COLONIAL PANJIM: ITS GOVERNANCE,

ITS PEOPLE

Celsa Pinto

2017
 Colonial Panjim: Its Governance, Its People
(c) 2017 Celsa Pinto

Published in 2017 by

Goa,1556, Sonarbhat, Saligao 403511 Goa, India. http://goa1556.goa-india.org,

goa1556@gmail.com +91-832-2409490
in association with

The Margao (Rua Abade Faria) bookshop with a difference

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Typeset with LYX, http://www.lyx.org. Text: Bitstream Charter, 9.8/14.

See Goa,1556s catalogue at: http://goa1556.in

Contents

Preface 5

List of Tables 7

Abbreviations 12

Glossary 13

Currency, Weights and Measures 16

1 Urban Governance and Institutional Framework 22

2 City Administration: Main Services and Utilities 28

3 Control and Supervision of Markets, Slaughter House,

Cemeteries, Crematorium 54

4 Maintenance and Repair of Public Structures 65

5 Urban Environment and Sanitation 73

6 Road/River Transportation and Policing 95

7 Law and Order 112

8 Jail Administration 146

9 Public Health 165

3
C ONTENTS

10 Urban Finance 203

11 Demography: Characteristics and Trends 221

12 Urban Society 264

13 The Economic Profile 303

14 Conclusion 339

Bibliography 344

Index 347

4
PREFACE

first book on Nova Goa Anatomy of a Colonial Capital:

M
Y
Panjim is a serious academic exposition on the construc-
tion of Portuguese Indias second capital, progressing from land
acquisition, to landfill to eventually land use. The planners, engi-
neers, masons and workmen who toiled to build this capital in just
130 years, i.e. from the times of Dom Manoel de Castro e Portu-
gal to 1961, deserve much commendation. It was indeed a remark-
able feat, after all the locality until the early nineteenth century
was viewed by many a chronicler and foreign traveller as a humble
and unhealthy ward of the village of Taleigo. Its rise and transfor-
mation from village to town, to capital is undoubtedly an amazing
and exciting tale.
But no story on colonial Panjim would be complete without
an examination of the nature of its urban governance, society and
economy. A glance at the historiography on Indo-Portuguese his-
tory reveals a total absence and negligence of these vital aspects of
an urban set-up.
The administration of the city of Nova Goa during 18431961
would to many be an eye-opener, for despite constraints lack of
funds and manpower the authorities were able to provide essen-
tial services and utilities, attend to law and order, control traffic
movement on road and river, maintain and repair municipal struc-
tures and with a considerable struggle oversee the urban environ-

5
C OLONIAL PANJIM : I TS G OVERNANCE , I TS P EOPLE | C ELSA P INTO

ment, health and sanitation.

The human element is without doubt a relevant and significant
aspect of any urban space. The nature of colonial Panjims urban
population, and the socio-economic activities they engaged in, are
highlighted in this book.
I sincerely hope that this work, empirical in nature, fills a ma-
jor gap in the existing studies on the urban history of Portuguese
India, which for long have focussed on the first colonial capital of
the Estado da India, now known as Old Goa.
It is indeed strange that fifty-five years after Liberation, todays
Panjim (Panaji) continues to struggle with issues such as garbage
disposal and sanitation. In fact we are faced with another men-
ace the choking of Panjims arterial roads with sluggish vehicular
movement and bad parking. As a resident of Panjim for the last 35
years, this scenario disturbs me.
We are on the verge of transforming Panjim into a Smart City. It
would be beneficial to all of us authorities, residents and others
to acquaint ourselves with Panjims colonial past before embarking
on its future.
This work would have possibly not taken its present shape, if
it were not for the large-heartedness of many. For documentary
evidence, I am extremely grateful to the authorities of the Histor-
ical Archives of Goa, Xavier Centre of Historical Research, Alto-
Porvorim and to the State Central Library of Goa, particularly Car-
los Fernandes, Curator and Maria Ana Paiva, Librarian in charge of
the Rare Books and Local History Section.
I would be totally failing in my sense of gratitude if I do not
make a special mention of Lilia Maria DSouza, an experienced
and knowledgeable librarian whose personal interventions en-
abled me to reach valuable documentation on Nova Goa.
My thanks also go out to Aires Andrade who was kind enough
to make available relevant documentary material on Fontainhas.
Bonfilio da Cruz, Rafael Viegas, Pia Rodrigues and Agnelo Pinto
have shared with me what they experienced in the last decade of
colonial Panjim.

