After This, I Shewed The King A
Curious Picture I Had Of A Friend Of Mine, Which Pleased Him Much, And
He Shewed It To All His Company.
The king sent for his chief painter,
who pretended he could make as good, which I denied, on which a wager of
a horse was made between Asaph Khan and me in the king's presence, and
to please him, but Asaph afterwards retracted.
After this, the Mogul
fell to drinking some Alicant wine which I had presented him, giving
some of it to those about him, and then sent for a full bottle, and
drinking a cup, sent it to me, saying it soured so fast it would be
spoiled before he could drink it, and I had none. This done, he turned
him to sleep, when all the candles were put out, and I had to grope my
way out in the dark.
This day, a gentlewoman attendant upon Noor-mahal was taken in the
king's house in some improper act with an eunuch, when another animal of
the same kind, who loved her, slew her paramour. The poor woman was set
up to the arm-pits in the ground, with the earth hard rammed around her,
being condemned to remain there three days and two nights in that
situation, without sustenance, her head and arms exposed to the violence
of the sun. If she survived, she was then to be pardoned. The eunuch was
condemned to the elephants. This damsel was found to be worth, in
pearls, jewels, and money, sixteen lack of rupees.[201]
[Footnote 201: In Purchas this sum is rated in words at sixteen hundred
thousand, while in Churchill it is only in figures 160,000. - E.]
On the 22d, I had letters from Burbanpoor in answer to those I had
written to Mohabet Khan, who granted my desire of a firmaun in favour of
our nation, granting them a house near the governor's, strictly
commanding that no person should molest them by sea or land, neither to
exact from them any customs, or to give them trouble on any pretence,
with entire liberty to buy, sell, and transport any commodities at their
pleasure, without let or hindrance. I received this in a letter from
himself, full of civility and kindness, far exceeding any I had hitherto
met with in India, protesting the highest respect, and his earnest wish
to give me every content in whatever I might desire. I caused this
firmaun to be immediately sent to Surat, so that Broach is now provided
as a good retreat from the prince's injuries, and the customs given up,
by which L1500 a-year will be saved, besides all manner of searches and
extortions. No person doubts the performance of this firmaun, as Mohabet
Khan careth not for the prince, and feareth no man, neither needeth he
any person's favour, being much beloved of the king, and reckoned the
second man in the empire. He has all his life been liberal of his purse,
and honourable in his word, so that he has the good report of all men.
In regard to the customs on trade, as the king takes none, and the
governors convert them to their own profit, he professes to scorn
abusing the liberties of the king's ports.
On the 6th of August I was sent for to the durbar, where I had much talk
with the king, who asked me many questions to satisfy his curiosity, and
desired me to come to the Guzalcan at night, when I should see my
picture so exactly copied, that I should not know the copy from the
original. He asked me what reward I would give the painter who had made
the copy so like, to which I answered, I would give fifty rupees, a
painter's reward. To which the king replied, that his painter was a
gentleman, and my proffered reward was too small. I said, that I gave
the picture willingly, esteeming it rare, and had no inclination to make
comparisons or wagers; and that, if his majesty's servant had performed
well, and would not accept my gift, his majesty was most fit to reward
him. So, after many merry jests, and brags of the arts in his dominions,
his majesty asked me how often I drank in the day, and how much, and
what we drank in England. Mentioning beer, he asked what beer was, how
it was made, and whether I could make it here in India. To all of which
serious state questions I answered to his satisfaction.
He sent for me again at night, being impatient to triumph in the skilful
execution of his painter, and shewed me six pictures, all pasted on one
board, one being my own, and the other five done by his artist, and all
so like, that by candle-light I was at some loss to determine which was
which, being greatly beyond my expectation. At length, by closer
inspection, I pointed out my own, and explained the differences between
it and the copies, which were not apparent to an inexperienced eye. The
king was much pleased that I had not seen the difference at first sight,
for which he was full of mirth, and exulted over me. I gave him way, and
satisfied him much by praising his painter, saying, that I saw his
majesty needed no pictures from our country. He then asked me what
reward I would give his painter? To which I answered, I would double my
former offer, and if he came to my house, would give him an hundred
rupees to buy a nag. The king took this kindly, but said his painter
would not accept money, but some other gifts which I had before
promised. I said this was referable to my own discretion. To which he
answered, that this was true, yet he wished I would name it. To this I
said, I would give him a good sword, a pistol, and a picture.
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