De Sasatana Peninsula
A commentary on the Peninsula of Salcete
by Ignatius Arcamone (1664)
Chapter I
Situation of the Peninsula of Salcete
The Sasatana Peninsula or Sasata corrupted into the vocable Salcete, consists of sixty six distinct villages; the word Sasata means sixty six. This region is called rightly a peninsula as it is almost totally surrounded by sea or by bays, and is joined a little to the continental land; it stretches twenty seven thousand paces along the sea, and is connected with the main land along three thousand paces, and has a breadth of six thousand paces.
The soil of this peninsula is extraordinarily productive. It grows rice, palm trees and a variety of quality of fruits. It is abundantly irrigated by three rivers and a number of streams, springs and lakes. Here rice fields are sown and harvested twice a year. meant for daily food. In one word, this region of land provides with enough resources, more and more day by day not only to all the inhabitants but also to the strangers. The Palm trees display a kind different from others as, on bearing fruit, they bend down by the weight; the thicker branches (leaves), bent towards the ground, look larger than those of other palm trees, trees of this species provide, very usefully, water, wine, vinegar, milk, honey, sugar, oil, kernel, flour (Gratings), bread (cake), nuts, clothes, mats, ropes, sails, beams, house roofs, bowls and other pots. In fact the dry (?) nuts of these palm trees are sold by the inhabitants on foreign demand and so are purchased at high prices. Nevertheless all other
From the beginning of June it rains quite copiously, overcast with clouds, very rough winds, thundering very often, thus irrigating the soil for nearly four months, with a few intervals of quietness, the rains of this season are called here monsoon. The peninsula of Salcete consists of mountains as well as and fields being quite plentiful in fishing in the shores and bays of sea, this region is of everybody\s interest; except hares a and a few monkeys and tigers,g ame animal is almost none; in winter (cold season) fowling (bird hunting) is copious if one wishes.
To the northern side of this peninsula, stretches outs a promontory, almost contiguous to the promontory of the island of Goa, between which flows a small tract of the incoming sea; here due to the winding curves of the promontory, opens a port very safe for anchorage as well as for entering or going out of the ships at any time of the year; the promontory of the peninsula is called Murmugaum, which is closed by the best Portuguese fortress.
Chapter II
The inhabitants of the Peninsula of Salcete
The peninsula of Salcete, as I learn from the ancient Portuguese and Indians, was known once as a desert or sandy region without inhabitants. In later course of time, the inhabitants, or rather the farmers of the hinterland, (interiori terrae) hard pressed by debts or taxes, renounced the land and the king, fled with household utensils and cattle, and came to this peninsula (of Gane) so that they may be able to cultivate it for their livelihood; the produce compensated the cultivation and labour quite amply. With the news of the prosperous success, came down other new cultivators and settlers who were not certainly all farmers, since a great number of warriors who entered into this peninsula either as defenders or as aggressors, remained with the primitive settlers and occupied parts of the peninsula. Moreover the Brahmin caste of India, formerly consisting of sages and masters of the propagation of the superstition (idolatry) in order to teach, or rather to confirm, the inhabitant
Thus the whole land of the peninsula having been divided into sixty six territories only two territories were left to the primitive settlers. The territories given by the primitive settlers are counted as fifteen to the Brahmins, forty four to the warriors, and five to other servants or adjutants. The territories of the Brahmins, being irrigated by the best springs and streams, excel very much all other territories. The Brahmin caste is very clever with a sharp brains, and the warriors, who by other name are called charados, are indeed energetic but they are not inhuman. The caste of the primitive settlers, also called kurumbins are dedicated to agriculture, but little or not at all prone to the letters.
