[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) › 122 # Storia do Mogor 122: The War against Bijapur. Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 122 - **Language:** English ### The War against Bijapur. ### [122.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.122.1) Shiva Jī's haste in taking to flight has caused us to get some paces too far ahead, and leaves now for this place various matters, including the orders sent by Aurangzeb to Rajah Jai Singh when he was certain that Shiva Jī had already surrendered himself. These orders were that, ceasing to campaign against the territories of Shiva Jī, our army should proceed to the conquest of Visapur (Bijapur, Vijayapura). The rajah started at the head of fifty thousand horsemen, relying upon his knowledge of the fact that the greater number of the Bijapur generals were on Aurangzeb's side. We were on our way when a letter arrived from Sargecan (Sharzah Khan), a Pathan by race and captain-general of the Bijapur king, addressed to Diler Khan, to the following effect : ' Valorous and loyal general, Diler Khan ! I do not write to Rajah Jai Singh but to you, we being of one race and of one faith. For this reason I believe that \[107\] you will give ear to my words. I pray you as a favour to so arrange that Rajah Jai Singh obtains from King Aurangzeb orders to desist from this war. For the King of Bijapur is of the same sect of the faithful, and up to this time has never evaded the payment of the agreed tribute. If you are not able to secure this, I shall be forced to do what in me lies to defend this kingdom. Nor must you take it ill if I oppose your division or succeed in routing you, and deprive you of the glory that by a victory you would obtain.' ### [122.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.122.2) When Diler Khan received the letter, he replied briefly that, until he had the King of Bijapur in his power, Aurangzeb would never listen to the proposals of anyone. As for an encounter in the field, he was delighted both to test the valour of Sharzah Khan, and to give him a sample of the courage with which he, too, could fight. On hearing this, Sharzah Khan took the field, and dividing his army into two parts, allowed us to march between them for fifteen days of our route. When we were close to Bijapur, he began to devastate the Mogul provinces without mercy. The rajah paid no heed to this, assuming that it would be easy for him to take Bijapur and its king, for he had been corresponding with the officers. But the intrigues being discovered, the king removed the officers who had written, and replaced them by others. By this change the rajah found himself deprived of those he relied on, and he had to beat a retreat. This was the time when Sharzah Khan captured three officers who were coming over to our army to join us; he decapitated them, and sent the heads to the King of Bijapur as a proof that he had one loyal general, who would spare no one when acting in defence of his king. Sharzah Khan gave us a lot of trouble during our retirement, leaving us not a moment's rest, either by day or by night, until we had quitted the territory of Bijapur. ### [122.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.122.3) During this advance and retreat there was with our army the Father Damiao Vieira, a Portuguese expelled by the Jesuit fathers. The cause of his appearance was that during our stay below the fortress of Punagar (? Puna-garh) the Hindus of Chawal came to complain to Rajah Jai Singh that the Portuguese were seizing forcibly the sons of the Hindus and making them Christians. This made the rajah angry, for he was zealous in the Hindu faith, and he made preparations to send a force against Chawal. On becoming aware of this I gave notice, there and then, to Ignacio Sermento at Bassain \[108\]. He was chief of the northern territory of the Portuguese, which extends to Damao (Daman). I requested him to send someone as envoy with some presents, and I would arrange matters. He sent this padre, with a young Mahomedan in his suite. He brought this youth expressly to get from him half of what he might acquire, as being well acquainted with the territories of Chawal. He was clever enough to secure the rajah's taking this young man into his service, and thus they shared the pay in a brotherly manner. I spoke to the rajah, and pointed out to him that there was no occasion for the Hindus of Chawal to complain, since what the Portuguese were doing had gone on certainly for a hundred years; nor did they make Christians of anyone but orphans who had no relations forthcoming. ### [122.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.122.4) The padre was not content with having accomplished his mission with somewhat of honour, but he must needs enter on warlike proposals. He promised the rajah that he would so manage that the viceroy of Goa should give aid to the Moguls in the acquisition of Bījāpur. Over and over again I told the padre that it was not a good thing to enter into such matters, that he had much better withdraw to Goa. For the King of Bījāpur was a better neighbour to the Portuguese than the Mogul king would ever be. The latter, having conquered Bījāpur, would next try to take Goa. The padre was not pleased with my views, and complained to the rajah, so that the rajah said to me one day, without giving a reason, that I should avoid meeting the padre. After the business had been settled, I received from the Portuguese a certificate signed by Ignacio Sermento, wherein he swore on the Holy Evangelists that I had done a great service to the Crown of Portugal. ### [122.