[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) › 13.2 # Storia do Mogor 13.2 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 13.2 - **Language:** English ### [13.2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.13.2.1) On the second visit Shah 'Alam detained Manucci as an absconder from his service. Flight was attempted, but the poor man was brought back much against his will. A difficult march through the Ghats was then made, and the prince rejoined his father at Ahmadnagar. Shortly afterwards Shah 'Alam was sent against the King of Gulkhandah. When the camp was at Malkher, Manucci managed to enter into communication with the general on the opposite side, and he was helped to escape to Gulkhandah. When Shah 'Alam occupied Gulkhandah (1686) Manucci fled further afield to the European settlements at Narsapur and Masulipatam, on the east coast. Soldiers brought him back to Gulkhandah, but he was successful in evading delivery to the agents of Shah 'Alam, who had left that place. Once more, with the aid of an Augustinian friar, he managed after two months to get away, and took refuge at the English settlement of Madras or Fort St. George. This was in the second half of 1686. ### [13.2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.13.2.2) Paying a visit to François Martin at Pondicherry, eighty-six miles south of Madras, Manucci was dissuaded from returning to Europe, and was advised to marry. He was introduced to a Catholic widow, the daughter of Christopher Hartley and Aguida Pereyra. Her first husband, Thomas Clarke, had died on October 6, 1683. Manucci married her on October 28, 1686, and a son was born to them, but the child died in infancy. He resumed his practice as a physician, and much commends a cordial of which he had the secret, while his 'stones,' an imitation of the Goa stones of the Jesuits, had a great vogue. Almost immediately on his arrival at Madras Manucci's services were requisitioned by Governor William Gyfford (July 1681 to July 1687). Gyfford wrote to the 'Great Mogull' on February 17, 1686/7, and March 20, 1686/7, sending both letters by Manucci's messengers. Before the answer arrived from the court Gyfford had been superseded by Elihu Yale (July 1687 to October 23, 1692), and on September 16, 1687, the new governor ousted Manucci and made over the negotiation entirely to Khwajah Ibnus, alias Joan de Marke, an Armenian merchant at Gulkhandah, with whom the correspondence lasted until July, 1688. During Yale's (1687-1692) and Higginson's (1692-1698) governorships Manucci would appear to have remained out of favour. On the contrary, Thomas Pitt, governor from 1698 to 1709, seems to have liked and trusted Manucci — at any rate, he employed him a good deal. ### [13.2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.13.2.3) 1700-1703. In 1700 Sir William Norris and Consul John Pitt, who had come out in the interests of the newly-founded rival English company, made overtures to Manucci to join the first-named as interpreter. Manucci declined on the score of age and blindness, but really out of a desire not to offend Governor Pitt. In O.C., No. 6737 (Masulipatam general letter of September 19, 1699), we have an intimation that a letter was awaited from 'Senr Manuchii,' which was delayed by his absence at Pondicherry, the French settlement, on some business he was transacting for them (the French). A translation of Manucci's answer to John Pitt is to be found at the India Office (O.C., vol. lxvi., Part I., No. 6790), and, as Sir Henry Yule does not give it, I insert it in full. 'MOST ILLUSTRIOUS SR. MR. PITT, 'I have received the honour of 3 letters, which you have done me the Favour of writing to me, and am infinitely obliged to you, for all the Goodness you show therein ; and (as I should be alwayes gladd to serve your Honr.) I would doe it with all my heart, but finding my Selfe Old and Infirme, I am not in a Condition to undertake what You desire of me ; If I enjoyed my former health and Strength, it would be a great honour to me, to find soe favourable an opportunity of Serving, his Majesty, his Excellency, and the Noble Company, but my Infirmity and Blindness will not permit me. ### [13.2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.13.2.4) 'I desire your Honour will assure your selfe, that noe other reason should hinder me from accepting the soe Honourable Offers that you make me with soe much Goodness. 'I have not answered your two former Letters, not having mett with a secure oppertunity ; in fine, I offer you my whole heart, and upon all occasions You shall find me punctually ready, as your most humble Servant. God keep your illustrious person. 'Madrastapatan, 24th December, 1699. 'Most Illustrious Sr., 'Your most humble 'NICOLAS MANUCH. 