[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) › 60.6 # Storia do Mogor 60.6 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 60.6 - **Language:** English ### [60.6.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.60.6.1) This mausoleum is a very large dome of great height, made all of marble adorned with many kinds of precious stones, the roof all gilded and enamelled in many pleasing colours. The garden is very large and pleasant, walled in on all sides, with various seats inside. There were drawings of human figures. Over these the king Aurangzeb ordered a coat of whitewash to be applied, so that the drawings might not be seen. He said such things were prohibited by the Mahomedan religion. I obtained entrance to this garden several times to inspect the mausoleum, being anxious to see the above-named figures before Aurangzeb should order them to be covered over. ### [60.6.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.60.6.2) The figures in the principal gateway of the garden were a crucifix, the Virgin Mary, and Saint Ignatius. I had a great desire to obtain entrance into the great dome I have spoken of, and at last one of the officials at the mausoleum, who was a friend of mine, and also wanted to make use of me, believing I was a physician, took me with him. The condition was that I should make a bow such as he made, with great reverence and punctiliousness, just as if the king were still alive. He opened the door, and I joined with him in making a very low bow in total silence, then barefooted I went round and saw everything. As I have already said, there was a holy crucifix delineated on the wall, on the right hand of the crucifix the image of Our Lady with the infant Jesus in her arms, while on the left was Saint Ignatius, the whole delineated. In the ceiling of the dome were great angels and cherubim and many other painted figures. There were also many censers which were lighted every day. The hall is paved all over with stones of different colours. Outside the mausoleum, in the garden, were many Molas (Mulla) — that is to say, learned men — reading the Quran. On the dome outside, on the very highest point, was a ball, and upon it a pyramid, the whole gilt. Most curious of all is the reason for having these paintings ; it was only because they were a novelty in those days ; it was not on account of religion. ### [60.6.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.60.6.3) During the time that Aurangzeb was actively at war with Shiva Ji, the villagers, of whom \[91\] I spoke before (I., 84), broke into the mausoleum in the year one thousand six hundred and ninety-one (1691), and after stealing all the stones and all the gold work to be found, extracted the king's bones and had the temerity to throw them on a fire and burn them. Aurangzeb was much put out at the boldness and unruliness of these villagers, and ordered against them his valiant Bader can (Bahadur Khan), of which I will speak in its proper place (II., 252). ### [60.6.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.60.6.4) Akbar had been anxious for a long time to satisfy two subjects of curiosity, which he kept in his heart. The first was to know what language a child would speak who had not the use of speech or any master to teach it. The second was to find the source of the famous river Ganges. For the first of these inquiries he ordered the erection of a house with many rooms at a distance of six leagues from the city of Agrah, and directed them to place in it twelve children, who should be retained there till the age of twelve years. An injunction was laid on everyone that, under pain of death, no one should speak a word to them or allow them to communicate with each other. This was done, because one set of men asserted that they would speak the natural language, that which was the language of our first parents. Others held that they would speak the Hebrew language; others that they would not speak anything but Chaldean; while the Hindu philosophers and mathematicians asserted that they must infallibly speak the Samscript (Sanskrit) language, which is their Latin. However, the twelve years having passed, they produced the twelve children before the king. Interpreters for the various languages were called in to help. Each one put questions to the children, and they answered just nothing at all. On the contrary, they were timid, frightened, and fearful, and such they continued to be for the rest of their lives. ### [60.6.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.60.6.5) For the second inquiry he selected persons of good judgment and provided them with everything necessary — servants, conveyances, and sufficient money. They were on their travels for several months, and at the end of the time they returned and repaired to the king. He asked them what they had seen and where they had been. After all, the only thing they could say was that they had climbed many mountains, keeping always to the course of the stream, which each day grew smaller. After much marching, they arrived at mountains covered with forest. Here they had hard work to get through. When they had traversed these woods, they encountered a very high and large mountain having at its foot a great cow's head sculptured out of the very rock. From the mouth in this head issued a stream of water with such force that no one could keep his feet in front of it. They exerted themselves to ascend the great mountain, to see whether there was any river on beyond. But it was not possible to reach the top. Therefore they turned back and reported what they had seen. I am unable to affirm whether this was verily \[92\] the river Ganges or not. For it would require one to exhaust one's purse, and perhaps lose one's life, if another attempt were made. There happened to this king several things which will either be of use as a guide to his descendants or will serve to divert the reader. The first of these that I wish to recount is what happened to Akbar with a baniani (baniya). ### [60.6.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.60.6.6) The reader ought to know that the baniyas, of whom I will speak after the death of Akbar, under a separate heading (I., 100), are very chary of giving a direct answer. Akbar was desirous of satisfying his curiosity by an experiment on this great reluctance to answer. He gave an order that the chief of the baniyas should be sent for. This threw the whole of them into a great state of mind, and they assembled in much dread and tribulation beneath the fort to see what was going to happen. The chief of the baniyas entered the royal palace all of a tremble, surmising that some misfortune was about to befall him. On reaching the presence of Akbar, who was taking a walk in a garden on the banks of a stream, Akbar asked him where that water went to. The baniya, confused and frightened, shook his head without saying a word. The king showed himself angry at this delay, and directed him to reply without any fear. The baniya answered tremblingly that, if His Majesty pleased, would he allow him the space of thirteen days in which to reflect over such an important piece of business? The baniya left the garden, much puzzled over such a question, while Akbar smiled to himself. Seeing that the king knew where the said water ran to, the baniya argued that the question must conceal some mystery. ### [60.6.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.60.6.7) Hardly had the man left the fortress, when all the other baniyas ran up to find out from their headman the reason of his being sent for. He replied in great dejection that he invited the oldest of them to his house, where he would disclose the royal questions. On arriving there he told them the whole matter, stating that he had not had the temerity to reply, since the king knew very well which way the said water ran; and as the king made himself out so simple, they ought to look out for some mishap. They were all amazed, not knowing what to think; they all anticipated ruin, and remained silent. Only one man got on his feet and said that if they would agree to give him something for his trouble, he would offer himself as able to satisfy the king without doing harm to anyone. ### [60.6.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.60.6.8) When the thirteen days had elapsed, men came from the king to summon the headman. He pretended he was very ill, and sent back excuses to the king, and said that he would send some one in his place. When his reply came back, and along with it the substitute, this fresh baniya was called in, and Akbar asked him where the water went to. The wary and astute baniya pretended to be plunged in thought, as if he had no anticipation of such a question. After a few moments he asked for leave to tell a story. The king gave permission. It was about how he had married, and the sum of money that his father-in-law had promised him. After the marriage the promise was not kept. On his demanding payment of the debt, his father-in-law gave him a box on the ears. As he talked he moved his hands about, and when he said that his father-in-law hit him on the head, he struck his own hand on his turban, causing it to fall into the channel. Turning round, he looked on in amazement at seeing his turban moving along with the current of water. Then he turned to Akbar and said, as if astonished : ' Your Majesty saw whither the water carried off my turban ?' In this mode he pointed out where the water of the channel went. The king laughed heartily at seeing the baniyás so crafty in their affairs. He gave this baniya a serpao (sarapa) and made him head of them all, he being a man of some estimation in his tribe. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.60.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.60.6) · Pramāṇa