A Pepys of Mongul India (1653-1708)

by Niccolao Manucci

  Keeping on our course, we arrived at the Mogul

  fleet, and I carried out my instructions. But the commander replied that he could not come away from Vingorla for fear that Prince Akbar might escape. Thus it turned out that I put my life to danger without doing any good. Nevertheless, I went back to Goa by another route, and there I reported the Mogul fleet to be already on its way to give assistance against Sambha Jf. This I did that all might recover heart and resolution, and continue the war with greater courage.

  Sambha Jt's soldiers took the island of Santo Estevao, and were very near to Goa. They gave so much trouble to the city that the viceroy resolved to send an embassy to the said prince to see if he could obtain a peace, and I was obliged to go a second time to Sambha Jf. But on my arrival I found a spy, then in his service, who gave me a faithful report of the latest news. He told me that the army of Shah 'Alam was already quite close. This was enough to decide me not to pursue my negotiations; therefore I determined to retrace my steps, and to advise the viceroy that the deliverance of Goa was at hand with the aid of Shah 'Alam. I stayed in Goa afterwards to visit that prince and negotiate as soon as he arrived. In my place they sent to Sambha Jf Manoel Saraiva and an Augustinian Father. But the fighting still went on with great energy. Well was it for the Portuguese that Sambha Jf never knew exactly how few men there were in the island. If he had known, he could have carried out his scheme in its entirety.

  I do not know if it was from carelessness or from real want of soldiers that the vessels which were on guard had not more than seven or eight men to each vessel. I know the fact because one night the viceroy invited me to go with him in his boat on his rounds to see if the officers were doing their duty. We found them nearly all asleep, and instead of challenging us, it was necessary for us to accost them, to find out if there was anyone in the vessel or not. Not aware

  176 CARELESSNESS OF THE PORTUGUESE

  that it was the viceroy who was passing, they gave us ill-conditioned replies, and we ascertained that there was not a single officer in the ships. But what was my astonishment, on reaching the fort opposite the bar at the entrance of the river, to find that we had to beat at a door for a long time, making much noise without getting any response. Finally came a soldier, who replied to us by stating that there were only eleven men. Yet this fort was of the greatest importance, and Sambha Ji had only to take it to get possession of Goa without any further difficulty.

  The viceroy was angry at getting such a reply, and asked why the men of the garrison had not answered. The soldier said they could not answer, for there was no one, only a boy who tended the goats. These were the preparations that we found in the ships and at that fort at a time when Sambha Ji was doing all he could to capture a city that had ever remained the glory of the Portuguese ! From this the reader may judge how little these gentlemen thought of the courage of veteran soldiers such as those of Sambha Ji, or else, over-confident in themselves, they imagined that their mere name would bar the way to the enemy, or it may be that in reality there were no troops available. In any case, those they had in their service could not have cared much whether they lived under the rule of the Portugal king or that of Sambha Ji.

  Aurangzeb received the reply of the Goa viceroy, in which he promised to allow free passage up the river to his fleet coming from Surat with supplies for the army of his son, Shah 'Alam. The king ordered that prince to march with forty-five thousand horsemen in the direction of Goa, traversing the kingdom of Bijapur. His instructions were to capture the island of Goa by treachery, thus becoming able thereafter to invade easily the territories of Sambha Ji.

  On this march Shah 'Alam took several of Sambha Ji's forts, and arrived in time to deliver the island from the hands of that prince. It was already in

  great danger. Sambha Jl made every possible exertion to take it before Shah 'Alam arrived, but it did not happen according to his desire. Thus, on the arrival of the Mogul fleet, he was obliged to decamp, but before he disappeared he ordered the mortars in Santo Estevao to be charged, with the idea of bursting them, seeing that he could not carry them away. But in this he did not succeed, for only one of them burst; then spiking the rest he fled.

