Each Of These Held A Tablet In His Hand, A
Cubit Long And A Quarter Broad, On Which They All Continued To Look With
Much Gravity, Without Attending To Any Thing Around Them; And Behind These,
Stood An Infinite Number Of Guards, All In Profound Silence.
At length the
emperor made his appearance from an inner apartment, and ascended the
throne by nine steps of silver.
The emperor was a man of middle stature,
and his beard consisted of 200 or 300 long hairs, which descended from his
chin upon his breast. On each side of the throne there stood two very
beautiful maidens, having their faces and necks bare, with their hair tied
on the top of their heads, and large pearls in their ears. Each of these
held paper and a pen in their hands, and wrote down with great attention
whatever was spoken by the emperor; and when he retires, they present him
with the papers, to see if he has any alterations to make in his orders.
These are afterwards carried to the Diwan, or tribunal of state, that
they may be carried into execution.
When the emperor was seated on his throne, the seven ambassadors were
brought forwards, facing the emperor, and at the same time a great number
of criminals were presented. There were seven hundred of these, some of
whom were fastened by the neck, others having their heads and hands
inclosed by a board, six sometimes fastened thus to one board. Each
criminal was attended by a keeper, who held his prisoner by the hair:
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