6
 List of Tables

There are those whose constant egging and nagging kept me on

the tracks of research. I owe tons of gratitude to Bonfilio da Cruz, C.
K. Mathew, Yvette and Juvenal Rego, Uttam Raut Dessai and Gor-
reti Pereira. God bless you all for contributing to my personal en-
richment.
Rinette Peres was my research assistant at a time when it was
impossible for me to read in the libraries due to my full-time
profession. Irene Rocha very competently produced a well-typed
manuscript of this book. To both, I record my sincere thanks.
I must express words of gratitude to the publisher Frederick
Noronha. I know it has been a tough and tedious effort to bring
out this book. I record here my appreciation.

Celsa Pinto
Panjim, Goa

December 2016

7
C OLONIAL PANJIM : I TS G OVERNANCE , I TS P EOPLE | C ELSA P INTO

LIST OF TABLES
Page

2.1 Expenditure towards the Project of Garbage 37

Collection, 1859

4.1 Expenditure Incurred on Public Jail, 186064 71

7.1 Cases handled by the Police in Nova Goa, 188182 137

7.2 Cases handled by the Police in Nova Goa, 189394 138

7.3 Work of the Police towards Harlots/Prostitutes, 141

188182

7.4 Fines collected for Infringement of the Posturas and 143

for Nudity, 1882

7.5 Transgressors of Municipal Legislation and the 144

Bando on Nudity, 189293

8.1 Entry and Departure of Prisoners of the Panjim Jail, 146

187071

8.2 Nature of Crimes committed by the Prisoners in 147

Panjim Jail, 187071

8.3 Racial Composition of the Prisoners in Panjim Jail, 147

187071

8.4 Religious Composition of the Prisoners in Panjim 148

Jail, 187071

9.1 Cholera Patients in Panjim, 1871 167

9.2 Persons leaving the Lazareto de Reis Magos and 172

other lazaretos for different parts of Ilhas, 1899

9.3 People who came from British India and moved to 173
Ilhas and Panjim, 1899

9.4 Rats caught in Panjim, 18981900 192

8
 List of Tables

10.1 Panjim: Fees (Taxas) to obtain Licences for 205

Commercial Purposes

10.2 Transportation: Fines for Transgressions, 1879 214

10.3 Individuals who owed foros for Houses/Landed 217

Properties situated in Palmar Ponte de Pangim,
184347

10.4 Individuals who owed the Fazenda foros de terreno 218

for Landed Property located in Palmar Ponte,
184388

11.1 Population of Ilhas, 17761960 222

11.2 Density of Population of Ilhas, 18481960 224

11.3 Decadal Percentage Variation in Population of Ilhas, 225

18811960

11.4 Population of Panjim, 17811960 226

11.5 Nature of the Population of Ilhas and Panjim, 228

190021

11.6 Panjim: Households versus Population, 18401960 228

11.7 Ilhas: Households, 18811960 229

11.8 Births and Deaths in Ilhas, 17821905 230

11.9 Ilhas: Annual Average Births and Deaths, 17821905 231

11.10 Births and Deaths in Panjim, 17821907 231

11.11 Ilhas: Racial Composition, 17991836 234

11.12 White Population in Ilhas, 17531799 236

11.13 Nature of the Black Population in Ilhas, 182835 237

11.14 Pardos in Ilhas: Captive and Free, 182835 237

11.15 Ilhas: Timorese, Chinese and Bengalis, 175399 237

11.16 Panjim: Racial Composition, 17991835 238

9
C OLONIAL PANJIM : I TS G OVERNANCE , I TS P EOPLE | C ELSA P INTO

11.17 Ilhas: Racial Composition, 18811921 240

11.18 Panjim: Racial Composition, 18811921 240

11.19 Ilhas: Gender Profile in the Racial Composition, 241

18811921

11.20 Panjim: Gender Profile in the Racial Composition, 241

18811921

11.21 Ilhas: Gender Population, 17761960 242

11.22 Ilhas: Sex Ratio, 18481960 244

11.23 Panjim: Gender Population, 17821960 244

11.24 Child/Adult Population of Ilhas, 17821830 246

11.25 Child/Adult Population of Panjim, 17821828 249

11.26 Number of Marriages that took place in Ilhas and 251

Panjim, 17991835

11.27 Ilhas: Marital Composition, 18811921 253

11.28 Panjim: Marital Composition, 18651910 253

11.29 Ilhas: Literacy Rate, 18811960 254

11.30 Ilhas versus Panjim: Number of Literates/Illiterates, 255

