Who among the following travellers visited a "Hospital of Birds" at Cambay in 1623-24, where he saw some lame, sick and mateless birds and some tiny orphan mice. He writes, "A venerable old man with a white beard was keeping them in a box amongst cotton, with his spectacles on his nose, giving them milk to eat with a bird's feather, because they were so little that as yet they could eat nothing else, and as he told us, he intended when they are grown up to let them go free whither they please".

Question

Prepp Team · Accepted Answer

Identifying the Traveller Who Visited the Hospital of Birds in Cambay

The question asks us to identify the traveller who described visiting a unique institution, a "Hospital of Birds," in Cambay during the years 1623-24. The description provided is quite specific, mentioning the care for sick and injured birds, as well as tiny orphan mice, tended to by an old man.

To solve this, we need to recall the accounts of prominent European travellers who visited India during the early 17th century and compare their itineraries and observations with the details given in the question.

Analysis of the Travellers and Their Visits to India

Ralph Fitch: An English merchant, one of the earliest English travellers to India. He travelled in the late 16th century (around 1583-1591), well before the period mentioned (1623-24). His accounts describe various parts of India but not this specific event in 1623-24.
John Mildenhall: Another English adventurer and merchant. He visited India around the late 16th and early 17th century (died in India in 1614), also preceding the 1623-24 timeframe.
Pietro Della Valle: An Italian traveller and writer. He is well-known for his extensive travels in the East, including visits to the Ottoman Empire, Persia, and India. His travels in India took place between 1623 and 1624, specifically visiting cities like Surat, Goa, and Mangalore, and also parts of Gujarat, including Cambay (Khambat). His detailed descriptions align perfectly with the timeframe and location mentioned in the question.
Sebastian Manrique: A Spanish Augustinian friar. He travelled in Asia, including parts of India, but his major travels occurred later in the 17th century, primarily in the 1630s.

Pietro Della Valle's Account of the Hospital of Birds in Cambay

Pietro Della Valle, during his visit to Cambay in 1623-24, indeed documented his observation of a charitable institution dedicated to the care of sick and injured animals. This "Hospital of Birds" or animal hospital, as described in his travelogue, provided refuge and care for various creatures, reflecting the strong emphasis on animal welfare prevalent in that region, particularly among the Jain community.

His detailed account includes the vivid imagery presented in the question:

He saw lame, sick, and mateless birds being cared for.
He observed tiny orphan mice being nurtured.
He described a "venerable old man with a white beard" diligently caring for the mice in a box lined with cotton.
The old man, wearing spectacles, was feeding the tiny mice milk using a bird's feather.
The explicit intention was to release the animals once they were capable of fending for themselves.

This detailed and specific description, along with the correct timeframe (1623-24) and location (Cambay), is famously attributed to Pietro Della Valle's travelogue.

Conclusion

Based on the timeline and the unique description of the "Hospital of Birds" in Cambay, Pietro Della Valle is the traveller who recorded this particular observation.

Traveller	Period in India	Known for Visiting Cambay (1623-24)	Description of Animal Hospital
Ralph Fitch	Late 16th century	No	No record of this specific observation
John Mildenhall	Late 16th/Early 17th century (Died 1614)	No	No record of this specific observation
Pietro Della Valle	1623-1624	Yes	Yes, detailed description of "Hospital of Birds"
Sebastian Manrique	Mid-17th century (Later)	No	No record of this specific observation

Revision Table: Key Details about the Traveller and the Observation

Detail	Information
Traveller's Name	Pietro Della Valle
Year of Visit	1623-1624
Location Visited	Cambay (Khambat), Gujarat, India
Institution Observed	"Hospital of Birds" / Animal Hospital
Animals Seen	Lame/sick birds, orphan mice
Caregiver Description	Venerable old man with white beard, spectacles, feeding mice with a feather.
Purpose of Care	To heal and release the animals.

Additional Information: Animal Hospitals in India and European Travellers

The concept of animal hospitals (known as Jiv Daya or Pinjrapole in some regions) has a long history in India, particularly associated with the principle of Ahimsa (non-violence) central to Jainism. These institutions provided care for old, sick, or injured animals.

Several European travellers visiting India in the 17th century were struck by these practices, which were quite different from what was common in Europe at the time. Their travelogues serve as valuable historical sources detailing the social customs and institutions they encountered.

Pietro Della Valle's writings are significant not just for their geographical accounts but also for their rich observations of the cultures and practices he witnessed, including this remarkable animal care facility in Cambay.

Other travellers like Jean-Baptiste Tavernier or François Bernier also described various aspects of Indian society and economy in the later 17th century, but the specific description from 1623-24 in Cambay matches Pietro Della Valle's account.