From Portuguese India, 1498-1739. By Luis Assis Correia. In Bombaim, the village of Cavel was the first centre of Christianity. Cavel is the Portuguese rendition of Kolwar 'a Koli hamlet,' inhabited by thye Koli tribe, who were converted by the Franciscans. Through their education, they served in the Portuguese administration, and after the cession of Bombaim to the English in 1665, became servants to the East India Company. Their parish church was Nossa Senhora de Saude on the Esplanade: it helped our school cricket, Rolly A second church, Esperenca, was built at Buleshvar. Two more followed , Miguel at Mahim and Salvacao at Dadar. The one at Parel was turned into a residence for the English Governor of Bombay. In 1772 a East India Company decree directed all Portuguese priests to "remove themselves from the Island of Bombay." Governor Charles Boone closed all Catholic schools. Franciscan educated Luso-Indians then educated the poor in their homes. Padre Francisco Xavier visited the city in 1544. The second was in 1548. Simao Botelho notes that "Mombaym" was alloted to one Mestre Diogo for only a few pardaos in quit-rent to the Royal Treasury in 1544. In 1548, it was granted to Garcia da Orta who had been the physician to the Viceroy Dom Mascarenhas in Goa.