18811950

11.31 Gender-based Literacy, 18811950 255

11.32 Literacy based on Religious Community, 191021 256

11.33 Ilhas: Religious Composition, 17781960 258

11.34 Ilhas: Percentage Distribution of Population based 259

on Religion, 18811931

11.35 Panjim: Religious Composition, 17811921 260

11.36 Ilhas: Gender Population in Religious Groups, 261

18811961

10
 List of Tables

11.37 Panjim: Gender Element in Religious Groups, 262

18811921

13.1 Panjim: Age Profile of Workers, 1960 303

13.2 Panjim: Workers in Different Sectors, 1960 304

13.3 Panjim: Occupational Profile 305

13.4 Ilhas and Panjim: Number of Unemployed 306

13.5 Ilhas: Production of Rice 308

13.6 Industrial Establishments in Nova Goa, 1864 313

13.7 Panjim: Commercial Establishments, 1864 322

11
C OLONIAL PANJIM : I TS G OVERNANCE , I TS P EOPLE | C ELSA P INTO

ABBREVIATIONS
B.G. Boletim de Governo

B.O. Boletim Official

Camaras Assentos das Camaras

HAG Historical Archives of Goa

MR Mones do Reino

12
 Glossary

GLOSSARY

aferio inspection
alfandega customs house
alienado insane, lunatic
almadia boat, vessel
argolas rings, knockers
armazem shop, store, showroom, depot, warehouse
arrematao farming out, giving out on contract,
auction
Aspirante midshipman
auto deed, document, official paper
aviso notice, warning
bando proclamation
barracas huts, stalls, tents
barraes sheds
botequins bars, taverns
cabo corporal, below the rank of a sergeant
Camara Municipal Municipality of
das Ilhas Tiswadi
canoa canoe
cantoneiro street cleaner
carreiro cartman
carreta hand-cart
carta de remisso letter of relaxation
casa de hospedaria inn, hotel, lodge
casa de jogo gambling house
cera wax
cholera nostras cholera
cortador butcher, cutter
crup croup
decima one-tenth, tithe
despachante customs clearing agent
desvalida destitute, abandoned

13
C OLONIAL PANJIM : I TS G OVERNANCE , I TS P EOPLE | C ELSA P INTO

direitos duties, taxes

escaler boat, vessel
facultativo doctor, physician
foreiro tenant, lessee
foro rent
gastricas gastric fevers
gro de bico chickpeas
guia customs house permit, guide
Juiz de Paz Justice of the Peace
lastro ballast
libra pound
louvado valuer, assessor
machilla palanquin
marchante meat dealer
matricula registration
mazania an association of mahajans of a temple
medio average, mean
mercado market
milheiro thousand
mocado master of ship
moo a young man
nachenim finger millet
nona parte de direito ninth part of the customs duties
de Alfandega
Pao Archiepiscopal Archbishops Palace
paragues a term used in India for a boat/ship
carrying provisions
pauta shipping list
plvora gunpowder
ponte bridge
postura municipal regulation
quadro de saude health staff
quinquilharia hardware, all kinds of ornaments and
trinkets

14
 Glossary

quintal courtyard, backyard

ragataes those who buy in bulk and sell in retail
recebedor tax collector
rezes beasts of pasture, mild or domestic
salubridade salubrity
saneamente sanitation
Senado de Goa Municipal Council
sentina toilet
talho butchers stall, chopping-board
taxa fee
Te-Deum a thanksgiving hymn
termo de acknowledgement
reconhecimento
trafego sea traffic
urida black beans
valado ditch, fence
varicella chicken pox
variola variola, small pox
vereador Municipal Councillor
verificador customs house inspector, customs official
vitella calf
vogal Member of the Municipal Council
zelador inspector, overseer

15
C OLONIAL PANJIM : I TS G OVERNANCE , I TS P EOPLE | C ELSA P INTO

CURRENCY, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

NFORMATION derived from available records and references for

I the conversion of currency, weights and measures, is summar-
ised below. They pertain to the period under study. For the sake of
uniformity, the terms used below and in the text are in their orig-
inal form whether Portuguese, British or indigenous, as found in
the sources.

