Muntakhab al-lubab 1: Europeans at Hugli.

1

[Text, vol. i. p. 468.] The Firingis had formed a commercial settlement at Hugli, twenty kos from Rajmahal in Bengal. In former times they had obtained the grant of a parcel of land for the stowing of their merchandize and for their abode. There they built a strong fort, with towers and walls, and furnished it with artillery. They also built a place of worship which they call "church" (kalisa). In course of time they overstepped the sufferance they had obtained. They vexed the Musulmans of the neighbourhood, and they harassed travellers, and they exerted themselves continually to strengthen their settlement. Of all their odious practices this was the worst:—In the ports which they occupied on the sea-coast, they offered no injury either to the property or person of either Muhammadans or Hindus who dwelt under their rule; but if one of these inhabitants died, leaving children of tender age, they took both the children and the property under their charge, and, whether these young children were saiyids, or whether they were brahmans, they made them Christians and slaves (mamluk). In the ports of the Kokan in the Dakhin, and on the sea-coast, wherever they had forts and exercised authority, this was the custom of that insolent people. But notwithstanding the notoriety of this tyrannical practice, Musulmans and Hindus of all tribes went into their settlements in pursuit of a livelihood, and took up their abode there. They allowed no religious mendicant (fakir) to come into their bounds. When one found his way in unawares, if he were a Hindu he was subjected to such tortures as made his escape with life very doubtful; and if he were a Musulman he was imprisoned and worried for some days, and then set at liberty. When travellers passed in, and their baggage was examined for the custom-duties, no leniency was shown if any tobacco was found, because there are regular licensed sellers of tobacco, and a traveller must not carry more than enough for his own use. Unlike a Hindu temple, their place of worship was very conspicuous, for tapers of camphor were kept burning there in the day-time. In accordance with their vain tenets, they had set up figures of the Lord Jesus and Mary (on our Prophet and on them be peace!), and other figures in wood, paint and wax, with great gaudiness. But in the churches of the English, who are also Christians, there are no figures set up as idols. The writer of these pages has frequently gone into that place, and has conversed with their learned men, and records what he has observed.
Reports of the unseemly practices of these people reached the Emperor, and when Kasim Khan was sent to Bengal as Governor, he received secret orders to suppress them, and to take their fortress. Kasim Khan accordingly proceeded to Hugli and laid siege to it. The detail of his skilful arrangements and strenuous exertions would be of great length; suffice it to say that, by the aid of boats, and by the advance of his forces both by land and water, he brought down the pride of those people, and subdued their fortress after a siege of three months. Nearly 50,000 raiyats of that place came out and took refuge with Kasim Khan. Ten thousand persons, Firingis and raiyats perished in the course of the siege. Fourteen hundred Firingis, and a number of persons who had been made Christians by force, were taken prisoners. Nearly ten thousand persons, innocent raiyats and captives of those people, were set free. More than a thousand Musulmans of the Imperial army fell in the course of the siege.