Book I. Travels m India. 



a Mahumetan, he is a great Favourer of all the Christians, who are vers'd in 

 that Science, as he has particularly terliri'd to Father Ephrahhn , a Capuchin^ 

 pafling through Golconda for Pegu s whither he was lent by his Superiors. He 

 did all he Could to oblige him to ftay in the Country, and otfer'd to build him 

 a Houfe and a Church at his own expences ; telling him, he mould neither 

 want employment , nor Hearers , in regard there were lèverai Portuguese 

 Chriftians, and feveral Armenians that came thither to trade. But Father Ep ma- 

 im having a particular Order to go to Pégtt t could not accept of his Offer • 

 yet when he went to take his leave of the Cheeky, he prefented him with a Calaat, 

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

 Cabay or large Veft, the Arcalvu or ihort Caflbck, 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 Cheeky 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 ; for which I returned him thanks. 



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

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

 lead it ; and becaufe he could not perfvvade him to take alfo 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 ; for otherwife at their return to Golconda, they had for- 

 feited their lives. I will finifh the Hiftory of Father EpLraim, when I come 

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

 in the Indies. 



The fécond Daughter of the King of Golconda was married to Sultan Ma~ 

 humad, the eldeft Son of Anrengz.eb -, the occafion whereof was this : Mir- 

 gimola, Generaliflimo of the King of GolcçndJs Army, and who had been very 

 ferviceable to his Matter, 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 Bengala, that were 

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

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

 glmola had gain'd, raisM him up feveral Enemies, who endeavour'd in his ab- 

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

 that the great power of Aîirgimola was very much to be fufpecled ; that all 

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

 on his own Son ; that it behov'd him not to ftay till the remedy were part 

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

 he kept his intentions ; and that the fhorteft and beft way was to poyfon him. 

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

 pleas'd for his fecurity ; but having mifs'd of their defign for three or four 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 upon the young man, and bafèly miiiis'd him. At the fame time aîfo he was 

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

 action, as it made a great noife at Court, coming to Mirgimolas ears, fo in- 

 cens'd 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 fent, 

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

 upon the Ganges ; and Sultan-Stijah, Cha-jehan's fécond Son, being then Gover- 

 nour of Bengala y the General thought it his beft way to addrefs himfelf to 

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



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