MISSED HISTORY: contact vinlandmap.info

FAMINES IN THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT, 1500 to 1767
To home page


1587 (a): Goa and widespread1587 map
Documented causes: unspecified
Documented effects: voluntary slavery; Jesuit relief efforts

José de Sousa Amado, "Historia da Egreja Catholica em Portugal ..." (vol. 7 pt. 2, 1876)
p358: "O completo restabelecimento de um cathecumeno, em Goa, gravemento enfermo, recebido o baptismo, a grande fome que lavrou pela India, durante a qual os jezuitas prestaram bons serviços tanto corporaes, como espirituaes aos indigentes; e numerosos missionarios enviados para diversos pontos, são os factos mais salientes, que em memoria deixou a historia nos annos de 1586 a 1587."
J. Huyghen van Linschoten, "The Voyage of John Huyghen Van Linschoten to the East Indies. From the old English translation of 1598." (reprinted with notes: Book 1, vol. 1, 1885)
pp276-7: [the author lived in Goa from the end of 1583 to the beginning of 1589, so this description probably refers to the 1587 famine] "... in time of povertie or dearth the fathers may sell their children, as it happened in my time, that there was a dearth, and scarsitie of victualls in the firme lande, and countries bordering uppon Goa, that the men of India came to Goa (and other places where the Portingales are resident) to sell there children in great numbers, and for small prices, to buy them victuals. I have seene Boyes of eight or ten yeares, given in exchange for five or sixe measures of Rice, and some for three or foure Ducats the peece, and some came with their wives and children to offer themselves to bee slaves, so that they might have meate and drinke to nourish their bodies. And because the Portingales have traffique in all places (as we have beene in many) it is the cause why so many are brought out of all countries to be solde, for the Portingales doe make a living by buying and selling [of them] as they doe with other wares."
J. Huyghen van Linschoten, "Itinerario, voyage, ofte schipvaert van Jan Huygen van Linschoten ..." (vol. 1, 1910) [Dutch text of the above]
p181: "... inden tijt van honger ofte noot, moghen die Ouders hare kinderen vercoopen, gelijck het gegescheide in mynen tijt datter op 't vaste landt ende omliggende quartieren van Goa sulcken dieren tijt was, dat die ouders quamen tot Goa ende ander plaetsen vander Portugesen hare kinders vercoopen by menichte, om kleynen prijs, om haren buijck te versaden; ick heb sien gheven jonghskens van 8. en 10. jaren, om 5. oft 6. maten Rijs, sommige om 3. 4. ducaten elck; Daer warender die haer in persoon met Vrouwen en kinderen quamen voor captiven offreceren, dat mense alleenlijck wilde de cost geven ende onderhouden. Ende om dat die Portugesen over al haren handel dryven, als wy op veel plaetsen aengewesen hebben, is d' oorsake datter so groote menichte van alle wegen ghebrocht ende verkocht werden: want die Portugesen daer haren handel van coopen ende vercoopen met dryven, als met eenighe ander coopmanschappen ende waren."
To home page