Storia do Mogor 265.2
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 265.2
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265.2.1
Yale wrote on February 7, 1688 (No. 2, pp. 191-194), blaming Chardin and his companion for distrusting Abnūs : the money was to be handed over, and they were to help him. They are prayed to write in French or Portuguese, as more intelligible than 'broken English.' Abnūs was told that the Council still confided in him. On April 12, 1688, in another letter to Abnūs (No. 21, Part II., p. 16), Yale complains that the articles of the proposed farmān are not as liberal as he had hoped. At the Council on May 24, 1688 (No. 5, p. 93), it was announced that Abnūs had nearly settled terms with Rūḥullah Khān about the general farmān. He hoped to proceed to the Court to get it confirmed. But they (the Council) had letters that the General (Sir John Child) had made a general peace at Sūrat, and the farmān had gone there. They assumed that Madras and Bengal were included. Their attempts at Gulkandah were to be suspended till they heard farther. Finally, on July 9, 1688 (No. 5, p. 139), Abnūs writes from Gulkandah, enclosing a letter of Nawāb I'tibār Khān from Bījāpur, advising that the farmān had gone to Sūrat, and he (Abnūs) need not proceed to Bījāpur.
265.2.2
Not more than sixty years ago this Madras was a sandy beach in the territory of Gulkandah, where the English began by erecting straw huts. In time, by slow degrees, through prudence and good government they came to building a fortress, castles, and spacious suburbs. By the freedom given to merchants of all nations, it has now become very populous. Great profits are earned there, it is very famous, and larger than any place on the Choromandal coast. Merchants throng to it from all parts, it having whatever they are in want of. The founder of this place was an Englishman called Ricardo Coguem (Richard Cogan), whom I knew in the year one thousand six hundred and eighty-six at the city of Gulkandah. He ended his life in poverty. The ruin of the city of Sao Thome was of great benefit to Madras, for its materials were used to extend it. [Pages 156-165 of the text are blank.] [166] Now that I have finished the Third Part of my book, I fill up the time meanwhile with informing the reader of various matters that I have seen and encountered in India. For I desire, if God grant me life, to recount the dealings of Aurangzeb with Shiva Ji [i.e., the Mahrattahs].
265.2.3
It seems to me that the reader will be pleased if I insert some account of the empire of Narsinga (Nar Singh), of the Hindu race, whose court was in the Karnatik. More than two hundred years ago there reigned an emperor called Ramrajo (Ram Rajah), who was so generous that it is remarked in the chronicles that he never refused any favour asked. He confirmed any grant he made by a record on golden plates. Up to this day the Portuguese preserve one of these plates for a gift to them by the said Ram Rajah of the city of Sao Thome. Owing to the liberality of this emperor his fame spread, and many men of different nations resorted to him and entered his service, principally foreigners. He gave them pay, and confided to them offices of profit. His empire was so extensive that it reached to the river Narbada, which divides the lands of Hindustan from those of the Dakhin, as I have already said. This was the northern frontier; that on the north-east was Jagarnate (Jagannath), on the coast of Gergelim (Ginjili).
265.2.4
In addition, he was lord over all the coast of Choromandal and the Pescaria coast (Fisher coast) as far as Cape Comeris (Comorin), including the said cape, of all the coast of Travamcor (Travancore) and Canara as far as Surat. Thus, out of all these lands he formed one great monarchy, very prosperous and rich in seed-pearls, pearls, and diamonds. It was very productive in food-stuffs, wheat, rice, and all kinds of grain. Throughout his dominions were many great cities and fortresses, full of inhabitants and rich merchants, and also great harbours on the sea. By reason of all this there flocked to this country much people of many nations to do business, in particular men from China and Achem (Achin), bringing much gold, whereby the country was still farther enriched.
