The English acquisitions in Guinea & East-India containing first, the several forts and castles of the Royal African Company, from Sally in South Barbary, to the Cape of Good Hope in Africa ... secondly, the forts and factories of the Honourable East-India Company in Persia, India, Sumatra, China, &c. ... : with an account of the inhabitants of all these countries ... : also the birds, beasts, serpents and monsters and other strange creatures found there ... : likewise, a description of the Isle of St. Helena, where the English usually refresh in their Indian voyages by R.B.

The Empire and Government of the Great Mogol.

HAving given some account of the Forts and Fact∣rys of the Honourable East India Company. I shall subjoine a breif Relation of the Empire and Government of that Mighty Monarch.

The name of India is now given to the Empire of the Great Mogol, and to the two Peninsula's, one on this side, and the other beyond Ganges; with the Islands scattered in the Indian Sea; which are all comprehended under the general Name of the East-Indies; yea some Authors take in all the Ori∣ental Part of Asia. It is recorded, that the Old Inhabitants consisted in 122 several Nations; ori∣ginally descended from the Sons of Noah, before their Journey to the Valley of Shinaar, and their attempt in Building the Tower of Babel. That it was first invaded by the famous Queen Seinramis, with an Army of above four Millions, whom Stau∣robates an Indian King opposed with equal forces, who overcame and slew her. That the next Inva∣sion was by Bacchus the Son of Iupiter and Hercu∣les, who by policy and force subdued them, and taught them the use of Wine, Oyl, and the Art of Architecture. After this, India was invaded by Alexander the Great; He vanquishing first Clophae Queen of Magaza, and then King Porus, both whom he took Prisoners; But restoring them again their Liberty and Kingdom returned back to Baby∣lon, where he dyed of poyson. After this they lived in peace under several Kings. In 1587. their Countrey being discovered by the Portugals, and

after by the Dutch and English, they have had much Traffick with them.

This vast Empire comprehends the greatest part of the Continent of Asia, wherein are contained 37 Kingdoms. As for Remains of Antiquity, there are few or none, the Mogols having ruined all the Ancient Buildings, which according to the Ancients were 30 large Citys, and 3•…•…00 Walled Towns and Castles, so strong as to be thought impregnable; which may not be improbable, if Noah first planted there, after his descent from Mount Ararat, not far distant from hence. Since such mighty Ar∣mys were raised in those Countreys not many Years after, and the Land so well Built and planted; so that when Alexander had overthrown King Porus near the River Hydaspis, he say'd, He found greater Citys and more sumptuous Buildings in India then in all the World besides. Some of the Citys that end in Pore, as Meliapore, Visiapore, and others, seem to retain the Memory of K. Porus, as others in Scander, the Name of Alexander.

The Dominions of the Great Mogol are larger then the Persians, and equal to the Grand Seigniors. His strength lyes in the Number of his Subjects, the Vastnes of his wealth, and the extent of his Empire; his Revenue exceeding the Persian and the Turks both put together. But the K. of Persia exceeds him in Horse, Arms, and warlike People. His Revenue is reckoned to be about Seaven Milli∣ons and an half, English money. The Throne alone wherein he gives Audience, is valued at near Four Millions, being almost covered with Jewels, Pearls, and all kind of precious stones of a vast Value. The present Mogol derives his Original from Tamberlan the Scythian, who overcame all Asia, and took Ba∣jazet the Ottoman Emperor Prisoner, putting him into an Iron Cage, against the Bars of which he beat out his brains. When Tamberlain had taken him Prisoner, he was brought before him, who fix∣ing

his Eyes upon him fell a laughing, B•…•…jazet be∣ing highly offended feircely say'd to him, Laugh not at my Fortune Sir, but know it is God that disposes of Kingdoms and Empires, and the same may happen to you to morrow that has befaln me to day. To which •…•…amerlain replyed, I know this as well as you, nor do I laugh at your misfortunes but am thinking that certainly these Kingdoms and Empires are very contemptible things in the eyes of God, since he gives them to such inconside∣rable Persons as we are, you a deformed one eyed man, and I pitiful lame Creature.

