Calcutta

READERSHIP

^niuersifg

LECTURES

BENGAL
i

IN

SIXTEENTH

THE

CENTURY,

A.

D.

HItv

in the Sixteenth
Bengal
Century
D.

A.

BY

THE

MIDDLE

OXFORD,

COLLEGE,

BALLIOL

OF

GUPTA

DAS

J. N.

TEMPLE,

PROFESSOR,

LONDON,

BARRISTERCOI

PRESIDENCY

LEGE,

CALCUTTA,
ETC.

BY

PUBLISHED

THE

UNIVERSITY
1914

OF

CALCUTTA

AT-L

4.U,

PRINTED

BY

ATULCHANDRA

BHATTACHARYYA

CALCUTTA
TIIR
AT

UNIVERSITY

PRESS,
SENATE

HOUSE,
CALCUTTA

CONTENTS

LECTURE
Inaugural

The

"

Study

Page

History

of

1
...

LECTURE
The

Renaissance

in

II

Bengal

21
...

LECTURE
MUKUNDRAM

BENGAL

AND

III
IN

(i)

A.D.

...

a.d.

IN

(ii)

in

Century,

Travellers

Century,

Bengal

in

the

in

in

the

Sixteenth

99

Bengal

...

in

the

teenth
Six125

...

Century,

...

Sixteenth

a.d.

"

logical
Socio155

...

(ii)

teenth
Six-

VII

LECTURE
Bengal

the

...

(ii)

a,d.

(i)

in

VI

LECTURE
Bengal

85
...

(i)

a.d.

TURY,
CEN-

...

LECTURE
European

...

SIXTEENTH

THE

...

Travellers

57

...

LECTURE
European

TURY,
CEN-

IV

BENGAL

AND

SIXTEENTH

THE

LECTURE
MUKUNDRAM

...

...

...

VIII

Century,

a.d.

"

logical
Socio-

175
...

...

"""

IINAUaURAU

STUDY

THE

Mr.

Vice-Chancellor,
Comte

times

for historical

these

studies

rather
I

in the
of

s^nse

to the

this
in

which

gratitude
and

opportunity

upon,

in however

study

and

to

do

teachers

body,

as

workers
even

who

under

as

the

Under
there

are

throughout
world,

as

success.

privilege to

in

the

last

few

the

to

constituent

member

given

much

as

far
This

addressing

of the

visible

signs

my

as

one

have

being

which

cause

in

made

without

consideration, coupled

with

Bengal

striving

of diffusion

arisen

has

the

of

devoted

ever

of

is

of true

learning.
sity,
Univer-

our

intellectual

have

tried

corporate
of

home

land.

band

our

are

the

serve

an

are

in

the

of

regulationsof

judge, not

fellow-students

at

I may

who

famous

of

endeavours
can

to

new

ideals

generation

company

best, and

once

of

colleges of

theirs, viz., that

and

lines

our

one

that

of

their

stimulus

New

as

years

me

called

history of

for whatever

and

Reader

thus

new

younger

intellectual

recompense

the

our

deep

giving

be

indicate

capacity, to
to

for

University

as

you,

Chancellor,

high

of research

earnest

Vice-

you

Bengal.

and

and

before

in this ancient

knowledge

thankfulness

University

our

great discouragements

cause

your

with

appearing

have

my

of

subject or

over

of

unworthy

an

of the

Syndicate

humble

attached

importance

to talk

especially,Mr.

it

ample

during

undertaken
express

to you

juncture

this is

me

to

I deem

methods

critical

To

of

For

History.

this

place

the

on

philosophical

of

examination

an

modern

passion of

happy symptom

on

I have

growing

dwelling

entering

first

Senate

is

before

and

subjects

beg

studies

But

regeneration.

the

that

us

HISTORY

Eellow-students

and

told

has

OF

awakening
our

for

fair
fact

academic
their

sation,
realiof

measure

that

am

largely determined

BENGAL

under

me,

subject of

of the

the choice

the

of

past

in the task if that

materials

derived

If

social and
of

Christian

the

whose
the

economic

names

this

poetry of
of

at the hands

of

with

is to be

deserves

historians

of

be

should

ancient

oLthese
which

at

Literature

as

there

that

It used

be

to

and

of
the

whole
is

no

said

it

some

of

Itihas

true

that

Indians

that

in
are

unlike

the

offers

however, has

to

of this latter idea, and

while

ought

to

the

charges

bring againstIndian
its historical

on

side,

its department of Itihas.

lackingin

the instinct of

unlike

Egypt,
of

the

in

extent

The

Crete, the

archeologist
for the

monument

no

historian.

some

our

rendering

of

One

of the noblest achievements

excavator, India

years,

manuscripts

correct

to

and

organisersof

race.

our

ImperialArcheologicalDepartment
mind

and

is that it is weakest

of the antiquarian and

few

the moth-eaten

old Put his,the

the fashion

was

research, and

historical
scenes

heirlooms

time

one

the materials

of the first stepsin this process

Oae

present

home-land

our

least of

sought in

it at

than

past of

the

the deciphering and

preservation,

be the

"

respectfulconsideration

more

perhapsrottingpalm -leaf pages of

of the managers
in the possesssion
indigenous Tols.

century

the old verna?

that

me

undertaking,part at

reconstruction

for that

study the

to

Bengali poems
gentry as well as

the

to

and

scholars

our

successful

have

interpretationof

in the 16th

Bengal

words

If the reconstruction

receives.

past successful

province.

land

our

masterpiece

to invite you

Moreover, it has always seemed

cular

in the

wjtk~the-help^f a Jew

household

peasantry of

specialfittingwith the help of

some

historical

of

condition
era

are

had

ventured

hence

to

of history,
we
interpretation

examples

have

literature.

gathered from
have

economic

successful

less

no

the

of

examples

there is

be elucidated

we

it seemed

For

to
altogetherinappropriate

Bengal, and

past can

Bengaliliterature.

of

A.D.

discourses.
not

evidence

and

CENTURY,

my

circumstances,

try to study the

ness

SIXTEENTH

THE

IN

work

India

study
by

done

during the

disabused

the

it is-jtruethat India

the
last

public
presents

INAUGU11AL

her

above

monuments

few

surface

be read

to

by

ficial
super-

every

he^ruEs.there

underis_j^lack"of~rna{erIaI
of hex__xeiniite^a^tjwaitirjg
to be unearthed
by
groundijreliQS
the

observer

as

pickaxe

and

Universityalso
and

to

in its desire

encourage

mental

attitude

step in

our

of

of old and

versions

from

familiar

things,are

notable

in

publication

the

classical

old

our

foreignliteratures,new

of

the treasures

of

vernacular

the

given to

has been

critical

awakening
literary

remarkable

Translations

books.

translations

works,

in

all its Examinations.

provinceobligatoryin
seen

as

taken

of

knowledge

strong stimulus

vernacular

well

Our

of letters

genuine love

spiritof research as
amongst its graduates has

result is
A

foster

to

days by making

the land.

patient explorer.

the

of

literatures of the
The

shovel

the

pouringin

now

upon

us

is only to be
All of this, as
uninterruptedstream.
expected,is not likely to be permanent additions to our
of
but
national literature,
they afford a strikingobject-lesson

in

an

the work
and

they

activityin
have

we

central

importance

utilitarian

point of
of

marred

West
and

can

have

which
been

already
upward

told

India

meet.

Indian

of

some

dreaming

is

and

the future

should

of the East

and

be

of

Oriental

an

study

India's

of

the
great satirist,and
a
as
poet is sometimes

is

that

the

the

that

us

is

however
dreamer

East

thejW-glfare

development
a

idea

the

during the

us,

et, andjthatfor

march

achievements

every true-hearted

dream

again quiterecently

from
a
purely
study even
hardly possibleto exaggerate.

also

is

satire,has

never

achieve,

indigenousliterary

the

for

to

which
it is

view

whose
his

by

of

who

poet

with

academy

past, the

greatness

remarkable

familiar

made

been

great

of Universities

power

present generation.Then

the

Institute, a

of

evidence

are

the

in

it is

which

land

of

last few

and

East

the

of dreams
The

dreams.

eventful years,

have,
and__the_JW"st
of

of the race,

humanity^joxJhe,
the civilisationof

composite ciynisatiojninjw^

"lle^deals^f

the

West

should

stand

side

by

BENGAL

side,and

in

in unison
a

IN

which

with

SIXTEENTH

the

the

realitywithout

THE

heart

heart

CENTUEY,

of the East

should

of the West.

better mutual

A.D.

And

learn to beat

how

understandingof

can

this he

our

tive
respec-

past?
The
for
I

present therefore

carrying

historical and

on

contemplate,and

under

our

which

from

particularsciences

time

feels

and

his mind

to

to time

enliven

life

inclined

think

to

of
that

as

studies drawn

up

to favour.

seem

which

has

no

the

versies
vigorouscontro-

our

otherwise
the

regarding

the methods

such

what
some-

scope

investigation
proper

to

science

is the

happy

of

history. Unfortunatelyfor the historian,this can

the case
with the subjectof his study,for historyhas

be

never

of

is the land

happy

academic

monotonous

without

schemes

that

recalls

one

moment

researches
sociological

the

remarked

history. When

one

which

favourable

Universityregulationswould

new

It has been

them,

to be

seems

its

long historyof

And

own.

this has

been

of the

one

fortunate
un-

of the Muse
of historythat she never
peculiarities
completely forgets or lays aside her old habits, but goes on

habits

and

It seemed

at

acquiringnew
tendencies.
and

somewhat

Muses.

19th

of

ambitions

new

first that

Clio

slavishlyimitating the

History

branch

adding

general

century

art seemed

an

as

literature.

came

with

But

change, and

intent

was

to

old

aping
sister

pridein being a

the

advent

though

now

on

her

her

of

graces

almost

to

of

the

the old habits

picturesquehistory is still with us, historx_has

science,
-engagexLin
primdly^cpjged^^rth--^s--^n_in^pendent
th" sijarch^oj^ahslract^
truth, true to the kindred
points of
subsist, for

Heaven

and

homely

realities of

There

Earth, yet

can

be

our

at

times

somewhat

little doubt

that

classical scholar has only to think

classicist of the

jhe

life.
practical

that it_is_JEpic
in
story-telling,

Indian

from

detached

Ramayana

historyhas
its

origin.

of the
and

its

the

beginningin

The

Homeric

European
poems,

Mahabharata

the

in this

INAUGURAL

connection.

it

But

to

seems

that that which

me

distinguishes

historyfrom generalliterature,that which constitutes so to

viz., the applicationof criticism,has
speak its differentia,
been
never
altogetherwanting in the pages of the true
The
historian.
applicationof criticism may not have been a
conscious
cious

for

quest

build jrn_ thft

conduct

forriToFaconsnot_ajwayTtJE~th"e

did

It

process.

truth.

it

But

was

there

fiypftrjen^s
pf^thftpast
and

oLjthe^ statesman

an

in

the

attempt

the

ideal to mould

citizen inihe

of the

presentas

for
future^or in the attempt to pointjynoral
edificationT
of cj)ming^ejQeTajdons.

also in the

of his work

generalpurpose
and

events

fame."
the

great actions
thft g.i"
psfagrnpfl

"He

the

as

the

to

come

step

"The

of

next
to

nearer

tells us,

aim

which
r"P

the

stage

past

meed

the

of

when

poet." But

Epic

already advanced
ideas, for
Thucydides

have

we

knowledge

accurate

of

ffrp historianto be.exactly

modern

our

deserve

the

"the

that
contemporaries

to preserve the memory

was

record

same

we

historian told his

firstGreek

The

to

of

what

has

according to human
similar
things will happen again". The note of criticism
that of
from
the scope of history proper
differentiating
general literature is clearlydiscernible in the warning voice
of Polybius. "Surely,"he reminds
us, "an historian'sobject
should
be not to amaze
his readers hy. a series of thrilling

will

useful, because

happened;
probability

be

anecdotes,nor
have

been

delivered,nor

like a writer of
all to record
matter

how

speakingof
The

two

he aim

should

the

contra"y^Jris_Ju^tipELiS-

what
fidelity

greatestof

examples

of the

regarded in

be."

As

or

done,

Prof.

no

Bury

of historyobserves:
utility

"

Polybius,

guidefor good conduct, as containing

warnings for statesmen ; and it was generally

might

and

actuallysaid

historians, Thucydides and

the ancient

held that it

was

it may

commonplace
the older view

propriety,in detail,

study dramatic

to

tragedy.On

with

produce^eechgsjwhich^igM

to

Greece

he

and

at Rome

as

store-house

of concrete

BENGAL

IN

instances

SIXTEENTH

THE

illustrate

to

CENTURY,

and
political

A.D.

ethical maxims.

called

Magistra Vitae
history in this sense
designated it "Philosophy by examples."
which

ascribed

to

by analogy,at

it at

best
the

worst

generallytill the
truth

which

saying that
science.
the
in

should

we

last
now

is

respect of

of

Of

century.
in

express

material

of

practical utilitywould

this

men
teachingstates-

it contained

different

for

view,

form

and
political
:

social

if it

but

by

were

of

historylay merely
effects,then historyin

and

causes

Dionysius

And

course

practicalimport

and

edification,prevailed

moral

important function

most

function, if the

furnishingexamples

of

duty

historysuppliesthe

This

only

the function

Cicero

be

no

more

than

the handmaid

of social science.

Such

the

was

conceptionof historybefore

The
Christianity.

interest

Contemplates, and_his
But

with the

themselves

advent

of

the

the advent

historian is secular.

interest is confined

to

of
He

thingsmundane.

of

historians began to busy

Christianity,
of God to man.
the ways
Orosius for
justifying

in

self,
example, writing under _lhe in-fluence_ ofJ3k Augustine himin Jhe ancient cla^s^jci^.vmdd-jipthing_but_
saw
signs oi
God's wraths
and consequent
wars
Plagues and pestilences,
loss of human

but indications of

lives,are

divine

judgment

The
example thus set, the use
kn^^unregenerate_world.
made~bT history,
not likely
to be lost sightof in the
was

century, when

bitter

W"s,thejlangerthat

Thus

if in

ihn

historymight come
drama7 she now
ran

thus

17th

rent the

tian
Chris-

p1a,ssioaLwEorhL

Jthare

controversies
theological

into twain.

world

on

to be the hand-maid

and
ofjjoetry

of the

bond-slave

Catholic
theology.For Leo and Luther, Eoman
alike appealed to historyin supportof their

and

Protestant

If

cause.

evidence
was

that

not

the

Magdeberg

to prove

the

work

century, a

doings

of

in

Historyhad
of

liberation

work

which

appealed to historyfor
originof the Papacy, Baronius

appealingto

the

being~the

Centuries

the diabolical

behind

far

the Devil.
the

of

the rislTbf

the

same

source

to prove

workings of
to be rescued from this bondage, and
began with the beginning of the 18th
was
perhaps inauguratedby MachiProtestants

were

but the

INAUGURAL

high estimation of historyas an instructress in

but in which the EnglishGibbon and the Scotch Robertson
politics,
and a distinguished
honourable
took an
part. But above
all we have to speak of the influence of Moatesq uieu_and of his
logy.
Spiritof Laws in rescuinghistoryfrom this thraldom to TheoHis thesis the relativity
^ojLi^mmLJiistitutions went
the
a
came
great way in effectingthis liberation. Then

avelli
"

with

his

"

"

the

upheavalof

tutions,which

againher

Trench

Revolution

and

the cry

fOT_nejv__CQnsJti-

resumed
completed the process and history
ways of thought and action.

old

be noticed that the dominating influence

however

It should

once

in the earlier decades

the 18th

of

the

century, was

of
spirit

of time
Cosmopolitanism. This in course
gave placeto the
whence
came
a
spiritoJL-J^ationality,
strong and powerful
stimulus to the study of History in every country in Europe.
to be strongly felt that the traditions and past experi\_Itcame
ences
of the race
are
a
precious heritage which should be
This conviction fell in
studied and properlyvalued.
carefully

with

the scientific ideas of the age

the ideas of Evolution

"

and

of slow and

gradual development. This junctionof the cry of

with the scientific-conceptionof Evolution marks
ISTationality
the history
of human
a turning-pointin
thought,and brought
about a revolution in our conceptionof the nature
and utility
of the studyof history.In the memorable
words, uttered in
this very city,of one
of our
former
Vice-Ohancellors, Sir
of his
who had felt the full force of the spirit
Henry Maine
of the problems
age with its cravingfor a scientific treatment
"

of social life :
"

Among

all
one

our

subjectsof study

to which

last fifteen

thought

belongs the
or
new

twenty

of

power

experimentand

fields of

knowledge

future.

years

the indirect influence

there

there

and
of the

new

no

The
has

fact

as

to which

"

in

The

the

the

world

the
of

not the direct but

landmarks
:

is the

within

is that

arisen

influence

being removed

doubt

physical sciences, of

observation.
are

is

science

the

between

methods

of

the
culti-

BENGAL

IN

vation

are

of

truth

the

of the

be

can

herself

no

physical world

of

is made

but that all truth

that

are

same

conditions, so
that

which

affirmed

was

any

difference

is

nature

of human

no

truths

that
every

except

character

if indeed
other

inflexible order and

other form

science

consistent
and

human

is not,

conform

indeed,
world
the

to

it must

true

teaches"

the

ledge
know-

of the external

historybe

the
of

our

ever

nature

must

the

between

all

underlies

It is

that

Physiologistand

^fjhuman natufeTyIt

of whatever

teach

for all.

same

differ from

the

-also" he_ true

must-

there

that

sequence,

it

essential

Astronomer,

societywhich

Indeed

long before

if it exists cannot

A.D.

be the

that
[Xhegreat principle

Historian.

meant

CENTURY,

suspected to
felt

was

There

of

with

and

history

of truth.
truth

than

more

affirmed

now

SIXTEENTH

THE

continuous

eternal law.

of the

of the nineteenth
achievements
greatest
to historical
century is the applicationof scientific methods
to be stronglyfelt that the present has grown
studies. It came
out of the past,that there is a gradualprocess of evolution and
slow development in the thingsand institutions around us, and
the presentwe must study the past. By the
that to understand
one

historian

side of the ideal of the German

as

how

Ranke, which

had

in his day
trumpet-call

to
namely, "I do not aspire
happen : I am contented to know
"

hound

thingswere

they did happen"

"

to

text which

I fear must

stillbe

ed
serv-

know
how

preached
"

originof a peopleor an institution lies

The Englishexponent of the historical
the clue to its nature.
of Savigny,while firmlybelieving
method, the Englishdisciple
rose

the idea that in the

in the

and
reality

the

of moral
possibility

progress, "often

dwells

greaterpart of the social and intellectual

structure of a nation is bequeathed to it by former
generations,
tradition is perhaps the most potent agent
that unconscious
in historical life,that the margin of change is surprisingly
Dr.
As
nations quite exceptional."
small and
progressive
Herford, speaking of the development of historical studies in

on

the idea that the

century had occassion to remark

J 1 istory___cjm_tains
something even
a goodJlealjgLLinere_accident,

the

Germany

of

oiLjheer chaos.

the 19th

But

those

"

aspectsof
8

it had

been

abundantly

INAUGURAL

representedin
that

amiss
that

the

historical

it should

in

cosmos

was

disclosure
revoliition^Jjie__siniple
and

interrelated
community vitally
In

Prof.

could

not

words

Bury's

affairs,both

historyon

be formed

not

with

every

longpreparation,

of

every

other.

until

of the

and

for the statesman

formulated

or

rightnotion

"A

"

of

that

slowlyaccumulated
activityof a given social

feature, every

every

past,it was

:
disguise

the climax

heginiung^was
ajp^pjirent^-jiew
every
forces

the

be re-studied-in^fefae^ight^of
a conviction

chaos

apparent

writingof

for the
had

men

bearingof
citizen,

graspedthe

development. This is the greattransforming

conception which enables historyto define her scope. The
idea was
first started by --Leibnitz,
but, though it had some
exponents in the interval,it did not rise to be a governing
force in human
thought tillthe 19th century,when it appears
idea

as

human

of

the

thinkers

Erench

anti-historical

the

of

solvent

true

the

and

French

doctrines

Revolution

had

which

arrayed

time, it has
against the compulsionof the past. At the same
and, potentially
brought history into line with other sciences,
her
from
the
at least,has delivered
and ethical
political
which

encumbrances
of

to

whose

Hanke,

name

and

As

-how

Gooch

and

work

whole

this

remind

rages

after the introduction

connection, specially
you

of

Lamprecht

"

vigorouscontroversy.

quiresjvithE-anke, Lamprecht
lie de^e^Ro^n^w-h^w-ilL_became.
itjiapjjened^

puts

Historians

substituted

impede her

In

I should

The4mrely_j3oU^
tells us"

to

scientific methods."

with reference
round

combined

for

it in

of the

en

his

recently publishedwork
History
19th Century,
The genetic must^e

the narrative

"

"

method

in^lvingjLS-urvey-OJLihe

material and
intellectual,__Qut_ol
ofcircjimstanceg,
which
events__grow. Living in a scientific age the historian
causation."
must
investigate
The
scientific conception of evolution
seriouslyaffected
the
understand
cannot
history in another direction. We
present without the help of the past: the past is inseparably
mass

BENGAL

IN

with

connected

SIXTEENTH

THE

CENTURY,

present. If

the

this is the case,

little bits

ciiLqip historyinto

and

Oxford
and

unityof

the

Let

emphasis.

passing,how

this

divide

We

land.

history,*

for

pause

affects

idea

and

study of

our

the

Period

other ?

How

the

hope

we

untruthful, is

cal, how

Civilisation?
view

the

developmentof British Power in

rushingof an European element
The

of

idea

the

unity

common-place. It is a
conception of evolution.

emphasised. If

or

tells

reference

In

ns

The

in

delivered

and

doctrine

1873,

Empire, from
rendered

he

Freeman's

to

an

is

unhistoririse and
in-

sudden

passedinto

now

is

scientific

the

second

or
corollary,
is not so generally
recognised
the past frornthe
separate^

thesis

works

land-mark

in

Imperial Rome
immense

note

may

we

which

criticism

now

may

widened.

treated

as

altered

our

His
the

Freeman

the

was

Gooch

passing what

in

and

to historical

considerable

of action

Unity

and

there

modern

part of
modern

was

be made.

Since

Freeman

enunciated

vision

confined

Aryan

and
civilisation,

perspective.

10

Rede

Lecture,

early Greece

there

Europe

of his lectures

one

but
continuity,

cared

to

The

was

to the

break;

no

to

attack

an

he declared,could
history,

little and

starting-point of

History.

thinking and teaching by his emphasis

knew

was

of

English Historiography. From

to mediaeval

service

devoted

In the world

apart.

feeling,about

has

favourite

philosophy. Classical,mediaeval

studied

dealings
the genius

how

of
corollary

there

But

of Freeman's

continuity. Yet Stnbbs

friend's

his

or

the

as

history has

cannot

you

the land-revenue

Asiatic void ?

an

necessary

tight
air-

many

"

central

Roman

of

into

aspect of it,which

another

rather

so

regardsthe

the East

study

relation to each

And

which

of

our

the British

knowing something of

characteristics of Hindu

and

brief,in

of
history

as

of Akbar

system

without

Rajputs

understand

to

administrative

the

policy or
with

can

in

and

we

great

eloquence

see

in
justified
regardingthese
compartments having no reference or
Are

Period.

that

much

so

to the

come

India for conveniences

historyof

the

with

moment

we

thesis which

Period,the Mahomedan

Hindu

into the

us

Thus

maintained

teacher,Freeman,

how_can_you

and say
different^eriods,

this is ancient historyand thatmoderm

conception of

A.D.

less,there
his

Europe.
the

in the world

were

of

be

on

on

his

usefully

thought and

deep gulfs. A

graver

doctrine,the historian's horizon

But

Greece

discovery of

the

can

no

Ancient

longer be
East

has

BENGAL

lies in
progression,

the future

of the historian's song

It is

always
"

SIXTEENTH

THE

IN

and
is

never

not in the

Go

"

brothers

my

CENTURY,

back,

A.D.

The burden

past.

ye tired mariners.

fellow- workers, follow the

and

gleam.

Men

which

they have
of

This then
which

beg
importanceof
I

stillholds

good as

Education.

"

fits

all the

it that Milton's
when

it was

our

new,

but earnest

thingsthat they shall

of the nature

and

hence

do.

utilityof history,
I urge

scheme

the supreme

of liberal education

definition of liberal education

first put forth in his Tractate

of

complete and generous education that

and
to perform justly,
man
mously,
magnaniskilfully
both private and public,of peace and
offices,

I call

This fine definition has

war."
in

the

done

to accept ; and
you
historical studies in a

I take

; for

which

is the view

workers

reapingsomething

ever

That

the

brothers, men

my

hardlybeen improvedupon

even

days.
leavingaside

But

for

moment

the

points I

have

so

far

place before you, I would be content to base my

in the India of the present
plea for a serious study of history
considerations.
day on a few somewhat commonplace practical
of the
I would urge the utility,
and even
the supreme
necessity
study of history in our
days because of the preparationit
affords for citizenship,
because of the lightit sheds and the
helpit so generouslyextends to the conscious effortsof a people
engaged in the upbuildingof social ideals,but above all

ventured

because

to

of its disciplinary
effect

That
whose

greatOxford

industryand

on

individual character.

teacher,the venerable
enthusiasm
12

and

Dr.

soberness

Stubbs,
of

to

judgment

INAUGURAL

historywill
audience
I

for

remain

ever

Universityof

at the

indebted
Oxford

told

distinguished
fifty
years ago :

some

"

that the
thoroughly convinced
by the study of historyis twofold

am

answered

which

purpose
it is at

"

is
the

once

of a stock of facts,an ignorance

of which
acquisition
from playingthe humblest
man
part as a citizen ; and

process of
unfits

it is

educational

an

for whose

powers

disciplinedirected to
development,as it seems

the

cultivation

to

me,

of

other

no

benefit of the
trainingis equallyefficacious. The disciplinary
in
people honest and intelligent
study of historyis to make
their view

words

These

It is

publicevents.

of

which

as

are

when

spoken,I

in

to

they were
Bengal never
In

But

countries.
reference
We

to

If the reader
historians

of the

Demetrius

by

told

are

had

the

prefaceto

the

subject:

my

fellow-students

as

here

cal
development of ideas regardinghistoriso
long confined myself to European
be permitted to make
a
passing
may

two

beg

now

forget.

have

would

judgment.

remember

to

necessary

the

the

speakingof

studies

of
training

and

India.

"

to

their

what

conception Chinese
followingstory taken from

know

duties,the

great work

Mailla's

countries,China

Boulger :

wishes

of

Oriental

throw

may

lightupon

some

"

Emperor Ling "Wang of the Chow

moured
dynasty, B. C. 548, Changkong, Prince of Tsi,became enawho
resented the
of the wife of Tsonichow, a general,
killed the prince. The Historians attached to the
affront and
"

the

In

household
as

of the Prince

the murderer.

upon

in his

his

be
But

of

his

death.

the fact and

arrested
as

recorded

includingthe

occurrence
cause

to

place.

office he

recorded

learning this

On

principalhistorian
another

the

reignof

soon

the

death

Tsonichow
13

the
and

as

the

exact

of

his

was

so

named

Tsonichow

general caused
slain
new

and

the

appointed

historian entered

facts

of

the

whole

and
predecessor
much
enragedat

the
this

BENGAL

all the members

that he ordered

But

executed.

be

at

of Tsonichow

would

What

devices."

A.D.

perceivedthat

soon

could be

of

History to
whole
class in the
literary
exposingand denouncingthe

to reconstitute the Tribunal

be

its own

the

once

who

CENTURY,

of the Tribunal

Tsi set to work

of
principality

conduct

SIXTEENTH

THE

IN

and

his

wiser

plan

to allow it to follow

finer,too, than the following

reply, givenfifteen centuries later by the President of the

of History of the Empire to the Tang Emperor
Tribunal
Taitsong,who asked if he might be permittedto see what was
written about

himself

in

the

of the Tribunal

President, the Historians

"

the

good and
also

the bad

"Prince,"

said

write down

the

of

princes,their praiseworthyand
that they have
words, and everything
reprehensible

their

done, good

memoirs?

state

or

actions

bad in their administration.

We

are

exact

and

this pointand none

of us
dare be wanting
on
irreproachable
in this respect. This impartialseverityought to
be
the
if it is wished that she should be
essential attribute of history,
a

princesand
committing faults.

curb upon

their

the

great,and that

But

I do not

she should

know

that any

prevent

Emperor

what was
written about
him."
seen
up to the presenthas ever
To this the Emperor said, But supposingI did nothing good,
"

or

that

happened
would

President, who

to

commit

bad

some

write it down

"

action,is it you,

Prince,I should

be

but
being entrusted with a charge
grief,
of the
the Tribunal
that of presiding over
so importantas
Empire, could I dare to be wanting in my duty?" These two
the spiritin which
stories may
suffice to show
the earlier

overwhelmed

Chinese
As

with

Historians

to the Mahomedan

the statement

of

the

of

the best known

he had

undertook

our

their work.

historians
author

of the

of

India,

Tabakath

records of the Mussulmans

his

we

Akbari,
in

note

may
one

of

India,that

to the advice of his father,

youth,"according
which are the
devoted himself to the studyof works of history,
of strengthening
of education,
the understanding
of men
means
instruction by examples to men
of observaand of affording
from

INAUGURAL

tion,"a

which

statement

sounds

like

classical

of the

echo

an

that Historyis philosophy

teachingby examples.
proposition
to historical literature in Hindu

In reference

India,

tempted to quote the followingopeningwords of Stein's

to the monumental
Rajatarangini of Kalhana
said of the India

has often been

no

has

works

art, such

and

science

is true

remark

history. The

by historyis

if

"It

"

that it possessed

apply it to historyas

we

to

it is

But

us.

either historical

meant

duction
intro-

classical culture in its noblest prose-

as

bequeathedit

of the Hindus

feel

if

manifestlywrong

development or

the materials

its
known
studying it. India has never
among
and
Home
vated
cultiSastras the study of historysuch as Greece
modern
or
as
Europe understands it. Yet the materials
in India. They are
for such a study are equallyat our
disposal
of information
not
contained
as
only in such originalsources
remains
cing
coins and antiquarian
generally; advaninscriptions,
for

has also

research

in

historical

great
Charita

of

of Indian

Bana

"

of

the historical
we

all

no

which

thanks

to his edition

contemporary

of

the

the Harsa

as

of
significance

or

wanting

us

Charitas, such

branch

to the lucid

of

the

Vikra-

all realise that the fact that

We

of Bilhana.

treat of

remind

"

events

been

means

recognise

now

Buhler

Professor

manka-deva-charita
the charitas

the

Kavyas,

Literature

introduction

by

records of

Stein's observations

India."

ancient

have

concerningthem

of traditions

written

provedthat

constitutes

events

an

doubted
"un-

advantage,though that is impairedto no small extent

by the obvious limitations impliedby the panegyricalcharacter
himself his great work is primaof these poems."To Kalhana
rily
a

kavya; but

conceptionof

poets

We

whatever

nectar, in

as

much

to think

venture

his task

verses

evidence.

as

narrator

with which

his work

that he had

of events.
opens

is
read, "worthy of praise
it may
be, which surpasses
as

those of others obtain

by it their own
immortality;
15

very definite
Of this the introductor

furnish characteristic
that power
even

bodies of
who

else

of

the stream

true
of

gloryas well as
but poetsresemb-

BENGAL

IN

THE

CENTURY,

SIXTEENTH

A.D.

and able to bring forth lovelyproductions,

lingPrajapatis
can
In
this statement
placethe past times before the eyes of men?"
have

enunciation

of the

poet'sview of the relation

his art and the subject-matter
between
of his narrative. '"Ltjs_
of his pnaik".
his jskilLas
a
Kavi3Jjie^rnerit
pompositirm which
we

an

is to^save frimi_Qblivionthe

his country.
'V
history_of

oifim"diateJ2_foUo^^
After
historical impartiality^
he declares that

poet alone

This

is
of

the

panegyricon poeticintuition,
whose words like
"worthy of praise,

the
thaLpJ_aLjud^eJJkeejD_^ree_f^
inxelajting
Dr.
Stein rightlyobserves, "In
facts of the past". As
this

emphatic declaration and the prominence given to it we feel

The author is to make
the
something of the historian's spirit".
but in breathing-life into the"dry bones of the past
nastjiye^
free from love or hatred.
he is to keep his mind
isTioweverto be notea\as Dr. Stein again warns

It

"neither

the

character

of

to

the
as

which

generaldrift
Kalhana's

latter for
the

of

Hindu

Chronicle

thought nor

would

us
justify

us, that

the
in

specific
looking

conscious

philosophyof

explainthe

of what we
stand
underappreciation
history. To search for the laws

concatenation

of

and

events

govern

the

would
have
development of a nation's history,
presupposed a
mental atmospherewhollydifferent from that in which Kalhana
of the lessons of historyhas ever
lived. Inductive analysis
been
Yet this fact must not lead us
to
foreignto the Indian mind.
that the Hindu
could
Chronicler
assume
contemplate the
records of the past without beinginfluenced by certain general
(ideas.

Individual

events

present themselves

to his mind

not

as

He looks upon them

phenomena to be traced to their causes.
moral
or
|merely as illustrations of those maxims, religious,
which made up what the Hindu
I legal,
designatesso comprehensibly
as

'Dharma'."

of Dharma
involves a
conception
Indian idea
the preeminently
Punya
The

of

fortunes

"

of

individuals

or

nation
16

by

belief in the doctrine

"which
the

explainsthe
influence of spiri-

INAUGURAL

previousbirth."

merits from

tual

retribution

divine

which

retribution

the

"

It also involves

belief

follows

upon

in

evil

in harmony with
measure
our
government, an idea in some
modern
conceptionof the causal relation between facts. Thus
the Indian historian places in close association with
one
the judge and the judgment of the
the verdict of
another
"

historian

we

live and

the

; all

move

which

of

sense

influencingthe

and

in

working

and

Dharma

divine

chain of events

remind

also of

us

retribution
amid

which

poeticjustice.

by alluding once
again to what I
spoke of in an earlier part of this discourse,viz., the
which
must
connection
always exist between
History and
claim precedence over
Literature
general literature.
may
but the two are sister Muses
task
engaged in the same
history,
of elevating
our
thoughts,ennoblingour character,
embellishing
fact which should not be lost sight of in the
mind
a
our
conclude

therefore

"

correlation of studies in

Universities.

our

alreadyindicated that in speakingof the social and

tian
condition of Bengal in the 16th century of the Chriseconomic
I propose to depend mainly on materials to be derived
era
from
contemporary vernacular literature of the day. I fear,
I have

historians in India for years

on

materials

derived and

so

difficulties of

the

the

enhances

interest

takes

India,which

in the

tendencies

before the rise and

be

must

their

different

written,a task

of

thingsI

defence
with

am

invaluable
not

of the attitude

succession

of the

of Ancient

mind

my

17

it also

generalhistoryof

of

and

of the movements
this vast

Indian
In the

if

views

rely

considerably

something cannot
helplessstudent who

of birds- eye

to

continent

in

the

accomplishment of

contributions.

quite sure

adds

of British Power

to the

Professor
newly-appointed
make

to
A

work.

consolidation

our

doubt

fact which

provinces of

yet to

content

preparedto gather the

comprehensiveview

has

no

be

task, but

their
of

be

must

come

This is

materials for themselves.

to

to

the

East

which

History

will

present state
be

said

in

is content

fortunes

of

the

IN

BENGAL

THE

SIXTEENTH

A.D.

CENTURY,

Maharatta

the consolidation of the Sikh fraternity,

confederacy,
of Hyderali,and the achievements
of the
the meteoric career
Moghuls at Delhi. But the way for the coming of the general
comprehensivehistoryof India must be paved and preparedby
There must be a good deal of preliminary
the local historian.
drawingof water and hewing of wood. Folklore,dim traditions,
written literary
and
coins,monuments
productions,
inscriptions,
architectural remains, must all be ransacked
and
appealed to
and laid under contribution.
See what a gloriousvista is thus
opened to our view, what vast fields of work are thrown
open
even

to the

who

compiles,he

the critical work

work

to

level of

who
of the

do, his quota

of

and
to

dim

singand
May

the

consummate

fascinating
pictureof
Tod's Rajasthan with

Indian

of

history.He

And

let

us

think

of the

attain
completedproductionmay
artist by taking note of the
chivalrypaintedin the pages of

materials

memories

domain

merely digests,or he who undertakes

collation of manuscripts,each
has his

to contribute.

which
perfection

in the hands

in the

labourer

meanest

derived

of deeds which

from

folklore and tradition

the local bards

delighted

to celebrate.

this

thought

to our
trumpet-call
younger
o
f
and
historical
be
stimulated
students,
generation
they
may
in the spirit
to approach their task of study and
research
of
serve

as

the true historian !

18

II

RENAISSANCE

THE

Vice-Chancellor,

Mr.

