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 cries and shrieks of those who suffer from this chastisement, or from the torture, are carried along the whole length of the corridors, terrifying those who, in solitude and darkness, are anticipating the same fate.

The first question put to a person arrested by the Inquisition, is a demand, “What is his property?” He is desired to make an exact declaration of everything that he is worth, and swear to the truth of his assertions; being informed that, if there is any reservation on his part (although he may be at that time innocent of the charges produced against him),—­he will, by his concealment, have incurred the wrath of the Inquisition; and that, if discharged for the crime he is accused of, he will again be arrested for having taken a false oath to the Inquisition; that, if innocent, his property will be safe, and not interfered with.  It is not without reason that this demand is made.  If a person accused confesses his crime, he is, in most cases, eventually allowed to go free, but all his property becomes confiscated.

By the rules of the Inquisition, it is made to appear as if those condemned have the show of justice; for, although two witnesses are sufficient to warrant the apprehension of any individual, seven are necessary to convict him; but as the witnesses are never confronted with the prisoners, and torture is often applied to the witnesses, it is not difficult to obtain the number required.  Many a life is falsely sworn away by the witness, that he may save his own.  The chief crimes which are noticed by the Inquisition are those of sorcery, heresy, blasphemy, and what is called Judaism.