Your "Indo-Portuguese records could get lost with time, caution historians" of September 29, 2003 makes interesting and depressing reading. Here is something which is not exactly to the point but of a similar nature.
A couple of years ago, I had occasion to visit the Archives at Fontainhas to secure birth and marriage certificates of my parents. The person I was referred to for help advised me to secure from my parish church the relevant reference numbers. When I asked him what the connection was, he said that the State in Goa started keeping records only from a certain year (I do not remember it now) and it was the Church who had records of times before that of confirmation-baptism-birth handwritten in a narrative manner (in that order) in bound registers. When I returned with the reference numbers, he was able to call for the relevant registers instantly and show me the records which were duly photocopied (actually!!!, not xeroxed as they say). What amazed me was that it was a faithful photocopied version of the Church register. They had apparently photocpied the Register and bound it together. Due to the nature of the paper and with constant handling, these pages are breaking into confetti-like bits and it you happen to be coming in first thing in the morning, you find the sweeper sweeping away these bits of the previous day on the floor. These are pieces of certificates and land and property titles which are being swept away and which will not be available at a later date, leading to practically-insurmountable difficulties in establishing titles and lineages. This will spawn false affidavits. Ubaldo C D'Souza D-5 Shangrila Apartments St. Mary's Colony Miramar - GOA 403 001. Tel: 246 3794 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------------- PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE IN EMAIL ID - [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________ Ubaldo & Lynette D'Souza D-5 Shangrila Apartments Miramar - GOA 403 001 Tel: 0832-246 3794 ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################