Tema: Portuguese India

VASAI (BASSEIN): THE REMAINS OF A PORTUGUESE CITY-FORTRESS IN INDIA

Written by Marco Ramerini, Photos by Sushant Raut
Vasai (Bassein) is located in Thane District, 70 km north of Mumbai (Bombay). The city is located on the north bank of Vasai Creek, part of the estuary of the Ulhas River. Taking a passenger train for Surat via Dadar from Bombay Central get down at Vasai Road (Bassein Road) station. The remains of the fort can be reached by bus or taxi from the Vasai railway station (11 km).

Cloister of the Franciscan Church of Santo Antonio. Vasai, Bassein, Baçaim

Of all the Portuguese forts still existing in India, Baçaim (today Vasai), is one of the most imposing. Today Baçaim is a tangle of ruins, the city has, still well preserved, his imposing boundary walls, with his two access doors ("Porta do Mar" and "Porta da Terra") and his 10 bastions.

Scattered inside the walls there are the ruins of numerous town-houses and churches, among other things: the church and the convent of the Dominicans, the Franciscan church of Santo Antonio (with numerous Portuguese tombstones, the remains of the cloister and the ruins of the bell-tower), the church of Nossa Senhora da Vida, the church and convents of the Augustinian, the "Camara" palace, the Misericordia, the church Matriz of S. José, the ruins of the Jesuits church and convent. Well preserved are also the remains of the old citadel of São Sebastião.

The entrance Gate to the citadel of the fortress. Vasai, Bassein, Baçaim

Vasai, Bassein, Baçaim

Cloister of the Franciscan Church of Santo Antonio. Vasai, Bassein, Baçaim



Stairs. Vasai, Bassein, Baçaim

Bell Tower of the Franciscan Church of Santo Antonio. Vasai, Bassein, Baçaim

Tombstone with Portuguese inscription. Vasai, Bassein, Baçaim

Interior of the Church of Nossa Senhora da Vida (1535), the oldest church of Baçaim. Vasai, Bassein, Baçaim

Cloister of the Franciscan Church of Santo Antonio. Vasai, Bassein, Baçaim

Tombstone with Portuguese inscription. Vasai, Bassein, Baçaim

Vasai, Bassein, Baçaim

Facade of the Church of Nossa Senhora da Vida (1535)

Vasai (Bassein, Baçaim) the remains of a Portuguese town in India Today

THE PORTUGUESE TOWN OF CHAUL

Written by Marco Ramerini
The Portuguese town of Chaul lay about 350 Kilometers N. of Goa and 60 Kilometers S. of Bombay, at the mouth of the Kundalika river, near the village of Revdanda. Chaul was located on the low Northern bank, opposed to a promontory on the South bank, which was called "Morro de Chaul.
Chaul was, from 1521, under the Portuguese, in the same year, they built the first fort. In October 1531, the Portuguese, erected a massive, square stone fortress at Chaul, which contained also a church and dwelling-houses for 120 men, the fortress was named "Santa Maria do Castello". Around this castle, the Portuguese town developed, but in 1558, a treaty, had precluded the town‘s fortification.
In November 1570, Chaul was attacked by Nizam Shah, the siege lasted for mounts, the city was reduced to great straits. But, at the end, in July 1571, the siege was raised and a treaty was signed. After the siege, the town was rebuilt, and a town walls with several bastions was built around it.
In April 1592, the Moors, began a new siege of Chaul, but after an hard battle, the Portuguese succeeded to repel the assault. In 1594, the Portuguese, conquered the adjoining fortress of the "Morro de Chaul". Owing to the repeated attacks by the Moors against Chaul, in 1613, new works of defense were carried out.
The Portuguese power declined and Chaul, slowly, lost his importance. In March 1739, Chaul and the fortress of "Morro de Chaul" were besieged by the Angria, but after some months, in October, the Angria, raised siege. On 18 September 1740, the conclusion arrived, Chaul was ceded by treaty to the Mahrattas.


he ruins of Chaul are near the town of Revdanda, south of Bombay (Mumbai). Of the Portuguese Chaul, today are still visible: the ruins of the town-walls with his powerful ramparts, the ruins of the church "Matriz", the church and the convent of the Augustinian, the Franciscans church, the Misericordia, the Porta do Mar". The adjoining fortress of the Morro of Chaul show, still today, the remains of his walls. In Korlai, a few kilometers from Chaul, there is a community of peoples (900) that, still today, speak a Creole form of Portuguese, they are monolingual.