A foreign caste of traders, also called as vanians were invited lastly to this peninsula; caring fairly for the study of trade and properties, they deal in the sale and purchase of goods. Other servants, palm climbers, wine vendors, fishermen, artisans, porters or cloth fullers, who inhabit these territories, enjoy the fields or fallow lands given to them. For that matter among the Brahmins, a certain special caste is designated, namely that of scribes also called as Sinai, they, thanks to their sharp brain, being more perspicacious than others, record in writing the immovable landed properties of each one, and the inhabitants are governed according to the books of these scribes. Before the Portuguese obtained the ands of India and the dominion of this peninsula, was noted among Brahmins another prominent caste, namely the priests of false gods (idols) named Bhats in the vernacular language; however, after the Portuguese, who obtained this peninsula, destroyed the temples and start
No sooner the settlers of this land, having joined together, divided the peninsula among themselves, then NArsinga, a certain king of this name (king of Vijaynagar), almost an emperor of the neighbouring regions, sent a selected army of infantry and cavalry men to this peninsula in order to capture that new kingdom or at least to exact tax or tribute from the settlers of the new colonies, the settlers, extremely frightened by the new weapons and having little or no confidence in their own forces avoided the calamities of war by promising to the king an annual tribute. Till now a tribute of sixty thousand gold coins is paid to the king, every year, shared pro rata by each territory, the king, satisfied with such tribute, restores liberty to the settlers of the land of Salcete, he nominates masters of the peninsula and appoint such settlers as chiefs of their territories and villages from the settlers of the territories, he chooses the principal ones to prevail over others and be ca
Out of all the villages and inhabitants of the villages twelve principal villages with their inhabitants are enumerated and assigned for the highest government of the peninsula of these twelve villages one prevails upon others in their recruiting and all other privileges, from each of these twelve villages two counsellors are assigned by the others (village owners) for the general assembly who should present the deliberations of their ordinary assembly, so that disagreeing even one counsellor out of twenty four, the resolution is held invalid; other villages are bound to abide by the decision of the counsellors of these twelve villages. However, in the lapse of time, a Portuguese magistrate being placed over all others, he has started to administer the law.
Chapter II
The customs of the inhabitants of the peninsula of Salcete
Different castes of the inhabitants of this peninsula have different customs. The BRahmins of ancient custom did not eat any dead animal, of feathers, aquatic or terrestrial, nor tasted the eggs o birds, blood or any thing of blood colour; they drank pure water and no wine, nor did they talk to a wine drinker or even enter into his house , when any cattle died of disease, a very low caste man named Mhar was called and asked to carry the dead animal very far where he could enjoy its meat, they did not use skins for clothes nor for sandals, however, having been recruited for the work of the Portuguese Christian community they acquainted with their customs and though they had less fair skin, they resembled the Portuguese in their customs, speech and clothings. As far as women are concerned they are more attached to the ancient customs, ancient clothing, vernacular speech, old food and drinks, also in order to tread in the steps proper to woman of their caste. They walk barefooted eve
As far as the caste of warriors or charados is concerned, it seems they are somewhat coarser in nature and customs, they eat meat and fish till today as they did in olden times, they are prone to arms, but are little or not at all fond of letters. As for their women they are busy with domestic affairs and in this sense they excel brahmin women, they too rarely remarry as almost all Indian women follow strictly this custom, in fact the old custom was that Indian women were burnt spontaneously along with defunct husbands so that they should die with them and according to the false belie have a new life. But such custom indeed does not survive neither in name nor in memory among the Christian faithful and it is being abolished day by day among the infidels.
The inhabitants of other castes of this Peninsula are to be regarded as is less elegant, coarser and very rustic. The original settlers of this region, named kurumbims, though they eat rice and fish, hate other meat and even eggs, they don' t drink wine, eat frugally and work hard. Women are more active than men for work and cultivate fields diligently. This caste is very fond of money so that they amass and hid the money and use it very miserly for food and clothes. They feel great shame to beg alms and so they look after each other in need, though they have no relation of blood or affinity, provided that they are of the same caste. Such custom will be rarely found among other castes of these inhabitants.
Formerly Brahmin women, bereaved of husbands and surviving them, used to serve, with shaved hair, the families of their relatives, but the priests of the society helped the widow with alms in order to attract them to the Christian faith, not to serve the infidel relatives and to embrace cheerfully the Christ' faith, thus thereafter the Brahmin widows did not feel shame to beg alms.
Nevertheless in course of time, the priest being aware of the harm of such liberality, started to be economical in giving money to the widows and other leisure loving people' hence again being ashamed of mendicancy they serve the families of the faithful (Christian) relatives to remedy the life.
Only one old custom seem to have been wrongly abolished by law anciently the brides did not give dowry to the grooms unless the grooms first furnish the brides in ready money. The prevailing Portuguese custom impeded numberless virgins who, being destitute of dowries, either remain unmarried for life unwillingly or suffer miserably the damages of the virginity, for such virgins to devote themselves o God or to be reserve for marriage no house or revenue have been supplied by pious persons, the priests of the society spare their own food in order to make up dowries of these virgins and arrange marriages of those in danger.
As regards the morals each one is interested more than enough in his own life, so that one passes from poor to rich and from rich to richer in material wealth.
