Muntakhab al-lubab 76.2

76.2

Aurangzeb now sent Mirza Muhammad, the superintendent of his ghusl-khana, to Abu-l Hasan Kutbu-l Mulk, with a message to this effect : "It has come to our hearing that you have two very fine diamonds of 150 surkhs in weight, with sundry other rarities. We wish you to ascertain the value of these gems, and to send them to us for the balance of tribute due." But he told his envoy confidentially that he did not send him to obtain the two diamonds, which he did not at all want, but rather to ascertain the truth of the evil reports which had reached him. * * Upon the arrival of Mirza Muhammad, he demanded the diamonds, according to his instructions. Abu-l Hasan swore that he had no such gems, and that if he had, he would have been happy to send them without any demand being made for them. * * Such stones as his predecessors possessed had been sent to the late Emperor. * *