Storia do Mogor 294.1.5

294.1.5

On April 20, 1702, Da,ud Khan received a letter from the Queen of Terchenepali (Trichinopoly), tributary to the Mogul, wherein this ruler begged him to undertake in person to assist her in the war she was obliged to wage against the Prince of Aurapaliam (Udayar-palaiyam), another tributary of the Mughal. This man had already seized some of her towns. The letter stated with much exaggeration the iniquity of the rajah's proceedings, and was filled with humble words and prayers intended to influence the general to come to her aid. With it came some very fine presents to be sent on to Aurangzeb, some for Da,ud Khan and some for the diwan. They consisted in a number of valuable trinkets and precious stones for the king, twenty thousand rupees in silver coin for the general, and ten thousand for the diwan — a metal with more virtues in the eyes of these gentry than the most polished orations or the most loquacious tongues. Still, the present did not work all the effects that the queen might have anticipated. Maybe this was not from want of will, for Da,ud Khan at the time was involved in this siege of Madras, so he confined himself to sending her a few troops. In his reply he notified to her how grieved he was at not being able to do more for her relief.