He Answered, That He Had Sent
To Speak With Me Before His Departure, And That I Should Be Presently
Dispatched.
He then sent in an eunuch into the interior apartments, and
several of his officers came to me smiling,
Who said that the prince
meant to give me a magnificent present, and if I feared to ride late, I
should have a guard of ten horsemen to see me safe home, making as much
of the matter as if I had been to get his best chain of pearls. By and
by came a cloak of cloth of gold, which the prince had once or twice
worn, which he caused to be put on me, and for which I made my reverence
very unwillingly; yet I urged some business, and having an answer, took
my leave. It is here reputed the highest favour, to give one a garment
that has been worn by a prince, or that has merely been laid on their
shoulders. The cloak now given me might have answered well for an actor
who had to represent the character of his ancestor, Tamerlane, on the
stage, but was to me of no importance. On my way out, I was followed by
his porters and waiters, begging in a most shameless manner, so that I
half paid the value of the cloak before I could get out from among them.
On the 10th November, almost every body had removed from the town of
Agimere, so that I was left nearly alone, and could neither get carts
nor camels for my removal, notwithstanding my warrant. The Persian
ambassador was in a similar predicament, but complained, and was soon
redressed. I therefore sent to court, and on the 11th I received two
warrants, for being supplied with carts and camels at the king's price:
but it was not easy to procure either, as the great men had soldiers in
every direction, to take up all for their use; and indeed it was
wonderful, how two leskars or camps, belonging to the king and prince,
could both remove at once.
The 16th, an order was given by the king to set fire to the whole leskar
at Agimere, that the people might be compelled to follow, which was duly
executed. I was left almost destitute; and the Persian ambassador, who
had fought, chid, brawled, and complained, without any remedy, was in
the same state with me. We sent messages of condolence to each other;
and, by his example, I resolved to buy, as many were disposed to sell,
who would not hire at the king's price, and I calculated that by
purchasing I should almost save hire, though carts were dear, as the
hire of three months would have exhausted the price of purchase.
Necessity enforced me to remove, as the town was burnt and utterly
desolate, and I was in great danger from thieves, as the soldiers came
from camp and robbed during the night. So desolate was the town, that I
could not even procure bread. Yet I sent again to court, to make one
trial more, before I purchased.
The 17th I received accounts from Goa, which were said to be true, that
Don Emanuel de Meneses, with about 300 of those who were saved ashore
out of the Admiral, had arrived at Goa in a very poor condition, having
been robbed and plundered by the inhabitants of Angazesia, who had also
slain many. On the 24th October, not one of the Lisbon fleet had reached
Goa, to their great wonder and disappointment. The Mosambique galleon
was fought with by the Hollanders that lately went from Surat, and had
cruised off Goa to meet the expected ships. This galleon was very rich
in gold and other commodities, but she escaped.
I received an order for camels and carriages, but was continually
delayed and disappointed; and being afraid to remain, I bought two
carts, and was continually promised camels, yet none appeared. Mr
Bidulph remained in the prince's leskar to receive money. The leskar of
the king was still only twelve cosses from Agimere. The 18th, the
Portuguese Jesuit took leave of me, being under the necessity of
purchasing a carriage, although he had an order for one out of the
king's store; but every one was distressed, owing to the scarcity.
Having nothing material to say, respecting my own affairs, during my
solitude at Agimere, I shall here digress, to mention the state of
Sultan Cuserou, of whose new delivery into the hands of his enemies, the
hearts and mouths of all men were now full.
Though the king had so far condescended to satisfy his proud son Churrum
at his departure, as again to place Cuserou in confinement, yet it seems
that he did not mean to wink at any injurious behaviour to his eldest
son: And, partly to render his situation the more secure, in the custody
of Asaph Khan, and partly to satisfy the murmurs of the people, who
feared some treachery against him, he took occasion to declare his mind
respecting him in the public durbar. Asaph Khan had been to visit his
new prisoner, and in his behaviour towards him, did not treat him with
the respect due to a prince, but rudely pressed into his presence
against his will, and in a disrespectful manner. Some are of opinion he
did this purposely to pick a quarrel, knowing the bravery of the prince,
who would not suffer an indignity, meaning to tempt him to draw his
sword, or to use some violence, which the guard might suddenly revenge;
or that he might have opportunity to represent to the king, that the
prince had attempted to kill his keeper, on purpose to escape. But the
prince acted with patient prudence, and only procured a friend to
acquaint the king with the rude behaviour of Asaph Khan. Accordingly,
one day at the durbar, the king called Asaph Khan before him, and asked
when he had seen his charge?
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 138 of 243
Words from 139944 to 140946
of 247546