The Mogol is the General Heir to all those to whom he gives Pensions; and his will is a Law in the decision of his subjects affairs, and therefore they carry the Names of their Imployments, and not of the Lands which they enjoy. Now because of this Barbarous tho' Ancient Custom, in the late Mogols Reign one of the Ancient Governours being very Rich, and finding himself near Death, think∣ing upon this unreasonable Law, which oft renders the Wife of a Nobleman and her Children poor and miserable in an Instant; He secretly distributed all his great Estate to indigent Gentlemen, and poor Widdows; filling his Trunks, with Old Iron, old Shoes, Rags and bones, Locking and Sealing them close, saying, they were Goods belonging to the Mogol; before whom they were brought after his death, and opened in his presence before his Lords that all saw this fine stuff; which so discomposed the Mogol, that he rose and went away in a great fury. He is able to bring 100000 Horse into the Field, but the Foot are inconsiderable. Chah, Iehan the Father of the present Emperor left behind him about 500000 Livers, besides the Rich Throne aforementioned. The present Emperor or Mogol is called Aureng-zeb, having usurpt the kingdom from his Father upon this occasion. This great King having reigned 40 Years with much clemency

and Justice; in his declining Age fancied a Young Lady of extraordinary beauty not above 13 Years Old. And because the strength of nature would not permit him to satisfy his Passion, he took cer∣tain Provocatives, which were so hot that he fell into a distemper which had almost killed him. This obliged him to shut himself up in a strong Fortress, together with his Women, for 2 or 3 Months; During this time he seldom appeared to his People, and then at a great distance, which made them be∣lieve he was dead. He had 4 Sons and 2 Daugh∣ters, whom he loved all alike, making his Sons Governours or Vice Roys of four of the principal Provinces in his Kingdom. During this false re∣port of his Death, Dara his eldest Son continued with him; But soon after they raised Armys, and fought against one another; And after many Bat∣tels and much Bloodshed Aurengzeb the Third Son having destroyed his Three Brethren, mounted the Throne, keeping his Father Prisoner. Some time after, he sent to his Father for some of his Jewels, that he might appear before his People with the same magnificence his Predecessors had done. Chah-Iehan taking his request for an Affront, fell into such a rage that he continued mad for some days, and had like to have died upon it; he cal∣led several times for a Mortar and Pestle, to beat all his Jewels to Powder rather than his Son should have them, but Begum Saheb his Eldest Daughter throwing her self at his feet, by virtue of that Cri∣minal power she had over him as being both his Daughter and his Wife, kept him from it, more out of design to preserve the Jewels for her self than her Brother, to whom she was a Mortal Enemy; For this reason when Aureng-zeb ascended the Throne he had only one Jewel on his Bonnet, and as a Penance, for so many Crimes he would not eat wheaten Bread, Flesh nor Fish, but fed upon Bar∣ley Bread, Herbs and Sweat Meats; But Chajehan

his Father dying in 1666. finding himself rid of an object that reproached his Tyranny, he began to enjoy himself with more delight, receiving his Sister Begum into favour, and calling her Cha Be∣gum or Princess Queen; a Woman of excellent ac∣complishments, and able to govern an Empire; and had her Father and Brothers taken her Counsel Auren-zeb had never been King; He had another Sister called R•…•…uchenara Begum, who always took his part and sent him all the Gold and Silver she could procure when she heard he had taken Arms; in recompence whereof he promised when he came to be King to give her the Title of Cha Begum, and that she should fit upon a Throne; all which he performed; and they lived lovingly together. This Princess having secretly conveyed a handsom young man into her Apartment could not let him out so privately, after she had quite tired him, but the King had notice thereof; The Princess to prevent the shame ran to the King, and in a pretended fright told him, there was a man got into the Ha∣ram even to her very Chamber who designed either to have kill or Rob her; That such an accident was never before known, and that it concerned the safety of his Royal Person, and he would do well to punish the Eunuchs who kept the Guard that night. The King ran instantly with a great num∣ber of Eunuchs, so that the poor Young Man had no way to escape but by leaping out at a Window into the River that runs by the Pallace Walls; a multitude of people ran out to seize him, the King commanding they should do him no harm, but carry him to the Officer of Justice; yet he hap∣pily escaped and has not been since heard of.

