Travels in India. 



Part II 



ftretch'd as far as Cape-Comorin, the other Rajas being only his Subjects, and de- 

 pending upon him. This Raja and his Succeffors have been always at Wars with 

 them that fucceeded to Tamerlane or Temur-kng m India; and their Power was 

 fo great, that the laft Raja, who was at War with Akbar, brought into the Field 

 four Armies under as many Generals. The moft confiderable of his Armies lay in 

 thofe Provinces, which at this day are call'd the Kingdom of Golconda -, the fécond 

 was quarter'd in the Provinces of Vi[upour, the third in the Province of Dultabat, 

 and the fourth in the Territories of Brampour. The Raja of Narfmgue dying without 

 Children, the four Generals divided among themfelves the Countreys which they 

 poflefs'd with their Army,and took upon them the title of Kings,the one oïGolcon- 

 da,t\\e other of Vtfapour ,the other of Brampour,ar\d the fourth of Dultabat .Though 

 the Raja were an Idolater, neverthelefs his four Generals were Mabumetans j and 

 he of 'Golconda was of the Sect of Haly, defcended from an Ancient Family of the 

 Turcomans, which, inhabit the Country of Hamadan in Ptrfia. This Générales I have 

 laid, was more confiderable than any of the reft; and fome few days after the death 

 of the Raja, they won a famous Victory from the Mogul ; fo that he could not 

 hinder them from affuming their feveral Sovereignties. But after that, fehan- 

 Guir, the Son of Akbar, conquer'd again the Kingdom of Br amp our 3 Cha-jeban 

 the Son of fehan-Gnir recover'd the Kingdom of Dultabat, and Aureng-z.eb the 

 Son of Cha-jeban recover'd fome part of the Kingdom of Vifapour. As for the 

 King of Golconda, neither Cha-jeban, nor Aweng-z.eb difturb'd him, but let him 

 reft in peace, upon condition that he mould pay to the Mogul an annual tribute of 

 20C000 Pagods. At prefent the greateft Raja on this fide Ganges is the Raja, of 

 Velou, whofe Territories extend to Cape-Comortn, and who fucceeded to fome part 

 of the Territories of the Raja of Narfmgue : But in regard there is no Trade. in 

 his Countrey, and by confèquence no concourfe of ftrangers, there is little notice 

 taken of him. The prefent King of Golconda has no Sons, but three Daughters, 

 who are all married. 



The Eldeft Efpous'd one of the Kinfmen of the Grand Chek^ of Mecca. Nor 

 rauft we forget fome paffages that feîl out before this Marriage. The Chuk. coming 

 to Golconda in the habit of a Faquir, , for fome Months lodg'd without the Gate 

 of the Palace, difdaining to give any anfwer to feveral Courtiers, that demanded 

 what his bufinefs was. At length the thing being made known to the King, he 

 fent his chief Phyfitian, who (poke good Arabtcl^, to know of the Cbel^ what he 

 had to requeft, and the reafon of his coming. The Phyfirian, and fome other 

 Lords of the Court that difcours'd him alfo, finding him to be a perfon of great 

 Wit and Learning, brought him to the King, who was very well fatisfi'd with his 

 afpect and his prefence. But at length the Chek declaring to him, that he came 

 to Efpoufè the Princefs ; that propofàl very much furpriz'd the Prince, and was 

 look'd upon by the greateft part of the Court, as made by a perfon not well in 

 his wits. At firft the King only laugh'd at him. But when he found him ob- 

 ftinately perfevering in his demand, in-fo-much that he tbreaten'd the Countrey 

 with fome ftrange Calamity, if the Princefs were not given to him in Marriage, he 

 was committed to Prifon, where he lay a long time. At length the King think- 

 ing it more to the purpofe to fend him back into his own Countrey, caus'd him to 

 be fhip'd away at Majlipatan, in a Veffel that carri'd Goods and Pilgrims to Moc- 

 ca, whence they travell by land to Mecca. About two years after the fame 

 Chek^ return'd again to Golconda, and order'd his affairs fo well, that he Efpous'd the 

 Princefs, and won an high reputation in the Kingdom, which he governs at this 

 day, and is very Potent. He it was that kept the King from furrendring the For- 

 trefs of Golconda, whither he was retir'd, when Aureng-z.eb and his Son took Bag- 

 nabar,zs I fhall tell you by and by, threatning to kill him, if he would not refolve 

 to hold it out, and not deliver the keys to the enemy. This bold action wss the 

 reafon which made the King love him ever afterwards ; and that he takes his 

 counfel in all weigty affairs, not as he is the King's Son-in-Law, but as he is a great 

 Minifter of State, and the chiefeft perfon, next the King, in all the Court. He it 

 was that has put a ftop to the finifhing the great Pagod in Bagnagar, having 

 threaten'd the whole Kingdom with fome great Calamity, if they went forward 

 with the work. This Prince is a paffionate Lover of all thofè that profefs the 

 Mathematiçks, and underftands them as well. For which reafon, though he be 



a Ma- 