Walls of Chaul, drawing by Roberto Ramerini

The Portuguese settlements in the Northern Province

Chaul a Portuguese town in India

GOA: RAINHA DO ORIENTE

Written by Marco Ramerini
Goa, is situated on an island at the mouth of the Mandovi River, at the time of the arrival of the Portuguese in India, Goa was under the rule of the Sultanate of Bijapur of whom was the second most important town, the city was wealthy, and possessed a grand natural harbour.
On 28 February 1510, Afonso de Albuquerque, the Governor of Portuguese India, with a fleet of several ships, anchored off Goa harbour, the following morning some Portuguese boats were sent in patrol, they landed and conquered the Fortress of Pangim. The next day a message from the inhabitants of Goa came, they offered the surrender of the city and the vassallage to the King of Portugal. On the morning of 4 March 1510, Albuquerque, with 1.000 Portuguese soldiers and 200 Malabarese, entered Goa. Albuquerque's first care was to repair Goa fortifications, he also established a mint, where were quickly minted gold, silver and copper money.
The Bijapurese, organized a large army and marched towards Goa. The ruinous condition of Goa's fortification, forced Albuquerque, after a fierce resistance, to abandon the town to the Sultan of Bijapur. Adil Khan, at the head of 50.000 soldiers entered Goa on 20 May 1510. The Portuguese fleet, now, was blockaded, by the monsoon, at the mouth of Mandovi River and the Portuguese ships were exposed to the Moor's cannonade, the Albuquerque's tenacity, let him to resist till 16 August 1510, when the entire Portuguese fleet sailed away. Albuquerque, waited for reinforcements from Lisbon, and when these arrived, he soon prepared a fleet of 23 ships and 2.000 men to conquer, definitively, Goa. On the morning of 25 November 1510, Albuquerque's men attacked the city, and at midday Goa were again in Portuguese hands.


