Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 3.7.1

3.7.1

Another story is this:—Chah-Jehan, displeased with some rude and coarse answer made by the Persian ambassador, was provoked to say, 'Eh-bed-bakt! has then Chah-Abas no gentleman in his court that he sends me such a fool?' 'O, yes! the court of my Sovereign abounds with men far more polite and accomplished than I am; but he adapts the Ambassador to the King.' One day, Chah-Jehan having invited the ambassador to dine in his presence, and seeking, as usual, an occasion to discompose and vex him, while the Persian was busily employed in picking a great many bones, the King said coolly, 'Eh Elchy-Gy (Well, My Lord Ambassador), what shall the dogs eat?' 'Kichery,' was the prompt answer; a favourite dish with Chah-Jehan, which he was then indulging in,—Kichery being a mess of vegetables, the general food of the common people. The Mogol inquiring what he thought of his new Dehli, then building, as compared to Ispahan; he answered aloud, and with an oath, 'Billah! billah! Ispahan cannot be compared to the dust of your Dehli:' which reply the King took as a high encomium upon his favourite city, though the ambassador intended it in sportive derision, the dust being intolerable in Dehli.