Storia do Mogor 292.5
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 292.5
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- English
292.5.1
Thus they laid before my eyes the great danger the English stood in of losing Madras. In so doing they somehow forgot that I, too, had been suckled in Europe as much as the English; that for the honour of my country and of all the other European nations, I was under greater obligation to them [the English] than I could possibly be to the Mahomedans. Under these circumstances I parted from them as civilly as I could, and on sufficiently good terms, in order to be able to advise the governor of what I thought best for his reputation and the defence of the town. Khwajah Ahmad remained behind at San Thome as agent, although to all appearance the Mahomedans [100] had little confidence in him. They said loudly that they must have Englishmen of the Council with whom to treat. To this demand they joined a good deal of invective, launched at that nation. Furthermore, they asserted they had a letter from Aurangzeb, which could be communicated to no one but those gentlemen [the English council]. The affairs referred to in it were of such importance that it was absolutely imperative for them and the English to confer on them. They added that the agent sent to them was a low and contemptible man — a personage, in one word, quite unsuited for the business in hand.
292.5.2
Khwajah Ahmad conveyed to the governor all that had been done and said, together with the menaces and ridiculous pretensions of Da,ud Khan. But the latter [Mr. Pitt], without putting himself otherwise to any particular trouble, began all the same his preparations to receive him, should he take it into his head to pay him a visit. With dauntless courage he went in person to inspect the fortifications of the town, caused the gates to be strengthened, and doubled the sentries. Every night he saw that the rounds were constantly on the move, and kept the sentries on the alert. When this was reported to the general [Da,ud Khan], he grew still more angry with the governor. His resolve was that in every particular the English must submit to him, or he would besiege their town. Thus that very night it chanced that some thirty loads of fine cloth passed close to San Thome. The goods had been dispatched by the merchants of the company. He caused these to be stopped [February 6 or 17]; and although the total value did not exceed six thousand patacas [Rs. 12,000], the loss was felt all the same. The next day he sent some horsemen with some men on foot, who took possession of three villages dependent on this town. Next he stopped the entry of all articles into the suburbs, and prevented the receipt of all supplies.
292.5.3
Pushed to an extremity, the English sent to ask under what orders he had resorted to these severities, by what authority he had occupied those villages, confiscated the cloth belonging to the Company, and was proceeding daily to further seizures. They asked also why he had made prisoners of the native merchants of the Company residing up-country, why he had seized the money and goods appertaining to the said Company. To the whole of this the general replied that he had a letter from the king ordering him to stop the trade of all European nations, more especially that of the English. He was directed to restrict their movements and treat them somewhat rigorously. Now these people call 'a little rigour' what would be looked on in Europe as the severest repression. He sent the governor a copy of the letter [February 6 or 17].
292.5.4
The reason for this order is that which I have already recorded (IV. 33)—namely, that the European pirates had in the previous year taken several Mahomedan ships belonging to Sūrat merchants, causing them very heavy loss; so much so that they had closed the doors of their warehouses and stopped their entire trade. This did great harm to Aurangzeb, who lost greatly by the stoppage of trade. The complaints and lamentations raised had come to his majesty's ears, and he had resolved to set matters right by forcing all the European nations to free the seas, and make them safe by hunting down the said pirates. He also required them to give compensation for the plundered merchandise. His majesty's will was that, after all possible efforts had been made to find out which nation the pirates belonged to, they [? the money compensations] should be divided among the merchants who had been robbed. However, Da,ud Khan and the diwan, having come to the conclusion that the English were quite resolved on resistance, that the town was fairly strong and very well provided with artillery, and had a garrison of eight hundred seasoned soldiers, decided to send a message asking the governor to send me to San Thome. They were ready to discuss matters with me and settle the dispute to the advantage of the Company. In spite of some time having elapsed without my having seen the one or the other of the parties, the governor lost no time in sending me.
292.5.5
After an exchange of the usual compliments, Da,ud Khan began his reproaches about the English, whom he designated as over-proud and defiers of his king's orders. In reply, I laid before him several arguments, which I will not set forth, to avoid wearying my readers. All I will mention is that I showed to him the great harm being done to the king's interests by the way he was acting. For these nations, worn out by such continuous ill-treatment, must inevitably in the end leave the country and close their trade. But as soon as ever they got out to sea, they would capture every merchant vessel they came across. They would make descents on the ports upon the seashore, would carry off all they could find, would give quarter neither to rich nor poor, and wherever they landed would spread fire and desolation. To all this I added that if they declined to listen to these arguments, so important in the interest of their king, I would, being his (the king's) servant, go to the court myself and prove to him the innocence of the English and the injustice being done to all Europeans. No consideration was being paid to the fact that these merchants were neither the defenders nor the protectors of these pirates, from whom they also suffered, and it was this very cause that made it impossible for any of the European nations to suppress them, or give the king the undertaking that he demanded.
292.5.6
In spite of this, Da,ud Khan wrote to the French at Pondicherry, the Dutch at Negapatam, and the Danes at Tranquebar, calling on them to send men and ships to help him against the English at Madras. These people, all of them, made excuses. While this was in progress attempts were made to appease the Mahomedans by pleasant words and making them limited promises. They were not thereby deterred from continuing their investment [of Madras], although carrying it out less rigorously than at first. In fact, four Englishmen who had been made prisoners at San Thome by Da,ud Khan's orders, when on their way from Cuddalore, were now released and sent here (Madras), each being presented with a chaal (shawl).
292.5.7
I communicated to Monsieur Martin, governor of Pondicherry, all that happened between the Mahomedans and the English. I told him it would be a good thing to send some men to Da,ud Khan and the diwan, so as to turn their minds from doing at Pondicherry what they were then doing at Madras. Thus that governor (Martin), who is extremely prudent and well versed in the Mahomedan ways of governing, decided to send one person with some presents for Da,ud Khan, the diwan, and some other officials. Consequently, on the 15th of the month of March of this year [1702], Monsieur Desprez, a merchant of the Royal Company, arrived at San Thome, and at once informed me of his presence, sending me a letter from the governor. In it Monsieur Martin recommended to me this gentleman, and prayed me to aid and assist him in his negotiations with Da,ud Khan [102] and the other officials. As soon as I heard this news I threw up all the business I had at Madras, and transferred myself in all haste to San Thome, wishing to be of use to the French to the utmost of my powers. This desire was increased by the fact that I have always esteemed, and shall continue to esteem, them by reason of their fine qualities, and the honourable attentions with which they have overwhelmed me.
292.5.8
After I had arrived at San Thome I had a conversation with the said Monsieur Desprez. I found him very much troubled; for never before, all his life long, had he been concerned in a similar business, and had never paid a visit to a Mahomedan of this rank. I gave him encouragement, and told him I would do all that was necessary to carry through the affairs of the Royal Company. I would accompany him on his visit to Da,ud Khan, the diwan, and the bakhshi, each one separately. This I did, and he was well received by these lords, who gave him many testimonies of the regard in which they held the French, and betrayed to him their pleasure at the French having sent to compliment them so very politely.