[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) › 60.4 # Storia do Mogor 60.4 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 60.4 - **Language:** English ### [60.4.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.60.4.1) When Akbar decided to build the city of Akbarabad, he gave an order that his palaces should be made of copper (bronze). But they represented to him that this could not be done. Enough metal could not be procured to erect lofty palaces such as the king desired. Another reason was that they would not be habitable in the hot season on account of the high temperature, or in the winter, from the great cold. Thus he abandoned this project, and built his palace and the fortress of red hewn stones of great size. The city is situated in a great open plain on the bank of the river Jamnah, which, as it were, divides it into two halves on the eastern side. The city is a large one, with a circumference of twelve leagues, and is surrounded by many gardens. It is not walled, but nevertheless has great gateways in the principal streets. The fortress is placed on the bank of the river, with a ditch which can be filled with water from the river. On both sides the fortress is adorned with beautiful palaces for the princes of the blood-royal and the grandees. Opposite these palaces, on the other side of the river, is a large garden and a village, and many tombs, of which I shall speak hereafter. ### [60.4.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.60.4.2) During the time that the said city was being brought to perfection the king's amusement was to mount on a mad elephant, simply to make it combat with another one. This is a very dangerous affair, for many elephant-drivers (cornacas) lose their lives in this amusement, and thus their wives, when drivers mount their elephants for a combat, break their bracelets and take off their jewels as a sign that they are widows. I shall speak of these elephant fights in another place (III. 20) ; the only object of what I now say is to let you know the courage of this king (Akbar), of which I now relate the following instance : ### [60.4.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.60.4.3) It happened that the villagers, of whom I have spoken before (ante, f. 83), raised such a great rebellion that Akbar was obliged to go against them in person. He surrounded a fort into which many of them had retired, a place that it was impossible to escalade. Therefore orders were given that the most courageous of the elephants should be sent to batter in the gate. He (Akbar) disguised himself, and at dawn appeared near the gate, and, mounting upon a very bold elephant, attacked the gate. In the first assault the animal was not able to knock it down ; it was driven to the assault once more, the gate fell, and the fortress was taken. The driver of the elephant asked the pretended elephant-driver what his name was, as he was anxious to report his bravery to the king and announce that he was the cause of the victory. Akbar replied that before giving his name he wanted to know that of the elephant. The driver said the elephant was called the 'Active '; thereupon Akbar said that his name was ' Breaker-in of Gateways.' The following day, when the elephants were paraded before him, he gave to ' Active ' the title of ' Active, Breaker-in of Gateways,' and made him captain of all the elephants, with an increase of pay. He rewarded the elephantdriver by a serpao (sarāpā), whereby the man learnt that the 'Breaker-in of Gateways' was the very king himself. ### [60.4.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.60.4.4) He had a great deal of trouble with these rebels, and after returning home victorious he was forced to order his captains to go against them several times. These officers, on reaching the rebel villages, carried out their orders to slay and behead (the only remedies he applied, and after him the other Mogol kings did the same). In order to defend themselves these villagers hid in the thorny scrub or retired behind the slight walls surrounding their villages. The women stood behind their husbands with spears and arrows. When the husband had shot off his matchlock, his wife handed him the lance, while she reloaded the matchlock. Thus did they defend themselves until they were no longer able to continue \[85\]. When reduced to extremity, they cut their wives' and daughters' throats, then in desperation they threw themselves against the enemy's ranks, and several times they succeeded in gaining the day by mere reckless courage. ### [60.4.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.60.4.5) Every time that a general won a victory the heads of the villagers were sent as booty to the city of Agrah to be displayed in the royal square before all the people as a proof of their success. After twenty-four hours the heads were removed to the imperial highway, where they were hung from the trees or deposited in holes on pillars built for this purpose. Each pillar could accommodate one hundred heads. Many a time have I seen in the city piles of these villagers' heads. Once I saw ten thousand of them; they could be recognised by their being shaven, with huge moustaches, mostly reddish in colour. In the thirty-four years that I dwelt in this Mogul kingdom I travelled often from Agrah to Dihlī, and every time there was a number of fresh heads on the roadside and many bodies of thieves hanging from the trees, who were punished thus for robbing on the highway. Thus passers-by are forced to hold their noses on account of the odour from the dead, and hasten their steps out of apprehension of the living. The villagers were not able to take vengeance on their first enemy, Akbar, in his lifetime, but how they avenged themselves on his bones after his death I shall tell hereafter (I. 91). ### [60.4.