Storia do Mogor 345.5

345.5

What is known of a certainty is that the money mentioned as collected by force was so taken by the royal orders. For Amanetcam (Amãnat Khãn), governor of Surat, stopped the loading of goods on two French ships, and made a demand for money beyond all reason. The director, Monsu Depilavan (de Pilavoine), persisted in his refusal to pay the money demanded, and in spite of its being the property of his countrymen, he decided to set fire to the whole of the merchandise. Meanwhile he complained to the governor of his trying in this way to break the friendship and peace agreed upon with his nation. The governor, to prove that his own feelings of friendship had not changed, showed him the letter with the orders received from his Majesty (Aurangzeb). [25] These complaints were, nevertheless, of some benefit to the French, for the governor, recognising that the French were resolved rather to die than to pay the money, and that much loss would ensue to the town, allowed their merchandise to be put on board. This governor is the one who took by force from the hands of all the European nations bonds assuring all [native] ships sailing from that port. This was done by the king's order, as already stated (IV. 34). The very same order had been given to the prince, Sultãn 'Azim-ud-din, son of Shãh 'Alam, but he had declined to execute it.