An exceedingly scarce work, complete, in the original six parts: “Brilliant Episodes in the Declining Years of Portuguese Power in India.” (Maggs). This is chiefly an account of the exploits in India of the first Marquis de Castelo Novo, aka Dom Pedro Miguel de Almeida Portugal e Vasconcelos (1688-1756), who was Viceroy of India from 1744 to 1750.
José Freire Monterroio de Mascarenhas (1670-1760), was a proto-journalist, historian and a prolific pamphleteer. His popular works were printed on cheap paper stock and sold on the street. Due to the fact that the ‘Epanaphora Indica’ were published over a number of years, complete copies of this work are very rare.
Vol. I describes his voyage to India, and the first events of his government; together with some particulars concerning the appointment, voyage and arrival of the Archbishop of Goa, Father Laurenzo de Santa Maria.
Vol. II. Account of the events leading to the destruction of the forces of Rama Chandra Saunto, and Zeiramo Sanctu Dessayes, two powerful Indian princes near Goa.
Vol. III. The storming of the fortress of Terecol, the defeat of the fleet of the Bounsulos, and surrender of the city of Rary.
Vol. IV. provides an account of the political, military and civil progress made during 1747.
Vol. V describes the surrender of the garrisons of Neuty, Carly, and Vangrollen, and other events of the year 1748.
Vol. VI. Final account of the events in India under the Marquis of Castelo Novo, in particular the methods adopted for the defence of that kingdom; and of various events in regard to the Bonsulos; the Dessayes of Chicory, and Quintur; and of the Marathas; and of the glorious fight between two Portuguese ships and the Maratha fleet; and of the entrance of the Marquis de Tavora into the government of India.
“On the 22nd Sept., 1744, Dom Pedro Miguel de Almeida e Portugal, Marquis of Castelo-Novo, and afterwards of Alorna, arrived at Goa from Lisbon, and assumed possession of the government, as Viceroy, two days later. Under his administration the advance of the Maratha forces was, to some extent, checked. He carried on a war against them, and succeeded in recovering the fortresses of Bicholim and Sanquelim, with their adjacent territories, and on the 26th Oct., 1746, the Dessayes of these provinces swore faithful allegiance to the King of Portugal, in return for considerable help and privileges On 5th May, 1746, the Viceroy captured Alorna, for which act he received the title of Marquis of Alorna, and he also subsequently took the fortresses of Tiracol and Neutim, and the stronghold of Rarim. When he handed over the government to his successor the Portuguese power round Goa was far more strong and consolidated than it had been at his arrival, and his government is deservedly looked upon as a brilliant episode of the declining years of Portuguese power in India” (Maggs cat. 521, p. 69).
Previously owned by Solidónio Attico Leite, (1867-1930) was a Brazilian lawyer and intellectual. He was born in Serra Talhada in Pernanbuco and spent most of his childhood in an orphanage. He took up training as a blacksmith but had a career-change graduating from the Recife Law School in Pernambuco. He was involved in drafting the Brazilian Civil Code of 1916, collaborating with Clóvis Beviláqua, his teacher and friend. He was also a pioneer of women’s rights, advocating greater participation of women in society. He wrote the following touching note on the front free endpaper:
“Classico, muito estimado. Sobre depois de muitos annos foi que logrei reunir as seis Epanaphoras, todas muito raras, para encadernal-as em um volume. Innocencio nao as viu; da noticia dal autore (?) com a nota de anonyma; da 2. informa que tem 70 paginas; enquanto as outras nao da o numero de paginas. O sabio orientalista Dalgado conhecea som. 4 partes. “Em todas os produccoes da sua pena se admiram felizmente unidos stylo elegante, locução casta, erudição vastíssima”.
OCLC lists just seven copies.