Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 3.9.4

3.9.4

Although surprised by so sudden a request, and somewhat offended at being rudely forced from the chamber without an opportunity of assigning the reasons of her conduct, yet this courageous woman did not lose her presence of mind; she struggled with the servants, exclaiming that she had something further to divulge to the King. 'Let us hear what she has to say,' cried Chah-Jehan. 'Hazret-Salamei! (Heaven preserve your Majesty!) It is not perhaps without some reason that my son claims the property of his father; he is our son, and consequently our heir. But I would humbly inquire what kinship there may have been between your Majesty and my deceased husband to warrant the demand of one hundred thousand roupies?' Chah-Jehan was so well pleased with this short and artless harangue, and so amused with the idea of a banyan, or Gentile tradesman, having been related to the Sovereign of the Indies, that he burst into a fit of laughter, and commanded that the widow should be left in the undisturbed enjoyment of the money of her deceased husband. I shall not now relate all the more important events which took place, from the conclusion of the war in or about the year 1660, to the period of my departure, more than six years afterwards. I doubt not that the account would very much promote the object I had in view in recording some of them: namely, an acquaintance with the manners and genius of the Mogol and Indians, and I may, therefore, notice the whole of those events in another place.