CURRENCY
xerafim = 5 tangas
= 300 reis of Goa
= 160200 reis/reis fortes of Portugal
= 1 pardau/pardao

rupia = 16 tangas
= 192 reis
= 2 xerafins
= 6 escudos

pataca = 4.4 xerafins

meia dobla = 36 xerafins

libra = 1 pound sterling

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES (for dry items)

arroba = 32 arrateis (pounds)
= 16 kilograms

arratel = 16 onas (ounces)

ona = 8 oitavas
= 31.25 grams

16
 Currency, Weights and Measures

oitava = 72 gros
= 3.906 grams

gro = 0.0543 grams

seira indiana (Indian

= 933 grams
seer)

libra (pound) = 453.4 grams

= 16 ounces

mo indiana (Indian
= 40 seiras indianas
maund)

hundredweight (cwt) = 112 libras

= 50.783 kilograms

ton = 20 cwts.

kilogram = 85.76 tolas

tola = 3 oitavas
= 18.1084 gros

cumbo = 20 candis (khandis)

candil = 20 curos

curo = 2 pailis

paili = 4 poddis

podd = 2 nactis

17
C OLONIAL PANJIM : I TS G OVERNANCE , I TS P EOPLE | C ELSA P INTO

nacti = 2 ardh-nacti

ardh-nacti = 2 guirnactis

guirnacti = 2 sollavs

sollav = 1 /16 of podd

saca (sack for legumes) = 92 poddis

fardo (bale for legumes) = 46 poddis

fardo (bale) = 2.53 mos

= 2530 corjas

corja = 20 pieces

For precious metals/troy

gro = 0.064775 grams

penny weight = 24 gros

= 1.5546 grams

ona (ounce) = 20 penny weights

= 31.092 grams

libra (pound) = 12 ounces

= 37.314 grams
For liquids

candil = 20 cales
= 160 litres

18
 Currency, Weights and Measures

calo = 8 seiras
= 8 litres

seira = 2 ardh-seiras
= 1 litre

ardh-seira = 2 pau seiras

= 0.50 litre

pau seira = 2 notancas

= 0.25 litre

notanca = 2 ardh-notancas
= 0.125 litre

ardh-notanca = 2 paunotancas
= 0.0625 litre

paunotanca = 1 /32 of seira

= 0.03125 litre

galo (gallon) = 4 quarts

= 6 garrafas (bottles)
= 4.543 litres

quart = 2 pints
= 1.1358 litres

pint = 4 gills
= 0.56793 litre

canada = 3 pints

pipa (barrel) = 2526 almudes

19
C OLONIAL PANJIM : I TS G OVERNANCE , I TS P EOPLE | C ELSA P INTO

For comprimentos (length)

dupla mo = 2 mos/hats

mo/hat = 2 palmos (spans)

= 0.50 metre

palmo = 10 angules
= 0.25 metre

angule = 1 /20 of mo/hat

covado = 3 palmos

p (foot) = 12 polegadas (inches)

= 0.3048 metre

jarda (yard) = 3 ps
= 0.9144 metre

fathom = 2 jardas
= 1.8287 metres

pole = 5.50 yards

= 2.75 fathoms

furlong = 40 poles
= 220 yards

milha (mile) = 8 furlongs

= 1609.315 metres

legua (league) = 3 miles

20
 Currency, Weights and Measures

bamboo for arecais

= 2.64 metres
(areca palm groves)

