[Footnote 220:  This must be an error, as the country of the Samorin, at Calicut, is in the south of Malabar, and Chaul is far to the north in the Concan.—­E.]

The 1st of February, 1609, our captain, Mr Hawkins, departed from Surat, with an escort of fifty peons and some horse.  About this time there was a great stir about the queen mother’s ship, which was to be laden for Mocha.[221] The Portuguese fleet of twenty-two frigates then rode off the bar of Surat, and demanded 100,000 mamudies for her pass, and at last agreed to take somewhat more than 1000 dollars, with sundry presents, which the Moguls were forced to give them.  At this time Mucrob Khan gave me fair words, but the devil was in his heart, for he minded nothing less than payment of his debts, striking off 17,000 from 41,000 to which our accounts extended.  At last he gave me his cheet for a part, though with great abatements, which I was glad to get, esteeming it better to secure some than lose all.  In the beginning of April I was seized with a burning fever, of which I recovered by losing a great deal of blood, and ten days fasting, and on the fever, leaving me I was tormented with miserable stitches.  Next month also I had another severe fever.

[Footnote 221:  Mecca is probably here meant; this ship being destined to carry the Mogul pilgrims.  The queen mother of the Moguls, mother to the reigning emperor.—­E.]

The 12th May, news came that Malek Amber, King of the Deccan, had besieged Aurdanagur[222] with 22,000 horse; which place had been the metropolis of the Deccan, formerly conquered by Akbar; and that, after several assaults, the Moguls had offered to surrender the city, on condition that he would withdraw his army four or five coss[223] from the city, that they might remove with bag and baggage in security.  This being done, they issued out with all their forces, and making an unexpected assault on the unprovided enemy, gave them a total defeat with great slaughter.  As it was feared that Malek Amber might revenge this defeat upon the other parts of the country, the Khan-Khana raised numerous forces, and demanded 300,000 mamudies[224] towards the charges, sending also an experienced Deccan leader to govern the city.

[Footnote 222:  Probably a corruption of Aurungabad.—­E.]

[Footnote 223:  In this and other early voyages, the coss is always named course.  It is rated by Purchas at a mile and a half English.  There are two cosses, the Hindoostanee, and the Rajeput, the former being 44-4/9 to a degree, and the latter 32.  The Hindoostanee is equal to 1.56, and the Rajeput coss to 2.18 English miles.—­E.]

[Footnote 224:  This demand is inexplicable, as it is no where stated of whom it was demanded:  Besides, the sum, only L15,000, is quite inadequate for the maintenance of numerous forces.—­E.]