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132
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MAY, 1906.
and anachronisms are frequent. Indeed, were it not for the evidence of a reliable traveller like Manucci, who mentions many of the persons alluded to by Campbell and reasonably describes events of which Campbell gives a distorted account, it might have been difficult to attach any credence whatever to the first two portions of the narrative. Still, with the assistance of M: Irvine's valuable notes, the task of sifting the wheat from the chaff becomes comparatively easy. Moreover, the records of the English in India at this period, 1654-1670, are so scanty that any account by an eye-witness is worthy of reproduction, especially when, as in this case, quaint and out-of-the-way information is interspersed with wondrous stories of magical occurrences.
The MS. has been copied exactly as it stands, retaining all the contractions, capital letters and original spelling. The punctuation has been modernised for the sake of clearness.
Up to the time of going to press, no independent facts relating either to Richard Bell or John Campbell have come to light. Should such be found during the publication of the MS., they will be given in biographical form at the end, as will also any additional facts that may be discovered respecting persons or places mentioned in the narrative.
Richard Bell's Journal and Travels to the East Indies and the Mogals Country in the Year
1654.
An Aocount or Journal of the Travels of Richard Bell in the Mogule Country in India & his Residence in the Court of Sajahan (Shah Jahan] the Emp & father to Oran Zeeb [Aurangzēb], to both which he was Gunfounder Several Yeers, from 1654 to 1668, as also an accompt of Jo: Cambol [John Campbell] f others at that time residing in that country.
As also another Journal of the said Richard Bells Travels to Prester Johns Country & Persia yc. As also an acct of his Travels from Lisbon to Jerusalem & other places &c. 1669 & the year 1670.
[I. - Narrative of John Campbell. ] From Collumba Colombo we Saled to Madderass Lepotan [Madraspatam, i. e., Madras] & soe for Surratt in East India, the Mogulls Contrey, from which place I was assigned to goe to John a Badd (Jahānābād, i.e., Delhi], the Mogulls Court, Saiahan (Shāh Jahān] then Emperor, to be his Gunn founder.
It was his pleasure after he had made tryall of me to send me to Carnatt [the Carnatic], wch was in warrs wth a Kinge cald Swagie [Sivaji), Wheere I remaned Two yeares in the warrs, We takeinge Twenty eight Castles from yo Gentues (Hindus].
This Kinge after he had made his peace wth the Emperer, the Emperer commanded bim to Court, & sent him word if he came he would forgive him all past. Kinge Swagie, by yo perswation of Radger Gessor (Rāja Jai Singh), a Gentue Kinge and then Gennerall of the Emperors Army in that quarter, came, & his sonn wth Ten thousand horse to John a Badd The Cheife Oitty of India and Court of yo Emperer, beinge fifteene Miles English in compagse or more; this was in 1654."
The Emperor, iudging he had Swagie safe, provided to send him over the River Attick (Atak] we parts his Contrey & yo pattans (Pathāns] and when he had him theire he could never returne withont his plesure back. This River 'Attick is Nine Leagues Over, all fresh watter, the lenth not knowne. It hath only two passages wch y Mogull hath Castles, both on his owne side and yo pattans, y of ypattans he purchased of them wth great pollisy, by woh he keeps them in Awe & preserves his passage throw theire Contrey into Pertia as after is declared.
1 Later on in the MS. the writer speaks of Maddera leptan ( one word).
? Sivaji's arrival at, and escape from, Dehli took place in the year 1685, during the reign of the Emperor Aurangēb.
3 Sakkar, Bakhar, and Rohri.
