A Pepys of Mongul India (1653-1708)

by Niccolao Manucci

  Seeing me so determined, he changed the subject, and he ordered me to send at once to procure him some crystal vessels for drinking water from. I sent off a man to Bombay to bring some. This order he executed—nay, those he brought were very handsome. These I presented to the prince. He seemed to be astonished to see so many crystals at once— more than he had ever seen in his life—for he imagined them to be of rock-crystal, which is extremely costly in the Mogul country. This is the reason of his 'asking me what the whole might be worth. Quite happy, I answered him that it was a present from me, and that Doctor Nicolas stated no prices to kings. He was so satisfied with this reply, that, coming to me, he patted me on the shoulders, and said that should God ever be gracious and make him king, he would remember my generosity. At the same time he ordered them to give me a very valuable set of robes and a very nice horse.

  I must here make the remark that when these kings and princes give audience they display all imaginable gravity and majesty in order to inspire fear in everybody, but in their mahal and in private they are as

  lowly as infants. This I have experienced several times, they going so far as to play with me with all possible familiarity. It is true that it may be said that all these pretty stories referring to me are of no great value to the public, but I thought a charitable reader would easily pardon this small satisfaction which I have ventured to give myself. Moreover, if anyone were about to travel in these far-off places, it may be that at some conjuncture these tales of my humble adventures will not be entirely useless to him.

  As the entire thoughts of these princes are turned in the direction of the throne, they search out very carefully any means of conferring favours on the most powerful men, in the hope of having them on their side. Shah 'Alam had usually with him a Hindu prince called Bau Sing (Bhao Singh), leader of twelve thousand horsemen, and a vassal of the king. He served under the orders of Shah 'Alam. Noticing that he had ceased to come to court, being unwell, the prince sent me to visit him on his behalf, and offer my services. This was merely to oblige him, and gain him to his side, should any occasion present itself.

  The rajah was already old, and was suffering from his lungs. The prince, however, directed me to observe him and reckon how long he might yet live. Bhao Singh received my visit, but refused my services, and told me if I gave him any medicines he would put them with the rest I saw there. He had a whole roomful. God might do with him according to His pleasure, but he would not take the medicines, beyond looking at them. All this care was because he was afraid of being poisoned. This fear was increased by the example he had in Rajah Jai Singh and several others to whom such a fate had happened. I must say the prince never had any designs of that sort, and all he did was intended to oblige. I may add that during all the time I had the honour to serve him, he never suggested employing me for such a purpose.

  206 IN THE SERVICE OF SHAH C ALAM, 1680-85

  Still, he made a trial as to whether I was of a nature that would carry out such devices. This I discovered in the course of time. For example, he sent to me some unknown persons who offered me large sums to bring to their death other patients that I was treating. Others asked me to sell them poison, but no one ever got me to accede to such a demand. Another stratagem was also made use of to test me and attempt to find me out in a fault. This was the sending to my house of a young and very pretty girl, in charge of an old woman, on the pretext that the young beauty was ailing. She was barely eighteen, and I found out from her pulse that she was the very reverse of indisposed. I asked her if she suffered from any pain which could not be detected from the pulse. As I interrogated her, the old woman, making believe that she was a simpleton, left us and took a turn in the garden. The young girl seemed at once to grow very free with me, as well as by word as by deed. She told me she longed for my friendship, while hers would not be useless to me. She could secure me many advantages. As soon as I heard her talk I was disgusted, and, quitting her, I came out and shouted to the old dame to take her away. I then grew angry, and, calling my men, ordered them both to be ejected.

  Two months afterwards there came another still more lovely; but she was alone, and in a palanquin. Under the same pretence of illness she told me she came from a great distance to procure a cure. She entered my house wrapped in a shroud, but on nearing me she uncovered, and throwing herself at my feet, implored me to keep her in my house; for, being a stranger, she knew not where to turn. Her prayer was repeated several times. I noticed that she had on her jewels of great value, and her clothes were those of a person of quality, so fine that her skin showed through. All this troubled me, and I fancied that it might be to betray me. Still more did I

  think so, for the same thing had happened to others; and as I had no intention of marrying, it did not suit my views to get entangled.

  With the object, then, of getting her away, I expressed my sympathy, and by pleasant words sent her off. Some time afterwards I was warned that this was one of Shah 'Alam's tricks, only resorted to in the hope that she would take my fancy—that I should have an affair with her, and by this means he would obtain an opening for compelling my continuance in Hindustan, with a change in my religion, or else the loss of my life, as has happened to many who have lost their souls for a woman's love. Only a few years ago two Capuchins, or rather Portuguese, in the town of Isfahan fell into this sad soul-destroying misfortune. One of them was prior of the convent, and both were forced to become Mahomedans through similar events. Afterwards, under pretext that they were of that religion, they robbed a merchant of their own nation. God forgive those who send out characters like these to be missionaries.

