Epidemics in Chorão Island
The Chorão Epidemic killed over a thousand women, men and children in Chorão, an island along the Mandovi River near Ilhas, Goa, India. It also caused thousands to flee the island, and led to the closure of Real Colégio de Educação de Chorão in 1859. The Epidemic and its after-effects left the island deserted for almost 100 years.
History
In the Second half of 18th century the population of Chorão reached its peak 22000; 14,000 of these residents at St Bartholomew's Church (Chorão Island) and the remaining 8000 in the parish of Our Lady of Grace Church (Chorão Island).[1][2]
The Epidemic started in year 1766 but it is believed that its consequences were very alamaring in 1775. The fever that ravaged the Island of Chorão was of such a virulent type that within a year it caused its decadence. The epidemic first started in the Parish of Our Lady of Grace Church (Chorão Island) in June 1775, rapidly spreading throughout the Island, especially in the village of Querem, a large populated area and destroyed its population completely. In the Our Lady of Grace Church (Chorão Island), within a period of less than six months the population came down from 8000 souls to 1700. Entire families disappeared, others left the Island and proceed wherever they could get a place but a few not wishing to leave the land of their ancestors, remained in the Parish of Our Lady of Grace Church (Chorão Island).[3][4]
In 1808 the Communidade of Chorão was granted permission by Portuguese Government to construct new houses to attract outsiders invited to take up their residence in the Island. Years later, between 1809 and 1812 the same Communidade attempted to enter the names of the newcomers in the book of Joneiros as Componentes, but to no avail due to the fact that then number of the new inhabitants went down considerably again caused by the fever that was then raging.[5][6]
According to French traveller Denis Louis Cottineau de Kloguen who visited the Island "
According to José Nicolau Da Fonseca "
After a lapse of many years the fever re-appeared in
When the whole world was in the grip of
Causes
According to Teresa Alburquerque "
Diaspora
Emigration had become one of the important factors in the development of its riches and there are now many illustrious person, natives of
References
- ^ O Indispensavel, No18 de 4 August 1913, pages 209–210
- ^ Augusto da Penha Gonsalves-Chorão na Revista Academica, Ano I, No2(Natal de 1913)page9
- ^ Revista Academica cit No,2, page9
- OCLC 29051875
- ^ Decree of Government, 28 March 1808(registered in the Book of the Secretaria Geral No.1 page 238)
- ^ Bosq.Hist.Cit.II.Page 87
- OCLC 863550678
- OCLC 4881453
- ^ O Indispensavel cit:No.18, Page 210.
- OCLC 4881453
- OCLC 607216129
- OCLC 29051875
Bibliography
- The Island of Chorão (A Historical Sketch) By Francisco Xavier Gomes Catão, Mar Louis Memorial Press, Alwaye (1962)
- An Historical Sketch of Goa, the Metropolis of the Portuguese Settlement in India By Denis Louis Cottineau de Kloguen, Publisher Madras : W. Twigg, (1831)
- An Historical and Archaeological Sketch of the City of Goa By José Nicolau Da Fonseca (1878)