[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Histoire de la dernière révolution des États du Grand Mogol](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier) › [Travels in the Mogul Empire (Constable)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable) › 3.14 # Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 3.14 Travels in the Mogul Empire (Constable) 3.14 - **Language:** English ### [3.14.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.14.1) Since that period, the Kings of Golkonda have been preserved from invasion, not in consequence of their great strength, but of the employment given to the Mogol by the two sister kingdoms, and of the necessity he was under to capture their strong places, such as Amber, Paranda, Bider and others, before Golkonda could be prudently attacked. The safety of those Kings may also be ascribed to the wisdom of their policy. Possessing great wealth, they have always secretly supplied the monarch of Visapour with money, to enable him to defend his country; so that whenever the latter is threatened, the King of Golkonda invariably marches an army to the frontiers, to show the Mogol not only that preparations are made for internal defence, but that an ally is at hand to assist Visapour, if driven to extremity. It appears likewise that the government of Golkonda employs large sums as bribes to the generals of the Mogol's army, who therefore constantly give it as their opinion that Visapour ought to be attacked rather than Golkonda, on account of its greater proximity to Daulet-Abad. Indeed, after the convention concluded, as we have seen, between Aureng-Zebe and the present King of Golkonda, the former has no great inducement to march troops into that kingdom, which he probably considers as his own. ### [3.14.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.14.2) It has been long tributary to the Mogol, to whom it presents annually a considerable quantity of hard cash, home-manufactured articles of exquisite workmanship, and elephants imported from Pegu, Siam, and Ceylon. There is now no fortress between Daulet-Abad and Golkonda capable of offering any resistance, and Aureng-Zebe feels confident, therefore, that a single campaign would suffice to conquer the country. In my own opinion, nothing has restrained him from attempting that conquest but the apprehension of having the Decan overrun by the King of Visapour, who knows that if he permits his neighbour to fall, his own destruction must be the necessary consequence. ### [3.14.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.14.3) From what I have said, some idea may be formed of the present state of the King of Golkonda in relation to the Mogol. There can be no doubt that his power is held by a most uncertain tenure. Since the nefarious transaction in Golkonda, planned by Emir-Jemla and executed by Aureng-Zebe, the King has lost all mental energy, and has ceased to hold the reins of government. He never appears in public to give audience and administer justice according to the custom of the country; nor does he venture outside the walls of the fortress of Golkonda. Confusion and misrule are the natural and unavoidable consequences of this state of things. The grandees, totally disregarding the commands of a Monarch for whom they no longer feel either affection or respect, exercise a disgusting tyranny; and the people, impatient to throw off the galling yoke, would gladly submit to the more equitable government of Aureng-Zebe. I shall advert to five or six facts that prove the low state of degradation to which this wretched King is reduced. ### [3.14.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.14.4) First,—When I was at Golkonda, in the year 1667, an ambassador extraordinary arrived from Aureng-Zebe, for the purpose of declaring war, unless the King supplied the Mogol with ten thousand cavalry to act against Visapour. This force was not indeed granted; but, what pleased Aureng-Zebe still better, as much money was given as is considered sufficient for the maintenance of such a body of cavalry. The King paid extravagant honours to this ambassador and loaded him with valuable presents, both for himself and the Mogol his master. Second,—Aureng-Zebe's ordinary ambassador at the court of Golkonda issues his commands, grants passports, menaces and ill-treats the people, and in short, speaks and acts with the uncontrolled authority of an absolute sovereign. Third.—Emir-Jemla's son, Mahmet-Emir-Kan, although nothing more than one of Aureng-Zebe's Omrahs, is so much respected in Golkonda, and chiefly in Maslipatam, that the tapitapa, his agent or broker, virtually acts as master of the port. He buys and sells, admits and clears out cargoes, free of every impost and without any person's intervention. So boundless was the father's influence formerly in this country, that it has descended to the son as a matter of right or necessity. ### [3.14.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.14.5) Fourth.—Sometimes the Dutch presume to lay an embargo on all the Golkonda merchant-vessels in the port, nor will they suffer them to depart until the King comply with their demands. I have known them even protest against the King because the Governor of Maslipatam prevented them from taking forcible possession of an English ship in the port, by arming the whole population, threatening to burn the Dutch factory, and to put all these insolent foreigners to the sword. Fifth. — Another symptom of decay in this kingdom is the debased state of the current coin; which is extremely prejudicial to the commerce of the country. Sixth. — A sixth instance I would adduce of the fallen power of the King of Golkonda is, that the Portuguese, wretched, poor, and despised as they are become, scruple not to menace him with war, and with the capture and pillage of Maslipatam and other towns if he refuse to cede San Thomé, a place which these same Portuguese, a few years ago, voluntarily resigned into his hands to avoid the disgrace of yielding it to the superior power of the Dutch. ### [3.14.