Goa

[Mariellades]

Hello, anyone know the history of Portuguese occupied Goa before it became touristy and Indian?

[shaneystar2]

Wikipedia tells you all about it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goa#History

[waimarie]

In the late 1940's and 50's most of the seamen on the P&O Shipping Line were Goanese. I think they went under the generic name of 'Lascars' but why this was so I have no idea. I also have no idea why the P&O predominantly employed Goanese seamen which in itself is worth some investigation.

[shaneystar2]

Lascar, which means sailors from East India, is a now outmoded word that comes from the Persian Lashkar (army). The term was used to denote non-Europeans who served on British ships under 'lascar' agreements. These agreements allowed shipowners more control than was the case in ordinary articles of agreement. Lascars could be transferred from one ship to another and retained in service for up to three years at one time. Lascar also referred to Indian servants, typically engaged by British military officers.

The British East India Company recruited seamen from Yemen, Gujarat, Assam and Bengal. They were known by the British as �Lascars�, and a number of these created small settlements in port towns and cities in Britain. By 1842 three thousand Lascars were visiting the UK.

With thanks to Wikipedia.