INQUISITION OF GOA, CONCLUDED.
The Inquisition of Goa continued its Autos for a century after the
affair of Dellon. In the summer of 1808, Dr. Claudius Buchanan visited
that city, and had been unexpectedly invited by Joseph a Doloribus,
second and most active inquisitor, to lodge with him during his
visit. Not without some surprise, Dr. Buchanan found himself, heretic,
schismatic, and rebel as he was, politely entertained by so dread a
personage. Regarding his English visitor merely as a literary man, or
professing to do so, Friar Joseph, himself well educated, seemed to
enjoy his company, and was unreservedly communicative on every subject
not pertaining to his own vocation. When that subject was first
introduced by an apparently incidental question, he did not hesitate
to return the desired information, telling Dr. Buchanan that the
establishment was nearly as extensive as in former times. In the library
of the chief inquisitor he saw a register containing the names of all
the officers, who still were numerous.
On the second evening after his arrival, the doctor was surprised to see
his host come from his apartment, clothed in black robes from head to
foot, instead of white, the usual color of his order (Augustinian). He
said that he was going to sit on the tribunal of the holy office, and it
transpired that, so far from his "august office" not occupying much of
his time, he had to sit there three or four days every week. After his
return, in the evening, the doctor put Dellon's book into his hand,
asking him if he had ever seen it. He had never seen it before, and,
after reading aloud and slowly, "Relation de l'Inquisition de Goa,"
began to peruse it with eagerness.
While Dr. Buchanan employed himself in writing, Friar Joseph devoured
page after page; but as the narrative proceeded, betrayed evident
symptoms of uneasiness. He then turned to the middle, looked at the end,
skimmed over the table of contents, fixed on its principal passages,
and at one place exclaimed, in his broad Italian accent, "Mendacium!
mendacium.'" The doctor requested him to mark the passages that were
untrue, proposed to discuss them afterwards, and said he had other books
on the subject. The mention of other books startled him; he looked up
anxiously at some books on the table, and then gave himself up to the
perusal of Dellon's "Relation," until bedtime. Even then, he asked
permission to take it to his chamber.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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