Joaquim Magalhães de Castro
Despite religious differences, relations between the Portuguese missionaries and the Muslim community, which had great respect for them, were almost always cordial. Such was the case with Father Simão Figueiredo, who had lived there for decades, and who was assigned to accompany the Jesuits in this first stage of such a dangerous journey, although he was very physically weak.
From the chronicle it is evident that they traveled by boat, certainly by water, although it is very difficult, if not impossible, to trace an exact course. It should be remembered that many of the rivers and canals of the region have been over the centuries covered by alluviums and sediments that have radically altered its natural courses.
It would certainly be a vessel of considerable size because, apart from the religious, it accommodated sailors and “some young men,” certainly their servants. It was an adventure, but a somewhat controlled adventure.
In the present day there are only a few boats that run through the placid waters of the broad Hoogly, whose banks are lined with brick chimneys, small fishing villages, and a palatial building, a sign of the golden age of the Mughal domain.
Despite their safe conduct (Father Figueiredo), the local authorities seized the boat that transported the Fathers before they reached Daca. It was at Siripur (Sreepur), now a simple settlement; formerly an important shipyard.
Cacela attributes the hostile act to the conjuncture of the time. There were warlike times, with Portuguese mercenaries involved on both sides of the feud, as was usual at that time. Dhaka had just been conquered by the Mughal forces which, in a clear expansion to the east, there transferred the capital of their new province of Bengal.
Thus, so as “not to draw so much attention,” only Cacela and Figueiredo proceeded to Dakha, leaving Cabral and Fonteboa in Sripur. Twelve days later the first would send a small boat to collect Cabral and a message to the Italian to return to Hugli and await orders there, as it would be very difficult to travel together. João Cabral himself was in serious trouble to get to Dhaka. Also his vessel was seized by a Mugahl captain who would allow him to leave only one week later.
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