The six voyages of John Baptista Tavernier, Baron of Aubonne through Turky, into Persia and the East-Indies, for the space of forty years : giving an account of the present state of those countries, viz. of the religion, government, customs, and commerce of every country, and the figures, weight, and value of the money currant all over Asia : to which is added A new description of the Seraglio / made English by J.P. ; added likewise, A voyage into the Indies, &c. by an English traveller, never before printed ; publish'd by Dr. Daniel Cox

CHAP. IX. The Road from Surat to Golconda,

I Have made several journeys to Golcondan, and have taken several Roads; sometimes by Sea embarking from Ormus for Malispata; sometimes set∣ting out from Agra, but most often from Surat, which is the chiefest land∣ing-place of Indolstan. But in this Chapter I will only speak of the common Road from Surat to Golconda; wherein I comprehend that of Agra; which Road comes in at Dultabat, as I shall afterwards relate, making mention only of two journeys which I made in 1645, and 1652, for fear of tiring the Reader.

I departed from Surat in the year 1645, upon the nineteenth of January, and came to ly at Cambari, costes 3

From Cambari to Barnoli, costes 9

From Barnoli to Beara, costes 12

From Beara to Navapour, costes 16

This is the place where grows the best Rice in the World, that smells like Musk.

From Navapour to Rinkula, costes 18

From Rinkula to Pipelnar, costes 8

From Pipelnar to Nimpour, costes 17

From Nimpour to Patane, costes 14

From Patane to Secoura, costes 14

From Secoura to Baquela, costes 10

From Baquela to Discon, costes 10

From Discon to Dultabat, costes 10

Dultabat is one of the best Fortresses in the Kingdoms of the Great Mogul, upon a Mountain every way steep; the only way to it being so narrow, that but one Horse, or one Camel can go at a time. This City is at the foot of the Mountain, very well wall'd. And this place of such importance, which the Mogul's lost, when the Kings of Golconda and Visapour revolted from them, was retaken in the Reign of Jehan-guire, by a subtle stratagem. Sultan Courom, who was afterwards call'd Cha-jehan, commanded in Decan the Army of the King his Father; and Ast-Kan, Father in Law to Cha-Est-Kan, who was one of the Generals, gave the Prince some sort of language which so highly offend∣ed him, that immediately sending for one of his Papouche's, or Shoo's, he caus'd him to have six blows given him upon the Bonnet, which among the

Indians is the highest indignity can be put upon a man, after which he is no more to appear in the Prince's presence. This was done by consent between the Prince and the General, to deceive the World, more especially any Spies which the King of Visapour might have in the Prince's Army. The report of Ast-Kan's disgrace was immediately spread abroad: and he himself flying for Sanctuary to the King of Visapour, who had not cunning enough to discern the imposture, was welcom'd by the same King, and assur'd of his protection. Ast-Kan seeing himself so well∣receiv'd, begg'd leave of the King, that he might retire with ten or twelve of his Women, and as many of his Servants, into the Fortress of Dultabat, which was granted. He enter'd the Town with eight or ten Camels, the two Cajava's or Litters on each side of the Camel being close shut, to keep the Women from being seen. But instead of Women, he had put into every Cajava two Souldiers, all bold and resolv'd men, as were also every one of the suppos'd Eunuchs that led the Camels: so that he had no great difficulty to cut the Garrison in pieces, not being upon their guard; and to make himself Master of the place, which has been ever since under the Power of the Great Mogul. There are in the place a great number of excellent Pieces of Cannon, and the Cannoniers are generally English or Hollanders. True it is, that there is one little Mountain higher than the Fortress; but there is hardly any way to it, but through the same Fortress. There was a Dutch-Engineer, who after he had serv'd the King fifteen or sixteen years, desir'd leave to be gone, and the Holland-Company it self, that had recom∣mended him to the Service, did all they could to obtain it; but they could ne∣ver procure it; because he was an excellent Cannonier, and very skilful in making Fire-works. The Raja Jesseing, who is the most Potent of all the Idolatrous Princes of India, and who was most powerfully Instrumental to put the Crown upon Aureng-zeb's Head, was sent as Generalissimo of the Army of this King, against the Raja Seva-gi; and passing by the Fortress of Dultabat, this Dutch-Cannonier went to wait upon him, all the Cannoniers of the Army being Fran∣guis, as well as he. The Hollander laying hold of this opportunity, told the Raja, that if he would procure him a Licence to depart, he would shew him a way to get up Cannon, and to mount them upon that Mountain which commanded the Fortress: for they had already wall'd it about, and put Souldiers upon it to keep it secure. The Raja pleas'd with his proposal, assur'd him that he would procure him the King's Licence, if he perform'd what he had propos'd. Thereupon the Hollander undertaking and accomplishing his design, the Raja was as good as his word, and obtain'd of the King to dismiss the Dutch-Cannonier: who came to Surat when I was there, about the beginning of the year 1667; whence he em∣bark'd for Holland.