  As soon as Shah 'Alam arrived he sent an envoy to the viceroy as far as the river bank. On learning this, His Excellency ordered me to go and speak to this envoy, who was the brother of Sec Mahamed (Shekh Muhammad). I went to the spot, and while afar off, I saluted him in the European fashion. But he, remaining seated in his palanquin, paid little or no heed to me, and, ignoring the politeness customary in India, which is to raise the hand to the head, he placed it on his breast, as usual among the Persians. This made me angry, and I declined to advance any farther. His example was not followed by the slaves and servants of Shah 'Alam; they knew how anxious their master was to retain me at his court. They all bowed to me with great respect.

  I did not neglect to say in a loud voice what seemed to me necessary against such a messenger, and turning my back, cheerfully accosted my friends. All the same, I did not lose the words said by the envoy. They amounted to nothing more than that the Portuguese were under great obligations to Shah 'Alam, and they ought to commence at once to count out the millions they would have to give for having been delivered from Sambha Ji. Then spies went off to Shah 'Alam and told him that the viceroy had sent me to treat with the ambassador, and that the latter had failed to render me due honour.

  The prince was much put out, and in that man's place sent my friend Miraxam (Mir A'zam) with orders to conciliate me in every way. On his reaching the

  river bank I advanced to meet him, but he, having received different instructions from the first man, rose to his feet when he saw me, and coming towards me, embraced me. He told me the prince's orders were that he was to do whatever I might suggest, as he had no knowledge of the viceroy. Then he delivered me a letter sent to me by the prince. In it he begged me to come to him, as he greatly desired to speak to me, and he trusted I would not refuse, having eaten the salt of his house.

  1 did not wish to take him (the envoy) into Goa, so I escorted him to a little island called Ilha de Manoel de Mota. There I regaled him during the night. On the day following 1 conducted him to the viceroy, who was in the fortress of Santiago, near the mainland. There he presented Shah 'Alam's letter. It began by requesting that Hakim Niculao, his old servant, should be sent to him. As soon as he arrived they would arrange things to the satisfaction of both sides. Next it stated how, in conformity with the letter of the viceroy sent to the great Aurangzeb, permission was given for the entry into the river of the ships carrying supplies for the army sent against Sambha Jf. Yet the fleet in question had not arrived. Fulfilment of the promise was now requested.

  The viceroy replied that he would certainly carry out what he had promised, but the route taken must be by the other river, that of Bardes, not by that of Goa. But the envoy persisted in his demand, that they wanted to pass through the river of Goa, as had been promised to His Majesty. Finally the viceroy answered that I would go to his Highness, and that there matters would be settled.

  During the discussion the king's fleet, which was at the harbour mouth, continued to advance. When a report of this reached the viceroy, I said to Dom Rodrigo da Costa that now was the time for a display of courage and energy. Therefore, without any delay, the fleet ought to be fired upon. He hurried to the

  spot, where he found that, by the carelessness of the commandant of Aguada, some five-and-twenty galliots had already entered and were close to the Fort of the Kings. When arrived he ordered at once the discharge of three loaded cannon, to intimidate them, and cause their retirement. They replied that they were friends, and had come under the protection of the viceroy's promise; they should therefore stop firing, as that was not the way to receive friends.

  When the Aguada fort became aware that the Fort of the Kings declined to allow a passage, it too fired several times, in order to prevent the remainder of the fleet which was following from completing i
ts purpose. Thus was Goa saved this time, for without a doubt it would have been lost had the fleet entered. The twenty-five galliots which were already inside took refuge behind the Fort of the Kings in a river which is called Nelur. Here they remained until the receipt of fresh orders from Shah 'Alam. They plundered along the shore, and carried off any goods and women or girls found there.

  At nightfall I issued from Goa with the envoy in order to go to the encampment of Shah 'Alam. When we disembarked, the spies informed us that the enemy were in sight. Mir A'zam feared some harm to my person, and ordered twenty horsemen to accompany me as far as the camp. He stopped behind with thirty horsemen. In this way I reached the camp, where, being known, many greeted me with loud voices. I cannot express the affection with which they came to embrace me.

