Madras and In June 1673, after a voyage of six months from CHAP. IX. Gravesend, the fleet rounded the island of Ceylon, Voyage to and sailed up the coast of Coromandel. Those on Masulipatam. board saw the Dutch colours flying from their fortress at Sadras, about thirty miles to the south of Madras. As they approached Madras they found that a large Dutch squadron was cruising about. Accordingly, they niade no attempt to land the treasure, but carried it on northward to the port of Masulipatam, where the English had established a factory. at Masulipatam. In the seventeenth century the arrival of an English English factory fleet at an English factory in India was a grand time for rejoicing. Those on board fired salutes, whilst the sailors blew their trumpets. Those in the English factory displayed their flag, but they dared not return the salutes, for all the cannon they had were kept carefully concealed from the Muhammadan authorities. The town of Masulipatam belonged to the Sultan of Golkonda, and the Sultan had issued stringent orders that none of the European factories should import cannon or make war on each other within his dominions. Next morning the treasure brought by the English Native boatmen. fleet was safely landed at Masulipatam. The native boatmen who carried it away were strange objects in the eyes of Fryer. They were of a sunburnt black. Their hair was long and black, but was all shaven off excepting one lock which was kept twisted to enable their prophet, Perimal, to haul them into heaven. They wore nothing but a clout of calico girt about the middle with a sash; but they all had golden rings in their ears. Other natives soon appeared on board in a more English-speak stylish garb. These were men of business of a superior ing natives. CHAP. IX. Hindu kingdoms south of the Kistna; conquests of the Sultan of Golkonda. French capture French make war on the Sultan. rank to the boatmen. They wore a head-dress of calico coiled turban fashion, and light vests and long loose trousers, with a sash about the waist. They offered their services for a small wage, to wait on any of the passengers on board, or to execute their affairs. They all spoke English, and told all the news; but in order to understand what was going on it will be necessary to explain the general state of affairs on the coast of Coromandel. The port of Masulipatam, immediately to the northward of the Kistna river, had belonged to the Sultans of Golkonda for nearly two centuries. But the region to the southward of the river was in the hands of Hindu Rajas, and the Sultans had only recently extended their conquests in that direction. The reigning Sultan attacked the English settlement at Madras, but was baffled by the cannon of Fort St. George. He, however, captured the Portuguese settlement at St. Thomé, and carried away all the cannon, whilst the Portuguese took refuge in Fort St. George. At this crisis a French fleet appeared off the coast of Coromandel, captured St. Thomé from the Sultan of Golkonda, and held it for two or three years. The consequence was that there was war between the French and the Sultan, and the Dutch fleet was preparing to help the Sultan against the French at St. Thomé. The news that Dr. Fryer heard from the Englishspeaking natives at Masulipatam was that the French had captured four Muhammadau ships in the roads, and burnt four others; and that the French had also compelled some Dutch factories on the Coromandel coast to supply them with provisions and other necessaries. Masulipatam. Dr. Fryer went on shore in a country boat, carrying CHAP. IX. a single sail, and resembling a large barge. He was Landing at paddled over the bar without much trouble, but he says that the noise of the waves was as deafening as the cataracts of the Nile. town. Within the bar was still water. Dr. Fryer saw a Fortress and rude fortress of mud belonging to the Sultan, which was mounted with ten great guns; and several Muhammadan junks were riding at anchor under the protection of the guns. About a bowshot off was the town of Masulipatam. It was environed with a mud wall, entrenched with a stinking morass, and partly moated by the sea. There were two banktolls, or custom-house quays; but they were mean in appearance and poorly guarded.49 public buildings, The streets of Masulipatam were broad and the Streets, houses, buildings lofty. The better sort of houses were made and bazars. of wood and plaster. They had balconies roofed with tiles, and looking on to the streets through folded wooden windows latticed with rattans. Below was a stately gateway leading into a square court, with a tank in the centre and terrace-walks on either side. The poorer houses were like thatched beehives walled round with mud. The public buildings consisted of mosques, a custom-house, and a mean court of justice. The places of resort were three bazars, which were crowded with people and commodities. The inhabitants of Masulipatam consisted of Mu- Inhabitants, hammadans and Hindus. There were some Armenians, who carried on a correspondence with the interior, There were also Portuguese, Dutch, English, and a few Frenchmen. 49 The bank-tolls were the places where duties or tolls were levied on all goods exported or imported by sea. CHAP. IX. Muhammadan ascendancy the Hindus during caste quarrels. The Muhanımadans had established their authority over the Hindus in a remarkable manner. There established over had been a quarrel amongst the castes. The artificers, including goldsmiths and carpenters, had been insolent to the higher castes and tyrannical towards their inferiors. The higher castes conspired with the husbandmen and labourers to degrade the artificers, and they prevailed on the Muhammadans to help them. Accordingly the artificers were reduced to the lowest grade of society, known as Halal-chors, or unclean eaters. Henceforth the artificers were not allowed to ride in palanquins at marriages and festivals, but only on horseback.50 The Muhammadans thus took the power into their own hands, and the Hindus never attempted to recover their former liberties. Reigning Sultan of Golkonda, The Sultan of Golkonda was a Muhammadan, who had been raised from poverty to the throne through the influence of the chief eunuch. He resided at the city of Golkonda, fifteen days' journey to the westward. Under him the chief eunuch ordered the whole realm. He amassed great treasures, exacting every man's estate when he pleased, muleting the wealthier classes at his own will, and squeezing the common people to penury. At the death of a grandee he had the reversion of his estate. He also derived a large revenue from the diamond mines of Golkonda, 51 50 This curious tradition is authentic and historical. Traces of the struggle between the right and left hands amongst the lower castes are still prevalent in Southern India. The story of the marriage between the son of a goldsmith and the daughter of a Brahman in Appendix II. is an expression of the traditional hatred against artisans. 51 The ascendancy of eunuchs at the court of Golkonda is a significant fact. The Sultans of both Golkonda and Bíjápur found themselves threatened and konda, The expenses of the Sultan were inconsiderable. His CHAP. IX. military forces were maintained by his own subjects Army of Golin their respective provinces; they formed a standing army, numbering a hundred thousand horse and foot when all were brought together. The Sultan had also two hundred elephants in continual readiness, which were maintained by the farmers of his revenues. His resources were squandered on his pleasures, to which he was entirely abandoned. oppression of The Muhammadans at Masulipatam kept a strict Muhammadan hand over the Hindus, intrusting them with no place Hindus. of concern, and using them only as mechanics and serving-men. dees. The Persians had planted themselves in Masuli- Persian granpatam, and got on partly by trade and partly by arms. Many had grown to be rich, but all were liable to be despoiled of their wealth. They lived in much splendour, especially priding themselves upon having a numerous retinue and handsome followers. The merchant servants of the East India Company were not behind in similar displays. The president of the factory at Masulipatam was always attended with music, banners, and umbrellas, as well as by a train of two hundred soldiers and spearmen. marriage pro The people of Masulipatam celebrated their festivals, Festivals and and especially their weddings, with much show and cessions. splendour. Marriages were commonly performed at night, with the noise of drums, trumpets, and fifes. The poorest Hindu, excepting those of the proscribed caste, had a week's jollity at his marriage; going thwarted by the growing power of the landed nobility. At Golkonda a favourite eunuch was raised to power as a check upon the Muhammadan nobles. In Bíjápur a favourite Abyssinian was raised to power for the same purpose. Eunuchs and Abyssinians have often played important parts in Oriental history. |