Storia do Mogor 129: Death of Father Buzeo.

129

The nobles in the Mogul country, above all Ja'far Khan, felt much the loss this year of a Christian and a priest, although they do not care a fig usually whether we live or die. They are in the habit of calling us 'unbelievers.' This was Father Buzeo, a Flemish Jesuit well known at the court, a great friend of Dara, and well liked by all the nobles, who delighted much in his conversation. He was a man of great judgment, very learned, well regulated in act and speech. He was of a fine presence, tall and portly, imposing respect by his mere appearance. He was very polished, a good mathematician, one who in a few words could solve the most difficult problems. In such estimation was he held that even Aurangzeb on his journey to and stay in Kashmir wished his company.
This man of fine constitution met with trouble in regard to a marriage that he had arranged among the Christians. The husband, renouncing his religion, had turned Mahomedan. So much affected was the father, that the blood went to his head and he became delirious. To let blood would have sufficed to alleviate nature ; but as he was fifty-three years of age, and had never been bled, they would not bleed him. In this way his blood so troubled him that one day, shutting himself into his room, he opened his bowels with a knife, and, drawing out the colon, removed a piece and threw it away. Nature being thus discharged, his head was relieved, and he called for his servants. As they could not get in, they knocked down the door and ran to his assistance. But it was too late, a piece of the bowel having disappeared.
In Dihli at this time was one of the fugitive friars of whom I formerly spoke (II. 61, 66, 67), and among the Christians who assembled, this friar also appeared. This priest confessed him, and remained present until his death. Since Father Buzeo was a wise man, he forthwith, before he expired, ordered a writing to be drawn up in his presence, wherein he declared that he himself had made the wound. He obtained the signatures of the greater number of those present, so that this paper being carried to the magistrate, the neighbours and the house-servants might be saved annoyance. He died with all the signs of a perfect holy man, and his dead body was carried to Agrah. Speaking with the king, Ja'far Khan said to him that the sign of understanding had fallen, alluding to the death of this great religious person.
It was not long before some renegade servants of the Jesuit fathers made use of this occasion to get the fathers ejected from Agrah. They laid a petition before the magistrate that a Farangi, having died leaving no heirs, they asked for a grant of the houses of the defunct. From the qazi they obtained the order that they sought. The fathers went and sought the good offices of Ja'far Khan, who, for the friendship he had to the said father, let the king know what was the real state of the case — that is to say, the deceased, being neither married nor a merchant, but a member of a religious order, could have no heir, possessing nothing of his own. His only heirs were the fathers of the same order. Thus fresh instructions were issued in favour of the padres. By this death the fathers lost much of the lustre that they had, for they did not succeed in maintaining their ancient reputation. The Mahomedans are very touchy, hence it is necessary for the fathers to conduct themselves with great prudence. The slightest indiscretion of one man suffices to ruin the rest.