It is an Ancient custom among the Heathen In∣dians that the Husband happening to dye the Wife can never marry again; so when he is dead, she retires to bewail him, shaves her hair, and lays aside all her ornaments, taking off her Arms and

Legs, the Braccelets her Husband put on when he espoused her, in token of her submission, and being chained to him; and all her life after she lives des∣pised, yea worse than a Slave in the House where she was formerly Mistress. This causes them ra∣ther to dye with their Husbands than live in such Contempt, the Bramins or Priests perswading them, that after Death they shall meet him again in the other World with greater advantage; Yet can no Woman burn her self without leave from the Gover∣nour of the Place, who being a Mehometan, and ab∣horring this execrable custom of self Murther does often deny it. Some women, are so offended thereat that they spend the rest of their lives, in works of Charity. Some sit on the Road Boyling Pulse in Water and giving the Liquor to Travel∣lers to drink; others hold Fire ready in their hands to light their Tobacco; others make vows to eat nothing but the undigested grains which they find in Cow-dung. But when the Governor finds no perswasions will alter the Womans resolution, and perceives by a sign from his Secretary that she has given him Money to that purpose, he in a surly man∣ner bids the Devil take her, and all her kindred; Immediately the Musick strikes up, and away they go to the House of the deceased, with Drums beat∣ing and Flutes playing, in which manner they ac∣company the Person to the place appointed; All her kindred and Friends come and congratulate her for the happiness she is to enjoy in the other World, and the honour their Family receives by this her generous resolution. She then dresses her self as if going to be Married and is conducted in Triumph to the place of Execution, with a loud noise of Musical Instruments and Womens voices, singing Songs in honour of the miserable creature that is going to dye. The Bramins, exhort her to courage and constancy, and many European Specta∣tors think that these Preists give her some stupify∣ing

Liquor to take away the fear of Death; for it is their interest that these miserable Wretches should destroy themselves: Their Bracelets about their Legs and Arms, Pendants, Rings, and Jewels all belonging to them, who rake them from among the ashes when she is burnt; sometimes a little Hut of Reeds is erected on the bank of a River, bes∣meared with Oyl and other Drugs. The Woman is placed in the middle in a leaning posture with her head on a kind of Wooden Bolster, and rest∣sting her back against a Pillar, to which the Bramin tyes her about the middle, lest she should run away upon feeling the Fire. In this posture she holds the Body of her deceased Husband upon her knees, chewing Betele about half an hour. The Woman bids them fire the Hut, which is quickly done, her kindred and Friends throwing Pots of Oyl into it, to dispatch her. In some places they only build a Pile of Wood upon which the Woman is placed as on a Bed, with her Husbands Body layed cross her, then some bring her a Letter, others peices of Cali∣coe, Silver or Copper, desiring her to deliver them to their Mother, Brother, Kinsman, or Friend in the other World; when she has received all, she puts them between her Husbands Body and her own, tyed up in a peice of Taffety, and then calls to kindle the Pile, wherewith she is soon stifled; but there being scarcity of Wood in Bengale, the bodies of these poor Wretches arem any times only grilliaded and then cast into the River Ganges to be devoured by Crocodiles.

The magnanimity of many of these Women is admirable; The Raja of Velou having lost his City and life in a Battle against the King of Visiapours General, he was extreamly lamented, and eleven of his Wives resolved to be burnt at his Funeral. The General endeavoured to divert them by kind usage, but finding perswasions in vain he or∣dered them to be shut up in a Room; the Women

in a rage told him,

That 'twas to no purpose to keep them Prisoners, for if they might not have leave to do what they had resolved, in three hours there would not one of them be alive.

He laughed at this Menace, but the Keeper of those Women opening the Doors 3 hours after, found them all stretched out dead upon the place, without the lest Mark of any outward violence offered to them.

Two of the greatest Lords of India came in 1642. to do Homage to Cha-jehan; they having offended the Grand Master of the Household, he told one of them one day in the Kings presence,

that they had not behaved themselves as became them toward so great a Monarch.

