CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.
It was a bright morning when the Portuguese vessel on which Amine was onboard entered into the bay and roadstead of Goa. Goa was then at itszenith,--a proud, luxurious, superb, wealthy city--the capital of theEast--a city of palaces whose viceroy reigned supreme. As theyapproached the river, the two mouths of which form the island upon whichGoa is built, the passengers were all on deck; and the Portuguesecaptain, who had often been there, pointed out to Amine the mostremarkable buildings. When they had passed the forts, they entered theriver, the whole line of whose banks were covered with the country seatsof the nobility and hidalgos--splendid buildings embosomed in groves oforange-trees, whose perfume scented the air.
"There, signora, is the country palace of the viceroy," said thecaptain, pointing to a building which covered nearly three acres ofground.
The ship sailed on until they arrived nearly abreast of the town, whenAmine's eyes were directed to the lofty spires of the churches, andother public edifices; for Amine had seen but little of cities duringher life, as may be perceived when her history is recollected.
"That is the Jesuits' church, with their establishment," said thecaptain, pointing to a magnificent pile. "In the church now openingupon us lie the canonised bones of the celebrated Saint Francisco, whosacrificed his life in his zeal for the propagation of the Gospel inthese countries."
"I have heard of him from Father Mathias," replied Amine; "but whatbuilding is that?"
"The Augustine convent; and the other, to the right, is the Dominican."
"Splendid, indeed!" observed Amine.
"The building you see now, on the water-side, is the viceroy's palace;that to the right again, is the convent of the barefooted Carmelites;yon lofty spire is the cathedral of St. Catherine; and that beautifuland light piece of architecture is the church of our Lady of Pity. Youobserve there a building with a dome, rising behind the viceroy'spalace?"
"I do," replied Amine.
"That is the Holy Inquisition."
Although Amine had heard Philip speak of the Inquisition, she knewlittle about its properties; but a sudden tremor passed through herframe as the name was mentioned, which she could not herself accountfor.
"Now we open upon the viceroy's palace, and you perceive what abeautiful building it is," continued the captain. "That large pile, alittle above it, is the Custom-house, abreast of which we shall come toan anchor. I must leave you now, signora."
A few minutes afterwards the ship anchored opposite the Custom-house.The captain and passengers went on shore with the exception of Amine,who remained in the vessel while Father Mathias went in search of aneligible place of abode.
The next morning the priest returned on board the ship, with theintelligence that he had obtained a reception for Amine in the Ursulineconvent, the abbess of which establishment he was acquainted with; andbefore Amine went on shore, he cautioned her that the lady-abbess was astrict woman, and would be pleased if she conformed as much as possibleto the rules of the convent; that this convent only received youngpersons of the highest and most wealthy families, and he trusted thatshe would be happy there. He also promised to call upon her, and talkupon those subjects so dear to his heart, and so necessary to hersalvation. The earnestness and kindness with which the old man spokemelted Amine to tears; and the holy father quitted her side to go downand collect her baggage with a warmth of feeling towards her which hehad seldom felt before, and with greater hopes than ever that hisendeavours to convert her would not ultimately be thrown away.
"He is a good man," thought Amine, as she descended--and Amine wasright. Father Mathias was a good man; but, like all men, he was notperfect. A zealot in the cause of his religion, he would havecheerfully sacrificed his life as a martyr; but if opposed or thwartedin his views, he could then be cruel and unjust.
Father Mathias had many reasons for placing Amine in the Ursulineconvent. He felt bound to offer her that protection which he had solong received under her roof; he wished her to be under the surveillanceof the abbess, for he could not help imagining, although he had noproof, that she was still essaying or practising forbidden arts. He didnot state this to the abbess, as he felt it would be unjust to raisesuspicions; but he represented Amine as one who would do honour to theirfaith to which she was not yet quite converted. The very idea ofeffecting a conversion is to the tenants of a convent an object ofsurpassing interest, and the abbess was much better pleased to receiveone who required her counsels and persuasions, than a really piousChristian, who would give her no trouble. Amine went on shore withFather Mathias; she refused the palanquin which had been prepared forher, and walked up to the convent. They landed between the Custom-houseand the viceroy's palace, passed through the large square behind it, andthen went up the Strada Diretta, or straight street, which led up to theChurch of Pity, near to which the convent is situated. This street isthe finest in Goa, and is called Strada Diretta from the singular factthat almost all the streets in Goa are quadrants or segments of circles.Amine was astonished. The houses were of stone, lofty and massive; ateach story was thrown out a balcony of marble, elaborately carved; andover each door were the arms of the nobility, or hidalgos, to whom thehouses belonged. The square behind the palace and the wide streets werefilled with living beings; elephants with gorgeous trappings; led ormounted horses in superb housings; palanquins, carried by natives insplendid liveries; running footmen; syces; every variety of nation, fromthe proud Portuguese to the half-covered native; Mussulmans, Arabs,Hindoos, Armenians; officers and soldiers in their uniforms, all crowdedand thronged together,--all was bustle and motion. Such was the wealth,the splendour, and luxury of the proud city of Goa--the Empress of theEast at the time we are now describing.
