The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-08
The Venetian Adventurer Niccolo
Manucci Describes the Splendor
and Brilliance of the Mogul
Court of the Middle Ages

TINE diary Of that wonderful Vene-
ton adventurer Niccolo Ma
u nucci has long been known as
the source Of the best descrip.
ton OF the splendor Of Aurangzeb and
the brilliant Mogul court. But the orig
inal diary has been read practically only
by the few who have gone to II for
their facts. In the complete diary a
dead Of tedious discussion clogs the
readers interest.
An abridged edition OF the original
diary, or the "Staria do Mogar" OF Ma
nucci, has just been issued by f. r. Dut-
ton < Co., the translation being made
by William Irvine. In this edition the
reader gets the full benefit Of the quaint
flavor Of this naive and exceedingly In
teresting composition.
Niccolo Manucci, says the translator.
ran away from Venice In 1868, being
then fourteen. He hid ON board a
vessel bound for Smyrna and was for
tunate enough to find a protector In a
certain Viscount Bellomont. an English
nobeman, then on his way to Persia
and India. He followed BellOmont
through Asia Minor to Persia and from
Persia To India, meeting with many ad-
ventures by sea and land. The sudden
death Of his master near HOdal. In 1856.
left Manucci friendless In a strange
land.
lie seems to have been q youth Of
considerable resource, however. and for
tune favored him, for ne soon found EN-
ployment as an artilleryman In the SER
vice of Prince Dara Shukoh. eldest son
of the Emperor Shahjahan. Till Dara's
death. in 1859, Manucci followed his
varying fortunes In peace and war. and
refusing to transfer his services to Au-
rangzeb. he gradually adopted the pro-
fcss.on Of medicine.
Being offered the post Of captain OF
artillery by Rajah Jai Singh, he re-
turned to soldering for some years till
apparently he grew, tired Of 1t and re-
signed his post. He made his way to
Bassain. where he narrowly escaped the
Inqulsition. and thence to Goa. ulti-
mately returning to Agrah and Dihli.
l Here he took service with Kirat Singh,
son Of Jal Singh. but when Kirat Singh
was ordered to Kabul Manucci resolved
To move to Labor lend Of 1870 or early
in l67D and start In practice as a ply
sician. At the end Of six or seven
YEARS. having made q little money,
Manucci decided to remove into Euro
pean territory and he made his home
at Bandora, on Salsette Island. Before
long, however. he lost his money In an
unucky venture and was obliged to re-
turn TO the Mogul court.
In describing his visit to kine
% xaabas In the city Of Qazwin Manuccl
says;
Tie King seated himself in his place
and he master OF ceremonies, who was
close to the Ambassador. pointed out to
him his place. which was the fifth on
the right hand. He was to sit there
On taking his seat he presented a
phosphate, a htadpiece (morion) and
sword mountings, all Of fine work made
at Paris. All these were accepted by
the King, who looked at the Ambassa-
dor with a pleased face. saying to him
that he was delighted at his coming
All this was spoken through an inter
prefer. an Armenian, who was In oul
employ. Then he ASKED after the health
Of the King OF England, inquiring II hi
had any brothers, II he were married
how old he was and whether he wal
loved by his people. To all these ques'
tons the Ambassador replied. and aftel
The lapse OF one hour the King rose
saying to the Ambassador that HI
should take rest and recover from hi
iat!sues. Meanwhile he forwarded Il
'Espahao Usfahan) the letter brought
ny the Ambassador In order to have 4
translated by q Capuchin friar namet
Frey Raphael Dumsns. well acquainted
with the Turkish and Persian Ian
suag"s, a priest OF great virtues. love-
py the King and all the court.
.. The letter having been translated. tn
hlhs sent to the Ambassador On Invita-