Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 52
Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications
View full book text
________________
MAY, 1923)
EARLY HISTORY OF INDIAN FAMINES
107
Finally Mr. Dames (pp. 127-129) shows that San Thomé was founded by Nuna da Cunha in 1533, no doubt in memory of this tale, and that Mailapur became confused by European travellers and writers with Pulicat, then the nearest seaport. On pp. 130-131 he quotes Correa, who in 1521 was a member of a Committee of investigation into the story about St. Thomas' burial, set up apparently in 1517, the year before Barbosa left India, under Lopes de Sequeira and his suocessor, Duarte de Meneses. Correa's statement is remarkable (pp. 130-131) -
“I, Gaspar Correa, who write this story, went in the company of Pero Lopes de Sampayo to visit this holy house. And the Captain Pero Lopes left the ship at Paleacate, and twelve or fifteen men landed with him on a pilgrimage to the holy house which is seven leagues away (i.e., at Mailapur), all on foot, singing and rejoicing, with plenty of food and drink. On coming in sight of the holy house we were all overcome by a devout sadness, so that we sang no more nor spoke one to the other with a new devotion in our hearts, remembering our sins. Each man recited his prayers with 80 great a trembling that his legs and arms weakened and shook, for we seemed to be planting our feet on holy ground. And outside the door of the holy house we fell on our knees, and shed so many tears that I know not whence they came. There we all confessed and the Father said mass (having brought with him all that was needful therefor), and we all took the holy sacrament. And this was the first mass that was said in the holy house, being the day of Corpus Christi of the year 1521.”
Then he goes on to describe repairs done to the church, and the discovery of some of the bones of the king who had been converted by Saint Thomas, who was reported by the country-folk to have been called Tanimudolyar, interpreted as "Thomas, the servent of God." But I take it that this name or rather title is merely " Tani Mudaliyêr, Thomas the Great."
We have, however, not yet got to the bottom of the story of St. Thomas, for Mr. D'Cruz notes that Father Hosten, S.J., "has started publishing in the Catholic Herald of India, beginning with the issue of 27th July 1921, tentative articles on his findings " during a visit to San Thomé in the beginning of 1921. And also measures are being taken to have translated into English a volume on St. Thomas and the Malabar tradition by the Rev. Fr. Bernard of St. Thomas, T.O.C.D. This work was published in Malayalam in 1917, filling about 500 pages.
EARLY HISTORY OF INDIAN FAMINES.
By P. N. RAMASWAMI, B.A. (With an Additional Note by L. M. ANSTEY.)
Introduction. "The idols of the market-place "-to adopt the picturesque language of Bacon-"are the most troublesome of all-those, namely which have entwined themselves round the understanding from the associations of words and names. For mon imagine that their reason governs words, whilst, in fact, words react upon the understanding and this has rendered
1 In the publication of the papers I have received very great help from my gifted and beloved master, Mr. P. T. Srinivasa Aiyangar. The Nestor of South Indian Historians spared no pains to make these papers as comprehensive as possible. Several eminent scholartonpecially Pandit Brinvarai Aohariar and Fr. Steenkisto-have liberally helped me with facts, suggestions, etc. I thank them all. I also take this opportunity to thank the St. Joseph's College Library Staff for their kindly services during the preparation of these papers; and have much pleasure in thankfully acknowledging their unfailing courtesy, promptand intelligent help.-P.N.A.
