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. The cutwall made many motions, and brought in
his executioner, who received some commands, but I understood them not.
I this day sent my secretary with a message to the Persian ambassador,
to say I would visit him, if he gave his word to return my visit. He
sent me for answer, with much respect, that it was not the custom of the
country for ambassadors to visit each, other without leave of the king,
which he would ask; and which given, he would thankfully accept my
visit, and repay it with all manner of pleasure.
On the 1st November, Sultan Churrum took his leave and went to his
tents. On this occasion the king sat in his durbar at noon, when the
prince passed his establishment in review before his father, consisting
of about 600 elephants richly caparisoned, and about 10,000 horse, all
splendidly arrayed, many of his followers being clad in cloth of gold,
and their turbans adorned with herons plumes. The prince himself was in
a dress of cloth of silver, all over embroidered, and splendidly
decorated with pearls and diamonds, shining like the firmament in a
clear night. The king embraced and kissed him with much affection,
presenting him with a rich sword, the hilt and scabbard all of gold set
with precious stones, valued at 100,000 rupees, a dagger valued at
40,000, together with an elephant, and a horse, the furniture of both
magnificently adorned with gold and jewels.
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