[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) › 44 # Storia do Mogor 44: THE PARSIS AT SURAT. Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 44 - **Language:** English ### THE PARSIS AT SURAT. ### [44.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.44.1) In Surat there is a class of men called Parsis, worshippers of fire, who in former days were inhabitants of Persia. But when first the Mahomedan religion got into Persia, the king tried to force them to become Mahomedans. For this reason they sent an embassy to the Hindu prince of Surat, asking him to grant them permission to emigrate into that country with their families, where they would become his permanent subjects. The Hindu prince received the embassy and allowed them to come, on condition that they should neither slaughter cows nor eat cows' flesh. He promised them the same rights as his other subjects. They came to Surat, where unto this day there are numbers of them, as also in different villages, and in the Portuguese territory adjacent to Damao (Daman). ### [44.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.44.2) Their religious belief is such that, if through misadventure anyone's house takes fire, on no account will he allow the fire to be interfered with or extinguished, it being, according to them, the greatest good luck and cause of rejoicing that he could have, he believing that his gods have conferred on him an especial gift and favour, in return for the adorations he has paid to them. And if ever, through negligence, the fire goes out in any of their houses, a fire that all of them maintain with especial care, there is great lamentation, much more than they would make if their nearest relation had died. After such a mishap the owner has recourse to his priest, begging his pardon for the crime he has committed in allowing the extinguishment of his household fire. The usual penance imposed is that the culprit must invite a number of families of the highest position among them. When these have all collected, well-washed and well-clad, they go off to the priest's house, and he, in their presence, makes a speech to the householder, and at the end of it delivers fire from his own house. This they carry, with a grand array of trumpets and drums, and arriving at the sinner's house, he is obliged to give them all a feast. These people have made a vow never to go upon the sea, in order not to defile it, since the sea unfailingly induces vomiting; and in gratitude for the benefits it has done to them they hold it in this great respect. ### [44.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.44.3) It happened at the time when I was in Surat that Shahjahan, King of the Great Mogul, sent a severe reprimand to the governor because he had not acquired a lovely pearl of great value and forwarded it to the court. The reader should know that the governors sent by the king to Surat are persons of rank, men highly thought of and favoured by the king. These men have orders to buy all things that are most beautiful, precious, and rare, and send them to the king. Yet this pearl passed through without the knowledge of the governor, and reached the king, who bought it at a fair price. Then he issued the aforesaid reprimand once more, enjoining on the governor to take special care to buy all the best things that came to that port, more especially pearls and horses, which come from Arabia and Persia. For all these things are used by the king as gifts to the princes and the court officials. Therefore he searches with great exactness through all merchandise to find out if there is anything rare or valuable. We remained for seventy-five days in that port — i.e., Surat — the revenues of which had been given by Shah Jahan to his daughter, Begom Saeb (Begam Sahib), to meet her expenditure on betel. During this time we were making our preparations for going on to the court of the Great Mogul. ### [44.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.44.4) I was much gratified at seeing such plenty in this place, for I had never had such a satisfaction since \[I left\] my Venice, and felt proud at staying some days in this port, especially after the arrival of the French. During the time we remained the English never ceased to offer a thousand civilities to milord, the ambassador. But his true friends told him not to trust them, for all they did was in order to get hold of him and carry him off to England. They did their very best once to persuade the ambassador to go on board of an English vessel, then about to depart for England, under the pretext of offering him a banquet with all the state befitting his dignity. But the truth was that they wanted to confine him in the ship, and he most politely made excuses. Then we began to get together our baggage, for which purpose the ambassador was in want of funds. Mestre Jonh (Henry Young) secretly offered to supply all that was required, whether in money or in different sorts of goods, among the latter some fine broadcloth, a handsome clock, an Arab horse for a present to the king, with swords, pistols, matchlocks, and numerous European playthings. We started from Surat, bearing a passport given us by the governor, and in fifteen days we reached the town of Brampur (Burhanpur), where was the court of the prince Aurangzeb, with whom we had much to discuss. We did not meet with him, by reason of his being at that time in Orangabad (Aurangabad). --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.44](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.44) · Pramāṇa