Travels in India (Tavernier) 28.5

28.5

On the Sunday that he intended to make the assault, the Governor of Daman, in accordance with what had been settled at the council of war, caused mass to be said immediately after midnight, and then ordered a sortie to be made with all the cavalry and a part of the infantry, who were at first to attack on the side where there were 200 elephants. They threw a quantity of fireworks among them, which frightened them so much in the darkness of the night that, without knowing whither they went, and their drivers not being able to restrain them, they turned against the besiegers with such fury that in two or three hours half the army of Aurangzeb was destroyed, and three days after the siege was raised. Since that time this Prince has not wished to have anything more to do with Christians. I have made two journeys to Goa — the first was at the end of the year 1641, the second at the beginning of the year 1648. The first time I only remained seven days, and I returned to Surat by land. From