[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) › 211.5 # Storia do Mogor 211.5 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 211.5 - **Language:** English ### [211.5.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.211.5.1) This prince held me in such affection that he granted me permission to enter the Ghusul-khanah, which is a secret place where the second audience is given and the council sits. Into it only the principal lords and officers of the court enter. If anyone fails to attend, whether by accident or otherwise, he cannot enter any more without a fresh permission. To obtain this renewal he must make some present to the prince, at the very least one gold and nine silver coins; but with respect to me, I had liberty to enter and come out without anything of that sort. As the prince was in a fright that I would quit his service, he sought from time to time means of obliging me, and paid me all the honours such as I have reported. However, finding he could not capture me through women, he resolved to have a friendly talk with me on religion. ### [211.5.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.211.5.2) Having sent for me, he begged me not to take it amiss if he gave me a warning ; his religion forced it upon him, and to discharge his conscience he was obliged to give it thrice. Following on this, he said it was his intention to elevate me to the rank of a noble at his court ; but before this could be I must adopt his religion, which was assuredly the best, and through it I would gain salvation. The moment he had finished his discourse I made a very low bow, and said I knew very well what was contained in the Quran, also what the Gospel imposed on me. There I had learnt that without baptism no one could enter the kingdom of heaven, and to gain it I was ready to spend and give up my life. ### [211.5.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.211.5.3) Seeing me so determined, he changed the subject, and he ordered me to send at once to procure him some crystal vessels for drinking water from. I sent off a man to Bombay to bring some. This order he executed — nay, those he brought were very handsome. These I presented to the prince. He seemed to be astonished to see so many crystals at once — more than he had ever seen in all his life — for he imagined them to be of rock-crystal, which is extremely costly in the Mogul country. This is the reason of his asking me what the whole might be worth. Quite happy, I answered him that it was a present from me, and that Doctor Nicolas stated no prices to kings. He was so satisfied with this reply that, coming to me, he patted me on the shoulders, and said, should God ever be gracious and make him king, he would remember my generosity. At the same time he ordered them to give me a valuable set of robes and a very nice horse. ### [211.5.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.211.5.4) I must here make the remark that, when these kings and princes give audience, they display all imaginable gravity and majesty, in order to inspire fear in everybody ; but in their mahal and in private they are lowly as infants. This I have experienced several times, they going so far as to play with me with all possible familiarity. It is true that it may be said that all these petty stories referring to me are of no great value to the public, but I thought a charitable reader would easily pardon me this small satisfaction which I have ventured to give myself. Moreover, if anyone were about to travel in these far-off places, it may be that in some conjuncture these tales of my humble adventures will not be entirely useless to him. ### [211.5.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.211.5.5) As the entire thoughts of these princes are turned in the direction of the throne, they search out carefully any means of conferring favours on the most powerful men, in the hope of having them on their side. Shah 'Alam had usually with him a Hindu prince called Bau Sing (Bhao Singh), leader of twelve thousand horsemen and a vassal of the king. He served under the orders of Shah 'Alam. Noticing that he had ceased to come to court, being unwell, the prince sent me to visit him on his behalf, and to offer my services. This was merely to oblige him, and gain him to his side should any occasion present itself. The rajah was already old, and was suffering from his lungs. The prince, however, directed me to observe him and reckon how long he might yet live. Bhao Singh received my visit but refused my services, and told me if I gave him any medicines he would put them with the rest I saw there. He had a whole roomful. God might do with him according to His pleasure, but he would not take the medicines, beyond looking at them. All this care was because he was afraid of being poisoned. This fear was increased by the example he had in Rajah Jai Singh and several others, to whom such a fate had happened. I must say the prince never had designs of that sort, and all he did was intended to oblige. I may add that, during all the time I had the honour to serve him, he never suggested employing me for such a purpose. ### [211.5.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.211.5.6) Still, he made a trial as to whether I was of a nature that would carry out such devices. This I discovered in the course of time. For example, he sent to me some unknown persons who offered me large sums to bring to their death other patients that I was treating. Others asked me to sell them poison, but no one ever got me to accede to such a demand. Another stratagem was also made use of to test me, and attempt to find me out in a fault. This was the sending to my house of a young and very pretty girl in charge of an old woman on the pretext that the young beauty was ailing. She was barely eighteen, and I found out from her pulse that she was the very reverse of indisposed. I asked her if she suffered from any pain, which could not be detected from the pulse. As I interrogated her, the old woman, making believe that she was a simpleton, left us and took a turn in the garden. The young girl seemed at once to grow very free with me, as well by word as by deed. She told me she longed for my friendship, while hers would not be useless to me. She could secure me many advantages. As soon as I heard her talk I was disgusted, and, quitting her, I came out and shouted \[43\] to the old dame to take her away. I then grew angry, and, calling my men, ordered them both to be ejected. ### [211.5.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.211.5.7) Two months afterwards there came another still more lovely; but she was alone, and in a palanquin. Under the same pretence of illness she told me she came from a great distance to obtain a cure. She entered my house wrapped in a shroud, but on nearing me she uncovered, and throwing herself at my feet, implored me to keep her in my house ; for, being a stranger, she knew not where to turn. Her prayer was repeated several times. I noticed she had on her several jewels of great value, and her clothes were those of a person of quality, so fine that her skin showed through. All this troubled me, and I fancied that it all might be intended to betray me. Still more did I think so, for the same thing had happened to others ; and as I had no intention of marrying, it did not suit my views to get entangled. ### [211.5.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.211.5.8) With the object, then, of getting her away, I expressed my sympathy, and by pleasant words sent her off. Some time afterwards I was warned that this was one of Shah 'Alam's tricks, only resorted to in the hope that she would take my fancy — that I should have an affair with her, and by this means he would obtain an opening for compelling my continuance in Hindustan, with a change in my religion, or else the loss of my life, as has happened to many who have lost their souls for a woman's love. Only a few years ago two Capuchins, or rather Portuguese, in the town of Isfahan fell into this sad soul-destroying misfortune. One of them was prior of the convent, and both were forced to become Mahomedans through similar events. Afterwards, under the pretext that they were of that religion, they robbed a merchant of their own nation. God forgive those who send out characters like this to be missionaries. The kings and princes delight in showing themselves to be just, and when taking cognisance of important business, they endeavour to hold the balance even. Since I was in Shah 'Alam's service in the capacity of physician, I was an object of envy to the other physicians, the Persians, who sought means to ruin me. It chanced that a brother-in-law of the prince, named Mirza Sulaiman Beg, fell ill from a fullness of blood. The prince directed his chief Persian physicians, named Aguins (Hakims), Moquins (Muqim\[?\]), and Mosencan (Muhsin Khan), to prescribe for him. ### [211.5.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.211.5.9) They failed in curing him, and instead of bleeding him and cooling him down, they gave him hot remedies. They treated him in such a way that in a few days he was in the throes of death. When he was in this state, one of his brothers, named Mirza Mahomed Moquim (Muhammad Muqim), took me to the patient's house, hoping I might help him. I saw at once there was nothing more to be done. On the prince hearing the opinion I had expressed about his brother-in-law, he asked his physicians the reason he had fallen into this condition. They had the ill-will to say that I was the cause. To find out the truth Shah 'Alam sent the nazir Daulat, the chief eunuch of his palace. This man, on his return, reported that the patient complained that the said physicians had killed him, whereas, had the Doctor Nicolas only treated him, he would not have lost his life. While saying these words the poor \[44\] man expired. But the testimony he had given for me conferred much credit upon me at the court, and gained me the esteem of everybody. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.211.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.211.5) · Pramāṇa