  The kings and princes delight in showing themselves to be just, and when taking cognisance of important business, they endeavour to hold the balance even. Since I was in Shah 'Alam's service in the capacity of physician, I was an object of envy to other physicians, the Persians, who sought means to ruin me. It chanced that a brother-in-law of the prince, named Mirza Sulaiman Beg, fell ill from a fullness of the blood. The prince directed his chief Persian physicians, named Aguins (Hakims), Moquins (? Muqim), and Mosencan (Muhsin Khan), to prescribe for him. They failed in curing him, and instead of bleeding him and cooling him down, they gave him hot remedies. They treated him in such a way that in a few days he was in the throes of death. When he was in this state, one of his brothers, named Mirza Mahomed Moquim (Muhammad Muqim) took me to the patient's house, hoping I might help him. I saw

  at once that there was nothing more to be done. On the prince hearing the opinion I had expressed about his brother-in-law, he asked his physicians the reason he had fallen into this condition. They had the ill-will to say that I was the cause. To find out the truth Shah 'Alam sent the nazir Daulat, the chief eunuch of his palace. This man on his return reported that the patient complained that the said physicians killed him, whereas had the Doctor Nicolas only treated him, he would not have lost his life. While saying these words the poor man expired. But the testimony he had given me conferred much credit upon me at court, and gained me the esteem of everybody.

  After a time it came to pass that Mirza Muhammad Muqfm, brother of the deceased, of whom I have just spoken, went out of his mind. In an access of madness he slew his father-in-law and some servants, and committed many other crimes. On hearing this, the prince made him over to his physicians. Their report was that such a man could never recover the senses that he had lost. To demonstrate the force of their opinion, they cited as proof a passage in the Quran which says that for madness there is no cure.

  Shah 'Alam heard this sad decision pronounced, and at once ordered the patient to be placed in my care, as he believed I should find a remedy. I know not whether this was actually because he thought me cleverer than the others, or because I was a Christian. For I had often noticed that many patients were made over to me when their health was in a desperate state, because they had taken it into their heads that the Saviour had invested me with some virtue or other. With the permission of God I cured this lo
rd in a few days. To reward me for my trouble and for any expense I had incurred, he sent me a horse with very good paces, but made no other payment. The reason of such a meagre present was his miserliness. On my side 1 was much put out at getting so little for all the

  trouble I had taken. So, without any word of thanks, I sent the horse back, telling the groom who had brought him, when many men were present, that his master was in no state to send gifts before he had recovered his reason perfectly, and when he had recovered his health I would accept what he sent to me. He had hardly heard my message when he sent me the same horse with a thousand rupees and a very handsome set of robes. The truth is that he did not send me the present willingly, but felt constrained to do it for fear I might tell everyone he was still mad. By this means he would lose the office he held at court, and also lose everyone's confidence. Shah 'Alam, when he learnt what had passed, was very satisfied at the cure, and still more with the answer I had given about the present. On his part he gave me a horse and a set of robes, adding many praises from his own lips, a habit common enough to these princes with physicians who succeed in curing patients they have made over to their care.

  Shah 'Alam had directed the physician Muqim to treat the wife of one of his captains called Mabarescan (Mubariz Khan), a man much beloved by that prince. This woman had been long in a decline, and was worn out by the quantity of blood she had lost. The doctor, finding that his remedies did her no good, lost all hope of her, and intimated to the prince that her life was in danger. On hearing this, Shah 'Alam ordered me to take over the case. I applied myself to her relief with all possible care and diligence, and in a short time I had pulled her through. The physician was vexed in his mind, but outwardly he displayed much goodwill to me, just the contrary of his real feeling. I was not taken in, for I had known that pilgrim for many a long day.

  The physician Muhsin Khan treated a uterine(?foster) brother of the prince, whose name was Muhammad Riza. He had a severe fever, which made him delirious. The physician, not recognising the complaint, came to

  the conclusion that there was no remedy, and gave him up. After that I was ordered to treat the man, and in a short time I put him on his legs again. There were other patients who had been given up in the same way by these gentlemen, but subsequently recovered their health under my hands, to those physicians' disgrace and loss of reputation. This is the reason they were no friends of mine ; still more so that, though their patients came to me, none of mine went to them.

  I also cured a noble from Balkh called Fath-ullah Khan, a title conferred on him by the king. He had afterwards married an extremely pretty woman, who had served up to him nothing but delicious plats until he got ill, and lost his appetite. He grew so thin that he looked like a skeleton, and no physician was able to do him any good. In the end Shah 'Alam ordered me to take charge of him. I knew the constitution of these savages, so I gave him a comforting syrup, which could do him neither harm nor good. Then I ordered him to get his stews made of horseflesh, and by this means he was in a short time restored to his former rude strength.

