Storia do Mogor 89.3

89.3

The damaged vessel arrived at Surat, whence the governor reported to Aurangzeb what had occurred. This was the reason of his wishing to create a war navy, to sweep the seas of the pirates and make himself powerful at sea. With this object in view the king imparted his design to Ja'far Khan, the chief secretary, a man of judgment, who demanded time before answering. After some days he said to Aurangzeb that his majesty had no deficiency of money or timber, or other materials to form a navy. But he was without the chief thing — that is to say, men to direct it. Aurangzeb retorted that the conduct of it might be entrusted to the Franks, who lived on his pay. But Ja'far Khan boldly, as a faithful minister, replied that it would not be well to confide to foreigners — fugitives from their own country — a business of such importance. Those men might easily abscond ; nor would they think the Mogul soldiers, who might man the ships, of any account ; and these, not being properly trained, would allow themselves to be completely controlled by those commanders.