Goan Lament

Obviously the Goan community in the Portuguese colony in India were deeply effected by the disaster as so many compatriots were lost. One of the folk laments of the time relating the disaster was collected and made part of a anthology of local songs. Thanks to Gerhard Correa for this.

Source: J.A.A. Fernandes, vulgo: André Xett (1884-1980). Album Cantarancho. Song No. 84. Bogtavaddo, Chorão

Musical form: Binary

Literary form: Historical narrative[22]

Published 28.04.1953. Printed at the Codialbail Press, Mangalore, Karnataka

Translated by António Vicente de Noronha (1895-1982), Pandavaddo, Chorão, July 1981

Here it is:

Derrepento Taru Amcam Ailo (Persia Agboticho)

Suddenly we received a telegramme

Type: Mando

Derrepento taru amcam ailo,

Suddenly we received a telegramme,

Persiachi dukêst diun coboru.

Giving us sad news from Persia.

Vôddu sentment amcam bogló amchea calzant,

We felt a great sorrow in our hearts,

Poleun Goencarãchim mornam.

Hearing about the death of Goans.

Roddunch éta dukam.

We are shedding tears.

Acantac con´nã ternam,

There was no one there at the time of the shock,

Favo zalim mun birancull mornam.

When they were destined to face that fearful death.

Attechallis Goencar bhau urle,

Forty-eight Goans survived,

Oixim-tin moron cobar zalle.

Eighty-three having died.

Zaite côixtto bôgle, midmidde zallu tanche.

They suffered a lot, much sympathy is felt for them.

Devan salvar kelle.

God saved them.

Dôria laravele, monvaran vincheun cad´le,

From the waves of the sea, a man-o-war rescued them,

Satt horanchêr ratriche.

At seven in the night.

Monvar ancantac paunn,

The man-o-war came to the rescue,

Panch bôtti gueuno, guelo bandun,

With five boats.

Udentêchea vodlea doriant, calzam guenno atant.

We went to the high sea (ocean) of the east, with anxiety (lit. taking our hearts in our hands.

Vellé amcam Egipt xarant.

It took us to the Empire of Egypt.

Pianâncho Agent euno, dilo amcam roupo gueun,

The P&O agent having come, gave us clothes to wear,

Sentir zalo amcam polloun.

He felt sad on seeing us.

Medinãcher pautoch amim Bombôi,

After having reached Bombay on the steamer Medina,

Soglo doko borlo Goencaranim.

The whole dock was full of Goans.

Dockear deuntoch amim, bailburguim rod´dunc laglin.

When we disembarked, wives and children started crying.

Uscar suscar sod'dun dukanim.

Sorrow and sympathy were expressed in tears.

Dukam dectoch tanchim, calzam bielim amchim,

On seeing their tears, our hearts were full of fear,

Auchit pulim mun Bombaim.

We suddenly realised that we had arrived in Bombay.