Storia do Mogor 335.5
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 335.5
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335.5.1
At the commencement of June in the same year (1704) they (the Mahrattahs) attacked Gulkandah, and took possession of much property. Thereupon the governor of that place, seeing that he could not resist, was obliged to take refuge in the fortress of Badnagar (Bhagnagar), where they left him no peace until by many threats they forced him into paying a large sum. Da,ud Khan found that his arms and his forces would not justify resistance to the enemy ; he therefore came to terms and paid five lakhs of rupees. Although the Mahrattahs took the money, that did not induce them to retire. They continued to pillage the country round AdonI and Sira. Up to this moment the Mogul has sent no reinforcements. The reason is that he is engaged with another of the Mahrattah armies which has surrounded him, and is robbing and stealing in every direction. Perhaps the reader will not be displeased at learning what is passing in Siam since the death of the old king. Here is a brief account of the facts in a letter from a friend of mine in that country : 'Sir, 'It is a long time since I heard from you or our friends on the Choromandal Coast. I am not without concern for this, sir, and I feel this silence very much. It is true that the openings for sending letters here are at the present time very rare, and I feel sure you would not allow one to pass without giving me some sign of remembering me.
335.5.2
'I have found the kingdom of Siam in a very different condition from that I saw it in twenty years ago. In those days it was very flourishing, and there was considerable trade. Now it is in a miserable state, and abandoned by almost all the other nations. Nothing comes here but a few Chinese vessels, or some from Bengal and Surat, and these even, once they have been here, never come back a second time. Things were in this state in the reign of the old king, who died at the beginning of the year 1703. 'The chief prince, who has succeeded to him, appears to have the desire of treating traders better than his father did. He urges all foreign nations to come and establish themselves in his kingdom, and to induce them to come he makes very advantageous offers. He has declared to me more than once that he would have the greatest pleasure at seeing some Frenchmen in his country. He would allow them to settle where they liked; he would protect them; he would give to them the same privileges as to the Dutch. He insisted that I must write to this effect to France and to India. I have done so in order not to displease him, although I am fully persuaded that not very much heed will be paid to his offers. 'If he had pushed his generosity to the point of ceding Mergui, they might have been more disposed to renew the intercourse between France and Siam. But it is not a thing they dream of here, and it would be deceiving oneself to look for anything of the sort.
335.5.3
'I do not know yet whether the words of this new king can be much relied on. When he was only prince [163] he gave no great grounds for being satisfied with his conduct; and one must not be easily persuaded that inclinations so evil as his could be changed all of a sudden. Monsieur le Chevalier Martin and the gentlemen who are directors at Surat and in Bengal, being so wise and prudent as they are, will think more than once before becoming involved in a business of which the results might be far from agreeable.
335.5.4
'The new king, having made all his arrangements beforehand (and that a long time ago), ascended the throne without hindrance. His brother, a young prince of fourteen or fifteen years, to whom the crown belonged as of right, since he was born of a princess of ancient family, was in no position to resist. This unfortunate young prince was the first victim of his brother's jealousy and passion. Some mandarins who had espoused his cause shared his fate. All these tragical events were carried out with great shedding of blood. Following on these cruel executions everybody bent beneath the tyrant's sway, except the governor of Lygor (Ligor). He has refused to submit, and has resolved to avenge the death of the young prince who has been so unjustly made away with. As this governor belongs to one of the most ancient families of the kingdom, and has brought over to his side the kings of Singor (Singora) and of Pattang (Patani), he is causing terrible uneasiness to the new monarch.
335.5.5
'Things being in this position, you can easily judge, sir, that religion does not make here any great progress. The population, overwhelmed with labours and necessities, has not the time nor the frame of mind required for listening to such serious matters or of such grave consequences as a change of religion. We must wait in peace for the moment God has fixed and appointed, in the riches of His wisdom and foreknowledge, for the conversion of these poor idolaters. It is true that some are baptized, but they are few in number. As for infants at the point of death, many of these are baptized ; and every year the number of these amounts to one thousand, sometimes to twelve hundred. There are also two missionaries who are constantly occupied in this labour of love. 'The college is almost as numerously attended as it was twenty years ago; there are forty students, who study with much zeal and emulation, and at the same time advance greatly in piety and virtue. 'I am (et cetera).'
335.5.6
I have already stated, in speaking of the past months, that the Mahrattahs had gone as far as Calabay (? Kalpi), close to the fortress of Gwaliyar. Aurangzeb, fearing they might go on and capture the town of Agrah, sent in pursuit his grandson, Bader Bact (Bedar Bakht), son of Azamtara (A'zam Tara). He gave him, however, a very small army, and the prince set out in obedience to his grandfather's order. However, he did not hurry, and went another road, simply that he might not come across the enemy. He made for the town of Ygen (Ujjain), near the province of Gujarat, where his father was then governor. When the enemy had retreated, Aurangzeb sent for the prince, but he did not obey, excusing himself by asserting he was ill. When the princes are away [164] from the king's presence they take women (?), because then they have more liberty. [The rest of folio 164 is blank.]