[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) › 356.2 # Storia do Mogor 356.2 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 356.2 - **Language:** English ### [356.2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.356.2.1) One day, as was his habit, he went to sit in his garden, and caused those birds to be brought, hoping to increase his enjoyment by listening to their songs and talk. He was a good deal disappointed, since they uttered not a single sound of joy, although there was no want of the fruits or other products which are their food. His Majesty waited five days to see if they would speak; but finding they were more and more depressed, he sent for the ambassador, and asked the cause of the birds' silence. The ambassador replied that when he brought them to his Majesty he had given them a drop of wine; this caused them to sing and talk cheerfully. The king tried at once an experiment in compliance with the hint given by the ambassador, and on seeing the effect, he declared that he did not know that the privation of wine caused sadness in those accustomed to drink it. This experience caused the king to sanction once more the use of wine by those who had need of it. But a certain punishment was fixed for those who got drunk. \[192\] I have already mentioned that the officials governing the Karnãtik requested leave from the Mogul to build a new fortress at the port of San Thome. His Majesty refused his permission upon the excuse that the Europeans would take possession of it, since it was so close to the sea. Nay, he would be highly pleased if they could be deprived of those towns where they already resided. ### [356.2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.356.2.2) At the port of Puliacat in the Grand Mogul's territory, lying at a distance of eight leagues from Madras towards the north, the Dutch have a fort within the town. Five years ago the daughter of a Dutchman fled from it. The Dutch, who are not a careless people, made an inquiry into the facts, and found out that a Mahomedan had carried her off out of the place with her own consent. After five years had elapsed the Mahomedan returned to his home in Puliacat in the belief that no one would know anything about what he had done. The Dutch were told of everything, and therefore sent for three ships from Negapatam. They disembarked a sufficient number of soldiers, entered the Mahomedan's house without any warning, and removed the woman with her three sons. The whole force of the Mahomedan who governed there was useless. This event happened on September 12, 1706. \[193\] The reader may have observed that the nobles of India take notice of any generous actions which happen to be done in their sight. The following case may serve as an example: ### [356.2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.356.2.3) There was a good-looking young Frenchman named Monsieur de Lae, who had been guilty of a homicide in France, and for that reason had taken refuge in India. In Hindustan he entered the service of certain nobles and learnt the language of the country to perfection. In the year 1703 this young man appeared in the city of Gujarat, then under the rule of Prince A'zam Tãrã. Returning one day from the chase with his magnificent retinue and numerous followers, the prince saw the young man. He recognised by the man's complexion and his clothes that he was a European. The young man took off his hat and made a very deep bow. The prince halted and made him a sign to come forward, and asked him of what nation he was and his name. He replied that he was a Frenchman, and he was called Monsieur de Lae. Upon hearing this the prince gave a sign of joy, and asked him if he were related to the Monsieur de Lae ( = De la Haye) who took the city of San Thome. The young man replied that he bore the same name, but was in no way related. Thereupon the prince resumed his road with all the signs of dejection. Had the young man said he was a relation of Monsieur de Lae (de la Haye), he would have been given high pay, and would have been much esteemed \[194\] by the prince and all the other persons at the court. ### [356.2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.356.2.4) In the territory of the King of Persia there was a rebellion of the Baloch tribe, of whom I spoke in my First Part (I. 246, III. 75) when treating of the tribes in Hindustan who dwell on the borders between the Mogul country and Persia. These people attacked and ravaged several provinces of Persia. The king sent a division of soldiers to allay the tumult and subdue their pride. But the army was defeated and routed. Then his Majesty ordered a general called Gurgi Kam (Gurgln Khãn), a Georgian by race, to proceed with an army and reduce the country to order. The general carried out his Majesty's orders, and had the good fortune to overcome the rebels. Not content, however, with that success, he entered their country at the head of his army, putting the whole country to fire and sword. He burnt down houses with entire families and killed the prisoners in the most brutal way. The principal men he roasted on spits. The little unweaned infants he dragged from their mothers' breasts and hacked to pieces, while other mothers were cut open. By these means he intimidated the tribe and brought it under subjection, and made it obedient to the king. When this general found himself thus victorious, he asked his Majesty's permission to invade the Mogul kingdom in order to \[195\] eradicate entirely the above tribe ; but his Majesty would not consent to his application. ### [356.2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.356.2.5) Let us return to the ambassadors of the King of Pegu and see what happened to them. They started from Madras with the intention of attending the court of the Great Mogul, as their king had directed. When they reached the camp of Dã,ud Khãn, they were prevented from going farther until they had agreed to put on better clothing than what they were wearing, and they were told that if they wanted to go to court they must ask permission ; otherwise they might return at once whence they came. This order had been received by Dã,úd Khãn from Aurangzeb, who also directed the purchase of one hundred elephants. These were to be sent in company with the ambassadors, on the condition, however, that the latter had changed their style of dress. When the ambassadors found that their progress to the court was barred, they decided to dress themselves in another way. They ordered some fine clothes and put shoes on their feet, covering their heads with a hat of straw having extended and rather wide wings, of which the lacquered crown was in shape something like a reversed flower-pot. Pictures of them thus attired were sent to his Majesty. Thus accoutred, and with the above-named retinue of one hundred elephants, which Dā,ud Khān had bought, they were sent on to court. ### [356.2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.356.2.6) The friendly reader should reflect here on the designs of this aged king, who gave this order to Dā,ud Khān solely that the ambassadors and agents of different princes, as also the spies of various rajahs who are found in numbers at the court, should be able to write \[196\] to their princes that to his (Aurangzeb's) court had come ambassadors from a strange king bringing a magnificent present. Aurangzeb thought that by so doing he could make a display of his greatness, and that he would be looked on as a mighty potentate, a reputation which he desires to have. There can be no doubt that some princes among the Rajputs do entertain this belief, as Aurangzeb wishes them to do, since, as I have said, they are in the habit of accepting what is commonly asserted. The Shivā Jī, however (i.e., the Mahrattahs), are not highly impressed by these artifices; on the contrary, they press on him straitly more and more. When the doings of the Mahrattahs are reported to him, he has no other answer than that there are robbers everywhere. This is to save his dignity, but in his heart he is acutely pained without being able to devise a remedy. \[Here I omit an account of Dā,ūd Khan's proceedings at San Thomé and Madras, which I have already given from the Portuguese version in Part IV., fols. 245, 246. I have inserted there one or two emendations from the Italian and Portuguese versions in Part V. I pass on to fol. 202.\] ### [356.2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.356.2.7) \[202\] King Aurangzeb repents of having entangled himself in this war with the Mahrattahs, for it has not succeeded as he had hoped; thus he has been compelled to remain in these Dakhin lands as the only condition of keeping what he has conquered. At this moment he is encamped at a place near Aurangãbãd, called Ahmadnagar, of which I have spoken (I. 75). There is not one of the princes his sons who will undertake to carry on the campaign. Meanwhile the Mahrattahs move about with their armies and pillage the empire of Hindustan in all directions. Such is their power and audacity that they penetrated as far as the capital at Dihlī and plundered wherever they pass. While one army was on this expedition another army, also belonging to the Mahrattahs, was active in plundering the city of Gulkandah. Every day they display their power to a greater extent in every part of the Mogul empire. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.356.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.356.2) · Pramāṇa