ABSTRACT
When all these affairs had been set in order, the great Afonso Dalboquerque thought fit to renew the treaty of peace which he had established with the governors, and 14went on shore; and, speaking with them in presence of the factor, Antonio de Sá, and the other Portuguese who were there with him, told them, that in the agreement of peace which they had made, it was arranged that the civil and criminal jurisdiction should be under the control of the native Christians, as it had always been hitherto; and that, therefore, before his departure he was desirous of leaving this so settled that after he was gone no differences should arise between one side and the other; and also that he might give an account of his conduct to the king his lord, as to the manner in which their affairs in that kingdom were settled; and that he earnestly desired and besought them that they would hold to this for good, because the person whom he should entrust with this office would be required at all times to do what the King of Coulão might order. The governors told him that they agreed to it, and they would acquaint the king of it when he arrived: and that he could entrust the office to whom he pleased, for all would obey him. Afonso Dalboquerque forthwith confirmed the jurisdiction before them all to the factor, Antonio de Sá, and commanded him to act in all things conformably to the counsel and opinion of the native Christians, and so not exceed the order whereby they had been governed of old. And all were pleased at the choice of Antonio de Sá, to whom he especially recommended the provision due to the Church. And the Christians of the land had to take care to govern and rule the church, which was called “Our Lady of Mercy”. The native Christians said that two saints, who were buried there in two chapels, had made it in a miraculous manner. There were three altars, on which stood three crosses, the centre one of gold, the other two of silver. The Christians of the place had destined one of them for the King D. Manoel, and wishing to send the golden one, Afonso Dalboquerque told them he would only take a silver one, as a sign that there were Christians in 15that land who worshipped the Cross whereon our Lord Jesus Christ had suffered; for this was (as it were) the gold wherewith the King of Portugal would be most pleased; and when he arrived in Portugal the king should send them many ornaments for their church, as was the usual custom between Christians. They were highly delighted at this, and desired Afonso Dalboquerque to give them a picture of Saint James, and a bell, which he gave them immediately. And because it was necessary to leave there some person who might educate them in the rites of our Holy Faith, he desired Father Fr. Rodrigo, of the Order of St. Dominic, who had accompanied him, to remain there, and he consented, for the service of God. And he took such care during the days that he was there, that, with his teaching and good example, he converted many heathen to the faith of Jesus Christ, and baptised many Christians thirty and forty years of age, as they did not remember whether they had ever been baptised or not. When all these things had been settled, the native Christians came to Afonso Dalboquerque and told him that, as he was desirous of confirming to them their ancient customs, they begged him that he would graciously preserve for them another custom, to wit, that the Christians who had the management of the church, also should have in their keeping the seal and standard-weight of the city, which privilege the King of Coulão had taken from them for the fault and negligence of one of their number. And that these things might remain in the power of the Christians as heretofore, they relied much on his authority that he would speak to the Nambeadarin and the governors in order that they might regain possession of them, for the fault for which they had been deprived of them was of one man and not of all. Afonso Dalboquerque replied that what they requested had not entered into the treaty of peace, and the time was too short to begin new requests, for he was already on the point of sailing; but he would leave word with Antonio de Sá, who was remaining behind as factor, that, when the King of Coulão returned from the war, he should speak with him on the subject, and beg it of him on the part of the King of Portugal. With this reply they were quite content, and he took his leave of them and of the governors of the land, and went on board. And he left them on the 12 th of January, in the year 1504, and steered direct to Cochim to meet Francisco Dalboquerque, that they might set out both together for Portugal according to the orders of the King, D. Manoel. And when he arrived at Cochim he did not find him, nor any message about his future movements. So he provided the fortress with gunpowder, arms, and munitions of war, such as seemed to him necessary to fulfil his duty, and left there two caravelas, and the ship Conception, all well armed. And because some of the soldiers whom Francisco Dalboquerque had placed there to garrison the fortress were detained by force and against their will, he ordered them to be removed, and left others who of their own accord were willing to remain. And when this was done, he took leave of them all and set sail.
