Storia do Mogor : or, Mogul India, 1653-1708 / by Niccolao Manucci, Venetian ; tr., with introduction and notes, by William Irvine.

Storia do Mogor, or, Mogul India, 1653-1708 / by Niccolao Manucci, Venetian ; tr., with introduction and notes, by William Irvine.

  • Manucci, Niccolò, 1639-approximately 1717.
Date:
1907-08
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Storia do Mogor, or, Mogul India, 1653-1708 / by Niccolao Manucci, Venetian ; tr., with introduction and notes, by William Irvine. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    should they attempt to construct them, they had not sufficient materials for the purpose. Another reason for the long delay in giving an answer was this : They had used the interval to find out from the nations of Europe—the Portuguese, the Dutch, and even the English themselves—whether they could purchase any ships in which to send reinforcements to the king. But, in spite of all the offers they had made, they could not obtain what they wanted. The ambassador knew well that this was all a pretence, but he kept his temper, although showing signs of impatience at all this long-winded and superfluous talk. When ‘Azamat-ud-daulah had finished this long speech, the ambassador began as follows : First of all, he expressed his thanks for the great efforts that the King of Persia and ‘Azamat- ut-daulah had taken to assist the King of England. Then, half making fun of 'Azamat-ud-daulah’s many words, he said to him that he himself had a [i8] much easier method of remedy- ing all this, without giving trouble to the Persian monarch, and without fatiguing the Persian soldiers, so famous throughout Europe. His plan was that the King of Persia should pay, cash down, the money due on the bill owing to the King of England. He had not come all that long journey in search of cavalry, nor a fleet, nor ships, but of a debt in arrears. If he would excuse him, he would say a word or two frankly. To this ‘Azamat- ud-daulah replied that he might speak as freely as he liked. Upon this the ambassador continued that all that had been said by him showed that his king had no intention of paying the debt. ‘Azamat-ud-daulah, in a deceptive manner and smiling, said that his king wished to pay, but, seeing that the amount demanded was very large, it would require a great number of beasts of burden, that it would be necessary to pass through other kingdoms, that possibly he might be robbed on his way. Nor was the difficulty met by saying that he could carry the amount by sea, for all the world knew what risks were run at sea, both of being attacked and of being wrecked, whereby the whole amount would be lost. The ambassador’s answer was that, if they gave him the money, he knew quite well how to take care of it and remove
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