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.
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