On April, 3, 1582, the following royal decree was issued : “ Being informed that Brahminsand Hindus of these parts of India are collectors and contra… - Anant Priolkar

There is reason to believe that the zeal to snatch away orphans was inspired not only by desire to save their souls but also by anxiety to take charge of their estates.

I have always felt it a pity that there should be no authentic account’ of the Inquisition in India and have given some thought to the problem of filling up this lacuna in our history....From information which became available later, there is reason to believe that these records were deliberately burnt.

As marriages were forbidden in Portuguese territories, Hindus had to go to neighbouring territories under Muslim rule for celebrating them and the marriage parties were frequently waylaid by robbers. The viceroy D. Pedro de Almeida in 1679 permitted the Hindus to celebrate marriages in their houses behind closed doors, provided outside the houses were present an armed guard appointed by appropriate authorities who would prevent Bottos (Hindu priests) and other ministers of the Hindu temples from entering the houses for performing sacrifices or other Hindu rites and ceremonies as was customary. The Inquisition took over the duty of policing such marriages by sending parties of the notorious Naiques of the Holy Office. It was, however, pointed out that ‘the order made performance of marriages totally impossible, because, according to the custom of the Hindus, marriages could not be valid without the presence of Bottos and performance of Hindu ceremonies, and if performed otherwise they would be null and void, the wives taken by such marriages only concubines and the children born of such marriages illegitimate and deprived of the social status of their fathers.” The order was accordingly revoked and replaced by the decree of king D. Pedro dated August 29, 1679 which permitted the Hindus to perform marriages in ships or barges in the rivers which separate the Portuguese territories from the territories ruled by Muslims, provided no Christians were present.