We

16th

the

in

Bengal

in

touching the
to

mind

my

Ferishtha
the

on

16th

level,and

same

which

minute

most

is

there

period,

few

history of

pages

Bengal

are

very

is the

to be

ever

the revenue,

of

this

The

much.

us

"partly a historyof

account

systematic history

inspiringreading.
translation
stands practically
deserved
celebrityis of course

Dow's

then

regarding

is little in

not

Briggs of

But

again.

of

in Stewart's

Century

presented in

Ain-i-Akbari
a

help

not

indispensable but

as

Ferishtha

there

events

information

Century, though

guides do

modern

our

of

sources

our

writing and chroniclingof

and

BENGAL

Fellow-students

and

fortunate

are

IN

the

remembered

Emperor, partly

household, treasury,

and

militaryregulations
India
No

and

work

other

of his

collection

other

gives such

learning, traditions and

of

court

journal,the

author

the

to write

found

that

in

of

vast

"

title and

the

the

authors

It is most

containing
division

Akbar

interesting to

note

puts forth

as

his

India

under

Akbari

history

the wide

of

plainsof Hindustan,

extent, the

as

and have
affairs,
*

glimpses of

the

man

etiquette,cookery recipes,or

of

it is

discharged

divisions,such
and

vivid

most

Tabakati

undertaking
empire

Majesty'ssayings and teachings.

pictureof contemporary India, its

customs, and under the pompous
style

connection

this
of

of

religion."

treatises upon
In

Gazetteer

details

amid

disclosed

are

with

matters

governing

the

duties

of

classes
rulers

of

their

times

bequeathed

have

them

as

written

(of the world) has yet

been

21

of

not

which

form

had

of its

in many

to
a

by

any

an

assumed

Sindli,
of

their

posterity.

singlework

affairs of this

written

He

Akbar.

histories

memorials

extraordinary,therefore, that
complete compendium

apologiafor

Bengal, and

Dehli, Gujrat, Malwa,

the

what

(entire)

historian

BENGAL

neither have

IN

the

connected

events

been

collected in

One

ought
togetherin the
Of

literature.

and
the

are

of Hindustan,

Empire, the capitalDehli,

book."*

one

5th

A.t).

the centre

also to refer to the wealth

all,there

Above

with

of this

the seat of Government

had

CENTURY,

SIXTEENTH

THE

6th

of materials

Volumes

of

Elliot's
of

priceless
poeticgems

few

such

but few

to

I propose

gathered
History.

vernacular

our

speak in some
little detail. Before doing so I may, however, be permittedto
On the passingof the Ancient
ments
Monua parenthesis.
interpolate
Act in 1904, lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of India and
of our
words.
Chancellor
University,uttered a few memorable
told us,

He

"

It is

given to

shrine

commencing
suddin

that

time

to

not

heard

of

the

whole

since

now

which

of

in

secure

the

of

up

according

of the

conquest by

of these

and

should

1001A.H.,

to the

several
His

so

of God's

few

who

good

many

preceded

of that

conceived

embrace

account

the

(which is the

date

time

bo

of all the
of the
of

had

introduction

reigned, closing each

being found

in the

ability.

22

Akbamama,

yet

and

compiling, in

the Ilahi era,

India; and
been

have

quered
con-

the earth

of

of Hindustan

under

come

thus

be

been
the

ed
protect-

simple style,

of

Hindustan, from

of

Islam

into

the

stan,)
Hindu-

dividing it into chapterB

chapter with

which

powerful

acquired,have

will

but

compilations.

fractions

ever

kingdoms

much

was

of

of Hindustan

Imperial Highness of the particularprovince under

much

there

whole

all the

climes

the idea of

Sham-

bin

beyond tljeconfines

seven

vince
pro-

the enthu-

deprived of

of the

Majesty

this

in

incomplete

illustrious personage,

thirty-seventhyear

dynastieswhich

His

hoped that the

fortune

an

kingdoms

might

history of Ziai Barni

and

account

Nasiruddin

the

to

detached

vicegerent, and

prosperity,I

victories in full detail

compiled with

Minhajus Siraj compiled

in the

inlying and outlyingprovinces

it is to be

Empire, and

Subuktigin,367 A.H.
to

with

met

sword

great sovereigns

peace

history which

times

the

his

only

their reverent

I received

which

misfortune

priestin

Pandua

of which

is written

the

with

pilgrim

as

and

greater portion of

people had

grand whole, and

one

of the standard

and
a

of the

none

included
shade

in

united

been

Firoz

the

them,

concluding with

single history that comprises an

by the world-subduing
have

for

the

I have

Imperial Government,
I have

Ghori, and

illustrations,
As

are.

repair.

Tabakati-Nasiri

is the

of Sultan

the time

India, and

in

disturbance

to

to-day, because

visited

the restoration

Mu'izzu-ddin

Sultan

thence

from

from

is best known

which

with

and

India

to Gaur

home

books

charged myself

studious

nearer

Bengal, in

of

of

have
I

have

their

much

you

beauty

duty

and

custody
bring

of

of

temple

the

except from

realise

archaeologicaltreasures

the

the

at

work

to

"

wbat

*The

gems,

Allami

of

account

an

notice:

the

Abul

account

Fazl

has

RENAISSANCE

THE

siastic
and

cooperation of

twenty

an

of

ace

St. John's

Church

wonderful

remains

BENGAL

late Sir

the

yea/'s ago the

within

were

IN

tombs

John

Woodburn.

of the

Calcutta.

Only

smothered

hundred

Afgan Kings at Gaur*

for
provide paving-stone

being despoiledto

in

few

back

years

these

in

jungle from which they

had to be cut free. If the publicwere
of
literally
fullyaware
has been
what
which
to
done, Malda, near
they are situated,
would
be an
of
excursion
from
constant
this place. We
object
have

were

restored
similarly

Cuttack

and

the

the Hindu

palace

and

temples of
temples

on

Bhubaneshwar
the

near

rock-fortress

of

Rhotasgarh."
The

reference

Buktyar Khilijiand

Menhej

Ali and

also of what
The

makes

to Gaur

recorded

I take

the

of

one

think

events

which

in the pages

to be

Ramcharita, publishedas

of

one

the

times

narrated

are

of Tabakati

invaluable

an

of

Nasiri

historical work
its

3Iemoirs

;
"

by

of

by
but
viz.

the

Asiatic

Society,which tends to throw lighton the dark

pages
of the historyof Bengal in the first half of the
1 2th
and the
second half of the 11th
Century days which precededthe
in Bengal. My objectin
of the
Mahomedans
appearance
is to show by reference to a conthis parenthesis
crete
interpolating
not
as
are
example that even
regards Bengal we
devoid of highly valuable
historical works, and to
altogether
make
the confession that before
chosing to dwell on 16th
Century Bengal I had at one time actuallythought of speaking
"

to you

about

the

Ramcharita.

Century in Bengal trulywitnessed a Renaissance,

and intellectual awakening
Undoubtedly there was a spiritual
the people. Enthusiasts travelled from placeto place;
among
mind was
a brisk
brought into contact with mind ; there was
The

16th

circulation of
in

ideas.
fertilising

Europe opened out

in

which

course

*When

the

brick-field and
Gaur
the

quarry

by the builders

of its enamelled

earlydays

of

our

revenue

has

the

capital fell into decay

bricks

the

classical Renaissance

for
enlargedmen's capacity

and

of time

the intellectual life of

If

on

of

to be

come

Western
the decline

administration

"

out

Havell.

23

essential

World, the
of Mahomedan

Dacca, Murshidabad

being farmed

an

to the

and

culture

part of
of

stimulus

rule,Gaur

was

used

as

mantle
Calcutta, the rightto dis-

landholders

in

the

district

in

IN

BENGAL

THE

SIXTEENTH

CENTUJIY,

with the
enthusiasm, the contact
spiritual
of foreigntrading nations,the liberal
a

wise

to attend

ruler anxious

A.D.

merchant

turers
adven-

tolerant

to the educational

policy of

needs

of

the

peopleand prepared to grapple with the difficultiesof social

result in the
problems all contributed to produce the same
ourselves in
Bengal of the 16th century. Let us remind
"

of the

this connection

of the Renaissance, which

Culture
In

the

Europe, with

himself

and

thousand

years

of

of

is one

Renaissance,we

became

are

Burkhardht

told,man

spiritualindividual.

of the conditions which

world

The

made

discovered
fetters of
the

and

of

this

possiblebeing the

man

in his

historical classics.

our

burst, self-realisation became

were

of the

valuations

new

pregnant words

became

goal,and

current

; some

intense life

the
revival of the
art and philosophy
of
city-state,
the weakening of authority,the
of
disintegration
antiquity,
belief. As in Europe, so in Bengal, after years of gropingin
the dark, in Green's picturesquephrase,
men
opened their eyes
this
and saw.
mental
In some,
newly awakened
curiosity
busied itself in thinking of the nothingnessof human
and
life,
of the Beatific vision.
In some,
in tryingto realise the glories
their devotional ardour found employment in singingthe praises
of the new
others again pictured the
of the apostles
spirit
;
gloom which had so long prevailedin their social and political
existence,
surroundings,thought of the delightsof an idyllic
and the beauties of external nature in
and sang of the glories
land of green
verdure
this green lap of earth, this wonderful
and
pasture. All these phases of feelingfind expressionin
of the

our

rich collection

which

any

purpose
we

of

peoplemay

to note
have

in the

many

condition
political

an

of

Vaishnav
be

literature

justlyproud.

present connection

"

What

collection
is most

of

to my

is that in this literature

the social and

on
interestingside-light
Bengal in the 16th
Century which

in
almost
detail the truth of the
curiously confirms
every
picturewhich I propose to present before you with the help
in some
of my
of Muknndram
subsequentpapers.
24

RENAISSANCE

THE

have

made

IN

BENGAL

passing reference

the remarkable

to

personalityof Chaitanya, and to the rich vernacular 16th

Century Vaisnav literature. The theologicalaspects of this
of these
literature do not fall properlywithin the scope
courses.
disI pretend
to speak with any authority
Neither can
But
the philosophyof Vaisnavism.
on
no
one
dwellingon
to pass it by. The
16th Century Bengal can afford altogether
of the
influence
exercised by
accounts, among other things,
saintlycharacters like Isvarpuri,the devotional ardour of
like Protaprudra,*
the wanderings of the apostles
potentates
of the new
conversions made
faith,the many
by them among
their constant protestsagainst the rigidity
and the
the people,
crueltyof the caste rules,the intense ecstatic joysfeltby these
mysticsas they dreamt of the Beatific vision, each of these
in the panorama
of lifein 16th Century
forms a distinct picture
Bengal unfolded in the pages of this literature,and affords
"

material

valuable
of the

for the reconstruction

of the social

history

period.

Truly historyrepeatsitself. The phenomena with which

meet
familiar in Europe during the
Renascence
we
are
us
everywherein the Bengal of the 16th Century. Think of the
scholars in their Alma
Mater, their native
pride of the new
seat of learning,
periences
Navadioip,and think of incidents like the exof the triumphant Kasmiri
a
wandering scholar
when the
associated with that stage of Chaitanya'scareer
of widespread
teacher
apostleappears before us as a distinguished
of
with the trulySocratic spirit
reputation,endowed
and things. We
all know
how in the Engmen
land
questioning
soul of that great apostle
of the li)th Century the poetic
of culture and master of criticism who spent his best energies
in protestingagainst the inroads of philistinism
on
English
"

otii qfsm\ *W

fan *tf|*
sPm

sfl1$ f *lt"fl
^ ct$1*t*tfi
l
f"^lCWS.5^ ^3*1 II
f*Rl"TtefT

ii

Chaitanya Charitamrita.

25

BENGAL

IN

English social

literature and

so

CENTURY,

A.D.

ideals is filledwith
he

whenever

unspeakahleemotion
City!

SIXTEENTH

THE

thinks

venerable,so lovely,so

strange

of Oxford

unravaged by

and

ful
"Beauti-

"

the

fierce

of lost causes,
home
century,so serene
and impossible
and
forsaken
beliefs,and unpopular names
she
as
lies,spreading
loyalties.Yet steeped in sentiment
the
her
moonlight, and
whispering from
gardens to
of the Middle
her towers the last enchantments
Ages, who
Oxford
will deny that
by her ineffable charm keeps ever
to the true
goal of all of us, to the
callingus nearer
is truth
to beauty, in a word, which
seen
ideal,to perfection,
from another side-" nearer
perhaps than all the science of
is the
enthusiastic
tribute of Matthew
Tubingen." Such
Arnold to Oxford.
Similarlythe hearts of the exponents of
when
Nabyanya are lifted up with prideand delight
they sing
of Navadwip. "O, who
of the glories
quately
can
hope to singadeof the glories
of Navadwip
the home
of enthusiastic

intellectual life of

our

"

"

of venerable
scholars,
scene

of

combats."
Oxford

thousand
Such

of

teachers

learned

and

erudite

discussions

is the tribute of

and

Professors
of

the

"

perpetual wit

Chaitanya JBhagahat

to

the

16th

Century Bengal. And then the wandering

read of the European Renascence
We
scholar.
that that
was
"the age of the scholastici vagantcs
the Knights Errant of
the New
Learning,possessedof and practisinga multitude of
arts,and masters of a mysteriousvarietyof knowledge. They
at the
Courts of Kings and princes,
in the rapidly
are
seen
multiplying universities,in the houses and homes of every
"

class of

They

men.

academical

are

famous

lecturers like

physicianslike Paracelsus
Bruno."
It is a pictureof this

thingswhich we have in
16th Century English drama
of

Bungay

which

that remarkable
entitled

Eriar

scene

Bacon

is

in

and
state

the

and

old

"Friar

supposedto have been enacted at Oxford in

the presence of King Henry on the occasion of the visit of the
German
panied
accomEmperor to England. The Emperor comes
by a triumphant wandering scholar the redoubtable
"

26

IN

BENGAL

SIXTEENTH

THE

A.D.

CENTURY,

Van.

Henry,

the stout

from

come

this

of

commander

Mighty

to be

Bungay is learn'd enough

But

Oxford

and

To

find

Cambridge
a

them

in his art.

him

givennon-plusto

I have
To

go seek their cells

must

to match

man

Paduans,*

the

Sien, Florence, and

of

friar ;

Jaques Vardermast,

with

to compare

English isle,
Plantagenets,

Bologna,

fair Rotterdam,

Rheims, Louvain, and

Frankfort, Utrecht, and Orleans

And

must

now

Crown

Henry,

All hail to this

sit to hear and

That

see

What,

hath the German

Van.

What

call

Men

Bacon.

countenance
Between

Now,

Sen.

K.

me

Bacon.

"

as

acted
that

amaz'd

man

than

more

thou

thus
question'st

Bacon.

Lordly thou look'st,as

Van.

Thy

art thou

done.

royalcompany,
this strange dispute!

stand'st thou

Bungay, how

right,

me

they all have

with laurel,as

me

Enter
Bacon.

if he do

if that thou

as

if science held

the

circled arches

monarchs, hath

her
of

learn'd;

wert

seat

thy brows.

the

found

German

his

match.

Emp.

Bestir thee, Jaques, take

Lest

Van.
Bacon.

thou

dost lose what

not

the

now

foretime

thou

foil,

didst

gain.

Bacon, wilt thou dispute?

No.

an
Incidentally,

interestingenumeration

days.

28

of

the

various

seats

of

learning of those

THE

Unless

he

RENAISSANCE

were

And

friends who

My

are

myself and
delightaccounts of
his disciples
will
than

Europe.

Eor

the
respects,
M.

over.
"

and

Arnold

saint is

human

doubt

no

Eastern

till the

go on,

read

with

monasticism, in

certain

essential

the

like Sales

nature

and

is over,

revolt

contention

all the world

mystic are the same
us
speaking on a cognate topic reminds

ineffable sweetness
and

have

saint and

ideal

The

wondering
the ecstatic communings of Chaitanya and
to similar experiences
in
excuse
a reference
take it, in spite of the
differences in ideals

"Western

between

the

competent judges of these things

more

who

Vandermast

done

thou

vaunting and
utterlynonplussed.

is

German

hast

what

the

on,

so

BENGAL

learn 'd than

more

For yet,tell me,

IN

a
serenity,

and

in

nature

the whole

swallowed
infirmity

Eenelon,

or

man

up in love."

which

far

as

In

of

nature

struggle
possibleto

as

reference

the

to

experiencesof that beautiful soul, Eugenie De Guerin, who

appealsto our love and adoration almost with a compelling
force,he quotesfrom her journals,
"

',Poor

is that

is the

soul,what

soul,poor

which

will do you

Well,

when

I will go

is alone

one

body

This

which

morning
to

be

nothing

it ?

everything

How

beautiful

it

alone, and

all this b eauty

What

shall I do then P

of sand

on

head

my

Yes, work, work

that

like

Keep busy

the

soul."

to the

suffering; well,at present

was

floats

only.

In

soul cannot

an

calm,
I tried

comforts

calm, and

am

act of faith.

trouble,without

vain have

Arnold

with

faith,to

divine

nothing human
Matthew

to

eternitywithout

there

poor

of flowers.

I should

basket

with

walk

does mischief

faith,simply

and

"The

is green,

Where

read,

Again we
"

saint and

No,

is worth

take

Read, write, pray,

hermit

out.

breath

have

you

good. Everything

is in bloom, all the air has

is.

would

matter, what

alarm.

things

at

like

upholds

the soul,nothing human

sorrow

of God

work

time

owe

of death

deep of

is the

suavity which
other

think

can

Over

this I

this,

it."

adds,
rest

the sombre

satisfied with

the

joy of trampling
29

the

triumphs
pride

of

self-abasement,

of life and

of

reason

BENGAL

IN

CENTURY,

SIXTEENTH

THE

underfoot, of reducing all human

of

iteration
she feels
incurable

one

every

as

of

bottom

the

at

"

with

everything one

finds

mystic

true

which

words

uttered

the

but

joy to insignificance.

Bossuet,

have

Protestantism

and

Catholicism

and

hope

repeatsthe magnificentwords

She

A.D.

indefatigable
emptiness,but

must

feel,their

ever

sterility.

saintlyideal of the Vaisnavas ?

of the new
not
find in the apostles
faith,as in Eenelon
far as possibleto
Prancis De Sales, the whole man
as

Do

also the

Is this not

swallowed
infirmity
us

compare

Chaitanya

for

bold

the four

in which
what

touches

in

human

second

the

Charitamrita

characteristic

"

example

of

close

the

at

occur

in love

up

we

and

"

Let

both

striking lines
of

canto

the

which

Antalila

of

brings out with

are
regardedas
universally
in
features
Chaitany's

the author

unmistakable
prominent and
selflessness,the
personality;his overflowing love, his own
teachingof self-renunciation to others,drawingout and making
of his many
ardour
devotional
manifest the deep pietyand
the

followers.*

journalsof Eugenie De Guerin

the temperament which also pervade what may
the
be looked upon as the Tabletalk of Chaitanya as it is recorded
jotted down
by one of the best
stealthily
e.g. in the notes
Again, have
spiritand

of

known

his

we

not in the

disciplesviz., Gobind

the monumental

chaptersof

Das

Charitamrita

and

in

of Krisnadas

the

later,

quote justthree short texts the first by way of

of the ideals of the Vaisnavas,the other their
one
illustrating
disregardof caste rules, the third the spiritof toleration
which
was
slowly permeating the societyof the day. As to
the fortitude,
the powers of
the idealf,we read, let the patience,
of the Vaisnavas
endurance
equal the fortitude of the trees of
Let

w^
*.*

4^F

me

"

urn*** "wft-w
~

*fatt TO

*ta fH * rtn
"OpMBt"5Pi
*m*[$ wr c*h faf *ri*m
i

ii

,_.,

II
Wf TtfT *Tt5-"ft"

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30

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\$m

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frgstfntPR

ii

woodman's

As to their
declaration

ever

cry
down

cuts them

BENGAL

in

out

protest when

? Do

they ever
witheringand

ask

the

for

help or
when
even
they are
slowly dying?
disregardof caste rules,* we have the passionate
zeal by one of the neophytes
f made in his new-born

axe

nourishment

they

Do

forest.

the

IN

RENAISSANCE

THE

to the effect that he

mlecha, had

consorted

with

low

class

peopleand with those who had no scruple in

and
persecuting Brahmins, and yet he
slaughteringcows
ultimatelyfound acceptance with the apostlehimself. Then
have a most
as
we
regards the absence of a persecutingspirit
We
told that the
are
Mahomedan
important statement.
ruler of Gaurj on
hearing of the multitudes who nocked
declared that he is truly an
round Chaitanya as his disciples
follow of their own
accord impelledby
crowds
apostlewhom
and

no

low

caste

selfish consideration.

hostilitytowards
preach whatever
prophesying.

practiseno
teach

and

libertyof

the

Akbar

of

Dream

as

it is

wonderfullymoving

Abdul
O

and

Mahomedans

the Vaisnavas.
he likes.

Let

Let

him

Chaitanya

have

perfect

tempted to refer to that beautiful

presentedin Tennyson'spages and to

I feel

this connection

In

let Kazis

Hence

lines which

the

translate

feelingsof

Eezl,and introduce Tennyson'spoem.

God

every

in every

language I

temple I see people that see thee, and

hear spoken,peoplepraisethee.

W\

*g ^tf^f^^lCW{
^1

^ft5m

^OR

w$w

between Chaitanya and

JRteR

I;

ifrte Ttatoi I

reft t*U osfaft cm

Interview

3p"H

in

Ramananda.

31

Wt
CftafTO

lM

ft^ wtd

*$% TO

c^^t

"fl*fa"Sft^1I

c*rfa^

^^

tfts "rtoi

^ **

fa*R

BENGAL

IN

Polytheismand
"Thou

art

Islam

CENTURY,

feel after thee.

without

one,

the

SIXTEENTH

THE

holy

Each

it be

If

equal."

prayer, and
peopleringthe bell from love to Thee.
murmur

Sometimes
the

if it be

frequentthe

Christian

it is thou whom

But

mosque.

A.D.

religionsays,

Christian

and
cloister,

I search

people

mosque,

Church,

sometimes

from

temple

to

temple.
Thy
for

elect have

neither

Heresy

of

to the

dealingswith

no

them

the dust of the

But

perfume

the
the

to
religion

rose

heresyor orthodoxy;
of thy truth.
screen
orthodox.
.

petalbelongsto

the

heart

of

the

seller.

Is it too fanciful to

wider

behind

stands

heretic,and

either

India

as

Akbar's

in

Bengal so in the
signsof an intellectual

day there are

awakening and a spiritual
flowering,and that the toleration
of Akbar
along with the toleration preachedby the Vaisnavas
is but an indication of the working of the spiritof the age ?
of a great ruler to hold
It is obviouslyunjust to the memory
that his enlightened
dictated purely
policyof toleration was
of
by considerations
expediency or attributable solelyto
political
necessity.Students of historywould rather say with
Mahmud

of

that

suggest

Baki, the

Abdul

toleration

Akbar

"extended

would

recogniseno

to unite all

My

enthusiast

Yaisnav

literature.

of

this

story

attemptsat tempting him by

the

leaders

of

the

militant

of

of

the 16th

refer

of

the

to

of the
flesh

life

century,as it is
the

story

of

of the fruitless

day.
and

abound
bestial sensuality
over
triumph of spirituality
mythology and Indian literature. But students
32

the

them

agent employed by

Brahmanism

stories illustrative of the weakness

creeds, and

peace."

is the narrative

an

that

them, his objectbeing

placingbefore

pardon my

Vaisnav

Part

religionsand

between

bond

common

31a-dsir-i Rahimi,

of

all

to

difference

friends would

history of a
presented in
Haridas.

in

men

author

one

of

Similar

the

final

in Hindu
of

history

Ambapali

of

attained

us, built

in

as

there narrated

world

informs

presenteda garden

is told in

Charitamrita

Chaitanya

In all essential

of

and

from

taken

the

as

the
points,

which

direct

Charitamrita

and

are

greater fullness.

with

forests

the

are

after

Haridas

and

Pa Hian

as

identical,but the episodes to

are

specialattention

in

of Budha

Chaitanya JBhagabat.

versions

two

and

the

to reside in.

story of Haridas

The

renounced

Arhat

an

in honour

Vihara

who

morality and

the state of

to

for him

to him

well

was

to virtue and

Budha
and

who

"

partially
analogousstory
over
by the great
ultimatelywon
of the

reminded

be

prefer to

would

BENGAL

IN

RENAISSANCE

THE

native

leavinghis
Benapul.
his

There

home

he

lived for
himself

built

time

a
a

poor

in

time

lonely prayers, depending

the
alms
for his subsistence
on
charitably supplied by
the people of the
an
locality. He slowly became
object
of adoration
of admirers.
to a steadilygrowing band
But
his
his devotional
and
ardour
purity of character
only
excited the animosity of the
local land-lord,Ramchandra
Khan, who
employed an infamous
agent to bring about
his
failed.
Haridas
then
undoing. The
plan however
to Chandpur.
the
Gobardhan
came
were
Hiranya and
Talukdars
of the placeand Balaram
their priest. They
was
Khan
of Benapul
presenteda strikingcontrast to Ramchandra
cottage,

and

spent

interfered

never

time, in

Once

on

held

the

were

dancingin

air, when
the

clad, like the

before

she

could

induce
"Men

Samson

him

call

not

"

with

practicesof

Haridas.

solemn
stillness
a
night,when
the tinsel-slippered
of the Ganges
waves
moonlight, a beautiful damsel, sumptuously
Dalila of scriptural
narrative
appearing
on

him

the meditations

sight of his
I am
Maya*

sstlft
^fal,^fa" ^ftnftttw

raw*

of

Haridas.

forget his duty towards

to lose
me

austere

moon-lit

intruded
make

the

ideal.
illusion

Then
and

sraitfa
#PW

33

But

himself

or

lady said
earthly love, my
the

itft*ratt*prtfaft

"

IN

BENGAL

teach
and

to tost your

was

purpose
me

devotion

and

on

go

"

gladness in your
to
participatein the flood
resignmyself to the force of

may

A.D.

prosper

but

"

heart, purify me
of

divine

love,

the torrent

so

is

which

strong for me."

too

pictureof

is the

Such

of the 16th

does

literature

In

not

Century,Gold
drawbacks

from

of

breaches

live

an

fancies

the

subject,I
theological

my

Vaisnav

altogether free

in

of the

from

in

chimerical

angeliclife on

the

attempts

in

this

the

to

exempt

regard

unctuousness

rid of

get

delusions

the

flesh

about

special
self-righteousnesswhich

divine election."

to refer in this connection

occasion

extravagance, exaggeration,

earth, from

objectof

the 18th

been

ever

religiousmatters,

miracles, from

itself the

England of
things, had

kind has

follies,from
taste

the

other

among

movement

good

true of Methodism

beg

Methodism

and

providencesand

be

to

Smith,

cant, from

and
and

win

"no

"

that

part of

usually present in all such literature

experiencesof apostlesof a new evangel.
speaking of the history of
passage

Evangelicalism and
to observe

devotee

are

remarkable

view

seem

the

records

which

the

which

drawbacks

this

passing from

hazard

to

venture

Vaisnav

typical Bengal

century.

Finally,before

CENTURY,

part of the

help me

that

SIXTEENTH

THE

I fear what

is also true

is

of Vaisnavism.

ted
interesting
episodenarraof Krishnadas.
in the Chaitanya-charitamrita
The episode
not merely from the present pointof view, but also
is significant,
to illustrate how Buddhism
still livingon
because it serves
was
the
in the land of its birth but was
losingits hold over
public
mind, and how the nascent ideals of the yet youthfuland vigorous
Vaisnavism
were
filling
up the void left by the decadent

Budhistic
4^1

CsWi^

"IN c*ct

an

cult in the India oi the 16th

'sitft
CTtfcroTtfal II

fffonr otre
f ^^Fi fc"torf"t
*ra

to

century.

fca cits ^
towtost*

"ft*i^Rflt**i"ra1 ii

34

win

lw"

l^, frtt^
f ^fa
^3

carols

^1 "iw,

wl

"?$tffo*fa

BENGAL

I conclude
which

IN

SIXTEENTH

THE

with

this paper

A.D.

brief reference

of

in the Madhalila

occur

CENTURY,

to

few

Chaitanya Charitamrita

texts
texts

"

I
meaning and whose significance
trust will be at once
apparentto all students of history. The
illustrate in the first place the
passages in questionof course
enthusiasm
the
intense
which
sayings and the doings of
found
Chaitanyaexcited in the country and how Vaisnavism
its recruits among
all ranks in the societyof the day. But
they also show how Bengal in the time of Chaitanyawas to all
the
into small
intents and
cut up
principalities
purposes
domain
of a Hindu
chief like Protaprudraborderingon that of
on
a Mahomedan
chieftain,*each domain
being administered
to
different principles.This inference which I have ventured
out by
draw from Vaisnav
literature would seem
to be borne
Feristhcts statement
that 8 he re divide i the kingdom of Bengal
which

to my

mind

full of

are

"

among

number

independent of

chiefs

of

and

another

one

for his
appointedKafi Fazilet,a native of Kurrah, famous
These principalities
learningand policyto superintendthe whole.
had to be welded togetherto form
a
dom.
homogeneous kingThis was
the Mogul
doubt the task which
no
Emperor

Akbar
*

Wt

set before

himself, and

the

1H3tts"I "flC*"B(fa4t"
I

*WI
*tff*tl

vsts"hi c4? "w

^ii3 pfJnm n

vgT^

f*t:^fllire

v}n "sjfa*T*
I

4^5

11

1*|C4"i" Sfc*ifcl *ftl II

vStS "OI

fti4T*i1
13 if% 4fi sfa

iti

ciWto tefal4""ei

3W5

c*i4tc"i c*$una

sfpl 4i"T4^tfti4H1
ei^i^^

^^

ii

ci| efi3j
c*rf"ral
i

ft^^c* ci^m-itf*

failII
'

C*Tt4"
PWflJPI
31

fllSI

1C1 4Z1

1C1

41*

"?$i*

c*ii4"si

it^prs"tti

^Sf=T
"si^t^t^I
41^ ^1

i^j*t heii

||

wfi

f* 4ft lit? 4lC*f 1$tlf$111

ii
I

4tN" itfrt^i
cs^. ifa*t*tii

C\5tll1C5| 4^ ire Itft^

II

cifire^tslti
Id

ftf*CH I
ftitifefpl
stti nr$%r

i
1"fi ift ^tsol or ? "Mta ^itftfi

3fa lfC"tII

*tf1c"fi^i"fiittreitw

1*

intft4lit iti *^cn orfwi 1

^ws ^4*^1 ^"ti 4liitt5 fin

1#t"l I

stci ill 1tt5 4"1C1 3^1

si* "?T4 cit4" ^fci

*fl ItftII

1ft5It* lt$C*W
-STtfl
I

"$fl11C11

cant*

44" isrtitift"rls?"tfftt^s i
^C1*

cifit^c^r atft I

ftitiItflU 3^1 N*llf*11I

*fi"f *' 4c^ c^rci ft^*i^
Il^fa
4E?
tall4ft fef"1tC4

ciirei

reference

"4ftC1"61 '^1 f *' 1ft

^Mi

i*rci n

it*

4f"tt1 ^fca ^13

3tC1 4tCT

under

passages

fs^ ^cw

"3i n

fllfll
I
C4

*IW

36

ii

^ffl-i sjtti "rgi liftii

"CSB5l Tfa'3 4"C^ 1^1 151

II

tfHE

RENAISSANCE

BENGAL

IN

the difficulties of the task.*

illustrate

administration
evidenced

hardlyhe

can

An

said to have

uniform

system of

existed,and

this is

the difference in the

of the peopletowards
feelings
the administrative
authorities in their respectivelocalities.
Conservation
of peace and protectionof property must
have
been extremelydifficult in certain parts of the country, for
the land was
troubled by piratesand ^*1Ht(J. In this matter
the testimonyof Charitamrita
coincides with that of Mukundand it is clear that the river dacoityof which one
hears a
ram,
culties
greatdeal even in our days has been one of the perennialdiffiof government in Bengal. How
rampant the evils of
Dacoity were in Bengal in the earlier decades of the 16th
Century before Akbar's authoritycould be firmly established

be

may
which

by

from

seen

certain sections of the

Chaitanya Bhagabat

with

its

teeming population
of scholars and
traders, there were
obviouslyorganised
bands of robbers under their regularleaders who did not scruple
like swords
and
to use murderous, dangerousweapons
lances,
and spears, and
discussed and
and
met
who
axes
carefully
known
to be
planned their operations.These Dacoits were
such to their neighbours. They were
a terror to all ; yet none
dared

second

The

reign, the

by the

reign of Akbar
of

whirl

Government,

Turkish

the

episodewhich

% narrates

an

North-West

of

India

of

single vassals

the

risingsand

wrought by

revolts

continuous

traveller Sidi Ali

Kcis.

warfare
In the

"

same

during the

the

and

insurrection,and
and

army,

bore
confusion,necessarily

in

the

the various

Vide

Note

reforms

csm

fortynineyears'

the

one

he introduced

sant
incesin

the

stamp.
Culture

in Eastern

Lands.

V.

"faC5$^t3^3
C"1 ^US

of

exhaustively

Princes, was

which

years

legislationof the realm, inspiteof all the existing

severely Asiatic

J ^rtsfrua4"^ fltt ^t% ^tsit^i

latter

against the Central

manner

Prof. Vambery's Western

t

throws

all this has been

Glorious,undoubtedly the greatest of the Mogul

strife
in

of

incesant

Nabadwip

them.
texts

the devastations

Government,
described

of my

grievous condition

Humayun's

in

Even

to interfere with

The

append,f

^U

CSRt^*t

V\m%

ci^f
"TfC5cvff^mi

wm

hp"I||

4^ ife *tft"tfe*l5"K

tW\

lf%* *W
*Hf*v5tf?RlftW

I)

"ttift
iwv safari n
cartel

^te

37

fata

^*lt3 u

"R

*M"1 II

jr MH"
etc*c$\fm\

itfiffl
ii

IN

BENGAL

curious

sidelighton

methods

in vogue

SIXTEENTH

THE

administration

the

A.D.

CENTURY,

justiceand

of

the

property in
the land.
Chaitanya is in one of his trances, surrounded
by
the
five of his followers,lying senseless on
ground, and
foaming in the mouth.
Suddenly there appear ten Pathan
Government
horsemen
officials,who
immediately arrest
followers of Chaitanya suspectingthem
the
to be thugs
had
him
of all his
who
drugged Chaitanya, and robbed
for the

life and

protectionof

"

possessions,and
all

execute

the

Mussulman

Yaisnavas

the

for

episode speaks

summarily

itself, and

Khan*

of

time

last

the

the

In this connection

references

Hindu

towards

followingrapid

the

on

the

fWi mwIw

^ftta Ft*fsH

^tts

nMft "WI

then

Hindus

sketch

of

general
the
day.

of the

fortunes
in

itsrts
c"rc"r

^jfa stoics TtfsssS^

t Bengal is
extending

from

an

extensive

Bundar

amounted

sixtykrors of dams.

former

to

times, its governors

elephants,and
Salim
revered
subdue

Khan,
father
it.

400

or

this

war

country

mounted

Strenuous

500

and

3tSl S^

(the port

of

in

(One

kror

always
boats.

From

remained

adorned

efforts to effect

*tt4"1
Wte fllttII

^'^W

second

the

8000

the

the

throne

its

conquest

38

of

fiftylacs

the time
iu

Its

clime.

of

horse, one
Sher

"

Khan

kos.

Its

Ikbal

ndmd.)

for

Afghan
Afghans.

long time

koe,

revenue

In

soldiers, 1000

Hindustan, lie appointed

were

450

breadth, from

lac of foot

possession of the
of

220

rupees

length is

its

and

(Midnapur), is

and

maintained

had

ti^sjI

c^t ^

Chittagong) to Garhi,

province of Madaran

to the

mountains

sts

flftpFSnJIcsR
^feres ftofI

country, situated

the northern

?s^

^s

StSt't^t
^t^fl'tfSSS^tfeslII

f"c?i

StSf^tC^II

Chatgam

s^sl II

a*

S^CSWS *ttffi
"fa TJCtM"*t$*r|
||

sts ^s fast i
"5rWs c"tt%1

starts^

"

at a Fsre etc? stwi Tfrt "tffi|j

i

tf^isttscs csuz}1 st5%ri ii

$ts at sts *ar

fa*r "nzf\*tftsflrtii
arti%

starts^

i\ cy)usstartkwl

stJR

some

3t S5^ 5ft'i%
*P?, sftflirtTl Ttfscs

fes tt^l StS star Ft^Fatfiw II

"fid sts

the

at

speaksof the relation of

and
master
predecessor

passage

tes Ttiss"rtft
wfi
s^ts

states

ruler of Gaur

will help us
to realise
Bengalt given by Dow
the placeof the provincein Akbar's Empire
measure

4lbut

The

stantial
circum-

of

QCJR

to

spot.
the

on

eloquent commentary

attitude of the Mahomedans

the

on

of my

Mahomedan

to his immediate

Khan

suppliesan

and

and

Chaitanya

Hussain

the

was

threaten

comment

The

details is needless.
that Hussain

horsemen

his

and
When
an

maintained

son

my

army
and

to

at

the

After

of the

downfall

started

into

up

Ghor.

and

thirteenth

century, when
under

the

near

invader

Tartar

prince of

countries

the

into

sat

the

on

to the

in the

in

kingdom

his

for

it in

governed
by

distant
India

length it
was

was

From

exceptingonly
the

to the

kohaltdsh

the hands
defeated

Man

Babar

of

of

death

to

reduce

glory

illustrious

king

of

Bengal

from

that

of

followed

too

wealthy

of this

conquest

Akbar, who,

scope

to the

period, till

by

the

the

by

Pathan

race,

Delhi

debilityof

the

Aliverdi

usurpation of

of fortune, the

tending
ex-

even

empire. Viceroys from

to his

race

from

the

of the

; and

sovereignsof

deputies

an

Humaioon,

him

deprived him

and

him

put

of that

misfortunes

The

Afghans

these

Diiud

scattered

who

KiranT,
by

When
had

of

the

that
East

to succeed

and

last

ruler of the

39

of the

governed by servants
the

distress, and
the

governor

and

recesses

the

on

whole

throne, in the
of

the

Empire,
of

the borders

country

first year

country, and
Waki'Atml

him.

country, who

Jahan.

in

I ascended

long been

the

Khan

remained

fell into trouble

Singh, who

Kutbu-d-din

of

present the country has been

of

remnant

and

Imperial dominions.

reign, I recalled
my

to the

By degrees

country.

annexed

are

the

when

empire ;

only prevented

created

abilities

Company.

his forces

that time

derived

frequently

Delhi, some

father,but

revolution

wonderful

The

'the

1574

gave

province

from

wrested

killed,and

formed

prince of

conduct

arms.

last

the

India,was

the

at

permit

his

kingdom,

Shaw

and

acquired;

to

son,

the year

the

Mahommed
now,

had

Babar

expulsionof Daood,
annexed

of his

Bengal by

reserved

valour

reign,not

his return,
of

to

independent sovereigntyunder

an

Bengal.

conquests

which

upon

of this

name

after reduced

of

of the Patans

government

beginning of his

the throne

was

it became

the

held

it

in

When

change.