  If the reader could only know the manner in which I had behaved to all the officials and ministers, he would not be surprised that they received me with as much love as if I had been one of their relations.

  I proceeded to the prince's tents, and there the eunuchs, who knew how eagerly the prince and princess were looking-for me, came forward to receive me. The chief eunuch told me that Shah 'Alam had ordered

  that at whatever hour I might arrive he should forthwith be informed; he had also directed the whole army to be in readiness the next morning. For if I did not arrive he meant to send his troops across the river by swimming it. I said to the man that the prince should not be roused ; it was already midnight and I could wait, nor was it right that a tired prince should be woke on account of one of his servants.

  When the prince got up next morning, they reported my arrival. He was more anxious for this than for the taking of Goa, and was now content. He issued orders for his soldiers to return to their quarters, as he no longer meant to take any action. Next, he sent word inside to the princesses and princes that I had come, and called them all together with great glee, and ordered a letter to be written to his mother Nabab Baegi (Nawab Bae Ji) telling how he had now caught me. For this queen had complained bitterly about his giving me leave of absence. She called me within the pardah, where I first made my bow as a European, and then did obeisance in court fashion.

  She was much amused at seeing me in European costume, my beard shaved off, and wearing a peruke. As the princess had not been used to seeing me in such a get-up, she asked me what drugs I took to return to youth. Then, jokingly, I gave her my reasons, and let her understand that I did not wish to serve any more, because the officials did not carry out the promises made me by His Highness. The prince replied that I ought not to trouble myself about this; I had only to apply to him on the occurrence of any difficulty, and without fail he would ensure me any satisfaction I could desire. Laughing at the liberty I was taking, I told him that I could no more rely on His Highness than on the rest, for many times he had broken his promises. Then he brought forward his heir, Sultan Mazudin (Mu'izz-ud-din), as security, and added one hundred rupees a month to my former pay. He ordered my pay to be disbursed for the whole time

  of my absence from his court. In addition he promised to maintain four horses to carry my baggage, and eight men to carry my palanquin, with my food daily sent from his table.

  After this we entered upon a conversation over the differences with the viceroy. As I was obliged, in my capacity of envoy from the viceroy, to take the part of the Portuguese gentlemen, I said to His Highness that the viceroy could not on any conditions allow the royal fleet to come through the river of Goa, such being the orders of the King of Portugal. If His Excellency disobeyed such orders, his head would be in great danger.

  Shah 'Alam persisted that at least the galliots already in the river, behind the Fort of the Kings, should continue their course. He assigned as reason that, other ships being allowed to pass, they might just as well allow the said galliots to go up, since they were already inside. I retorted that other ships allowed to pass were merchantmen, as to which there was no prohibition. But in respect to His Highness's ships and those of other crowns, there was a rigorous order not to let them pass. If the viceroy in his letter to Aurangzeb had promised a passage, that must be understood not of the Goa river, but of the lands belonging to the Portuguese. He did not decline to comply, but offered a passage through other rivers. To show better to His Highness that the viceroy maintained friendship with His Highness and with his father, he would provide men to guide the vessels to any port His Highness wished.

  This proposal so much approved itself to Shah 4 Alam, that he was willing to order the galliots already inside to go out again. He sent me with people to carry this order to the captain-general of the fleet; and I left with him other men to act as guides in conducting him by land to the mouth of the river Bardes.

  To conclude the story: before giving me my leave, he sent me an exquisite sarapa (set of robes) and a

  horse. I was made to promise that I would return to him next day at two o'clock in the afternoon. I took with me the men carrying to the captain-general of the fleet the orders to turn back and proceed to meet the prince by way of the Bardes river.

  I went to Goa, and recounted to the viceroy what had happened. He was considerably gratified at the way I had arranged matters, and at deliverance from the peril he had been in of losing the island. I urged him to give the ambassadors their dismissal, with the presents he meant to send to His Highness. In the morning I did my very best to be sent off early, in order to fulfil my promise to reach His Highness at two o'clock in the afternoon. But His Excellency wanted me to carry a letter to the prince, and kept me waiting longer than was necessary. For this reason, the prince finding I did not arrive at the appointed hour, ordered Bardes to be plundered and thereby force the viceroy to send me at once.

