[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) › [Storia do Mogor](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci) › [Storia do Mogor (Irvine)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine) › 100 # Storia do Mogor 100: Of the City of Ilavas (Allahabad). Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 100 - **Language:** English ### Of the City of Ilavas (Allahabad). ### [100.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.100.1) When the Jesuit fathers saw that I did not want to remain in Agrah, but was determined to go to Bengal, Father Henriques Roa (Heinrich Roth), a German rector of the College, earnestly entreated me to take with me two Portuguese friars, then living in his College. They were companions of others who had fled from the town of Chavel (Chaul), and he (Roth) did not wish to be accused of harbouring fugitives. Although I did not burden myself willingly with such merchandise — for I have always held that he who flees from a convent is capable of other misdeeds — nevertheless, to be agreeable to the Father Rector, I took with me the two friars, turning them into my servants. In twelve days we reached Allahabad. ### [100.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.100.2) I believe that the reader will be pleased to know that on the eastern side of this city is a fortress all of red stone; it was King Akbar who ordered it to be built; it is very handsome, and very strong. For, in addition to art, Nature also has helped to make it strong: the river Ganges, flowing on the north or left side, directs its course towards the south until it reaches the fortress, while the river Jamnah, flowing on the east, at the right hand of the fort, forms a junction with the Ganges River beneath the walls. Besides these rivers, there issues from the rock on which stand the fort and its outworks a petty stream with blue waters, which is called Tirt (Tirth); it goes by a straight course, like a tongue, between the two rivers until it flows into them. Just as if the said two rivers held those waters in respect, on account of their birthplace, they allow them to pass down for a long distance without their colour being modified. Thus you can plainly see the waters of this streamlet flowing in the middle of the waters of the two rivers, Ganges and Jamnah. ### [100.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.100.3) I observed this very specially when, during my stay, one of my friends named Aquim Momena (Hakim Mumin), physician to Bahadur Khan, gave me a dinner upon the said fortification. As it was the first time \[59\] I saw it, I showed my admiration of this work of Nature. For many gave me particular information, and told me that the Hindus worship this river Tirth, their story being that one of their gods opened with an arrow the spring from which the said river rises. Every five years multitudes of Hindus assemble and wash their bodies in the said stream. This yields a good revenue to the Mogul king, for every person who bathes in the river pays six and a quarter rupees. Such is the multitude of frequenters that in the crowding many are stifled. Nor on this account do the relations of the smothered persons make the usual lamentations. On the contrary, they boast that their relations died in a state of grace and holiness, all of which is included in the word Tirth. ### [100.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.100.4) These three rivers flow below the city of Banaras (Benares), ninety leagues from Allahabad, pass near the city of Patana (Patnah), forty leagues distant from Benares, then flowing onwards, water the shores of the small town of Muguer (Munger) at a distance of eighty leagues from Patnah, and, continuing their course, greet the town of Ragemahal (Rajmahal) at forty leagues from Munger. There they divide into two branches : one, keeping the name of Ganges, flows as far as Ugulim (Hughli) in Bengal, and from Hughli goes southward to the sea; the other branch, under the name of Jamnah, flows near the town of Daca (Dhakah), where it mingles with other great rivers. We were some days in Allahabad, and the then governor was Bahadur Khan, who was absent on a campaign against some villagers who objected to pay their revenue without, at least, one fight, just as the villagers near Agrah do, as I have recounted (I. 83). Leaving Allahabad, I took the road for Benares by land, carrying with me a passport, as is the practice of all travellers. The route was level and without hills, and in eight days we came to the city of Benares, where we remained several days. This city is small but very ancient, and venerated by the Hindus, by reason of a temple there possessing a very ancient idol. Some years after my visit Aurangzeb sent orders for its destruction, when he undertook the knocking down of all temples, as I will state in the proper place (II. 116). ### [100.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.100.5) In this city is made much cloth worked in gold and silver, which is distributed hence all over the Mogul realm, and is exported to many parts of the world. It is the fashion in Hindustan to use \[60\] this proverb: 'Toracana Banarismo Rana' \[Thord khana, Bandras men rahnd\]—that is, 'Little to eat, but live in Banaras,' suggesting that Benares is a nice place, with a good climate, productive land, and cheap food. Here I crossed the great river, showing the Allahabad passport, as is usual; and by land I arrived in four days at Patnah, a very large city with bazars, the greater part thatched, inhabited by many merchants. For here is prepared much white cloth of fine quality. In this city were two factories, one of the English, and the other of the Dutch, seeing that here, besides cloth of cotton, much fine silk cloth is woven and a huge quantity of saltpetre produced, which goes to be stored in Bengal, and is there loaded on ships for various parts of Europe. Bottles are also made, and cups of clay, finer than glass, lighter than paper, and highly scented; and these, as curiosities, are carried all over the world. When I was at Patnah I saw an Armenian friend of mine called Coja Safar (Khwajah Safar) of Agrah. He had a letter entitling him to receive from a sarraf (money-changer) twenty-five thousand rupees. On his arrival he learnt that the sarraf had become bankrupt. The Armenian dissimulated. ### [100.