[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) › 102 # Storia do Mogor 102: My Stay in Hugli, and what happened there. Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 102 - **Language:** English ### My Stay in Hugli, and what happened there. ### [102.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.102.1) Some days after my arrival the Jesuit fathers came to visit me, and in course of conversation they said to me that they had a tiny church, and that only built of straw. They desired to construct one of stone, but the governor objected, although they were ready to pay him five thousand rupees. The governor was Mirzagol (? Mirza Gul or Mughal), an old man of Persian race, who had been in Shah Shuja's service when he fought the famous battle of Khajwah against Aurangzeb. He afterwards entered the service of Aurangzeb, and Mir Jumlah, who knew his prudence, made him governor of Hughli. This governor was determined that the Jesuit fathers should not build a church, and he issued orders that no one should work at such an edifice under penalty of losing a hand. The fathers begged me most earnestly to speak to Mirza Gul on this matter. To be of service to the fathers, I paid a visit to the governor, when we had a talk over the events in the recent wars, so that he took a fancy to me. He said to me that if he could be of use to me in any way he would do it willingly. Seeing an opening for carrying out the project of the fathers, who were with me, I explained to him, after many polite words, that I should be content if he would allow the fathers to build their church. This was the greatest favour that he could do for me. Then I presented to him their petition, which he granted on the spot. ### [102.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.102.2) When they learnt this, the Portuguese were all amazed that I with a few words had secured what they could not obtain for five thousand rupees. This thing caused them to seek every mode of keeping me in Hughli, they supposing that, as I had managed so easily such a difficult affair, I would prove of benefit to the Portuguese should I take up my residence there. They found that I was not willing; on the contrary, I wanted to go back to Mogul territory \[66\] to practise the science of medicine, of which I had begun to learn the elements, and was continuing my studies. I knew from experience that Frank physicians are held in esteem by the Mahomedans. Then they thought to detain me by a marriage to a young lady, with the promise of thirty thousand rupees and two pataxos loaded with salt, making in the whole one hundred thousand rupees, also a house furnished with everything necessary for a newly-married couple. I was really anxious that this contract should be carried through; all the same, I made a show of not caring a rap, pretending, on the contrary, that I was absolutely determined to return to the Mogul country. The Jesuit fathers were never tired of trying to get a 'Yes' from me, but though in reality desirous in my heart of assenting, I made a show of refusal, so that they might not fancy they were conferring any benefit on me; nor, if afterwards there chanced to be any quarrel, could they throw in my face the benefit they had done me. ### [102.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.102.3) The friends with whom I had travelled from Agrah to Bengal were anxious on this occasion to repay me for the kindness I had done them in taking them as my companions. They came to interview me, and by a long argument tried to draw from my purse three thousand rupees. They said if I gave them the three thousand rupees, they had the power of arranging a very profitable marriage for me. They supposed that at the time I knew nothing of this proposed marriage, and thus they came confidently hoping to suck these three thousand rupees out of me. With an unmoved face I gave them my thanks, saying that I had no wish to marry. Worn out by talking, they had to quit my dwelling without the rupees. ### [102.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.102.4) They (the friars) waited until a day on which my proposed father-in-law had prepared a luncheon, and intended to come with the Jesuit fathers and other of his friends to carry me with them to this feast. He meant to obtain my acquiescence during the meal. All of a sudden they (the two friars) appeared in the company. Everybody was pleased, looking on the friars as my friends; and they were invited to come also to my house to fetch me and settle about the wedding. Those two men, who sought nothing but my harm, began to give vent to the rage that they had against me, at not having been able to extract the three thousand rupees from me. They expressed their surprise that a rich man, having only one daughter, the heiress of much wealth, should seek for her the ill fortune of being married to a foreign youth, one \[67\] of little ability. On the other hand, there were many Portuguese, of good sense, of good family, well-established merchants in Hughli, who were willing to marry the girl; if others were consenting to this union, they could not concur in such an injury being inflicted on the girl. ### [102.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.102.5) Everybody was amazed at this kind of talk from the friars, they all supposing them to be my friends, as I had vouched for them; and their words found acceptance in the minds of many present. The two knew that someone would come to tell me what had happened, therefore they cunningly took the initiative and came within the same hour to visit me. They said Hughli was not a good place for me; it were better to quit it at once. The father Prior of the Augustinians was, they said, very vexed with me for obtaining permission for the Jesuit fathers to build their church. He had sworn that when he came across me he would thrust some insult upon me. ### [102.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.102.6) As soon as they had left my house I took pen and ink and wrote a letter to the said father Prior, asking the cause of his displeasure. For it did not seem to me sufficient cause to be vexed, because a stranger had assisted in getting God glorified. Nevertheless, if I had offended, I would come to him for my penance. But it did not seem to me right that he should show signs of displeasure, as recounted to me by such and such priests. He replied to me that he had no grievance about my gaining the permission for the Jesuit fathers, but it was because they had promised him one hundred and fifty rupees if the negotiation succeeded, and now were unwilling to keep their word. Meanwhile there appeared the foster-brother of her who was to be my wife; he was my great friend, and he told me all that had occurred. The story was confirmed by other friends, who had been present during the telling of falsehoods about me by the two friars. ### [102.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.102.7) I came out of my house and went to the father Prior of the Augustinians, where I made known what the friars were, for I saw now they were full of guile. I told him, as was the truth, that they collected alms not for the convent, but for themselves. They had tried to levy from my purse three thousand rupees; but as I did not wish to give them this money, they invented falsehoods about me. They supposed I wanted to get married, whereas the thought of it had never entered my head. The father Prior approved what I said, and extracted from the hands of the fugitives the alms collected, writing to the convent of the said friars at Goa as to what he had done. He gave orders in his convent of the Augustinians for the preparation of a satisfactory account of the money. The said father Prior made complaint to me for my not having denounced them as absconders. I replied that under the impression that they intended to do better deeds than those they had committed in the Mogul country, I judged myself under an obligation to screen my neighbour's faults; but finding that they were acting worse than before, I held it now opportune to declare the truth. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.102](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.102) · Pramāṇa