CHAPTER V. people, the want of laws, the great increase in the Moghul empire. He enlarged upon the revenue of the empire; how it was raised; how it was swelled by presents, confiscations, and fines. Every province paid a yearly rent to the Padishah. He himself paid eleven lakhs yearly, or a hundred and ten thousand pounds sterling. All beyond that he kept for himself; he took whatever he liked. He had the rank of Five thousand horse. He drew two hundred rupees a year for each horse; he only kept fifteen hundred horsemen; the surplus was dead pay. He also drew a pension from the Padishah of a thousand rupees a day.47 He said that twenty other nobles received the same pay; some received double.48

man and just, lived without sin, and did greater miracles than any before or since. They even call him "the breath of God," but cannot conceive how he should be the Son of God, and therefore will not believe. Notwithstanding this, the Mussulmans in general think Christians so unclean, that they will not eat with us nor yet of anything that is dressed in our vessels." See Terry's Voyage to the East Indies.

47 There is perhaps some exaggeration here. Jamál-ud-dín Husain appears in Abul Fazl's list of Mansubdars. (See Mr Blockmann's translation of the Aini-Akbari, No. 164.) His command of Five thousand horse was only brevet rank. Five years after his meeting with Roe, he was pensioned off on four thousand rupees a month on account of his advanced age. Roe calls him viceroy of Patna. Bihar was the real name of his province; Patna was the capital of Bihár.

48 Roe's Journal, 12th August to the 19th. Jamál-ud-dín Husain gave an entertainment to Roe at a garden-house about a mile from Ajmír. A collation was served in the middle of the day; it comprised dishes of raisins, almonds, pistachios, and fruit of all kinds. In the evening there was a substantial meal; it comprised dishes of meat, roast, boiled, and fried; also rice and salads.

The servants were diligent, respectful, and orderly. At both meals the company took their seats on the carpet. At the collation Jamál-ud-din sat with his English guests; at the evening meal he sat apart with his Moghul guests. When the entertainment was over he gave Roe a present according to custom; it consisted of five cases of sugar-candy dressed with musk, and a loaf of refined white sugar weighing fifty pounds. He also pressed Roe to accept a hundred loaves more of the white sugar; he said that it came from his government, and cost him nothing. After a few days he dined at Roe's house on some banqueting stuff prepared by a Mussulman cook. He would not touch the meats which had been dressed in the English fashion; he begged that three or four dishes might be sent to his house, as he wished to taste them privately.

Jehangir: weighing cere

The second of September was Jehangir's birth- CHAPTER V. day. The Padishah was weighed six times with Birthday of great ceremony in large golden scales. Jehangir mony: sat in one scale cross-legged like a tailor. The other scale was piled up with parcels, which were changed each time. He was weighed against gold and silver, silks and stuffs, grains and butter. The things weighed were given away to the poor.

In the afternoon there was a grand show of ele- Elephant show. phants before the Durbar. All the larger elephants, known as lord elephants, were paraded before Jehangír. Every lord elephant was provided with chains, bells, and furniture, of gold and silver; he had a harem of four female elephants; he was attended with gilt banners; he was waited on by eight or ten other elephants clothed in gold, silk, and silver. Twelve companies of these elephants marched past Jehangir, and made their saláms. The first lord elephant was a magnificent beast of wonderful stature and beauty; the plates on his head and breast were set with rubies and emeralds. Roe declared that he had never seen such a sight before.49

Ghusal-khana.

On the evening of the birth-day Jehangir was Carouse in the drinking with his nobles. According to the law no man was admitted to the Ghusal-khana whose breath smelt of wine. If Jehangir heard of any departure from the law he would order the offender to be whipped in his presence. On state occasions he commanded the nobles to drink; then every man was bound to obey. At ten o'clock at night Jehangir sent for Roe. The ambassador was in bed; he went to the palace in all haste. Jehangir was

49 Roe's Journal, 2nd September. See also Terry.

CHAPTER V. sitting cross-legged on a little throne.

A viceroy in disgrace.

