Indian Antiquary Vol 31

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 58

54
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
because all is ground flat as the palm of one's hand, with artillery at one end and at the other. The which breastwork must be in the manuer of the bridge giving passage to a rivulet that runs between the wall and the suburb; and in order to enter the city there is a very fine stone bridge; and the breastwork would have to be joined to this bridge. This breastwork would go towards this gate and lead from the bridge, and would have to be the means of access to the fortress itself, where the governor must reside.
[FEBRUARY, 1902.
As soon, Sir, as the disembarkation shall have taken place at this spot, observe well that it is near the gate of the city. If the city do not surrender, three camellos must be placed there, and the gates, which are two, must be destroyed. Both of them consist of two, one is front of the other. These gates, Sir, are overlaid with copper. As soon as they enter they must make their way to the house of the pochegy, which is the principal house that there is in this city, and is the house where is the king's revenue, where will be found much silver, more than can be reckoned, and also much gold and merchandise. This house is the chief of this province; for in this house from morning [f. 125] until night there is nothing done but weighing the silver of the rents that come from all the officers; in which house must be placed two or three hundred men with a captain to remain stationed in the city until the fortress shall have been built. And likewise a fortress will have to be made within the city where is a small mount87 with some churches. It has in itself stone for making the fortress; which fortress must be situated above the wall that goes towards the north, which is the main land, with a tower of four stories all full of artillery which can fire towards the north and west and east, and also towards the city. All points will thus, be defended by this fortress, and the city placed and restrained under this fortress; in which förtress, Sir, should be stationed a hundred men; the city will then become so strong that not a bird will be able to descend that will have an opportunity of escaping. The which hundred men, Sir, should be changed every three or four months. They should go, Sir, with the fleet that they may make a profit.
It will also, Sir, be needful to go and seize a factory that is called the Conchefas, whence will escape a thousand prisoners, at least if the mandarins do not kill them through fear lest they rise in the city and kill the mandarins also in consequence. It is also full of silver, which is moreover collected in dues for the king and the fines of the prisoners which are on a large scale, much silver; which property, Sir, that shall be in this factory, shall be removed from this to the house of the pochegy, where must be those men to erect in the meanwhile the fortress. Let them collect there all that has been taken; and in like manner they shall go to two other factories of the king, which also have much silver of the dues that are exacted; the which two factories are called by name Nayhay and Ponhaem. And if this property is found, all shall go to the pochegy, who will have to guard it there until all is settled. Let them be advised that in case they should find no silver, and should find within those houses, which are large, any man, he shall be questioned regarding it, as it may be buried in some place so that it may not be found; because in those cities that are attacked [f. 125v] by robbers they do this, that is, bury it, and leave as a blind four or five thousand taels, in order that the robbers may not go searching everywhere and happen to find it.
And inquiry should also, Sir, be made for the rice godowns, which are seven or eight houses where are stationed three petty mandarins like receivers of customs,00 the which houses have in them millions upon millions of piculs of rice under the management of the mandarins and also other people, the which rice if they could sell it to the people of the country, they would make more than forty thousand taels of silver thereby. For which purpose, Sir, there should be placed thirty men with a captain, and they should remain guarding this rice until the city and affairs shall have settled down, without any of that rice being touched, which if it should happen, Sir, there would be no remedy. At present if rice and provisions did not come in from without 7 The peak of Yuehsiu, near the five-storied tower referred to above. Kwangohau-fù. (See note supra. These names evidently represent Nanhai and Pwanyü, the two districts in which Canton is situated. The orig. has" allees," which, Sr. Lopes suggests, is a contraction for alimosarifes.