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.122.5) We got to Bījāpur, as I said, and there we beheld the miracles that the padre had promised us. We were to take Bījāpur with the greatest ease, whereas it all but happened that Sharzah Khān broke all our heads. Therefore, finding, after we had retreated, that we were going into quarters, I began to long for a life among Christians; and I was disgusted at the conduct of the padre, who continued to live on in the army. I asked the rajah for leave to resign, as I wanted to return to my country, and I put forward as excuse that I wanted to get married. They never refuse anyone leave when it is with that object. The rajah asked his Brahman and the astrologers, with whom (as I have said) these princes are always well provided, if he should ever see me again. They replied that we should never meet again. He believed that I was doomed to die, but he reckoned badly, for while I got back to the Mogul country, he was left dead far from home, as I shall relate in its proper place (II. 115). On my leave-taking he gave me a set of robes, and something by way of present. Upon quitting the army I went into a village belonging to the Portuguese called Camba (Kambe), close to Galiani (Kalyan) and Beundi (Bhiwandi), in the country of Shiva Ji. In this village are made many things in wood — handsome chairs, sideboards, bedsteads, and different playthings. ### [122.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.122.6) Here I stayed for several days, at the request of a friend of mine who was owner of the village, and he kept me in his house until he had stolen some gold coins I had. Thence I made for Bassaim (Bassain, Wasai), a Portuguese town, there to pass Lent, and I lived outside the town. I was very near losing my life here. A gentleman (fidalgo) asked me about some fidalgos of the Mello family, then living in the Mogul country, who had been banished for putting to death two brothers named Medoncas (? Mendoza), brothers-in-law of the questioner, on the accusation of treason to the Portuguese Crown. I had no idea that he was an enemy of these fugitives, and I replied that they were men of worth and honoured gentlemen. This sufficed to set him plotting against me, and he sent out men to assassinate me. But it was God's pleasure that, when coming out of the town on my horse, I should meet some gentlemen, who requested me to put my horse to speed, which I did most vigorously. With a pleasantry I took my leave of them, and spurred my horse into a gallop, though it was already tired out, getting my sword out of its scabbard ; it was as much as I could do to get hold of it, seeing that my horse would hardly let me. But here we must admire God's providence, who had resolved on saving me. Here was I galloping my horse, sword in hand, when I came up with four men at a corner round which I had to pass. They stood there waiting for me, with naked swords, XVI. ### [122.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.122.7) Sultan Akbar, Fourth Son of Aurangzeb. ready to slay me. But guessing that I had been already warned, and was coming at them resolved to fight to the death, they were in fear and allowed me to pass without hindrance. I was subsequently informed that he who laid this plot for me was the fidalgo to whom I had praised the Mellos. Thus, fearing that he would lose no occasion of executing his evil intent, I left for Goa, and there I arrived in the month of May, one thousand six hundred and sixty-six (1666). Of the place itself I shall have much to say presently, but the reader must permit me first to state briefly \[no\] something about my own stay there. I did not obtain there what I sought, for I found myself in a place where treachery is great and prevalent, where there is little fear of God and no concern for strangers. Not that I can complain myself of ill-treatment, for the viceroy desired to honour me with the command of a war-galley. But since I had many necessary expenses, and I was not rich enough to take upon myself the payment of the soldiers and sailors from my own pocket, I declined. My advice to the viceroy was that he should take great care not to let the Mogul become master of Bijapur; for on finding an opportunity, he would use all his strength to take Goa, as was his usual practice. ### [122.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.122.8) As I had need of money for expenses, I went several times to the general, Ignacio Sermento, to ask for the three hundred rupees which he continued to owe me for certain articles that he had asked me to send him when I was in the Mogul country. Never could I succeed in getting what was due. At length, when he was about to start for his government of Mozambique, I begged him to make me a gift of the three hundred rupees, at any rate, under the name of alms. As a foreigner I had no remedy against him; and when he heard me ask for charity, he ordered the sum to be paid me. Thus is it the custom of certain of these gentlemen to pay their debts after wearying out their creditors. I was very fortunate. Others, in place of collecting the money they had lent, have lost a limb or even their life. I do not want to talk of that, for those who are curious may ask the Portuguese themselves ; there are among them men of sincerity, as there are in other nations. Such men can tell them more than I dare to write about the Portuguese of India. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.122](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.122) · Pramāṇa