In half an hour they forced their way through the crowd, and arrived atthe convent, where Amine was well received by the abbess; and, after afew minutes' conversation, Father Mathias took his leave; upon which theabbess immediately set about her task of conversion. The first thingshe did was to order some dried sweetmeats--not a bad beginning, as theywere palatable; but as she happened to be very ignorant, andunaccustomed to theological disputes, her subsequent arguments did notgo down as well as the fruit. After a rambling discourse of about anhour, the old lady felt tired, and felt as if she had done wonders.Amine was then introduced to the nuns, most of whom were young, and allof good family. Her dormitory was shown to her; and expressing a wishto be alone, she was followed into her chamber by only sixteen of them,which was about as many as the chamber could well hold.
We must pass over the two months during which Amine remained in theconvent. Father Mathias had taken every step to ascertain if herhusband had been saved upon any of the islands which were under thePortuguese dominions, but could gain no information. Amine was soonweary of the convent; she was persecuted by the harangues of the oldabbess, but more disgusted at the conduct and conversation of the nuns.They all had secrets to confide to her--secrets which had been confidedto the whole convent before: such secrets, such stories, so differentfrom Amine's chaste ideas--such impurity of thought--that Amine wasdisgusted at them. But how could it be otherwise? The poor creatureshad been taken from the world in the full bloom of youth, under aripening sun, and had been immured in this unnatural manner to gratifythe avarice and pride of their families. Its inmates being whollycomposed of the best families, the rules of this convent were not sostrict as others; licences were given--greater licences were taken--andAmine, to her surprise, found that in this society, devoted to Heaven,there were exhibited more of the bad passions of human nature than shehad before met with. Constantly watched, never allowed a moment toherself, her existence became unbearable; and, after three months, sherequested Father Mathias would find her some other place of refuge,telling him frankly that her residence in that place was not very likelyto assist her conversion to the tenets of his faith. Father Mathiasfully comprehended her, but replied, "I have no means."
"Here are means," replied Amine, taki
ng the diamond ring from herfinger. "This is worth eight hundred ducats in our country; here, Iknow not how much."
Father Mathias took the ring. "I will call upon you to-morrow morning,and let you know what I have done. I shall acquaint the lady abbessthat you are going to your husband, for it would not be safe to let hersuppose that you have reasons for quitting the convent. I have heardwhat you state mentioned before, but have treated it as scandal: butyou, I know, are incapable of falsehood."
The next day Father Mathias returned, and had an interview with theabbess, who after a time sent for Amine, and told her that it wasnecessary that she should leave the convent. She consoled her as wellas she could at leaving such a happy place, sent for some sweetmeats tomake the parting less trying, gave her a blessing, and made her over toFather Mathias; who, when they were alone, informed Amine "that he haddisposed of the ring for eighteen hundred dollars, and had procuredapartments for her in the house of a widow lady, with whom she was toboard."
Taking leave of the nuns, Amine quitted the convent with Father Mathias,and was soon installed in her new apartments, in a house which formedpart of a spacious square called the Terra di Sabaio. After theintroduction to her hostess, Father Mathias left her. Amine found herapartments fronting the square, airy and commodious. The landlady, whohad escorted her to view them, not having left her, she inquired "whatlarge church that was on the other side of the square?"
"It is the Ascension," replied the lady; "the music is very fine there;we will go and hear it to-morrow, if you please."
"And that massive building in face of us?"
"That is the Holy Inquisition," said the widow, crossing herself.
Amine again started, she knew not why. "Is that your child?" saidAmine, as a boy of about twelve years old entered the room.
"Yes," replied the widow, "the only one that is left me. May Godpreserve him." The boy was handsome and intelligent, and Amine, for herown reasons, did everything she could to make friends with him, and wassuccessful.
The Phantom Ship Page 34