Extracts of Ravenshaw’s Report to the Board, July 19, 1801[1]

The first two paragraphs concern Pe Mendez’s memorial to Buchanan in which he had forged the signatures of the petitioners. The next paragraph refers to the origins of Christianity in Kanara and the judicial authority of the factor. This summary extract does not include these details.

Haider Ali, after conquering Kanara in 1762/3, extended to the Portuguese the same privileges they had under the Ikerris, and allowed them to hoist their flag at the factory as usual.

In 1767-8, when the English captured Mangalore, then commanded by Lutf Ali Beg, the Portuguese and Christians instead of opposing them as Haider expected, supplied them with provisions. When Haidar learned of this after retaking Mangalore, he imprisoned several padres and other Christians and threatened to hang them for treachery. However, he released them after they entered into an agreement that, in case Mangalore fell to his enemies, they would seek refuge in Nagar, and in case Nagar fell, they could submit to the new power.

Haider is said to have viewed the Christians with a suspicious eye from then on. The Portuguese were allowed to retain the factory, but denied the 1500 pagodas that they received under the Ikerris. Haidar, however, continued to collect the amount under a separate accounting head until 1777/8, probably with the intention of restoring it to the Portuguese if they agreed to serve him on his terms. An inam of land to the amount of 18 pagodas a year was still continued to them.

In 1775/6 or 1776/7, Haider repaired and garrisoned Mangalore fort. He told the Portuguese that they could retain their factory and that he would protect the Christian religion as the Rani had done on condition that they supplied him with a certain number of troops properly officered on the same conditions, allowances, and privileges as the French troops serving him. On the viceroy’s refusal, Haidar imprisoned the factor, priests, and others, and stopped all their privileges.

Various causes at the commencement of Tipu’s reign created in him a strong and rooted prejudice against the Christians of Kanara.

After capturing Bednur, Mathews had sent a detachment to take Mangalore. Camping about two miles from the fort, it demanded its surrender by Rustum Beg, the quildar. The amildar, Shady Barey, and others fled. The Christians, who were far more industrious than any other class of people here, sold vegetables, poultry, and other provisions to the English, a charge subsequently laid against them.

After the fort was taken, Tipu sent Hussein Ali Khan with 12,000 men to recapture it. They were routed with loss of baggage and ammunition.  A Christian was said to have guided the detachment sent from the fort via a bye road.

Shady Barey and Rustum Beg met Tipu when he was on his way to Mangalore from Bednur. Tipu ordered the immediate execution of Rustum Beg. Shady Barey, to save himself, attributed the loss of the fort to the treachery of the Christians. Tipu swore that on retaking Mangalore he would wreck his vengeance on them. Before the English retreated into the fort, some of the Christians took the image of the Virgin Mary from the nearby church into the fort for safety.[2] Tipu’s hatred of the Kanara Christians grew when he was informed that they were responsible for the quick repairs to the fort despite his heavy bombardment, “for he knew they were the best workmen in the country.”

 Several Roman Catholics were forcibly taken to Tipu’s camp and made to sign a confession. They refused at first, declaring the charges were false, but finally succumbed. The charges were that they had:

-        written and invited the English to take possession of Kanara in 1781-82

-        supplied and assisted Mathews’s army at Honavar

-        plundered Nagar’ treasury

-        accompanied the detachment sent to take Mangalore, and supplied it with provisions

-        supplied provisions to the English after the fort was taken

-        guided the detachment that attacked Hussien Ali Khan.

-        aided the English in repairing the besieged fort

None of the survivors had seen this paper. The priests were believed to have signed a similar confession under force.

As soon the English left Mangalore, 80,000 Christians were seized and sent under a guard to Srirangapatna. The priests were sent to Goa and forbidden to return. The sudden and swift operation took the Christians totally by surprise. Their properties were confiscated and sold at good prices for they were generally better cultivated than others. Not long after their arrests, small pox killed nearly two-thirds of them. As they were allowed extraordinary liberties during this time, several escaped to Kanara, but were recaptured. They as well many of those in Srirangapatna were circumcised. A few escaped over time to Goa, Malabar, and Kanara. None got back their properties. They survived as daily labourers.

When Kanara came under British control, many returned. So did numerous Goan priests. Being an industrious people, there was always a demand for their services. They had already rebuilt or repaired some of their churches, and brought back the image of the Virgin Mary from Goa.

A deputation of Christian survivors met Munro to seek the restoration of their seized lands. Anticipating the difficulty in restoring lands held for 18 years by people who had legally purchased them, he recommended that they cultivate waste lands instead with loans extended by the government. They, however, responded:

“the lands we claim were cleared, leveled, and first brought into cultivation by our forefathers; under their hands did they flourish till they fell by right of descent to us and by us were they tilled till Tippu Sultan alleging crimes against us of which we were not guilty, thence attempted to justify the tyrannical act of sending us, our wives and children and fathers prisoners to Seringapatam whence not more than a third of us have returned; are there any documents save the paper the Roman Catholic priests were forced to sign to prove that we were guilty of the charges alleged against us? Even if we could they justify Tippu Sultan in acting as he did and if we were not by what reasoning of right or justice could he confiscate our property and dispose of it to other people and will not the present government be justified in restoring our lands to us on our repaying to the present occupants the money they may have outstanding thereon.”

They further stated that their lands were not legally sold but they were given in perpetuity for a nuzzar...

Several Portuguese and others who had not been banished but had fled at different times had also returned to reclaim their estates. The government should extend the Christians some amount towards rebuilding their churches. Otherwise, they did not require anything. Too many priests have come to Kanara, there being two or three to some churches. Since they did not get any allowance from Goa, they depended on their parishioners for their subsistence.

COMMENT:

Ravenshaw’s statistics of 80,000 captives, two-thirds casualties, and one-third survivors vary considerably from those given by Wilks: 30,000 captives, and one-third casualties due to epidemics. Pe Mendez’s figure of 15,000 survivors (corroborated by the 1801 census), would imply the number of captives were about 40,000. Note Ravenshaw’s  clear distinction between Mangalore’s Portuguese residents (subjects of Goa) and other Christians.

[1]Silva 1958: 217-228

[2]Rosario. See post The Lady of the Rosary