Soon after the conquest of Goa, several ambassadors from many Indian Kingdoms came to Goa in search of alliance. For the next two years, Goa was, again and again, under the attacks of the Sultan of Bijapur, Adil Shah (Hidalcao), that was resolute to reconquest the town. In 1512, a new attempt was made by the Adil Shah to drive away the Portuguese from Goa, in this year, the Moors, fortified Benasterim, which controlled the principal passage from the mainland to the island of Goa. Albuquerque, returning from Malacca, wasted no time and soon attacked the fortress, which was taken after several days of battle. After this he ordered to strengthen the forts of Benasterim, Devarim and Pangim, which commanded the principal passes to the mainland, he also founded in Goa a hospital and built several churches (Church of Priorado do Rosario, Chapel of Santa Catarina).
On 15/16 December 1515, in the harbour of Goa, the Goa's conqueror Afonso de Albuquerque died, his mortal remains, temporarily, were buried in the chapel he had built in Goa and later (1566) conveyed to Portugal. He was the builder of the Portuguese Empire in the East (Goa, Malacca, Hormuz), he was relentless with his enemies, but he also seems to have appreciated the character of the Asiatic peoples and often he left the civil administration of the places he conquered in the hands of the natives, he was the first to encourage the marriage of Portuguese soldiers with native women.
In 1530, the capital of Portuguese India was transferred from Cochin to Goa and in 1534 it became the centre of the Roman Church in the whole East and finally in 1557 Goa became seat of an archibishopric. In this occasion a large cathedral was also built (Sé of Santa Catarina 1562-1619). St. Francis Xavier arrived in Goa in 1542.
In 1543, the Goan's territory was enlarged with the annexation of the provinces of Bardez and Salcete. In 1560, was introduced the inquisition (active in 1560-1774 and in 1779-1812). In 1570, the Sultan of Bijapur made the last effort to dislodge the Portuguese from Goa, but after a siege of ten months he was forced to give up.
At the beginning of 17th. century, Goa was the capital of an empire which spreaded from Moçambique to Nagasaki and that controlled the Indian Ocean trade. This was the period of great brightness for Goa and the Portuguese power in the East, the city was also called "Goa Dourada" or "Roma do Oriente" at that time is said that Goa had 200.000 inhabitants and was able to compete with the most important cities in the world, a lot of magnificent churches and buildings were built during these years. Several of them are still visible today. A Portuguese proverb of the time said: "Quem viu Goa, dispensa de ver Lisboa".
The decline of Goa, began with the coming of the Dutch, who several times during 17th century blockaded Goa from the sea and between the 1600-1650 destroyed the Portuguese power in the East. In spite of this, Goa was never conquered and remained in Portuguese hands till December 1961 when, with Damao and Diu, was occupied by an Indian Army. In 1760, Velha Goa was abandoned, and the seat of the government was transferred to Pangim which from 1843 was declared officially the capital of Portuguese India. In 1763, the districts of Ponda, Quepem, Sanguem and Canacona were added to the Portuguese possessions. Finally, in 1788, were added also the districts of Pernem, Satari and Bicholim.
THE CHURCHES OF OLD GOA TODAY
Santa Catarina Cathedral (Sé), the largest church of Goa, it was built between 1562 and 1619, the altar was finished in 1652. The Northern tower of this church collapsed in 1776. In the Southern tower there is a gold bell.
Church and Convent of Sao Francisco de Assis, the church was built in 1661, on the site where was an old Francescan's chapel, this church has a beautiful portal in Manueline style. The Convent is today a Museum.
Chapel of Santa Catarina, was built in 1552 on the site of the old chapel (1510) built by Aphonso de Albuquerque.
Church and Convent of Sao Cajetan, was built in the years 1655-1661 by the Theatins Italian Friars.
Basilica do Bom Jesus, built during the years 1594-1605, is one of the richest churches in Goa, is known principally for the tomb of St. Francis Xavier. This basilica, where the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier are kept, is the best specimen of baroque architecture in India and is cruciform on plan. The beautiful tomb of St. Francis Xavier was a gift from Medici, Cosimo III, the Grand Duke of Tuscany.
Ruins of the Church and Convent of the Agustinians, they were built in 1602 by Augustinians Friars, of this church and convent today remains only the tower and the arch in a ruined state. The tower has four storys with an arch in each and is nearly 46 meters high.
Church of Priorado do Rosario, Real Chapel of Santo Antonio, Church and Convent of Santa Monica (1606-1627), Church of Cruz dos Milagres (1671), Ruins of the Church and College of Sao Paulo (1541-1543).
STATISTIC OF GOA: 1881
Population (1881): 445.449 (2.500 were the "Mestiços" or "Descendentes"). Religion (1881): Christians: 55 % (there were 96 Catholic Churches); Hindus: 45 %. Languages (1881): Konkani: all the classes of the peoples, except Europeans and "Mestiços", use the Konkani language with some admixture of Portuguese words. Portuguese: the official language, is principally spoken in the capital and in the chief towns.
STATISTIC OF GOA: 1981
Languages (1981): Konkani 600.004; Marathi 266.649; Gujarati 77.677; Kannada 33.512; Urdu 27.703; Hindi 21.158; Malayalam 7.634; English 6.407; Telugu 5.527; Tamil 3.884; Punjabi 1.314. Portuguese: it is now spoken only by a small segment of the upper class families and about 3 to 5 % of the people still speak it (estimated at 30.000 to 50.000 people).
STATISTIC OF GOA: 1991
Population (1991): 1.169.793. Religion (1991): Hindus: 756.621 (64.68%); Christians: 349.225 (29.85%); Muslim: 61.455 (5.25%); Sikhs: 1.087 (0.09%); Jains: 487 (0.04%); Buddhist: 240 (0.02%); Others: 403 (0.03%).