  From this I acquired such renown that many men of this race came to me for treatment. But 1 got very little out of them, for they are very avaricious and paid me highly in compliments only. Moreover, I had the reputation of being charitable and curing the poor for the love of God. Thus everybody flocked to my house. The Mahomedan and Hindu surgeons were very much provoked, for their interests were involved and they lost their practice. However, as they saw they could not injure me directly, they started the rumour that I drank the blood that I drew from Mahomedans, that it was by this means that I was made so brisk and energetic and had such a high colour. All this was simply to hinder people coming to me to be treated. Everybody supposed that what they had published was true, and great repugnance was shown to be bled by

  me. Aware of what it was that troubled them, I told them to bring with them a china vessel, and all they had to do was to carry the blood home, and there bury it, for fear any cat or dog might consume it; for if that happened, they would make noises exactly like those animals. By this measure I put an end to the false rumours, and they were no longer spoken of.

  One day, as I was attending to the treatment of some patients with all possible care, there comes into my house a king's slave in a great rage and a great hurry, making much noise and throwing everything into confusion. This man I imagine had been sent by the other doctors, my enemies. I went up to him and begged him most civilly and even humbly to do me the favour of not upsetting the sick men. But he paid me no heed, and went on worse than before, and abused me. Seeing how insolent he was, I signed to my men to fall upon him without giving him time to draw, which they forthwith did. Our man, finding himself caught, flew into a fearful rage, and made more noise than ever. He said he would kill me and my men and other such outrageous speeches.

  Thereupon I assumed an aspect of mingled severity and sadness, and said I had compassion for him, seeing he was suffering from blood to the head. His was a case for bloodletting. This remark made him more fusions still and he struggled to get free. Without heat, I ordered them to undress him and then bind him ; and sending for a lancet, I made ready to bleed him. The slave, still angry, insisted that I must not bleed him ; if I did he would kill me. My answer was given in an amiable tone before everyone that it was absolutely necessary to bleed him, that the blood had gone to his head, and assuredly if not treated he would be the death of someone.

  In the end, by force I opened two veins in his arm. The fellow was still angry and wanted me to close the veins; but ignoring what he said, I showed sorrow at

  212 IN THE SERVICE OF SHAH
  beholding his blood, from time to time feeling his pulse, and saying that his blood was very vitiated. Then, raising my eyes, I looked in his face and asked if he did not already feel an alteration in his body. Finding that his menaces and loud talk were of no good to him, nobody listening to them, he adopted at last the mode of humble entreaty, and said in a feeble voice that God had brought him to my house to be cured of the ills he had suffered from through many years. He thanked me for my trouble. In spite of this I did not trust him without precautions, so, closing the veins with two fingers, I put several new questions. Having replied very properly and civilly to these, just as he ought, I closed the veins and had his clothes and weapons returned to him. After this he said a thousand flattering things about me, and never more passed in front of my door. When we met at the king's or elsewhere, he was very polite to me. I have always thought that he did this only from the fear he had that I might announce he was mad, or that I might drain all the blood from his body.

  It is not the practice among these princes for nobles to have converse with the favourites and servants of other princes for fear they may spin some web of treason. If it is ever the case, it is always with the permission of their master. It happened that Diler Khan fell ill; he was Shah 'Alam's enemy, yet he sent for me to prescribe for him. He knew of the prohibitions on the subject; he sent word that if I went to his house, it would afford a good opening for him to become friends with the prince. He would always be ready to assist him with all the cavalry under his command on any and every occasion that might arise.

  As I knew the custom of the court and the scurvy tricks of the Mahomedans, I informed the prince of this affair, and pointed out to him that Diler Khan had sent for me. Hardly were the words out of my mouth when his face began to flush and he asked me very

  hastily whether I wanted to go there. To that I replied with a smiling face that, if I was anxious to go there, it was only to see the state he was in— whether he would live or die, so that I might make my report to His Highness. These words appeased him, and he forbade me to go. Diler Khan died, and it was found to be poison administered by his son-in-law, Azil Can, and by one of the prince's commanders.

  PART III

  GOVERNOR GYFFORD EMPLOYS MANUCCI

  IN the year one thousand six hundred and eighty-six, seven days a
fter my arrival at Madras, Governor William Guiford (Gyfford) sent for me and informed me that the governors and officials of the Mogul king in Bengal province had been ill-treating his (the English) factors. They hindered them from exercising the privileges conceded to them by the Mogul kings. For two years he had made efforts to bring his grievances before the king, and had spent much money, yet had been unable to impart to the king in person the damage they were doing him. On this account they had begun a war on the Governor of Hugli.

  He prayed me to find some means by which King Aurangzeb should take notice of the oppression inflicted on them by his officials. I wrote a letter to one of the king's eunuchs, a very familiar friend of mine, called Necruz (Nekroz)—that is, " Fortunate Day." In it I informed him with great politeness of the troubles suffered by the English nation within His Majesty's dominions, including many necessary particulars. I prayed him as a favour to deliver this letter to the king, and he, out of his great friendship for me, and aware also that His Majesty himself knew who I was, delivered the letter with confidence when the king was among his women. Having read it, the king put it in his pocket, then went out into the { Am-Khd$s (the audience hall) and began to hold

  audience. After hearing several complaints brought before him by his officials, he drew the letter from his pocket and began to read it again, shaking his head meanwhile. Then he said aloud : " It is true that the English are in the right and the fault lies with my officials." The persons present were much agitated.