bamboo for fields = 5.28 metres

bamboo for coconut

= 7.92 metres
groves

braa for alvernarias

= 25 mos cubico
(stone-work)
= 3.125 cubic metres

jota for wood = 2 mos cubico

= 0.25 cubic metre

21
Index

abandoned babies, 268 Chinese, 234, 237, 238, 240

aougues, 40, 55, 70 cholera, 13, 46, 157159, 162,
adult population, 10, 180, 163, 166168, 174,
246250 188, 190, 227
advisories, 193, 195, 196 Christian population, 257, 259,
aferidor, 25, 334, 335 261
aforamentos, 211, 290, 292, 312, churches and chapels, 280, 286,
339 288, 300, 301
agriculture, 46, 272, 308, 310 coimas, 104, 107, 108, 140, 143,
Americans, 240, 241 210
annual painting of residences, coinage and currency, 132, 139,
73 336
Associao da Caridade de Companhia de Policia de Nova
Pangim, 275, 302, 345 Goa, 121, 122, 127,
131, 169
beggars, 33, 125, 191, 264267, confrades, 281, 283286
307, 328 confraria, 281288, 295, 300,
Bengalis, 9, 234, 237, 238 301
births and deaths, 229231 crematorium, 24, 27, 54, 58, 63,
black population, 9, 49, 157, 219
175, 234, 236240
bongis, 49, 51, 307 disabled/disadvantaged
groups, 262, 266
Cadea Civil de Nova Goa, 146 disinfection, 171, 176, 178, 189,
Cadea Publica, 67, 70, 71 199
carnival, 270, 271 disorderly behaviour, 114,
celebrations, feasts and 116118, 134,
festivities, 169, 269, 137139
270, 284, 285 disposal of garbage, 6, 24, 27,
cemeteries, 24, 27, 54, 5863, 3032, 34, 35, 3744,
211, 219, 288 7476, 80, 8385, 89,
chicken pox, 165, 166, 171, 178 93, 94, 105, 184, 185,
child population, 246250, 254 193, 195, 209, 341

347
I NDEX

disposal of human waste, 27, garbage collection, 24, 31

46, 4852, 194
drains, 23, 28, 44, 45, 4749, 51, harlots, 125, 126, 129, 133, 138,
52, 66, 71, 72, 7476, 140, 141, 215, 264,
80, 8287, 9092, 158, 267, 307
165, 177, 184, 193, Hindu population, 257
199, 203, 219, 220 Hospital Militar, 31, 67, 71, 165,
drunkenness, 98, 130, 134, 137, 181, 280
138, 285 households, 38, 42, 228, 229,
305, 313
economic base/profile, 303 housing, 269, 312
Europeans, 134, 147, 148, 235, human waste collection, 27, 46,
240, 241, 343 49
expenditure of the
municipality, 28, 37, illiterates, 10, 255, 256
38, 40, 42, 71, 171, income of the municipality, 203
219 inspections, 176, 183, 185,
196199, 332, 333
external commerce, 315
institutions of higher learning,
272
Fbrica of the Church of
internal commerce, 320
Panjim, 289
fairs, 23, 24, 99, 113, 196, 203, jail administration, 146
207, 211, 271, Jains, 256, 258, 260262
324328
fees and taxes, 203205, 209, law and order, 5, 112, 116, 118,
211, 278, 285 129, 132, 133, 326,
female population, 244246, 327
248, 250, 256 libraries, 274
fines and penalties, 23, 37, 42, licences, 125, 128130, 204, 205,
43, 45, 51, 55, 74, 75, 208, 209, 212, 332
7983, 8692, 97102, literacy rate, 10, 254256
106, 107, 109, 110, literary institutions, 271
114, 119, 137, 156, literates, 10, 255, 256
204, 213, 214, 267, luso-descendentes, 147, 148,
285, 290, 292, 294, 235, 239, 343
298, 299, 318, 322,
326, 331, 332, 334, malaria, 168, 178, 190
336 male population, 244246, 248,
fire, 88, 114, 117, 118, 130, 132, 250, 253, 256, 261,
135, 136, 155 268, 279
foros, 211, 216218, 311, 312 maltreatment, 139, 269
forts, 50, 65, 66, 72, 73, 324 marital status, 251, 253
fountains, 174, 184, 188, 195, markets, 23, 24, 27, 54, 55, 70,
199, 203, 219, 333 116, 129, 199, 203,

