The King Called For The Buxy, And Asked If
He Gave The Order, Which He Falsely Denied; Though He Actually
Gave it
as ordered, calling by name such as were to drink with the ambassador.
The king then called for
The list, and fined the delinquents, some 1000,
some 2000, and others 3000 rupees. Some that were near his person, he
caused to be whipped in his presence, receiving 130 stripes with a most
terrible instrument of torture, having at the ends of four cords irons
like spur-rowels, so that every stroke made four wounds. When they lay
for dead, he commanded the standers-by to spurn them with their feet,
and the door-keepers to break their staves upon them. Thus cruelly
mangled and bruised, they were carried away, one of them dying on the
spot. Some would have excused themselves, by blaming the ambassador; but
the king said he had only ordered a cup or two to be given to him.
Though drunkenness be a common and frequent vice in the king, it is yet
strictly forbidden; and no one can enter the guzelkhan where the king
sits, till the porters have smelt his breath, and if he have only tasted
wine he is refused admittance; and if this reason of his absence be
known, he shall scarcely escape the whip. When the king has taken
offence at any one, even a father dares not speak for his son. Thus the
king made all the company pay for the Persian ambassador's reward.
The 26th, I went to Sorocolla, the prince's secretary, to get the
promised firmaun; when he sent me a copy as fraudulent and ambiguous as
the former, which I refused to accept. I drew up the clause I so much
disliked myself, which I sent back, and was promised to have it sealed
next day.
The day of the king's removal being at hand, I sent on the 28th to Asaph
Khan, to have a warrant for carriages, as our merchants had sought all
over the town for carriages to convey their goods to Agra, and could not
procure any. As I was enrolled by the king, I received an order for
twenty camels, four carts, and two coaches, to be paid for at the
king's price; of which I appointed for the use of the factors as many as
they needed.
At this time the following incident took place, being either a wonderful
instance of baseness in this great monarch, or a trial of my
disposition. The king had condemned several thieves to death, among whom
were some boys, and there was no way to save their lives, except by
selling them as slaves. On this occasion, the king commanded Asaph Khan
to offer two of them to me for money, which he directed to be done by
the cutwall, or marshal. He came accordingly and made the offer to my
interpreter, who answered without my knowledge, that the Christians kept
no slaves, and, as I had already set free those the king had given me,
it was in vain to propose the matter to me. I afterwards suspected this
were done to try me whether I would give a little money to save the
lives of two children, or, if it even were in earnest, I thought there
was no great loss in doing a good deed. So, to try the scope of this
affair, I directed my interpreter to inform Asaph Khan, that being made
acquainted with the offer, and the answer my interpreter had given, I
had reprehended him for presuming in any case to answer for me; and
that, if any money were to be given to save the lives of the children,
either to those whom they had robbed, or to redeem them from the law, I
was ready to give it, both out of respect for the king's command, and
for charity; but I would not buy them as slaves, only meaning to pay
their ransom, and set them free; and, if he would let me know the king's
pleasure, that I might give them their lives and liberties without
offence, I was very willing to do it.
Asaph Khan agreed to accept the money, making many commendations of my
extraordinary goodness, and said I might dispose of the boys as I
thought fit, desiring me to send the money to the cutwall, yet made no
offer of informing the king, which was one chief purpose of my
liberality. I had no inclination to be cheated, yet resolved to pay the
money in such a way that the king should learn I had more mercy than he,
and that a Christian valued the life of a Mahomedan beyond money. I sent
therefore a factor and my interpreter to the cutwall, to acquaint him
with my communication to Asaph Khan, and that, if he informed the king
of my offer to redeem the prisoners for charity, and his majesty
consented to give them their pardon and liberty, I was ready to send
the money; but that I would not buy them as slaves, even for an hour.
Thus I put them to the test as to their base offer. This sum did not
exceed ten pounds, a poor affair for which to impose upon a stranger, or
to be gained by so great a king. The cutwall answered that he would
enquire the king's pleasure, and let me know the result. Some would have
me believe, that this was, a signal favour of the king, chusing out any
great man to do this good and honourable work of redeeming prisoners, as
the money is given in satisfaction to the person robbed, and that those
who are thus appointed to ransom them, make sizeda to the king, as for
a mighty benefit. But I see no honour in a king thus to impose upon a
stranger, to whom he gives neither maintenance nor liberality. I went to
the durbar, to see if the king would himself speak to me, that I might
declare my own offer.
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