Storia do Mogor 203: Names of the Superintendents of the Dancers and Singers, with their Meaning.
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 203
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Contents
Names of the Superintendents of the Dancers and Singers, with their Meaning.
203.1.1
Sondar Bay Sundar Bae Superintendent of Music Soroc Bay Surosh Bae The Good Voice Chalol Bay Chulohla Bae The Happy [5] Merg nen Mirg-nain Gazelle-eyed Lai Bay La'l Bae Ruby Ira Bay Hira Bae Diamond Manca Bay Manasa Bae Pearl Chalian Bay Jaliya Bae The Net Ras Bay Ras Bae Liquor Nen jot Bay Nain-jot Bae Light of the Eyes Merg mala Bay Mirg mala Bae Flowery, or she who is covered with flowers Gol ro Bay Gul-ru Bae Rose-visaged Chanchel Bay Chanchal Bae The Bold Sanchel Bay Chanchal Bae The Subtile Dian Bay Dhyan Bae The Well-informed Gian Bay Gyan Bae The Inventive Ar Bay Har Bae Flower-adorned Morad Bay Murad Bae The Desired Mathalab Bay Matlab Bae The Foreseeing Akas Bay Akas Bae The Celestial Abshera Bay Apsara Bae The Seraphic Caldar Bay Khaldar Bae The Freckled Becond Bay Baikunth Bae Paradise Coshal Bay Khushhal Bae The Happy Nial Bay Nihal Bae The Abundant Ferae Bay Farah Bae (?) The Healthy Golal Bay Gulal Bae The Rose Castury Bay Kasturi Bae Musk or Musk-perfumed Carsewad Bay Kar-i-sawab Bae Taste Bessina Bay Basna Bae The Pleasant-scented Ader Bay Udar Bae (?) The Replete Sanchel Bay Chanchal Bae (?) The Sufficient Guecer Bay Kesar Bae Saffron
203.1.2
All the above names are Hindu, and ordinarily these overseers of the music are Hindus by race, who have been carried off in infancy from various villages or the houses of different rebel Hindu princes. In spite of their Hindu names, they are, however, Mahomedans. Each has under her orders about ten apprentices; and along with these apprentices they attend the queens, the princesses, and the concubines. Each one has her special rank according to her standing. The queens and the other ladies pass their time in their rooms, each with her own set of musicians. None of these musicians are allowed to sing elsewhere than in the rooms of the person to whom they are attached, except at some great festival. Then they are all assembled and ordered to sing together some piece or other in praise of, or to the honour of, the festival. All these women are pretty, have a good style and much grace in their gait, are very free in their talk and exceedingly lascivious, their only occupation, outside the duties of their office, being lewdness. 'Bae' in the Hindu language means 'madam' or 'lady.'
The names of the principal slaves or women servants in the mahal are:
Golal Gulal The Rose Chambely Chambeli The Jasmine Flower Narguis Nargis The Tulip Flower Guecer Kesar Saffron Gaal badam Gul-i-badam Almond Flower
Sosen Sosan The Lily Flower
Hyassaman Yasmin The Festival [i.e., Jashan]
Castury Kasturi Musk
Continuation of the names of the principal slaves in the mahal:
203.1.3
Chumpa Champa. Name of an Indian flower
Rubel Bel Name of another such flower [? jasmine]
Sentz Sainti Another flower name
Senovor Nainufar (?) The Tuberose
Gola Basoy Gul-i-'abbasi The Head of Flowers
Gol Frang Gul-i-farang The Girofle
Ranagol Ra'na-gul The Good Flower
Gole Andam Gul-andam The Shape of a Flower
Golonour Gul-anar Pomegranate Flower
Anar caly Anar-kali Pomegranate Blossom
Salony Saloni The Holy Sweetened with Sugar
Sobaty Suhbati The Pleasing
Neguy Neki The Good-natured
Jasgar Khas-kar (?) The Well-placed
Doulany Daulati Riches
Madraotty Madhumati The Terrible
Sogundara Sugandhara. The Scented
Geony Gyani The Lively or Expert
Choel Koil A bird in India
Lambac Lambuka (?) Lily Flower
Benofchu Banafshah The Violet
Gol rang Gul-rang Flower-coloured
Mendy Mendhi Red Colour [henna]
Sud barg Sad-barg Hundred-leaved
Cosh negu Khush-nigah The Courteous
Sandal Sandal Sandal
Dila Feros Dil-afroz Heart-delighting
Ginda del Zindah-dil Life of the Heart
Guet qui Ketaki Name of an Indian flower [keora]
[6] Nias bo Niyaz-bu Pleasant-smelling
Much naz Machh-naz (?) Smart and Agile
Moty Moti The Pearl
Nee Cadam Nek-qadam The Well-footed Beauty
203.1.4
Achanec Achanak The Unexpected Nas bo Naz-bue Balm, Basilicum Morgnen Mirg-nain Gazelle-eyed Nen sue Nain-sukh Repose of the Eyes Calval nen Kamal-nain Lotus-eyed Dil pasant Dil-pasand Flattering the Heart Dil alam Dil-aram Repose of the Heart Rang mala Rang-mala Crowned with Flowers Bassenty Basanti The Day of Festival Gombary Kamwari (?) Full of Industry Ira Hira The Diamond Coch-andam Khush-andam Perfect in Bearing Sareo gol Sarv-gul A Flower among Cypresses Quis mix Kishmish The ' Escuse ' (?) Pesta Pistah The Pistachio
All these names, and those which preceded, are more Indian than Persian. The kings are very choice about giving names to suit the persons receiving them. So much is this the case that they call these principal slaves by names having some connection either with their walk or their gestures, or their speech or their acts. They are all very well clad, and adorned with valuable jewels. They receive the same pay as the other slaves, and are under their orders ; and each has under her about ten women, over whom she rules.
203.1.5
The expenses of the mahal are extraordinary, for they never amount to less than a carol (karor) of rupees— that is, ten millions of rupees — which makes about fifteen millions of livres of Touraine. But out of this the king draws the money required for the sardpds, or robes, which he presents to generals and officers, as I have said (I. 54). The above expenditure will not appear incredible when we consider that all persons in India being extremely choice about, and fond of, scents and flowers, they disburse a great deal for essences of many kinds, for rose-water, and for scented oils distilled from different flowers. Besides all that expense, there is the betel, which is always in their mouths. It must also be noted that these are the daily expenses, to which must be added the continual purchases made of precious stones. From this cause the goldsmiths are almost continuously busy with the making of ornaments. The best and the most costly of their productions are for the king's person, the queens, and the princesses.
203.1.6
The latter make it one of their diversions to examine and show to others their jewellery. But they have their reasons for this ; for I have noticed several times myself when introduced into the rooms of these ladies, they having asserted that they had some reason for consulting me, that they often caused their ornaments and jewels to be brought, solely as an opening for a conversation. The things are brought in great trays of gold. They would inquire from me their virtues and properties, and make other similar remarks. During this time I had sufficient leisure to examine them, and I may say I have seen every sort of stone, some of an extraordinary size, and strings of pearls very equal in size, which at the first start I often took for various kinds of fruit. I say various kinds of fruit, for there were strings of rubies pierced and strung together just like the pearls, and about the size of a nut. These, by their red colour, diversified that of the pearls, and I took the whole for fruit.
203.1.7
These ladies keep their rubies in this condition in order not to diminish their size and weight, for they know quite well that no one but themselves would be able to wear them, and, on the other hand, they have no need to sell them. Thus they do not mind their being pierced. They wear these necklaces of jewels like scarves, on both shoulders, added to three strings of pearls on each side. Usually they have also three to five rows of pearls hanging from their neck, coming down as far as the lower part of the stomach. Upon the middle of the head is a bunch of pearls which hangs down as far as the centre of the forehead, with a valuable ornament of costly stones formed into the shape of the sun, or moon, or some star, or at times imitating different flowers. This suits them exceedingly well. On the right side they have a little round ornament (boucle), in which is a small ruby inserted between two pearls. In their ears are valuable stones, round the neck large pearls or strings of precious stones, and over these a valuable ornament having in its centre a big diamond, or ruby, or emerald, or sapphire, and round it huge pearls.
203.1.8
They wear on their arms, above the elbow, rich armlets two inches wide, enriched on the surface with stones, and having small bunches of pearls depending from them. At their wrists are very rich bracelets, or bands of pearls, which usually go round nine or twelve times. In this way they often have the place for feeling the pulse so covered up that I found it difficult to put my hand upon it. On their fingers are rich rings, and on the right thumb there is always a ring, where, in place of a stone, there is mounted a little round mirror, having pearls around it. This mirror they use to look at themselves, an act of which they are very fond, at any and every moment. In addition, they are girded with a sort of waistbelt of gold two fingers wide, covered all over with great stones; at the ends of the strings which tie up their drawers there are bunches of pearls made up of fifteen strings five fingers in length. Round the bottom of their legs are valuable metal rings or strings of costly pearls.
203.2.1
All these princesses own six to eight sets of jewels, in addition to some other sets of which I do not speak, worn according to their own fancy. Their dresses are superb and costly, perfumed with essence of roses. Every day they change their clothes several times; this is due to the vicissitudes in the weather, which occur continually in the Mogul country. When these ladies want to dispose of their jewels, it is almost impossible for them to do so. For Prince Akbar, when he was in the territory of Shiva Ji, finding himself without money, sent five rubies to Goa to be sold. They were equal to those I spoke of above. Yet no one wanted to buy, owing to the high prices he asked, also because they were pierced.
203.2.2
All women in India are in the habit of scenting their hands and feet with a certain earth, which they call mendy (mehndi), which colours the hands and feet red, in such a way that they look as if they had on gloves. They do this because they can wear neither gloves nor stockings on account of the great heats which prevail in India. They are also obliged thereby to put on such exceedingly thin raiment that their skin shows through. They call these clothes siricas (?sari) and others malmal (i.e., muslin). Ordinarily they wear two or even three garments, each weighing not more than one ounce, and worth from forty to fifty rupees each. This is without counting the [gold] lace that they are in the habit of adding. They sleep in these clothes, and renew them every twenty-four hours, and never put them on again, but give them away to their servants. Their hair is always very well dressed, plaited, and perfumed with scented oil. They cover their heads with a sheet of cloth of gold, and these are of different makes and colours. During the cold weather — that is to say, the less hot season; as for winter, they do not know in India what that means — in that season, I say, they wear the same clothes, covering themselves on the top of the other things, however, with a woollen cabaye (qaba, a long open gown), of fine Kashmir make. Above their other clothes they put on fine shawls, so thin that they can be passed through a small finger-ring.
203.2.3
Their amusement at night is generally to have large torches lighted, on which they will spend more than one hundred and fifty thousand rupees. The torches are made with wax or oil. Some of these princesses wear turbans by the king's permission. On the turban is a valuable aigrette, surrounded by pearls and precious stones. This is extremely becoming, and makes them look very graceful. During entertainments, such as balls and such-like, there are dancing-women who have the same privilege. These queens and princesses have pay or pensions according to their birth or the rank they hold. In addition, they often receive from the king special presents in cash, under the pretext that it is to buy betel, or perfumes, or shoes. They live in this way, with no cares or anxieties, occupying themselves with nothing beyond displaying great show and magnificence, an imposing and majestuous bearing, or making themselves attractive, getting talked about in the world, and pleasing the king. For, in spite of there being among them many jealousies, they conceal this as a matter of policy.
203.2.4
In the midst of so much idleness, enjoyment, and grandeur, they cannot fail to get their minds loaded with the impurity of many vices. For they never reflect on death, and through all the palaces such a thing is never mentioned, nor anything to bring it before the eyes or mind. When these ladies chance to fall ill, they are carried away to a very pretty set of rooms in the palace, which they style the bimār-khānah, or house for the sick. There they are nursed and tended with all possible exactitude, and they only come forth either well or dead. When the latter is the case, the king seizes all the wealth of the defunct. If the patient is one esteemed by the monarch, he goes to see her at the beginning of her illness, and if she does not recover promptly, he does not go back to her again, but he sends from time to time a slave to ask after the state of her health.
203.2.5
Although the women in the mahal treat themselves so sumptuously and display all the dignity that I have reported, Aurangzeb sees no harm. For all Mahomedans are very fond of women, who are their principal relaxation and almost their only pleasure. Further, it is an ancient custom of the Mogul kings to act in this way. As for the present king, he hardly conducts himself so pompously as his father, Shahjahan. His clothes are very plain, and he wears few ornaments — nothing but a small plume or aigrette in the middle of his turban and a large precious stone in front ; on his stomach another. He wears no strings of pearls, as all his descendants do, down to the fourth generation. His coats are always made of a very moderately-priced material, for each qabā (gown) does not exceed ten rupees in cost. All the stones he wears have special names, almost always taken from some planet, such as the sun, the moon, or that of a star, or other similar names, such as he judges appropriate. He finds it strange to call for them by their own name, which would be to ask for stones ; therefore when he wants to wear one he orders them to bring him the 'sun,' the 'moon,' et cetera.
203.2.6
Of these precious stones the Mogul has a quantity inherited from Taimur-i-lang and the other kings, his predecessors, also those obtained in the conquests of the Bijapur and Gulkandah kingdoms. In addition there are those he is daily buying. This takes no account of the fact that in these days he has become master of the diamond mines, and there is no stint of stones, the largest and best. For, although King Humayun was dethroned and expelled from his kingdom by Sher Shah, he did not thereby lose his jewels, for he took them away and brought them back with him. When a princess is born in the mahal the women rejoice, and go to great expense as a mark of their joy. If a prince is born, then all the court takes part in the rejoicings, which last several days, as the king may ordain. Instruments are played and music resounds; the nobles appear to offer their congratulations to the king, bringing presents, either in jewels, money, elephants, or horses. The same day he imposes on the infant [a name] and fixes his allowance, which is always more than that given to the highest general in the army. He furthermore nominates officials to look after the lands which have been assigned to the child. At the year's end any surplus left from the income of any such prince is kept apart in the treasury. When he is married and has a palace of his own this money is made over to him.
203.2.7
The allowance of no prince exceeds the rank of fifty hazari (fifty thousand), that ordinarily granted to the eldest son. At the present time this is Shah 'Alam, who has an income of twenty millions of rupees. This prince has in his mahal two thousand women, and maintains a court as superb as that of the king, his father. When these princes once leave the paternal house, they work and scheme to make themselves friends. They write secretly to the Hindu princes and the Mahomedan generals, promising them that when they become king they will raise their allowances. The others close with the bargain, and if any of these princes mounts the throne, he fancies that they have been faithful to him. When a son is born to any of the princes it is the grandfather who fixes the child's name. He also grants an allowance, different, however, from that of his own children, giving the child two or three hundred rupees a day. The child's father also gives something, and supports an establishment for the child according to the income assigned him. This continues until he is of marriageable age, and then he is given a grander retinue. The king's sons are called Pacha-zadah (Badshah-zadah) — that is, 'Born of the King' — and the sons of princes are called sazadah (shah-zadah) — that is, 'Born of a Prince' — and they bear the title of Sultan.
203.2.8
Any presents made to the king are accepted in his capacity of sovereign — that is to say, he believes or makes out that these gifts are his by right, as homage rendered to his supreme majesty. Even those of ambassadors are so considered; he receives them with demonstrations which prove his belief that in accepting he is conferring a signal favour. For he estimates himself to be the greatest monarch in the world. For this reason, when he writes to any king he designates him by the titles of consul, syndic, or president.
203.3.1
If anyone makes a present at court in the hope of obtaining some charge or an appointment, and, as sometimes happens, he gets nothing, his present is useless. I was witness of something of the sort, which happened to Monsieur Raisin, a French merchant. He presented to the king an emerald worth one thousand rupees on the supposition that the king, in consideration of the gift, would buy all the jewels he had for sale. Yet he never bought one. Then he (Raisin) was sorry at having given the present, and spoke to Multafat Khan, at that time superintendent of the king's wardrobe, and prayed that he would use influence to get him back his emerald. It is true that he obtained it, but it cost him half of what it was worth [10]. Even then it was a favour the king showed him, because he was a foreigner. It is a custom established throughout India that without friends and without interest nothing can be done. Even princes of the blood royal, if they want to carry out any purpose, cannot do so without paying. It is such a usual thing to give and to receive that when any eunuch or any princess asks the king for something as a favour to some general or officer, be it an appointment or some other favour of any consequence, the king never omits to ask how much has been received. The other side ordinarily admit the exact amount, which the prince is aware of, and he leaves a portion with the intercessor and takes the rest himself, sending it to be locked up in the treasury.