Delhi,

When

the

soon,

of

untouched

remained

and

weak,

its governor.
end

of the Patans

the dominion

throne

was

emperor

possessed

lieutenant,who

the

Maho-

of Delhi, who

emperor

the conqueror.

revolution

subject

The

soon

was

province,governed by

Bengal,during
to

Patan

the

the

by

Chillagi,who
Oxus.

he

; but

now

of

beginning

invaded

of

race

of the

Eas-uldien

was

authorityfrom

his

the

the

to
first

was

source

subjectionby Altumsh,
Bengal

it

the

at

princes, it continued

these

opulent kingdom,

powerful
medans,

Under

provinces,

governed by

was

chieflyresided

who

Rajas,

other

and

independent kingdom,

an

capital of

deserted

like many

Afgans, Bengal,

dynastiesof

successive

BENGAL

IN

RENAISSANCE

THE

of

was

my

appointed

Jahangiri.

IN

BENGAL

I would

In this connection
a

from

few beautiful words

Moguls in India
Festing,placedin our
rode

commends
Once

our

time

upon

there

the

Sittingon
how

was

throne

enough

to hid them

in time

of war,

because

the

his

shut

out

the

men

had

ground

down

them

from

they

could

not

not

the pangs

of

Hindustan

his

at

every

tongue and

camp

and

court,

city,with

no

all

unite

foe.

He

the

saw

unhindered
the wise

and

clothes Himself
was

in

our

has

a
own

not

"

banners

free
so

by hands,

the

Father

to

himself

the

in full.

to have

40

made

Yet
it

and

the

who

laws ; and

the

women,

should
common

with

he

saw

contained

the

fifty
years

it is

in

in

they pleased,

that it would

come

who

is not

as

of

men

and

repela

as

men,

saw

place

the

saw

worship

and

He

land

to

his

race,

aliens have

sti'ong sons,

universe

three hundred

realised

He

of all

knew

in

honour

when

pyre,

strong hand,

Empire

God

this material

Akbar

their

children ;

dream.

they kept

One

with

of

of the

the

more
it, infinitely

of many

afraid.

mothers

multitude

day, after
been

hearts

rising to

before

dream.

Alien

of

rule

them

unmulcted,

bowing

temples made

It

the

because

to know

but

them.

to

among

made

"

funeral

dreamed

he

creed

strength,the

under

beneath

make

poor

were

dwellingin security on
to

one

to full

grown

or

on

put

oppressed,

holy places

endured

women

the

and

race

their

corpse

under

peace

in

to

pilgrimages imposed by

and

day ;

in

or

they held

the

how

saw

land, as the

the

due

was

because

they themselves

flames

over

since

he

the

when

lit the

poor

captive,

away

persecutedand

employment

husband's

strong

was

another,

one

than

more

men

upon

what

saw

yearned

saw

tax

childbirth

the Brahmans

yearned

none

among

complaintsof the

the

times

many

worship

the

out

saw

into the dust, strippedbare, because

fathers,and

pay

living,to

heart

chief, and

heard

honourable

even

He

conquerors.

bound

all

of their

might

parcelled it

and

and

Hindustan,

over

quarrelled with

He

pocket.

own

gods

dream.

slain,driven forth homeless, carried

peace

When

Birdwood

George

out

with

He

tax-gathererextorted

into

dreamed

warred

cease.

the great

of

who

despoiled it

chief

themselves,how

Sir

Delhi, he looked

had

"

eloquentterms.

king

of

marauders

time

which

notice in such

to

Gabrielle

I refer to her

last year.

book

before

place

gifted writer,

that

hands

Delhi," a

to

you just
popularversion of the fortunes of
further

which

the

Kings

A.D.

CENTURY,

SIXTEENTH

THE

in

spiritwho
garment.

not

last. Even

of progress,

something to

have

true, though

it

seen

only

in

RENAISSANCE

THE

part

for

and

byword

among

to when

how
It

was

the

or

he

he did to turn

staircase.

and

It is not the purpose

have

dreamed

The

an

into

Emperor

was

reality.
tumbled
in

headlong down

possessionof Bengal

Bengal

leaders

Moghul

become

the

from

army

has

vaguest ideas as
comparatively few know

Humayun
Afghans were

The

new

dream"

when

Delhi.

the

counsels,and

who

the dream

Ganges Valley,and

Agra

upon

what

time for dreams

no

the stone
and

of those

many

he lived

much

"Akbar's

little while.

BENGAL

IN

boy

of this discourse

advancing

was

divided

were

in their

of thirteen.

to

into

enter

too

for as J. A. Symonds reminds us

purelyhistorical details,
of his prefacesto his Renaissance
in one
in Italy,
The
historian of culture sacrifices much
that the historian of politics
will judge essential,
and calls attention to matters that
find superfluous,"
the generalreader may sometimes
his main
of national geniusidentical
objectbeing to paint the portrait
through all varieties of manifestation."
many

"

"

should,however, like

to recall to your

mind

terestin
highlyin-

two

to be found in the pages of the Tabahati

pen-portraits
the positionof affairs in the
throw light on
Akbari, which
ment
Bengal of the 16th Century on the eve of the final establishof Akbar's authority
to the defeat of Daud
: one
relating
by the imperialforces and the conclusion of a short-lived peace
with
him
after by Daud, the other
broken
which
was
soon
having reference to the transfer of the capitalof Bengal from

Tanda

and

to Gaur

After

the

the death

conquestof

the

of Daud
Daud

who
had

suffered

with

despair and

to

message

party of Musulmans

is

the

flightof

his attention

Katak
in

noble
but

41

he

beg

that

him

amessenger

in

ready

corner

of

the

to Khan-

strivingto
am

his

Gujar Khan,

stared

"The

work.

Raja
pursuit

sent

(Cuttack).

and
succession,
Death

to

to the settlement

Banaras

this effect :

Daud

Orissa in

misery,he sent

no

subject;

towards

slain.

support, was

face ; so, in his

become

defeats

several

and

amirs

refugein

had taken

khanan

and

country. Then

other

some

mainstay

and

the

affairs of

with

Todurmull

Tanda

first devoted

Orissa, Khan-khanan
of

of the Khan-khanan.

to

crush

submit

this

wide

BENGAL

IN

of

country
rebel."

The

discussion

the

upon

and

Next

the nobles
and

himself

and

attendants

the

troopsdrawn

be

to

in

up

it,Khan-khanan,

with

walked

down

half-way

Daud

loosened

him, said,"I
like

men

in

his

by

their

Afghan

his

the tent

he

tired of

am

his

him

After

the dishes

discussion.

then

Imperialthrone,

have

brought

of his stores, and

become

now

promised
that

The

stringentoaths.

out

the

to

country

it your

of

Then

he

him

bound

he dismissed
started

him.

the 10th

Safar, 983, he

report of

his

delightedand

Avere

sent

made

Avere

the

by

to

hand,

kind

most

and

served,

were

take

confirmed

promise by

be

you

my

with

his

making

him

broke

for your

has

my
been

this Avarlike sword."

hands

own

have

requested

you

tanlcivah

with

you

great
"You

will confirm

Majesty

afresh

then

therefore

have

as

of

Daud, said,

to

settled upon

His

up, and

drawn

jewelled belt

course

any

his

was

peace

under

came

peace

Imperial throne, and

may

Court

it

; and

showing

great varietyof gifts,

up,

Khan-khanan

and

his return.

on

robes and

The

worthy

on

handed

and

never

with

support.

courtesy, and

every

he

the

the sword

on

would

and

"

it before

Daud

of

terms

he

support,and I feel assured that

proposition granting this to
I now
granted to me.
gird you

holding

the

presenting it

Orissa

and

up

partake.

sword

approached
they met,

sweetmeats

treatyof

subjectof

give

to

and

Daud

When

sword,

made

drink

protestedthat

Khan-khanan

value

and

removed, the

were

Daud

hostile to the
the most

and

pressedhim

the Khan

the

fine

officers,

respect,rose

gently taking

side,

he

it inflicts wounds

took

Then

by
fatherly inquiries.Food

of which

since

war

and

nobles

the belt, and

Khan-khanan

you."

seated

from

sword

in

of the tents.

him.

to meet

all

held, and

places

When
and

to meet

bindingoaths.

to be

in front

arms

great courtesy

of his attendants.

one

Court

present

after

and

out

come

solemn

by

proceeded to the tent of Khan-khanan.

and

On

should

grand

after

never

accept the proposal,

to

the agreement

ordered

assigned to

Khan-khanan,

determined

Daud

be

may

content, and

rest

this to

of the fort,attended

out

came

will

was

confirm

Khan-khanan

day

array,

it

that

condition

Khan-khanan,

support

communicated

amirs

considerable

granted,

A.D.

CENTURY,

sufficient for my

Bengal

If this is

me.

SIXTEENTH

THE

reached

arrangements

satisfied with

jewelledswords, and
to

Khan-khanan,

confirmed.

42

the

to

the

and

Tanda

the

who

Emperor,

conquest

of

horse

Avith

capital,and

all the

was

sent

greatly

Bengal. Splendid
a

golden saddle,

arrangements

he

had

BENGAL

IN

SIXTEENTH

THE

I stated in

"With reference to what

A.D.

CENTURY,

part of this

earlier

an

regarding Akbar's anxiety to grapple with the

difficultiesof social problems,I hope to placebefore you
on
a
subsequent occasion the Emperor'sordinance about marriage.
To-day I content myself with alluding to a record we have
discourse

illustrative of Akbar's

in the Akbamama

questionof
In

the

the immolation

interior
for

of

his widow

flames

funeral

happily with

him.

in every

of his

had

died

Bengal,
Udi

been

of

sacrifice.

and

his

As

As

Letter to M.

There

with

themselves
my

part

writers

many
their

husbands, that
turn

themselves

in

so

great

number

enemies

think

as

true

to

formerly,because

that

people,who
for fear of

ready
for

are

some

to burn

them, make

promises,and

far more
revolt

than

numerous

But

with

their

give them

this

converse

ask
own

permission of the
women,

remonstrate

permission, but

after

that

and

free
that

burning

women,

of it.

believed

that bear

hinder
leave

exercise

it

their

things

tried

as

idolatrous

of their

respectivegovernors,

they have

sway

much

as

they oblige the

to them

For

yet in the

they do not

now

Mahomedans,

willing to
the

following

the

to

the

to

these men,

of it like others

custom,

by indirectlypreventing it, in

themselves, to go and

never

themselves,

of

some

it, and

the

in

speed

"

to you

is said of

what

if

delay night

all

at last will be

write

barbarours
presentin Indostan, are
they are
they can ; not opposing it absolutely,because

at

to

her

fear that

of tho Indian

custom

something

also,and

observing withal, that 'tisnot

His

; but

to burn

be invited

may

4th, 1667

October

relatingthe

Chaunsa.

him

made

rode with

Mogul India,attention

of voyages

Amirs

the

Emperor's knowedge,

the

fully known,

not

were

Chapelain, dated

going to take my

am

meantime
burn

so

are

in

prevent any
(son of

proceedings,some

his horse, and

facts

burning of widows

to the

Bernier's

from

the

these

Mai

join

to

unwilling

to

came

stop the

to

he mounted

so

place.

Raja, was

matter

messengers

to

vicinityof

the

appointed

party of his bigotedfrien ds, resolved upon

The

been

and

his forces

in

under

come

this time, Jai

feelingof justiceand humanity

sent

occur,

with

sent

and

over

them,

About

sunstroke

Singh, with

the

he

were

place

carefully

to watch

between

wife, the daughter of Muna

son

country had

since the

district,who

being forciblyburnt.
Deo), who

lived

honour

the

graciousMajesty,inspectorshad

discriminate

cases, :to

the

have

not

may

dies,

into

herself

cast

she

husband

assemble, light the pile,and

But

family.

cityand

woman

in

cheerfullyto

relations

of the

rule

Mai

when

custom,

pile),although

"

it,thinking that they thereby preserve

character

two

read

We

Occasionally love of life holds her back, and

then the husband's

the

it is the

willinglyand

(ofthe

her upon

of widows.*

Hindusthan

the

attitude towards

religion,
women,

who

with
all these

send

annexed

gentle

THE

in

their

RENAISSANCE

of

BENGAL

disposed

were
thoughtlessness,
*

disturbances.
and

IN

Rai

Sal

forward

came

foolish

these

when

But

His

He

The

student

in connection

with the work

their

achievements

and

leader
of

assurance

confinement.*

if he

thus he excused

historywould

of

the

brought

accepted

in

repentance, and only place dthem

make

Majesty arrived, Jogganath

him, and

to meet

to him.

men

resist und

to

quotes

Akbar, round

of

manysided activities of the Renaissance in the

India of the 16th Century,and who was
the livingembodiment
of the manyfold impulsesof the period,
Macaulay's admirablywhom

centred the

worded

estimate

which

of

is inscribed

the

services of

the

at

foot

of

Lord

Bentinck

William

Bentinck's

statue

in this

city:
He

abolished

liberty
elevate
to his

ways,

to
the

and

intellectual

till they find

Mahomedan

rites ; he effaced

cruel

expression

of
and

humiliating

public opinion
moral

; his

character

distinctions
constant

of the

; he

study

nations

gave

was

to

committed

charge.

that many
no

the

burn

them

fix'd in

their

sottish

resolution.

those that live upon

themselves, especially
governors

Twenty-eighth year

are.

of the

reign.

Akbarnama.

4.5

the

Which
lands

yet hinders
of the

not but

Rajas,

where

BENGAL

THE

IN

SIXTEENTH

NOTE
conclusions which

The

A.D.

CENTURY,

I.

I have ventured

from

to draw

the narratives and

in Vaisnav literature regarding

the political
condition
episodesinterspersed
of Bengal in the earlier decades of the 16th Centurymay be placedby the
from Stewart's pages :
side of the following
"

With

in succession
to

Khan

Daood

the

the line of
236

years j and

sovereigntyof

the

Afghan

theyhad held the uncontrolled

of which

of the

Government

The

Bengalkings,who

countryfor

that

over

conclusion

terminated

with

nation

him

had
was

that

over

for nearly
four
possession

Afghans in Bengal cannot

reigned
brought

province,
centuries.

be said to have been

nearlyresembled the feudal system introduced by the

and the succeeding
Vandals
into Europe. BukthiyarKheelijy

monarchical,but
and

Goths

made

conquerors
districts

these

certain district as
inferior

the

their

of

persons

did not

however

landlord

of

the other

subdivided the lands

chiefs,who

petty commanders, each of whom

of their
soldiers,composed principally

domain

own

their

the

was

assigned to

were

amongst
number

choice of

maintained
relations

or

certain

dependants
;

cultivate the soil themselves,but each officer

small estate,havingunder him

certain number

of

Hindoo

of self-interest,
he conducted
tenants, to whom, from the principle

himself

with

change

of masters, and

justiceand

moderation

constant

scenes

and had it not

been for the

of rebellion and

frequent

in
invassion,

which

littleregarded,
the cultivators of the soil would have
privateproperty was
would have
been placedin a state of comparative
happiness
; and agriculture
flourished,as it subsequentlydid in another partof India under the

government of
The

to

averse

their
also

condition

much

been

their

countrymen,the

of

the

upper

Rohillas.

classes of Hindoos

deteriorted ; but it is

business,or

chiefs,farmed

to
permitted

that
probable
frequentlycalled away

out

retain the

their estates

advantagesof

to

the

many
from

mnst, doubtless,have
of the

Afghan officers,

their homes

to attend

opulent Hindoos, who

manufactures

and

were

commerce.

authorityof the Afghan kings of Bengaldependedmuch upon

their personal
and conduct.
We have seen them, on some
occasions,
ability
at
other
influence
times
little
no
on
actingas despotic
sovereigns;
possessing
often insulted,
beyond the town or cityin which theyresided,
murdered
and even
by their menial servants.
The

46

RENAISSANCE

THE

IN

NOTE

II.

Sher
Students
Sher Khan
Sher

of

by

BENGAL

Khan.

remember
historywill always gratefully

Shaik Nurul

Khan

made

Hak

the

in Zubdatu-t
which

road

Tmvarikh

viz.

from

runs

now

is said of

what

Delhi to

Agra by

sarais. Before
and building
cuttingthrough jungles,removing obstacles,
that time,peoplehad to travel throughthe Doab between those two places.
There
much
that if a lone
was
so
duringhis reign,
securityin travelling
to
woman
were
sleepin a desert with silver and goldabout her person, no
would dare to commit
theft upon her ; and if it ever did so happenthat
one
lost any property,the mukaddams
of the village
which was
the
one
any
of the robberywere
the
to fine,
and for fear of its infliction,
scene
subject
zamindars
Sher

Khan

Sher-kot

founded

founded
He

day.

absence
It

patrolthe

founded

also for

of rebellion and the

is said

would
say,

for

by

way

"I

of

its defence

lengthof

his

has
I would

showingwhat

would

have
widowed

arrived.

his

own

of the
a

which
river,

broad wall,which

was
reign,

name,

as

Sher-garh,

the river Jumona, he demolished

the banks

lookingin
empireonlywhen I

what

seen

far from

was

when

once,

evening prayer

have

night.

cities after

many

cityon

new

have attained the

time

roads at

and since old Delhi

it and

used to

broughtto

exists to this

throughthe
completion.

he exclaimed, "Alas
glass,

! that

have reached old age, and when

Had

the

it been otherwise,the world

accomplished."Sometimes he would
difficultand even
templated,
objectshe conimpossible
have

made

bridgeto

span

the ocean,

and

have

so

woman
helpless
might without difficulty
To this day there exists a caravanserai
to Mecca."
perform the pilgrimage
at Mecca, in which Afghan fakirs reside.
of his building

contrived

that

even

and

47

BENGAL

IN

THE

SIXTEENTH

NOTE
Eighth

Remission
It

A,D,

III.

of the

year

CENTURY,

reign

(of Akbar).

of the Pilgrim Tax.

old

for the rulers of Hindustan

to exact
standingcustom
who
from the pilgrims
contributions,
accordingto their respective
means,
visited the holy shrines. This tax
called karmi.
His Majesty's
was
judgment and equitycondemned this exaction,and he remitted it,although
issued abolishing
An order was
it amounted
to krors of rupees.
accordingly
*
*
*
it throughouthis dominions.
He
was
pleased to say that
and the
the vain superstitions
of the multitude,
a tax
on
althoughthis was
devotees did not
pay it except when they travelled abroad,stillthe course
their mode
of worshippingthe Almighty, and the
they adopted was
be
and obstacle in their way could never
throwing of a stumbling-block
in the sightof God.
acceptable
was

an

NOTE
Ninth

of

the munificent

ninth year of his

which,

in

reignwas

country

so

of the

year

Remission
One

IV.
Reign.

of the Jizya.

acts of the

the

Emperor at the beginningof this the

remission of the jizya(poll-tax
upon infidels),

extensive

as

Hindustan, amounted

to

an

immense

sum.

Akbarnama,

48

THE

RENAISSANCE

IN

NOTE
Adventures

of

band

V.

of Dacoits"

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TO

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49

BENGAL

IN

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ii

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^fa*r$fr

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CENTURY,

SIXTEENTH

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50

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A..D.

BENGAL

IN

SIXTEENTH

THE

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IfUflMOKU ^f* t^t^

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CENTURY,

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IN

RENAISSANCE

THE

BENGAL

"ft^l
fW

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*ttef"ft^iw "Rpr ^w
%=* 5^1 c*rre ^^t*
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i

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qtiwt* ft*tl

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v5"rfa
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I
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ii

ChaitanyaBhagabat.(Anta k hand a)

53

BENGAL

IN

SIXTEENTH

THE

and

Protaprudra's Patronage

fswrtraTfaft w
SttCT.SItW^W
^^T

A.D.

VI.

NOTE

*tf5W

CENTURY,

enthusiasm.

Missionary

"rti^ii

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I
I

I
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f*$j ^

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Mi

ii

ChaitanyaChariiamrita

5-1

Ill

MUKUNDRAM

AND

BENGAL

IN

THE

SIXTEENTH

CENTURY,

A.D.

(I)

Ill

MUKUNDRAM
AND

Vice-Chancellor,

Mn.
I

of information
to

literaryexcellences

of the

speak

which

occasion, excellences

to all that

has

for which

he

have

might

he

may

from

finish,and
literary

catalogue of

wonderful

lay at

the

which

inevitably reminds

of

catalogue
of

fancy

of his

of

Pastorals, or
pages

associated

spoken
evolution
veritable

of

that
of

the

Nimrod

friend

youth, or
that

which

in

his

higher plane of life, to

ideals

of

which

he himself

of his

character

57

in

Perdita.

but

the

which

who

of nobler

the

departed
Britania's

Shakespeare's
I

might

have

poet'sart, the
hunter,

mighty

contemplation

in the animal

catalogue

cataloguein

hero,

realisation

life,partlythrough the

wrought

the

of the

hearse

youthful days,
the

worshipper

pages

perfectionof

to that

English poetry

of

catalogue
of

conscious

referred

the devoted

the

slightest
out
through-

the

have

might

lays on

is the

the

of

Milton's

innocence

the

to say what

being

comes

style,his

his

also of his freedom

in

earlier

Bengali

of

without

of that earlier

even

with

aim

one

student

the

flowers

devoted

companion

of

the Crabbe

deity he adores,

feet of the

to

Mukundram

story-tellers.Otherwise

which

flowers

gathers

the

literaryelegance.

at

attempt

the

by admiring readers, and

glitterwhich

hard

that

hence

present

attract

to

fullyentitle

possibleway,

truest

sources

the

on

simplicity of

of the

to you

spoken

he has to say in the

to

failed

of Indian

genuine sincerity,his

realism, his

attention

not

have

trulyregarded as

Chaucer

the

and

Literature

work

said of his poem

been

and

not, however, propose

of his

European scholars, which

of

attention

I do

viz. Mukundram.

"

(I)

chief authorities

of my

another

to

come

now

Fellow-Students

and

A.D.

CENTURY,

SIXTEENTH

THE

IN

BENGAL

is raised to

and
of

kingdom.

a
a

spiritual

the

havoc

But

I feel

IN

BENGAL

that I

enough

scholar

not

am

SIXTEENTH

THE

CENTURY,

to dwell

on

A.D.

these

aspectsof

the

poem.
I have

said that

literarymerits
be

mistake

scholar

not

am

enough
work.
poetical

of Mukundram's

to suppose

that because

he

to

speak of

the

it would

Eor

writes in

Bengali,his
to the average
work is intelligible
Bengalireader of our day.
in the same
His Bengali stands to modern
Bengali much
Chaucer's
relation as
English stands to modern
English.
and
Persian
from
Arabic
Words
sources
were
being
added to the current
vocabularyof his day. And
constantly
his freedom in the use of the stock of words at his disposal
was
a

like the freedom

much

very

We

of the author of the Eairie

in this connection

remember
fittingly

may

what

Queene.

Craik

has

poet'sarchaisms and his mannerisms

Spenser,for our
ing
of a correct understandnot the only difficultiesin the way
are
This is what
read of Spenser's
of his meaning.
we
truly
of words
is like nothingthat
"His treatment
lordlyfreedom.
was
ever
breaking the back
seen, unless it might be Hercules
lion.
He givesthem any shape and any sense
of the Nemean
demand.
he merely alters a
Sometimes
that the case
may
said of

letter

or

two.

twists off the head

he

Sometimes

or

the tail

altogether." Those who know

Craik's words
would
at once
Mukundram
recognisehow
to characterise the Bengali poet's
be borrowed
faithfully
may

of

the

unfortunate

methods

of

vocable

composition.

in
was
preserved
original
poem
there being no
printingpresses in those days,and
manuscripts,
also used to be recited,like other poems
belongingto the same
of
went
by the name
category of religiouspoems, which
Mangals, by the class of bards whose business it was to give
various readingscrept in ;
recitals of these. As a consequence,
would
perhaps be made
purposelessemendations
pointless,
and
found
whenever
was
unintelligible,
a particular
passage

And

thus

With

the

then

the texts.

corruptedin
of these
some
printing,

would

originaltext

the introduction

The

of

be

58

various

ways.

poems

began

BENGAL

IN

and the frame-work

SIXTEENTH

THE

into which

CENTURY,

A.D.

to fit his

many-sided pictures
of the various aspects of the national life of his day. The
second part consists of the storyof the mighty hunter, while
of
of the trials and experiences
the third gives us an account
one

of those merchant

in Elizabethan

adventurers

England

in the

the discoverers of undreamt-of

The

invocation

who

had

explorersof

their

counterpart
lands

unknown

and

trade-routes.

Chaitanya*startles us by its presence in

is avowedly written
which
work
at the suggestionof a
a
goddess,and which is therefore intended to populariseher
of Indian
worship. This is obviouslya proofof the catholicity
to
societywhich had alreadylearnt by force of circumstances
to

rival creeds

harbour
wonderful

within

hold which

her

bosom.

It

shows

also

the

the

teachingsof Chaitanya had gained

the public mind.
over
completed
Chaitanya,born in Nadia
in the
his wanderingsat Puri and ended his earthly mission
thirties of the 16th Century and yet our author, the exponent
of a rival creed,speaksof the devotion of his companions and
the enthusiasm
of his many
followers as of a quiterecent and
personalexperience.
"

"

It has

thus

Chaitanya and
Mukundram
of the

be

to

noted

the influence

that

teachingsto be drawn from

inferences suggestedby a study

of his

the
precisely
professedVaisnava literature
are

WH

^T*rc^rajtfl
^mfr

^jfS?CT*tt!?l"RIM

of the
WW

cflu,

HWv

^^8f OfR fa^

fr^l

CWJ

efSKI

C5T3,

$tv5 I

*ttf5l I

*\$\
I
frt^ffi

at"ltoll "ifw *\m

vpsii Tt*i

day.

C*['4,

^W

"(9 W

regarding

inferences

the

*rf?tQipiPi

"

t"rtit"i$*tf".
^"ra-ccTt^-c^fa

60

ff"Mi
"pw

*itwa

ftfa,

MUKUNDKAM

At the threshold of
its

of

origin,a

to be

came

the

statement

written,

are

we

poem

given

of the circumstances

statement

which

account

an

under

arrests

which

it

attention

our

not the least importantof which

pointsof view
of his
conceptionof the source
are, in the first placethe poet's
and
secondly the view which it opens up before
inspiration,
of the political,
social and economic
condition of Bengal in
us
the latter half of the 16th Century. The
following is an
literalrenderingof the poet's
account.f
"Hear,
approximately

from

various

"

*ft ^t^l 'SpTft

sifa^iI
fam^ "rft?N frsit,

^fsi=ii
wx7?

*rat,

inNi Wwi

ii
Afttftimdram.

itnra "rt,

^m\

"w ^w

^fa*

Phildot,

"WW

^Tt^Jfifa,

cits "rt* Hf

fft^liPW ^tsfare||

fcfftl
OT^Ifl

fSnc^fji^tfcit^iw i

if*^w

1W

II

"ti to

froj,

II
1W V$l (falWtP
ffrty
^p ^ 7ftv5||
*rau
far fro,
"ft to fcii*,
jfiPk^
f^j"tft^r-'jf,
c^
^w
wl i
c4h^-TO-$W4-*ft*t
'WEI*
i

PI

4MPRM1 ^trer,

Mr

^cti wwifi,

-ststa "tWl

fCT,

pwifki ctf5 pwi,

itftitw "tartaortufii
n
N"fl^ta

^rtftsi
ctt^ ift,

"RWl

Ifa,
ftHfRf"tc"r

II?!* OCT *H

frwtll"W tl,

fat tMffil"W,

"mn ifim faf*.

^5

"w f^s ii

itfipift
ffalWf,

Jfttftl
"filMl,
51^5 fjn"vim

"n#i

rtftffa^bi v,

^^^ ^fir?
^
ftsri
Hfl itftl
^ *r,
"rW ^r,
*IH
"tttinfj in fir"# n
Pw ^tt*r*v"wi ^ra ii
ft#fW ;sn^t"(wtBr,
fercw "tt^f^tf^
5W fffwTtftcsrtsr, 'srf^ft
(^pi"H?I,
ftw *J c^^ attf^E
"^^
"
^91 ^? ffl ^^^ '
-

ifSffltll
11
C^ f^l^tfil

5"t CWl %8H

61

^^(^

II

BENGAL

SIXTEENTH

THE

IN

CENTURY,

A.D.

a
on
peopleall,how the poem originated."It was
that
the goddessChandi, descendingfrom on high,sat
sudden
by the head of the sleepingpoet, assuming the form of his
lived in the township of Selimabad, Neogy
There
mother.
tilled lands in
lived and
Gopinath, an honest Raja. We
Dhamania, in his taluk, for six or seven
generations.All
praiseto Raja Man Sinha, the bee to the lotus foot of Vishnu,
King of Gour, Banga and Utkal ! Daring the reignof the
of the
sins of the
account
Man
above
Sinha, on
people,
his
Sharif
Muhammad
got the Khillat ; Raijada became

assembled

minister

and

merchants

the

foe

the

regime became

of

traders
Brahmins

lands, by placingropes

measured
and

they measured

the

cries of

coitalis

15

the

on

to

rayats. They

The

angular sides of fields,

bigha. They disregarded

the

rupee

they

gave

interest

as

2J

you

culturable.

pie per day

one

per

ding
correspon-

(death).For

Jam

less,while

annas

of many

to be the death

came

poddars became

They

Vaisnavas.

and

lands as
people, and they entered unculturable
They exacted compensation,without conferringany
benefit.

the

alarmed, and

became

every

selves
for them-

they took

rupee.

Khoja, who, in his angry mood, paid no sort of regard

Dihidar
to the poverty of the people,became
official).
(village
His anger could only be appeasedby presents of rupees, but
and
there was
nobody to buy your cow
paddy. Our lord,
"A

failzw\

t*Uv\lawfl,

"tts5lfa ^ftra *wto

.

TO

qoi *tafifflf,

frSfo
"H3F1 ""$,

stul,

vft c?$

9\\p\ to"i ftrarfs-\5

"

s^K

ii

m:*

stfifca
jtto ?fo,

*tu,
g$

^R

ft"l$*1fMll
*$,

^t?t ^9i^
"srt3tsl

?"rar %5l

*it*tft
^z"\

MH
iffl 5t*f f*tft*fl

1CW *tWt?i

spft,
Ol
^^m *f$$ toi

flSJft^T||
IffHJ 5?f*l

5tfaC tit fa*P

H*ffe ^tPffi Ufa

"TITlpe!
w*i
SJ\*"1

"

*t"rlfat ?*t *t$i ""faa

*n

T?faiftm ^n

"w

*wwte,

BffPl ^oft

^1

*f**i*"w

iftr,

II

ii
Ifiifcwjidram.

62

MTJKTJNDRAM

GopinathNeogy, by
there

were

be

to

came

for his release.

means

no

accident,

an

Peadas

arrested,and
all

were

about, for

fear the

rayatsshould abscond, and kept guard at every

door.

The

stock

of

worth

rayats were
rice, paddy and

Chandighur,
with

Khan,

Gambhir

ten

and

He

the river Garain

with

the

reached

Providence,

arrived

we

conferred

Gangadhur

and Jadu
live

to

us

We

way.

Kundu

Teli

Bhye

protected

fears,
in, allayed our
three days. Descending
minds

our

fixed

uncle's

maternal

my

on

house, and

favours.

many

Parasar

"Leaving Narain,
Gokra.
My bath was

on

me

stream, with
at

on

me,

sufficed for

the

of

Khan,

counsel

house

own

which

alms

us

gave

his

us

gave

Srimant

annas.

to

accompanied me, having met

Telegawa.
Bupare assisted me,
us.

They sold their

day to day and articles

and, taking
left Dhamania;
Bamaaand

help

of

was

heart.

from

cows

for

sold

rupee

of

sore

man's

and

Amodar,

arrived

we

at

only was my drink

and food, and my infant child cried for hunger. Sheltering
myself under the raised bank of a tank, and with offerings
of Shallook
(rootsof the water lily),I offered my pujah to
the mother
of Kumud.
Overpowered by hunger, fear and
in a
Chandi
fatigue,I fell asleep,when
appeared to me
all gracious,
dream.
the shelter of
She was
and offering
me
her

feet, she

bade

me

"Leaving Gokhra,

without

oil,water

compose

this song.

accompanied by

Bamanand

Bhye

we

arrived at Arrha.
is

"Arrha
as

Bankura

ten arrahs

me

tutor to his

beauty of
"I learnt

me

this lord of
of

Brahmin

paddy.

men

Son

in

is its lord,as

wise

poetic stanzas,

and

of the brave

Dev, possessedof all virtues, employed

as

in

I addressed

Vyas.

he gave

Brahmin-land, and

with,

mind

and

me

he,

forth
thence-

boy. The boy Baghunath, unequalled

body,acceptedme as his guru (tutor).

the mantra,

and

Madhav,

which

she

long meditated
63

on

(Goddess Chandi) inspired

this Maha-Mantra.

Then

BENGAL

IN

THE

I took the leaf and the

on

my
kinds

"By

order

of

his

dress

got

Sri

order

will at

is

As

close

and

following is
StopfordBrooke :

two

version

the

The

the

caste!

dwell

the

on

historical

of Csedmon

the

coincidence

may

be

placedside by

be

found

to

By

is full of

to

case
parallel

yet
suggestion,

that

curious

I propose

from
points,strictly

the

"

religious
poem

new

But

poet'sdream,

obvious

perhaps too

in

equal

no

courtesy of demeanour

reader.

noticeable

the

to

songsterwho

that this short account

seen

modern

only a few of the

pointof view.
1.

be

once

the

for

in

has

sings,and
publicity."

(Mangal)receives
interest

who

Kankan

Kavi

the

me.

ornaments, dailyrehearses the song

and

is unrivalled

who

of

greatestcare

lord of men,

Raghunath,

Raja Raghunath,

dignity,and

It

A.D.

ink, and she (Goddess Chandi), sitting

dream, and always took the

my

Praise be to

his

CENTURY,

reed pen, caused poetryto be written by me

in different
Ramanand
of stanzas.
was
companion. He knew
my

all about

has

SIXTEENTH

in

the

is

so

side.
of

pages

"

Credmon

was

at

servant

him,

to

came

feasts

that at the

he

stables, for
to

came

had

And

he answered,

and

came

sing."
of

began

the

In

gifthe

the
had

morning

all said

that

done

for

sing;
said

the

sing ?"

he

verses

heavenly

some

song."
feast

added
to the

came.

grace

Lord.

64

men,

And
had

when
been

verse

steward,and

that

the

ning
beginhe

and, awaking,
in

more

to

shall

you

Whereupon

God,

of

One

I left the

"However,

other.

praise

came

cause

so

to the

gone

replied. "Sing
the

and

sung,

this

other,

he

the

to

before learned

his

and

so

received, and, being brought

to tell his dream

whence

verses

he had

what

remembered
of God.

sing

gift

in turn

all sang

said, "Caedmon, sing me

things," answered

created
to

the

when

the cattle,be fell asleep,and

of

and

royalblood,

of the art of vei^se,

of mirth

sake

of

aged

nothing

night, having

Then

shall

knew

for the

care

abbess

an

somewhat

was

he

"I cannot

hither."
"What

and

when

in vision

him

He

One

he left the table.

of Hild,

monastery

in Yorkshire.

Whitby

of song

the

to

Hild,

worthy

told him
was

of

ordered

ment
they might give judgthey

had

conferred

on

heard, they
him

by

our

MTTKUKDRAM

May

be

reference to

forgivena

instance in

these

with their
cases
parallel
and a deepermeanhave a special
ing
significance
the surface when
we
on
try to explain and
phenomenon of tha origin and composition

this connection, in
celestial visions
than appears
understand
the

much

less known

as

as

same
religious
poems in all climes and in all ages ? The
phenomenon which meets us in England in Anglo-Saxonas
itself in the India of the 16th
also in Norman
times repeats
Century.

of

Just

as

the winsome

of legendcasts
spirit

of
hover

over

for

moment

its

the

of

scenes

past achievements.

inspiredby a
storyof St. Godric,like

that of

position
com-

it seems

to

it revisits

of
Again a man
in
sing
praise

heavenlyvision to

The

first

Anglo-Saxon times, so
hundred
when
years later,

birth five

new

lowlyoriginwas
of God.

in

verse
religious

the

glamour over

Csedmon, deserves

to be held in memory.

Of him

it is related that

day,when

one

the

shiningbright

was

sun

in the

heavens,he laybowed in earnest prayer before the altar of the

Virgin,when all at once Our Lady appearedto him, accompanied

by Mary Magdalen, both,

white,
The

in

petitioner

however,

the

possessedby
drew

two

dared

joy,but
with

near

not

years.

Soon,

move.

Our

steps,and

slow

shining

of tender

large,resembling maidens

figure not
was

raiment

with
beautiful,

very

Lady

spoke.
"We
to

said she,"protect
thee
will,"

support thee in every need."

and

confided himself

their hands
and

mother
him

his head

on

the whole

before

stroked the

filledwith

taught him
pupil, and

it all the

days

of

his

fast in his

threw

new

he

hair

sang

once

as

his head

me

with

this prayer,

propitious
helper." Then,
of
the cross, she
sign

he

tears

them

the most

flowingfrom

65
9

had

to

as

the

From
shalt

before
bered
remem-

and

text

pains plagued
him

overcome
"

to

on, if

now

have

me

at

over
making repeatedly
companion vanished,

her

wonderful

his eyes, Godric

laid

she sang

often

thou

after
and

feet,

his

it after her and

life. When

she bade

the

leavingbehind
with

on

at her

holyones

from

which

song,

seek

temples,
fragrance. Next the

sweet

melody
mind,
him, as
him, or temptation,or vexation threatened
sing the same, givinghim this assurance.
thou wilt call

world,and

himself

Thereuponthe

care.

and

place was

of mercy

as

to her

to the end of the

Godric

fragrance. This
more

than

once

tale,

related

BENGAL

to

THE

SIXTEENTH

of

Reginald,monk

with

shield,help thy Godric

the

God.

(cleanness)of maidens,
mind, aid

in my

Sinha

Man

2.

of Jesus

; embrace

of

Kingdom

it

Christ

St.

the

Mary,

to God

Nazarene, receive,
aloft

Christ's

of mothers,

flower

with

thee

abode, pearl

remove

sin,rule

my

Himself."

Province

to the Eastern

came

recorded, together

was

bring him

and

"

to reach

me

by whom

A.D.

follows.

as

Mary, Virgin,mother

into

CENTURY,

Durham,

of the song,

the text

St.