  His Highness had ordered that as soon as ever they perceived me approaching they were to stop plundering. The sentries who recognised me shouted and ran about to make the soldiers give over, but that did not help the poor wretches already stripped bare. I reached the prince, and was well received ; but I made somewhat of a remonstrance at the irregularity of the soldiers plundering Bardes when we were friends. The prince smiled, and said to me: " It would have been still worse for them had you not appeared." There we halted several days until the supplies for the army had been landed. It is impossible for me to detail the gifts I received from all the court, and even from the princesses and sons of Shah 'Alam. 1 The latter was aware that I was serving him reluctantly, and thus instigated these others to propitiate me.

  We went to Vingorla, and the prince captured that place easily, seeing that nearly everybody took to

  MANUCCI DOES PORTUGUESE A GOOD TURN 183

  flight. The fleet continued to accompany us. After a few days the Portuguese ambassadors arrived ; they were Joao Antunes Portugal and Manoel de Santo Pinto. They brought some showy presents and lengths of ornamented China cloth, some lovely branches of coral, and six small pieces of artillery, with other objects, the whole being worth a good amount.

  They were well received, and sardpd (sets of robes) were ordered for each of them, in addition to two thousand rupees. For the viceroy there were given a caparisoned horse, a dagger mounted with precious stones, a little bottle of essence of roses, and an honourable formao (farman, or rescript?).

  It should be noted here that at the presentation of these ambassadors I did not act as interpreter, but some other European. In reading out the conditions he succeeded in doing a piece of bad work for the Portuguese. For in one paragraph the viceroy desired Shah 'Alam either to give him eight hundred horses, or permit him to buy them in the camp. The European stated as the viceroy's proposal that, if the prince gave him eight hundred horses he would consider himself a subject. This was as much as to say that he would place Goa in the prince's hands. When I heard this I prayed the royal scribe to stop writing, for the interpreter did not understand the viceroy's proposal. All he said was that being in want of eight hundred horses to continue the campaign against Sambha Ji he asked for these eight hundred horses; and should
His Highness decline to give them he prayed leave to buy them in the camp. The interpreter was angered, but I judged it necessary on such an occasion to speak up, to defend truth, and to protect Goa from a pretext under cover of which Aurangzeb would proceed to occupy that island.

  In the evening of the same day I encountered Shekh Muhammad at the entrance of the prince's tents. He is the man who had gone first as envoy from Aurangzeb to the viceroy, and had promised

  184 MANUCCI MADE A KNIGHT OF SANT' I AGO

  Aurangzeb to make over Goa to Shah 'Alam. He complained to me, telling me it was not for me to intervene in the royal affairs, nor was it my business to act as agent for the Portuguese. In time we began to raise our voices, so that the prince heard the altercation, and asked the cause, and who were the men making so much noise. Then they told him how Hakim Niculao and Shekh Muhammad were shouting at each other over the pending negotiations. The prince, who did not want any violence, sent word to Shekh Muhammad to go away, and not open his mouth on such affairs. As for me, he called me inside, reassured me, and gave me his word that he would not touch the Portuguese. Of a certainty had he listened to Shekh Muhammad he must have taken Goa, for that man was very familiar with the ground, being a native of those parts.

  Manoel de Santo Pinto then returned to the viceroy, and reported to him the above two affairs. On this account the viceroy sent me, through him, the proposition that I should either accept the knighthood of Sant' lago, or a village yielding annually a thousand xerafins (ashrafi). I did not want to accept one or the other, but Manoel de Santo Pinto pressed the accepting of one of the offers, as it would affront the viceroy if I refused. I therefore accepted the knighthood of Sant' lago, which he forthwith conferred on me, together with the letters patent, in which he set forth the two particular services aforesaid which I rendered the crown of Portugal, as may be seen from the following copy of that patent: