[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Storia do Mogor](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci) › [Storia do Mogor (Irvine)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine) › 344.3 # Storia do Mogor 344.3 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 344.3 - **Language:** English ### [344.3.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.344.3.1) In this village were several quarries of very fine stone, excellent for paving, road-making, and similar purposes. The Jesuits attempted in various ways to get possession of these, but Gonzalves would never consent to part with them. Finally, they made a novel and most curious attempt. One night without any warning they brought several houses of straw, made ready beforehand for this purpose, and erected them among the palm-trees round the said village. They were at once occupied by men, women, and children with dogs, cats, cocks, hens, bringing their pots and pans, their goods and chattels. On the following morning George Gonzalves was thrown into wonder and amazement on beholding this novel and unexpected sight. He began at once to question these people to find out by whose orders they had come to take up their quarters there. They answered that they were the tenants of the Jesuit fathers, and had lived in the place for many years. George Gonzalves perceived that this was a stratagem of the fathers in order to render themselves masters of his property. He collected his men, and attempted to expel the intruders. But the Jesuits appeared with their servants, and after some struggling Gonzalves was forced to retreat. ### [344.3.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.344.3.2) However, he did not leave matters there. For, with the assistance of two companies of soldiers furnished by the general, Manoel Saldanha, he turned out the new inhabitants by main force and burnt the new settlement. The Jesuits were annoyed at this action of the general, and drew up against him a paper of complaints, styling him a tyrant for having burnt their new village and causing them damage to the extent of twenty thousand crowns (cruzados), that being the valuation thereof. They said he had burnt the church with the holy images and a large crucifix. This plaint was sent to the court of Lisbon, and when the general arrived there he was cited on account of these misdeeds. He cleared himself, however, very easily, proving the justice of his cause by testimony worthy of implicit faith. This fidalgo came back to India as admiral of the Portuguese fleet, when he was denounced by the Jesuits to the Viceroy of Goa, Francesco de Távora, who was his personal enemy. Their calumnies, however, did not succeed, for the admiral pointed out that no one, with the exception of His Royal Majesty of Portugal himself, could proceed against general officers for any crime they had committed. ### [344.3.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.344.3.3) \[Folios 17 and 18. I omit here a story about an elephant's reluctance to crush to death a Ceylon prince whose voice it recognized. This has already appeared in Part III., folios 150, 151. The only additional particular is that the king's name is given as Orilha, but no such ruler is known, Mr. Ferguson says.\] \[18\] It did not happen thus in the city of Goa when it was ruled over by Dom Phelipe Masquarenha. There was an elephant which worked on the river bank, and its driver often made it pass through the city, taking it to the shops for fruit and other eatables. All the shopkeepers gave it something, as for example, yams, figs (bananas), dried grapes, sugar-cane, mangoes, Jack-fruit, rose-apples, cashews, guavas, et cetera. Among the shopkeepers was one who gave the elephant a coco-nut, and, stretching out its trunk, he handed it to the driver who was astride on him. The man thought he would like to eat the coco-nut, and though he could have split it open with the driving-iron which he had in his hand, he broke it in two upon the elephant's head; one piece he kept for himself, the other he gave to the animal. ### [344.3.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.344.3.4) It was not likely that the beast would eat it, when it considered itself (so to speak) insulted by its master's breaking the coco-nut upon its head. He kept it in his mouth, and when they had arrived at the usual resting-place, as soon as his master had dismounted he seized him with his trunk, threw him at his feet, and, bringing down the half coco-nut on his skull, beat out his brains. He then threw the body as far as he could away from himself. ### [344.3.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.344.3.5) In old days, when the Portuguese had made themselves masters of many parts of Ceylon island, they compelled the inhabitants of the towns to come out to greet any soldier who might have started from the city on his way back to camp. They had to appear as soon as he gave a signal of his arrival in the village by discharging his musket. At once all the villagers came out headed by their chief men, and escorted the soldier with great politeness and respect into the village. They assigned to him the best house to be found in the place, and complied with all his demands in every particular. In addition, they were obliged when night came on to produce the best-looking woman of the place. If she did not suit him, it was the custom to take several to him, so that he might chose the one he fancied most. It often happened that the daughters and wives of the village headmen were selected. But this was not felt any grievance, nor considered any sin, it being the custom of the locality — nay, rather did they hold it an extreme honour. Those inhabitants were obliged, in addition, to provide as many load-carriers as were required to carry the baggage to the camp. These men were changed at each village. But returning to the obligation they were under of giving their women, this applied not only to soldiers passing through --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.344.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.344.3) · Pramāṇa