"

IN

in the 32nd

year of Akbar's reign,and did not leave these parts till the
know
from the Aini-Ahbary he was
when
44th year
as
we
"

ordered

the

by

Emperor

jointhe

to

hack, however, after

came

of his
caused

and

Jagat Sinha

son

by

the Af gans.

in the

forces

short interval

very

did not

the death

on

of the disturbances

in consequence

He

He

Deccan.

the

leave

till the

Subah

Jahangir'sreign. We
may thus safelysay that
contains a picture of Bengal in the 16th Century of
our
poem
There is a slight
the Christian Era.
pieceof internal evidence*
that the main
in the work which lends colour to the suggestion
was
composed at an earlier date than the
body of the poem
third year of

pictureof

Our

3.

under

consequence
the

our

poet probably

Hindu

Zemindar,

of the Toder

Aini-Ahbary

was

culturable

demanded

of

We

can

him.

the

and hence

into

we

we

learn from

Bengal between
lands

1575-

entered

were

assessable,and

had

He

the

which

Settlement

as

higherrent

thus to leave his ancestral

happilyfor generations.
heart on
bitterness of the poet's

familyhad

well understand

Mull

poem

remeasured, waste

and

holding where

on

paid a

or

ever
how-

pieceof rent-free land

nominal
quit rent. As a

lived

introduced

was

1583, his holdingwas

arable

That

Sinha.

generalconclusion that in the

Bengal in the 16th Century,A.D.

does not affect

have

refers to Man

which

IntroductorySection

lived

*Ht* iiftsl
i

""rtw wmcw

66

IN

BENGAL

SIXTEENTH

THE

tative of the lord

one
a

have

may

access

should

and

not

from

cease

from

nor
evildoers,

that

the

the

needy

of

cry

headman

the

where

every
of

intervention

scales of
The

with

when

and

agriculturalvalue

He

of

of

ignorance

lands

waste

cultivation

into

fall not

produce and

to

its

less

and

capable
in

adding

other

some

He

by

should

to

with

not

each

entrust

He

should

not

the

his

collect the
of demand

it is true
in the Subah

admit

that

we

the

heed

cultivation,he

increase the

his

the

the

cedure
pro-

bring
is in

with

cultivate
Should

acceptit.
husbandman

should

of

increase

assessment

into

case

what

that

not

differ

deal

husbandman

let him

be

quality.

strive to

stimulate

if the

should

its

remedy

be

him

allow

land

justand providentin

facilities of the

the

appraisement to

his

man
husband-

to remissness
on

and

the headman

incompetenceand

high-handed oppressors,

husbandman, present his demand,

receive
civilly

hand

portionin

year.

and

While

his

of

discrimination

should

villageand

extent

take

with

of the

And

village. He

lest it give rise

village
authoritybe conferred
deal

should

somewhat

in

Let him

measurements.

year

land

waste

no

of

remit

the

should

and

take

plausible
excuse,

He

collectors

He

in different districts and

account

and

half
to

the

several

dishonesty.He

or

augmentation.

urge

be

former

village

him

acquaintedwith

varies

take into

waste.

view

be

the

according

and
agriculturist

cultivation

valuable

there

each

should

engagements

and

of

ascertain

each

them

recover

allow

him

certain crops.

adapted to

consideration.

should

weigh

and

should

assist

should

exertions

reward

of land

ently, therefore, with

the

He

personalobservation

are

the

administer

so

He

of money

received,he

services.

and

stilled.

advances

otherwise

cultivation

certain soils

be

through

bighah or

of his
soil in

shall

complaint

And

each

on

measure

the

punishing highway robbers, murderers

the full rental is

biswah

later

without

heavilymulcting them,

husbandman

gradually.

must

establish himself

him

to

A.D.

mediator.

He

5.

and

paramount

easy

CENTURY,

come

of the
undue

but he should
and

separately

dues.
in

revenue

out

that

of

duringthe
a

on.

88

manner

and

extend

season.

there

to

amicable

an

was

rule

no

ministration
generalmalad-

of Man

Sinha,

very different state of

we

things

MUKUNDEAM

In

Institutes

it is instructive

connection

this

to

note

Regulations*of Jahangir,and

or

to it

appended

Sir

by

the

of

one

the

mentary
eloquent com-

Elliot.

Henry

ment
ordered," declares Jahangir,"that the officers of Govern-

"I

Jagirdarsshould

and

my

subjects,and

is the

commentary.

of

lands

the

forciblyseize possessionof

not

cultivate

for

them

their

own

benefit."
Here

administration

The

"

since Akbar's

"The

edict

kindness

"

governments

farmed, and

were

the

exactingand tyrannical."

governors

further

The

time.t

country had rapidlydeclined

of the

and

of

conciliation towards

than

the

of

much

cultivators,goes

this."

Bengal, Gujarat, and

that

rebels, so

observance

father, eajoiningthe

his

no

one

the

Deccan,

full of

likewise

are

travel in safetv for out -laws

can

all

occasioned

by

exactions

made

the

barbarityof
the

upon

the

and

government,

husbandmen,

the

cruel

drive them

which

to

rebellion."
*

c.

of Jahangir (OrientalTranslation

/. Memoirs

t The

has

land-tax

have

derived

they

have

their

has

adopted

Reformers,

get.

is

introduce

often

have

If,from
any

and

modern.

not

bound

taxation, and

idea

Roman

pay

if any

different.

principle and

He

is

If

he

to

is unable
is

The

far less

to

vis

in

pay,

very

do

not

and

rigidity of the Western

rather

away
the

practice the

Those

under

is made

practice, called
of

plenty in

is liable to be
Western.

raises

order

him

from
the

on

upon

It may

be

Cromer

on

The

is

is

that

rent

it in

The

good

good

the

he

often

questioned

whether

of
elasticity
Government

the

able
objection-

the

required

not

to

tenant

was

all

bad

years

alike.

lean

years.

events

expropriated.
Oriental

Eastern

of Subject

is

is, at

and

deficit in
is

to

purely Western

European system

cultivator,but he

expropriated,and

so

successors.

of taxes

for

reaping.

make

to

more

which

upon

means

he

crop,

to meet

could

capable rulers attempted

non-payment

prefer the oppression and

system.

no

the rule in contracts

major prevented
demand

the

by

no

regime of their

the

cultivator

few

some

theories

arc

they

as

to introduce

endeavoured

theories

which

cultivators

potentates

system which

said that the

the

into

expropriationfor
was

from
at times

9.

Oriental

which
be

have

reforms

causes,

heavy

he

to carry

the

Law, it

in years

save

just,logical,and
sometimes

of

sometimes

much

as

is based.

crumbled

other

or

Under
to

But

always

drought

expected

countries

from
it may

practical purposes
to take

Series)P.

New

"

principal source

Emperor Akbar,

supposed.

almost

in

plan

the

as

of

land-tax.

pay

the

all

generally been

system in all Moslem

as

very

For

such

enlightenedmethods
fiscal

been

always

revenues.

Fund

races.

to

This

cultivators
the

justice

IN

BENGAL

"

this observation

But

of this

country,that

for since the

no

SIXTEENTH

THE

spoiland

of

care

devastations

devastation

all has

propertyof

takes

person

and

become

war

the

vested

in

the

so

appear,

whole

operatesevery where

that in every
and nowhere
is

anything;

of

A.D.

for
universally

serve

may

ruin

CENTURY,

King,
placethe
anything

repaired."
all

the

live

by farming the several

governments,in which they all practise
every kind of tyranny
oppressingthem
against the natives under their jurisdiction,
"Eor,

great

exactions."

with continual

Shore

Sir John

men

in

memorable

minute

which

forms

an

appendixto what is known as the Eifth Report franklyadmits

of Mogul taxation,as far as we
collect
that the principles
can
and

the institutes of Timor

from

of the

the conduct

and

emperors,

Akbar, from

the

ordinations

of their

however
delegates,
give the sovereigna

calculated to
were
practice,
proportionof the advantagesarisingfrom extended cultivation
increased
and
discovered, the
population. As these were
standard assessment
tumar
was
or
augmented ;* and whatever
in
the justiceor policyof the principle
might be, the practice
founded upon a knowledge of
detail has this merit,that it was
limited in

real and

resources.
existing

Referringhowever
notes

of Jaffer Khan,

measures

Zemindars, with

the

"
"

to the

if any

few

management in
employed to scrutinize

the

of all
officerswere

severities inflicted upon

The

Zemindars

c.

the

was

Hodgkin, the

author

assessed

the

sinkingdown
account

of the

into

given to

name

throughout the Empire

on

and his
collections,
their

own

produce.

in arrears,

and upon the

discoveryof their resources,

Indiction.

/. The Roman
"This

to

possesse
dis-

were
exceptions,

the lands and

renters

them

compel

to

Sir John

of

was

Italy and

higher

the

reassessed

value

her
which

system
every

which

was

which

"

their
to

lands
be

charged to

70

the

years." At

Invaders, the few who

poverty obtained,it is

higher rate

under

fifteen

had

value

of the

reassessment,

prosperedfound

acquired,while

feared,but
all."

had

taxable

each

the many

little relief from

land

says, Mr.

themselves
who
taxation

were
on

MTJKTJNDRAM

to humanity
disgraceful

were

and

tortures

and, as

sufficient,the

not

were

if personalindignities

grossestinsults

were

of the people. Pits filled with ordure

religion
all impurities,
used as
were
prisons for the Zemindars,
of Bykont, the
these were
dignifiedwith the appellation

offered to
and
and

the

Paradise."

Hindoo

reference

In

6.

experienceof Gopinath

to the

imprisoned obviouslyfor nonpayment

of

therefore to think

the

exercised

in

of the

those

days.

He

again

existingstate

Vaisnab

from

Mill

of

things.

The

he

helpsus

Ninth

Canto

largeshare

puts
"

have

collector

revenue

militaryforce,

literature

Chaitanya Charitamrita

vogue

James

placed in his hands, and

of judicature."

was

the civil branch

Here

As

it for us,

the

was

policeof

vested with

to understand

speaksof the release of Gopinath

lurid light on
the methods
in

4T

c*rt*Nt"rc*
^srffl star w^.^

StC*

HtWJflC^vFfa f"0 ^T

313

II

^t^
fewjt*i
^3

"^
"Jpfl

wx

"?$ c*rfa"^ f\i farai 11

1#ft"j^ C$C?51?TSff^ff
1
c*rt%t*rit^tw ?t^ra^ "st$n

1W

f *fl^^,

itfaftfs "Itft
^tSf^tSl
3HJ fff*T
B

"tfSf|:5?
$t"^

"Ps"w$

^^m

S^cT^^t^ Sfcsl?W5

$t^

?
.

Ttf^M II

3ft3a1C?^

^fs Sf% Ffa

^^

^fc* ^

"^

cq

^T ^

71

11

*ffl^wi

=rtf%
fid

^ST
eTfflft

II

^f C^tf^
ifw,FtC^ STTt$
||

^tsflc^t^rc^ ""t*Tc^ "^

W1 3ft ^1 C^
C^tfl

iltfare
II
IflTft

srfa*jp(
CSlTfo CJR"
c^m

He

"

'Nti stfaftr^ i

C\5tTfa(TPT5? ^fa*f

iW

dues

WtBR I

3t3?1Ifaftsf
"ttitt1!
*Id

c^rt^NftTsJ
czfk tai 351 "sfN
llWi

of

which

jpfftmc*rfa"ftPl
*fpt ffctfNI
*rtf%
*t?st
*ft

the

of the Antalila

Patyanayak throws a
in those days for the realisation of Government
defaulters.
Gopinath* had
proved a defaulter

w"

was

we

revenue,

vested with

was

of the powers of Government.

"He
the
allowed
of
was
use
the district

which

powers

who

^*rta t Vtfe*ri$,
^

ct

*rfa1

"*itt11

IN

BENGAL

piteouslybegged

SIXTEENTH

THE

CENTURY,

time, and prayedto

for

offered
He
by instalments.
things. But all to no purpose.
him
with a sword
hanging over

He

placedon

was

and

sword

had failed to
pay
realised.
royaldues were

is how

again there is Ramchandra

already noticed in connection

Then
have

Khan

chang

beneath.

the usual fate of defaulters who

dues, and this

we

be allowed to
pay
sell off his horses and

to

off

was

A.D.

of

This

ment
Govern-

Benapul whom

with the

of
experiences

Haridas.
Ramchandra

him,

wife and

his

remiss in

was

the Mahomedan

which

dues, upon
bound

Khant

children

paying the Government

Wazir
hand

came

and

to the

village,

foot,and looted

chandra
days. After that he took away Ramand his familywith him as prisoners.In consequence
waste
for a long time.
the villageremained
a
In this case
to have been a tyrannihowever, the landlord in questionseems
cal
met with condignpunishment,though
person and apparently
I
unfortunatelythe innocent ryots suffered along with him.
should
add that it is justpossiblethat Ramchandra
Khan
is
the

villagefor

painted
deserves
Jessore
Khan's

in

three

Literature in darker

Vaisnava

colours

than

his

towards Haridas, for on the

hostility
side there are still livingtraditions of Ramchandra
beneficent actions towards his tenantry.
because

of

^ft "Ff wk fal "Fft*Mi "^ta I

c^fTt^i *rfac^rfa ^^ct *t%fl

i

fr orft1 1
"srtsftwsflhti
^?, "jrtBFft

^H-^ "rtf?
wt

?tftirtf*i
stsftuf"fr itfa"rtn,

"tjr
"w "5jt*ft
omu
wx
anp ^r
^ifafaifiF
jrart^t,
"5tu?fa ifa ?

fwi ^m
^ftK-it^rtc^

c^ Fp

g^ ^1

TWnu

fam

^tftti
u

cj^^ v^itv fara i

ifaaro crifiin "W

^1J

he

cps

toto

"^fa ^rt^i
^

tf* ft^

C*l TOI

11

"rfaffa
*ni

^ra n

ifftit^T
n

"t^I

"^f^f"ttsj
i

^fai *t"ij"artHfcsrt^
^j

72

MFKUNDRAM

7.

What

about

the

Poddar

that

poet speaksof ? In

out

the

poem he evidentlyappears in a twofold

capacity";
firstly
the receiver of Government
dues giving 2 J annas
less for

as

Rupee
charging an

and

to the

As

The

secondly

name

is called
Fota

terra

derived
The

is

from

office

was

Arabic

Sind,and

doubt

the

cloths

to

not

to

apparel

Podar

Marathi,

it

applied

to

elucidation of

"The
waist

as

itself is

supposed to

be

Arabic

of

the

termed

for

cash

weighing

the landrevenue

be

origin.

ing
distinguish-

potdar

banker,

establishments

used

from

is

public
(Wilson's Glossary).

bullion."

day Fotadar.

named
originally
In

"

name

the

the word

country, and

officer in

an

language of

applied in

no

common

Eor

the

that

portionof
the

in

brought from

wrappers

8.

as

"

Treasurer

or

the

yillage money lender

interest of one
pie per day on every Rupee.*
itselfit is interesting
to note the following
j

every

whence

keeper,
or

money

system of

the

in the firstplaceto go to the pages of the

Historians of India as
Aini-Akbari, and to the Mahomedan
have

poet'sday we

condensed

they are

and

presentedin

Elliot's collection,
but

should also refer to the materials collected

the House

of Commons

India

East

which

the Committee

remark

the Committee

enquiredinto

in 1810.

Company

by

the

Speaking of

Indian

Dow

has

given

the

us

following specimen of

which

enables

and

faithful

Villages

"

considered is a tract
villagegeographically
hundreds, or thousands of acres of
comprisingsome

District Treasurer

of

affairs of the

"A

Ave

to form

us

some

firman

idea

of

or
a

commission

Fotadar'

of

country

arable and

of

Fotadar

official

or

position and

:
responsibilities
"

To

honoured

onr

known

vacant,

that

have

we

that Office. You

of the

Dewany
his

to take

must

in that

beware
And

for the

know

of

Abrahim
of

appoint

commanded

the

Dam

you

are

of the

treating any

should

to send

of his

there be any

this to be

monthly

care

to the

own

in his

deviate from

Jaffier
and

rents

nor

may

the order.

send
are

to

Beg

to

customs

are

are

you

periods,and

to demand

be

it

become

treasury ; and you

after the stated

he

be

hath

royal Exchequer,

hands

agents ill,which

confirmed, nor

Mahomedabad

Pergannah

deficiencies in his accounts, you

73
10

Perganah

give into his custody all the

in your

revenues

of

trusty and diligentservant

our

to

Crorie

abovementioned

district,and he shall lodge it with

keep one

to

Mirza
Fotadar

pleased to

therefore

are

collections.
same

been

receipts, which

permitted
you

Office of

the

as

the

answerable

IN

BENGAL

waste

SIXTEENTH

THE

it resembles

viewed,
Politically

land.

A.ft.

CENTURY,

or
corporation

township."
The
in the

taxation is described

state of

followingterms
cultivators

the

Of

rains.

the

the

thirds.
crop

was

commenced

harvest

the

Before

the

in

ascertained

ment,
Govern-

half of the

one

of the cultivator

share

the

artificial means,

committee

same

paddy
husk) depending on the periodical
the dry grainlands, watered by

from

crops

entitled to

were

produce (thatis grainin

the

of the Hindu

the custom

"By

by

about

was

the
of

presence

two

quantity of

the

inhabitants

villageservants, by the survey of persons, unconnected

skilful
with the village,
habit, were
who, from
particularly
of the produce, and
and expert in judging of the amount
who, in the adjustment of this business,were
materiallyaided
by a reference to the produce of former years, as recorded by
of the villages.The quantitywhich belonged
the accountants
it was
received in
to the Government
being thus ascertained,
kind, or in money."
and

"

Such," continue
to

the

the

committee,

ancient

of the

changes

many

abuses

introduced
which

those

exceeded
which

effects of this

by

the custom, which

had

of

sub-rentingtheir

lands

unrestricted

entered
of

into

become

the

oppression,which

an

abundant
When

for

year,
one,

they

to collect

the crops

in

they

money,

did take their rents

were

cut ;

them

74

husbandman.

the

Zemindars,
with

armed

they

thus

enabled

the engagements

practisingevery

to

they

species

of self-interest

in

on

the

and

could

proved

season

receivingtheir

dues

specie,they hardly

before the harvest

which

but

cultivators at the commencement

insisted

then

but

bounds

the

were

unfeeling motive

rent

part of

who

their purpose,

the

share

sixth,and

no

with

common

ryots; besides

suggest. If they agreed with

of the

had

farmers, whom

to

it suited

with

to

the

considerablyaugmented

were

of collection,
and

disregard,whenever

established, the

assessments

unjust system

powers

had

however,

conquest, and

supposed abilityof

The

ryots, according

In consequence,

often reduced

was

The

the

limited

the

the Mahomedan

times

later

fifth.

rightsof

country.

by

the ryots
a

the

were

of the

usage

reallyenjoyed by
seldom

"

reduced

the

time

ryots

had
to

ever

in kind.

failed

arrived

the

an

and

necessity

BENGAL

IN

SIXTEENTH

THE

throughthe rapacityof

waste
of the

thrown

was

the kroris,the wives and children

sold and

raiyatswere
into

A.t).

CENTURY,

everything
were
brought

scattered abroad, and

confusion.

the

But

kroris

died from
by Raja Todar Mai, and many good men
the severe
administered, and from the
beatings which were
tortures of the rack and pincers. So many
died from protracted
in the prisons
confinement
of the revenue
authorities,that
to account

there

was

cared

one

need

no

condition

of the executioner

find

to

them

like

was

that of the devout

Kamrup, who, having

of

live for

one

in

year

their heads

under

the
from

But

the
fostering

It had

the

various

kror

the

and

Government

par y

careful

name

of the cultivable

so

much

an

honest

and

the

cultivator

consideration, it

should

anas

of tatikas,should
of

that much

lying uncultivated; and

of
rule for dividingthe profits

contained

charge

offer up

of
of

of the Tabakat-i-Akbari.

was

required. After

or

the

manifest

become

some
cultivation,

which

of its car,

temple,

expenditure,and accumulation
of maintainingthe soldiery
or
was
no
means
peasants."

Hindustan

the

wheels

the

at the idol

the

of

end

the

household

So also the author

between

at

exception of that which was

khdlisa (exchequer),
held mjdgir by the amirs.
was
the prevalence of indulgence and
debauchery,

riches, there

of

; but

go and assemble

under

country,with

extravagancein

"

idol,

their

to

to the idol.

All the

"

country

heightof enjoyment,appropriating

the

they

themselves

cast

in the

Hindus

themselves

to their hands

everythingthat comes
by one
period,one
and

dedicated

no

grave-clothes.Their

or

graves

swordsman, and

or

be

was

to

land

encourage

the

first year
to be
seemed

arrangedthat

examined, and

that

those

being cultivated would yield

be divided off and
given into the
to receive
who was
officer,
intelligent
land

as

The- jdej^

of^i^a^i.
.._

exchequer

were

to make

and
arrangements with these officers,

76

MUKUNDRAM

send them

to their

attention,in the

might
for

be

and
districts,
where, by vigilance
respective
of three years

course

and
brought into cultivation,

Government.

To

carry

out these

the uncultivated

the

recovered

revenues

views,a number

of the

of the
State
trustworthy servants
selected,and appointedto the office of krori. The amirs
called upon severally
to appoint kroris who
were
were
into the countryupon their responsibility."
most

honest

and

conclude

9.

Mukundram's

my

review

of the

land

were

also
sent

section
introductory

of

by alludingto a less controversial matter

and
a
distinctly
pleasingfeature of the Hindu societyof the
day We read, By order of Raghunath, the songster who
has got his dress and ornaments
dailyrehearses the song
Raghunath proved a generous patron of letters and he was
not singular
in his day. Each landlord had his own
band
of
singers,who beguiledhis leisure hours by singingor reciting
poem

"

"

"

"

"

sougs

of their

press

in

Public

those

composition.There

own

days

opinionthus

and

found

there
vent

poets.

T7

was

in the

no

was

no

printing

daily newspaper.
songs

of these

court

Bengal

in

the

sixteenth

Note
Twenty -Fifth

year
A

century,

a*d.

I.

of the

Reign (of Akbar).

Census.

An

and
Imperialmandate was issued directing
shikkdars,
thejagirdan,
listsof all
darogahsthroughoutthe Empire to draw up, village
by village,
the inhabitants,
their names
and occupations
specifying
\ and that these
listsshould all be collected together.The officerswere
not to allow any
business or occupation,
and
to reside who
not engaged in some
one
was
theywere to inquireinto the arrival and departureof clever men, and
ascertain whether their designs were
good or evil,so that in a short time
malicious
the true characters of the outwardlyrespectable
and inwardly
ing
of establishthe means
was
might be broughtto the test. This regulation
of
and of providing security
for the
broad
tranquillity,
expanse
Hindustan.

78

M^KTTNDRAM

II.

Note
Seventh

Twenty-

Revenue

beginning of
improvement of the

Reign.

Regulations.

ihis year,

At the

of the

year

Majesty directed

His

his attention to

of his territoriesand

administration

passed new
business.
laws for the management of civil and revenue
Raja Todar Mai
wazir ; but the dangersand difficulties
been named
to this,
as
had, previous
of the post,and the opposition
to be encountered,made him
to
unwilling
with all
accept the office. But this unambitious man, who was acquainted
an

elevated to the officeof diwan, and

of administration,
was
now
mysteries
His clear judgment soon
in reality
set matters to rights.
to the wakalat.
Careful to keep
received his especial
attention.
Civil and revenue
matters

the

all selfish

himself free from

of the

State,and

earned

ambition,he

fame.
everlasting

an

the
powerfulmind to simplify
to obtain
and intriguing
men
several

new

That
the mal

the

devoted

laws calculated to

laws of the
any

himself to

He

devoted

State,and

influence

over

givevigourand gloryto

collectors of the khalisa lands and the

He

service

his skill and

he allowed

him.

the

no

now

grasping
proposed

the Government.

should
jagirdars

realize

and

dasturu-l 'amal; and if by

to the
jihat (cesses),
according
fraud or oppression
anything beyond the settled amount should be received
from the cultivators,
theywere to account it an excess of the proper payment,
and were
to levy a fine upon those who had exacted it, and
enter
the amount
in the monthly accounts.
At every harvest they were
to carefully
guard the rightsof the lower classes. These cases of givingand
takingwere dealt with in two ways ; the complainantreceived redress,
and power was
givento punishthe offenders.
"

The
and

'amils

of

the

khalisa

had

two

a karkun
subordinates,

(manager),

khass-navis

These
officers had been oppressors, and
(accountant).
leaguingwith the rich,they had been a greatsource of evil to the poor.
If instead of these two
infamous
one
officials,
worthy and honest man
should be appointed,the country would prosper, and the peoplewould be
a

contented.
It had been
decreased year

discovered

by year

that in the khalisa

but

if the lands

79

the
districts,

capableof

cultivated lands

cultivation

were

once

BENGAL

IN

measured,theywould

THE

SIXTEENTH

increase year

by

A.D.

CENTURY,
in

year

to
proportion

the powers

of

the

be made for them accordingto rule.

raiyats
; and engagements should
The raiyaU having nominated
each other as sureties,
to take the
were
and in all questions
of arrears
to be treated in a
were
proper writings,
considerate
For

manner.

lands

deduction

which

had

lain waste

of one-half for the

for the third year

they were

four

years,

they

firstyear, for the second

to receive

were

and
year one-quarter,

to established rule. For lands

according
which had lain untilled for two years they were
to receive a deduction of
one-fourth for the first year.
For uncultivated lands,theywere
to receive
small allowance
of grain, so
the lands capable
a
to make
as
of yielding

When

revenue.

advances
to be

to pay

made

were

taken from

for the assistance of poor

cultivators,

of

and part was

to
respectability
be repaidat the spring harvest, part at the autumnal
harvest.
By these
the
arrangements, the country would in a short periodbecome cultivated,
When
the
raiyatswould be contented,and the treasury flourishing.
collectors increased the assessment, back payments were
not to be required
from small and insignificant
estates.

engagements

Every
so

year

report was

increase of their honours

an

faithfully
dischargetheir
disgrace.

men

to be made

efficient officers might

that

and

were

duties

to the

receive
and

augmentations

rewards

would

Emperor by

incur

while

the

of

those

collecters,

their
who

punishment and

pay,

did not
fall into

of cultivated land was

fixed upon, some
portion
surveyors, in
firstto measure
to its extent, were
to be appointed.They were
proportion
themselves with its quality
and produce.
the land,and were
then to acquaint
When

were
(The collectors)

to select a central

spotfor their residence. They

were

to

and to inquire
into the state of
everywherediligently,
sufficient quantity
of rain fell,
when
and the lands
affairs. In seasons
a
and a half biswas (inthe bigha)
two
to
received adequateirrigation,
were
to be
be left unassessed ; in junglesand sandy lands,three Biswas were
and dailyaccounts of the collections,
left. Weekly accounts of sequestrations,
to be sent
were
monthly to the ImperialExchequer. An Imperial
their duties

carry out

order

issued, that when

was

Court, so

revenue

in the
hill forts,trusting

to

of their fastnesses,
security
the faujdars,the feudatories,
the generals,
in freebooting,
directed to unite and effect a remedy. They
collectors were

occupantsof

should engage
the

visitation of Providence,

to be drawn
of them was
description
up, and a copy of it sent
to the case.
that the Emperor might givedirections appropriate

If the

and

lands suffered under any

80

MUKUNDRAM

Were

firstto admonish

the offenders,
and

were

to take

for

measures

to be laid

was

whom

the

received any

chastisement
inflicting

officerswere

a fine was
injury,

Whatever

and theywere
treasurers,

was

them.

Their

country

be

to

to be paid over
to the
raiyatswas
to the raiyats.The collectors were
givereceipts

to

to remit the

payments four

balance

to be left unrealized from

was

upon

the

levied from

was

proved unavailing,
they

from
granted to jagirdars,
If the Imperial
to make no demands.
troops
the offenders.
to be imposedupon

waste,and the land

revenue

if that

times

month,
the

at the end of this time

and

were
raiyats.The raiyats

to

no

be

to make their payments to the treasury

theyshould be willing
to be taken from the disaffected and
was
voluntarily.
Satisfactory
security
to be placed
were
contumacious; and if the bail was not given,watchmen

treated that

so

the crops, and the

over

revenue

to be realized.

was

of each
account
to be drawn
was
descriptive
up of the assessment
and the dates were
not to
to his cultivation and labour,
individual,
according
be either postponed
of each village
The patwari(accountant)
or
anticipated.
to apportion
was
name
(thevillage)
by name, among the various subordinate
A

to send the cash under the seal of the

agents,and the collectors were

to the treasurer.
treat each

They were
individual according
to

patwari

and
prevent oppression,

to
vigilant

to be

his deserts.

The

treasurer

draw

to

was

to

accordingto the value

indicated by their respective
and impressions,
and showingthe value of
names
the old coinages
in the new
royalcoins,so that the collectors and sarrafs
values of old and new
might be able to ascertain the respective
coins. The
La'l-i Jalali of full weight and
of
perfecttouch was
a

up

statement

the

value

was

worth

of

of the

400

dams.

had

the

of

rice) deficient,it

equalto

was

to be reckoned

half,at

at 355

350 dams.

The

deteriorated

the

it was
surkhs,
justweight; the

rupee not

surkhs

old
deficient;

deficient more
the

not

more

more

of

one

taken

birinj(grains

to
birinj

surkh to

surkh,it

one

surkh

and

surkh deficient was

If deficient one

and

to

coinagewhich might
were

be

to be

tested

be

half to

La'l-i Jalali of proper touch

and a half to
than from one

surkh
to one
birinj
to
were
greaterdeficiency
three

81
11

than

39 dams.
The

Akbar-

of full value,and to be received

rupees of the Akbar-shahi

than from

treasury.Those

rupee

the
to be

were

only two

dams ; if deficient from

worth 38 dams.
Jalala

use,

deficient from three

considered of full value,

and worth
two

in

ashrafiwas

be deemed

to

If it was

360 dams.

dams

and
ordinary(dasturi)
ashrafi

If

was

and

Chahargoshah (four-cornered)rupee

become

followingrates.

at

rupees,

The

The

forty dams.

shahi rupee, which

as

mohurs,

and
two

not be

received at

separately
by

IN

BENGAL

the

THE

SIXTEENTH

of them
the particulars
cashier,
and
day-books,

their

record office.

Government
were

khalisa and the

and 4he

to act upon

to be entered

were

of them

accounts

CENTURY,

were

the abovementioned

were
jagirdars

the
ill-conducted,

to make

proper

obedient

and

sum

sent

the accountants

rules.

in

day to the
sarrafs(moneychangers)

every

The

about
reports

officers of

the

the well-conducted

refractory
people in their
and that the tranquillity
deserts,
of the former expenses
{kharch),
the

havingbeen settled at one dam for each higha of cultivated land,

24 dams might be the estimated
hoped that, upon this principle,

the amount
was

be

by

treasurers,and
Thejagirdars,

so that theymight get their

jurisdictions,
Instead
of the country might be secured.

it

to

A.D.

to be allowed

for each cultivator.

82

IV

MUKUNDRAM
AND

In
of the

curious

put togethera

England,

of mediaeval

outstanding features

but

trading world

the

and

towns

been

have

his

and

the

the

no

to life

true
"

forked
as

the

of

Only

west

persons

ancient
who

guilds are
realise

we

of the

other

of the

of

in

market

what

might

the

all

picturesof

now

some

more

the merchant

members

of the

haberdasher, the carpenter,the

social and

the

had

its Srimanta

In

are

weaver

dyer.

mediaeval
had

national

characteristics

merchant

the

of

characters

unimportant

", and

in this

we

part played by

the

All this is full of instruction

student

What

and

of the

world

wonderful

the

pages.

Chaucer's

are

types

for examination

of

one

costumes

general conclusions

the

day,

beard

economic

means

operations of

class,such

trader

by

naturally expected.

vividlyhow
with

of

the

in his

princes,of

subordinate

other

and

poetry

merchant

told of the

the

and

prominent

available

confirm

be found

picture gallery to

the

social and

rendered

Chaucer's

of

student

of the customs

indicated

and

in 1911,

ArchaeologicalSociety

Essex

collection

only
publication,

recent

of the

of the

materials

The

day.

published in England

Secretaries

Honorary

(II)

A.D.

Fellow-Students:

and

volume

noteworthy

CENTURY,

SIXTEENTH

Vice-Chancellor,

Mr.

has

THE

IN

BENGAL

were

India,

and

economic

its merchant

the

employed

history

caste

regulations of society appear

in the

business

of

princes and

Sadagars* and
"

full

of commerce."

85

of

for

the

India.

If

the

India
trade-guilds,
each

groups,

to have

interest

awarded

Heeren,

following its

high

rank

to

BENGAL

own

IN

THE

SIXTEENTH

and the state

hereditary
profession,
in Europe in the 15th centuryof the

correspondsmore
pages of
industrial

less to what

or

A.D.

CENTURY,

ed
thingswhich obtainChristian era apparently

of

find described in the

we

sixteenth

century Bengali poet. If the present

organisationof England is the result of a gradual
in India have little
process of evolution out of the past, we
to despairof the economic
future of the land.
"We may
reason
a

order of

new

the future will work

it that

take

which
which

has

thingswill springout

alreadylost, to

owing to
operation by

structure
into

the

India's

social

extent,

some

influence

salvation,and

of the old mediaeval

Indian

stillfind in the

we

out its own

of

silent
with

contact

work
frame-

but
organisation,

rigidity of
forces brought

its

wider

outer

world.
"

Internal

trade

at great
chiefly
weekly markets

even

for the chief towns

la Poles who

De

in the

fairs for

annual

England
the

carried

was

wholesale

on

business, at

of itinerant
by means
the modern
of whom
pedleris the degeneraterepresentative."
They had their merchant princesin those days like

traders

the

mediaeval

in

land,who
entered

were

were

and

intimate

on

honoured

by

terms

visits from

with the
the

highest
royaltyand

with members
alliances,

into matrimonial

of the

publicationI spoke of a rude

a
copy of an woodcut from an old manuscriptwhich represents
There
mediaeval shop of a high class,
probablya goldsmith's.
gaining
in recognising
the shopkeeper eagerly baris littledifficulty
his customer, while the
with
shopkeeper's clerk
is making an entry of the transaction, and the customer's
of his purchases;
servant stands behind him, holding some

royalfamily.

We

have

in the

"

to be the principal
wares
flagons and cups and dishes seem
;
some
heaps of money lie on the table,which is covered with a handtable-cloth,and in the back-ground are hung on a
a
a hand-mirror,a cup,
perch,"for sale,girdles,
purse, and
"

sword."
the Erench

Then

there is an

National

illustration of

Library.
86

mediaeval

shopfrom

MUKUNDKAM

This is a
the

mercer's,and

the

describes her

merceress

in

wares

followinglines :
"

I schale the telle

Quod sche,Gene*

Mercerye I have to selle

In boystes,f
soote oynementes,
Therewith
to don allegementes|
To ffolkes which be not gladde,
discorded

But

and

malade.

I have

kyves,phylletys,
callys,
ffestes to hang upan walles ;

At

Kombes

no

Bothe

nyne

for horse and

ifor the

Off hem

eke ffor

men

syght wonder

I have

ffull

ffolke that haven

For

ten,

or

also,largeand brode,

Mirrours

And

than

mo

Byholde himself

fe

gode
greet plente,
volunte

therynne.

or
Englishman all these have only an academic
less
or
antiquarianinterest. To an Indian they are more
have
stillour
annual fairs at Hurdwar,
living realities. We
of sacred
at Sonepur and elsewhere,associated with memories
and national festivals and to some
extent
pilgrimages
serving

To

the

an

of

purpose

have

We

economy.

industrial

exhibitions

markets

our

in

prominentfeatures
with

their

heaps

cheques have
immediate

movable

open

not

cash

of these
of

small

payments

Bengal, although India

"

If.

Divisional
their

gatherings. There
change, for bookon

had

social

ly
weekly or biweekpractically
throughout

stalls with

yet been able

modern

with their

gatheringsof buyers and sellers

Bengal outside the head- quartersof our
The

the

to do awray

ordinary
her gold and

f Boxes.

87

To

sioners.
Commis-

exhibits

are

even

credit and

with

the

occasions
silver

give relief.

are

stalls
bank

need
in

of

rural

coinage

and

BENGAL

IN

the conveniences

of

THE

SIXTEENTH

CENTURY,

A.I".

of

banking long before the Bardi

and
Medici
of Florence
had
introduced
its blessingsinto
of
Europe." The 16th Century Bengali poet's account
marketings by house-maids would make us pause and enquire
to what extent the life of the mass
of our rural population
and
of those who form the lower
strata of Indiltn society
has been
affected by the march
of events, the spread of education, the
of intellectual life,and the hopes and aspirations
stirrings
engenderedthereby.
system

The

followingdescriptionof the fair of

Captain Hardwicke, (AsiaticResearches, Vol.
to illustrate what

serve

Hindoos

assemblageof
in

the

of

waters

moderation

computed at
performanceof
avail

curious

days,
spot. The

think, with

half million of souls.

on

extensive

an

observer

which

of

to

characterize

annual

of

small

no

the

trace

commerce.
ment
amuse-

dress, features,

the

people of the different

and the
Cabul, Cashmir, Lahore, Bootan, Srinagar,

etc.

manners

and

two

of nations,it is a matter

concourse

to

might,

annual

religious
duty is their primary
of the
themselves
opportunity to

business,and carry

transact

certain number

by

312) will

This fair is an

"

this occasion

on

vi p.

at this consecrated

Ganges

be

Although the
object,yet many
In this

bathe, for

to

the

collected

multitude

is here stated.

Hurdwar

countries of

plains of

Hindoostan.

countries

whole

From

some

families,
men,

of

these

and

women

very

distant

children undertake

horseback and
on
on
foot,some
travelling
journey, some
and
women
children,in long heavy carts,
particularly
many,
roofs to defend
railed and covered with slopingmatted
them
againstthe sun and wet weather ; and during the continuance
the

of the fair these also

Mediaeval
various

under
and

the

grown

Some

habitations."

as

in

towns

causes.

others had

serve

England
of

were

up in the

wealthy lord.

