The Casa de Polvora. -Another remarkable building still existing at Panelim is the Casa de Polvora, or gunpowder-factory.
It is not very far from the archbishops’ palace and stands close to the river-side. It was erected by the Viceroy Dom Francisco da Gama, great-grandson of Vasco da Gama, as may be seen from the following inscription on its entrance door over an image of St. Catherine-
« Reinando em Portugal o Catholico Rei D. Filippe 3 man-dou a cidade fazer toda a fabrica desta caza de Polvora do dinheiro de hum por cento, sendo Vico-Rei deste Estado Francisco da Gama Conde Almirante, o qual principion e acabou e fez aperfeiçoar, emque ora está o Vice-Rey D. Miguel de Noronha Conde de Linhares anno de 1630 »
Translation.
« When the Catholic King Dom Phillippe III. was reigning in Portugal, the (senate of the city ordered the construction of this powder factory out of the proceeds of the duty of one percent., the Viceroy of this State being Francisco da Gama, Count Admiral, who commenced, completed and improved (the edifice) where now resides the Viceroy Dom Miguel de Noronha, Count of Linhares. Year 1630.”
The manufacture of gunpowder in this building has been stopped for some years. In the compound attached to the building there is a stone reservoir which is supplied with water brought by an aqueduct from Banguenim.
Near the Casa de Polvora was a palace for the recreation of the Viceroys, where, on account of the epidemic in the city, the Count of Villa Verde and his successors resided since 1695. Though much inferior to that in the city, it had spacious and commodious apartments, which, according to Gemelli, had been added at various intervals. When the residence of the Viceroys was removed to Pangim in 1759, during the government of the Count of Ega, the Royal Hospital was transferred from the city to this palace. At the end of the first quarter of this century the building was in a good state of preservation, and the number of patients that were treated here exceeded sixty. The members of the order of St. John of God, six of whom resided in it, were in charge of this hospital.* About this time natives of Goa also served in it as physicians.
The Royal Hospital, now called the Military Hospital, having been transferred to Pangim in April 1842, it was suggested that the two retreats of Nossa Senhora de Serra and Santa Maria Magdalena already described, should be brought into the vacant building, but the scheme not having been carried out, it was abandoned. In 1850 the roof was pulled down by orders of Government, and the materials were sold; in 1855 a lofty arch which overhung the street, and some other houses in the neighbourhood, were demolished; however, two large apartments of the palace, which had before been used as infirmaries for the officers, were reserved.
They are now incorporated with the Casa de Polvora. In 1856 the ruins of the palace were ordered to be removed by the Governor Viscount of Torres Novas, and there is at present hardly any trace of it left.
Close to the Casa de Polvora, communicating with it from the interior, there were the Military Barracks, now in a dilapidated state. There were also at Panelim some other buildings, and many splendid houses of fidalgos and noblemen.
In fact the suburb of São Pedro, when it was made the residence of the Viceroy and the Archbishop, became at the same time the chief place of abode of officers of state and other Portuguese gentlemen, who, following the example of the chief authorities, abandoned the city. This suburb some time afterwards became almost as unhealthy as the city itself, and was consequently deserted in its turn, so that it is now in nearly as desolate a condition as the latter.