Book I. Travels in India. 6 7 



a Mahumetan, lie is a great Favourer of all the Chriftians, who arc vers'd in 

 t ] ia t Science, as he has particularly teftiii'd to Father Epbrahim ) a Capuchin, 

 palling through Golconda for Pegu, whither he was lent by his Superiors. He 

 did all he could to oblige him to ftay in the Country, and ottefd to build him 

 a Hou'e and a Church at his own expences -, telling him, he fhould neither 

 want employment, nor Hearers, in regard there were feveral Portttguefe 

 Chriftians, and feveral Armenian* that came thither to trade. But Father Ephra^. 

 m having a particular Order to go to Pegu, could not accept of his Oder 3 

 yet when he went to take his leave of the Cheeky he prefented him with a Cal.-ar, 

 the moll noble that was in his Wardrobe ; being the whole habit ; the Cap, the 

 C.ibay or large Veft, the Arcalou or ihort Caftcck, two pair of Drawers, two 

 Shirts, and two Scarfs, which they wear about their necks, and over their heads to 

 Keep off the heat of the Sun. The Friar was furpriz'd at the prefent, and gave 

 the C/Jccl^to underftand, that it was not proper for him to wear it : however the 

 Cheeky would force him to take it, telling him he might accommodate fbme of his 

 Friends with it. Two months after Father Ephraim beftow'd the fame Prefent 

 upon me, being at Surat j for which I return'd him thanks. 



The Check, feeing he could not detain the Father, and unwilling he fhould go a 

 foot from Golconda to Majlipatan, oblig'd him to take an Oxe, with two Men to 

 lead it ; and becaufe he could not perfwade him to take alfb thirty Pagods, which 

 he prefented the Father withall, he commanded the two men, when they came 

 to Majlipatan, to leave the Oxe and the thirty Pagods with him, which they 

 did very punctually j for othenvife at their return to Golconda, they had for- 

 feited their lives. I will linifh the Hiftory of Father Ephraim, when I come 

 to the defcription of Goa, which is the principal place that the Portugals have 

 in the Indies. 



The fecond Daughter of the King of Golconda was married to Sultan Ma- 

 humad, the eldeft Son of Ay.rcngz.eb 5 the occafion whereof was this : Mir- 

 gimola, General ifFimo of the King of Golcoiutfs Army, and who had been very 

 ferviceable to his Mafter, to fettle the Crown upon his head, according to the 

 cuftom, left with the King as a mark of his fidelity, both his Wife and Chil- 

 dren in Hoftage ; for he was fent to reduce certain Raja's in BengJa, that were 

 in Rebellion. He had feveral Daughters, but only one Son, who had a great 

 -irain, and made a great noife at Court. The reputation and riches which Mir- 

 iMola had gain'd, rais'd him up feveral Enemies, who endeavourM in his ab- 

 sence to ruine him, and to put him out of*the Kings favour. They pretended 

 that the great power of Mhgimola was very much to be fufpecTed - 3 that all 

 his deligns tended to dethrone him, and to fettle the Kingdom of Golconda up- 

 on his own Son ; that it behov'd him not to ftay til) the remedy were paft 

 cure, but to rid himfelf of an Enemy, fo much the more to be fear'd, the clofer 

 he kept his intentions j and that the fhorteft and belt way was to poyfbn him. 

 The King being eafily perfwaded, gave them leave and authority to aft as they 

 plcas'd for his iccurity ; but having mifs'd of their defign for three or four 

 times together, MirgimoWs Son began to fmell the plot ; and immediately 

 gave advice thereof to his Father. It is not known what inftrucbions he re- 

 ceiv'd from his Father ; but fb foon as he had his anfwer, he went to the King, 

 and fpoke boldly to him, taxing him with the fervices which his Father had done 

 him, and that without his attiftance he had never come to the Crown. The young 

 Lord,naturalIy of a fiery difpofition,kept on this difcourfe,fo difpleafing to the King, 

 till at length his Majefty flung away ; and the Lords that were prefent, fell 

 upon the young man, and bafely mifus'd him. At the fame time alio he was 

 arretted and committed to prifon, together with his Mother and Sifters. Which 

 acbion, as it made a great noife at Court, coming to MirgimoUs ears, fo in- 

 ccnsM him, that having an Army under his command, and being belov'd by the 

 Soldiers, he refolv'd to make ufe of the advantages he had, to revenge him- 

 felf for the injury done him. He was then not far from Bengala, being lent, 

 as I faid before, to reduce certain Raja's to obedience, whole Territories lye 

 upon the Ganges } and Sultan-Sujah, Cha-jehan's fecond Son, being then Gover- 

 nour of Bcngala, the General thought it his beft way to addrefs himfelf to 

 him ; as being the next Prince, with whom he might join his Forces againft 



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