203.3.2
He did not act thus, however, with the wazir, Ja'far Khan. All he did was to direct one of his officers to collect together the money for the appointments granted, with instructions to render an account daily of what had been received, if the total were twenty-five thousand rupees or more; if less, no account need be sent in. Thereupon it happened one day that a certain Fida,e Khan had returned from Ilavas (Allahabad) to court. He was no friend of Ja'far Khan, so one day when presenting to the king an officer seeking employment, he said: 'This trifle has been worth twelve thousand rupees to Ja'far Khan.' The king resented so public a reproach; nevertheless he dissembled, and soon after sent Fida,e Khan to Lahor as governor.
203.3.3
Upon birthdays and other days of festival, above all on that of the New Year, when the king and the princes have themselves weighed, as I shall state farther on (III. 12)—on those days, I say, the chief ladies of the court are obliged to attend at the palace to make their compliments to the queens and princesses. From this ceremony the wives of Pathan captains are exempted. When the ladies attend there they never go in with empty hands, but always carry costly presents to be offered. They remain at the court until the end of the feast, which lasts usually six to nine days. The dancing-women and singing-women receive on these occasions handsome presents from the princesses and other great ladies. They either sing to compliment them on their birthday, or invoke on them all kinds of prosperity when congratulating them at the New Year.
203.3.4
The ladies respond then to all the praises, which the singing-women never fail to shower on them, by full trays of gold and silver coin which they throw to them. All the matrons receive sarapas (robes) and jewels, and their allowances are increased. The great ladies are well received upon their arrival ; they also obtain costly sarapas (robes) and jewels. At the time when they say good-bye their hands are filled with kichari, which is, in its literal meaning, a mixed dish made up of several kinds of vegetables. As to this, it must be remarked that the kichari of these queens and princes is not of that sort, but, on the contrary, a mixture of gold and silver coin, with all kinds of precious stones and pearls, large and small. The day when a prince or a princess is born they give the infant a string of yellow silk with a knot in it, which is a mark of the day he came into the world. The next year, on the same day, they make another knot, and a feast is held as before, and thus they continue to the end of life. Upon the very day of birth they place in a [n] small bag the navel-string which has been severed by a thread, and for forty days the whole is left under the prince's pillow along with certain superstitious writings. At the end of the forty days the bag is hung round the child's neck, and this is never omitted in the Mogul country. The following is the manner in which the Mogul's vassals address him, or, rather, the titles that they give to him, with their meaning :
203.3.5
Azarat Salamat Hazrat salamat Holy in Health Gueble Dia Danie Qiblah-i-din-dunya The Temple of the Faith and the World Gueble do Jania Qiblah-i-du jahanan The Temple of the Two Universes Gueble Ja Sam Qiblah-ja-i-sama' The Temple of the World Alam Pana 'Alam-panah The Support of the World Usually Aurangzeb is called Pir-i-dastgir — that is, ' Holy man who removes with his hand sorrows and cares.' When the little princes, of whom I have spoken above, have reached the age of five, they are taught to read and write the paternal tongue, which is the Tartar, or the ancient speech of the Turks. After this they are made over to learned men and courteous eunuchs, who bring them up with great strictness, and teach them the liberal and military arts. The teachers take the greatest care to hinder the princes from acquiring bad habits. Usually to amuse them they have acted before them many comedies, or their teachers conduct before them legal argumentations, actions at law, or some imbroglio, after which judgments are pronounced. They show them combats and fights and similar things, the whole with a view to their having, should they ever obtain rule, some knowledge of the world's business, and be able to judge in every matter with discernment and without passion.
