Storia do Mogor 112: Ambassadors of the Grand Sharif of Mekkah.

112

The Grand Sharif of Mekkah, who is the head of all the Mahomedans, repented himself of not having accepted the money that Aurangzeb had sent to Mekkah early in his reign. The excuse had been that they could not accept such offerings from a son whose father was still alive. He now sent to Aurangzeb an embassy to offer congratulations on his accession, since there was by this time no one who contested the throne with him. The envoys were to find out if Aurangzeb would consent to renew the offering that he had before sent (II. i).
The Sharif sent as present for the king a broom that had been used to sweep the tomb of Muhammad, and with it a little of the dust. Along with these gifts were sent some Arab horses. Aurangzeb received these ambassadors and their presents with great consideration. He redoubled his finesse on this occasion, displaying the greatest solemnity at the mere sight of the broom and the dust. He uttered a thousand praises of Muhammad and the broom, and pretended he was sorry he had not the honour of serving as sweeper of such a highly-esteemed place. Furthermore, he said nothing about the money he had forwarded to Mekkah [86], but told Danishmand Khan to speak to the envoys about it, and inform them that, finding the Sharif did not care to accept the money, he had already applied it to other objects. He believed that Muhammad must have approved his good intention. Thus in a few days the ambassadors obtained their dismissal, carrying away more in the nature of honour than of presents.