Storia do Mogor 356.1
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 356.1
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356.1.1
Kãm Raj, ' 'Ibratnãmah ' (India Office Library, MS. No. 1,534, Ethé, ' Catalogue,' p. 146), fol. 57b; Kãmwar Khãn, ' Tazkirat-us-salãtín-i-Chaghatãe,' my copy; ' Ma,ãsir-ul-Umarã,' i. 124, ii. 63-65; H. G. Raverty, 'Notes on Afghanistan,' 1883 ; ' Madras Manual of Administration,' 1885, ii. 86, 87; Mark Wilks ' Historical Sketches of the South of India,' 1810, i. 225, note. As I know the court well, I venture to say that the above-mentioned ambassadors from Pegu [ante, fols. 177-180] will be received by the Mogul king as if they were apes or monkeys ; it will be the same with the courtiers, and, generally speaking, with the whole population. There will not fail to be plays produced about them, as I have seen in similar cases; pictures of them will also be made and hawked in the streets, as something most marvellous and extraordinary [see forward, fol. 195]. [186] I have already spoken of the Persian physicians, and of their inability to believe or admit that European doctors are acquainted with medicine ; but I will insert, nevertheless, an instance that occurred in 1679. While I was at the court of Shãh 'Alam in Aurangãbãd, there arrived a Venetian physician named Angelo Legrenzi. He came from Aleppo, having quitted the service of the Most Serene Republic, and at the age of thirty-five had set out in search of fresh fortunes. He had thought out various ideas, and collected in his head many thoughts.
356.1.2
He came to see me, and delivered to me a letter of recommendation from the Reverend Father Fra Ivo, Capuchin, of Surat. I received him with every civility, making an offer to him of a share in my house, including a companion of his called Signor Protazio, a German gentleman. I was highly delighted by his arrival, in the hope of ridding myself of several patients, who all day long came in search of me personally. Forthwith I gave him out to be my relation, in order to obtain him more respect. I took him to the presence of the chief physician, Mamed Muquin (Muhammad Muqim), of whom I have already spoken, with the object of getting him, too, entry to the court, with handsome pay from the prince, and thereby prevent any hindrance to his practising. The chief physician promised me the new-comer should have a place, but patience was required. The worthy patrician, seeing how well I was treated, was full of joy, but would not comply with my advice. He showed he was in too great a hurry to enter [187] the prince's service and draw his pay. As a proof of his ability, and that he was not a surgeon, but a physician, he prepared a pamphlet in which he discoursed on the four principal fevers, of their causes, and the remedies for driving them away. Seeing that he had little confidence in my word, and none at all in that of other friends, I took him with me to the said chief physician. Legrenzi presented the pamphlet, and its contents were explained.
356.1.3
Muhammad Muqim, while listening to his talk, seemed pleased and contented, and by his face indicated that he approved of such good arguments. On his side Legrenzi was equally satisfied, in the belief that he had done rather well by presenting his work, which would cause him to be valued at the court. Knowing the contrary, I said to him how much I should rejoice if he met with success. At the time of saying good-bye the chief physician said to him that he could repeat his visit to the court.
356.1.4
I continued to aid him with a horse and servants, who every day attended him, for the chief physician lived over half a league from my house. This going and coming lasted for a year without the chief physician making over to him any patient, or speaking any more to him. Our patrician did not perceive what it meant. Finally, one day, to undeceive him, Muhammad Muqīm ordered one of his servants, an Armenian, called Joseph, who acted as interpreter, to sit down near him. Our patrician was offended at this act, and on his return [188] home he reported it to me. I did not know what else to say to him than that he must have patience. The following day he went back to the court, and wasted his time seated there for over three hours. Finally the chief physician accosted him by asking whether he knew what thing God was. At such a demand Legrenzi was stupefied, and made no sort of answer. By this request he understood that he had received his dismissal, and his joy was turned into sadness. Thus he went back the way he came with lamentations over his strange fate. He was well received, and appointed again to the place that he had quitted. Mr. Protazio remained with me, having no money to pay for his journey. After a year, however, he started, and I helped him so far as I could, and I heard no more of him.
356.1.5
In April, 1706, Shāh 'Ālam sent a letter to his father Aurangzeb, enclosing other letters from several spies who were with Prince Akbar. By these the news was conveyed that Prince Akbar had died in that month near the fortress of Qandahār, belonging to the King of Persia. Aurangzeb, when he received this joyful news so long awaited, pretended to feel the greatest sorrow, stating how much he grieved at the prince's dying in a strange land; that it was at his own desire he had left India; that it was God's punishment for not obeying his father's counsels, for having decided to act contrary to Mahomedan law. [189] Equal to the king's joy was that of the princes A'zam Tārā and Shāh 'Ālam, although from reasons of high policy they professed to be greatly disconcerted by it. For they knew they had been delivered from one great obstacle to securing power after their father's death. For he (Akbar) had many friends at the court, and the King of Persia would have helped him.
356.1.6
When the said prince fell ill and knew he had no hope of life he made his will, and named the King of Persia, Xasulten assen (Shãh Sultãn Husain), heir to all his property. This king directed Akbar's body to be conveyed to the city of Maxat (Mashhad), where the Kings of Persia are buried. He caused a grand sepulchre to be built for the prince close to that of his own father, Sultãn Sulaimãn, who had been a great friend of Akbar. He also directed that all the precious stones which had belonged to the prince should be inserted upon the tomb ; he would not accept for himself a single thing from the inheritance. In connection with his interment he also distributed bountiful alms, and assigned to the tomb an endowment, by which three hundred poor were fed daily. These acts caused the praise of his generosity to become universal. This king lives at this day in peace, and shows himself extremely devout, never missing on any day his appointed prayers, beseeching God to maintain peace. He does not slaughter numbers of people, as had been the cruel practice of his ancestors.
356.1.7
In ten years of this king's reign not more than one man has been killed by his order. It is the habit of these Persian kings when they go to the chase, or travel from one city to another, to take with them their ladies guarded by cavalry and eunuchs. These attendants go in advance of the king, and look about in the fields to see if they can find anyone. Anyone found near the route is made to hide and withdraw until the king has passed. One day while he was marching to the city of Qazwin he came across a peasant under a tree, his face to the ground and his hands clasped over his head, resting there out of mere stupidity. He was noticed by the king, who, recognising that it was ignorance and not evil intent, threw his cloak over him with his own hands, and went on his way. The chief eunuch, who preceded the queens and the women, found the man, took away the cloak, and killed him. When the king reached his tents he asked the chief eunuch if he had found anyone within prohibited limits. The reply was that one man had been found and killed. By the king's order the eunuch himself was killed for want of respect to the royal cloak with which the peasant was covered, it being a plain sign of the royal protection.
356.1.8
When this king was at the city of Isfahan, they told him there were many inhabitants who drank wine, and he issued a prohibition at once in accordance with the orders of the Quran. A few days after the issue of this order a Dutch ambassador arrived at the court to negotiate certain business [191], and he brought a handsome present for his Majesty. Among a number of other things were some birds, such as parrots, cockatoos, et cetera, which sang, talked, and whistled most cheerfully. It would be hard to express the amount of pleasure that his Majesty received from this gift.