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.100.6) As all the merchants knew him, they brought him cloth, and he took delivery up to thirty thousand rupees' worth. He loaded up all this cloth for Surat, continuing himself at Patnah. When came the time for paying the merchants, he, in pursuance of the custom of the country, lighted two candles in the morning as a sign that he had become bankrupt; he sat at his house, with no turban on his head, a simple cloth bound round his loins, his seat an old bit of matting, and a dejected expression on his face. A great tumult arose in the city, and the merchants thronged to learn the cause ; there was a storm of questions, answers, and bad language. To all this he replied with a sad countenance, calmly, and without heat, by the word ' Divalia ' (diwala), which means ' bankrupt' No other response could they get. They carried him off to court, but on the quiet he had given the judge a bribe of five thousand rupees. At the hearing he (Safar) produced the bill of exchange that he got at Agrah upon the sarraf of Patnah, and made the defence that this sarraf was the cause that he, too, was a bankrupt. The judge decreed that the merchants must take the bill of exchange and procure payment for themselves, being fellow-citizens of the sarraf. It was unreasonable that a stranger should suffer in a foreign country. The Armenian, being thus absolved, made his way to Surat \[61\]. ### [100.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.100.7) At this time Dautcan (Da,ud Khan) governed the city of Patnah. This is the man who was unwilling to forsake the service of Dara, yet was forced to leave it because Dara, in opposition to all reason, expelled him from the service when he marched out of Multan. The prince acted on unfounded suspicions, as I have recounted in the other part (I. 208, 217). I went to visit him, and he was very delighted to see me, remembering that I had been something of a favourite with Prince Dara. He gave me a set of robes (sarapa). He still retained much affection for the deceased prince, upbraiding the evil fortune that had pursued him. He said to me that if Prince Dara were still alive he would never have taken service under Aurangzeb, and now that he had accepted employment, he had been sent to govern Patnah. He was desirous for me to become his follower, making me great offers ; but as I wished to continue my projected journey, I asked him to forgive me, as I had business in Bengal. He agreed to let me go, on condition that I accepted from him a boat for making my journey by river to Bengal, as a mark of the affection he bore me. ### [100.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.100.8) I accepted the offer, and of the two horses I had I sold one ; the other I embarked on the boat. Then I got into it, taking the two friars, with whom I was considerably incensed. We proceeded slowly, and arriving near an island, while our meal was in preparation I landed with my boys to go shooting, there being abundance of game in these islands, all of them uninhabited. Having shot sufficient for supper and breakfast, I returned to the boat, and every evening we slept close to the bank. One day during this voyage the boatman told me not to put any trust in the friars, for they were not my friends ; on the contrary, they had several times wanted to resume the journey while I was out on an island shooting. But the boatman would never consent, knowing that Da,ud Khan would wreak vengeance on him for daring so to act. I knew quite well that the friars were capable of doing this ; for the more I tried to please them, the more insolent they became. They did not recognise the benefit I was doing them, for no other reason than their being men of religious profession, recommended by the Father Rector of the Jesuits in Agrah. ### [100.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.100.9) I wanted to find out whether really they spoke thus to the boatman, and I learnt after some days that they again did as before. Thus, I was compelled to show myself \[62\] in a rage, and I said to them that if they did not amend their impertinent ways, I would abandon them on some island, and leave them at the disposal of Time and the wild beasts. I hoped that they would not thereafter venture to incur my displeasure. All men of wisdom know that with certain characters it is necessary to be resolute before you can make them abate their rage, and thus was it requisite to do on this occasion to make them thoroughly uneasy. Finally I reached Rajmahal, the former court residence of Prince Shah Shuja', where I delayed a few days to see the ruins of the city, the dilapidated palaces, the great fallen mansions, the neglected groves and gardens. At this time the city was ruled by Mirza Jani, who had been the captain of Shah Shuja's artillery in the severe battle of Khajwah. Upon the defeat of that prince, Mir Jumlah, who was Viceroy of Bengal, aware of the prudence and valour of Mirza Jani, made him governor of this city. Here I satisfied myself that the affair of the cobras, which I related before I began to speak of the rebellion in the Mogul kingdom (I. 157), happened exactly as I told it then, for everybody gave me the story in one and the same way. ### [100.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.100.10) From Rajmahal I continued my journey on the river to the city of Daca (Dhakah), which was reached in fifteen days from leaving Rajmahal. The city of Dhakah is the metropolis of the whole province of Bengal, where a viceroy always resides who wields the greatest power, although when I reached it Mir Jumlah, the then viceroy, was not there, he having gone to make war on Assam, a campaign of which I will speak farther on (II. 74). The city of Dhakah, without being strong or large, has many inhabitants. Most of its houses are made of straw. At this period there were two factories, one English and the other Dutch ; there were many Christians, white and black Portuguese, with a church served by a friar called Agostinho. ### [100.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.100.11) Here I made the acquaintance of an Englishman named Thomas Plata (? Pratt), a courteous man, who had from Mir Jumlah five hundred rupees a month. He was master of the riverside, and employed in building boats and making ammunition for river fighting. This Englishman carried me off to his house, and I received from him many favours; I shall have something to say \[63\] about him after the death of Mir Jumlah (II. 75), through something that then happened to him. After some days I embarked once more, accompanied by the friars, traversing the great river of Dhakah, on my way to Hughli. Having discovered that I had little time to spare, and that there was a shorter and safer route to Hughli, we therefore quitted the main stream and passed by a way between forests, which are called the Forests of Sunderi (Sundarbans). --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.100](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.100) · Pramāṇa