[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) › 167 # Storia do Mogor 167: My Departure from Lahor. Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 167 - **Language:** English ### [167](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.167) Having acquired a sufficient capital, I became desirous of withdrawing from the Mogul country and living once more among Christians. This I could not effect by moving to Goa, for the mode of life of those gentlemen did not suit me. I resolved to retire to a village called Bandora, which is under the Jesuit fathers, who do not allow any Portuguese to live within it beyond a few of their own faction. For as soon as any white man appears, they put a spy on him, who follows him constantly. On no account will they allow such a man to sleep in the village. Nevertheless, as they knew that I was not a troublesome man, they were content to allow me to become a resident. In the village dwelt many merchants of different nations, it being a place of trade. One could live there in security, through the efforts of the fathers in defending themselves from the thieves, who traversed the ocean in such numbers that it was necessary for many vessels together to leave the port, for the Malavares (? Malabaris) and Sanganes (? Sanjanis) infest this coast. The news spread that I meant to leave Lahor, and I was forced to affect that the report was false, for they would never have let me get away, neither the nobles nor the lower orders, for I had great repute and was much thought of. To keep me they placed spies upon me to hinder my departure. But I carried out my intention in such a way as to mislead the spies; I left at night without letting anyone know. Thus I was able to proceed on my journey, for I left my heavy baggage behind, and everything in my house in its usual order. I reached Sihrind without interference, and from Sihrind, passing outside Dihli, I rested in Agrah. From Agrah I went to Surat, where I came across the woman of whom I spoke earlier (II. 71), she who married the Armenian. From Surat I went on \[178\] to Damao, then through the territories of the Portuguese, where the fathers of the society (i.e., the Jesuits) did me many kindnesses, and at length I arrived at Bandora. Here I was advised by some people to buy a ship and thus not to leave my capital without fructifying. They proposed to me for taking charge of the ship a certain Ignacio de Taide, a Portuguese, who lived with the reputation of being a good Christian. To him I made over my ship and its cargo, which in all cost me the sum of fourteen thousand rupees. This caused others to confide to him considerable sums on seeing that I had faith in him. My orders to him were not to stray from the convoy. But having other views of his own, he went with the convoy only for a certain time. After that he began to fall behind, and, abandoning the ship, disappeared, for he had raised large sums on Respondentia bonds; he now started the story that the pirates had seized the ship. In that case he would not be obliged to pay the money that he had borrowed. By this means I was left devoid of capital, having nothing left but a little money for daily expenses. This necessitated my asking payment from Diogo de Mello de Sampayo, son of Luis de Mello de Sampayo, called the Roncador (the Bully), of whom I have spoken (I. 123), he who fought so valorously at Damao. I asked him to do me the favour of returning the two hundred rupees, with which I had helped him in his necessity, out of which he had only repaid twenty. But all I received was the answer that he had given me the twenty rupees in charity; as for the money he owed me, I might collect it from the Mogul, who was indebted to him in a large amount. - [Previous: 166](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.166) - [Next: 168](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.168) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.167](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.167) · Pramāṇa