[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) › 104 # Storia do Mogor 104: I GO ONCE MORE TO AGRAH BY LAND. Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 104 - **Language:** English ### I GO ONCE MORE TO AGRAH BY LAND. ### [104.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.104.1) Certain friends were very anxious for me to remain in Hughli to renew the proposals of marriage. But being quite ready for a start, I declined to listen to anyone. Two days after the above-mentioned event I quitted Hughli by land. Some imagined that I was not really going, for before I had reached Cassim Bazar (Qasim Bazar) they sent me couriers calling on me to return, saying that already the plot of my enemies had been discovered, and my father-in-law was anxiously awaiting me to give me his daughter as my bride. I paid no heed to such letters and promises, for I had by that time made up my mind to go once more to Dihli. ### [104.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.104.2) I reached Qasim Bazar, at three days' journey from Hughli, and here I saw that they make much high-quality piece-goods and much white cloth. There are in this village, which is near the Ganges, three factories of the French, English, and Dutch. From Qasim Bazar I took the road to Rajmahal, and there waited to see a Hindu woman burnt, although I had already seen many. She had poisoned her husband by reason of her love for a musician, hoping to get married afterwards to this lover. But on the husband's death the musician refused to marry her. Thus, finding herself deprived of a husband and her reputation gone, she resolved to be burnt. A great crowd collected to look on; among them appeared the musician, hoping to receive from her something by way of memorial. It is usual for women who go to be burnt to distribute betel-leaf or jewels. The place was a large pit. As she was circumambulating this pit, she came close to the young musician, and, taking from her neck a gold chain she had on as an ornament, she flung it round the young man's neck, and taking him forcibly into her arms, jumped into the pit. Everyone was taken aback at this, not anticipating such a thing. Thus did she and the youth together expiate their sin and the murder of the husband. ### [104.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.104.3) From Rajmahal I made once more for Patnah, where I halted several days, spending a jolly time with some English and Dutch friends. I then started for Allahabad, and from Allahabad I went to Agrah, where was King Shahjahan, still kept with the same rigour as ordered by King Aurangzeb, who was then in Kashmir. The routes I had traversed are much frequented, full of villages and saraes, food being good and cheap. Some time after my arrival in Agrah there came to my house a Dutch surgeon named Jacob, a fugitive from the harbour of Goa, having killed a man when the Dutch blockaded the entrance to that place. His visit was most opportune. For the governor of the city, who suffered from a fistula, had sent for me to see if I could cure him. None of the Europeans living in the fort knew the proper treatment, nor was there any Mahomedan surgeon who would venture to deal with the case. I asked Jacob, who was unable to speak Moors, and was a poor, miserable creature, whether he had the courage to treat such a complaint. He replied in the affirmative, and so I went with him to the governor, and in a short time we cured him, when he gave us a considerable sum for our trouble, besides the presents sent to me during the time we were attending him. Thus little by little I began to turn myself into a physician, although I did not make bold to announce myself as such. ### [104.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.104.4) During my stay in Agrah I went one day to make an excursion into the country on horseback, in the company of a young Armenian. We came where a Hindu woman had begun to move round her pyre, which was already blazing ; she rested her eyes on us, as if she appealed to us for help. The Armenian asked if I would join him in saving the woman from death. I said I would. Seizing our swords, and our servants doing the same, we charged with our horses into the midst of the crowd looking on, shouting, ' Mata, mata !' \[Kill, kill !\], whereat the Brahmans, being frightened, all took to flight, and left the woman unguarded. The Armenian laid hold of her, and making her mount behind him, carried her off. Subsequently, having had her baptized, he married her \[72\]. When I passed through Surat (II. 177) I found her living there with her son, and she returned me many thanks for the benefit done to her. When the king returned from Kashmir, the Brahmans went to complain that the soldiers did not allow women to be burnt, in accordance with their customs. The king issued an order that in all lands under Mogul control never again should the officials allow a woman to be burnt. This order endures to this day. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.104](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.104) · Pramāṇa