Sé of Santa Catarina (Cathedral), the largest church of Goa

Map of Goa territory

Indo-Portuguese art (17-18 century). Torino, collezione privata, foto per gentile concessione di Walter e Mario Chiapetto

The Island of Goa, from the "Livro das Plantas das Fortalezas, Cidades e Povoaçoes do Estado da India Oriental" 1600s

Portuguese in Goa, India

THE PORTUGUESE IN COCHIN

Written by Marco Ramerini
The city of Cochin (today: Ernakulam) was, from the 24 December 1500 when the first Portuguese fleet called on its port, a firm ally of the Portuguese. The admiral of this fleet was Pedro Alvares Cabral (the discoverer of Brasil). The Rajah (king) of Cochin allowed that a "feitoria" (factory) be allocated to the Portuguese and upon Cabral’s departure he allowed that thirty Portuguese and four Franciscan friars stayed in Cochin.
In 1502 a new expedition under the command of Vasco da Gama arrived at Cochin, and the friendship with the Rajah of Cochin was renewed. After the departure of Vasco da Gama, the Zamorin of Calicut, enemy of the Portuguese, attacked Cochin and destroyed the Portuguese "feitoria".
The Rajah of Cochin and his Portuguese allies were forced to withdraw to the island of Vypin. Here, they were reinforced by three ships under Francisco de Albuquerque’s leadership and, some days later by Duarte Pacheco Pereira (the author of "Esmeraldo de situ orbis") an the Calicut troops immediately abandoned the siege.
In 27 September of 1503 the foundations of a timber fortress were laid. This was the first fortress erected by the Portuguese in India.
At the departure of the Portuguese fleet to Portugal, Duarte Pacheco Pereira with three ships and 100 men were left in Cochin for assistance to the Rajah. Meanwhile, the Zamorin of Calicut formed a force of 50.000 men and 280 ships to drive the Portuguese out of Cochin. Duarte Pacheco Pereira was in command of only 100 Portuguese, 300 Malabar troops and about 5.000 soldiers of the King of Cochin (and the majority of these deserted).



Pereira was a formidable commander. For five months, he and his men were able to sustain and drive back all the Zamorin’s assaults. He saved Portugal from being driven out of India. After this victory, Pereira returned to Portugal, and the King paid him the highest honours. However, subsequently he was to be imprisoned on charges, which were afterwards proven to be false. Later, he became Governor of the castle of São Jorge da Mina (1519-1522) in the Gold Coast. He ended his days in obscure poverty.
In 1505, a stone fortress replaced the wooden fortress of Cochin. The first church of Cochin was that of São Bartolomeu built in 1504. In 1506, the construction of Santa Cruz church (which gave its name to the Portuguese town) was initiated. A parish church called Madre de Deus was laid in 1510. In 1550, the Jesuits added a large three storied college to the church.
For a better defence of the town, a fort called "Castelo de Cima" was built on Vypeen island at Paliport. In 1510, Afonso de Albuquerque started a school (a Portuguese "casado" Afonso Alvares was the teacher) but after his death it closed down. However, the Franciscans started a new school in 1520. They built a friary (Santo Antonio) (1518-1520), a seminary and the beautiful church dedicated to São Francisco de Assis (1516-1522). Vasco da Gama was originally buried in it on Christmas eve of 1524. The floor of this church was paved with tombstones, which, in 1887, were removed and fixed in its walls, where there are still today. This church is a living historical monument of today’s Cochin.
At the beginning of XVI century, Cochin was the seat of the Portuguese in India. Including during the capture of Goa in 1510. The transfer of the capital of Portuguese India to Goa finally took place in 1530. In 1557, the palace of the King at Mattancheri was built. This palace after the VOC (Dutch East India Company) conquest of Cochin (1663) was enlarged by the Dutch and is known today as the "Dutch Palace". In 1558 the diocese of Cochin was erected and the Santa Cruz church became the cathedral. The old city of Cochin was called "Cochin de Cima" (today Mattancherry) and was situated on an island of a canal. The Portuguese town was called "Cochin de Baixo" or "Santa Cruz".
In the 1630s its population was of 500 "casados" (of these 300 were Portuguese or Eurasians, the other being Christian Indians). The town had a city council ("câmara"), a cathedral, a custom-house, a "Confraria da Misericordia" (1527), a Jewish synagogue (1568), five parish churches and several convents. The town was partly encircled by walls with several ramparts. Right after Goa, the city of Cochin situated in the center of East Indies, was the best place Portugal had in India. From there the Portuguese exported large volumes of spices, particularly pepper.
Therefore the Dutch set their eyes on Cochin and after the occupation of Ceylon in 1658, they tried to conquer Malabar. They took Quilon on 29 December 1658, but the Portuguese reconquered it on 14 April 1659. However, in 1661, the Dutch began a new expedition against the Portuguese settlements in Malabar, on 16 February they captured the fort of Pallipuram (near Cochin).
Another Dutch expedition under Ryckloff Van Goens conquered Quilon on 24 December 1661 and on 15 January 1662 Cranganore was also taken. Soon after, on 5 February 1662, the Dutch began their assault on Cochin but encountering heroic Portuguese resistance, after one month, abandoned the siege.
They came back on November 1662 and surrounded Cochin by all sides. For three months, the Portuguese resisted but, finally, on 7 January 1663, they surrendered the city. The terms of the capitulation were that all the unmarried Portuguese residents were returned to Europe, and all married Portuguese and Mestiços were transferred to Goa. On the morning of 8 January 1663, the soldiers and citizens came out of the fort and laid down their arms and the Dutch took possession thereof. The last governor of Portuguese Cochin was Inácio Sarmento. About four thousand people, so was said, were the banished.

