DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.634#0171
i a6 A Relation os the Canatick Country.
Letter IV.
The Ground
our House
Hands on
granted by
'he King.
The hard
Usagc of
Scvti Qi's Sub-
jeas.
Arriving at Carwar, and the Chief going asiiore, he was met on
the River by the Governor with two Barges j and landing, was wel-
comed by the Ordnance of the Znglisb House.
Carwar, what remains of it, is under the New Conquest of Seva
Gi, being lately, with Anchola, Pundit, Cuderab and Semijpir, brought
under (though all of them very Strong Place's): At which time the
E/rgliJh were moulding a Fortification, or House of Defence, for their
own safety, when by the Assistance of a Small Pink they defended
themselves from all Hostile Mischances; and though their Town
was wholly laid in Allies, yet they built this their stately Mansion
Four-square, guarded by Two Bulwarks at the Commanding Corners
of the House: In the mean while Seva Gi made himself Master of
Carwar Cattle, together with the rest, the Inhabitants ssying to the
Woods and Hills lor shelter: Thus it continues not without daily
disturbancefrom these Sylvans and Mountaineers, thecommiseratcd
Subje&s of fcjiapour, who often make an Head and fall upon them;
by which means the Government is unsetled, and the Governors
fliift from Place to Place.
Our House stands on a delicate Mead (on the Ground of * * * *
Cutteen Esq; a Corni/h Gentleman, who had it by grant from the
King of Vistapour, being impowered by a Claim of his Countrymen
to the Right of Trading to the Eassi Indies, but long since left off)
Seated on an Arm of the River, surveying a pleasant Island stored
with Game: The Castle is nearer the Hills, and higher up the
Streams ; about a League off the Sea the Hills guard the Plain till
they make a Bank againss: the Ocean.
Seva in his Government imitates the Moors in this, appointing a
distin<5t Governor here for Town and Castle, and over all these a
Commander with a Flying Army, who is Superintendent: Into
Places of Trust and Authority he puts only Brachmins, or their Sub-
stitutes, viz. Pundits, (a mean cast)for Physicians; Ssosdars or Cen-
turions, Suhidars, Havaldars, Civil Governors, Generals or Fight-
ing Bishops ; of whom truly may be said, Privata caique siimulatio
vile deem publicum. They are neither for Publick Good or Common
Honesty, but their own private Interestonly: Theyrefuseno Base
Offices for their own Commodity, inviting Merchants to come and
trade among them, and then rob them, or else turmoil them on ac-
count of Customs; always in a Corner getting more for them-
selves than their Master, yet openly must seem mighty zealous for
their Mailer's Dues: So that Trade is unlikely to settle where he hath
any thing to do; notwithstanding his Country lies all along on the
Sea-more, and no Goods can be transported without hisPermission ;
unless they go a great way about, as we are forced to do.
It is a General Calamity, and much to be deplored, to hear the
Complaints of the poor People that remain, or are rather compelled
toendurethe Slavery of Seva Gi: The Desies have Land imposed up-
on them at double the former Rates, and if they refuse to accept it
on these hard Conditions (if Monied Men) they are carried to Pri-
son, there they are famissied almost to death j racked and tortured
most inhumanly till they confess where it is : They have now in
Limbo scveral Brachmins, whole Flesh they tear with Pincers heated
Red-
Letter IV.
The Ground
our House
Hands on
granted by
'he King.
The hard
Usagc of
Scvti Qi's Sub-
jeas.
Arriving at Carwar, and the Chief going asiiore, he was met on
the River by the Governor with two Barges j and landing, was wel-
comed by the Ordnance of the Znglisb House.
Carwar, what remains of it, is under the New Conquest of Seva
Gi, being lately, with Anchola, Pundit, Cuderab and Semijpir, brought
under (though all of them very Strong Place's): At which time the
E/rgliJh were moulding a Fortification, or House of Defence, for their
own safety, when by the Assistance of a Small Pink they defended
themselves from all Hostile Mischances; and though their Town
was wholly laid in Allies, yet they built this their stately Mansion
Four-square, guarded by Two Bulwarks at the Commanding Corners
of the House: In the mean while Seva Gi made himself Master of
Carwar Cattle, together with the rest, the Inhabitants ssying to the
Woods and Hills lor shelter: Thus it continues not without daily
disturbancefrom these Sylvans and Mountaineers, thecommiseratcd
Subje&s of fcjiapour, who often make an Head and fall upon them;
by which means the Government is unsetled, and the Governors
fliift from Place to Place.
Our House stands on a delicate Mead (on the Ground of * * * *
Cutteen Esq; a Corni/h Gentleman, who had it by grant from the
King of Vistapour, being impowered by a Claim of his Countrymen
to the Right of Trading to the Eassi Indies, but long since left off)
Seated on an Arm of the River, surveying a pleasant Island stored
with Game: The Castle is nearer the Hills, and higher up the
Streams ; about a League off the Sea the Hills guard the Plain till
they make a Bank againss: the Ocean.
Seva in his Government imitates the Moors in this, appointing a
distin<5t Governor here for Town and Castle, and over all these a
Commander with a Flying Army, who is Superintendent: Into
Places of Trust and Authority he puts only Brachmins, or their Sub-
stitutes, viz. Pundits, (a mean cast)for Physicians; Ssosdars or Cen-
turions, Suhidars, Havaldars, Civil Governors, Generals or Fight-
ing Bishops ; of whom truly may be said, Privata caique siimulatio
vile deem publicum. They are neither for Publick Good or Common
Honesty, but their own private Interestonly: Theyrefuseno Base
Offices for their own Commodity, inviting Merchants to come and
trade among them, and then rob them, or else turmoil them on ac-
count of Customs; always in a Corner getting more for them-
selves than their Master, yet openly must seem mighty zealous for
their Mailer's Dues: So that Trade is unlikely to settle where he hath
any thing to do; notwithstanding his Country lies all along on the
Sea-more, and no Goods can be transported without hisPermission ;
unless they go a great way about, as we are forced to do.
It is a General Calamity, and much to be deplored, to hear the
Complaints of the poor People that remain, or are rather compelled
toendurethe Slavery of Seva Gi: The Desies have Land imposed up-
on them at double the former Rates, and if they refuse to accept it
on these hard Conditions (if Monied Men) they are carried to Pri-
son, there they are famissied almost to death j racked and tortured
most inhumanly till they confess where it is : They have now in
Limbo scveral Brachmins, whole Flesh they tear with Pincers heated
Red-