[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) › 238.3 # Storia do Mogor 238.3 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 238.3 - **Language:** English ### [238.3.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.238.3.1) The reader should note that in the kingdoms of Bijapur and Gulkandah, of which Aurangzeb has now made himself master, there are two Karnatik provinces. In that of Bijapur there still survive some Hindu principalities. Those which lie on the shores of the sea near Cape Comoj (Comorin) and Ceilao (Ceylon) do not pay the Mogul any revenue. Besides these, there is the kingdom of Chetrepalj (ChhattrapatI) and the Rajah of Taniaur (Tanjor), who pays six millions of rupees every year. Up to the present time the Mogul has not conquered them, owing to his wars with Shiva Ji \[i.e., the Mahrattahs\]. If Aurangzeb lives a few years longer he will overcome all of them ; it is his practice to denude them slowly of their wealth, then of their territory, finally of their life. Yet, with this experience, they do not preserve union so as to resist the Mogul strength. ### [238.3.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.238.3.2) In the Karnatik subordinate to the kingdom of Gulkandah there are sixty fortresses, among them one called Velur. When it was in the possession of Shiva Ji, he made hence incursions into the surrounding territory, which belongs to the Mogul. This was done with the connivance of the Mogul generals, so as to prolong the period of conquest. These men wanted to become great nobles, and appropriate the wealth \[of the country\]. They menaced the princes and robbed the soldiers. The latter, ready to die of hunger, went over to the service of Shiva Ji, and he thereby grew more powerful. This sort of thing is very common in the Mogul regime, as I have seen many a time, even without any understanding with the enemy. Let me give an example : Mahabat Khan was carrying on a pretended war against a rajah, when one of his engineers, called Mr. Vos, a Dutchman, said to him that, if permitted, he would so arrange that in a very short time he would conquer the enemy's territory. Mahabat Khan, dissimulating, asked him if he received his pay, and whether the pillao he sent daily reached him or not. He replied, ' Yes.' ' Then,' said Mahabat Khan, ' go to your tent, and when I ask for it, you can give me advice.' ### [238.3.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.238.3.3) The inquiring reader will be pleased by my giving him an account of the fortresses the Mogul has in his empire, pointing out some of the principal ones. The first is the fortress of Dihli ; the second, that of Agrah ; the third is Gwaliyar, where are detained the imprisoned princes, it being in the centre of the kingdom ; the fourth is the fortress of Kabul, on the frontier of Persia and of Balkh ; the fifth is the fortress of Daulatabad, in the Dakhin ; the sixth, the fortress of Bijapur ; the seventh, the fortress of Bhagnagar, the principal place in the kingdom of Gulkandah, at a short league's distance from the city ; the eighth is Rottas (Ruhtas), which is in the direction of Bengal \[69\]. ### [238.3.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.238.3.4) These fortresses are commanded by selected and loyal officers, to whom the king gives a secret countersign, by which only they are to make the place over when superseded by his orders, as I have myself seen. The king was in Kashmir when he sent Multafat Khan to supersede Osdarcan (Hoshdar Khan) in the command of the Dihli fortress. He was allowed to enter with two other men, and when they met he produced the farmdn, to let him see it was a royal order. Noticing that Hoshdar Khan hesitated, he said to him in a passion that he must quit the fortress at once. Having said this, Multafat Khan took him by the right hand and separated the thumb \[from the fingers\]. This was the sign that the king had given him, and thereupon he made over the keys. In the whole of Hindustan, from Kabul to the confines of Bengal, there may be one hundred fortresses; and in the whole of the Dakhin, Bijapur, and Gulkandah, including both the Karnatiks, there are three hundred and eighty fortresses. With the one hundred already stated there are thus four hundred and eighty. To these the king sends faithful governors. Generally they are men in his service, being princes whose fidelity has been already tested. They are Rajputs, Sayyids, and Moguls. But Pathans are never allowed to hold any of these fortresses, for fear they may plot some treason, as they did to King Humayun. ### [238.3.