The Portuguese church of Sao Francisco de Asis, here was originally buried Vasco da Gama

Original grave of Vasco da Gama, St. Francis in Old Cochin, Kochi, India

Interior of the church of St. Francis in Old Cochin, Kochi, India

Another Portuguese church in Cochin

Another Portuguese church in Cochin

Old print of Cochin

Portuguese forts and settlements in South-India

Portuguese Cochin and environs

Portuguese in Cochin (Kochi), India

THE PORTUGUESE SETTLEMENTS IN THE BAY OF BENGAL

Written by Marco Ramerini
In the Bay of Bengal there was a rather peculiar form of Portuguese settlements. Indeed, that coast was not conquered, militarily that is, like the Malabar coast, but was colonized, pacifically, by groups of "Casados" (married men of the reserve army), beginning in 1520s.
SÃO TOMÉ DE MELIAPORE (Madras)
The main settlement was the town of São Tomé de Meliapore (near today’s Madras) where there was (and still is) the grave of the apostle Saint Thomas. In 1522-23 the Portuguese built a church there and, around it, a colony was started. In 1523 a new city was born. In 1537, São Tomé was populated by 50 Casados. By 1544 their number had doubled. Then the Jesuits settled there in 1548/49. In spite of this fast development, in the years between the foundation of São Tomé (1522) and 1560s., the Portuguese's activity was mainly concentrated in the settlement of Paleacate (Pulicat) founded in 1518, where in 1545 were settled 600 - 700 Portuguese Casados. In the relation of Cesare Federici (1560) the town of São Tomé is described as "la più bella di quante ne sono in quelle parti dell'India".
In 1580, the town of Sao Tomé had four churches those of São Tomé, São Francisco, São Joao Baptista and Misericordia. Outside the town were the churches of Madre de Deus, São Lazaro, Nossa Senhora da Luz and Nossa Senhora do Monte. At the beginning of 1600, São Tomé had a population of about 600 Casados. On 9 January, 1606, the Diocese of São Tomé de Meliapur was erected. In 1607, São Tomé was declared city and a "Camara Municipal" was created. In 1614, the inhabitants raised fortifications and all the populations: Portuguese administration, "casados", soldiers, native Christian population resided within the walled city. The city had a "capitao-mor" (captain major) and a Bishop and in 1635 there were as many as 10 churches. In 1646 São Tomé was besieged by Mir Jumla of Qutbshahi.