'To the most illustrious Signor Mr. Pitt, President of the Noble Royall Company of England for the Coast of Cormandell, Metchlapatan.' The kingdom of Gulkhandah having finally fallen in 1687, the Moguls proceeded to invest Jinji, eighty-two miles south-west of Madras, but were unable to reduce it until 1698. From the date of its fall they became very active, and began to interfere throughout the Karnatik. Their deputy-governor, Da,ud Khan, Panni, obeying orders from court, made himself especially disagreeable. In 1702 he invested Madras for many weeks, when Manucci and a Brahmin were sent as joint envoys from Governor Pitt to the besieger (Part IV., 87, 93, 97, 244; V., 224). The story of these negotiations, from the official point of view, will be found in J. Talboys Wheeler's 'Madras in the Olden Time,' chapter xvi., pp. 195-221. In February and March, 1703, Manucci paid a visit to that Nawab at his house in Kadapah, 137 miles north-west of Madras. ### [13.2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.13.2.5) With 1703 begins the active stage of the dispute between the Capuchins and Jesuits, arising chiefly out of the so-called Malabar Rites or Accommodation Strife, about the supposed concessions of Jesuit missionaries to heathendom. Into this and other ecclesiastical matters Manucci threw himself with great energy. In 1700 he had been the host of some priests who were on their way to China (IV., 231, 232), and at the end of 1701 he wrote to Da,ud Khan about persecutions in Tanjor, being thanked in two letters by the Père Pierre Martin, Jesuit, of that mission (second letter, dated February 6, 1702). With the arrival of Cardinal de Tournon, papal legate, at Pondicherry in November, 1703, ecclesiastical questions took precedence of all others in our author's mind. He devotes many pages to these questions, and in Père Norbert's 'Mémoires Utiles et Nécessaires,' Luques (Lucca), 1742, p. 187, under the date of January 10, 1707, we find 'Nicolo Manucci' as one of the four witnesses who attest that a certain request had been presented on September 28, 1706, by Père Michel Angelo, Capuchin, to the Bishop of St. Thomé, an ex-Jesuit. ### [13.2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.13.2.6) In 1706 Manucci lost his wife, and at some date between that event and 1712 he moved his home to Pondicherry. In the latter year he proposed to make a journey to the Mogul court at Lahor on the request of Shah 'Alam, who had become emperor five years before. The Madras Council wished to make use of his mediation to clear up certain long-pending difficulties with the Mogul, and secure fresh privileges for their honourable masters. The death of Shah 'Alam put an end to Manucci's plans. But as a reward for previous services during Da'ud Khan's attack, the governor and Council on January 14, 1712, conceded to him in perpetuity his leasehold house and garden at Madras, situated outside the north-west corner of the then Black Town. The previous history of this renewal presents one or two points of interest. An order of March 22, 1705, directed a renewal for twenty-one years on the levy of a fine of sixty pagodas, with the rider: 'It being the generall opinion of all that the aforesaid Nicolo Manuch is very poor, and in consideration of his readiness to serve the Company on all occasions, 'tis agreed that upon his payment of the sixty pagodas before-mentioned, it be returned to him as a gratuity for his good services' ('Factory Records,' Fort St. George, vol. xiii., fol. 37). ### [13.2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.13.2.7) Unfortunately, before the lease was drawn up and executed a Padre at Negapatam sent to the governor (Thomas Pitt) a 'letter full of strange invectives against Senr Manuch,' which, when produced before the Council, led them to suspect he ' was not true to the Company's interest.' The lease was stopped and inquiry ordered. It was found that ' the Padre was an infamous and scandalous fellow.' Manucci had detected him in attempts at debaucheries in his family, while the Padres at Madras and other Portuguese of good reputation gave the Padre a very ill character. It was determined on December 18, 1704, to grant the lease on the terms originally sanctioned (' Factory Records,' Fort St. George, vol. xiii., fol. 203). Then follows the lease, dated December 20, 1704. It recites that the first grant for thirty years was made to Thomas Clarke, gentn, in the year 1671. It consisted of a garden or parcel of ground without the town. Manucci petitioned as heir of Thomas Clarke (having married his widow). The terms were a fine of sixty pagodas (remitted as above stated), and a yearly acknowledgment of one pagoda. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.13.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.13.2) · Pramāṇa