On This Occasion, I Desired Jaddow, Who Brought This Message
From The King, To Tell Asaph Khan, That I Proposed To Visit Him Next
Day, When I Hoped To Receive From Him A Firmaun Of The Privileges
Granted By The King.
Asaph Khan sent me back word, that they would not
be then ready, but it should be sealed some days after, and that he did
not wish to see me till he had given me satisfaction.
Sec.3. Of the Celebration of the King's Birth Day, with other Occurrences
in September 1616.
The 2d of September was the birth-day of the Great Mogul, which was
solemnized with extraordinary festivities. He was then weighed against a
variety of articles, as jewels, gold, silver, stuffs of gold and silver,
silk, batter, rice, fruits, and many other things, of each a little, all
of which is given to the Bramins. On this occasion, the king ordered
Asaph Khan to send for me; who did so, and appointed me to come to the
place where the king held his durbar. But the messenger mistook, so that
I went not in time, and missed the sight. Being there before the king
came out, he sent for me as soon as he noticed me, and enquired why I
had not come to see the ceremony of weighing, for which he had given
order. I explained the reason, as it actually was, on which he chid
Asaph Khan publicly for the omission. He was at this time so richly
ornamented with jewels, that I must confess I never saw at any one time
such unspeakable wealth. He now amused himself in seeing his greatest
elephants brought in before him. Some of these were lord-elephants,
having their chains, bells, and furniture all of gold and silver, being
attended by many gilt flags and streamers, and each having eight or ten
inferior elephants to wait upon him, clothed in gold, silk, and silver.
In this way there passed about twelve troops, all very splendidly
furnished. The first lord-elephant had all the plates on his head and
breast set with rubies and emeralds, being a beast of most wonderful
stature and beauty. They all bowed down before the king, making their
reverences very orderly, and formed as fine a shew of beasts as I had
ever seen. The keepers of each chief elephant made a present to the
king. After this was over, the king made me some gracious speeches, and
went into the interior apartments.
About ten o'clock at night, after I was in bed, the king sent me a
message, saying he had heard I had a picture which I had not shewn him,
and desired I would come then to him, bringing the picture with me; and
if I would not part with it, that he might see it, and have copies taken
for his wives. I rose and carried the picture with me, and when I came
to the presence, I found him sitting cross-legged on a little throne,
his robes all covered over with diamonds, pearls, and rubies.
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