo's above article with interest. The above caught my eye and raised more questions than provided answers. By time-line (of 90 generations) it would suggest that the above settlement occured prior to the arrival of the Portuguese. So: 1. What is the evidence for this migration and settlement? 2. Where did those settlers / ancestors come from and why did they move? 3. Why did they settle in Moira and Aldona? 4. Who were the residents (land-owners) of Moira and Aldona prior to these new settlers? 5. Which ruler facilitated the migration of the settlers and why? My reading of society in the pre-1500s was that it was sparse, (due to low land productivity from poor farming techinques) and with a short live expectancy for a whole variety of reasons. Regards, GL
