Storia do Mogor 354.4.6

354.4.6

The merchants whose ships had been taken by the Portuguese while on their way to Mecca, as I have already stated (IV. 153; V. 3, 24), never ceased to make complaint to King Aurangzeb and demand justice. Wearied by their supplications, his Majesty sent several dispatches to the Portuguese demanding restitution of the vessels, but they would never consent to give them back. Enraged at this conduct, the king suddenly expelled from his camp the Father Rector of Ãgrah, after having subjected him to some disagreeable treatment. Next he ordered the Governor of Surat to punish the Portuguese at Daman. A march was commenced at once at the head of six thousand men, cavalry and infantry. As soon as the governor approached the Portuguese villages, the frightened peasants took to flight. Upon noticing this the governor sent for the village headmen, and treating them courteously, reassured them, and told them that they ought to remain in their villages and go on cultivating their fields as usual. For, so he assured them, no one would interfere [121] with them. He sent them away contented, giving presents to each according to his merits.