But

ancient

their
Roman

neighbourhoodof

shelteringshadow
"

owed

of the castle of

there is a third
88

origin

to

foundation,
monasteries

some

categoryof

or

powerful
mediaeval

MTJKTJNDRAM

did not descend

which

towns

accidental accretion in

from

ancient towns,
but

of time

course

by
deliberately

were

or

grow

periodfor specific
purposes;
interest from our
and in these we have a special
present point
There
of view.
was
a
period when Kings 'and feudal Lords
fostered trade with anxious care ;
from motives of high policy,
encouragedtraders with countenance, protectionand grants
towns."
and founded commercial
of privileges
and built in the mediaeval

founded

Englishking on his way back

led by the
from Scotland was
engaged in hunting, he was
hamlet
The
chase to a particular
belonging to a convent.
of the placefor a
perceivedthe capabilities
king at once
fortress for the securityof the kingdom, and a port for the
Once,

of

extension

and at

and the
The

an

left the hunt

He

commerce.

to take its course,

stepsto acquirethe site. He issued a proclamation

freedom and great commercial
to all
offering
privileges
took

once

merchants
there

told,when

are

we

and

settle there.

of time

course

pointwhich

is of interest to

us

is

church

in

to note

is that this is

environments

He

erected

built

was

fortified by walls and towers.

placewas

connexion

In

house.

manor

build

would

who

exactlyhow a new
described by our
poet to

town

the

present

with

all its

have sprung

{n

up

India.
The

poet beginswith

Mussulmans

Foundation

account

new

of

Kalinga,the ryots

town

in

Gnjrat*

the firstto

"

the

come

Leaving the city of

of all castes settled in the

cityof

the Bir

*nra1refa ffa*tf|
i

*tf^ *t?t,
*PptTjjprofa,*Jj"ra

*tf^ ffa ft?ffa"3taiii

4to

80

12

emigrationof

settlement.

iffiwtfa
tar* iffini
i
tara *N$*l
"fti,

of the

Kalinga,they being among

from

and settle in the

an

*rataw

TOto *I"r *tft,

ii
?tfl

IN

BENGAL

THE

SIXTEENTH

story)with their household gods. Accepting

o
f
(betel) the J3ir,in token of their consent to the

the pan

agreement, the

Mussulmans

settled

being assignedto
Moghuls, *Pathans,

the town

them

the

Kazis

Bir

gave

them

western

extreme

A.D.

of the

(thehunter

the

CENTURY,

rent

end

of

as

there,the

their abode.

mounted

end of

western

There

horses, and

on

free lands for their houses.

their

settlement

came

At

the

they made their

they congregated
the morning, and

(placeof Mohurrum
Tazia),and
all about the place. They rise very earlyin
spreadinga red patty (mat) they make their namajes five
times
during the day. Counting the Sulaimani beads,they
meditate on Pir Paigumbar. Each of them contributes to the
decoration
of the Mokam
(Hosein's
house). Ten or twenty
sit togetherand decide cases, always referringto the Koran,
while others sittingin the market-place distribute the Pir
Shirni (the confectioneries offered to the Pir),beat the drum
and raise the flag. They are very wise accordingto their own
estimation,they never
yield to any one, and they never
give
as
long as they have life in them.
(fast)
up the roza
Hoseinbati

*ftst*f*
mi
citiapitfr
ilrl qor,

$H*ii\*fcs c%$

sptf*i

wl

c*rtetft
ifatfi
*rtv~

ewe*,

fl f"t c**toft*.

*wfim ^^
M

*W

cvf^
^,

c*n^

ftfiw,

^c?d

-SFl^tWCTt,

srtft
to i"r,

^*

*rtft
iwi,

T^Rl

itW

13

"tfo^
ft8!

estate* c?* *M1,

ii

*l?fo,^Rli

wrtfc*$t*^

90

3ft *tt
$*ist

*fal5^t* "nK

*t#t
?itf?nrt
cs*rt**rft*

**$ if*,
i

p[" ^jftcK
^n

tf7^ ?fltc* *q|

*tf|*t
II

*H tto *ft W

Ttf?

Tt c**fl|%

*H

"Hf|BRt^i"ri,

*iifli
^srt*
ff ^tfti
it* WW

Ifc *lt*PRFfPNL

qft"n" pft,
wwel

fKt* ^ *1W CT*t

"IW Ml iW

it stre *rt*ft"W,

flW (fffTO fartf

WW

srtR*tf|i
"rt*i
dcsj c*tsrl
W*

^Ppi ^c=pf Pi^l,

%** fr*ft^fcft, Wtf Iffelft*t

%*t ^frSfWl$ ft"1rt

U

wte ii

llTK^W^W,

*ft*lfast*^
c^Wi

*@$l *fa.
"3$ltfl

ftita*ft*i*W

%** CTffltficw *t*r ii

^s

Sfaftw
i

*tK

BENGAL

IN

THE

SIXTEENTH

Jolha.^Those r[who

Those

Mookheri.

who

sell fish

become

beg

who

called

are

pack

sell cakes

Mussulmans

for alms

call themselves

out of

the

colored

"stripes.Some

while those who

Salakars

night and day

and

make

to

and

living
making

"

town

called

are

Kagozia.

called Kalandars

are

who

weaver's

the

make

town

called

are

paper

Hindus

being

(a peoplewho

bows

Those

Pitari.

(mixed). Those

who

from

go

make

make

call themselves

who

Gorsal

Those

Tantis). Some

bullocks

Those

called

called kals.

are

A.D.

call themselves

Kabari.

are

looms

about

drive

CBNTUBY,

Tirgars,
wander

Some

(Eakirs)."

obviouslyof the highestimportance to the student

social history of Bengal. What
of the
the salient
were
in the poet'sday,
features in the dailylife of the Mahomedans
their general attitude towards their Hindu
what
was
bours,
neighThis is

did the Hindus

how
of the

suggestedby
questions
the

in
class of

pictureare

Then

men.

as

now,

with their prayers which

item
principal

The

feel towards

They

the waist.

come

of their

these

"

account.
poet's

some

are

medans
Maho-

The

representedas a highlydevotional
nothing is allowed to interfere
regularlyfive times every day.
dress is the ijartightly
tied round

go out

never

the

them,

with the

head

uncovered, the

usual head-dress

cap which

to

be the characteristic

being a kind of ten-sided

competent authority continued to

head-dress

round

of Mahomedans
have

about
kind

of

according

Murshidabad

down

to

clannish

spirit
among
them, keeping close to one another and forming a distinct
compact community of their own, and yet they are divided
themselves
into classes among
according to the profession
We
have thus incidentally
an
tion
enumerawhich they follow.
of the Mahomedans
and occupations
of the tradingpursuits
recent

date.

of those

days.

They

the Nika

among

used to be

paid on

have

fees which

would
priest

They

lead

one

to

them, but the reference

these occasions to the

suppose
92

that

the

Nika

to

the

officiating

was

looked

MUKUNDRAM

as

upon

inferior kind of

an

suggeststhat Hindus
close

as

and

marriage.

other.

of their

the

He

amity. He
haughty aloofness
in one
community

that the Mahomedans

notes

separatedfrom

own

the

learn to live in

sympathy with manifestations of

of contemptuous nonchalance
spirit
the

apparently

live in

who

Mahomedans

neighboursshould

author

Our

the

live in

Hindus, which

land

has

no

the

or

towards

quarter

reminds

of

one

Mussulmanparas and Darjiparas of modern Calcutta,and

to the difference in the
refers, apparently regretfully,

he

of the two

customs

all these

In

what

Sir

tells

united in the

found

are

in such cases, the sections of the

partsof
The

the inhabited
Mahomedans

in

us

his

confirmation

same

of

Village Communities

widelydifferent castes, or

of

men

illustration and

an

Maine

Henry

Hindus,

have

we

viz. "sometimes

and

communities.

Mahomedans

villagegroup.

community

dwell in

But

different

area."
of the

poet'sday

in

Bengal

were

ly
probab-

Shiahs, for they contribute to decorate the house of

and beat their drums.
But
Hossain, and had their green flags
all

the

majorityof

very

the

Bengal

rich,for they cannot

satisfied with
must

have

been

accepting the
settled in the
It

may

red mat
entered

new

been

Hero,

red

we

are

told,the Mussalmans

town.

be noticed in

suggestedby

could not have

carpetand have to be
(pati). Agreements between parties
for
into by the acceptance of pan,
afford

of the

Pan

Mussalmans

Mukundram's

passing that*
account

one

of

is that

the

inferences

the education

of

of those
neglected by the Mahomedans
could not
days,and the teachingimparted in the Mohtabs
have
been
altogetherdissociated from religion,for if we
doubt
we
accept the testimonyof the poet, as I have no
these educational
institutions were
placed under the
may,
guidanceof piousand learned Maulvis.
the young

was

not

93

BENGAL

Permit

IN

SIXTEENTH

THE

CENTURY,

A.D.

place before you in this

followingRegulations regarding Education
promulgated :
to

me

the

connection

Akbar

which

"

In every

but

country,

specially in Hindustan, boys

school, where

portionof

His

their several forms.

each

letter,which
to write

proceed
a

He

the

by heart, and
taken

that he

teacher
be

then

moral

may

learns

assist him

dailypractisedin writing a

acquire a

hand.

current

after five

teaching

be

; the

adopted,

day,

what

so

that

people

read

to

; the

verse

it

books

took

will
on

morals,

or

household

lesson.

If
a

will

and

month,

These
and

cast

I may

be

may

the

even

in

much

so

boy ought

notation

pecular

geometry, astronomy,
rules

told,"shed

new

of

government,
history;

lighton

schools

the

Physical

Madrasahs."

Tabii

would

include

Sciences, while Riyazi includes Mathematics

Ilahi

of

gradually acquired.

we
are
regulations,
brightlustre over

explainthat

soon

look

method
or

medicine, logic,the tabVi,riyazi,and ildhi sciences,and

all of which

to

of words

this

Every

arithmetic, the

the

time

some

meanings

astonished.

the

is to be
; but

understand,

to

years

for

praise

especiallyto

in

learn

matters,

poetry

to the

verse

ought

arithmetic,agriculture,mensuration,

physiognomy,

former

quite

and

prose

ought

letter ;

others

get

then

should

boy

practisedfor

be

verses

the

will

boy

He

hemistich

of

some

of

name

everything himself

teacher

things: knowledge

the hemistich

to

The

and

first

to trace

separately. Care

written

little.

shape

the

read

should

learn

at

great

them

also

some

understand

boy

may

learn

memory

each

to

the

They

should

to

sentences

school

days, when

letters.

boy

commit

in two

vowels.

by making

that every

to learn

ought

joined
the

is wasted

Alphabet, and

be done

may

week, after which

of Grod, or

orders

Majesty

and

consonants

the letters of the

to write

earn

the

the life of the students

books.

many

learn

they

for years

kept

are

and

Rhetoric

and

and

the

is Theology.

These

expressionsthus

remind

one

of the

trivium

quadrivium of

the middle

ages in

the first three

liberal arts

viz.,Rhetoric, Grammar

quadrivium includingthe other

Geometry and Astronomy.
94

Europe, the
four

former

including
and Logic,

viz, Arithmetic, Music,

MUKUtfDRAM

Frederic

Harrison

to

came

hands

our

for

warning
He

tells

research

too

isolated

and

regard

history

for

any

merely

and

to-day,

profit

merely

of
with

who

by

these

in

social

future

with

interested

are

useless

words;

and

as

!"

95

not

"

we

to

human

facts

about

information
is

rubbish."

as

may

us

meaning,

carrying

such

Let
of

this

philosophic

must

history.

collect
of

petty

which

sociology
To

in

researches

rubbish

of

true

itself.

it

of

specialism

application
give

Societies,

tendency

study

of

investigations
useless

arid

serious

end

an

the

sociological

our

the

to

one

no

all,

we

studies

results

the

encumber

to

May

as

leave

or

one

sary
neces-

laborious

historical

inevitable

an

and

acute

learned

instrument

not

and

past,

the

as

the

breed

dissipate

and

and

timely

the

by

of

to

then

evolution
the

reminded

researches

choke

which

Memoirs,

sounded

value

as

stimulated

is

am

has

year

Greatly

us,

last

Autobiographical

us.

which

often

his

in

on

have

learn
encumber

historical

attempted
so

to

the

use

the

future

TRAVELLERS

EUROPEAN

IN

BENGAL

IN

13

THE

SIXTEENTH

CENTURY,

A.D.

(I)

itf

BENGAL

THE

SIXTEENTH

CENTURY,

A.D.

India

of

is in the times
of
by the British Crown
our
beloved departedQueen Empress Victoria of pious memory,
the first vitallyintimate contact between
England and India
which no doubt paved the way
for the incorporation
of the
East India Company is in the spacioustimes of that other great
.

British

Queen, Elizabeth.

Ralph Eitch
brought with
such

means

and

them

"

JEchebar*

and

and

which

by

John

Invincible

both

on

sides may

to

with

Zelabdim

whatsoever

of
friendlytrafique

that

cause

and

King

affection

distant

of al nations

is the

cible,
invin-

most

great

intention

and

1583.

Echebar

The

"c.

visit the most

will

curteous

and

the

and

come,

February Anno
To

Newbery, joyntly with

this letter John

company,

In

"c.

God,

good

the mutual

means

Newberry
yet which

Queenes Majestie,to Zelabdim

Emperor,

the trade of marchandize

which

John

little and

says

Newbery.

Subjectshave,

our

comrade

mightieprince,Lord

world, not without

the

the

the grace of

most

Cambay,

and

letter which

from

sent

by

Elizabeth

leader

Akbar, which

great deal.

letter written

of

his

is her letter to

Here

those

to

placesof
introduce

they can, by
marchandize
the bearer

of

be

his

that

in

boldnesse, doe repaire

honest

doubt
not
Empire, we
but that your
imperiallMajestie through your royalgrace,
And
that you
will favourably and
friendlyaccept him.
doe it the rather for our
would
us
sake, to make
greatly
should
more
earnestly,and
beholdingto your majestie; wee
did think it needful.
But
wordes requireit,if wee
with more
by the singulr report that is of your imperialmajesties
to the borders

humanitie

these

in

lesse words

and

The

her obscure
Keeno's

onelywe

great Jalaloodeen
retreats

Moghul

and

uttermost

parts

that burden, and

of

greatly eased

treys of your

coun

of

therefore

world
we

request that because

Ukbur, liberal,merciful, and

generous

the

friend

of

her

Empire.

100

humblest

use

least

we

are

the fewer

they

a follower
intrepid,

and

are

our

of Truth

attractive

in all

votaries.

TRAVELLERS

EUROPEAN

honestlyintreated and received. And

that in respect of the hard journey which they have undertaken
to placesso far distant, it would
please your majestie
libertie and
securitie of voiageto gratifie
with some
it,with
to you shall seeme
such privileges
as
good : which courtesie if
Imperial majestie^shal to our subjectsat our
requests
your
to
will
performe,we according our royal honour,
recompence
subjects,they

the

with

same

bid your
I

as

deserts

many

we

as

And

can.

herewith

we

farewel.

Imperialmajestieto
place before

now

words

be

may

Master

of

originalItalian, without any attempt at

suppressionof details,what Master Caesar

the

from

narrative

far as
possiblein the very
you, as
himself who translated the
Hickocke
Thomas

contraction

or

merchant, tells us about

Frederick, the Venetian

Orissa,about

less strictly
or
Satgaon and a few other relevant thingsmore
appertainingto Bengal. My only regret is that I have for
the

presentto

traveller's

the

India such

Bengal

The

address

and
into

Venice,

and

suppliesregarding other
the

which
of

parts

neighbouring regions of

and

Pegu.

The

the

reader

prepare

travell of M.
the

East

conteined

are

countries, the

golde

to

the information

title of the work

for

us

and

what

to

the narrative.

voyage

Wherein

Aracan

as

view

your

Vijaynagar,and

such

expect in

from

narrative

as

the author's

of

withhold

Caesar

India,

the

customs

merchandises

and

Eredericke, marchant

and

beyond
and

rites

commodities,

as

the

Indies.

of

those

well

of

and other jewels:

as
silver,
spices,
drugges,pearles,

translated out of Italian

Caesar

by

M.

Thomas

Fredericke

Hickocke.

to the Reader.

having (gentleHeader) for the space of eighteene yeeres

continuallycoasted and travelled, as it were, all the East
Indies, and
I

have

had

many
both

other

countreysbeyond
good and ill successe
101

the

Indies, wherein

in my

travells

and

BENGAL

and

having seene
noting, and
never

as

IN

THE

understood

be

knowen

yet written

of any

to

Almighty had given me

such
a
long voyage
noble
I

to

could, to write and

all the world, the which

to
I

the
were

thought it good (seeingthe

after so long perilsin passing
into mine

returne

thought

say, I

A.D.

things woorthy

many

grace,

cityof Venice) I

CENTURY,

SIXTEENTH

it

good,

this voyage

set forth

countrey,the

own

as

made

brieflyas
by

me,

with

in my
travels in the
things I have seene
those countreys,
Indies : The
mighty Princes that governe
their religion
and faith that they have, the rites and
customes
which
that
they use, and live by, of the diverse successe
of these countreysare
happened unto me, and how
many
jewels, giving also
abounding with
spices,drugs, and
that
to all those
have
desire to
a
profitableadvertisement

the

marvellous

such

make

because

And

voyage.

that

the whole

world

may

this my

travell,I have caused

commodiousiy rejoyceat
I present it unto
it to be printedin this order : and now
you
for the varieties of
(gentle and loving Reader) to whom
thingsherein conteined,I hope that it shall be with great
delightreceived. And thus God of his goodnessekeepe you.
more

the river
"

of

account

the

kingdom

of

Orissa, and

Ganges.

Orissa

man

the

follows

Here

was

might

faire

have

and

kingdom

gone

with

trustie,through the which

golde

in

hande

without

any
which

lawef ull

King reigned
in the
continued
Gentile, who
was
a
city called Catecha,
within the land sixe days journey. This king loved
which was
had
which
well, especiallymarchants
strangers marveilous
traffiquein and out of his kingdome, in such wise that hee
would take no custome
of them, neither
grievous thing.
any
thither payde a small thing
Onely the shippe that came
accordingto her portage,and every yeere in the port of Orisa
twentie or thirtie shipsgreat and small,
laden five and
were
daunger

at

all,as long

with ryce and

diverse

as

the

sortes

of
103

fine white

bumbaste

cloth,

EUROPEAN

oyle of
good to

Zerzeline
and

which

herbes, which

of

the

groweth amongst
and

when

seed,and it is very

sixteene

yeeres

destroyedby

the

greatestpart of
he set custome

woods

is

kinde

without

the bole thereof is growen

Orenge, then they take

an

to

great store of cloth

man,

of

make

they

fry fish withal, great store of butter,

long pepper, Ginger, mirabolans
dry and condite,

eate

Lacca,
which

TRAVELLERS

of

silke

labour

any
round

as

of

bigge as

About
onely to gather them.
past, this king with his kingdome were
King of Patane, which was also king of the
Bengala,and when he had got the kingdome,
care

paide in
twenty procento,as marchants
his kingdome : but this tyrant enjoyed his kingdome but a
small time, but was
was
conquiredby another tyrant, which
the great mogol king of Agra, Delly, and
of all Oambaia,
without any resistance.
I departed from
Orisa to Bengala,
Orisa
towardes
to the harbour Piqueno, which is distant from
the East
hundred
and seventie miles.
a
They goe as it were
rowing alongstthe coast fiftieand foure miles, and then we
into

there

Ganges : from the mouth of this river to a

citie called Satagan,where
the marchants
gather themselves
together with their trade, are a hundred miles, which they
of the water : in
in eighteenehoures with the increase
rowe

enter

which

the river

river

it floweth

ebbeth

and

it doth in the

as

Thamis,

they are not able to

ebbing water is come,
of the swiftnesse
of the water, yet
rowe
againstit,by reason
armed
be light and
with
like Eoistes,
their barkes
oares,
yet they cannot prevailagainstthat streeme, but for refuge
and

when

must

the

them

make

fast

flowingwater,
Patuas : they rowe
next

have

seene

any.

Satagan, you

Budgerows.

shall

House-boats

and

they called
well

as

as

good

tides

have

are

banke

the

to

of

these

by this

103

barkes

Galliot,or

rowing
placewhich

still known

the river untill the

name.

as

before

Bazars*
well

as

you

come

is called

and
ever

I
to

Buttor, and

BENGAL

thence

from

THE

river

at Buttor

SIXTEENTH

the

upwards

the

upwards

IN

ships

is very

doe

not

goe,

A.I).

because

shallowe,and little water.

and

they make

CENTURY,

unmake

that

Every

Village,with houses
and shoppes made
all things necessarie
with
of strawe, and
to
their uses,
this villagestandeth as long as the ships
and
ride there,and till they departfor the Indies, and
when
they
are
departed, every man
goeth to his plot of houses, and
there setteth fire on them, which
to marvaile.
thing made me
For
this villagestanding
I passed up
to Satagan, I saw
as
with a great number
of people, with
infinite number
of
an
with my
ships and Bazars, and at my returne coming downe
I tarried I was
al amazed
to
captaineof the last ship,for whom
razed and burnt, and nothing left but
such a place so soone
see
the signeof the burnt houses.
The small shipsgo to Satagan,
yeere

and

there
In

years

they lade."

reviewingthis
ago,

one

no

would

India and
modes

doubt

like
of

formed

the west

written

account

traveller's enumeration
which

dwell

to

the
the

three hundred

in the first place on

natural

products of

staplearticles

secondly,the

than

more

reference

the

the

soil,

of trade between
to

the

primitive

thirdly the temporary stalls with

which we
all familiar in Bengal on occasions of local fairs,
are
traveller speaks under a curious
and
of which
Venetian
our
misapprehension. Unchanging East ", is the reflection called
Eor, after three centuries of agricultural
up by the narrative.
improvements,besides the jute and the tea, we in India have
added
few
to the natural
products here enumerated, which
may form articles of export. Again, all who have travelled in
native crafts through the Sunderbum,
say from Calcutta to
at once
to Barisal,would
Khulna
or
recognisehow true to life
of

navigation,and

"

is the Venetian's

days wait
slow

but

hours

narrative,and
and

steady

for the

our

boatmen

even

in these

coming of the tide,and how

rhythmicalis their manipulationof the

hours

and

how

oars.

104

EUROPEAN

In

reference

to

juteas

TRAVELLERS

article of

an

note
just now, we
may
competent authority.*
"

the

result of

has been

what

of

export, which
stated

by

spoke

highly

his

explorationsof India, Tavernier

introduced to the notice of European manufacturers
the jute
such an importantexportfrom
India.
It made in
fibre,now
those days coarse
bags for wrapping up merchandise.
gunny
Jute fibre is producedby a bush known
corchosus
as
scientifically
As

capsularis. This
beautiful
feature in

is

relation

near

of

the

corchosus,with

yellow rose-like flowers,which is such

Englishgardensin the springtime."

As to tobacco,it was

India

into

introduced

prominent

the

by

Turks

Persians about the

beginning of the seventeenth century,

Asad Begf has
during the latter part of the reign of Akbar.
of its introduction
into
account
an
given us
interesting
Akbar's
are
on
told, expressedgreat surprise
court, who, we
and

the

examined

and

occasion

tobacco

the

into

ulls. It did not come

up in pipef
and
time after its introduction,

which

common

made

was

for

use

some

by Bowrey that
herb which
the
or
bhang was
generallyserved as
hemp
narcotic for the peoplein the seventeenth
a
century. Hence
the articles
find a place among
does not naturally
tobacco
mentioned
by our sixteenth century travellers. I may in this
which
have in
we
connection refer to the followingstatement
As the smoking of tobacco had taken a
Memoirs.
Jahangir's
we

are

told

"

of many
mind
persons,
very bad effect upon the health and
that
habit.
should practise
the
no
one
I ordered
My brother

Shah

of its evil effects

Abbas, King of Persia,also being aware

had issued

command

edict

This
with very

against the

good grace

for
partiality

againstthe
from

use

of it in Iran."

of tobacco

Jahangir,who

wine.

Sir

Vide

Harry Johnston,
Note

105

use

I.

must

had

have

such

come

strong

BENGAL

IN

Here
"

THE

SIXTEENTH

CENTURY,

of the Citie

is the account

A.D.

of Satagan.

In the

portof Satagan every yeere lade thirtie or five and

thirtie shipsgreat and small, with rice,cloth of Bombast
of
diverse sortes,Lacca, great abundance
of sugar, mirabolans
dried and preserved,
long pepper, oyle of Zerzeline,and many
other sorts of marchandise.
The citie of Satagan is a reasonable
faire citie for a citie of the Moores, aboundingwith all things,
and was
is subject
governedby the king of Patane, and now
in this kingdome foure moneths,
to the great Mogul. I was
marchants
did buy or fraightboates for their
whereas many
benefites,and

this

with

barkes

they goe up and downe the

river of Ganges to faires,buying their commoditie
with a
great advantage, because that every day in the weeke they
have

hired

in

faire,now

and

barke

businesse,and

so

place,and

one

went

in the

up

and

downe

saw

many

nightI
in

of

Bengala

the

of

Moores, nevertheless

Gentiles

them

among

alwayes

Gentiles,is to be understood

another,and
the

I also

river and

did

stange things. The

past hath

times

Kingdome
power

in

now

bene
is

there

whereas

as

great

have

whereas

and
Idolaters,

it were

in

store

of

spoken of
I speak of

that
peopleespecially
be within the land doe greatlyworship the river of Ganges
is sicke, he is brought out of the countrey to
for when
any
him a small
the banke
of the river, and there they make
cottageof strawe, and every day they wet him with that water,
when
that die, and
whereof there are many
they are dead,
a
they make
heape of sticks and boughes and lay the dead
Moores

Those

sect.

Mahomets

meane

body thereon,and putting fire thereunto,they let the

then they take it off
alone untill it be half roasted, and
the
so

and
fire,
throw

make

him

into

passed up

and

moneths,

as

the marchants.

an

the river.

downe

the

passedto
And

emptieiarre

the

fast about

These

river

cause

not drinke of the water of the river

106

from

necke, and

thingsevery nightas

saw

for the space of two

fayresto buy my

this is the

his

bodie

commodities

that the

with

Portugaleswill

Ganges,yet to

the

sight

BENGAL

the

IN

THE

The

nutmegs and

He

of

Banda

SIXTEENTH

maces

the

CENTURY,

together,and

grow

is like

tree

A.B.

to

walnut

our

tree,but

somewhat

lesser.

The

white
the

among

from

come

sandol is wood

Indians

anoynt their

; for

and in

very sweet

they grindeit with

bodies therewith

little water, and

it commeth

great request

from

the

Isle of

Timor.

Camphora
solde

dearer

is a

then

Ohristendome.
China

but

commeth

that

which

beniamin

for

from
compounded commeth
and is the best,
groweth in canes

aloes commeth

Lignum

it commeth

of

is

is

great Isle of

the

from

The

which

That

Indians, and

the

preciousthing among
golde. I thinke none

Borneo.

Cauchinchina.

from

out of the

commeth

Siam

countreysof

and

Iangomes.
The
Hands

commeth

muske

Tartaric,and
marchants

roe,

which

flesh with

they take
after they cut

the blood very

hereof cometh

the

which

and

the

small,and

they holde

like unto

beat him

to death

beat

bones, and

the

it : and

out

of the sea, and

opinions; but most

that they tinde it upon

The

diamants

are

Agra, in Delli,and

Persian

it to

divers

and spinelles
are
rubies,saphires,

best

bring

fill the skin with

The

The

after

the muske.

Of the amber
say it commeth
shores side.

in snares,
out

is made

little beast

to sell ; In Tartarie there is a

with the blood

in

out of

order, by report of the

Pegue
yong

in

of the lavas.

The
this

long pepper growethin Bengala,in Pegu, and

found

in the Hands

come
pearles

Sea, the

in divers

woorser

from
from

108

found

in

places,as

in

men

the

Pegu.
Bisnagar,

of the Javas.

the Hand

of

the Piscaria

Baharim
neere

in the

the Isle of

EtTRftPEAN

Ceylon,and

from

Aynam

TRAVELLERS

great Hand

the

on

Souther-most

of China.

coast

and

Spodium

other

many

kindes

of

drugs

from

come

Cambia.
The
drawn
about

is the
following

listwhich

Master

Caesar

Frederick

has

I shall only state that the remarkable

thing
up for us.
with the list of the later
it is its exact
correspondence

traveller which
I thinke

justplacedbefore

I have

it very

somewhat, and

reason

before

necessary

ende

to

voyage,

my

fruits the

what

shewe

to

you.

Indies

do

yeeld and bringforth. Pirst,in the Indies and other East

partsof India there is Peper and ginger,which groweth in all
parts of India. And in some
partsof the Indies,the greatest
of peper groweth among
wilde bushes, without
quantitie
any
of labour : saving,that when
it is ripethey goe and
manner
gatherit. The tree that the peper groweth on is like to our
Ivie, which

it
up to the tops of trees wheresoever
not take holde of some
if it should
tree, it

runneth

groweth:and
would
his

lie flat and

floure

and

rot

the

on

berry like in

those berries be

grainesof

them

greene, and
blacke.

and

they be
they become

The
sowen,

Ginger groweth
and

ginger.
The
are
on

two

the herbe

These

Cloves

two
come

peper

our

so

in divers
the

when

they lay them

the

Panizzo, and

spicesgrow
all from

This

that

this wise

is like to

Lawrell

then

in

Islands, not very

is like to

tree hath
peper
all partsto our
Ivie berry and

ground.

they gather
in the sunne,

land is tilled and

the

roote

is the

places.

Moluccas, which

great,and the

tree that

Moluccas

they grow

tree.

The

are
Nutmegs and Maces, which grow both together,
brought from the Island of Banda, whose tree is like to our

walnut

tree,but not

All the

Timor.

so

good white

Canfora

big.
sandol is

brought from the Island of

all from
China,
being compound commeth
109

BENGAL

and

all that

SIXTEENTH

THE

IN

which

groweth in

and

I thinke

that this canfora

for

that

India

dear.

in

The

Beniamin

Sion.

Long

Muske

order, as

commeth

information

staves

it in

they cut

flesh with
make

which

be

may

and
pieces,

the

blood

been

is

beet him

take out all the

in

morter
of

the

Java.

as

this

in

make

big as

small
then

body,

whole

the

beat

bones, and

wolfe,

with

to death

is

There

told.

wilde and

spreadthroughhis

put it in

to

purses

they

I have

they take alive,and

his blood

of Assi and

Kingdom
Bengala,Pegu, and

by good

certaine beast in Tartaria

Cauchinchina.

the

Tartaria,which

parts:

that is very

and

from

Borneo,

these

into

not

commeth

from

beast

from

greatstore

commeth

which

commeth

canes

from

groweth in

peper

A.t".

commeth

they consume
good Lignum Aloes

The

CENTURY,

smal, and dry it,and

very

the cods

skin, and these be

of muske.

Truely I
out of

the

Sea, and throwne

this

made, and there

is

the Amber

whereof

not

opinions of it, but

divers

are

know

certain,it

is most

land, and found

on

is cast

the

upon

sea

bankes.

Rubies, saphyres,and

The

Kingdome

of

Diamants

that is called
be

chiappe, commeth
from
pointed naturallycome

Java, but the

could

other.

Diamants

called Balassi
Pearles
Prom
certaine
my

house

That

from

divers

sort of

Bezeneger.

are

places;
that

Those

Delly,and
waightiethen

more

whence

from

the

Diamants

the land of

understand

never

from

they that

the
are

come.

they fish
Cambaza

canes,

of Java

from

come

but three sorts of them.

I know

and

The

Pegu.

spinelsbe gottenin

the

in divers

there, because

their houses

Chaul

they

trade

the

commeth

whereof

make

places.

there

I found

that
of

spodiamwhich

(asI

woven

alongstthe

coast

110

in

many

have

canes

congeleth in

Pegu, when I made

sayd before) they
like to mats.

of Melinde

in

Prom

Ethiopia,

TRAVELLERS

EUROPEAN

of Cafraria

land

within

the

harbors

keptby

Paternosters

of

cloth

of Bombast

kinde

accordingto the use

they carry Elephants teeth
hath

Amber

and
castle

his

importanceas
his

called

Mozambique,

castle that hee

hath

King

which

is

of

Portugall

of

as

great

in all his Indies

under

captaineof this castle hath certaine

to which
cafraria,
placesno Marchants
may

to this

voyages

this coast the

On

and
protection,

store of

India,slaves called cafari,and

for

Gold.

any

great

paltrieglassewhich they make

of the countrey: and from thence

in Chaul

some

good

many

Portugalsbringa

price,and

low

are

of

beads made

or

the

Thither

Moores.

the

that coast

on

the

by the Agent of this captaine:and they use to goe

shippes,and trade with the cafars,and their trade in
to the other.
In
is without any speachone
buying and selling
this wise the Portugalsbring their goods by litleand litle
alongstthe Sea coast, and lay them downe : and so depart,
and see the goods,and there
come
and the cafar Marchants
much
as
golde as they thinke the goodsare
they put downe
worth, and so goe their way and leave their golde and the goods
the Portugal,and
then commeth
findingthe goldeto
together,
and
his contente, hee taketh it and goeth his way into his ship,

goe, but
in small

the cafar

then commeth
them

away

and

Portugalsare

he hath

put

not

the

carrieth

and

it is a signe
goldethere still,

contented, and

he addeth
litle,

goods

more,

as

if the

cafar

he thinketh

thinke

the

thing

the

Portugalesmust not stand with them too

trade
more
strickt;for if they doe, then they will have no
with them : Por they disdaine to be refused,when
they thinke
that they have offered enough, for they bee a peevishpeople,
dealt
of a
have
and
so
long time : and by this trade
into
the
golde,
Portugales change their commodities
is in an
which
and
cary it to the castle of Mozabique

is worth

Island
the

not

coast

and

taketh

if he finde the

that the

too

and

farre
of

distant

the

from

Ethiopia,and

is

miles.

Ill

firme

distant

land of cafraria
from

India

on

2,800

I
and

BENGAL

IN

THE

come

to

Ralph

now

subsequentescape

Master

Caesar

breathes

had

the
'

adventuring and

who

with

his

imprisonment
more
excitingexperiencethan
narrative of Pitch throughout

far

The

spiritwhich

A.D.

CENTURY,

Eitch

Frederick.

Kingsley'sWestward
as

SIXTEENTH

the

animates

of

pages

Charles

of daringand risking,
of
Ho,' the spirit

energisingwhich

the chief constituent

of the

has been
of

romance

rightly
regarded
history.

As

regards the celebrated Tiger, I may

of the witches
refer to the speech of one
Macbeth
(Act 1, Scene 111):

be
in

permittedto

Shakespeare's

"

And
'

munch'd, and

Her

husband's

But

in

rat without

Shakespeare
Fitch and
throws

In
immortal

founding of
face

when

quoth 1

cries.

o'the

Tiger:

of Master

writing this speech which

excited by the doings of these

adventurers

piece of

the date of the

unmindful

been

"

the interest

valuable

in

Elizabethan

internal evidence

of
composition

also

England,

refer to

the
our

helping
play.
friend, the

Twelfth Night a play which

the
1601, and is thus contemporaneous with
the EnglishEast India Company. Malvolio smiles

Malvolio

appeared in
his

have

connection, I may

this

me

tail,

not

merchant

to determine

master

'

Give

sail,

adventures

a
affording

'

munch'd.

I'lldo.

could

lighton

and

caravans

us

his

lap,

rump-fedronyon

sieve Fll thither

like

and

Aleppo gone,

to

do, I'lldo, and

Fll

besides

munch'd

thee,witch V the

Aroint

And,

thus

chestnuts in her

sailor'swife had

into

of

the

"

lines than

more

are

in the

new

map,

with

the

(Act 111, Scene 11). This is

how the East India Company had alreadybegun to change the
and to be
of the world, and it is something to remember
map
so
prominentlypresentin
proud of that the East Indies were
in
Indeed
there is nothing to wonder
mind.
Shakespeare's
Indies

augmentation of

the

this, for national

literature

and

national

is but the reflex

aspirations.
112

of national ideals

"

take

back

you

Barbosa

the details of Fitch's

enteringinto

Before

and

TRAVELLERS

UROPEAN

"

to

still earlier

two

Varthema

Barbosa

"

let
narrative,

travellers

European

Portuguese whose

me

"

narrative

A. D., and
Bengal about the year 1514
who paida passingvisit to our
Varthema
provinceabout 1505.
the Hon'ble Henry Stanley,
The Englishtranslator of Barbosa
referringto the manuscript in the Barcelona Librarystates

speaks

to

of

us

"

that

this work

"

is not

of travels ; it is rather

book

an

gives ample details

of the
various seaports
water
of the
historical details,
in it. It contains many
mentioned
interesting
of which, such as the account of Diu, the takingof Ormuz,
some
the foundingof the PortugueseFort in Calicut,their interruption
of the Indian
trade to Suez
by capturingthe Indian
the
ships "c. fix pretty nearly the exact date at which
narrative was
composed as the year 1514."
of
description
trade, supplies,and

itineraryor

This

is what

OF

Gentiles,very

king

is

and

powerful in

is

about

the

of

Kingdom

Bengal.
KINGDOM

It is of the

It

Barbosa

learn from

we

Orissa and about

countries.

frequently at
the

war

ORISSA.

and the
good fightingmen,
with
the king of Narsynga*
his

of

numbers

soldiers.

foot

The

from
the sea, and
greater part of his countryis withdrawn
His territory
extends
has few
seaports and little trade.

seventy leaguesalong the

which
commences

they call Guenga, and

the
kingdom

sometimes

at

to this river to
become

coast

bathe

in

the

on

other

Indians

it, saying that

it issues from

safe, because

terrestrial paradise. This river is very

it is studded

on

both

banks

The

Hindu

with

15

river

side of

of

Vijaynagar,

this

river
he

is

in

pilgrimage
this they all

which

great and
and

Ganges,

which

go
with

fountain

opulent

Kingdom

X13

the

as

Bengala, with

of

all the

And

war.

far

as

is in the

magnificent,

noble

cities of

BENGAL

the

IN

Gentiles.

first and

second

CENTURY,

this river and

India,

healthy

to Malaca

on

SIXTEENTH

Between

provided,very
further

THE

the Eufrates
abundant

territoryvery

and

A.D.

temperate, and

is the third

the

are

and

from

well

this river

India, accordingas the Moors

say.
BENGAL.

