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Postscript to an Odyssey: More Light on Manuel Godinho

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2008

John Correia-Afonso
Affiliation:
St Xavier's College, Bombay

Extract

A decade has passed since there appeared the fourth and latest edition of that great classic of travel literature, the Relaçāo do Novo Caminho Que Fez por Terra e Mar Vindo da India para Portugal no Ano de 1663 o Padre Manuel Godinho da Companhia de Jesus. It is a very methodical and elegant composition, the work of a man of culture who was also a keen observer. As the censor's certificate of approval in the first edition says, it can provide ‘useful recreation’ and also serve as ‘a guide-map for similar journeys, as in the case of navigations the experience of others has left us sailing charts.’

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

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References

This paper was presented at the Fourth International Seminar on Indo-Portuguese History, Lisbon, 11–16 November 1985.

1 With an introduction and notes by Guerreiro, A. Machado. Lisbon: Imprensa Nacional—Casa da Moeda, 1974.Google Scholar

2 Ibid., xxxi.

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7 Correia-Afonso, John, ‘Some Portuguese Records on the Cession of Bombay’, The Indian Archives, 27 (New Delhi, 1978), 111.Google Scholar

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9 Regarding the actual territory ceded by the King of Portugal to the King of England and the dispute in the matter, cf. David, M. D., History of Bombay, 1661–1708 (Bombay, 1973), 4951.Google ScholarHacke's, WilliamA Description of…;India &c (1700), which we consulted in the British Library, contains an interesting hand-drawn coloured chart of Goa, with the legend ‘The City of Goa all its dependencies doth justly belong to the crown of England by the marriage of King Charles the Second with Queen Catherine’. One cannot blame the Portuguese Governor for being wary of English claims!Google Scholar

10 Antonio de Mello de Castro fought a delaying action. In order to gain time to represent to the King of Portugal his case for the retention of Bombay, he challenged the credentials of Sir Abraham Shipman who had been commissioned by Charles II to take possession of Bombay. Cf. David, , History of Bombay, 3964.Google Scholar

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13 Correia-Afonso, ‘Some Portuguese Records’, 10. The Governor finally complied with his king's clear and firm orders, and Bombay was handed over to Humphrey Cooke on 8 February 1665. The Governor (now Viceroy) returned to Portugal in 1667 and died in 1689.Google Scholar

14 Vol. I, Estado da India, Tomo I (Lisbon, 1978).Google Scholar

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16 Op. cit., xiii.Google Scholar

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19 ARSI Lus 37, F. 34iv.Google Scholar