He was

decked with jewels. His nobles around him were in their best array. Vessels of gold were lying about; flagons of wine were standing by. All were ordered to drink. Every one got drunk except Khurram, Asof Khan, and the English ambassador. Jehangir scattered dishes full of rupees to the multitude below. He threw about gold and silver almonds for his nobles to scramble for. At last Jehangir dropped off to sleep. The lights were put out; and the party groped their way out of the Ghusal-khana.50

Another incident at court brings out a picture of Moghul times. A viceroy of Guzerat had fallen into disgrace; he had disobeyed orders; he came to make his submission before the Jharokha window. His feet were bare; his ankles were chained; his turban was pulled over his eyes so that he might see no one before he beheld Jehangír. He made his reverence, answered a few questions, and was forgiven. His chain was taken off; he was clothed

50 Roe's Journal, ib. These almonds were exceedingly thin and of small value. Roe discovered that the pears, apples, and pomegranates that hung before the Moghul's throne were equally hollow. He had been told that they were all solid.

An amusing incident is connected with Roe's visit to the palace on this particular evening. Everything that transpired in Roe's private lodgings reached the ears of Jehangir. Roe had a portrait of a "dear friend," which Jehangir had never seen. Roe was told to bring the portrait; it was that of a lady who had been dead for some years. Roe was resolved not to part with the portrait. He took a French picture as well, which he hoped would satisfy the Padishah. But all to no purpose. Jehangir was enchanted with the portrait. He would not look at the French picture. If Roe would only give him the portrait he would value it more than his best jewels. Roe was fairly wheedled out of the portrait; his disgust is sufficiently manifest in his journal. It was a hard fate which compelled the English ambassador to make over the portrait of his dead lady-love to the Great Moghul.

in a new vest, turban, and girdle, according to CHAPTER V. custom.51

court.

Roe could not dwell long at court without hear- Poisoning at ing something of palace scandals. Parwíz had been recalled from the Dekhan and sent to Bengal. Jehangir hesitated about recalling the Khan Khanán. The Khan Khanán was very powerful; if recalled he might rebel. Jehangir resolved to send him the dress of forgiveness. He told his intention to a kinswoman of the Khan Khanán, who was living in his own harem. She replied that the Khan Khanán would never wear the dress; he would think it was poisoned. "Twice," she said, "you have given him poison; each time he put it in his breast instead of eating it; each time he found it was poison." Jehangir made no denial; he offered to wear the dress for an hour to prove that it was not poisoned. The woman replied that the Khan Khanán would trust neither of them. So Jehangir resolved to go himself to the Dekhan. Khurram was to go on to Burhanpur; Jehangir would follow as far as Mandu.52

against Khuzru.

Another intrigue exploded. Khuzru, the eldest Intrigues son of Jehangir, had been placed in the charge of Rajpoot prince named Anna Rai. Núr Mahal and Asof Khan were plotting the murder of Khuzru; they were still anxious to secure the succession for Khurram. One night when Jehangir was drunk, they persuaded him that Asof Khan would be a more suitable guardian for Khuzru than Anna Rai.

51 In political phraseology he received a khillut, or dress of honour, in token of forgiveness. Roe's Journal, 9th and 10th October.

52 This suggestive incident is recorded in Roe's Journal of the 10th October. It is omitted by Pinkerton. It will be found in Purehas and Kerr.

CHAPTER V. That same night Asof Khan called upon Anna Rai in the name of the Padishah to surrender Khuzru. Anna Rai refused; he was warmly attached to Khuzru; he declared that Jehangir had placed Khuzru in his charge; he would surrender Khuzru to no one but Jehangir.

Weakness of
Jehangir.

Outcry in the harem.

Roe's warning

to the English Company.

Next morning Anna Rai told Jehangir all that had occurred; he added that he would rather die than surrender Khuzru to his enemies. Jehangir praised the fidelity of Anna Rai to the skies; he told Anna Rai that he had done well; that Anna Rai was always to do as he had done. Within seven days afterwards Jehangir was again talked over by Núr Mahal. He commanded Anna Rai to make over Khuzru to Asof Khan. Probably the fidelity of Anna Rai to the cause of Khuzru had awakened suspicions in the mind of Jehangir.

Every one at court expected that Khuzru would be murdered to make room for Khurram. The sister of Khuzru, with other ladies in the harem, made a terrible outcry. They refused to eat; they threatened to burn themselves if Khuzru died. Jehangír protested that he meant no harm; no one believed him. He sent Núr Mahal to quiet them; the ladies cursed, threatened, and refused to see her. 53

If

Roe reported these facts as a warning. The East India Company was to beware of pushing its trade too far into the interior. A time was coming when all Hindustan would be in a ferment. Khuzru prevailed the English would be gainers; the empire would become a sanctuary for Christians, whom he loved and honoured. If Khurram pre

53 Roe's Journal, ib.