Having passed the river Ganges, along the coast twenty

west,
leaguesto north-east by east and twelve leaguesto the southand then twelve leagues to the east until reachingthe
river Paralem, is the kngdom of Bengala, in which there are
towns, both in the interior and

many

the interior
of

inhabited

are

Bengal,who

Moors

and

goods

and

gulfwhich

and

the

parts,because

many

enters

towards

north, and

greatcityinhabited by
a

good harbour.

very

well formed.

Many

is much

there

shippingto
the

inhabited

are
sea-ports

much

Bengala,with
and

Moor

Those

of

Gentiles, subjectto the King

the

Gentiles,amongst whom

there is a very

men

is

by

the sea-coast.

on

trade
this

at its inner

Moors

which

Its inhabitants

foreignersfrom

by
in

is a

sea

extremity
is called
are

various

white

parts

and
city, both Arabs and Persians,Abyssinians
Indians,who congregatehere on account of the country being
They are all great
very fertile and of a temperate climate.
build as those of
largeshipsof the same
merchants,and own
live in

this

and

Mekkah,

others

of

the

build

Chinese

which

they call

large and carry a very considerable

these
"With
ships they navigate to Cholemender,
cargo.
Malabar, Cambay, Peigu, Tarnasari, Samatra, Ceylon, and
Malaca ; and
they trade in all kinds of goods,from many
in the country,and
cotton
There is much
to others.
places

jungos,which

sugar

cane

pepper.
fine and

trade

to

are

very

and
plantations,

very

manufacture

many

They

coloured
delicate,
all parts;

excellent women's

they
head

for

good gingerand
kinds

their

call them
gear,
114

and

own

of
use,

long

stuffs,
extremely
and

saravetis,and
much

much

valued

white

for

they
for

are

that

BENGAL

which

fruits

IN

THE

in

grow

SIXTEENTH

the

CENTURY.

A.D.

There

country.

also

are

and sheep,and all

horses, cows
country many
greatabundance, and very extremelylargehens.

merchants

of this

citygo

buy

Gentile

children

many

steal them, and

others who
of

into the interior

who

those

it, and

of

other
The

the

of their

fathers

and

castrate

them.

Some

merchandise

in

meats

Moorish
and

country

mothers,
of

they bring them

recover

this

in

up

die

them
very

of

or

well,

for

twenty or thirty ducats each

value them
much
to the Persians, who
as
guards to their wives
The respectable
Moors
of this citygo dressed
in
and houses.
and of slight
white
long morisco shirts reachingto the instep,
cloths wrapped round below the
texture, and underneath, some
sell them

and

waist, and

as

the shirt

over

with

silver ;

silken

sash round

the waist, and

jewelledringson their
luxurious
and fine cotton caps on their heads. They are
fingers,
people, who eat and drink a good deal,and have other bad
habits.
They bathe frequentlyin large tanks which they have
in their houses ; they have many
servants, and have each of
four
three or
them
more
as
wives, and as many
they can
shut up and very richly
maintain. They keep them very much
dressed and adorned with silks and jewels set in gold; they go
dagger set

out

nightto

at

visit

they wear

many

and

another

one

to drink

festivals and
in

wine

of many

marriage feasts. They

this country, chiefly
of sugar
other things. The
women

wines, and

are

of the

down

the

four

or

with

shoes,

he

and

turns

; all

others

goldthread.

possesses

every

kinds

and

palm trees,and

are

very

to them.

fond

They

of

also

of these

great

are

The
singing and playing on instruments.
short white shirts half way
common
people wear
thigh, and drawers, and very small head wraps of

three

silk and

various

hold

both in

musicians
men

accustomed

much

make

wine, and

much

day many

governors.

of them

with

are

shod

with

leather, some
with

sandals, very well worked, sewn

king is a great lord and very

country inhabited by Gentiles,of

rich,

The

to

obtain

turn

Moors,

This

king possesses
116

more

the favour

whom

of the

further
territory

king
on

TRAVELLERS

EUROPEAN

the before

inland and
Of

gulf,inhabited by

named
the

on

narrative

the

notes

not feel

conviction

countries and

men,
own

impossibleto peruse the work and

that the writer is tellingthe truth, that
which actuallytook placeand describing

is

all the concise freshness

in

note-book".

He

Bengal.

from

short time

interested

that

of

to

came

in

Tenasserim

native inhabitants

region,of
"

not much
and

and

of eleven

Banghella" from
Varthema

had

helms

with

they carry

only for
by the
vivid

of

very

made

placeswhere

and

kind

are

parts

flat

there is
before

prows

masts, and

two

are

largeshipwhich

of

the

tonnage of

little vessels

some

is
one

to

Melacha".

voyage

had

which

of

of these is of

each

which

butts,on

citycalled
A

two

ships used
he givesus
which
peoplemake use

made

are

is also another

Giunchi, and

thousand

he

they carry

There

uncovered.

kind

Province

our

into

enter

can

Another

water.

behind,

called

such

other

in

the

of

one

these
description.He tells us that
largeshipsand of various kinds, some

bottomed, because

his

attempts at
and
charming simplicity

apparentlymore

was

India, than

of

of

with

of all

absence

manifest

examined

had

he

tale is told with

composition. The
Varthema

which

scenes

There

eyes.

Italian,the English

it is

"

recordingevents

Gentiles, both

to the south.

turns

Varthem?,, the

of

that

translator

he is

coast, which

sea

and

Moors

days brought

him

to

the

"

City

of

Tenasserim.

Banghella
represents

hitherto

seen.

The

as

Sultan

of the

one
was

finest

cities

Muhammadan,

and

of 20,000 men.
Here
standing army
they found the
richest merchants
they had ever met ; the principalexports were
cotton and silk stuffs,*
which were
and not by
woven
by men
in grain of every kind, sugar,
women
; the country abounded
ginger,and cotton, and was withal, the best placein the world
*

whence

No

doubt

they

these

were

stuffs

conveyed

were

distributed

over

East

in Arab

shipsto

the red

Africa, Syria,Egypt and

117

Sea

and

Europe.

the Persian

gulf

BENGAL

to

live in.

IN

centuries

SIXTEENTH

by

"

before,who

author's

our
particular,
experience of Ibn

the

A.D.

CENTURY,

this latter

In

is corroborated

THE

Batuta

statement

nearly

two

country in which
of the religiousof
were
so
provisions
cheap. I there saw one
the "West, who
told me
for
that he had bought provisions
himself and family for a whole year with
eight dirhems," or
about
! At Banghella our
twenty-four shillingsof our money
adventurers
in
met
two
Christians from the city of Sarnau
Cathay.
The
at

never

saw

Christians whom

Sarnau

two

says,

trading purposes, and as

from
rightto left,they were

travellers encountered

our

Banghella had evidently come

that

to

Varthema

of

part

describes them

India

for

writing
On seeing
probably Nestorians.
of coral which
the branches
Varthema's
Persian
companion
them
to Pegu, as
had for sale,they advised him to accompany
market
for such articles ; and the party
being the most eligible
about
one
accordingly set off together on a voyage of
thousand
miles",during which they
passed a gulf towards
as

"

"

south", (Martaban) and

the

in

due

time

their

reached

destination.
Varthema's

given

rise to

short reference

discussion
interesting
invitingyour attention

this

following

"

an

Before

points of

to the

controversy, let

Major

from

City of Bengala" has

tion.
regardingits identificato

place

me

Kennel's

of the salient

some

before
of

Memoir

the

you

map

of

Hindustan.

Gour, called

"

and

supposed to

left bank

of

be the

the

Bajemal. It was
was
repairedand
name

which

of

also

Lucknouti, the ancient capitalof Bengal,

GrangiaBegia

Ganges,

was

account, the

Ptolemy, stood

twentv-five

miles

on

the

below

the

capitalof Bengal (730 years B.C.),and

beautified by Homayoon, who gave it the

Jennuteabad, which

it

about

of

name

situated,still bears.
unwholesomeness

part

of the

According

Circar, in
to Eerishta's

of its air occasioned

118

it to be

EUROPEAN

deserted

Tandah

Tanrah,

the site of ancient

which

miles from

miles
is

Gour

of
question

cityof Banghella,

which

Varthema's

Barbosa's
evidence

the river. No

part of

to the

present bank

of the

and

half, and
that

by

the

parts of it

some

river

indentification

Varthema

considerations
following

(a)

to

higher up

nearer

miles

removed

was

are

twelve

now

it."

As to the

"

few

regularlywashed

were

to the

four

than

Ganges

seat of Government

after,and the

soon
or

TRAVELLERS

which

account

that

the

mentions, I invite attention

:
"

narrative

taken

have

we

of the site of

in

conjunctionwith

already noticed

is satisfactory

citycalled Banghella or Bengala existed at this

a
period,that it was
seaport of considerable trade,and was
in
situated beyond the Hooghly at the head of the gulf known
of Bengal. It is remarkable
those days as
the Gulf
that
Barbosa
makes
allusion whatever
either to Satigan or
no
Chatigam. (Satgongand Chittagong.)
a

"(b)

Of

Eredericke

the

travellers

subsequent to

(A.D. 1563) representsSatigan

commercial

port, and

locates

it 120

Barbosa, Caesar
as

miles from

flourishing
of

the mouth

the

Ganges (Hooghly),but he does not allude either to Bengala

or
Chatigam ; Ralph Eitch,twenty years later,describes both
called
Satagan and Ohatigan, and tells us that Chatigan was
Porto
Grande
by the Portuguese; but he says nothing
about Bengala. In Hamilton's
time A.D. 1688-1723, the town
of Hoogly appears
to have
succeeded
Satign as the chief
seaporton the western branch of the Ganges, for he represents
the former as
drivinga great trade,because all foreigngoods
are
brought thither for import, and all goods of the product of
which circumstance
Bengal are broughthither for exportation",
for his not naming Satigan. Chittagong,
accounts
sufficiently
"

"

"

"

or,

as

the

Portuguesecall it,Xatigam,"

length, but

he

earlier writers

never

located

mentions
at

no

the

he describes

cityof Bengala,which

great distance from

119

at

some

the

that town."

BENGAL

("?) A
1561

After

review

Badger, the
publishedby
In the

beyond

of all the available

editor
the

volume

absence,therefore,of

am

of

present mouth
branch

any

the

to

Hattia

infer
and

the

on

proof to
contained

in

subject,

Varthema's

Travels

"

the
in

contrary,
the

old

that

Bengala occupied a
Sundeep islands,situated at

of the

Brahmaputra, which

of the

Ganges

120

of Venice

concludes

direct

reliable information

inclined

positionbetween
the eastern

the

of

evidence

HacqluitSocietythus

the not very

atlases, I
the

published by Gastaldi
Bengal as well as Satigan.

mentions
a

A.D.

CENTURY,

of Asia

map

A.D.

SIXTEENTH

THE

IN

I conceive

of the earlier

to be

geographers.

Note
Introduction

Bijapur I

In

had

found

work.

length, beautifullydried
enamel.

jewelsand
of
whole
as

happened to
There

purplevelvet.

Majesty

collected

how

I had

eye

fell upon

the

Khan-i

inquiredwhat

he

Azam

'

:
replied

"

so

He
his
a

looked

Majesty

began

examined

it was,

little to

drew
not

and

where

or

let him

took

more.

try it,who
asked

mention
were

much

in its

what

praise. The

to Your

that
fitting

pipe
or

not

so

should

foolish

as

the

have

puffs.

was

too

was

time,

not

take

to know

in

The

Nawab
and

Majesty/'

him

ful.
pipe-

and

forbade
smoke

say he must
sacred

then

new

sent

mouth,

invention
doctors

nothing.

unknown

bid

the

for

repliedthat
and

his

there
the

had

written

an

untried

fact, this is

written
such

he

up

your

his

He

European

try it". I said

121

16

silver

made

mouth, and

his

first physiciansaid, "In

doctors

and

peculiarqualities.He

China, and

Majesty

great trouble,and would

in

from

three

of
Majesty the qualities

Your

Europeans are

the
two

for

piece into

books; but that it

the

leaf

in Mecca

physician approached

the mouth

its

were

of it in his

medicine, about which

describe

took

imported from

stems

is well known

physicianwas

He

do

of very

one

short

got it.

medicine

the

presents, and

was

pleasedto
graciously

was

taking
The

Azam

no

Majesty

had

to prepare

me

his

it,when

three breaths.

druggist,and
was

it,and ordered

and

gratifyme,

two

Khan-i'

His

bag

that

so

tobacco,which

the

This is tobacco,which

to smoke

But

doing so.

at

tray with the pipe and its appurtenances

Medina, and this doctor has brought it as

His

in, and

stem

strange things in

many

stem

lightingit

betel

piece
mouth-

tobacco,such, that if

the

keep

to

given me

for

in

with

adorned

to the

set

jewel

cubits

handsome

very

golden burner

of

arrangedall elegantlyon

burning.

three

was

being

like in

pipe

enjoyinghimself,after receivingmy

was

and
expressedgreat surprise,

pipefuls
;

also

was

Adil

made

silver tube

covered with

his

fine

when

across

this I filled with

tray. I had

asking me

ends

had

will continue

lit,the whole

His

come

both

Khan

'

accompaniment.

superiorworkmanship
be

coloured

and

handsome

prepared a

procuredat Achin,

be

to

handsome.

very

proper

and

the

having seen

Never

cornelian,oval-shaped,which

Yaman

was

tobacco.

me,

stem, the finest

The

Tobacco.

of

some

with

India, I brought some

I.

How

things?

can

we

It is not

to the first physician

: "The

all about

it ; there

are

wise

men

have tried

must
must
not

IN

who

seldom

them

among

can

BENGAL

SIXTEENTH

THE

err

thingand found

or

commit

CENTURY,
mistakes.

A.D.

How

out all its qualities,

pass

can

you, before

judgment on

you

it that

be

and nobles ? Things

kings,great]men,
dependedon by the physicians,
be judged of according
to their good or bad qualities,
and the decision
be according
to the facts of the case".
The physician
"we do
LMplied,

want

sanctioned

to

follow the

by

our

own

Europeans,and

wise men,

without

adopt
trial."

custom, which

said,"It

is

is not

strange

time or
other ;
at one
thing,for every custom in the world has been new
tillnow, they have gradually
from the days of Adam
been invented. When
a new
thingis introduced among a people,and becomes well known in the
should determine accorand physicians
ding
world,every one adoptsit ; wise men
of a thing; the good qualities
not
to the good or bad qualities
may
has been newly
Thus the China root,not known
anciently,
appear at once.
diseases". When
the Emperor heard me
and is useful in many
discovered,
he was
and
with the physician,
astonished,
being much
disputeand reason
and then said to Khan-i' Azam,
Did you
pleasedgave me his blessing,
hear how wiselyAsad spoke? Truly,we must not rejecta thing that has
of other nations merelyhecause we cannot find
been adoptedby the wise men
The physician
was
it in our books ; or how shall we progress ?
going to say
when His Majestystoppodhim and called for the priest.The priest
more,
could persuade
the physician
to it,but no one
ascribed many
good qualities
;
he was
a good physician.
nevertheless,
"

"

As I had

broughta largesupplyof

tobacco and

several of the nobles,while others sent to ask for

some

I
pipes7
;

sent

some

to

indeed,all,without

After that the

introduced.
wanted some, and the practice
was
exception,
of smoking spread rapidly.His
merchants began to sell it,so the custom
Majesty,however, did not adoptit.

Hilkt-i Asad

122

Beg.

VI

EUROPEAN

TRAVELLERS
IN

BENGAL

Mr.

THE

IN

SIXTEENTH

Vice-Chancellor

outside

the limits of

within

the

activities
India
the

the
the

of

some

the

Listen,

for

Goa,

of

the

impressed
India

people

him

festivities he

The

to

is walled

the

towne

Moore

king
is

Here

witness

and

of

the

of

the Moores

called

the

of the

125

which

cloth

Provincea

of

at

Chaul

be

two

Portugalis
the

little above

bay,
that

governed by
(Shah Bahadur),

for all sortes

Central

marriage

and
Portugalis,

of the

Xa-Maluco

and

in Hindu

There

commaundeth

about.

round

obviously

arrived

land.

That

sea, and

of

Barrampore.*
we

firme

Moores.

great traffike

Burhanpore

dead

belonging to

the

which
the

at

and

Chaul

of

us

of

November

drugges, silke,
*

tells

cremation

one

neerest

regarding

statements

palmtree

in the

is

is

the

of

to the

and

he

attention,

other

the

to

days.

the

the

Century Bengal.

seaports of Mogul

cities and
naive

fall

not

homely joys,the unsophisticated

his

the

does

Orissa

referringyou

standeth

townes,

regions lying

of

to what

tenth

which

and

of

us

temptation

privilegedto

was

told

16th

of

attracted

(II)

of

of those

uses

A.D.

observer

the

greatly,of

which

Bihar

traveller's

example,

diverse

has

notable

primitive customs,

delightsof

Pitch

an

repeating the

of

or

of

to resist

of

what

Bengal,

province

it is hard

But

Pellow-Students

and

Strictlyspeaking,

CENTURY,

is

of

spices

and

silke, sandales,

BENGAL

IN

SIXTEENTH

THE

elephant'steeth,
much

and

which

sugar

much

fruit

and

worke, and

China

is made

Gagara : the tree is called

tree, in the
the profitablest
beare

A.D.

CENTURY,

called

of the nutte

the Palmer
world

which

is

it doth

alwayes
yeeld wine, oyle, sugar,

doth

vinegar, cordes, coles ; of the leaves are made

thatch for the houses, saylesfor shippes,mats
to
sit or
lie on : of the branches they make
their
broomes

houses, and
for

doeth issue out

of

shippes. The wine

the tree.
They cut

it hard, and

hange an

branch

still it and
it becommeth
may

note in

passingthat

the wild date

Palmyra

with

the

Palmyra

i.e. the tree Palm

from

pot

upon

it,which

and

has

eveningand

every
dried

raysins,and

in short time.

evidently"mixed
The

the Cocoanut.

and

do not

yieldoil,and

its sap

is not

as

Hither

many

shippescome

abundant

toppe

and binde

certaine

Pitch

of the

bowe

strongwine

very

the

derived

in

put

tree wood

of

earthen

they emptie every morning

We

of the

to sweepes,

nuts

the

of

sugar

the wild

that from

as

up

date Palm."*

India, Ormus,
manie

Moores

strange order
cowe,

and

and

from

many

and

Gentiles.
them

among
much

esteeme

of

partes of

all

from

Mecca

They

heere be

have

very

they worshippe a
the cowes
doung to
;

paint the walles of their houses. They will kill

nothing,not so much as a louse : for they holde
it a sinnef to kille anything. They eate no flesh,
And
but live by rootes and
ryce, and milke.
when
him

if shee

shaven, and
*

Sir

dieth,his wife is burned

the husbande

be alive
then

is

if she will
never

Harry Johnston.

t Obviouslyour

traveller here

speaks of

the Jainas.

126

any

with

not, her head is

account

made

of

TRAVELLERS

EUROPEAN

if

They

it

great sinne, for

were

would

come

sinne

Cambaia

will kill

they
killed

is

the

fine

yeere

India, wherein

for

30, miles

or

Indian

an

the

many

palmer trees, and

be

viceroy
in

an

It is

very

faire.

orchards

and

hath

some

many

marchants

of all

which

commeth

every

many

the Pleete

the

about.

towne

faire, full of

And

Portugal,which

from

thing
any-

which

standeth

It

Court.

be 25,

villages.Here
nations.

have

nothing, nor

is very

gardens,and

In

Ants.

his

may

and
citie,

Hand

The

burned.

principalcitie

in

with

Hand, which

be

will

were

to
they have hospitals
for birds.
cats, and
They

most

Portugals have
remaineth

those

in the towne

keepe lame dogs and

will give meat to the
Goa

vermine,

consumed,

were

they

therefore

other

sustenance, which

lacke

would

wormes

and

bodies

their

buried,

be

of their bodies there

wormes

many

when

and

say

should

they

her after.

be-foure,five,or sixe

first hither.
And
they
great shippes commeth
for the most part in September,and remaine
come
fortie
fiftie dayes ; and
ther
then
or
goe to
Cochin, where
they lade their Pepper for

Portus-all.

Oftentimes

rest goe to Cochin

which

leaguessouthward.
of Hidalca?i*

who

Goa

one

is from

Goa

standeth

lieth in

daye journey.

seven

thev lade

the

His

in
an

Goa, the
hundred

in the

countrey
countrey sixe or

chief e

citie is called

Bisapor.
Fitch

came

to

Burhanpore

from

Belapur

(inBerar).

The

Adil

Shah, the

Khan

Adil,the

rnler of the

127

Musulman

State

of

Bijapore.

BENGAL

IN

In

THE

this

SIXTEENTH

place

silver

of

twentie

CENTURY,

their

round

is made

money

and

A.D.

thicke

which

of kind

the

to

value

of

is very

good silver. It
is marueilous
great and a populous country.
In
their winter
is in
which
June, July, and
August, there is no passing in the streets but
with horses, the waters be so high. The houses
are

made

of lome

of

store
of

pence,

and

thatched.

cloth

cotton

wool

Here

is

great

made, and paintedclothes

here

groweth great store of

and Bice.
We
found marriagesgreat store
corn
in many
and villages
both in townes
placeswhere
we
passedof boys of eightor ten years and girlsof
five or six years old.
They both do ride upon one
caried through
horse very trimlydecked and
are
cotton

the town

eate of

the

night and

make

which
that

little doubt

marriage,as the children must

keeping till they were
parents'

more

was

been

have
of

part of

marriage.
afterwards
than

betrothal

so

of Bice

most

immediately

follows
this

the

of the

end

an

made

banket

and there they dance

fruits,
so

playing,and

and

and

statement

The

greatpiping

and

home

return

leaves

with

to their

withdrawn

marriageableage.

They lie not togetheruntill they be ten years

their children
so
old.
They say they marry
dieth,the
that

if

the

which

he

leave

their

without

from

this

came

Goa, and

must

woman

father-in-law

After

it is an

because

young

father

maried
sons

the
him

with

be burned

die, yet they may

help

to

order that when

and

without

to

bring

wives, nor

so

have

the children

up

"also that

man

they
their

will not

daughters

husbands.

imprisonmentof Pitch
possiblyfrom the horrors of
the

128

and

his

the

Inquisition

escape

TRAVELLERS

EUROPEAN

in these Eastern

by the Portugueseeven

set up

had been

which

regions.
"At

coming

our

and
prison,

into

cast

were

we

examined

for letters,
and were
and demanded
charged
justice
We
to be
spies,but they could prove nothing by us.
and twentie of December,
until the two
continued in prison
set at
and then we
were
liberty,putting in sureties for

before the

ducats

thousand

two

Stevens,

sureties Eather

there, and

not

another

to

an

depart

the

EnglishJesuit

religiousman,

town

which

friend

of his

which

we

found

procured

for us."

and

word,
hardlyafford to miss a single
will carry you rapidlythrough what Eitch tells us of
Ganges and
glory,Saptagram and Sonargau, of our

what

Of
I

follows

can

we

our

old

our

Henares, and of the Brahmins

Let

start with Eitch

us

in

"Here
28th

of

Newberie

of India.
at

Eatepore.

staied all three untill the

Eateporewe

.September1585, and then

tooke his journey toward

Lahor, determiningfrom thence

and then

for

Aleppo

John

master

citie of

the

to goe for

Persia

whither
Constantinople,

or

hee could

get soonest passage unto, and directed

to goe for Bengala and
for Pegu, and did
me
in
promiseme, if it pleased God, to meete me
Bengala within two yeeres with a shippe out of
England.Wil. Leade3 serued the king of Cambaia.
I left William

Leades

with

Zelabdim

who
an

the

king

did entertaine him

house

and fiue

the

Echebar

very

slaues,an

Jeweller

in
in

seruice

Eatepore,

well,and gaue
horse,and euery

him

day

sixe S. S. in
"

Very likelythe

lost all inclination

is not heard of

to

again.

money."
jewellermarried an
return
to England.
Nor

indeed
129

17

was

John

Indian
At

any

wife, and
rate

he

Newberry, who

BENGAL

IN

have

reached

to

seema

having been

it is

Fitch

Lahor

but thence-forth

Thus

oomfortable
sail

and
boat

mostly

carpets,and

other

merchants

journeyeddown

boates

Carpets,

and

ladon

tho
with

diuers

other

with

laden

on

taking

these

varied interest and

swarms

of

birds

and

Agra
"

His

and

eighty
salt, opium, indigo,lead,

for

beauty :

and

Muhammadan

sale

immense

"

at

Ganges.

hundred

one

great rivers he

the most

boat

the

into

commodities, which

were

wild

embark

Jumna

safe

quitea

Bengal was

to

little fleet of

similar vessels

Hindu

Bengala, in

fourescore

only to

the

down
of

one

Fitch

for he had

row

or

was

journeyof
one,

in

the riuer Iemena.

downe

the

the

Satagam

to

Agra

and
companie of one hundred
Salt, Opium, Hinge, Lead,
commodities

in

disappeared,
journey between

"*

from

went

A.D,

CENTURY,

supposedmurdered

Persia.

there and

SIXTEENTH

THE

in

Bengal.

passed

people

Chinese

cranes,

he
of

panorama

of

swarms

As

and

geese,

pelicans(which Fitch mistook for swans),adjutantstorks,

and flamingoes
ibises,
temples with strange and
; waterside
like lions,tigers,
fantastic idols of stone or paintedwood, some
and
and
women
some
monkeys or peacocks,others like men
which

could

only be compared

to devils with

The
fields by
cross-legged.
partridgesand turtle doves,

tigers; the

and

towns

the

river

Tho

with

superstitious

ceremonies

market

chiefe

The

banks

full of

were

at

was

Brahmans, the Hindu

the

sitting

arms

night time visited by

by strange,
placeswere
patrolled
and

naked, longhaired
beggars. Fitch
struck

four

perhaps

of

most

all

"t
priests,

marchants

are

Moores

and

of the

Gentiles.

liramanes.

strange
their

In

these

ceremonies.

Johnston,

lade

vp

The

made

water

with

and

haue
which

haue

many
are

string

with

great ceremonies,

both

their

f Sir Harry Johnston.

130

they

Bramanes

to the water

come
priests,

about.theirnecks
and

countries

hands, and

IN

BENGAL

Agra

Fro

out of the

Prage, where the riuer

mightie riuer Ganges,
name.
Ganges cometh

to

into the

loseth

Iemena

A.t".

CENTURY,

came

entereth

Iemena

and

SIXTEENTH

THE

his

Northwest, and runneth

East

into

the

gulfeof Bengala. In those partsthere are many

and turtle doues, and
Tigersand many partriges
Here
be many
much
other foule.
heggers in
these countries which
the people
goe naked, and
of them
make
: they call them
great account
Schesche.

the rest.

among

him, his beard

of his head

of his

he would

cut

sawe

He

which

one

would

was

haue

his

covered

with

fingerswere

they spake for him.

him, he would
lay his

with

"When

spake to

hand

would

Hee

not

is

of

sorts,and

great

foule, as

many

other

would

eight

or

man

any

his

upon

speake.

not

king.

We

went

from

which

is here

very

fish of

of

store

wild

and

cranes,

the

Ganges,

Here

broad.

the

speaketo

down

Prage

would

himselfe, but

bowe

the

neither

tenne, and
brest and

vpon
haire

The
nailes
priuities.
two
inches long, for

nothing from him,

speake. He was
accompanied

he

monster

nothing

very long,and

was

he

some

of

Here

of

sundry

swannes,

things.

geese,

The

country

for the
is very fruitfull and populous. The men
most part haue their faces shauen, and their heads
very
the

long,except
crowne

should

man

them
of

Ganges

very

and

set

are

bee

of them

some

dish

on

and
pleasant,

In

crowne.

Hands.

as

His

the

water

saue

though

heads, and

their

the

many

are

all shauen

shaue

this river
is very

country adioyning

fruitfull.

Prom
a

and

round, all but

sweete

Banaras.

which

some

thence

greattowne,

we

and

went

great
132

to

Bannaras

store

which

is'

of cloth is made

TRAVELLERS

EUROPEAN

Shashes

there of cotton, and

A

pilgrimage

all Gentiles.

place they be

this

the Gentiles.

the

for

In

Moorcs.

of

Gentiles

the

come

for the most

By

breake

side

all of

them,

purpose,
three

four

or

diuers

in

themselues

they take

strawes,*which

and

in

foreheads,and they haue

Barlie,or money, which, when

themselues,they giueto the

little

wash

Rice,

which

men

the

washed

haue

they
old

hold

in

them

cloth

people

they

marke

sit to

some

the

for

and

fingerswhen

their

betweene

them

or

wash

and

towne

there are
Ganges. And
which vpon placesof earth made
sit praying,and they giue the

men

bee

waters

in

the

of

out

come

themselues
old

farre

partthey haue their images standing.

and
of day and before,there are
men

which

women

the

alongst
houses, and

faire

many

very

towne

pilgrimage out

on

countreys. Here

this

To

sit

praying. Afterwards they go to diuers of

of their sacrifices.
their images,and
giue them
And when
they giue, the old men
say certain
in diuers
is all holy. And
then
prayers, and
placesthere standeth a kind of image which in
And
their language they call Adi.
they haue

there

diuers

carued, whereon

great stones

water, and

barly,and

throw

thereupon

great placemade

haue

with

steppesto'

standeth

of

downe

goe

quantitie of flowers,
thro

be

we

their

that
*

The

reference

no

doubt

like

wherein

to

for

the

which

many

people

in

it

they

wash

is to

Kusa

be
grass

133

in sacred

they
in

themselues

is used

There

for

forgiuen them,
which

water

great
continually they
:

stinke.

sinnes

well

the

it

it, doe

when

say

stone

make

into

alwayes

rice,wheate,

some

stinketh

foule and

very

poure

things. Moreouer, they

other

some

they

it,

because

Tarpan.

Bengal

in

century,

sixteenth

the

a.t".

God, as they say, did wash himselfe in that place.

of it,
They gather vp the sand in the bottome
and
say it is holy. They neuer
pray bnt in the
water, and they wash themselues
ouerhead, and
lade vp water

themselues
of the

both

about,

wash

stand

will pray

then

so

in those houses.

with

turne

little

their

to

goe

of them

Some

is their

the earth

vpon

they drinke

times, and

placewhich

handes, and

their

and

three

water

gods which
will

with

then

length,and

their

and

armes

legs

length out, and will rise vp and lie downe, and

kisse the ground twentie or thirtie times,but they
will not stirre their right foote. And
of
some
at

them

their ceremonies

will make

sixteene
when
times

about

their

diuers

mixtures

tenne

them

their

thingsouer

twelue

or

their

sit

or

littlebel

circle of water

pots and pray, and diuers

that reacheth

one

fifteene

pots littleand great,and ring a

they make their

: and
they make

and

with

round

by them,

pots: and they say

times,and when

pots many

they haue done, they goe to their gods,and strowe

their sacrifices which they thinke are very holy,
and
marke
which

take

they

fiftie and
them

of them

many

weather

ring

many
which
Here
in

the

in

they

come
some

hundred

wash

sitteth
fanne

little bell

giue them

come

which

their

their idoles

them

in

winde

vpon

warme

them.

coming, they
hangeth by them, and

company

those
specially

almes, but

countrey.

bee burned
throwen
131"

by

to blowe

any

out of the

fire and

to
together,

of these houses

see

foreheads,

to offer to these idols.

some

one

with

when

and

sit by,in the

great gift. There

well,and

They haue
standing and
And

as

sometime

in this

which

to

ashes,somes
into

the

scorched

water,

and

TRAVELLERS

EUROPEAN

dogges and

foxes

wiues

doe

here

they die,

The

afterward.

with

made

hoopes

amber

stones, and with

marked

with

foreheads,and
and

stroke of red

it runneth

so

their

three

"Winter,which

is

slit to looke

beneath
friends

My
items

will

dress

that

note

in

of

connection

with

these

Rennell, in
historian

once

suggeststhat

he

the
was

In

the

weare

men

mattraces

like

to

our

Grocers

our

morters,
downe

tied

so

these

and
representatives

will

modern

wrought absolutelyno change

is a more
point still in
interesting
quiltedcaps and quiltedgowns.

almost

was

of Herodotus

that

crowne,

of
recognise the identity

going

fascinatingvolume

their

of wayes.

at, and

out

in

the

to

vp

May,

our

with

has

years

there

with

eares.

their

But

Major Rennell,
Geography

at

with

lapse of

them.

their

red

of

manner

of cotton
quilted gownes
and
quilted caps like to

with

and

agats,and they are

many

great spot

decked

Iuorie, adorned

of

round

Their

eares

tinne,

siluer,copper,

of

rings

and

necks, armes

their

haue

women

saue

their middle.

about

be

of them

naked

all

people goe

bound

cloth

little

is made

account

when

heads

not, their

will

any

The

their husbands

with

they

neuer

them.

presently eate

burne

if

shauen, and

doe

of

to

Dissertations

refers to the statement

dress

of

the

Major

our

say

Indians

the

on

of the

Greek

cotton,

was

and

probablythinking of quilted things like

wornjby the Phoenicians and the Assyrians,and refers

to the description
of the equipment of the Assyrianforces

those
us

in the army
Thus

we

remedy
the

of

may
in India

Xerxes, viz. that they

wore

linen

cuirasses.

suggestedtheir own
for
Assyria. The justification

take it that circumstances

as

existence of

well

as

in

quiltedgarments
135

is to be found

in the need

BENGAL

IN

THE

SIXTEENTH

protectionagainst the
for warding off
need

for
the

CENTURY,

weather
the

A.D.

country, and

in

in

one

attacks

of

the enemy

in the

be

sicke

like to

other.
If

man

or

woman

before their idols all

die,they will layhim

and

that

him.

shall

And

friends will

do
and

come

cry, and

afterwards

side and

set him

and

let him

so

When

which

and
and

man
man

long,

and

things
the

by

wordes
full

of

and

cowe

basket
it :

and

of

the

and

she

hath

water, and
olde

taile,and

This
new

t in

married

by

together
clothes,

by

was

the Mexicans

old time.

of
foika
the

their

togetherby
goe
^

round

about

"

some

by

him

Which

the

and

what

to

hand
the

the

136

to

the

and

the
their

her

clone,they

calfe,and then

poore

which

Bramane

he
.

alwayes there, and

they give the cowe

taile

and

used
in

by

handes,

their

tie

pot

his hand

wiues

clothes.
cowe

certain

pot vpon
through all

doeth

man

cowe

brasse

hold

with

water

the

the

of

out

the

vpon

cowe

runneth

it

olde

then the

or

hand, and the

water

diuers

saieth

doeth

man

hands, and they lade vp

and

laieth

copper

husbands, and all haue the

cowes

with

taile, and

her

poure

the

they giue
foure
yards

of

hee

the

they

priest,a
Then

then he taketh

the

mans

man

calfe,and the olde

by
and

is, a

bound

cloth

ende

olde

an

calfe.

cloth

crosse

the

woman

together,and

white

in

that

with

cowe

the

and

man

Bramane,

of the cowe,

backe

the

reeds,

of

riuer.

side,and there is

man

the waters

to

little raft made

into the water

f)lde

little and

the

of

night,his

that

him

night,

ende

an

him

cary

married

the woman,

goe

the

mend

downe

calfe, or

not

goe

they call a

cowe,

or

sit with

vpon

they be

make

him

will

to the water

come

'

helpe

if he

and

or

priest

calfe,and afterwards

IN

BENGAL

SIXTEENTH

THE

CENTURY,

to diuers of their idoles and

goe

lie downe

the

flat vpon

A.D.

offer money,

and

kisse it diuer3

groundand

times,and then goe their way.

You

not

may

into the house

come

stand, with your

idols

shooes

riuer of

them

of

some

cause

Ganges to

broad

that

from

the

bee of

bee

scorched

and

them

somethingto

into

decked

so

it is

strangeto
the rings of

of

weare

into the

throwen

this

to

downewards,the

them

cause

to

with siluer and

theyvse
Here

earth, and

and

therein

the

pits round

no

wash

they finde
about

doe

thieues in
Arabians

sometime
Here

the

copper,

that

shooes

by reason

which

copper

so

at Patenaw

they

theyfinde

They digge deepe pitsin

the earth in greatbolles,

manner.

found.

the

water,

vpwards,I, thoughtthey

siluer and

their toes.

on

gold in
Gold

see,

so

see
you cannot
These Indians when

There be very many

they say no.
this countrey,which
be like to the
for they have no certaine abode,but are
in one placeand sometime
in another.
bee

Ganges ;

great breadth, and

but

women

and

Ganges, which

as

with their faces

with their faces

tied

fruitful

of raine

in the time

swimme

men

women

the

passedmany

we

enter

side to the other.

one

they

doe

great

as

downe

to Patenaw

countrey very

greatriuer s

very

and

them.

in the way

where

Ganges :

faire townes, and

many

I went

Bannaras

From
Patenaw.

the
haue

They

on.

continually
lampesburningbefore

where

the

with

gold,and theymake
bricke,that

the earth

fall not in.