348
 Index

206208, 210, 219, prices of essential

319323, 328, 329, commodities, 319,
332 323, 328
married, 252254 prisoners, 71, 114, 127, 128,
mazanes, 289, 293, 294 146163
mazanias, 289, 296, 302, 345 Protestants, 256, 258, 260262
mode of transportation, 95 public health, 26, 28, 40, 45, 46,
murder, 134, 139 48, 55, 56, 58, 75, 84,
Muslims, 30, 63, 112, 211, 234, 85, 105, 165, 167, 168,
238, 239, 256258, 171, 177, 183185,
260262, 319 194, 196, 198, 332,
341
native population, 235, 239 public transport, 24, 100
nudity, 120, 137, 138, 140, 143,
144 quarantine measures, 188, 189

racial composition, 147, 148,

outbreak of diseases, 165 234, 235, 238, 240,
241
Palacio de Governo, 29, 31, rat-catching, 191
5456, 67, 68, 179, Regulamento de Corpo Policia
276, 280 de Nova Goa, 1870,
pardos, 234240 113
Parsees, 256, 258, 260262 regulations
plague, 165, 172, 176, 178, 196 of 1830s, 102
pneumonia, 161, 168 of 1838-40, 103
Policia Sanitaria, 197, 198, 200, of 1855, 78
201 of 1879, 83, 97, 100, 107
policing of quays and beaches, of 1898, 91
109 of 1902, 99
policing of roads, 97 of 1905, 92
population growth and density, reinois, 235
221 religious composition, 148, 257,
population of Ilhas, 221225, 258, 260, 261
227229, 236, 241, roads, 6, 23, 26, 2830, 32,
244, 246, 247, 252, 3942, 47, 50, 68,
253 7378, 8082, 85,
population of Panjim, 226, 227, 8894, 99, 103, 105,
249, 250, 254, 261, 114, 120, 131, 142,
264, 342 177, 184, 194, 203,
port of Nova Goa, 188, 315, 316, 215, 219, 266, 267,
318, 319, 340 322, 327, 341
Posturas of 1879, 74, 86, 91, 100,
101, 336 safe movement in the streets,
press, 274, 314, 341 89, 101

349
I NDEX

sale of commodities, 97, 319, 185188, 193,

323325, 328, 329,
334
schools, 51, 271273, 281
seizure of animals, 102, 105,
107, 108, 116
sex ratio, 242, 244246
slaughter houses, 23, 24, 27,
5457, 70, 76, 85, 116,
188, 194, 196, 197,
199, 203, 213, 215,
219, 331
small pox, 15, 152, 167, 169,
178, 188
snake-catching, 192
social institutions, 275
social stratification, 264
stagnant pools, 46, 165
stray/street animals, 24, 28,
102, 105, 110, 137,
138, 167, 192, 219
suburbs, 277, 342, 343
suicide attempts, 135, 139
temples, 80, 120, 125, 129, 215,
265, 267, 279, 280,
289301
Timorese, 234, 237, 238, 240
traffic movement, 5, 24, 97, 141
transportation of the dead, 58
195197, 199, 326,
341, 342
use of pigs, 47, 48, 56, 57, 78, 91
use of scavengers, 48, 49, 307
vaccination, 24, 166169,
178183
vagabonds, 125, 129, 147, 266,
267
vehicles on hire, 100
violence, 140, 151
weights and measures, 16, 25,
125, 216, 333336
wells, 23, 45, 46, 75, 8082, 84,
86, 87, 91, 92, 135,
158, 160, 163, 174,
184, 188, 194, 195,
199, 203, 219, 333
white population, 133, 234236,
238240
widowers, 252254
widows, 252254, 282
workers, 29, 30, 37, 38, 41, 50,
59, 105, 285, 303305,
307, 308, 343
zagor, 271

unemployed, 264, 267, 268, 307

unmarried, 252254, 286
urban environment, 6, 73, 86
urban finance, 203
urban poor, 264, 269
urban rich, 264, 269
urban sanitation, 6, 15, 23, 26,
2831, 36, 41, 4346,
55, 73, 75, 77, 78, 84,
86, 94, 125, 130, 143,
149, 157, 159, 165,
167, 168, 171, 172,
174, 177, 178, 183,

350