[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) › 265.9 # Storia do Mogor 265.9 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 265.9 - **Language:** English ### [265.9.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.265.9.1) I will also recount what happened to me, and what I have seen and undergone. I have already told you in my book (Part II., p. 235) how, upon my arrival in these regions, the chief personages of San Thomé did me the honour to receive me with civility, and offered to put themselves at my service. Among them were Manoel Texeyra Pinto, chief captain (capitaõ mor), Joao da Costa de Sua, Cosmo Lourenço Madeyra, Antonio Palha de Lima, and Manoel da Silva de Menezes. I had treated them and their families gratis. A year afterwards there came to me from Goa a sum of three thousand and seven hundred patacas (=Rs. 7,400), which I had deposited with Father Salvador Gallo, prefect of the Theatines. The said father handed the money to my attorney, Joao Lopes de Figueredo, a Portuguese born in India, to be delivered to me. When this man arrived at the port of San Thome the above named were at that time governing, and were also the magistrates. Thus, when the said Joao landed, they seized him and confiscated everything he brought with him, taking possession also of his ship, under the false declaration that he was the debtor of certain Jews called Bertolameo Rodrigues, Domingos do Porto, and Alvaro da Fonecqua. These magistrates called upon him to pay a debt due from a man of his (Figueredo's) faction, called Francisco de Lima, owed to the above Jews. These latter were much delighted at the benefit thus done them. ### [265.9.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.265.9.2) Finding this great wrong being done, and that I should also lose my money, I had recourse to these same magistrates. I laid before them the receipt of Joao Lopes \[de Figueredo\], the letters of Father Salvador Gallo, and attestations by Dom Rodrigo da Costa, Governor of India, who had also written a separate letter to the leading men of San Thome recommending me to their favour, because their Indian dominions were under great obligations to me. He certified that Joao Lopes conveyed this money to be delivered to me. Thus he had done his very best to carry through my business \[189\]. ### [265.9.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.265.9.3) None of these efforts did me any good. Once more I presented fresh testimony received from Goa, from Agustinho Ribeyro and Pascoal Gomes, also the Letters Patent with which the King of Portugal had honoured me. These men had been present when the said Father (Gallo) delivered the said money to Joao Lopes de Figueredo. He was under obligation to pay me in current coin, and to take seals \[sealed receipts\]. Joao Lopes also demanded leave to pay me. He only owed money to me and nothing to anyone else ; as was the truth, for no statement was produced to show how he was a debtor. In the end the said Joao Lopes was ruined and destroyed. As for my claim, which they could not deny, after much worthless argumentation, they resolved to pay me two thousand patacas \[Rs. 4,000\]. This they declared was a favour they were doing me. The balance they would not pay. One man so decided because I would not marry one of his relations ; others said if I settled among them in San Thome I should not lose my money ; another said that there was no ground to complain, that the two thousand patacas sufficed, as I had a sufficient income to live upon all my life ; the rest uttered similar irrelevant opinions, and I was sent about my business. ### [265.9.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.265.9.4) With regard to the wrong done to Joao Lopes, let the reader understand that there were two reasons for it. The first was envy at seeing him, a man born in India, with some fortune and the owner of a ship, a thing they did not possess. The second reason was because three of the said magistrates had asked the wife of Joao Lopes in marriage, she being a rich woman, and, as she had refused them all, this produced the hate and envy which impelled them to ruin the man. When twelve years from this dispute had passed by, in the year one thousand seven hundred (1700), there came as Governor of San Thome, on behalf of King Aurangzeb, a friend of mine called Xefican (Shaff Khan). He was told of the injustice and robbery done to me by the Portuguese of San Thome, and revived the suit. The men were summoned to his presence. He asked them about the debt due to me, when they answered boldly that they knew of no such thing, nor did they owe me anything, and they offered to swear upon the Holy Evangelists. ### [265.9.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.265.9.5) As the governor did not know the European languages, he applied to Mr. Thomas Pitt, Governor of Madrasta (Madras), sending him my papers and affidavits for inspection, and asked him to decide according to right. The said governor sent the papers to be translated into English. There was a delay of two months in getting this done. At the end of this time he sent for the Portuguese, and asked them in a friendly way to give me some satisfaction, because it seemed to him that Nicolas Manuchy (sic) was a most reasonable man, and they ought to come to an agreement with me. In a most haughty and contumacious manner they replied they owed me nought, nor would they pay me anything. A few days afterwards he (Mr. Pitt) assembled the whole council, the magistrates, and the learned men of different nations. They all sat together and deliberated \[190\]. The Portuguese were called in, and in their presence in a loud voice he (the governor) read my documents, when those present decided unanimously that I had been wronged. It was decreed that the debtors must pay me. They were thus unmasked before all the Europeans and Mahomedans; yet not for this would they reform and turn from their evil ways. ### [265.9.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.265.9.6) I will add another case which happened to me in the same San Thome with the aforesaid Manoel da Silva de Menezes in the year ninety (1690), in the month of March. I had advanced five hundred patacas to a Genoese merchant called Jorge Bianco for trading in Pegu. He sent the principal with the agreed profit to be paid to me in San Thome. The said Manoel da Silva de Menezes was then judge. He took possession of my money, and wanted to pay with his usual arguments; and in spite of all my efforts I could not obtain payment of what was mine. In the end I made use of certain friars who interceded for me with Thomas de Maya, the chief captain then holding office, and he did what he could out of friendship for me. He ordered me to be paid; but behold the way Manoel da Silva wanted to satisfy me! He had bought some korls (scores or twenties) of cloth for thirty patacas the score. He wanted to pay me in this cloth, entering every score in my account at eighty patacas. Since I declined to accept, I only received a little cash, losing part of my principal and all the profit. It seems to me that readers will approve, also those intending to come to India, of having this information by which they can guide themselves, making use of my experience. They can also refer, in the opening of my book, to the warning that I have given (Part I., p. i). ### [265.9.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.265.9.7) At the time those men governed there arrived a Portuguese priest from Manila, a good theologian; his name was Luis Pereyra. He brought with him some money for the purpose of helping his parents, who lived in Daman. About the same time there was a newly-arrived Portuguese, Martim de Lemos by name, who had quitted Portugal because of his being a lawbreaker and highway robber (the greater number of the Portuguese who come to India are of the same sort). He had no resources, and begged help from those who governed. The reply they gave was that he might search for his expenses wherever they were to be found. Finding that he could carry out his plot easily and securely, one Sunday at seven in the morning he (Lemos) went into the house of Father Luis Pereyra, pointed a pistol at his breast, and ordered four Kaffirs to bind him. Breaking open the boxes, he robbed all that was in them and started for Madras \[191\]. At the time I was in the churchyard of the church Madre de Deos on my way to Mass, and conversing with those who governed and with some foreigners. Then the urgent report was brought that Martim de Lemos was robbing the priest. Some of the foreigners wanted to run to the spot, but Antonio Palha, one of those who governed, said: 'Your Honours are excused from taking that trouble, for I will see to it.' He and the rest went leisurely to their houses, giving time for the robber to carry out his attempt and get away in safety. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.265.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.265.9) · Pramāṇa