We

know

descended
India

from

from

much
yielded

the Ain-i-Akbari

the

Northern

gold;

and

mountains
that the Indians

137
18

that the rivers

in

the

which

west

in those

of

days

TRAVELLERS

EUROPEAN

familiar

were
"

Gold

of

the

would
was

with

and

Ganges

of

most

he obtained

may

found
the

payment

of the

that
in

country

Herodotus

of

statement

of the Indian

the

In times
vnder

is

them

and

with

couered

there

cloth of cotton, much

hence

from

"

Opium

other

vnder

is of

great account

vpon

the

saw

and

touched

kissed
man,

of earth
very

of cotton,

they cary
much

India,very
He

that is chiefe

Tipperdas, and

people. Here in
dissembling prophetwhich sate

in

he

old folks

the

the

market

They

was

place, and
of the

many

his feete with

sure

The

are

trade

and

among

their hands.

but

is

is called

and
slept,

he

though

as

horse

an

king

it is

now

streets

commodities.

here

Patenau

but

sugar, which

Bengala

to

towne.

great

great Mogor.

strawe, the

this towne

large. In

gold.

many
simple,made

are

gold

connection

slender,and haue

the houses

It

regarding the

long and
kingdom,

Echebar, the

tall and

are

among

was

in

as

gold."

in

historian

very

past it

Zelabdim

men

and

Greek

rivers

with

out

comes

tribute to Darius

Patenaw

sands

of the fact that

aware

was

other

mixed

are

point which

India,a

several

Indus, and

read,

We
the

from

the saloni process

by

the

the waters

seem

gold washing.

the processes of

with

their

made

people came

hands,

tooke him

for

lasie lubber.

then

and

great

left him

sleeping. The people of these countries

much
giuen to such prating and dissembling

there
be

hypocrites.
I

Patenaw

Erom

in Gouren.

,.

,,

kingdom,

Echebar.

but

Great

now

trade

is

and

Tanda

to

It hath

the land of Gouren.

Tanda

went

in times
",,

138

by
The

rr

Zelabdim

traffiqueis

cotton, and of cloth and cotton.

bene

past

,,

subdued

is in

which

here

of

people goe

EUROPEAN

much

silke and

The

peoplehaue

of

span

deuises

Mahomedans,

they be

they

wise
like-

use

for

small

tho

money

fruit
which

Cacao

like

are

almonds.

doubt

current

no

or

Buddhists.

Hindus

more

for

all other

mony

for

they kill nothing.

sheepe,goates,dogs,cats,

When
liuingcreatures.
they be old and lame, they keepe them vntil they
die. If a man
catch or buy any quickething
in other placesand
bring it thither,they will
him

giue

it

victuals,and

other

or

let
or
keepe it in their hospitals
will giuemeat
to the Ants.
Their

ideal

an

Prom

often times

state of

coin of the realm

when

thence

place where

the
Hugely.

were

all Gentiles,and

almonds, which
No

great
lengthby

out in

there

for
hospitals

birds, and
Mexico

that

of cotton.

be marueilous

long,which they draw

when
they be yong.

gcntiiisins.
They haue

In

which

eares

peoplebeing either

the

Here
Pure

muske, and cloth made

notices

traveller

Our

TAVELLERS

returned

to

the

eat

is

Hugeli, which
in

Portugals keep

country of Bengala which

is

eat.

to

be able

to

They

smal mony

they vse

to
things,
hungry !

the

it go.

standeth

in 23

the

degrees

of

and standeth a league from

Northerlylatitude,
Satagan : they cal it Porto Piqueno. We went
through the wildernes,because the rightway was
of

full
of

thieues, where

Gouren, where

but almost
and

swine
very

all

we

found

Tigers.

Not

southwestward, standeth

Angeli,in
Porto

Angeli.

kingdom
friend
the

to

the

of it

but

wildernes, and

saw

far from
an

countrey
selfe,and

hauen

which
140

villages,

many

buffes,

was

and

ma,

Piqueno

which

is called

Orixa.

the

king

their

Porto

of

strangers. Afterwards

king of Patan

few

longer than

deere, grasse

many

passed the countrey

we

it

It
was
was

was
a

great

taken

by

but
neighbour,

13ENGAL

SIXTEENTH

THE

IN

A.D.

CENTUItY,

enjoyit long,but was taken by ZelabEchebar

which is king of Agra, Delli, and

he did not
dim

Cambaia.

like cloth

may

be made

in

Virginia.

of

Rice, and cloth made

store

of

tlieyall Yerua,
dieurs

other

it is like

is very

cotton, and

great
which

of grasse,

They

make

good

send

for

India

and

this hauen

To

ships

many

yere

place

silke.

they

places.

euery

come

of

is made

which

it which

of

cloth

this

In

much

cloth

iourney from

6 daies

southwestward.

Satagan
The

standeth

Orixa

out

of

Angeli

of

India,

Negapatan, Sumatra, Malacca, and diuers other

places; and lade from thence greatstore of Rice,
and
"

,
batagam.

of

cloth

much

and

long pepper, greatstore

victuals

wooll, much

cotton

butter

of

Satasjam is

for India.

sugar,
other
and

fair citie for

"

citie of

things. Here
one
place or
call

of all
Moores, and very plentifull

the

Bengalathey3

in

other

haue

great market
they haue many

Chandeau, and

euery
which

day in
they

greatboats

wherewithall they go
theycal pericose,
place to place and buy Rice and many
things: these boates haue 24 or 26 oares to

which

them, they be

great

burthen, but

the Gentiles haue

Here

couerture.

of

the

from
other
rowe

haue
water

no

of

Ganges in greatestimation,for hauing good water

of
neere
them, yet they will fetch the water
Ganges a great way off, and if they haue not
sufficient to drinke,they will sprinklea littleon
well.
them, and then they thinke themselues
Satagam I trauelled by the countrey of
the king of Tippara or
porto Grande, with
almost
whom
the
Mogen haue
Mogores or
be of the
The Mogen which
continuall warres.
From

Tippara or
Grande.

Porto

kingdom
the

of Recon

king

of

and

Rame,

Tippara,
141

so

be
that

stronger then

Chatigan

or

EUROPEAN

TAVELLEItS

is oftentimes

porto Grande

vnder

the

king

of

lie con.

be

thus

It may

passing that
the Ganges on

in

noted

people in the Delta of

not
as
Tipperah District were
Emperors. The Mogul Empire
the

borders
We

further

may

(i)The

Chittagaon

in

is found

which

of

verge

by

the

extended

not

was

that
the

Mogul
the

to

up

century.
"

Ramu

name

yet subdued

found

followingin this connection :

is
applied to the country of
a
general descriptionof Bengal

the

note

the

until the next

Burma

and

of Assam

Eitch

in Purchas.

called Eamu
in the southern part
village
station.
which is a police
of the ChittagongDistrict,
states that the
District was
(in) Hunter
probably first
Mahomedans
during the
conquered by the
in Bengal between
periodof Afgan supremacy
is now

(ii)There

and

the 13th

16th

Towards

centuries.

the

close

to have
century Chittagong seems
been reconqueredby the Raja of
Arakan, but
this was
ignored by the Moguls after the final
find
expulsionof the Afgans from Bengal. We
must
that Todar Mull assessed the place, which
16th

of the

have
in

When

been

Cooch-Bihar

might

have

tract of time

be

suggestionhas
easilypassed on to

been

intervenes between
Warren

days of

Couche

or

called Bottanter

chantl

*s

Moscouia

tall and

and

called Dermain

Tartaric
come

Thibet

recorded

English

the
about

that at that time he

made

country
and

Lahsa.

and
the

What

embassy

of

of

Bogle

people

there

iournie

mentioned,
citie

the

China,
142

daies

before

; the

strong,and

out

in

found

that and

Quickeu

great Northern

of chiua

and

Hastings !
is

There
Bottanter

received

is to

and the

Bhutan

the

1582.

Eitch

which

first information

and

about

are

and

from

which

is

Bhuttia, the

king

whereof

very

marchants

they

say

are

which
out

of

BENGAL

IN

THE

Muscouia

or

SIXTEENTH

Tartarie and

CENTURY,

A.D.

they come

to

cambals, agats, silke,pepper

saffron of
moneths
Thcso
bo

to

scemo

the

tains
moun-

of
called

Persia.

The

iourney.

countrey, and

when

man

is 6

countrey

There

in this

it

the

daies

perfectly. Vpon

which

people Cnmao.

haue

be not

long,they
they be vpon

saffron

like the

is very

great,3

high mountains

very
of

them

so

steepthat

iourneyoff it,he

these

of

eares

are

one

Imaus,

by

and

buy muske,

mountains

sparine

call them

long :

see

may

people

are

if their

eares

They say that

when
the mountaines, they see ships
in the Sea saylingto and fro
not
; but they know
from whence
whether
nor
they come,
they go.
There

marchants

are

they say,

from

China, which

Tho

aparrol of

Tartarie

chants.
mar-

haue

from

the other

from

the

which

and

they be

six

hundred
and

milke

the

hats, white

mountains
it is very

hosen

fleshe.

kine, and sell them

greatrequest,and

cold.

and

is

These
woollen
bootes

They report
very good horses,

haue

men

horses

which

Tartarie.

or

some

come

close, and

countreythey haue
litle :

East,

is from

apparelledwith

are

be of Moscouia

but

which

those which

But
of

marchants

of the

beards, and they say there

North, say there

that in their

great request.

side

out

come

the sunne,

no

something warme.

cloth

tailes in

vnder

it is

Northern

Cowcs

which

apes.

kine

foure, fiue,or

they

Hue

cut the tailes of

They

with
their

very deere, for they bee in

in those partes.
much
esteemed

is
yard long, the rumpe
aboue a spanne
long : they vse to hang them for
of their
the heades
brauerie vpon
Elephants :
they bee much vsedin Pegu and China: theybuie
and selle by scores
the ground. The
people
vpon
The

be very
*

Fa

Hien

people wore

speaking
feltsand

is

hair of them

of tho

woollens

swift

on

foote.

peoplo of Shen
instead

of blue

(Chapter II) notes

Shen
cottons

143

as

worn

by tho

how

Chinese.

the

common

EUROPEAN

TAVELLERS

Chatiganin

From

Ben

gala,I

to Bacola*

came

king whereof is a Gentile,a man

very
in
to shoot
a
disposedand delightedmuch
His countrey is very greatand fruitful,and
the

silke.
the

Rice, much

of

store

their waste.

of siluer

great store
and

their

copper,

and

ringsmade
I

went

Chondery. They be
againsttheir king Zelabdim
riuers and

many

is made

rebels

for here

they

flee from

is

made

that is in all India.

all these countries

about

the

is called

part of India,
strawe, and haue

the

doore

the

wals, and

Tygers and

cloth

leagues from
finest cloth
The

chiefe

Isacan, and he

kings, and is a great

The houses^here,
as
they

other

friend to all Christians.

be in the most

sixe

towne

there is the best and

of cotton

with

cannot

store of cotton

Sinnergan X
where
Serrepore,

couered

are

"*

is chiefe of all the

Echebar

Great

here.

king of

and

siluer and

hereabouts

all

Hands, that

preuaileagainstthem.

Sinnorgan.

their neckcs

another, whereby his horsemen

to

one

wcarc

elephantsteeth.
to Serreporet which
of Ganges, the king is

called

so

of

of

the riuer

vpon

women

ringed with

legsare

Bacola

standeth

hath

high builded,

The

hoopesabout

armes,

From

gun.

large,the people naked, except a

streetes

little cloth about

Sorrepore.

be very faire and

houses

The

well

cloth

cloth,and

cotton

Foxes.

are

f ewe

to

Many

and
little,

very

round

mats

keepe

of the

the

out

people are

Backorganj.

t Serampore.

The

capitalof

Mahomedan

ancient

proclaimed his independence hero, and

in
Isa

grovo

of

Khan, who

for sovoral

palms
was

years,

and

bush

in power
but

and
when

at his death

Eastern

invited

the

Bengal.
poet Hafiz

is surroundod
Fitch

by

visited tho

tho District becamo

IU

Azim

Shah,

to his court.

doep muddy

city, maintained

of

son
"

It

lies

ditch, once
his

part of tho Mogul

Sikandar

hidden
moat.

independent
Empire.

"

rulo

IN

BENGAL

A.D.

CENTURY,

SIXTEENTH

THE

they will eate no flesh,nor kill

very rich. Hero
of Rice, milke, and fruits.
beast : They Hue
no
with

They goe

littlecloth before

the rest of their bodies is naked.

cloth

Cotton

wherewith

all

now

carried
rapidly

you
travellers who

the four
16th

European
centuryof the Christian

you

the

general

other

of their narration make

who

told

long ago

us

to

came

their

observations

of these

accuracy

of

much

"

that

of

Rice,

and

narratives

Bengal

tried to

the accounts

in

the

observations.
the

we

of

placebefore
The

truthfulness

think of Strabo of remote

us

store

places.

through the

era, and have

results

all

India, Ceilon, Pegu,

Malacca, Sumatra, and many

I have

Great

hence, and

goeth from

they serue

them, and

antiquity

receive of

for
and unprejudiced
consideration,
requirean impartial

India
it is

very remote distance from us, and but few of our

countrymen have examined it with attention ; and those even
situate at

who

travelled thither have

have

theyrelate

is mostlyfrom

onlypartsof it,and

seen

what

hearsay".

however, unlike the Greek

century travellers,
do not speak from hearsay and their statements
as
observers,
test of "an
the
stand
well
rule can
a
impartialand
16th

Our

consideration
unprejudiced
It is curious that two

"

of

on

which

these

Strabo

four

insists.
rightly

travellers

should

be

speakingto us of the firsthalf of the century,while the other

that all of them
two speakof the second half. It is remarkable
outstandingfeatures of the life of the
speak of the same
people, their weaving, their muslins, their many-coloured
cotton
woven
stuffs,their seaportsand trading operations,
"

their

dead, the sanctity

they
the Ganges, their respectfor Brahmins, their

the
marriages,

attached

to

cremation

of their

holy places,the sanctityattached

life by certain sections of the community,and so

shrines and

remarkable

of all is the

fact

that

145
19

what

the

to

all animal

forth.

travellers

Most

speak

EUROPEAN

also

of,are

of the

some

celebrates in his pages, thus

evidence
modern

of
reader

each

TRAVELLERS

which

things

the

Bengali poet
supplyingconvincingcorroborative

other's trustworthiness.

is therefore all the keener

The

that these

did not

little more

regardingthe

the

and

administrative

enlightenus a
people of Bengal

institutions
political

things,

that

of those

could

not be

partialrealisation

of

is

have

concerned, we

the

in

the

that, at least

ambassador, Sir Thomas

to

wait

as

16th
far

till the

Roe, and of

in

But

days.

our

regret of

travellers

inner

life of

systems and
the

nature

century.
the

as

the

wider

days

of

dear

old

our

of

Eor

India

stately

gossipping

chronicle,
Manucci, whose
(may I add, scandal-loving)
it does a record of a long and protracted
as
containing
stay in
the

to every student of Mogul

country,is a preciouspossession
India.
Palimbothra
had her Megasthenes ; would
that 16th
century Bengal had her Megasthenes also ! But even
Megasthenestells us nothing of the life of the Greek Princess
to India, and
with whom
he came
little of the religious
life
held
of the people. It may be that diplomaticconsiderations withbe that
him from talkingabout
these things. It may

he did write of these

matters,and the parts of his work

which

spoke of these, the reallyvital elements in the life of the

lost to
and unquestionably
what
people,have been
us,
have
is of engrossing interest and
little of Megastheneswe
to us.
value
of immeasurable
Yet, after all,religionis the
Eor
soul of the people in India.
that, and for the inner
life of the peoplein the Bengal of the 16th
century,we must
go to

our

contemporary Vernacular

146

Literature.

EUROPEAN

brides

on

clad in silk from

were

testimony of

affords

the

merchant,who

China.*

The

drama

importanceattached

leaf,is presentedat

TRAVELLERS

the

footstool

had extensive commerce,

of

of

Sakuntala

to trade.

the

had lost

king.

case,

It

states

son, and

again
written
that

left a fortune of

millions.

many

of merchants
in the well-known
might speak also of the caravan
will
story of Nala and Damayanti, but not to multiplyinstances,we
beingintroduced into Sanskrit
merelyobserve that merchants are constantly
and equallyoften into Buddhist legend. They seem
to have been
fiction,
to the monotony of daily
always at hand to give varietyand movement
We

life."
We

of

merchant

sometime
internal

refer to the

of
Circumnavigation

entitled the
voyage

this connection

in

may

from

within
of the

the Red

Egypt

to

the first two

Periplusof Arrian,the

Indian

or

which

sea,

the western

relates the

of

coast

work

India

centuries of the Christian

formed
per-

The

era.

is represented
as
peninsula

unexpectedlythriving
be attached to his narrative has been provedby
that confidence may
and
of the remains of importantcitiesin the positions
which
he
the discovery
described
has
as
emporia. This testimony is corroborated by Hindu
writingsand the character and civilisation of the various races inhabiting
the peninsula."Irvingin his essay on the commerce
of India further
commerce

'"'

explains
"

That

also be

may
of

the

The

artificial

by

us

wants,

peculiar to

who

only

to

be

"

was

higher classes, especiallyin

the

the

poets, implies

the

simply confined to that by land,

in one chaptertreats of the interest
well
to be determined
men
by

not

was

risk, which

on

of life

mode

represented to
and

commerce,

gatheredfrom Menu,
lent

money
*

native

satisfied

existence

by

of

of

courts
both

multitude

and
cities,
of

natural

of active

corresponding system

internal

commerce.

Let

only

us

Ayodhya.
Btones, and
necklaces."

"

It

of the

the

death

the

shops where

show

and

there

for

in

another

found

sold

the
and

"

says

garlands are

usual."

in

closed

every

to

tables
;

Such

flourishing
city,and

we

may

be

and
as

sure

it Would

of

artificers

allusion
The

draws

Ramayana

in abundance

passage,

king, the poet

they

which

merchants,

as
descriptions
poetic colouring,will nevertheless show

themselves

allowance

picture

filled with

jewels were
And

the

compare

was

for
the

kinds

mourning

the

these,
what

represent

even

was

and

took

the Hindu

nothing but

what

empty,
do

merchants
we

make
idea
was

of

not

every
a

rich

perfectly

welbknown.
Eeeren.

US

and

place on

are
offerings

though

of

gold, precious

which

sacrificial

bankers

capitaltown

costly garments,

wore

one

the

of the

all

BENGAL

with
acquainted

sea

celebrated Code, is attached

to

it was

That

extensive

an

duties

keeping of herds of cattle (with which in

to carry on trade,to
from placeto place),
transported
The

cultivate the

soil.

knowledge. They

in

the trials

to

are

their

turn

of the

India commodities
lend

be

to

are

and
interest,

on

attention

to

practical

thoroughlyacquaintedwith all commodities

and wants of other countries,
with various
productions

In

else has direct

whatever

to be

word, they are

one

indirect reference to

or

men
perfect

of business."

and
popularpoem constant references to tradingoperations
and
of merchant
of perilous
experiences
princesin course
a

distant lands in

journeysto

quest of trade do

not

come

as

to
surprise

the

reader.

modern

in

Heeren
"

intercourse between

be

must

sale.

purchaseand

to

they

and
languages,

dialects and

Hence

Hence

the

soils,with

and

apart for its pursuit.

regionswhich is contemplated,is proved by the nature

which
are
enjoined.Their principaloccupationis defined

distant

"

the

"

is absolutely
set

simplypetty trade,but

not

and, in another

and
shipbuilders
further importance
which, in this
be conjectured
from
the
may

commerce,

fact, that the third class of Hindoos

land" ;

Sudras,
class,
The

navigaterivers."

A.D.

CENTURY,

journeysby

the fourth

among

as

many

and

voyages

passage, enumerates
as
sailors,

SIXTEENTH

THE

IN

for the

his

dissertation

of

space

about

the

on

thousand

two

of

commerce

years,

Ceylon shows

Ceyloncontinued

to

that
be the

emporium of southern commerce

cial
commer; and that consequently
in
but
with
reference
to
is
history
general, particularly
India, mainly
that
of
No
Ceylon."
dependent on
apology is therefore needed for
common

here
inserting
has

circumstantial account

down

come

Christian

to

A. D.

about

the middle

560, and in the reignof the

Cosmas, who
as

purposes

from

Ceylonand

of its commerce

of the sixth

which

centuryof the

era.

About
named

us

of

far

as

afterwards

became

Adule, at that time

emperor

Justin

II,a merchant

monk, travelled for commercial

celebrated

port, belongingto the

return

Here he met
Ethiopiaand situate near to Arkeeko.
of Sopater,just then on
certain acquaintanceby the name
his
from
Ceylon, which he had visited in the capacityof a merchant.

It

from

of

king
with

was

in

Axume

the

reportof this

voyager

that

Cosmas

drew

his account

of

it then existed,
and which he has inserted in
as
Ceylon and its commerce
ing
his Typographic!,
work of unquestionable
a
Christiana,
varacity.The followis this account

Montfaucon.

of

Cosmas,

which

is transcribed from

"Taprobane is a largeisland
149

in the Indian

ocean

the version of
called

by

EUROPEAN

Silediva,where

the Hindus

aud it is situated above

TRAVELLERS

the

the

preciousstone termed hyacinthis found

country.

pepper

islands,closelyadjoining,surround
and
springs,

abounds

largeisland
It is

with

is nine

governedby

of them

miles

alwaysin

are

number

small

of

contains fresh- water

According to the inhabitants,the

in breadth.
length,and as many

in

kings,who

two

great

it ; each of which

cocoanuts.

hundred

state of mutual

hostility
;

the mountanous

regionproducingthe hyacinthstone,
and
the other, the remaining portionof the island,and which are the
commercial
which
towns and harbours,and
is,therefore,most frequented
by the neighbouringpeople. There is also a church of Christians* from
of a presbyter
ordained
in the latter country,
Persia,under the inspection
one

possesses

together with

inhabitants,with

their

be

temples are to
there is said
particularly
is placedin

an

and

illumined

when

considerable

seeu

elevated and

by

as

in

the

in

island,and

them

of

one

hyacinth of great brilliance and

largeas the cone of a pine-tree
; this

be

to

size,being almost

seen

religion.

different

respectivekings, professa

Numerous

native

eccleciastical officers. The

other

and

deacon,

common
un-

situation
conspicuous
the rays of the sun,

within the

reflects a

sacred

lightwhich
curious and

a most
distance,
forming altogether

stone

edifice,
may

be

ordinary
extra-

spectacle.
"

great number

in

are

it is with

as

numerous

the

of vessels from

habit

of

all

partsof India, Persia,and

with Ceylon,so conveniently

situated
trafficking

regardto those countries,while

fleetof shipsbelongingto its own

countries of the

pia
Ethio-

East, that

is to

say,

the

island

itself has

merchants.

from

Sina

and

From
other

also

the interior

mercantile

places,she procures silk,aloes,cloves and tzandana,with other articles of

her turn, she transmits- to
to those regions
: these, in
commerce
peculiar
more

distant

countries

placeof greattrade,from

and

also

receives
she

an

forwards

of the
Persia.
*

These

Male

whence

where

the pepper

the return

grows

cargo consists

; to

Calliana,
a

of native

brass,

she transports
clothing
; further,
to Sindus,the country of musk, or
castoreum, and spikenard
;
to Persia,Homerite, and
Adule; from all these partsCeylon
produce,
exchangeof merchandise,which, togetherwith her own

sesamum-wood, and
them

to

The

other articles adaptedfor

into the interior of India.

Sinde,moreover,

is the

ment
commence-

country; for the river Indus divides it from

trading towns of India are Sindus, Orrhota,t
principal

last named

Christians

were

Nestorians.

f Surat.

150

BENGAL

IN

SIXTEENTH

THE

CENTURY,

A.D.

Sibon, Parti, Mangaruth, Salopatana,Nalopatana,and Puda-

Calliana*

patana,the last five being included

provinceof Malef. About

five days and nights'
or
Taprobana.
journeyfurther (fromMale) is Silediva,
is Mavallo,which producesa peculiar
kind
the continent,
Still further,
on
Caber

of

shell-fish; and

the

country where cloves

is

this there

beyond

which
grow

the

affords the alabandanum.

and

Sina,whence
lastly,

the
region,

other

no

under

Next

to this is

silk is

procured
;

formingthe boundaiyof

ocean

Sina to the east.

The

"

Silediva,
therefore,
bei"gsituated almost

island of

in

the

middle

preciousstone called hyacinth,receives

in its turn ; it is
merchandise from all other countries and suppliesthem
consequentlyitself a place of very great mercantile resort. This I was
who had
sailedfrom
told both by Sopaterhimself,and his fellow-travellers,
producing the

India, and

of

Adule

to the

Let

same

island."

placeby

us

the side of this account

from
following

the

Fa Hien

:"

emporium for the

Tamalipti(thenthe principal
and went floating
trade with Ceylonand China)in a largemerchant-vessel,
the sea to the south-west.
It was
the beginning of winter, and the
over
favourable ; and, after fourteen days, sailingday and night,
wind was
Hien

Fa

embarked

from

distant
to the country of Singhala. The peoplesaid that it was
they came
about 700 yojanas.
(fromTamalipti)
east to west
The kingdom is on a largeisland,extending from
fifty
yojanas,and from north to south thirty. Left and rightfrom it there
are
or

as

as

many

even

100 small

islands,distant from

200 le ; but all subject

to the

pearlsand

preciousstones

of

the pure

and brilliant pearl, an

ten le.

The

three out of
The

largeisland.

various

to watch
king employs men
which the
every ten such pearls,

had
country originally

and
onlyby spirits

no

human

nagas, with which

Most

of

would
and

form

ten, twenty,
them
which

kinds ; there is one

island which

"

another

one

produce
produces

square of about

protect it, and

requires

collectors find.

inhabitants,but

merchants

was

occupied

of various countries carried

did not show

the spirits
was
trafficking
takingplace,
themselves.
commodities,with labels
They simply set forth their precious
of the price
attached to them
their purchases
while the merchants
made
to the price
according
; and took the thingsaway.
Through the coming and going of the merchants (in this way), when
various countries heard how pleasant
they went away, the peopleof (their)
on

trade.

The

modern

When

the

Oallian,near

t Malabar.

Bombay.

151

EUROPEAN

TRAVELLERS

flocked to it in numbers

and

tillit became

the

land

The

without any
is temperateand attractive,
(climate)
winter.
The vegetationis always luxuriant.

and

whenever
Thus
with

was,

think fit: there

men

there

Ceylon,and

the island and

in

can

support

Ptolemy,to
Alexander

of

are

the

beginningsof

the mainland
which

Great

fixed

may

we

of

Arrian

reportedof

to India.
expedition

152

difference of
Cultivation

alwaysbeen

the commercial

may

the

summer

proceeds

in close touch

intercourse between
remotest

further refer to the

and

greatnation.

for it.

be traced back to the

statement

heard

seasons

that India has

be littledoubt

the earlier accounts

the

no

Pliny,and
island of

antiquity,
testimonyof

even

to

what

Ceylonduringhis

VII

IN

BENGAL

THE

SOCIOLOGICAL,

20

CENTURY

SIXTEENTH

(i)

IN

BENGAL

with

Tilak

house

to

CENTURY,

marks, they worship Devatas

with bundles

house

worth

pice

They get a

seller

sweetmeat
the

SIXTEENTH

THE

milkman

oil.

They get

their

dalbaris

and
(idols)

in

sweetmeat

the

from

run

of offered rice tied in their cloth.

they get

while

of

A.D.

vessel

oilmen

the

full of

give

them

house

the

of

milk

in that

their

cup-fullof

monthly cowries from some

(driedballs of pulse)from others.
their

houses
The

of

and

village

priestthus swims in happiness. In the town of Guzrat, the

citizens perform shradhs, the village
at the
priestofficiating
ceremony.
The

mantras

be

(final
present)to

Brahmin

the

over,

kahan

(a

declares

little

the

than

more

dakshina

three

annas

present coin),and they haggle for the dakshina,tying

the priestofficiates)
hand of the Jusma/n
(personfor whom

of the
the
with

Kusa

their

secure

time

gatheringstillsuch
have,

We

abuses.

by

Their

occupation
the Kulpanji(gcneologies).
People who do
good will by presents,are abused at public

reading of

is the

live

Brahmins

Ghatak

The

not

grass.

the

as

descriptionof

this, a

after

presentscome.
the

astrologers,

Vaishnavas, Khetris, Rajputs, Bhats,

Sanyiasis,
Vaisyas. Regarding the latter the poet says :
Some

Krishna.

till

lands, others

tend

pack bullocks, while

growing crops,
season,

carriers* with
the

proper

markets

rise.

travel

Some

with

boats

in

Some

It

is

mistake

being merely

and

commerce

breeding

The

agricultureand
As
"

The

the

to

the

creator

lirahmans

confine

to

the

individuals

subdivision,for it also includes

the

lending of

of

cattle

seems
were

commerce

occupation of
entrusted
and

the

the

money
to

upon
have

composing

been

are

Vaisyas

management

wc

of

may
cattle

Kshatriyas."

156

serve

act

as

purchases,at
when

the

for

longjourneys

back

this class

with
to

them

merchants, they

Agriculture, breeding of cattle

prescribed modes

the first destination

subsequentlyadded.
the

their

the

place, making

to

bring

husbandmen.

interest

They

sell them

arrange

goods, and

various

make

place

from

purchasesof preciousstones.

to

of

Some

cows.

some

and
"

of the

of

occupation.

Vaisyas to

which

Heeren.
compare
to the

the Code

Vaisyas

as

of Munu

which

he did that of

says
men

to

SOCIOLOGICAL.

chamors, sandal wood

and

conch

shells,Bhutia

Chamors, shawl

pusthus,and coats (angarakhi).They are always buying

sellingand the Vaisyas are a happy lot at Guzrat."

and

The

describe the medicine

men
poet proceeds: Let us now
They are the Guptas, Senas, Dasses, Duttas, etc.,
(Vaidyas):
who
live in this (Kulastan)part of the town.
become
Some
"

prescribedin the
Tantras.
They rise in the morning and place a Tilak mark
a
high up on the forehead ; they wrap
piece of cloth round
the head, and, putting on
fine dhuti and taking the puthi
a
their arm,
(Palm-leafbook) under
they stalk forth in the
by adopting the

famous

different wards
When

"

raised

Says he,

is

make

can

cure."

all eagerness

"

curable, the

cure,

retreat,and

If I

"

effect

with

disease

chest,proclaimsa
a

treatment

the town.

of

the

he contrives

to

mercurial

decoction

Search

; and

Agardanis (a low
funerals)live close to

disease

for

is

incurable,

various

on

pretences.
I

camphor,

of

camphor," says

the medicine

procuringcamphor, takes
"

but if the

asks for leave

a

Vaidhya beatinghis

on

man

the

sure

am

the sick

man

pretence

of

to his heels.

class
the

Vaidyas,

officiate at

who

Brahmins

of

and

they

are

in

daily

patients. They pay no taxes, but it is their due to

take the cow
that is given away
a safe
by the dying to secure
the river Bytarini (the Indian
Styx) and the
passage across

search

for

Til-dan

(sesamum gift)with gold pieces."

then

have

We

Kayesthas,on

an

the south

account

side of the

perhaps representingthe
demands
us
a

all.
town.

them

thus
We

"

:
can

Decide

The

middle

Goddess

all read and

to

of

giveus

Vani
write.

157

of

the

town, by themselves,

as

their
They made
to
is bountiful
(Saraswati)
class.

We

the best lands

rent-free".

settlement

the

are

and

the ornaments
houses

and

of

make

IN

BENGAL

Then
who
"

occupy

the east end

There

settle the

deceit

or

the lower

Hakil

whose

has

who

his home

who

oil-men

find the

machine)
(theoil-pressing

spades,axes,

"

the

and

class
his

earthen

flowers, he goes round

there,who

of

dhuties

pairsof

is

by crying Do-hai.

The

their leathern

hand.

According

to

the most

among
The
commerce

there

so

of

purple goods,

of cloth

great that

read

stripedj

unanimous

important

variety
is

the

of the
coarse
as

well

we

can

finest
and
as

flowers,
full

Baroees

wares.

Those

who

the

by

if any

go about

of

even

hardly suppose
muslins
;

tioneries
confec-

the town

settle the

silk filatures

of rent-free

piecesof gold embroidery ;

is reckoned

India.
the author

the number

of coloured

are

lands,and

historyand tradition,weaving

by

with

abstain from

who

make

of coarse,

158

and

There

and

about

go

in
looking-glass

sugar

grant

of ancient

mentioned

fine calicos

and

arms

children.

for

report both

Bengal

at

baskets

there, who

are

kill animals

manufactures

fabrics

woven*

nurseries,and

them

of

never

settle here

encouraged to

mridang

grows

with

manufacture

some

all the year round.

meat

betel

their

under

confectioneries

(Jains),who

shroffs

of

are

Mali

sellinghis

barbers

cases

sorts, and

of

their stock

betel and

things,the only resistance they offer

confectioners

The
of

or

betel in the

grow

their

with

We

the town

forciblytakes

one

ghani

potters who

frames

of Guzrat.
The
placeby the weavers
makes
garlandsand toy-flowerhouses, and

are

his

settle the

one

of

the

buy oil to sell it

smithy, makes

With

pieces.

There

molasses.

oil with

with

Here

hundreds

and

Hundreds

bridle

pulsesof

(musical instruments).

karras

(drums) and

of the

Tambuli.

vessels

earthen

make

and

arms,

settles the

betelnuts

the

black-smith,

The

market.

the

in

and

what

of wealth

well-filled with

express
some

know

do not

fields all kinds

sorts, linseed,mustard, wheat, cotton

you

A.D.

classes,the greatmass

Gopes,

in

them

of

CENTURY,

of the town.

is, and

anger

Each

grow.

of

account

an

comes

SIXTEENTH

THE

middle

shawls
6pun

of

and

the

Periplns as articles of

have

to

and

increased
fine

sashes

silk aud

afterwards.

cloths,either plain
of

furs from

coarse

Serica.

aud

fine

Hecren.

SOCIOLOGICAL.

the Bir's heart

when
rejoices
in his
being woven
(pat-sari)
Ganda

The

"

baskets

The

Sankha

Banias

cut

conch

(those who
their

They

kinds

make

silk sari*

go to the

of

them

turn

anvils,make

market

spicesand

conch-shell

of them

some

on
braziers,

first red

town.

full of various

shells,and

The

forms.

the

sees

settle here.

Banias

their

with

he

scents.

bracelets)

into beautiful

j karris

(a kind of
jug), cups and thalls (largeplates),lotas (large cooking
and sips,
dhabars (largevessels for washing purposes),
vessels),
pan-dans (betel-boxeswith compartments for the various
ghantas (ringing
bells),
necessary spices),
singhashans(thrones
for
idols)and panch-dip (lamp stands). There are the
goldsmiths who

test

melt
suspicion,

them

in

the

process,

they draw

Then

there

two

and

the

are

twenty

spearmen,
make

life.

nets and

clothes washed

servants

make

Then

hung

ropes

all

the

by
these

the date

up

ten

or

The

leads here

There

who

are
as

engage

ward

one

the

dry

of the

trees
tap the khajoor(date)

juice. There

are

carpenters

prepare

painters. The
the Raj -dues for ferryingpeopleover.
account

an

the

are

who

job, or

fish,

parched
Patneys (ferrymen)are

there,and beg from

comes

catch

poles.

on

occupy

are

receive

bards settle

of washermen

Shiulis who

from

people.

arms.

fish,and the Kuch

number
on

with

town

place and peoplewho fry and

there

there, who

the

clothes

the

molasses

rice ; and

The

them
sew

are

market

the

of the

Bowries, who

are

any

buy, and, in

class

one

be

Bagdies,accompanied by

catch

salaries,and

on

There

town.

in

by

tailors who

the

and

are

the

There

about

go

There

the wealth

kinds of Dasses

The

if there

sell and

They

to themselves

of the town.

fishermen

silver,and

the fire.

other tillthe land.

musicians

merry

and

gold

of

house

The

to house."

peoplelivingoutside

the town

Kols, Korengs,and amongst others,the Maharattas, whose

Vestments

c.f.
hastened

"

All

of silk
these

to the

are

ladies

temples of

"

usuallyworn

on

festal occasions.

Kausilya,Sumitra,
the

gods

the fair

to offer incense.

159

"

Heeren.

Kaikeyi

"

Ramayana.

sumptuously

clad

in

silk,

BENGAL

IN

THE

SIXTEENTH

occupation,it

is

and
spleens,

operatefor

if

to

The

picture

any

were

Brahmin

to

said, was

the

for

tap

the

of

needed,

priestshave

of diseased

cure

cataract.

presented affords

here

A.D.

CENTURY,

one

influence

paramount
exercised

which

Hindu

Society,
though the references to the unlettered priestswho preside
ceremonies
of the villagers
the daily religious
and who
over
^rom nouse
to house on their daily errand as
run
Priesti
in.
fluence.
Brahmins
aiso t0 the Ghatak
whe are
represented
as
parasitespreyingupon societymay perhapsbe taken to be
of revolt against
indications of a growing spirit
Position
of
Ghataks.
of priestcraft.
The
Hakil
the
abuses
Gopes
"

in whose
Condition

Hakii

fields all kinds of wealth

naPPv

of

Gopes.

men

the

"

had

medicine

men

medicine

part

men

the

in

were

Then

there

the traders

and

crafts

"

social economy
of

been

days.

goldsmiths all

set

have

must

those

"

braziers,carpentersand
allotted

over

grow"

peoplein

of

group
the

were

their

Those

always

proof,

more

of whom

of the

empirics and

day.
of

some

while craftiness was

as
prominent
impostors,
characteristic of the
a
goldsmiths in the 16th century
in the process
sell and
it is to-day,for they buy and
as
suck
the substance
of the people. The traders traded mostly
them

bold

were

rakhis,chctmors

in anga
Internal

trade.

conch

being

^he
Domestic

and

country ; while
utensils

such

sometimes

worked

as

wooden

thalis, lotas, sips,

There

by

the

stools and wooden

were

the

self-contained

tailors,

month, sometimes

sufficed for the

be

will thus

representedas

simple wants
seen

furniture

bed-steads

which

'

"'

community

to be

out

supplied the

such
The

hired themselves

braziers

system of contract.
produced a few simplearticles of
carpenters

on

The

"

stones, these

the internal trade of

as,

etc.

wood,
.,

precious

the

pandans, paneha pradips,dabars

who

prominent articles in

domestic

utensils.

sandal
(yak-tails),
,

shells, spices

of the

some

,,

of the

that the settlement

people.

