The treatment of those confined is, as far as
respects their food, very good: great care is taken that the nourishment
is of that nature that the prisoners may not suffer from the indigestion
arising from want of exercise. Surgical attendance is also permitted
them; but unless on very particular occasions no priests are allowed to
enter. Any consolation to be derived from religion, even the office of
confessor and extreme unction, in case of dissolution, are denied them.
Should they die during their confinement, whether proved guilty or not
of the crime of which they are accused, they are buried without any
funeral ceremony, and tried afterwards; if then found guilty, their
bones are disinterred, and the execution of their sentence is passed
upon their remains.
There are two Inquisitors at Goa: one the Grand Inquisitor, and the
other his second, who are invariably chosen from the order of St.
Dominique; these two are assisted in their judgment and examinations by
a large number selected from the religious orders, who are termed
deputies of the Holy Office, but who only attend when summoned: they
have other officers, whose duty it is to examine all published books,
and ascertain if there is anything in their pages contrary to the holy
religion. There is also a public accuser, a procureur of the
Inquisition, and lawyers, who are permitted to plead the case of the
prisoners, but whose chief business and interest it is to obtain their
secrets and betray them. What are termed _Familiars_ of the
Inquisition, are in fact, nothing but this description of people: but
this disgraceful office is taken upon themselves by the highest
nobility, who think it an honour, as well as a security, to be enrolled
among the Familiars of the Inquisition, who are thus to be found
dispersed throughout society; and every careless word, or expression, is
certain to be repeated to the Holy Office. A summons to attend at the
Inquisition is never opposed; if it were, the whole populace would rise
and enforce it. Those who are confined in the dungeons of the
Inquisition are kept separate; it is a very uncommon thing to put two
together: it is only done when it is considered that the prolonged
solitude of the dungeon has created such a depression of spirits as to
endanger the life of the party. Perpetual silence is enjoined and
strictly kept. Those who wail or weep, or even pray, in their utter
darkness, are forced by blows to be quiet. The c
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