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.238.3.5) These governors may not leave the fortress during their term of office, nor allow any stranger to enter, save any known medical men when necessity requires. This happened to me once. When I arrived at Surat, the commander of the fort was ill, and sent for me. At the request of the governor of the city I went to see him. On entering the fort, they conducted me inside with my head covered, and the patient met me at the first gate. He made excuses that he had no permission from the king to allow me inside. It seems to me these orders apply to the fortresses near the sea, due to the fear they have of Europeans. In the Mogul territory I was not treated thus, for when I was called in I entered with full liberty; and to supersede such commanders the royal farmān is enough. These orders forbidding the commander of a fortress to come outside it were instituted by King Akbar, through an event that happened in his reign. On the road to Kabul, in among the mountains, is a small fortress called Colgolama (Qila'h-i-ghulaman)—that is, 'Fort of the Slaves.' In that time the commander and the greater part of the inhabitants left the fortress to amuse themselves during the vintage. They left their houses in the charge of slaves. These men, seeing themselves masters, free from menaces and chastisement, conspired together, shut the gates, and took possession of the fortress. They paid no attention to their masters' demands. The latter assembled and attacked the gates, trying to get in. ### [238.3.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.238.3.6) The slaves discharged cannon and muskets in a nonsensical way, without hurting anyone, for they did not know how to take aim with them. Nor did the friendly messages sent to them prevail; on the contrary, they became puffed up the more, marching to and fro on the walls wearing their masters' clothes, and making mock of them. The masters were at their wits' end what to do; but an old woman, remembering the disposition of such slaves, gave the masters good advice as to how to terrify them and make them open the gates. She said they must all do as she did. Before the day dawned all were to surround the fortress, and the old lady began to shout for them to open the gates, adding thousands of abusive words, and raising her hand, in which was a whip, threatened them. Everybody did the same. The slaves, seeing the implement with which they used to be chastised, opened the gates and threw themselves at their masters' feet, begging pardon, and alleging silly reasons, throwing the blame upon one another. After this event the place was given the name that I have stated above. ### [238.3.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.238.3.7) Verily it produces desperation to be dependent on the men and women slaves of India. In them is no goodness; they are full of malice, generally thieves, false, traitors, deniers, slothful, loquacious; incapable of secrecy, devoid of love and fidelity, for ever complaining of their masters. Treat them tenderly as your children, and they behave the worse; and to get any work done you must act against them harshly, and make them do their duty by force. They serve you by fear of blows, and not from duty or love. Generally speaking, the free servants are just the same. The soldiers when on the march suffer much insolence and endure many disagreeables. The masters suffer out of necessity, from which cause they exercise patience, because, should anyone try to remedy matters, the servants leave him. In the case of a soldier, he would then have to look after his own horses, camels, tents, and cooking—an impossible thing. ### [238.3.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.238.3.8) They tell the story in India that Asaf Khan, the father-in-law of Shahjahan, a Persian by race, was seen one day dissolved in tears. Those present asked the reason of so much sorrow, when he was so rich and powerful a nobleman. He replied that his tears were due to his suffering from the many insolences that Indian servants put upon his nation. I could write much upon this subject, since I have had experience of it through many years. To come to a conclusion with these demons, I recount a case that happened in my presence to a soldier, a neighbour of mine, called Fazil Beg. His servants, conspiring together, gave him great trouble, doing everything the contrary way to what he wanted solely to get him into a rage, by which they would have an opening for leaving him. Fazil Beg penetrated their designs, but concealed it owing to his need of them, not being able to obtain others on such an emergency. It being very hot weather, he left his chest exposed, when one of the men, to make him lose his temper, came up to him, abused him greatly, and spat upon him. Fazil Beg seemed quite pleased, saying that it refreshed his constitution, and made out he had overlooked the impertinence, being in such a necessity. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.238.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.238.3) · Pramāṇa