CHAP. XIX.

Concerning our stay at Daman.

NOT long before my Arrival at Daman, the Sieur de St. James, Son of a French Physician, and another young French Man, were Married there. The last of these two had Married the Ba∣stard Sister of a Lady of Quality, called Donna Pe∣tronilla de la Cerda, who, after she was a Widow, had Married a person of the first Rank among the Portugueses. The Sieur de St. James had Married the Daughter of this Lady, whose Name being Don∣na Rosa de Mello, was in all respects answerable to her Youth and Beauty.

I having heard much talk of them at Suratte, I thought my self under an indispensible obligati∣on to pay them a visit. But the first thing I did was to deliver my recommendation to the Rector of the Jesuit College, who receiv'd me with all the Civility imaginable, and conducted me to the Governour, who after he had treated me according to his Quality, proposed to me to stay at Daman, where there was at that time no other Physician, but some Pagan Indians, whose Practice consisting only in a few Receipts, they apply them indiffe∣rently to all Patients. I return'd his Compliment, desiring some time to consider of the matter; and the Rector of the Jesuits observing my inclination to Travelling to be more prevailing with me than the Prospect of present advantages, urged me to accept of the Governour's offers, assuring me, that he would make use of all his interests for my fur∣ther advantage.

The next following day I paid a visit to my two Country-Men, of whom I spoke just now, Page  186 they were overjoyed to see me, and Treated me with a most Magnificent Collation; in the mean while, the Sieur de St. James had spoke in my be∣half, to his Mother-in-law, to desire her permissi∣on to let me Lodge in their House, which she ha∣ving easily granted, they had without my know∣ledge sent for my Trunks, so that when after some Hours stay, I was going to take my leave, they intreated me to accept of their House, which at their reiterated intreaties I could not refuse to my two generous Country-Men.

I was not ignorant of the Custom of the Portu∣gueses, with whom you can scarce meet with suffici∣ent circumspection, in respect of the fair Sex, I did not as yet mention one word concerning their Ladies; but the next day they were the first that mentioned and proposed a visit to them; I seem'd to be careless in the matter, and having spent the greatest part of the day in visiting some of my Patients in the City, at my return towards Night, they introduced me to them in their Apartments, where I entertained them with the same freedom as we do in France, whereat they seem'd not at all displeased. They did ask me many Questions, which I answered as well as I could, and Donna Pe∣tronilla Addressing her Discourse to me, above the rest, we did not part till late at Night.

I did not fail afterwards to visit them at least once a day, and Petronilla treated me always with more than ordinary Civility. She was of about 39 years of Age, notwithstanding which, she had sufficient Charms, being of a very pleasing Aspect, of an admirable Shape, delicately featured and a∣greeable in all respects; she had a very lively Eye, and her Humour was the sweetest and most Com∣plaisant in the World. We diverted our selves to∣gether for some Hours every Night, and I must con∣fess that I never passed three Weeks more pleasantly than these, in all my life time.