Storia do Mogor 354.11
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 354.11
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354.11.1
The same ambassador left the court of Constantinople in the company of the Grand Signor, and once uttered an excellent repartee. While they were journeying, followed by a large number of cavalry, the Turk [181] said to the ambassador : 'Keep a little distance from those horses, so that the dust may not irritate your face.' The ambassador hardily replied, still like a prudent knight, however, by a verse which is a Persian proverb, of which the sense is : 'The dust raised by the hoofs of sheep rejoices the face of wolves.' I have in a previous passage (V. 96) promised to give a clear account of the manners, the life, and the death of the Reverend Jesuit Father Guini, or, as others called him, Piune. As I said then, I was expecting the arrival of information from one of my friends, who has in the end sent it to me. When I read it I trembled, and became so grieved, and at the same time so disgusted, that without a second thought I burnt it, to deliver myself from any need to publish it. Therefore let the reader forgive me if in part I break my word to him.
354.11.2
I wish to report nothing beyond the manner in which he died, anticipating that in this form everyone will be able to understand what was his mode of life. For from the manner of death it usually can be inferred what a man's life has been. I finish, then, my talk about this reverend person by saying that, one day in the month of May, while he was in his room writing, a thunder-bolt fell and consumed him. I pray to God [182] the Creator that this instance may serve as example to persons like him, and turn them from intruding into matters which appertain not to ecclesiastics, nor even to laymen. But let them endeavour to find out and do what God commands. Many, both where it happened and elsewhere, will receive consolation from this event, which has delivered them from such a person. In the same way I will state what happened to the two reverend Armenian fathers, Fra Thomas Abaranaguer and Fra Minas de Siave. One of them proceeded to Bengal to realize the money of the deceased Fra Domingo, which had been placed in the hands of Armenian merchants. This is the money that the Abate di San Giorgio wished to recover from the Reverend Father Fra Michel [Ange] (IV. 165, 166). He (Minas) went to Bengal, but he died there, and the affair came to a standstill.
354.11.3
His companion Fra Thomas stopped in Madras, where he fell ill ; he was treated by a Hindu belonging to the country, who in a few days succeeded in transferring him to the other world. The Capuchin father, Fra Michel Ange, gave notice of the death at once to Father Friar Diogo do Sacramento, Vicar of San Thome, deceased being of his order. That father received the letter, but gave no answer. Friar Michel Ange, Vicar of Madrasta, looked for his coming to remove the corpse and carry it to San Thome. But finding [183] that the day was passing, and he did not appear at four o'clock, all the friars of the convent, with other priests, came, some from San Thome and others from Madras, to the number of nineteen in all, besides a large assemblage of laymen, removed the body from the house, and placed it on a bier ready to carry to the church for interment.
354.11.4
Just as the bier was being lifted Father Fra Diogo issued hastily from a neighbouring shop, having on his head a cap such as is worn by soldiers in this country. He flung himself on the bier, and objected to the removal of the corpse, or its being placed in the church of Madras instead of San Thome. Everyone was amazed at such a disorderly act. The priests, both regular and secular, pleaded that the defunct should be taken to the church for the celebration of the offices, and should afterwards be carried to San Thome. But obstinate Fra Diogo declined to hear any argument ; on the contrary, with loud cries, causing a large crowd to gather, he continued his opposition. In spite of all this, seeing that the friar was interfering needlessly, they carried the body to the church, sang over it the burial service, as was fitting, and during the night transferred it to San Thome, to the church of Fra Diogo, where it was placed in the earth.
354.11.5
For this good deed of a Christian and a priest the father Friar Michel [Ange], in place of reward, received a reproof from the Lord Bishop, Dom Gaspar Affonço, upon advice given by Brother Nicoló Rodriguez, first councillor, and other enemies of the Capuchins. Such disputes should be avoided; otherwise the Mahomedans and Hindus recently converted to our Faith will begin to murmur on seeing such disorders, and little by little will forsake their new faith. Little store do they set by certain grand orators who preach the truth, but never act up to it. These converts begin to suspect that all must be a deception, and that in the Christian religion there is no truth; and this I have heard murmured in many places. I do not fail in attempting what I can to remedy this, by referring to various noble examples. For the rest, let those it concerns take thought about it. Let us go back once more to Dā,ūd Khān. During his march he occupied his time with his dogs. He set them to attack now animals, now poor men and beggars. Then one day, in his delight at such bestial sports, he set these dogs at some of his captains. Expecting they might be torn to pieces by these beasts, the officers collected their soldiers, killed the three dogs, and wounded Dā,ud Khān, who attempted to defend them. From this event there was a great outbreak in the army, and declaring Dā,ud Khān to be mad, the principal officers tried to put him in chains.
354.11.6
When Dā,ud Khān heard what his officers intended to do, he apprehended that he would be ruined, and therefore went to visit the officers whom he had insulted. He threw himself at their feet, and asked pardon for what he had done. In this way the army was pacified, and pursuing the march, they arrived within view of the fortress of Pelconda (Penukonda). Dā,ūd Khān was convinced that the place could not be taken by force of arms, and he offered to the fort commander, named Indu Rao (Hindu Rāo), who held it on behalf of Shivā Jī, the sum of seven lakhs of rupees for surrendering the place. The commander accepted the offer, and on August 11, 1706, made over the fortress after a simulated defence. This is the ordinary course of action adopted by these officers, after which they receive from the king greater honours and greater pay, while they retain the friendship of the enemy. The Mahrattahs collect money in all directions for the upkeep of their armies.