It

is intended

self-contained,
unit, the
self-sufficing
160

SOCIOLOGICAL

citizens
on

as

the efforts of
The

their

depending for the supply of

their neighbours.

rule

suggests I
followingclassical

account

Mukundram's

which

inference

dailyneeds

placehy the side of the

of the Indian VillageCommunity :"
description
Hindu
"Each
township is, and indeed always was, a
of itself; and furnishes
community or petty republic
particular
when
of the earlystate of things,
with a vivid representation
us
first joinedthemselves togetherin societies for the purpose
men
of relievingtheir mutual
wants.
Every community of the
contains
above
kind,in addition to the landed proprietors,
different members
twelve
(Potail);
; the judge and magistrate
the registrar
watchman
of the placeand the fields ; the
; the
would

to

venture

distributor

of inundation

water for the purposes

of

the astrologer,

determininglucky and unlucky days and hours ; the

of the few garments
wright; the potter; the washerman
for

carl

for which

which

there is occasion and

are

tured
generallymanufac-

or
purchasedat the nearest market ;
familyitself,
maker
of ornaments
the barber ; and
the goldsmith,
or
lastly,
and young
placed
refor the women
villages
maids, who is in many
These
and
schoolmaster.
by the poet (rhapsodist)
twelve
functionaries are
paid either in land,or in a certain
of
the
quantity of grain, furnished
by the agriculturists

in the

communitv.

The

whole

of

India

nothing

is

than

more

one

in war,
even
congeriesof such republics.The inhabitants,
who
at the same
are
are
Potails,
dependenton their respective
time
collectors,and principal farmers.
magistrates,
They
vast

trjuble themselves

very

little about

the

ment
dismember-

fall and

of
which

empires; and providedthe township within its limits,

out
are
by a boundary line,remain
exactly marked

intact, it is

matter

of

perfect indifference

to

becomes

sovereignof the country ; and therefore

administration
always continues i\m same."
Sir Stamford

Bali,situate

in
Raffles,

to the eastward

his account
of

of the

them

their internal

small

Java, has furnished

island

with

us

1G1
21

avIio

of
a

IN

BENGAL

instance

remarkable
their
the

THE

SIXTEENTH

of

these

originalconstitution.
Brahman
religion,is

CENTILRY,

petty states yet existingunder

Here,"

"

A.D.

still

he,

says

together with

"

preserved the

ancient

of

form

and its accompanying Potails, called

municipal polity,
to
a
Jiajah of
by the natives Parhakes, in subordination
unlimited
power."
friends
that
I need hardly remind
recent
researches,
my
done
and
by onr
more
speciallythe work
o\yjn settlement
have
officers in India
largelymodi lied the older views about
know
We
the Indian VillageCommunity.
that
ft Indian
now
divisible
into
two
principal.and widely diil'erent
villages are
Hindu

which

of

types

to be the

assumed

nm'ship

".w

and

man

normal

only

there

"

we

villages there

villageofficers, and

are

may

the

nol

one

say

commiin.il

that tlmrr
Sir

as

ancient."

more

i.-. no

there is little doubt

ioimiiv.

or

there

puts it,

Hsscmbhiffe of co-inutju-ielor.s
formerly

IJaivatwari

in

though

Km

the

is administrative

is

head

l-'iedrriek I'ullnck

unity for many

purposes."
Let

take

me

to the 10th

by

the

illustrates

testimony

the

with

in

trading groups
of

the

account

of

eighthcanto
have
the

an

in

most

for

us

and

of
professions

lie goes

passes

on

the

Vide

of

Note-

social

and

literature

which

Village Community

that literature; coincides

regardingthe
of

economy

the

various

day.

In

of CJioUiiui/a Bhayabut*

the
we

peregrinationsof Chaitanya through

on

occasion

certain

fashion
interesting

the

which

enumerates

various

occupations

his townsmen.

first of all to the abode

to

the

vitalityof

Adlkhanda

visits

dairy products, the

kinds

Literature,

Mukundram

of

in this connection

moment

testimonyof

the

Navadhip

of

town

the
the

how

to show

in order

for

Yaisnav

Century

way

back

you

scents, the

of the weavers,

after

one

Gaudhabau'ds
Jlulohars

I.

162

who

another, those
who

whence
who

deal in

manufacture

sell flowers and

he

all

garlands

BENGAL

to

IN

The

Ceylon.

ruler

statements

of the

to

to

appeal

boatmen

of

Indian

the

could have

had

the merchants

is received

in

untruthfulness,that

the

earth

refuses to bear the burden

suggesttheir

who
sin

no

tells

to

from
moment

sight.
we

the

bears the

In
are

truth

heinous

more

of the untruthful

leave the incidents

I would

the

seen

the

though

to their crew,

man

which

forced

their masters

not

Heaven, that there is

and

hesitated for

make

that the

terms

and

believe the
thus

were

boatmen,

themselves

truthfully
declaringthat they

told in unmistakable

to

of the

never

appeal* which

who

"

untruth,

the

lo:ithe to

was

merchants

saved

A.D.

CENTURY,

Ceylon

testimony

captivityby tellingan
in

SIXTEENTH

THE

burden

than
of

all

man.

point their

moral

own

and

conclusions.

own

previousoccasion, I ventured to speak to you of my

strong feeling that there was a Renaissance in Bengal in the
that the spiritual
16th century of the Christian era, and
and
intellectual awakening in Bengal proper
but part of a
was
of
less the whole
or
affecting more
widespread movement
On

the Indian populaIndia, and every departmentof life among

tion.
of contemporary records
of life,as
An examination
I

have

tried

to

point.Whether
phenomenon
the

show, leaves hardly any

we

like

room

for doubt

note

the toleration of the

times, or

the

prevalance of

cult

itself redolent

of

the

of

oil

the

singular

Satya Pir,

the

spiritof the Renascence, or

whether
of the
we
try rightlyto interpretthe significance
love of the rulingrace, the Mahomedans, for Sanskrit learning
Persian
of the mastery of Arabic
and
and
by the Hindu
devotees of Hindu
learning,the inference suggestedis the
same.

and

name

Further, the
of Gu

that Mukundram

fact

juratalmost

in

the

^*rctic*r

faljlci

same

speaks of Bengal

breath,

*rtft
*rat*t"i^
eft "fa ttft^

164

II

would

tend

to

SOCIOLOGICAL

that

show

Gaur

and

Gujurat

permeatinginfluence
It

is

by

the

visible

of the centres

activities of

the materials

put togetherin

Mr.

work

I refer to this work

for
readily,

Burton

the

day.

firmed
conpartially
Havell's
recently

published,admirably executed
E.

of the

satisfaction to find this view

of

source

and

two

were

all the

more

that in architecture

of the artistic feelingof

have

we

Indian

on

the

architecture.

hold

with

Sir

highestexpression

people. I refer to it also because

mind
that quiet scene
it recalls to our
which was
enacted
in London
drums
earlythis year* amidst the beating of war
and
the unfurling of flagson the European continent,when
a

largelyand

the

influentially
signed petitionwas
presented to
Secretary of State for India containing the following
dictum

remarkable

:
"

of the 16th Century by

English workmen
their inherited craftsmanship made
real

The

of the Renaissance.

buildingswere
suffer in the
from

the

strength of
architecture

suffered,but

stillliving. Indian

native architecture

if it

take

same

way

requiredto

was

if left to the

abroad, but

stillbe

native architecture

the

craftsmen

the

the

would

its inspiration

product would

livingart.

Of the

excellences

characteristic

and

character

of

16th

Century Indian architecture, of the relation between Hindu

not attempt to speak,
art I should
art and Mogul or Islamic
be written
treatise may
though I believe a highlyinteresting
in shaping the history of
of the bamboo
the influence
on
architecture

in

arrangements
due

to

Bengal, and
Hindu

of

differences

the differences in the structural

on

temples

Mahomedan

rituals
respective

their

in

and

the

while
being individualistic,
Eerguson tells us :

one

other

of

mosques

worship,the

is communal.

As

"

"

in

It may

be

as

well to

formed

Bengal are
*

of

explainthat the roofs of the huts

frames of bambus,
two rectangular

February, 1913.

165

BENGAL

IN

THE

SIXTEENTH

A.D.

CENTURY,

flat and rectangular

when
perfectly

formed, but

when

lifted

the

ground and fitted to the substructure they are bent,

that the elasticity
of the bambu, resisting
the flexure,
so
keeps all the fasteningsin a state of tension,which makes
from

firm
singularly

instance

only

is

ing,but

roof out of very

I know

of

that

common,

Bengalis turned their

of building
theyshould
the

present occasion

you

which

generation of

of the younger

Indian

department of
which

on

to

permanent

more

copiedthis

one/'

myself

content

modes

with

placing

of Mr. Havell's book

out
just a few statements
have spokenof, my objectbeing to invite the attention

before

rulers

have

attainingthe desired
hardlywonder when the

in

can

we

attention

It is the

elasticity
beingemployed in bujld-

successful
singularly

so

end, and is so

On

frail materials.

the

life and

as

solvent

students

to the influence

of the Hindu

canons

acted

historical

our

of the Moslem

influence

Sllpa Sastras,an
the

on

this

to

rigidityof

the traditional

rules.
the

"When

subjectis rightlyunderstood,I

Centuryrather than
classic epoch of Mahomedan

that the 16th

the

as

The

Taj Mahal,

of
buildings
and

the Mati

surrounded

by

time

halo of

the 17th will be

architecture

at Agra
M/is/'id

Jahan's

Shah

have

are

romance

and

doubt

no

appreciated
in

India.

few other

unique in themselves
which appeals
strongly

those are
in art
as
popularimagination.But exquisite
and
craftsmanship,
they belong to the lyricrather than
and many
of the buildings
the epicschool of architecture,
contemporary with them betraya weakness of design which
decadence of the
faithfulreflectionof the approaching
a
was
to

Mogul Empire."
"In

the

the former
the

were

beginningof the
in
chiefly

brick and

great creative

Gujurat,
Century Gaurand
in
the latter mostly
stone,

16th

centres

of the architecture of

thern
nor-

India."
"The
at

cuspedarches

Gaur

palaceat

of

the

Delhi

and

are

of the
same

166

many

early16th
type

as

Century buildings

those of Shah

other of his

Jahan's

buildingsboth
"

SOCIOLOGICAL

derived from

Buddhist

Hindu

"

and curvilinear roofs of

construction
of the

the

Bambu

of

Bengal,are found in many

Moguls and belong to the building
llajputana."

is importantin the
much

so

for its

as

from

bent cornices

of the
buildings

Gaur

not

Gaur, derived

of the Buddhists

traditions of modern
"

prototypes. The

historyof

for the monuments

influence

architecture

it bequeathed
to

the

on

Indian

living tradition

posterity

of

Indian

architecture/'

16th

The

the conception and

the
Bengal saw
the
Sona
Musjid, so called from its gilded
Chota Sona
Musjid at Gaur under Hussain

of

completion

domes, and the

and

Shah

his

Nasarat

son,

Serajuddin. It

of Akhi

the

justmentions
in

Siva

in

Century

his

is curious

buildingof

that

the Jami

while

reference

no

Musjid

Mukundram

temple dedicated

town, he makes

new

elaborate

of any

Shah, besides

the

to

to the

great

building

Hindu

temple compelling attention by its

imposing splendour and magnificence. The absence of any
such
reference
of minor
suggests that though multitudes

temples

built

temple was
know

we

have

must

existed, no

in

been

to have

outside

Bengal, we

temple

at

it may

of
description

that in

ideas

about

town

no

means

the

as

who

think

Indeed

those who
of the

it seems

in

wider

the

examples like
temple by the

Govind

this

India
Deva's
has

way

an

its own.
that

in

Mukundram

have

we

planningand buildingof the new

those days people in India had

by

them

in their

pursuitof

magnificence. This, however,

surpriseto

and

Century ;

capital
definite

planning and that sanitaryconsiderations

were
practical
requirementsof convenience
by

overlooked

Oriental

16th

though

Hindu

monumental

the

shows

well

which

be noticed

which

as

the

case,

find beautiful

interesting
historyof

the

Brindaban,

Further

in

Bengal

great

to

rise of
me

familiar with

are
a

new

town

that those who

167

can

does
our

the

not

proverbial

come

Silpa Sastras

as
"

a
or

Fatehpur Sikri.
speak with authority

like

IN

BENGAL

THE

SIXTEENTH

CENTURY,

A.D.,

connected with architecture will find interesting

questions
Akbar's
between
newly designed Fatehpur Sikri,
parallels
with
and assembly halls,its baths and
its mosque, its palaces
on

waterworks, its spacious caravanserais

for

travellers

and

"

of the new
capitaldescribed in the pages
configuration
of our
its
poet with its templededicated to Siva its Natsala
its Patsala
and
(Schoolhouse)
publicgardens its Bhatsala

the

"

"

"

buildingsfor
which might prove
its

"

the

receptionof

of interest

to

committees.

168

our

weary
modern

travellers
town

points
ment
improve"

I.

Note

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BENGAL

IN

THE

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SIXTEENTH

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fail"sr$qfrWcw

TO
ifiQM**\W fiNl

"r^ CTtw *^fa tn

Wt*
or

fi

ii

II

"rt'ifwf*
i

*f% ItfeWl f%|^rtf^F

^fat*
fh% qfr "5tttc*n:*rsrfafat*i

^^

A.D.

^i art*M
ft*i
"tfi "Nor

170

II"

BENGAL

IN

THE

SIXTEENTH

"fto^F33T
"5W

CENTURY,

foSTftCf*5*1

A.t).

II

^fl* C*tfa5$"WftsI

*T3fc5f"T
*{tfT"2f^^f?PTl*fot1II

faTC W

ctfi

"$ "^*W isHf?II

crRr,^

fa
Bftti

lift?"
*ttfipft"
Chaitanya Bhagahat.

ifi

VIII.

BENGAL

IN

CENTURY

SIXTEENTH

THE

SOCIOLOGICAL

(II).

Vlll

BENGAL

THE

IN

SIXTEENTH
(II).

SOCIOLOGICAL

Mr.

Vice-Chancellor
I

now

Fellow-Students:

and

the

to review

on

pass

in the

to

consider

to

suggest

the
in

its briefest

funeral

members

the

of

and

in

in

the
"

In

is the

the

meantime

forced
trade
of

Gujurat,
peace

expiry

rs

the

beginning

the

caste

was

of the

hunter

king

restored
term

groups.
broke

war

taken

was

between

of the

the

curse,

175

the

Chandi

beautiful

hunter

of

parts
new

dire

flood

Gujurat

with

the

tions
machina-

between

prisoner, but
two

wealth

Gujurat.

Through
out

cult

her

site for

with
to

of

young

untold
clear

of

migrate

course

Goddess

to

Kingdom

to

due

as

tired

suitable

earth

they got

placed
him

of

herself

popularise

afflicted

was

inhabitants

wily Kayastha

the

select

of the

Kalinga

She

advised

to

of

also to

for herself.

and

the

shape

but

"

hunter,

guilds and
a

misery

great

term

on

In

but

life, when
the

for

born

of hunters.
"

the

immolated

were

wedlock

in

of

mortal

wife

two

families

cottage

forest

This

the

happy

their

disposalof

which
their

their

worshippe

primeval

city

disconsolate

hunter's

to relieve

to win

at the

and

united

as

in

you

story.

displeasure

earth

on

and

pyre,

privations of

maiden

his

neighbouring

were

appeared

live

the

you

I venture

before

of Mukundram's

argument

ask

which

place

to

me

regarding

before

But

conclusions

the

of

incurred

to

his death

On

his

they

the

cursed

years.

A.D.

connection, permit

having

son

was

on

this

literature

vernacular

Century,

validity

outline

Indra's
Siva

Sixteenth

tion
informa-

strictly sociological

supplied by contemporary
Bengal

CENTURY

Kalinga
soon

Kingdoms.
king

and

all

and

released
On
the

the
queen

BENGAL

IN

translated to

were

of their young

in

THE

son

from

the

and

Mahomedan

to say ahout

the

was

writer

of mind.

foundation

drawing

adapted and

modified
In

another,

Kulies

and

was

of

the

plundered at
towards
Gujurat.
son

who,

Deva,

boy,

to

her

his

that the

poet

possessed by

was

domain.

own

Deva

then

having

The

Raja

of

annually

was

done

treasure

power

so, returned

marketman

evil

propensities
; and
Bansraj,he
he

until the
continued

had

of

from

the

of

fond

so

his

by

up

him.
evil

companions,he

Having, at length, seized

Gujaratto Kanauj he was

who

he

assumed

intimate

became

weaned
the

him

from

title

of

of the

cityof Patan,

This

occurred

independent;
good city

royal residence

176

brought

after

now

his Government.

the

country, she bore

wilderness
by Raja Sil

of

ways

Champa,

first become

be

his house

the smiles of fortune,and established

having

of

as

his

estate,became

laid the foundation

foundation
to

way

with

named

Singh, having
and,

their

robber.

his

on

after

the

in

man's

and

with

it the seat

journey to

independence. Soon

and

made

death

to

followingthe

soon

Sawant

named

Palanpur,and

that time, blessed

or

after

discovered

highwayman

some

Raj

the

time, his wife, while pregnant, fled

same

arriving at

on

that

turned

from

poet and

of Hindustan,

Rajas

put

was

On

being

carried

was

company,

his

all the

fault,

some

was

on

Gujurat

chief,being independent
in

power

Raja's slaves,

the

committed

This

of

capital.

One

coincidences

and

every

of

to collect the tribute ; and

the

to

the

source

; when

person

Kanauj, greatest of
sent

he has

historian would

Raja Phiru, (Paras),however,

of

army

the

times, the country of Gujurat

Rajputs

of

disposaland

full what

give in

that both

this

upon

revenue

it to suit his purpose.

ancient

the

of the foundation

traditional account

were

at his

Gujurat, as

of

longprevalentin Hindustan,

historian

flourish

to

was

poet and the Mahomedan

Hindu
a

who

"

materials

ample

critical turn

suggest that

began

keeping

Kalinga.
have a historyof Gujurat (Mirat Ahmadi)

displayeda
the

in the

leaving Gujurat

the cult of Chandi

minister in the state,had

hetween

A.D.

CENTURY,

as

of

pen

heaven

"

Gujuratas well
Fortunatelywe

SIXTEENTH

and

of

and

Ban
and

five years

from

Ahamadabad,

the

his

the

time
Patan

capitalof Gujurat.

SOCIOLOGICAL.

founding the city of Patan,

situated for the amuseof a site favourably
in search
he went
ment
of the chase ; and
a
having at length met
shepherd,
suitable placemight be found.
informed
a
was
by him where
The shepherd, whose name
was
Anhill,stipulatedthat the city
after him ; saying at the same
should
be named
time, that
beat a dog by her exertion and agility.
thei'e seen
he had
a hare
selected
when
and
The ground was
a populationhad
collected,
;
This became
of Anhilwarah.
the name
known
received
by
the

degrees under

resolved

had

Raj

Ban

When

of

name

changed

favoured

those who

themselves, I

Patan

and

town

foundation

To

to

feel

the

Hindi

residence

commend

follow

place of note,
languagethey call a
The

examine

tempted to

the

the

Patan.

of the

era

A. D. 817."

the

for
poem
characterisation of that

the

an

tunity
oppor-

dishonest, and
the

of

appearance

loses

never

"

which

when

to
Vikramadityacorresponding

banker who
smooth-tonguedwily village
of earning a penny
honest or
scenes

which

became

town

for in

royal

is 802 of

may
would

Nahrwalah

the

populationincreased, and
was

on

the

goddessin

the

Now
cottage in the disguiseof a young maiden.
the first cloud,the first flutter in the simplelife of our
comes
heroine,who had lived so long happily,warbling her native
hunter's

wood

her

the

cottage.

husband

her

her

"

She

tries her

But

all to

co-wife

no

eyes be

law

and

and

could

which

co-wife.

givean
tradinggroups

account

the
indicated,

sections

and

be

The

why

would

sections

craft

guildsin

which

at

of

of the settlement

are

the
of

new

is devotion

then
once

to

the

of the
town

maid
runs

hunter

with

matter

and

hood
woman-

she

The

these references

177
23

the

wife

Then

weeping.

reader

Indian

persuadethe

purpose.

"

Every Indian
in
implications

the

no

sister-in-law

no

red ?

force of the

legendarylore

examples of

best to

eyes red with

surpriseenquireswhat
had

her

that the chiefest virtue of the

husband.

leave her

rival in the young

suspectsa possible

of historical

stock

whole

to prove
to

She

her,and she appealsto

before

maiden
to

wild.

notes

to
to

in his

her.

She

should

her

perceivethe
the

sister-in-

however,

poem,

various
are,

as

engrossinginterest

castes,

already
to the

BENGAL

student

of

IN

Indian

SIXTEENTH

THE

A.D.

CENTURY,

institutions.

Here

I propose

to discuss

only

few

from
the
questionsof subsidiaryimportance strictly
sociological
pointof view.
leaves absolutely
(ct)Did polygamy prevail? The poem
doubt
that polygamy was
no
prevalent
in Hindu
societyin the poet'sday, though it
The
ences
refernot regardedwith
was
high favour
a

it and

to
too

incidents

familiar
The

of

heroine

cousin

in
the

of

are
consequences
been
suggested by

the

dailylife of the people.

second episodehas her
poet's
But

obviouslythere was a
strong feeling
public opinion and

her co-wife.

as

volume

have

to

not

numerous

its

to

againstit.
was

the

fellow

who

(b)What

usual

age

lives

in

twenty-fifthyear
object of pity.

is

is married

in

marriage? One poor

single blessedness till his
spoken of by the poet as an
for

The

eleventh

his

marriageable age
interestingscene

for
in

twelve

In the

scene

is

is summed

As

have

an

severelytaken

up

the

year.

natural

that in

the

took

placebetween

The

public opinion on
the father is lucky

that
cases
very rare
the twelfth year.
In

this

connection,I would

sixteenth century

European

from

inference

majority of
seven

and

nine.

marriage

was

invite reference

can

but

get
he

married
this is

marriages

cases,

It

put

was

in

off till

to what

travellers tell us, to the

178

task.

to

"

seventh

most

and we are told that

subject,
and worthy of the favour of the Gods who
in her
ninth
his daughter married
year
is worthier stillwho succeeds in gettingher
her

the

to

storyin which a
unmarried
daughter

the

in

story

second

the

summers,

second

year.

girls,we

house-holder, the father of

of

of the

hero

our

testimony,

BENGAL

IN

has also

He

of whom

other

have the

into

titleof

cases, the duties

His

Majesty

them

to shew

looked upon
have

to

pay

one

from

tax

one

men,

bridegroom,

These

officers

two

marriages.In

of

masters

performedby
takes

of the

bride.

of the

or
Tuibegi,

also

sensible

and

sober

the circumstances

those

are

A.D.

CENTURY,

appointedtwo

enquires into

the

and

SIXTEENTH

THE

many

and

the

officer.

both

to enable
parties,

same

gratitude.The payment of this

as
auspicious.In demanding this tax, the
regardto the circumstances of the father
their

is

tax

officers
of

the

bride.

(c) Did

write in those

days ? We
in the poem
the story of a forgedletter.
have
The
hy two
forgery is planned and executed
does not
One of these certainly
women.
belong
in society. The forgedletter
to the highest rank
is placed in the hands of another lady who reads
read

ladies

our

the

handwritingof
written

be

to

lower

of

the

sixteenth

to

enquire
education

female
decades

leaves

days,the
the

If this

that

women

the

was

century,
into

the

in

Hindu

purported
a forgery.
belonging

in the

case

it would

be

of the

causes

societyin
Century.

of the nineteenth

the Hindus

poem

by

it

of

ranks

education.

female

(77)Were

whom

societysuch as house-maids
illiterate; but there is nothing in the poem
indicate that public opiniondiscountenanced

to the
were

not in the

was

it to be

declares
to show

is evidence

There

by

person

and

"

it

that

herself, discovers

it for

to

and

Bengal

ing
interest-

decay of

the earlier

again the
their youthful

? Here
strict vegetarians

no
absolutely

hunter

and

doubt.

his wife

sale of wild fowls and

In
earn

game

their
of

all

living
sorts,

in findingcustomers.
they have little difficulty
Curiouslyenough in the earlier edicts of
Asoka we have references to the pleasuresof the

and

180

SOCIOLOGICAL.

and

chase

the

to
of

meat

and

slaughter of animals
on
a
large scale

sumption
con-

festive

on

occasions.
Without

is

that there

note

remarkable

"

lives

and

long life,should

clarified butter
Whatever

"

under

passage

Pundits

and

explain

of

thought

reference

value

the

leaves

the

with
a

of

little doubt

speaker

all the

cooked

rice

eat

desires to have

the flesh be that of

whether
be

may

who

He

unvanquishedin the assembly of

can
by all,who
speechrespected

son

grounds, I may
just
in the BHhadaranya

passage

thus concludes

JJpanlshadwhich
of

controversial

trenching on

Vedas

flesh and

bull

or

this

recipe,the

ram."

the

that

Indo-

Aryans at a certain stage of their history did believe that a

meat-eating people necessarilyexcels in mental
vigour as
well

in

as

physicalprowess.

this

In

connection
would

Literature

of
descriptions

pages

of

Bhagabat
which

"

the

there

herbs

and

"of
preparations

-handed

neat

also

recipesare

such

of

jaded taste

of

the
as

may

the

of

of the

other

messes,

gorgeous

of Mukundram.

vegetabledishes
indeed

And

on

Chaitauya

Similar

the pages

the

in the

country

suggest points to

culinary art and to

nourished
a generation

gorgeous

to be found

also

that these

people.

Vaisnav

Century

dresses."

frequent in
fairly

by

Professors

Phillis

be littledoubt

can

16th

inevitablyreminded
and vegetabledishes
as

esteemed

highly
of the

feasts

of

Chaitanya Charitamrita

are
descriptions

Thus

be

students

the
our

details
modern

dulled

somewhat

too exclusive

were

and
meat

diet.

(e) Prom

the materials

easy
in

use

They

to make

up

in Hindu

had

their

suppliedby the poem

a fairly
long list of
households

platesand

candlesticks,all made

ordinaryHindu

of

house-hold
181

it would

the

for domestic
cups,

brass.
in

our

be

utensils
purposes.

and
water-jugs
I wonder

if

an

days has added

BENGAL

IN

very

THE

SIXTEENTH1

A.D.

CENTURY,

to these conveniences

many

of life

with

"

the

exception perhaps of the tea-cup and saucer

especiallysince the days of Lord Curzon who
other thingsaimed at making the Bengalis
among
a

nation

of tea-drinkers.

conservatism
that

the

of Hindu

standard

modern

this

society
livingin

Would

observer

proof

does

or

"

of

high ?
sufficiently
the

Is

those

it come

as

it show

days was
surpriseto

to be told that

of the

the hero of

the

poet's second
story, the merchant
prince
actuallydines off goldenplatesand golden cups ?
While

the Province

in
prosperity
of

standards
I

livingamong

of almost
the hunter
lite

his

of

"

friends and
substantial
in

of

feature

connection

had

"

and

wages,

and

wages

poet'sreferences to high
sections
of the community,

our

certain

felt the pangs

Ain-i

classes

pricesand

form

the

certain

Growth

we

well

may

other

remind

of

stage

tables,which

greatest

care

of similar

only

and

Figures,however

serve

to

kinds

skill is needed
correct

"

is beset

to

they may

182

an

The

with

the

be, show

the

Some

figures

Appendix

to

Difficultiesin the

difficulties.

before

us

in

It

must

amount

of

some

be

precise

very

questionsthey present

the

of

of quotations
interpretation

many

problems
solve

think

instructive

entitled

says,

artisans,

always to

of

Commerce

set economic

and

money,* but

ourselves

of English Industry and

information

has

One

purchasingpower

that statistics

consideration.

himself

certain

labourers

of

and handicraftsmen.

connection

Cunningham's

remembered

at

tions
descrip-

hero

our

poverty

have

we

interpretation
of historical statistics. Dr. Cunningham
of

have

we

Indeed

of

Akbarl

diverse

of

differences in the
this

itself

phraseologymay be spoken of as tables of prices

givingus the pricesof certain articles in daily use

mechanicals

In

of

time
all hands
from
on
meeting at the same
neighbours,sympathy invariablymaterialised into
bounty a fact which, as I had occasion to remark
continues
to be a marked
previous discourses,
my
Hindu
to the present day. In this
societydown
be permittedto recall to your
I may
mind
that in

using modern

Dr.

to

destitution.

extreme

of the

the pages

and

attention to evidence

"

of

one

callingyour

also to state that in the poem

ought

"

been

have

for

our

changes,

SOCIOLOGICAL.

in

the

Akbari

Ain4

would

the material condition of labourers

was

of

one

and

ease

comfort,

and

by the contemporary
Bengali poet.

our

One

(f)

of the

the

on

artisans in Akbar's

which

records of

the

occupationsof
outskirts

that
statinggenerally

inference

an

corroborated
of

in

justifyus

is

further

life in the

low

the

of

India

castes

settle

who

cityof

new

pages

Gu

jurat

is said to be the

and

Panai,

and

the

Indika

shoes

preparationof Moja
stockings. We know from

that

of Arian

Alexander's
made

Indians

made

of

"

while

and

the

soles

the taller."

Our

in the pages

of

used

these

great thickness,to

much

back

of India

invasion

of white leather

trimmed,

far

so

as

the

to

Avear

of

time

shoes

elaborately
variegated,and

were

were

the

make

wearer

seem

poet'sreference to the
into
Mojo,shows that it is not a thing which came
India only in our
pare
days. It is interestingto comin this connection
to
the following summary
so

be found
state of

While
adorned

twelve

thingsviz.
his

society:
"

sixteen

by

of the

Akbari

Ain-i

Hindu

ancient

is adorned

woman

by

thingsin

the

things,a

is

man

"

of his

ing
body,(3)Drawthe Sectarial marks
of caste, (4)Anointing with
perfumes
oil (5) Wearing
and
gold earrings, (0) Wearing the Jama
is a
which
fastened on the left side,(7) Bearing the Mukuta
the
turban, (8) Wearing a sword
on
golden tiara worn

(1) Trimming

but

results

ulterior

labourer

now

wages,

brought

to pay

the modern

which
It is

has

for

give

about

carefullyreasoned

of

matter

in themselves

do not

they

in

us

which

but

employment

the

on

and

domestic

of

take

must

comfort

labourer's

Before, then,
we

must

know

industry."

183

got

the mediaeval
comfort
we

can

what

changes,

conditions.

account

labourer

habitualty uses, and which

family income.

standard

life,
We

of the

reason

economic

or

the mediaeval

recognised that the question of

regarding the

"

to the

light as

any
social

enquiry."

things

labourer

beard, (2)Ablution

of

cases

for

get

as

not

to the

be the

must

the modern

where

of

nothing, and

labourer

depends,

or

These

had

never

merely

on

things
at all.

his

own

satisfactorj'informations

there
opportunities

are

for

bye-

BENGAL

IN

CENTURY,

SIXTEENTH

THE

at the

(9)Carrying a dagger and the like

the finger,
a ring on
(11)Wearing
As

from

gather

the

surmounted

sounding anklet
of

the

of

at the

time.

The

reads

like

Mukundram
As

woman

of
the

kind

for

the

in the

Bhagabat

which

occasions

bracelet

stringsof gold beads,

the ten fingersand the

seven

Chaitanya

of

that

pages

usually
again is a varietyof the
knobs
and usually of gold,
a

the

popular superstitionsof

an

in esteem

list*

in various

those

have

we

is that it

mentioned

ornaments

and

Fifth Canto

held

were

noteworthy point about

various

of

would

one

Mukundram's

Curiouslyenough

ornaments

Shoes.

by

connections.
their

days,they had

and such like preparations.

One
love-compellingportions
of our
speaks of a medicine which could endow
poem

childless
which

of silver.

or

ring

ear,

inventory

an
on

to the

faith in
section

the

Antakhanda

enumeration

its five

with

for

ornament

which
small

with

gold necklace

the

kankdn

or

womenfolk,

the

is

which

bala

silver,the

of

bracelet

the

Waist, (10)Wearing

Sandals

in
descriptions

the

these included
made

prized by

to the ornaments

A.D.

with

women

could

win

who

uses

the

children

undying

another

love

of

speaks of
for

man

it,securingher triumph over

fsrfiH
^c"ti ti fiffoTc"ri ^*fl*i
i
*I%"?R ^crefa

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c^

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ff*t "|^C3!PIW

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184

ii

ii

the
her

decoction

particular
rivals

"

the

SOCIOLOGICAL

ingredientsof

of
ingredients

with the

would

decoction

which

challengecomparison

the witches' cauldron

in

Shakespeare's

Macbeth.
What

were

the

popular

of

amusements

the

day

One

freely admit that gambling,bettingand diceplaying

occupieda prominent placeamong these. We hear of betting
of our merchant-adventurers
in the dealings
with the King of
Ceylon,and when one of these merchant princesgoes to Gaur
his home, his native-land,his newly-wedded
and there forgets
which
wife in the indulgenceof delights
be described
cannot
must

is
free,"his addiction to diceplaying
"unreprovedpleasures
spoken of by the poet. Even husbands and wives
specially
are
representedas
amusing themselves with diceplaying.
as

Indeed, this has been

from

earliest

the

connection

of the

national weakness

times, and

one

has

of the

only

of the great match

description

Indo-Aryans
think in this

to

at

diceplaying

Hastinapurto be found in the pages of our Mahabharata.

the following
it is interesting
to note
observations of
Hence
Tacitus
"What
is extraordinary,
regarding the Teutons
they
play at dice when sober as a serious business, and that with
of gain or loss,
venture
such a desperate
that when
everything
else is gone, they set their liberties and persons on the last
loser goes
throw.
The
into voluntaryservitude,
and though
the youngest and
strongest, patientlysuffers himself to
at

"

be

and

bound

sold.

Such

is their perseverance

in

bad

practice."

It

of the
another
was
Pigeon-flying
popular amusements.
is through pigeon-flying
that one of our merchant
princes

has

his first interview

with

his future

wife

and

illustrates

I see
again the truth of the dictum, "Now, dead shepherd,
thy saw of might,who ever loved that loved not at firstsight."
It used to be playedin some
such fashion as the following
:
each playerhad a pairof pigeons,
male and the other female.
one
once

"

185
24

BENGAL

The

male

hand.

of the

the hand

considered

loose,while the female

pigeon* soaring high,

whose

He

perchedon
was

let

pigeon was

A.D.

CENTURY,

SIXTEENTH

THE

IN

down

came

out of fondness

owner

held in the

was

and

for its mate,

to he the victor.

was
Pigeon-flying

Emperor Akbar,

of

one

the favourite

this is what

and

we

of the

amusements

read in the Ami

Akbari.

Majesty calls pigeon flying 'ishqbazi

(love-play).
of people a dull
This occupationaffords the ordinaryrun
kind of amusement
; but His Majesty, in his wisdom, makes
the occupation
of reducing
it a study. He even
as
a
uses
way
to
obedience, and avails
unsettled, worldly-minded men
himself of it as a means
ship.
productiveof harmony and friendThe amusement
which His Majestyderives from
the
tumblingand flyingof the pigeonsreminds of the ecstacyand
transportof enthusiastic dervishes : he praisesGod for the
of creation. It is therefore from
wonders
higher motives
"His

that he pays

much

so

attention to this amusement.

[The pigeons of the presentage have reached a high state

Presents of pigeonsare sent by the kingsof
of perfection.
Turan ; but merchants
also bring very excellent
Iran and
in largenumbers.]
ones
When

His

amusement

Majesty
but

was

very

young,

afterwards,when

he

he grew

was

fond of this

older and

wiser,

he discontinued

altogether.But since then,on

pigeon-flying
he has againtaken it up/'
consideration,

mature

We

have

the amusements

in

our

poem

and

greatfavour

list of

amusements"
juvenile

of lads of the

schoolgoingage, which includes

buff, swimming, climbingof trees,

man's

blind
mock-fights,

Bagchal

also

other

games
our

among

of

rural

like

kind

population.

*tfaff
*tf"wi
*ftotTO5
tfas,fe$$"i

186

which

are

stillin

IN

BENGAL

conclude

attention to

(") Our

few

merchant

and

their way

princeson
is

tract of land which

intermission

without

the

What

Spanish

here

we

word

as

regionrow
fast as they

and

then

Indianised
so, the

If

desha

the references

are

an

Armada

Ceylon pass by

that

Firinghi desha

? Have

Uaramadas
of the

by calling

Mringhi

and

hard

as

for fear of Uaramadas.

here, firstlyin

to

spoken of as
passing by

sailors when

the

can

A.D.

CENTURY,

present rambling comments

rather curious points:

my

SIXTEENTH

THE

in the
version

poet was

dreaded
Portuguese
evidently thinking of the
his words
privateers of the lGth Century, and
throw
an
interestingside-lighton the relation
existed

then

which

between

native inhabitants

Probably

of

state

same

says, "The

strong rule

until the
into

that

of

these

As

to the

name

the

Fringi and

represents through Arabic

dicuntur." c.f "The

and

is

remote

its

the

Thus

leaves

past, and

are

the "Francos

188

it

seas,

their

the

quo
name

of

by

an

nomini
of

are

little doubt

Eastern

16th

in these

told

vessels

Chittagong and its

of
navigation in

art

inheritance

they call by

turned

incidentally

narrow

going

sea-

which

"

wo
signification,

Persian

Portugals which

the

man

an

of terror,

Bengal, their plunder

recruited from

were

dangerous seas

the

he

princes.

Bangals

as

neighbourhood.
from

the

on

the historian

of

Bay

island

who

mariners

spoken

of

the

in

nests

of the coast and

(b) The

India made

.buccaneeringin

refers to their

pirate

the

let loose

contempt,"and

of

one

thinkingof
Bengali poet when

(Mringhi*)a word
the Mogul Empire

Christian

of

name

race

our

hordes

districts.

maritime
is

Hunter

thingsas

ravenous

Portuguese and the

the Indian

of

William

Sir

the

old

Bengal
Century

authoritythat Firinghi

omnes

Fringes"

passim

Christiani

SOCIOLOGICAL.

Bengal sailors of
we

of
probably the predecessors

have

of

Lascars

(c)The

to the

charm
with
H

the
shows

Eastern
of modern

and

P.

our

humour

sly

poet with their uncouth

our

poet lends

speech of
all

that

awry

the

Bengal and

the modern

O. boats.

the

of

dialect

these

an

sailors.

indescribable
Their dialect

and

invariablychanged into
linguisticdifference between

Western

growth.

3-89

Bengal is not

thiug