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.14.6) Many intelligent persons, however, assured me, when I was in Golkonda, that the King is by no means devoid of understanding; that this appearance of weakness and indecision and of indifference to the affairs of government is assumed for the purpose of deceiving his enemies; that he has a son concealed from the public eye, of an ardent and aspiring spirit, whom he intends to place on the throne at a favourable juncture, and then to violate his treaty with Aureng-Zebe. Leaving it to time to decide upon the soundness of these opinions, we shall proceed to say a few words about Visapour. ### [3.14.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.14.7) That country, though it has to contend frequently with the Mogol, still preserves the name of an independent kingdom. The truth is, that the generals employed against Visapour, like commanders employed in every other service, are delighted to be at the head of an army, ruling at a distance from the court with the authority of kings. They conduct every operation, therefore, with languor, and avail themselves of any pretext for the prolongation of war which is alike the source of their emolument and dignity. It is become a proverbial saying, that the Decan is the bread and support of the soldiers of Hindoustan. It should also be observed, that the kingdom of Visapour abounds with almost impregnable fortresses in mountainous situations, and that the country on the side of the Great Mogol's territories is of a peculiarly difficult access, owing to the scarcity both of forage and of good wholesome water. The capital is extremely strong; situated in an arid and sterile soil, and pure and palatable water is found only within the gates. ### [3.14.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.14.8) Visapour, however, is verging toward dissolution. The Mogol has made himself master of Paranda, the key of the kingdom; of Bider, a strong and handsome town, and of other important places. The death of the King without male issue must also operate unfavourably on the future concerns of this country. The throne is filled by a young man, educated, and adopted as her son, by the Queen, sister of the King of Golkonda, who, by the by, has been ill requited for her kindness. She returned recently from Mecca, and experienced a cold and insulting reception; the young monarch pretending that her conduct on board the Dutch vessel which conveyed her to Moka was unbecoming both her sex and rank. It is even said that she was criminally connected with two or three of the crew, who abandoned the vessel at Moka for the purpose of accompanying the Queen to Mecca. ### [3.14.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.14.9) Seva-Gi, the gentile leader lately spoken of, profiting by the distracted state of the kingdom, has seized upon many strongholds, situated for the most part in the mountains. This man is exercising all the powers of an independent sovereign; laughs at the threats both of the Mogol and of the King at Visapour; makes frequent incursions, and ravages the country on every side, from Sourate to the gates of Goa. Yet it cannot be doubted that, notwithstanding the deep wounds which from time to time he inflicts upon Visapour, the kingdom finds in this daring chieftain a seasonable and powerful coadjutor. He distracts the attention of Aureng-Zebe by his bold and never-ceasing enterprises, and affords so much employment to the Indian armies, that the Mogol cannot find the opportunity of achieving the conquest of Visapour. How to put down Seva-Gi is become the object of chief importance. We have seen his success at Sourate; he afterwards captured the Portuguese settlement of Bardes, an island contiguous to Goa. ### [3.14.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.14.10) Seventhly. It was after I had left Dehli, on my return \[to France\], that I heard, at Golkonda, of the death of Chah-Jehan, and that Aureng-Zebe seemed much affected by the event, and discovered all the marks of grief which a son can express for the loss of his father. He set out immediately for Agra, where Begum-Saheb received him with distinguished honour. She hung the mosque with tapestries of rich brocades, and in the same manner decorated the place where the Mogol intended to alight before he entered the fortress. On arriving at the women's apartment in the seraglio, the princess presented him with a large golden basin, full of precious stones — her own jewels, and those which belonged to Chah-Jehan, Moved by the magnificence of his reception, and the affectionate protestations of his sister, Aureng-Zebe forgave her former conduct and has since treated her with kindness and liberality. ### [3.14.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.14.11) I have now brought this history to a close. My readers have no doubt condemned the means by which the reigning Mogol attained the summit of power. These means were indeed unjust and cruel; but it is not perhaps fair to judge him by the rigid rules which we apply to the character of European princes. In our quarter of the globe, the succession to the crown is settled in favour of the eldest by wise and fixed laws; but in Hindoustan the right of governing is usually disputed by all the sons of the deceased monarch, each of whom is reduced to the cruel alternative of sacrificing his brothers, that he himself may reign, or of suffering his own life to be forfeited for the security and stability of the dominion of another. Yet even those who may maintain that the circumstances of country, birth and education afford no palliation of the conduct pursued by Aureng-Zebe, must admit that this Prince is endowed with a versatile and rare genius, that he is a consummate statesman, and a great King. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.14](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.3.14) · Pramāṇa