A commentary on the Peninsula of Salcete
by Ignatius Arcamone (1664)
Chapter I
Situation of the Peninsula of Salcete
The Sasatana Peninsula or Sasata corrupted into the vocable Salcete, consists of sixty six distinct villages; the word Sasata means sixty six. This region is called rightly a peninsula as it is almost totally surrounded by sea or by bays, and is joined a little to the continental land; it stretches twenty seven thousand paces along the sea, and is connected with the main land along three thousand paces, and has a breadth of six thousand paces.
The soil of this peninsula is extraordinarily productive. It grows rice, palm trees and a variety of quality of fruits. It is abundantly irrigated by three rivers and a number of streams, springs and lakes. Here rice fields are sown and harvested twice a year. meant for daily food. In one word, this region of land provides with enough resources, more and more day by day not only to all the inhabitants but also to the strangers. The Palm trees display a kind different from others as, on bearing fruit, they bend down by the weight; the thicker branches (leaves), bent towards the ground, look larger than those of other palm trees, trees of this species provide, very usefully, water, wine, vinegar, milk, honey, sugar, oil, kernel, flour (Gratings), bread (cake), nuts, clothes, mats, ropes, sails, beams, house roofs, bowls and other pots. In fact the dry (?) nuts of these palm trees are sold by the inhabitants on foreign demand and so are purchased at high prices. Nevertheless all other
From the beginning of June it rains quite copiously, overcast with clouds, very rough winds, thundering very often, thus irrigating the soil for nearly four months, with a few intervals of quietness, the rains of this season are called here monsoon. The peninsula of Salcete consists of mountains as well as and fields being quite plentiful in fishing in the shores and bays of sea, this region is of everybody\s interest; except hares a and a few monkeys and tigers,g ame animal is almost none; in winter (cold season) fowling (bird hunting) is copious if one wishes.
To the northern side of this peninsula, stretches outs a promontory, almost contiguous to the promontory of the island of Goa, between which flows a small tract of the incoming sea; here due to the winding curves of the promontory, opens a port very safe for anchorage as well as for entering or going out of the ships at any time of the year; the promontory of the peninsula is called Murmugaum, which is closed by the best Portuguese fortress.
Chapter II
The inhabitants of the Peninsula of Salcete
The peninsula of Salcete, as I learn from the ancient Portuguese and Indians, was known once as a desert or sandy region without inhabitants. In later course of time, the inhabitants, or rather the farmers of the hinterland, (interiori terrae) hard pressed by debts or taxes, renounced the land and the king, fled with household utensils and cattle, and came to this peninsula (of Gane) so that they may be able to cultivate it for their livelihood; the produce compensated the cultivation and labour quite amply. With the news of the prosperous success, came down other new cultivators and settlers who were not certainly all farmers, since a great number of warriors who entered into this peninsula either as defenders or as aggressors, remained with the primitive settlers and occupied parts of the peninsula. Moreover the Brahmin caste of India, formerly consisting of sages and masters of the propagation of the superstition (idolatry) in order to teach, or rather to confirm, the inhabitant
Thus the whole land of the peninsula having been divided into sixty six territories only two territories were left to the primitive settlers. The territories given by the primitive settlers are counted as fifteen to the Brahmins, forty four to the warriors, and five to other servants or adjutants. The territories of the Brahmins, being irrigated by the best springs and streams, excel very much all other territories. The Brahmin caste is very clever with a sharp brains, and the warriors, who by other name are called charados, are indeed energetic but they are not inhuman. The caste of the primitive settlers, also called kurumbins are dedicated to agriculture, but little or not at all prone to the letters.
