Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 2.2.8

2.2.8

At a subsequent period, Begum-Saheb formed another attachment, which also had a tragical termination. She chose for her Kane-Saman, or steward, a Persian, named Nazerkan, a young nobleman remarkable for grace and mental accomplishments, full of spirit and ambition, and the favourite of the whole court. Chah-Hestkan, the uncle of Aureng-Zebe, greatly esteemed this young Persian, and ventured to propose him for Begum-Saheb's husband; a proposition which was very ill received by the Mogol. He had indeed already entertained some suspicion of an improper intercourse between the favoured Nobleman and the Princess and did not long deliberate on the course he should pursue. As a mark of distinguished favour the King presented the betel, in the presence of the whole court, to the unsuspecting youth, which he was obliged immediately to masticate, agreeably to the custom of the country. Betel is a small parcel made of aromatic leaves and other ingredients mixed up with a little of the lime made from sea-shells; this colours the lips and mouth red and agreeably perfumes the breath. Little did the unhappy lover imagine that he had received poison from the hand of the smiling Monarch; but indulging in dreams of future bliss, he withdrew from the palace, and ascended his paleky. Such, however, was the activity of the poison, that he died before he could reach home.