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.60.4.6) Some astrologers assert that the planet Mars dominates this country (India), for even the animals are bold and resolute, and men who travel there, through drinking its water, acquire a great eagerness to fight. Thus it happened to an Armenian acquaintance of mine called Alaberdy. He had come to this country to sell some merchandise. After seven days had passed he felt an itching to quarrel, every moment laying hold of his sword as if making ready for combat. He began to reflect that he was a trader, and had come to sell his goods; it was not proper for him to risk the loss of his capital. He managed to suppress this impulse, chiefly from not being a man of much courage. There was no reason for his being so restless, but in spite of his reasonings he continued to feel these desires. Thus it is only fair to assert what I did just now as to \[the cause of\] this inclination. I noted with special interest as I travelled about in this country that all the oxen and cows of these provinces have their horns turned to the front and very sharp, and it is recognised throughout the Mogul realm that while only of small stature, and not very bulky, they are very savage. ### [60.4.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.60.4.7) On the occasion which was lately spoken of (ante, f. 84), when Akbar engaged in the great feat of knocking \[85\] down the gates of a fortress, a powerful Hindu prince said to him that he wished to give him a piece of advice if he would deign to listen to him. Akbar replied that he might speak openly. The prince told him that it was not a good thing to get upon an elephant by placing one foot upon its tusk, as Akbar and the grandees usually did in those days, the elephant being seated, for in that way they ran great danger of the elephant, when savage, killing the man who was trying to mount, a thing very easy for it to accomplish. It were better to mount at the side with the aid of a ladder. The king was pleased with the prince's advice, and put it into practice. To show himself grateful, he said to the prince that he was desirous of giving him, too, a piece of good advice; it was that he should return to his own territory. If perchance he (Akbar) or any of his descendants invited him to visit the court, he should send excuses, for a great man never had much benefit from a stay in the court of another great man, as the great never had much love or affection for others of their own rank. He said this because he was aware of the way in which he himself treated the princes who attended his court — that is, he sought some method of giving them with civility some affront. This he did to another prince, to whom he had promised many honours. ### [60.4.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.60.4.8) On arrival at the court the noble found that Akbar did not carry out his promises. On this account the prince was much distressed. To make fun of him, Akbar said to him that if it were his desire to leave for his own country permission would be given to him. This speech allowed the prince an opening for displaying by his very disgusted face how he felt the affront of such words, but he spoke not a syllable in reply. Noticing this silence, Akbar flew into a rage, and said to him that liberty to go home should never be accorded him until he had spoken in his (Akbar's) presence. The prince persisted in not speaking ; he would not say even a single word. Thereupon the king issued an order that every time he sat in audience the prince must appear. It would be seen whether he would speak without being asked. Akbar was anxious that the prince should speak, so that he might give him leave to go. But he found that after coming for many days to audience, the prince could not be made to speak. Then he (Akbar) invented this trick to make the man speak without any question being put to him. He ordered them to find out what the prince was most interested in, and they ascertained that he was very skilful in the chase, and well acquainted with the points of animals. Orders were given that every day when the prince was present they should introduce talk about the virtues and properties of the above-named, but saying always the contrary to the facts. ### [60.4.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.60.4.9) One day the king asked one of his intimates a number of questions about the nature and the age of animals. To these he answered the exact contrary of what is the case, when His Majesty displayed his admiration, and seemed perfectly satisfied with the reply, while the Hindu prince rubbed his hands, bit his lips, and changed colour, displaying every sign of wishing to speak and instruct them as to the truth. But, on account of his wager, he did not dare to speak unless spoken to by the king. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.60.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.60.4) · Pramāṇa