Storia do Mogor 265.12
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 265.12
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265.12.1
This incident brings to mind that in seventy-six (1676) I left the Mogul territory and stopped a few days at Damao (Daman). At that time a Portuguese fleet arrived as convoy to the ships going to Surat and Kambaya. The principal men in this fleet begged me to open my boxes, as they wanted to see some of my curiosities. I could not refuse, and holding them to be gentlemen of position, I allowed them an inspection ; but it was not long before some of the articles had disappeared. I suppressed any remark, for if I had taken any action they would have assassinated me without fail, as is customary among them.
265.12.2
In the year ninety-two (1692) there came a Hindu officer from the army in the Karnatik, a commander over five thousand horse, recommended to me by the Nababo (Nawab) Julfacarcan (Zu,lfiqar Khan), Mirza Mahdi, the captain of cavalry, and other friends. He wanted to be treated, and promised me four thousand rupees. The Portuguese of San Thome now interfered, including the head of the bishopric, a priest, then in charge also of the civil government, who was under obligation to me for having cured him of an obstruction. All these men, hearing of the above Hindu, took to him a physician, who offered to effect a speedy cure at a less price. They arranged matters so that the said officer believed them, and sent me a message that I need not trouble, and if he wanted me he would let me know. After the lapse of a few days he sent a message to me, because he had not recovered his health as he desired, but I declined to attend him. I replied to those who had written to me that the said captain had declined to listen to my advice ; and he went back as he had come, lamenting his evil fate, for thus do the people of India talk when things do not succeed with them as they would wish. This captain was a rajah [199] ; his name was Dalpat Rao, son of Champat Bundelah, he whom Aurangzeb sacrificed after crossing the river of Dholpur [i.e., the Chambal] to give battle to Dara, as described in my First Part (I. 185).
265.12.3
In San Thome there was a Portuguese called Joao Carvalho, who had been endowed by Nature with such length of arm that his hands reached below his knees. Owing to this gift of Nature, Hindus when they met him prostrated themselves, worshipping him as they do their idols. For it is written in the Hindu prophecies that a person with long arms should be venerated like an idol. This man was called before the Inquisition, but after giving sound reasons, he was liberated. The condition of release was, however, that when any Hindu prostrated himself on the ground, he should at once prostrate himself likewise. Thus poor Joao Carvalho did not often leave his house during the day, for fear of undergoing this penance. There was another similar case when a long-armed Portuguese went to stay at Jagarnath, adjoining Bengal, where there is a very large and ancient temple, greatly renowned in India and very wealthy. On this man's arrival, the Hindu priests and the people of the town heard of him. They all came to meet him and conducted him straight to the temple with great respect and veneration. They made over to him the idols and all the wealth of the temple.
265.12.4
Having become master, and receiving their obedience, he led a joyous life, regaling himself with delicate dishes and requisitioning young girls whenever he pleased, they imagining he did them a great honour, whereby they were much satisfied. The great man lived for some years in this way, when, disgusted at leading such an unbridled and luxurious life, he resolved to employ the wealth of the temple in another way. To this intent he wrote to Goa to one of his brothers, with instructions how to act. The brother, turned into a merchant, appeared at the temple, where the would-be holy man recognised him, displaying great astonishment and telling him he was a great sinner, rash in his undertakings, and if he did not amend he would be heavily punished.
265.12.5
The sagacious brother fell at his feet, saying he hoped to receive the means of salvation by the passing of an order to admit him for several days into the temple to be catechized and put in the right way. Both brothers feasted at night within the temple, and took counsel together how they could carry off the wealth. The consultations were so secret that they were able to remove all the wealth from the pagoda without being found out. At their secret departure they gouged out the eyes of the idols, they being valuable diamonds ; then they disappeared after fastening the temple doors. The Brahmans and other devout persons who came to perform their ceremonials imagined that the false saint was at his orisons. When three days had passed they entered and found out the trick, and were undeceived. From that time they allow no Christian to enter. Aurangzeb made great efforts [200] to destroy this temple ; but he did not find it possible, owing to difficulties from the great jungles and the mighty rajahs, who were prepared resolutely to defend it. Seeing them so resolved and the consequent danger, he abandoned his idea. Until this day the said temple rears its head, and to all the ships that sail from Goa along the coast, or from other places, for Bengal, this temple serves as a landmark. Frequently these temples are adorned with obscene figures.
265.12.6
Usually at these temples the Brahmans rear a number of monkeys, which live on the offerings brought by the devout, and they are well fed through the care that the Brahmans take of them. They are at liberty, and wander through the village and the bazaars asking for alms. The Hindus never refuse to give them what is necessary as a matter of charity. At nightfall they retire to the temple, where they take up quarters in the storehouses, the window-sills, and the rooms, some attending to their family affairs, others picking lice from each other. Each one has a female, and no one else may approach her. If perchance any other of them has the temerity to touch another's female, the whole body join and bite him to death. When the Brahman gives them their food, the largest and oldest approach first, and when their belly is full they withdraw and allow room for the others to eat. Should any of the small ones come up while the big ones are feeding, they are fallen upon, and given a lesson in politeness.
265.12.7
All the devout who visit the temples carry with them in their hands some food or fruit, and as they pass near the monkeys throw it down before them. Once as I was inspecting the decorations of the Mathura temple there came a woman wrapped in a sheet on her way to pray. Passing the monkeys without throwing them anything, they took it as an insult, and attacked her, tearing her sheet and leaving her absolutely naked. There she stood, afraid to move a single step, the monkeys surrounding and menacing her, until the Brahmans came to her aid. They gave her a good scolding for coming to the temple with empty hands. When Aurangzeb sent orders to destroy this temple, as I have stated (II. 116), the monkeys there withdrew into the Rana's country, the number exceeding three thousand.
265.12.8
In some of these temples they also rear cobras, for whom they have a special house with various hiding-places and holes, et cetera. The Brahmans see that they are fed, calling them by striking a rod on the ground. The food is rice cooked in milk and sweetened. Usual foods are also eggs, butter, curds, et cetera. I have also seen in some of these temples, engraved on stone, the sun and a cobra, and the cobra in the act of swallowing the sun. The Hindus do this to show that, as they say, an eclipse of the sun proceeds from a great serpent attempting to swallow it. Thus, to rescue it, it is the custom in India during an eclipse to make a great noise with gongs, drums, and other instruments, added to shouts and cries [201]. They also distribute alms. All this they do, so they say, for two reasons. The first, as to the noise, is to disturb the cobra so that he shall be unable to swallow the sun; the second reason for the alms they give, is that their charity may make the snake compassionate. All the Hindus and many Mahomedans have faith in these superstitions.
265.12.9
In the Karnatik, inland six leagues from Madras, is a famous and ancient temple called Tripiti (Tirupati). Here assemble many people from all parts of India. The shrine is very wealthy from the large and frequent offerings presented, and owing to the large revenue derived from it, Aurangzeb has to this time postponed its destruction. But it seems to me the reason for not doing so was his fear of renewed rebellions difficult of suppression.