Storia do Mogor 292.6

292.6

Monsieur Desprez had brought a present for Da,ud Khan and one for the diwan, and never dreamt that the bakhshi would also require to be remembered. But I adjusted all that. I observed that there was enough in what he had brought to bear division into three parts. This I did. In this way they were highly contented, and he obtained his leave to depart after a very short delay. It took him only eight days to get through the business. When he said good-bye, the nawab and all the other principal officials requested him to assure his governor of their friendship. He might live unconcerned, nor need he have the slightest doubt about the respect they had for him personally; and in all that lay in their power, they would be always ready to help the French of the Royal Company. It sufficed that Monsieur Manouchy was the governor's friend to ensure their giving all the help that lay in their power, for was not he (Manucci) loved and respected by all the ministers of Aurangzeb?
Da,ud Khan sent to Monsieur Martin a very fine horse, valued at one thousand rupees, along with a costly set of robes; another set was given to the said Monsieur Desprez. The diwan and bakhshi also gave him a very good set each, and sent him off in a satisfactory manner. He bore with him a complimentary letter to the governor, and the latter was highly satisfied, being hardly able to contain himself for joy at being thus delivered from such rascals.
On the 22nd of the same month of March [1702] two Dutchmen appeared at San Thome; they had been sent by the governor of Negapatam, being accompanied by ten half-castes and thirty armed messengers (pions), and bringing a considerable present. The head of this embassy was Monsieur Vanderburg, the same who made over Pondicherry to the French on the conclusion of peace. He delivered it to Messieurs Des Augers and Martin.
Da,ud Khan received these Dutchmen fairly well, and offered them many delicate attentions. Yet he went on as before with the investment of Madras, persisting in his attempt to rob the English of much money. On the other hand, the governor, still more obstinate than he, refused absolutely to give him anything. He was the more of this view that the investment was not carried out rigorously.
However, the English had great suspicions that those four wretched Portuguese traders at San Thome might do them harm with the Mahomedans, and might envenom their minds and stimulate their acts by evil reports. All this was quite unfounded; for the inhabitants of San Thome are under a thousand obligations to the English of Madras, who have always protected them, and frequently furnished them with the means of support. Their suspicions were increased because the Lord Bishop of the place, called Dom Gaspar Alfonso, a member of the Society of Jesus, was the intimate friend of Da,ud Khan and of the dlwan. The English were afraid he might speak evil of them. Furthermore, he had forwarded a protest to the governor of Madras under cover of a letter, doing this without any sort of grounds or reason.