Storia do Mogor 186.2

186.2

I waited until the prince had set out, and then I made off, hoping to catch up the ambassador and his boat. But he had gone off to feast himself in the Dutch factory, and thus the attempt failed. When the prince knew of it, he fell into a great rage at my attempted flight, and ordered his foster-brother, Mir Muhammad, to whose charge he had committed me, to go off in search of me, and not to come back to his presence until he brought me with him. He sent an order to the commander of the fleet to proceed in search of me and carry me off by force or persuasion. For he declared unconditionally that he meant to keep me in his service. But he knew I was no lover of violence, so he sent to the seashore a caparisoned horse for me to ride, and an elephant, along with five hundred horsemen to escort me. This was all to do me great honour, but they were to seize me if they came across me. I was much affected when I did not find the ambassador in the boat. While I was waiting for him, I felt happy at having got away from the camp. Then the sentries reported to us how a galliot belonging to the Mahomedans was approaching. Putting my head to the window, I saw that it was Mir Muhammad, and thereby my courage at once evaporated.