[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) › 61 # Storia do Mogor 61: PROBABILITY OF THE CHINESE HAVING BEEN IN HINDUSTAN Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 61 - **Language:** English ### PROBABILITY OF THE CHINESE HAVING BEEN IN HINDUSTAN ### [61.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.61.1) I opine that this little account will be of some satisfaction to the reader, more especially at a time when so many write about the Chinese, their empire and their conquests. Although I do not affirm that the Chinese were in ancient times masters of any other countries besides China, nevertheless it appears to me very probable that, in addition to the lands they now occupy, they might once have had a much more extensive empire. I could adduce many reasons for this assumption of mine, but as I have decided not to write on any other subject than the Mogul Empire, I leave it to other inquiring minds to deal with this question. All I will say is that there is a good foundation for asserting that the Chinese were once lords of Hindustan, and that they were ejected by the Pathans, seeing that they were opposed to the entrance of foreigners into the empire of China, and put to death those whose evil fortune impelled them to enter the Chinese territory. On the whole, it appears to me the strongest reasons for affirming that the Chinese were once in Hindustan are the things I have seen there ; of which I will give a brief account to the reader, leaving it to him to decide whether they ever were or not in the lands of which we are speaking. ### [61.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.61.2) During the time that I dwelt in Hindustan I saw various ancient buildings with many Chinese images and letters cut on the stones and other such works, all of which give rise to the idea that the Chinese had dwelt here. Two leagues from the city of Dilhi there is an ancient city called Cojacotobdim (Khwajah Qutb-ud-din), so named from an ancient tomb, still existing, whose builders have vanished. At this place I have seen several times a very ancient hall built of great stones. In front of the said hall there is a pillar of bronze buried in the rock; it is two arms' length in height and nine palms in circumference. On this pillar there are some engraved letters, and to this day no one has been able to recognise what letters they are, although many inquirers have done their best to find out what they are meant to denote. The inhabitants say that the letters are Chinese. Signs of the presence of the Chinese are not wanting in Hindustan. These are found chiefly in the country of the Dacan (Dakhin), where there is a hill called Alura (Ilurah, Ellora), twenty-four leagues distant from Aurangabad, towards the west. At that place there are several caves dug out by pickaxes, forming lovely open courts, halls, rooms, cells, having corner-stones ornamented with various Chinese figures, and some reservoirs of natural water provided with many steps. In one of these halls there are thirteen statues, sculptured out of the live rock. Each one has its own special form. ### [61.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.61.3) The principal statue is one with a wound on the finger and a comical expression of face; it is breathing on the wound and writhing its body. The others behold this figure with wonder and amaze \[99\]. One bites his lips, another puts his finger in his mouth, another holds his head with both hands, another twists his nostrils, another seems to be weeping; the eyes of another are starting from his head with fear; one has his mouth open, another bites his tongue; one has his hands folded, another is in the act of striking the ground with his foot, one has his hand placed over his mouth, and another is holding his beard. These works of art are in an open place. As they are so cleverly done, and their appearance somewhat Chinese, many say that they were executed by the ancient Chinese. Besides these statues, there is in the same place a fallen building which seems to have been a tower. At the foot of it are many stone figures resembling the Chinese. ### [61.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.61.4) I also visited the island of Salcete (Salset), owned by the Portuguese, and not far from the town of Bassaim (Bassein). In the middle of this island there is a mountain having many sculptured figures and many dwellings. You go into a very deep cave which is quite dark. When you have got well in you hear a great noise of waters. An inquiring Portuguese of some boldness went in with a light until he reached a deep cavern, whence issued the noise of running water. He threw in a bundle of straw, which came out in the river six leagues from the said cave, near a village called Thana, which is situated in the same island, near the mainland. The inhabitants of the island, and the most experienced old men, say that this labyrinth is extremely ancient, made in the time when the Chinese were lords over India; that they cut through a tongue of land to allow of the passage of the river, and thus formed the island. It can be plainly perceived that this is the work of man's hand, for if you cross the river at its narrowest part you can see (and I have seen) the severed rocks. On the coast of Choramandal, near the sea, there is also a rock called Mavelivarao (Mahabalipuram), distant four leagues from a place called Sadrasta patao (Sadrasta-patanam, or Sadras), where there are many sculptured figures resembling Chinese. ### [61.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.61.5) There is also on that coast a town called Negapatao (Negapatanam), and outside the town on the sea-beach is a large temple (pagode) known as the China Pagoda. In the year one thousand six hundred ninety and two there was a war between the Dutch and the owner of that territory. Lourenço Piter, who at that time was governor of Negapatanam and of all the Choromandal coast, ordered this pagoda to be destroyed ; and he converted it into a battery, on which he mounted eight pieces \[100\] of artillery. More than half of the pagoda was knocked down after the greatest exertions. They discovered in the pagoda, between the walls, many images of a metal which looked like gold, and up to this day no one knows of what kind this metal is. The images were Chinese. ### [61.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.61.6) I reserved for this place what I have to say about the artillery that Akbar possessed in Hindustan, because the statement I am about to make may be held a novelty in Europe — that is to say, the idea that the first inventors of artillery were the Chinese. For the most experienced historians of our Europe write that artillery was invented in the year one thousand three hundred and eighty by Bertoldo Nigro, a German, whereas the artillery owned by Akbar was much older. I have seen many large cannon of excellent metal, with the breach made plain just like a drum. The imperfection of the work proved that these were the earliest ; nor can the credit for such work be given to any other nation than the Chinese, who of all peoples are noted as the most ingenious. Thus it becomes proved, as the most probable opinion, that the Chinese were once in ancient times the masters of Hindustan. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.61](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.61) · Pramāṇa