The Book of Jahāngīr's Fortune 14.1

14.1

[The twentieth year of the reign commenced on the 10th Jumada-s sani, 1033 H. (10th March, 1624 A.D.), and the Emperor set out for Kashmir.] As it has been several times asserted, and is especially mentioned in the Zakhira Khwarizm Shahi, that laughter arises from eating saffron, — and that if it is taken in large quantities, there is fear of death supervening, — His Majesty determined on making a trial of its effects, and therefore sent for a condemned criminal from the jail, and giving him a quarter of a sir of saffron, equal to forty miskals, made him eat it in his presence. It did not occasion any change in him. On the next day, he gave him double the quantity, but it did not cause him even to smile, much less to laugh. How then can a man possibly die from eating saffron?