The period between 1656 and 1662 is an obscure period, and in 1662, São Tomé was conquered by Qutbshashi of Golconda. From 1662-1672 São Tomè remained in Qutbshahi hands. In 1672, the French, under Admiral de la Haye, conquered São Tomé but after two years of occupation on 6 September 1674 the French surrendered the city to the Dutch who, in turn, handed it over to the Qutbshahi on 10 October 1674. In 1687 a tenuous Portuguese administration was re-established. In January 1697, the fortification were pulled down; the only privilege that remained to the Portuguese residents in 1702 was to display the flag on Sundays and Holidays.
Portuguese influence came to an end on 21 October 1749, when the English (in principle Portuguese allies) occupied São Tomé. Other Portuguese settlements were at Negapatam, Porto Novo, Masulipatam, Pulicat, Ugolim (near today’s Calcutta), Chittagong, Syriam (near today’s Rangoon), Dianga (in Arakan).
NAGAPATTINAM
The Portuguese colonized Nagapattinam at the same time as São Tomé (1520s. - 1530s.). It was the best port of the entire Coromandel coast, ten villages (Nagappattinam Port, Puthur, Muttam, Poruvalancheri, Anthonippettai, Karureppankadu, Azhinji Mangalam, Sangamangalam, Thiruthina mangalam, Manjakollai, Nariyankudi) were taken control of by the Portuguese traders. At the end of 1540s., the Franciscans and later the Jesuits settled in the town. Several were the churches built in the city: Madre de Deus, São Jeronimo, Paulistas, São Domingos, Nossa Senhora da Nazaré, Sé. In 1577, there were in Nagapattinam 60 casados, 200 Eurasians, 3000 Christians Indians. In the years 1642-43 Nagapattinam was fortified and a customs-house was also built. On 23 July 1658 a Dutch fleet under the command of Jan van der Laan conquered the fort. In the 1590s the Portuguese settled north of Nagapattinam in a port they named Porto Novo (New Harbour), this port was the place where the Portuguese moved-in after the Dutch conquest of Nagapattinam.
NORTH BAY OF BENGAL
The first Portuguese expedition in Bengal landed in Chittagong in 1517. This port was the most important of all; the Portuguese called it "Porto Grande" (Large Harbour). After this first visit, the Portuguese sent to Bengal, annually, a ship with merchandise. In 1536-37 the King of Bengal gave the custom house of Chittagong (Porto Grande) and Satgaon (Porto Pequeno) to the Portuguese and also permitted to build "feitorias" (trading post) in both towns.
PIPLI (Orissa)
The first settlement in the Gulf of Bengal was established in Orissa, at Pipli, by some Portuguese escaped from São Tomé in 1514. Pipli was an important trading center, and the Augustinians had built a church and a residence. At the beginnings of XVIII century, a large Portuguese and Eurasian community populated Pipli.
UGOLIM, SATGAON, BANDEL
The destiny of the first settlement in Satgaon is obscure. But in the 1579-80 Antonio Tavares founded Ugolim (Hooghly) at the mouth of the Ganges near the first settlement of Satgaon. The town grew rapidly, the religious orders erected many churches, and, in 1603, it had about 5000 Portuguese inhabitants. Satgaon was again under the authority of the Portuguese from 1590s but Ugolim outshinned this settlement. A few kilometers north was the community of Bandel where the Order of the Agostinians built a friary in 1599 (this convent still exists in Bandel, although it was rebuilt), to which was attached the church of Nossa Senhora do Rosario. The Portuguese of Ugolim extended their settlements sixty leagues inland from the banks of the river. Since the beginning of the XVII century they had the Bengal trade in their hands. In Ugolim the religious orders erected many churches, a hospital, a Casa de Misericordia (Institution of charity) and a school. The Portuguese never fortified Ugolim and when the Mughals besieged the city it had only an earthen parapet. The siege began on 24 June 1632 and the Portuguese defenders were only three hundred and about six hundred native Christians. The defenders held out for three months, but, on 25 September 1632, the Mughals launched a violent attack and captured the town. The Portuguese lost about 3000-5000 men included the civil populations. On the Mughals side the losses were enormous. Only three thousand Portuguese survivors, and they escaped to Saugor island where they built a fortress. By July 1633, only a year after the siege of Ugolim, the Portuguese settled again in Ugolim (the Shah Jahan conceded to them a grant of land there). The motive of this return remains unexplained. Notwithstanding this move, the Portuguese never regained their past power. In 1666, a witness reported that at Ugolim there were about 8.000 or 9.000 Portuguese and Eurasians, and the Augustinians and the Jesuits possessed large churches. In 1680, in all Bengal there were no less than 20.000 Portuguese Mestiços (people of mixed blood).
