[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) › 281.1 # Storia do Mogor 281.1 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 281.1 - **Language:** English ### [281.1.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.281.1.1) I made some promises in my last book \[Part III., p. 79\] to continue my history, if it pleased God to preserve me in a little health. Yet it seemed that the advanced age at which I have already arrived, and the serious occupation provided by the prospect of another life, might have dispensed me from writing more about what goes on in the Mogul's empire, wherewith I have entertained you, dear reader, in the first three parts of this history, which I have sent to be printed. Nevertheless, in spite of any inclination I may feel for repose, I am anxious to acquit myself of my promise ; and I again take up my pen to tell you of what has happened and is still happening at the court of Aurangzeb. I shall set forth in this Fourth Part any remarkable event that I may have overlooked. I mean to write without passion, but with all possible exactitude and sincerity, just as I have done up to this point, and relate all that has taken place at this renowned court. Here you will find, dear reader, something for your instruction and at the same time for your diversion. The great and generous actions of some will serve as excellent examples to follow, and the faults of others will yield you salutary warnings. ### [281.1.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.281.1.2) It looks as if everything in India were being made ready for some remarkable revolution. The great age of the emperor, who is more than eighty-six years old, and the ambition to gain the throne continuously displayed by his sons and grandsons, give rise to the apprehension of some catastrophe quite as tragic as that supervening at the close of Shahjahan's reign. In spite of this, the ablest politicians — those who have acquired in the course of many years great experience of, and acquaintance with, the affairs of this crown — assert that all will be peaceful so long as the aged monarch is still in this world. In saying this they rely on the admirable conduct and the good government of this prince, who, in spite of his great age and the infirmities inseparable from it, knows how to get himself always obeyed with his former vigour, and to hold every man to his allegiance. In return for my sitting up at night and all my industry, I hope, my dear reader, to reap the only fruit to which I have ever looked forward, namely, your instruction united with your satisfaction. I shall be more than content if I can succeed to that extent, and for that much will readily give thanks to God, who is the sole Author of all that men can do of good in this world. Farewell. I begin this Fourth Part of the history with the eighteenth century since the coming of our Saviour. ### [281.1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.281.1.3) Shiva Ji, the powerful rajah or Hindu king, of whom I have spoken in the previous parts, is the first to present himself for continuing the current of my story. At the beginning of the present year (? 1701) the general Zu,lfiqar Khan besieged the fortress of Parlanaguer \[Parnala-garh\], a strong place formerly belonging to the kingdom of Bijapur, but now held by Shiva Ji. The Mahomedan general was at the head of an army of fifty thousand foot and thirty thousand cavalry. In the month of February of the same year (1701) this rajah collected his troops and came against his enemy, advancing even to his entrenchments. The fight was bloody, and in the end victory declared itself for Shiva Ji. He defeated Zu,lfiqar Khan's army, and forced that general to retire in disorder from his position before the fortress. All the Mahomedan artillery and baggage fell into the victor's hands, who pursued with all imaginable energy, seizing all the fugitives, and, to sum up, sparing no one who bore arms. As for the others, he was cruel enough to order their right hands and their noses to be cut off; of the latter class there were so many, that they are still to be seen in all the directions to which they have dispersed. Nevertheless, he did not stop short at this one attack, for, finding himself victorious, he has never ceased to disturb the royal army, making new assaults on it from one day to another, engaging it at different points, and stopping the delivery of supplies. ### [281.1.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.281.1.4) From this cause there is nearly always great scarcity in the king's camp, and the price of provisions is very high — so much so that one measure of rice weighing no more than twenty-eight ounces has been at times sold for eighteen rupees. It was about the same time that a general of Shah 'Alam's cavalry, that prince being then in the province of Kabul, came to him and complained that one 'Aziz Khan, commanding a corps of five hundred horse, had raised a quarrel with him, and had displayed his anger in some sharp and abusive words, his soldiers having backed him up and encouraged him in his insolent attitude. Their reasons were that a great deal of money was owing to them, and that for many a day they had received nothing. \[2A\] The enquiring reader should recollect that in the Third Part (III. 22, 27) of this history I spoke of the great pay and allowances that the Mogul gives to the commanders of his armies, the other officers, and, generally speaking, to all his troops; and I have said there that the king gave to those who had a Hazari certain lands, from the income of which they were under an obligation to maintain one thousand horse. I ought to add that, in addition to that land, he gives as a favour one rupee a day for each horse. This makes three hundred and sixty-five thousand rupees a year for the thousand horses. ### [281.1.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.281.1.5) Nevertheless, as it is a favour, and the king knows that the Hazaris, more often than not, are unable to maintain those horsemen on the pay, he allows them to keep up no more than the quarter of the number. He does not look narrowly into this matter; although, in spite of the deficiency, the said Hazaris, the Mansabdars, and the other officers of the army never fail to draw their pay as if they had the full number of horse required. In this manner, the name or title is 'of a thousand,' and they receive pay for a thousand men, while the number they entertain is only two hundred and fifty. Besides the above money which they receive for their horsemen, they are also paid for their personal expenses fifty thousand rupees a year. It is just the same with all the other officers, high and low, in proportion. This may be seen from the figures that I have entered in my Third Part (III. 27). Still, in spite of all this \[the false musters\], the rank, the merit, and the profits of the Hazaris and the Mansabdars arise chiefly from keeping a large force of cavalry. By acting thus they are more thought of by the king, and more feared by other nobles. From the above springs the fact that there are Hazaris and Mansabdars drawing identical pay, but not keeping up the same number of horse. There are also several of both classes who have the name and title of two, of three, of four, of five, of six, of seven \[Hazaris\], whose pay is always rising in proportion to the favour they are in. ### [281.1.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.281.1.6) It is the case with the Hazaris that the Mogul does not confer on all of them the same honours; for there are some to whom he accords drums, trumpets, and other instruments of music, which are carried before them, together with hands in silver, as I have stated in my description of a royal march contained in my First Part (I. 50). But this favour is only granted to those towards whom he has a particular inclination, or to those who, as he considers, really merit it by their own, or their father's or grandfather's services. It must also be mentioned that he does not always give what he promises; for instance, after the conquest of the kingdoms of Bijapur and Gulkandah, he promised numerous privileges and the honours of an Hazari to many men of those countries; but when he had become absolute master of those places, he would only give them Hazari rank carrying four months' pay. This is much inferior to others, as may be seen by referring to my remarks on pay (III. 20). He also treated them less generously than other officers in two ways. First, they were given very few 'cavalry'; secondly, he gave them a higher rank than was fitting for Hazaris of that pay. Thus, instead of gaining, they were forced to expend their own money to keep up their horsemen. ### [281.1.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.281.1.7) Not only did he not reward them as he had promised, but he caused several of them to be poisoned, quite light-heartedly, on mere suspicion, just for fear they might betray him as they had done their former sovereign. He acted in the same way after the conquest of other kingdoms, Hindu and Mahomedan. Several persons belonging to them had blindly confided in him by reason of the promises that he made, and the rewards and honours they hoped to obtain from him. In the end they found themselves looked on as traitors. They had forgotten that the Mogul promises much and gives little. In spite of this being well enough known, he still goes on engaging, and then deceiving, a number of people by such-like false promises. Thus has he always lived, and does still live, like a hypocrite — that is to say, good and holy to look at, but in reality an ill-doer and devil. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.281.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.281.1) · Pramāṇa