From Dultabat to Aureng-abat, costes

Aureng-abat was formerly but a Village, till Aureng-zeb made it a City, though it be not wall'd. It grew to be thus enlarg'd, as well by reason of a Lake two leagues about, upon which the Village is built, as for the Memorys-sake of his first Wife, who is dead, by whom he had his Children. She is Interr'd toward the end of the Lake, upon the West-side, where the King has built a Mosquee, with a stately Monument, and a fair Inn. The Mosquee and the Monument were rear'd at a great expence, being cover'd with white-Marble, which is brought from La∣hor by Waggon; being a journey of four Months. Going one time from Surat to Golconda, I met five days journey from Aureng-abat, more than three-hunder'd Waggons laden with this Marble, the least whereof was drawn by twelve Oxen.

From Aureng-abat to Pipoli, costes 8

From Pipoli to Aubar, costes 12

From Aubar to Guisemner, costes 10

From Guisemner to Asti, costes 12

From Asti to Sarver, costes 16

From Sarver to Lesona, costes 16

From Lesona to Nadour, costes 12

At Nadour you must cross a River which runs into Ganges; and pay for every Waggon four Roupies; besides that, you must have a pass from the Gover∣nor.

From Nadour to Patonta, costes 9

From Patonta to Kakeri, costes 10

From Kakeri to Sataepour, costes 10

From Satapour to Sitanaga, costes 12

From Sitanaga to Satanagar, costes 10

At Satanagar you begin to enter upon the Territories of the King of Gol∣conda.

From Satanagar to Melvari, costes 16

From Melvari to Girballi, costes 12

From Girballi to Golconda, costes 14

So that from Surat to Golconda there are, costes 324

All this I travell'd in twenty-seven days. I made five journeys more in my Travels in the year 1653. And I also took another Road from Piplenar, where I arriv'd the eleventh of March, setting out from Surat, the sixth.

The twelfth, to Birgam.

The thirteenth, to Omberat.

The fourteenth, to Enneque-Tenque, a strong Fortress, that bears the name of two Indian Princesses. It stands upon a Mountain steep every way; there being but one ascent to it upon the East-side. Within the enclosed compass of the Walls there is a large Pond, and Ground enough to sow for the maintenance of five or six-hunder'd men. But the King keeps no Garrison therein, so that it falls to ruine.

The fifteenth, to Geroul.

The sixteenth, to Lazour, where you are to cross a River; upon which, about a Cannons-shot from the fording place, are to be seen several large Pagods of the Countrey, whither great numbers of Pilgrims repair every day.

The seventeenth, to Aureng-abad.

The eighteenth, to Pipelgan, or Piply.

The nineteenth, to Ember.

The Twentieth, to Devgan.

The one and twentieth, to Patris.

The two and twentieth, to Bargan.

The three and twentieth, to Palam.

The four and twentieth, to Candear, a large Fortress, but upon one side com∣manded by an high Mountain.

The five and twentieth, to Gargan.

The six and twentieth, to Nagooni.

The seven and twentieth, to Indove.

The eight and twentieth, to Indelvai.

The nine and twentieth, to Regivali. Between these two last places there is a little River which separates the Territories of the Great Mogul, from the Domi∣nions of the King of Golconda.

The thirtieth, to Masapkipet.

The one and thirtietieth, to Mirel-mola-kipet.

To go from Agra to Golconda, you must go to Brampour, according to the Road already describ'd from Brampour to Dultabat, which is five or six days journeys off; and from Dultabat to those other places before set down.

You may also take another Road to go from Surat to Golconda; that is to say, through Goa and Visapour; as I shall inform you in the particular relation of my journey to Goa. I come now to what is most worthy observation in the Kingdom of Golconda: And to relate what happen'd in the last Wars the King maintain'd against his Neighbours, during the time that I have known the Indies.