CHITTAGONG (CHATIGAM), DIANGA, SANDWIP
The settlement of Chittagong (Chatigam) grew into a great trading center. The Jesuits erected two churches and a residence. About 1590, the Portuguese also captured the fort of Chittagong and made the island of Sandwip a tributary. In 1598, there were 2.500 Portuguese and Eurasians in Chittagong and Arakan. In 1602, Sandwip was conquered by Domingo Carvalho and Manuel de Mattos. This island was however lost a short time later (1605 ?). Towards the end of XVI century, the Portuguese also settled in Dianga (today's Bunder or Feringhi Bunder), opposite to Chittagong across the southern bank of the Karnaphuli River. In 1607, the King of Arakan massacred about 600 Portuguese inhabitants of Dianga. The Portuguese settled again in Dianga after 1615. Despite the Dianga massacre, a small number of Portuguese managed to escape, and settled in a island at the mouth of the Ganges. One of them was Sebastiao Gonçalves Tibau; that later in 1607, leading 400 Portuguese, attacked and conquered (for the second time) the island of Sandwip. He ruled the island like an independent King having under his command a force of 1000 Portuguese. Tibau also seized the islands of Dakhin Shahbazpur and Patelbanga. In 1615, Tibau moving-on to conquer Arakan, asked help from Goa that promptly came. On October 1615, the Portuguese fleet attacked the Arakanese fleet that was reinforced by a Dutch fleet. They won the battle and the majority of the Portuguese army returned to Goa. Soon after, in 1616,Sebastiao Gonçalves Tibau was defeated by the King of Arakan that invaded Sandwip and took possession of the island. After Tibau’ s defeat, the Portuguese in Eastern Bengal (out of the control of Goa) devoted themselves to piracy. They allied with the King of Arakan and settled in Dianga and Chittagong. From there, in 1665, when the Mughals took Chittagong, they moved to Ferenghi Bazar (South of today's Dacca), where Portuguese descendents still reside to the present day.
MINOR SETTLEMENTS IN BENGAL
The Portuguese settled at Dacca about 1580. The remains of the Portuguese trading factory, close to the church of Our Ladies of Rosary, were still evident in 1919 . Other small Portuguese settlements thrived in Bengal. At the end of XVI century, in Sripur, Chandecan, Bakla, Catrabo, Loricul (where, at the end of XVIII century, the ruins of a Portuguese church were still evident ) and Bhulua, where at the end of XVII century, many peoples spoke Portuguese. In 1520 s. some Portuguese settled in Hijili (Hidgelee or Angelim), here they possessed a large tract of land. The Augustinians built two churchesin Hijili. Hijili was lost in 1636. In 1919, the ruins of the Portuguese settlement were still visible. In 1838, at Merepore (three kms south of Hijili) a community of Christians, who claimed to be descendents of the Portuguese from Goa, was found. At Tamluk (Tambolim), in 1635, was built a church and as late as in 1724 the Portuguese had churches and traded there. At Balasore, there were small Portuguese settlements. In 1880, a small chapel was still standing. It has disappeared by now.
SYRIAM (Myanmar-Burma)
In the year 1602, the King of Arakan granted the port of Syriam (today’s Rangoon), in Pegu, to Felipe de Brito e Nicote for his services. There the Portuguese built a fort and a custom house. Syriam remained in the hands of the Portuguese untill 1613 when the King of Ava captured it. The Portuguese settlements in the Bay of Bengal reached their apogee in the first decade of XVII century.

Portuguese settlements in the bay of Bengal

Map of the Portuguese settlement in North Bengal

The Portuguese in the Bay of Bengal