265.2.5
This emperor, in his great generosity, gave his principal provinces to his servants and slaves. Thus the province of Bijapur was given to one of his slaves called Issof (Yusuf), carver at his table, a Georgian by race. The province of Gulkandah he gave to Abrahim Maly (Ibrahim Malik), of the same race, who was the emperor's chief huntsman. The province of Daltabad (Daulatabad) went to another slave of Abexim (Habshi or Abyssinian) race, his chamber-servant; and the province of Burhanpur to the head carpet-spreader, of the same race. In this way he distributed all the provinces in his kingdom. All the above men were Mahomedans, but over the country in the direction of the Karnatik he placed one of his Hindu [167] servants. After this division he led a happy life, without attending to government or taking any notice of what went on. From this cause the governors grew very rich and powerful; and at his death every one of them rebelled and proclaimed himself king and independent ruler, refusing to recognise or obey those who belonged to the royal blood, and claiming the succession as of right. In the course of time they grew more and more powerful. The princes of the blood royal, seeing that they were not acknowledged as such, remained in Karnatik territory, and the rebel governors gave them something in charity for their support, and on this they lived in poverty. Their descendants survive to this day.
265.2.6
The rebel governors continued to rule their lands in great prosperity. Then came the Mogul king called Akbar and seized Brampur (Burhanpur), Amadanaguer (Ahmadnagar) and Doltabad (Daulatabad). One of these rebels, even the prince of Madorey (? Madura), who grew in the course of time very powerful, forgetting what his ancestors had done to their emperor, fell into the same error. He divided his territory among eighteen of his captains on condition that they should hold them, they and their descendants, as his vassals. When occasion or necessity arose, these people would have to assemble and render assistance. One of these captains, named Tevere (Tevara), obtained the lands of Marava, the island of Utiar (? Udayar) or Ramanvarao (Rameshwaram), where there is a temple highly venerated by the Hindus. People throughout India hold the belief that by entering it their needs will be satisfied. In it there was much buried treasure.
265.2.7
It happened more than sixty years ago that this Tevara withdrew his obedience from his superior lord, believing himself to be gifted with some supernatural powers, and also prompted by the possession of great wealth. Upon becoming aware of this revolt, the prince of Madura was much disturbed, and sent him various orders to appear and do homage. In case of disobedience he would resort to force, and chastise him as a rebel. Tevera paid no heed to these threats; and with an army of sixty thousand men, infantry and cavalry together, took the field against Madura. This Tevara was a huge-limbed and gigantic man, of great strength and great courage. The strongest horse could not bear him farther than two leagues. At one meal he ate as much as twenty ordinary men, and drank much wine. But he never entered on eating or drinking without going through superstitious performances with the wine. Angered at the revolt of Tevara, the prince of Madura sent out an army of eighty thousand combatants under a general, China Tamby Modely (Chinna Tambi Mudeliyar), a man astute, sagacious and valorous.
265.2.8
Tevara took several towns and fortresses of Madura, leaving in them a sufficient garrison for defence. In this style he went on weakening his force, and when he met China Tamby Modely, there remained under his command no more than twenty-five thousand combatants. With this small force he imagined (misled by his great courage) that he would overcome his enemies. Both sides gave battle, and for three hours the fight was in the balance. After that he (Tevara) began to perceive that his opponent had the advantage. In this crisis he tried to bring into action twelve [168] pieces of artillery that he had left behind in the charge of seventy Europeans, not supposing them to be required by a man of his calibre. But the enemy gave him no time to avail himself of these cannon.
265.2.9
Finding his army lost and routed, Tevara left the field, descended from his elephant, and hid himself in an adjacent wood. China Tamby Modely, in the rage of conquest, spared no one ; hardly anyone escaped alive. They found Tevara in the wood, but to make him surrender cost many a life. He was brought before the prince of Madura, who was highly delighted to see as his prisoner a man of such stature and courage. As a recreation, he directed him to be attached by two thick fetters in the hall where audiences were held. The imprisoned Tevara for two days refused to eat. The prince asked him why he did not eat. He answered that he could not eat unless he had wine to drink, and could carry through his usual ceremonial. The prince asked what he would have done if he (the prince) had fallen into his hands, and the indomitable Tevara replied that if Fate had made him victor, he would have pounded his enemy in a mortar, and then, well mixed with clay, would have made of him pellets for his boys to shoot birds with.