The Raja, or Lord looking on himself as a great Prince, he and his Brother having brought with them a Train of sixteen thousand Horse, being netled at this bold reproof of the Grand Master, drew out his dag∣ger and slew him on the place before the King; The Grand Master falling at the feet of his own Brother who stood just by him, he was going to revenge his Death, but was prevented by the Ra∣ja's Brother who stab'd him likewise, and lay'd him athwart his Brothers Body; The King seeing these 2 Murthers retired into his Apartment for fear; but the Nobles and people presently fell upon the Raja's and cut them to peices; The King incen∣sed at such an attempt committed in his House and presence, commanded the bodies of the Raja's to be thrown into the River, which their Troops that they had left about Agra understanding threat∣ned to enter the City and Pillage it; so the King was advised to deliver them the Bodies of their Princes. When they were to be burned, thirteen Women belonging to the two Raja's came dancing and got upon the Funeral Pile, holding one another by the hands, and being stifled by the Smoak, fell all together into the Fire; presently the Bramins

[illustration]

threw in great heaps of Wood, Pots of Oil, and other combustible matter to dispatch them. When I was at Patna, saith my Author, a handsom young Woman of about two and twenty, came to desire leave of the Governour to be burnt with the Body of her dead Husband; The Governour compassio∣nating her Youth and Beauty, strove to disswade her, but finding her resolute, askt her, whether she understood what the Torment of Fire was, or had ever burnt her Fingers?

No, no, answered she, I do not fear fire, and to let you know as much send for a lighted Torch hither.

The Go∣vernour abominating her answer, in passion bid her go to the Devil. Some young Lords present desi∣red the Governour to call for a Torch and try her; the Woman ran to meet it, and held her hand in the Flame without altering her countenance, fea∣ring her Arm up to the very Elbow, that her Flesh looked as if broil d, whereupon the Governour commanded her out of his sight.

The Government of the Great Mogol is (as we have say'd) arbitrary and Tyranical, measuring his power by his Sword and Lance, and making his will his Law, there being no Laws to regulate Governours in the administration of Justice but what are written in the Breasts of the King and his Substitutes; and so they often take the Liberty to punish the offender rather than the offence; mens persons more than their Crimes; though they still pretend to proceed by proofs and not pre∣sumptions. In matters of consequence the Mogol himself will sit as Judge, and no Malefactors lye above one night in Prison, and many times not at all, for if the Offender be apprehended early in the morning, he is instantly brought before the Judge, by whom he is either acquitted or condemned; if it be Whipping, that is executed usually with much severity in the place of Justice; If condem∣ned to dye he is presently carried from Sentence

to Execution, commonly in the Market-place; which quick Judgment keeps the People in such awe, that there are not many Executions. Murder and Theft they punish with death of what kind the Judge please to impose, some Malefactors being hang'd, others beheaded, some imp•…•…led upon sharp Stakes a death of extream cruelty and torture; some are torn to pieces by wild Beasts, some killed by Elephants, and others Stung to death by Ser∣pents. Those that suffer by Elephants, who are trained up for Executions, are thus dealt withal; If the Beast be commanded by his Rider to dispatch the poor trembling Offender presently, who lies prostrate before him, he with his broad round Foot at one stamp kills him, but if he be condemned so to die as to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 himself dye, the Elephant will break his Bones by degrees with his hard trunk, as first his Legs, then his Thighs, after that the Bones in both his Arms, this done his wretched Spirit is left to breath its last out of the midst of those bro∣ken Bones. In other Places, Some are Crucified or Nailed to a Cross, others rather Roasted than burnt to Death, for there is a Stake set up, and a Fire made at a distance round about it; the con∣demned Person being naked is so fastned to the Stake th•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may move round about it, so long as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 till his Flesh begins to blister; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 down, roaring till the Fire made about 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…h his Voice and Life; The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 exquisite torments is because they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for a manto die by an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…iminals are usually commanded 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and those who will not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉; h•…•…nce these Condemned 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 eat and seem to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…nd i•…•… the close of the Banquet 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ddle, the wretched Self-m•…•…▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into the bottom of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…p; and if after this he

can wipe his bloody Knife upon a white Paper or Napkin laid by him, he is reckoned to dye with honour, and is persuaded he goes to Fa•…•…aman, or the God of War.

When I was in India, saith my Author. One was sentenced by the Mogol for killing his own Father to dye thus; a small Iron Chain was fastned to his Heel, and tyed to the hind Leg of a great Elephant, who drag'd him one whole remove of that King being about ten Miles, so that all his Flesh was torn off his Bones when we met him, and appea∣red rather a Skeleton than a Body. Another ha∣ving killed his Mother, the Emperour was at a stand to think of a punishment adequate to so hor∣rible a crime, but after a little pause, he adjudged him to be stung to Death by Serpents; so one of those Mountebanks who keep them to shew tricks to the People, brought two Serpents to do Execu∣tion upon this wretched man; whom he found na∣ked (only a little covering before) and trembling. Then having angred these venemous Creatures, he put one to his Thigh, which presently twined it self about that part till it came near his Groin, and there bit him till Blood followed; The other was fastned to the outside of the other Thigh twisting it round, and there bit him likewise; the Wretch kept upon his Feet a quarter of an hour, before which the Serpents were taken from him, but com∣plained extreamly of a Fire that tormented all his Limbs, and his whole Body began to swell exceed∣ingly, like Nafidius bit by a Libyan Serpent called a Prester; and about half an hour after, the Soul of that unnatural Monster left his groaning Carcase.

