GNOSTICS. See ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
GOA, the principal Portuguese settlement in the East Indies, is situated in 15° 28' North Latitude, and 72° 45' East Longitude; and is built upon an island, called by the natives Tissoari, about 25 or 30 miles in circumfe rence. This island is separated from the continent by a navigable river, about three miles broad at its widest part; and, though generally barren and hilly, it contains many level and fertile spots. At the entrance of the harbour is the new city of Goa, where the viceroy and principal Por tuguese inhabitants reside, and is defended by several for tresses, particularly one called the Alguarda, which stands close to the shore, and is so situated that every ship sail ing up the river must pass near its walls. About eight miles beyond this castle, is the old city of Goa, the seat of the inquisition, and the residence of the ecclesiastics, built in the form of an amphitheatre on several eminences, and almost surrounded by hills, finely clothed with wood. The harbour is a noble basin, presenting on every side the richest and most magnificent scenery. The city of Goa was first taken from the Hindoo Rajahs by the Bhamenee sovereigns of the Deccan, about the year 1469 ; and was reduced under the power of the Portuguese by the cele brated Albuquerque in the year 1510. It soon became the most flourishing European settlement in India, but the Portuguese never possessed any considerable extent of territory in its vicinity. Its walls inclosed a compass of nearly twelve miles; and few cities in India or Europe were better built, or more strongly defended. It was crowded with monasteries; and at one time, not less than 30.000 ecclesiastics are said to have resided within its dis trict. These, however, soon began to apply themselves more ardently to the acquisition of wealth, than to the in struction of the natives; and established in the place the tribunal of the Inquisition, which continued till very re cently to exercise all its cruelties upon the Hindoo con vet ts.* The town has been rapidly falling into decay since the middle of the last century, and presents a most strik ing instance of ruined grandeur. The banks of the river are still covered with country houses, and many of these, especially the monasteries, from their elevated situation, make a mag,nilicent appearance. The streets are straight and regularly built ; the houses are large and handsome ; and the number of its churches, palaces, and public build ings, excites, at a distance, the idea of an imperial resi dence ; but a nearer approach disappoints the expectations of the stranger, and exhibits a melancholy picture of wretch edness and ruin. "J'hc churches and monasteries, the of
fice of the inquisition, and a few other public structures, are still kept in good repair, particularly the church of San Caitan, which is a beautiful specimen of Italian ar chitecture ; the convent of the Augustine monks, which is a handsome edifice; the Jesuits college, which is very large and conspicuous ; the church of Francis Xa vier, the chapel of which, containing the monument of the saint, is uncommonly splendid. and the tomb is ornament ed with basso telievos composed of the choicest marbles, by European artists, representing his history and mira cles. But more than one half of the houses and adjacent country seats are void of inhabitants; the most magnifi cent palaces mouldering into ruin; the streets faintly trac ed by the remains of forsaken mansions ; the squares and market-places depopulated and silent, and actually filled with noxious reptiles. The few human inhabitants are priests, monks, half-starved soldiers, and low mechanics; and so great is their poverty, that women of the best fa milies earn their subsistence by working lace or muslin, and making artificial flowers. One of the most celebrated productions of Goa is the Alphonso mango, a delicious fruit, superior to all others of the same species. It has long been famed also for its arrack, which is made from the juice of the palm-tree, and for its cocoa-nut oil. Rice, arrack, and oil, indeed, form the principal articles of its now limited commerce. Two or three ships arrive an nually from Portugal with military stores, and other arti cles; and carry back printed cottons from Surat, a few spices, &c. Two or three trading vessels take in cargoes for China ; and a few coasters collect the produce of the Malabar ports, in order to supply the ships from Portugal with their home cargoes, and to answer the demands of the inland trade from Goa. There are a few armed ves sels for the protection of the traders. Goa is 292 miles from Bombay, 1300 from Calcutta. 575 from Madras, and 325 from Scringapatam. See Mod. Univ. Hist. vol. ix.; Parson's Travels in Asia and Africa; Forbes's Oriental Ale moire; Hamilton's East India Gazetteer; and Buchanan's Christian Researches in Asia. (q)