Storia do Mogor 201: THIRD PART

201

Although by perusal of the first two parts it is easy to learn the riches, the grandeur, and the policy of the Mogul kings and those of the other princes of Hindustan, their neighbours, still, as those subjects are scattered here and there throughout the History, I have not thought it useless to write a separate book. It forms the subject of this Third Part of my History; it will, I feel assured, be a great help and most useful to those who undertake a journey to India to see those far-off lands. I pledge my word that if before starting they will take the trouble to read what is here written, they will be able afterwards to judge whether I have faithfully aided Europeans by the investigations and observations which I here communicate.
I must add to these remarks that my object in writing has not been merely to satisfy the curiosity of readers, but to be of use to them. This is the reason that I have not relied on the knowledge of others; and I have spoken of nothing which I have not seen or undergone during the space of forty-eight years that I have dwelt in Hindustan. Nor have I remained in one place, but have been always travelling, holding an honourable and lucrative post, which has given me the means of acquiring a more exact knowledge of everything occurring in this vast empire.
I have decided to give in this Third Part: first, an exact description of the mahal, or Mogul seraglio [2-22]; secondly, an account of the ruler's policy, and how he deals with the kings and princes who are his vassals [22-49]; thirdly, I shall speak of the kingdoms and provinces dependent upon the Mogul — what are the rents and revenues of each separately, and other notable things [49-59]; fourthly, I shall say something about the chief rajahs or princelings either within or round about this empire [59-89] ; fifthly, I shall give a short account of the Hindu religion [90-136]; sixthly, I shall offer some remarks on elephants and other animals [144-155] ; seventhly and lastly, I shall report certain curious events which have happened in India [155 to end].
Most Europeans imagine that the grandeur of kings and princes in other parts of the world cannot compare with what is found at the courts of their sovereigns. Excluding the principal ones — those of the Emperor, the King of France, and the King of Spain — nowhere else can be found, as they think, those airs of grandeur and of majesty which follow in a sovereign's train. But, without speaking of the Emperor of China's court, which, according [2] to the accounts we have, is extremely splendid and majestuous, I assert that in the Mogul kingdom the nobles, and above all the king, live with such ostentation that the most sumptuous of European courts cannot compare in richness and magnificence with the lustre beheld in the Indian court.