It happened a few years before Sir Thomas Row was Ambassador in this Court in 1618. that a Jugler of Bengal, a place famous for Witches, brought an Ape before the Mogol, who loved No∣velties, that did many strange feats; the King to try his sk•…•…l pluckt a Ring off his Finger, and gave

it one of his Boys to hide, whom the Ape presently discovered; several other tryals he made, wherein the Ape did his part to admiration; At length this strange and unexpected fancy came into the Kings Head;

There are many disputes, said he, about that true Prophet which should come into the World, we are for Mahomet; The Persians mag∣nifie Mortis Ally, the Hindoos or Heathens extol Bramon, Ram. and others, the Iews are for Mo∣ses. and the Christians for Christ,

adding several others to the number of twelve, who have all their several Followers in that part of the World; He then caused them twelve names to be written on twelve several Scrolls, and put together to try if the Ape could draw out the name of the true Pro∣phet; this done the Ape put his paw amongst them and pull'd out the name of Christ; The Mogol a second time caused these twelve names to be writ again in twelve other Scrolls and Characters, and put together, when the Ape again pluckt forth the name of Christ as before; Mahomet Chan a great Favourite present, said it was an Imposture of the Christians, though none were then there; and desired to make a third trial, which granted, he put but eleven of those names together, reserving the name of Christ in his hand; the Ape searching as before, pluckt forth his empty paw, and so twice or thrice together the King demanding the reason, was answered, that happily the thing he looked for was not there; the Ape was bid search for it, who putting out those eleven names one after the other in a seeming indignation rent them, then running to Mahomet Chan caught him by the hand where the name of Christ was concealed, which he opened, and held up to the King, but did not tear it as the former. Upon which the Mogol took the Ape, and gave his Keeper a good Pension to keep him near about him, calling him the Divining Ape. And this was all which followed

upon this admrable event, except the great won∣der and amazement of the people, the truth where∣of saith my Author, was confirmed to me by seve∣ral Persons of different Religions, who all agreed in the story and the several circumstances thereof.

I cannot but relate a remarkable example of a gross Flatterer, but a great Favourite of this King, noted to be a great neglecter of God, believing it Religion enough to please the Mogol his Master, though a Souldier of approved valour. This man on a time sitting in dalliance with one of his Wo∣men, she pluckt an hair from his breast about his Nipple in wantonness, without designing any hurt. This little inconsiderable wound by an unparallel'd fare became the occasion of his death, beginning presently to fester, and in a short time turned to an incurable Canker; When he found he must needs dye, he spake these notable words worthy to be recorded.

Who would not have thought but that I who have been so long a Souldier should have died in the face of an Enemy, either by a Sword, Lance, Arrow, Bullet, or some such Instrument of death? But now, though too late, I am forced to confess that there is a great God above, whose Majesty I have ever despised, who needs no big∣ger Lance than an hair to kill an Atheist or a des∣piser of his Divinity;

and so desiring these his last words might be told the King his Master, he died.

The Great Mogol, is a Prince of much Wealth and Power having multitudes of Souldiers in con∣stant pay, and in his ordinary removes which are not usually above ten mile at once, hath such an infinite number of men and other Creatures atten∣ding him whose drink is water, that in a little time, as it was said of the mighty Host of Sennacherib, they are able to drink up Rivers.

Aureng-zeb if he be alive, is about 86 yeurs of Age, and has lived in Tents several years; the Son

of Savagi being still in Rebellion against him. In 1699. Sr. William Norris was sent Ambassador to the Great Mogol, and received with all the Honour ima∣ginable; He will endeavour to satisfy the Mogol, that the Pyrates as well English as others Nations who have done him very great damages, are brought to Justice when taken; several of them having been already executed in England.