[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) › 65.44 # Storia do Mogor 65.44 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 65.44 - **Language:** English ### [65.44.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.44.1) We came forth by a postern-gate, when we saw some thirty men with swords in their hands, who came at me, saying : 'Let us kill him ; he, too, is of the eunuch's force.' The man with me then laid one arm upon me, and, waving the other hand, demanded in the king's name that they should not kill me nor lay hands on me. But they were keen to plunder me, and told him he had become my advocate simply to strip me himself; but, grieve him as it might, they meant to kill me and appropriate my clothes. Recognising their purpose and seeing them approach, I took off my turban there and then, and the rest of my vestments, being left with nothing but my under-drawers and my shirt. I threw the clothes to them, and my defender conducted me a little farther ; then he said I might go on in security, as I was now out of danger. But just as I imagined I was free there came towards me a soldier, a Hindu rustic, holding a drawn sword, who, with many abusive terms and threats, requested me to make over my shirt to him. Enraged at finding myself amidst so much persecution and so many affronts, I said he might kill me if he liked, but I would never him the shirt. Overwhelming him with abuse, I provided him with cause for despatching me ; but he did not want to damage the shirt, so he allowed me to live. In the end I decided to give up the shirt, so I took it off in a rage, rather than lose my life. ### [65.44.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.44.2) With my head sunk, I went on my way, running considerable danger, although stripped naked and full of grief and shame. I sought the house of one of my friends, a professing Mahomedan, whose name was Dulah, a man of learning, from whom I had received much kindness. On my way a woman met me and offered me a sheet with which to cover myself, saying that when I got home I could send it back to her. But, not willing to be indebted to her, I declined, and went on my way in the same pitiable state. When I was only a little distance from my friend's house I saw running towards me the captain of infantry, whose teeth I had broken with a stone. He recognised me, but took compassion on my plight, and lowering his head, made no attempt to do me harm. Thence in a few more steps I got into the house of my friend Dulha, to whom I recounted all that had happened to me. He welcomed me with great warmth, accorded me full rights of hospitality, and gave me clothes and food. I did not forget to render thanks to God for all His mercies, and for deliverance from so many perils. ### [65.44.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.44.3) This affair happened at eight o'clock in the day, and my servants removed my horse to where my men were, and gave them the melancholy news of my death. All my friends were much afflicted; and they sent off one of their number, called Ignacio Gomens, the one best liked by and the most intimate with me, to the site of the affray to make a search for my body. They instructed him to bring it back, so that they all jointly might inter me in some convenient spot and commend my soul to God, seeing that there was no priest. Thus we were used to do when any of our friends died. All of them said, and were quite certain, that I must be dead. On arriving at the place of death, Ignacio Gomens found eleven dead bodies, with the eunuch's headless trunk. The head had been carried away to lay before Khalilullah Khan, who was eager to satisfy his wrath and avenge himself for the indignity that had been done him. Ignacio Gomens came back and reported what he had seen, and that my body was not forthcoming. My friends supposed that after my death the Mahomedans had, without a doubt, thrown me, a Christian, into the river. So they decided they would all go the next day in search of my body, and give it burial. But I, through God's favour, was still alive. ### [65.44.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.44.4) At six in the evening I left the house of my friend Dulha, and took my road to the place where my followers were with much quietness, rendering thanks to our Lord. On arriving close to them, I knew them all, but they did not recognise me, although they looked at me. Then, all of a sudden, I gave a shout, whereupon they knew my voice and came running with open arms towards me, unable to utter a word by reason of exceeding joy. They all began to weep with content, and after a rest, I related in detail all that had happened to me on that day, and how God, out of His infinite compassion, had been my deliverer. ### [65.44.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.44.5) The following day we received a message from Khalilullah Khan directing us to proceed to court to the king's presence, where we should be well received. By this we were made very contented. With us he sent a captain and thirty troopers; and in their train we reached in eight days the town of Cerend (Sihrind), which means 'Head of India,' as it divides the province of Lahor from Hindustan. Before our entry into the town we saw, in a field a little apart from the gate, some fifteen corpses. Asking whose they were, they replied that they were those of Jiwan Khan, and his relations and servants. After making over to Aurangzeb at Dihli the prince Dara, they had received this reward. That same king gave orders to the governor of the fortress of Sihrind that when Jiwan Khan and his men should arrive on their way to their home, he should have them stoned in this field by all the populace, and thus be both rewarded and slain (a most fitting chastisement for his ingratitude). This gave us all great pleasure, and the Mahomedans themselves uttered a thousand curses over the corpse of Jiwan Khan. ### [65.44.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.44.6) From this town (Sihrind) we went on towards the court, and arrived at Dihli in seven days, where we learnt that the king was much affected by the death of our eunuch, Primavera (Basant), his orders having been to seize, but not to kill him. But Khalilullah Khan excused this excess, writing to the king that his death was necessary, because it was known that he meant to go into Srinagar territory, where Prince Sulaiman Shukoh was, taking with him two thousand fighting men, hardy troops, and the best of the Europeans that Dara had left in the fortress of Bhakkar. Without a doubt, if the eunuch had obtained free passage, we should all have gone to find Prince Sulaiman Shukoh. ### [65.44.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.44.7) After three days \[268\] we were presented to Aurangzeb. He was very anxious for us to enter his service, recognising the fidelity and valour with which we had served Dara, and that among his own people he could not meet with such fidelity and stubbornness. Therefore, he now fixed four rupees a day for \[each\] European, and for me five. My companions accepted his service, but I did not wish to do so, through the antipathy I had to him, and the point of honour I cherished of not serving under the murderer of my master. I communicated to the king my non-acceptance of employment. He caused me to be sent for once more, and asked why I did not accept service with him ; did I want higher pay than he offered ? I replied to him that I would willingly enter into his employ, but I longed to return to my native land, years having elapsed in absence from it ; and thus he allowed me to leave. ### [65.44.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.44.8) Learning that Prince Shah Shuja' had entrenched himself in the province of Bengal, and that to overcome him was most difficult, Aurangzeb, a little time after our arrival in Dihli, ordered Daler Khan to proceed with some fresh troops and cannon, manned by my companions, as a reinforcement to Mir Jumlah in his contest with the above-named prince. At the same time he wrote to the rajahs, or petty kings, and the great governors that all must lend their aid — in men, arms, and money; in short, everything that was necessary to Mir Jumlah. They must so continue to aid him until the prince was taken or expelled from the kingdom. With the reinforcements sent by Aurangzeb, and the assistance given by the petty rajahs and the governors, Mir Jumlah attacked Shah Shuja' with such violence that he was reduced to the last stage of desperation. For poor Shah Shuja', having written letters to many quarters, received no answer to please him. Everyone feared Aurangzeb. Shah Shuja' himself reflected on what his brother had done to their father, Shahjahan, and their two brothers, Dara and Murad Bakhsh, and the victories he had won ; and prognosticated similar ill-luck for himself, and saw that, were he to fall into the hands of the ' poor faqir,' now become a king, he might count his days as numbered. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.44](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.44) · Pramāṇa