Storia do Mogor 292.2
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 292.2
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292.2.1
I also prayed him to hinder the Brahman's departure, telling him the reasons I had for this course. In no shape or form was it advisable for him to leave except in my company; to do otherwise would be to put the fat in the fire. As concerned the revenues, I pointed out to him that at the time when the English came and occupied Madras it was nothing but one vast plain full of sand, uninhabited, and without any name or fame in India. On the other hand, it should be remembered that it was now highly populous, full of active merchants and other residents. It was the money of the English and their good government that had created all that prosperity, coupled with the justice they administered to everybody without fear or favour. If he intended to act with so much harshness and injustice, all the nations of Europe would abandon India. He must recollect the income and benefits which Aurangzeb had acquired; for from what entered and left Madras alone he collected more than one hundred thousand patacas.
292.2.2
In addition, there were many merchants, weavers, cloth-printers, and others, for all of whom the English provided a livelihood. Many subjects of the king of this realm and others knew very well that every year there were earned in Madras five lakhs of gold pagodas (equal to about one million of patacas, more or less) and over ten lakhs of silver rupees (which amounts to five hundred thousand patacas). The whole of this money remained in the country, and in exchange for all this the English carried off to Europe no more than some cotton cloth. Let him reflect, that if he objected to the residence of the English at Madras, and if he bothered his head about their gaining such considerable sums, it was requisite for Aurangzeb and his subjects to give them the time to withdraw to Europe. They (the English) set little store by the place; yet if they were forced to abandon it, they would also give up the other towns and factories they held in the Indies. In that case they would cease to be friends and become enemies. Upon their departure they would without fail seize every ship they came across, and thereby spread ruin and desolation throughout the Mogul empire.
292.2.3
I pointed out to him these things, not solely in respect of the English, but also as generally applicable to the other nations of Europe who were to be found in that empire. Da,ud Khan was favourably impressed by all these arguments, and gave me reasonable and satisfactory answers. In brief, he issued orders to stop the departure of the troops and the Brahman. The next day I paid a visit to the chief minister and to all my other friends, and to them I related what had happened to me, although they knew it already. However, they felt my troubles acutely, and generously endeavoured to protect me. In this way, after a few days, I was given my dismissal, carrying a confirmation of all the farmans and favours accorded to the English, just in the manner that they desired. Da,ud Khan now took the present again; and as he knew that I had the money, it being only the Brahman who denied the fact, because he wished to embezzle it like the thief and the traitor he was, he (Da,ud Khan) accepted the present favourably and thought highly of it. He told me to retain the money until he sent someone to me to receive it. Upon this I took my leave of him.
292.2.4
Next day I sent on the present that I had for the chief minister, who took it with much politeness and many thanks. This lord is one of the most polished men to be found among the Mahomedans. He invited me to his table and entertained me magnificently, one of the greatest honours that these people can confer. However, the Brahman was jealous beyond measure of all the honours received by me from Da,ud Khan, from the chief minister, and all the other officers of the army, a feeling intensified by seeing himself despised and hated.
292.2.5
For this reason he designed covertly to make me lose the esteem and reputation that I had among the Mahomedans, and the property I held within the English jurisdiction. To this intent he tried to make use of the spies who were on the spot, men of his tribe, and wished to force them into writing to the Governor of Madras and his council that I was the sole cause of failure and the producer of all the disputes between the Mahomedans and the English. But the most intimate friends of the man knew that all he said was false, and all his inventions diabolic. They refused, but instead gave me warning of what was going on. They advised me not to put much trust in Ramapa. He, on the other hand, became more and more eager for my ruin and destruction, and had recourse to other methods. In pursuance of this idea, he sought the advice of another Brahman he knew, and then returned to our quarters. I asked him where he had been, and he told me he had come from the general's. The latter had given him an order to place the money in the hands of the servant of a Brahman called Longcarne (? Langkaran). Directly this servant came to us, we must obey the order forthwith and without objection. He added to this several words to persuade me that such was Da,ud Khan's wish.
292.2.6
When he had finished these words he went off on other business, and instantly those servants appeared and claimed the money. They told me they came on behalf of Da,ud Khan. There were several of them, and as soon as one had entered another put in an appearance. They solicited and importuned me to such an extent about this money, for which they said Da,ud Khan was waiting, that I remembered what the other Brahmans had said about not trusting Ramapa. Then I recollected that Da,ud Khan had said he would inform me of the name of the person to whom he desired that I should count out this money. For these reasons, then, I would not deliver it to these servants; but to escape from their importunity, I said that they had only to wait a little while I went to fetch the money. However, instead of doing so, I made all the haste I could to get out and find Da,ud Khan. I discovered him in the midst of many officers conducting a review of his cavalry. In spite of this I went close to him, and twice over whispered into his ear, asking him to be gracious enough to send someone to receive the money.
292.2.7
To these words he replied by telling me to wait a little. When he had finished his inspection, I renewed my prayer that he would be good enough to relieve me of that burden, since he knew very well that I could not guard it securely. At last, to satisfy me, he sent for his treasurer, and after having had a good look, first one way and then the other, to see that no one was watching, he said to him privately, and to me also, that he must go to receive that money. I returned to my quarters highly pleased, and there I found no trace of the lackeys I spoke of above, nor have I ever seen them since. In a little time the treasurer arrived, and I delivered the money to him in the presence of several of my friends and some servants of the company. He, too, was very joyful at receiving it, for there is no greater pleasure to these men than when they behold the store of their master on the increase. Some little time afterwards the Brahman Ramapa returned, and although he knew all that had happened, he made no sign; on the contrary, he asserted he knew nothing whatever. But I told him I had paid over the money to the general's treasurer, and not to the men of the Brahman, Langkaran.
292.2.8
Upon this, in the humblest tone and his eyes swimming with tears, he began to make excuse, just as is their habit. For it may be truly said that these people are very much like crocodiles (cocordilles), whose skin changes at their will and pleasure. These difficulties occasioned me much trouble, and were all due to the Brahman; so great were they that I was not far from losing my life. The whole affair caused me the more vexation because this Brahman had many friends at Madras, and many relations among the merchants who were influential with the governor, et cetera. In spite of this, by Heaven's help I was delivered entirely, upholding my own honour and that of the company. Upon quitting the army I had the delight of hearing, mingled with other compliments, that all which had been gained was on account of me; I found myself also regaled by a very rich sarapa (set of robes), which I showed to the Brahman, who also received one for himself.