A foreign caste of traders, also called as vanians were invited lastly to this peninsula; caring fairly for the study of trade and properties, they deal in the sale and purchase of goods. Other servants, palm climbers, wine vendors, fishermen, artisans, porters or cloth fullers, who inhabit these territories, enjoy the fields or fallow lands given to them. For that matter among the Brahmins, a certain special caste is designated, namely that of scribes also called as Sinai, they, thanks to their sharp brain, being more perspicacious than others, record in writing the immovable landed properties of each one, and the inhabitants are governed according to the books of these scribes. Before the Portuguese obtained the ands of India and the dominion of this peninsula, was noted among Brahmins another prominent caste, namely the priests of false gods (idols) named Bhats in the vernacular language; however, after the Portuguese, who obtained this peninsula, destroyed the temples and start
No sooner the settlers of this land, having joined together, divided the peninsula among themselves, then NArsinga, a certain king of this name (king of Vijaynagar), almost an emperor of the neighbouring regions, sent a selected army of infantry and cavalry men to this peninsula in order to capture that new kingdom or at least to exact tax or tribute from the settlers of the new colonies, the settlers, extremely frightened by the new weapons and having little or no confidence in their own forces avoided the calamities of war by promising to the king an annual tribute. Till now a tribute of sixty thousand gold coins is paid to the king, every year, shared pro rata by each territory, the king, satisfied with such tribute, restores liberty to the settlers of the land of Salcete, he nominates masters of the peninsula and appoint such settlers as chiefs of their territories and villages from the settlers of the territories, he chooses the principal ones to prevail over others and be ca
Out of all the villages and inhabitants of the villages twelve principal villages with their inhabitants are enumerated and assigned for the highest government of the peninsula of these twelve villages one prevails upon others in their recruiting and all other privileges, from each of these twelve villages two counsellors are assigned by the others (village owners) for the general assembly who should present the deliberations of their ordinary assembly, so that disagreeing even one counsellor out of twenty four, the resolution is held invalid; other villages are bound to abide by the decision of the counsellors of these twelve villages. However, in the lapse of time, a Portuguese magistrate being placed over all others, he has started to administer the law.
Chapter II
The customs of the inhabitants of the peninsula of Salcete
Different castes of the inhabitants of this peninsula have different customs. The BRahmins of ancient custom did not eat any dead animal, of feathers, aquatic or terrestrial, nor tasted the eggs o birds, blood or any thing of blood colour; they drank pure water and no wine, nor did they talk to a wine drinker or even enter into his house , when any cattle died of disease, a very low caste man named Mhar was called and asked to carry the dead animal very far where he could enjoy its meat, they did not use skins for clothes nor for sandals, however, having been recruited for the work of the Portuguese Christian community they acquainted with their customs and though they had less fair skin, they resembled the Portuguese in their customs, speech and clothings. As far as women are concerned they are more attached to the ancient customs, ancient clothing, vernacular speech, old food and drinks, also in order to tread in the steps proper to woman of their caste. They walk barefooted eve
As far as the caste of warriors or charados is concerned, it seems they are somewhat coarser in nature and customs, they eat meat and fish till today as they did in olden times, they are prone to arms, but are little or not at all fond of letters. As for their women they are busy with domestic affairs and in this sense they excel brahmin women, they too rarely remarry as almost all Indian women follow strictly this custom, in fact the old custom was that Indian women were burnt spontaneously along with defunct husbands so that they should die with them and according to the false belie have a new life. But such custom indeed does not survive neither in name nor in memory among the Christian faithful and it is being abolished day by day among the infidels.
The inhabitants of other castes of this Peninsula are to be regarded as is less elegant, coarser and very rustic. The original settlers of this region, named kurumbims, though they eat rice and fish, hate other meat and even eggs, they don' t drink wine, eat frugally and work hard. Women are more active than men for work and cultivate fields diligently. This caste is very fond of money so that they amass and hid the money and use it very miserly for food and clothes. They feel great shame to beg alms and so they look after each other in need, though they have no relation of blood or affinity, provided that they are of the same caste. Such custom will be rarely found among other castes of these inhabitants.
Formerly Brahmin women, bereaved of husbands and surviving them, used to serve, with shaved hair, the families of their relatives, but the priests of the society helped the widow with alms in order to attract them to the Christian faith, not to serve the infidel relatives and to embrace cheerfully the Christ' faith, thus thereafter the Brahmin widows did not feel shame to beg alms.
Nevertheless in course of time, the priest being aware of the harm of such liberality, started to be economical in giving money to the widows and other leisure loving people' hence again being ashamed of mendicancy they serve the families of the faithful (Christian) relatives to remedy the life.
Only one old custom seem to have been wrongly abolished by law anciently the brides did not give dowry to the grooms unless the grooms first furnish the brides in ready money. The prevailing Portuguese custom impeded numberless virgins who, being destitute of dowries, either remain unmarried for life unwillingly or suffer miserably the damages of the virginity, for such virgins to devote themselves o God or to be reserve for marriage no house or revenue have been supplied by pious persons, the priests of the society spare their own food in order to make up dowries of these virgins and arrange marriages of those in danger.
As regards the morals each one is interested more than enough in his own life, so that one passes from poor to rich and from rich to richer in material wealth.
- Forwarded by Cecil Pinto [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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