Storia do Mogor 189: I go to Gulkandah, and flee once more as far as Madras.
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 189
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I go to Gulkandah, and flee once more as far as Madras.
189.1
While Shah 'Alam was halted in that province (Kohīr) waiting for the receipt of the treasure, elephants, jewels, and war materials, in accordance with the treaty, he requested the king to have a search made for me and send me to him, as he wanted me. Horsemen were sent by the king to fetch me, with orders to the governors that if I refused to come willingly I was to be sent by force. The soldiers came upon me in Narsapur, and showed me the royal farmān, whereby the king recalled me to court on the pretext of continuing the treatment of his nephew. He promised me that whenever I wanted my liberty it should be given without difficulty.
189.2
I could see quite well that there was no escape from going, for they would carry me off to the court whether I liked it or not. I therefore dissembled, and made display of goodwill and a desire to be of service to His Majesty. I mounted my horse and went with them, in all pomp and magnificence, until we got to Gulkandah. When I appeared to make my obeisance to the king, he declared himself pleased at my coming. Urgently I begged him, as I had come under protection of his word, not to deliver me into the hands of Shah 'Alam. By this he was somewhat disconcerted, and fixed my pay at seven hundred rupees a month. But I declared that I would not accept pay, that I meant to serve him for nothing. Nevertheless he sent seven hundred rupees to my abode, and while I was with him he ordered a set of robes to be conferred on me. He gave a private order to post a hundred horsemen in the street where I was staying to prevent anyone interfering with me.
189.3
For the envoy of Shah 'Alam, called Momencan (Mumin Khan), sought an opening for carrying me off to the prince. In addition to the guard of horsemen, Abu,l Hasan gave me over in charge to his diwan, who was responsible for my personal safety. I began the treatment of his nephew once more, and remained two months in Gulkandah, by which time the patient had recovered. But I was obliged to seek safety in a secret flight. For the ambassador [234] of Shah 'Alam, when he was taking leave, once more tried to induce the king to make me over into his hands. He (the king) replied that if at his departure he carried me away with him, no one would come forward to defend me. For this purpose he ordered the withdrawal of the hundred horsemen placed as sentries to prevent interference with me. This conversation was heard by one of the said ambassador's soldiers, who years before had come under an obligation to me for treating him in an illness, and he hurried to warn me of the ambassador's intentions. The information reached me when I was at cards, and suppressing my tribulation, I went on for a time with the game. I then went out and betook myself to the house of the Dutch envoy, who was then Lourenco Pit, and begged his assistance in this delicate situation. After that I sent for the Father Vicar of Gulkandah, named Frey Francisco, of the order of St.
189.4
Augustin, and most urgently entreated him to see Rustam Rao and procure leave to remove to Machhlipatanam a brother of his called Augustinho, who had fallen ill. I furnished him with this name so that, if asked for his invalid brother's name, he should be in no perplexity, and thereby avoid suspicion of there being some deceit. The arrangement succeeded perfectly, for the permit was obtained. I got into a palanquin and feigned to be unwell; and praise be to God! the spies never discovered me. Thus did I make my journey without the envoy of Shah 'Alam being aware of my departure. I went on until I arrived at Madrasta (Madras) or Fort St. George, which belongs to the English, and there I was free of all danger. My escape from Gulkandah was the cause of some discomfort to the king, for Shah 'Alam made great complaint of his want of energy in arresting me; but he knew quite well that by that time I was no longer in Gulkandah. Still, he made various searches, and in the end sent Rustam Rao as a prisoner into the fortress because he had issued the permit for my departure. The prisoner was forced to pay fifty thousand rupees, which were forwarded to Shah 'Alam as a present to procure pardon for the fault of the king's officer [235].