Storia do Mogor 181.1

181.1

But let us now return to Sambha Ji. He had missed his blow when he fought the viceroy, for if he had only occupied the river bank, it would have been easy for him to slaughter everybody, and equally easy to take Goa. All the same, he did not despair of success in his attempt; for, after the defeat of the viceroy, he took possession of the lands of Salcette (Salsette) and Bardes, between which lies the island of Goa, and after stiff fighting, tried to disembark men on the island [of Goa]. But the Portuguese resisted valiantly, above all the Augustinian fathers, who were at a crossing against which Sambha Ji made his principal efforts. Thus, finding he had not carried out what he wanted to do, and seeing that by force [210] of arms he should not conquer, he adopted the way customary in Hindustan — that of deceit. He therefore made Akbar act as mediator and send in a letter to the viceroy. In it he said that, being on the point of leaving for Persia, as a friend of both sides, he wanted to restore peace and amity between Sambha Jī and the Portuguese. With this object would they send a trusty person capable of dealing with such a negotiation? He would bring it to a conclusion to the satisfaction of both parties.