203.3.6
In regard to this it once happened to me that I was treating a little child of Sultan Mu'izz-ud-din for a small sore he had on his head. One day I said laughingly, to make him forget the pain he felt, that he must not be angry. The eunuchs and the matrons who were present found what I had said to be most extraordinary, and replying to me, they said that Mogul princes were never disturbed in mind, and all they did was void of passion and full of prudence. When the king goes out to hunt or to visit the mosque, he takes these young princes with him. This is the mode in which they are brought up inside the palace until the age of sixteen years. At this age they are married. . . . The tutors are retained all their lives in the palace with a decent pension. After a prince is married the king gives him a separate palace, with a great income and a large establishment; but along with all that he always keeps near them good tutors and most careful spies, who inform him of all that passes every day.
203.3.7
When these princes have gone to live in separate palaces they observe their birthday or other festival themselves in the manner I have stated (III. 10), and their officers are obliged to make them presents in proportion to their wealth. Thus, on this head it happened that in the year 1679 at the town of Aurangabad, where Shah 'Alam was celebrating his birthday, the queen, his mother, then living with him, made him a present of many curiosities to the value of fifty thousand rupees, at which the prince [12] was not satisfied, and complained, saying that his mother had been very niggardly compared to other years. In this way the queen was forced into giving him more presents. The other princesses of his household in the same way gave according to their means and substance. So much is this done, that on such an occasion it is generally indispensable for everyone, small and great, to act in this way and see that their present corresponds to their means and rank.
203.3.8
Their year commences on the 22nd March, at which time a great festival is held, as I have said (III. 10). The palaces are decked inside and out with high and costly hangings, made by order of Shahjahan along with the throne, like a peacock, of which I have spoken (II. 34). This is of very great value, and the maker never had the felicity of seating himself upon it. Aurangzeb was the first, who, upon the day of his coronation, had the benefit of ascending this superb seat. It was placed under lofty tents, and he continues to use it on the festival day of which I speak. It is at that time the usage to place on each side of the throne, but a little lower, all the thrones used by the kings of Hindustan who preceded the present monarch.
203.4.1
It is upon that day that the persons of the blood royal are weighed, according to ancient custom, in different ways — that is to say, first against seven kinds of metal, such as gold, silver, copper, iron, et cetera ; the second, against seven kinds of cloth — cloth of gold, cloth of silver, velvet, et cetera; and the third against seven kinds of grain — that is, wheat, rice, barley, et cetera. All this is done to discover the difference between one year and another. All the things weighed out are given to the poor, and what everyone has weighed is recorded in a book in memory of the occasion. The king makes great gains on that day, for everybody in the palace, and all the nobles of the court, are obliged to make him large presents. The day is called Nauroz — that is to say, ' New Day.' On his part, also, the king scatters his favours to his subjects by placing and displacing governors and officers, by giving jewels, elephants, and horses, and sets of robes (sarāpās). When he is in camp the festival is not celebrated with the same magnificence, and the thrones are not used, since they are never brought outside the fortress of Dihlī.
203.4.2
Another festival is also celebrated, which they call Hid Corban ('Id-i-qurbān) — that is to say, ' the Festival of Sacrifice '; it comes at the end of their Lent. On that day, at nine o'clock, the king comes forth from his palace with great display and majesty, and visits the great mosque, where the chief qāzī awaits him, standing on a platform with seven steps. Behind him is a slave with a drawn sword in his hand, held upright. After the first ceremonies the qāzī is required to announce in a loud voice the names of all the Mogul kings, beginning with Taimūr-i-lang, [and] the years of their reign. All this he must utter with much force and eloquence. On coming to that of the then reigning king he must make a panegyric of him, with which he never fails to mix much flattering praise. He gives him the title of propagator and conservator of the Mahomedan faith. Finally, he applauds all his doings, exalting also to the best of his power his valour and equity. In giving out this discourse the qāzī needs to be very careful, and display much presence of mind, for if he made any mistake and omitted something, the executioner stands ready at his back to remove his head.
203.4.3
This harangue having been finished, the qāzī is rewarded with seven sets of robes, given him by the king. On leaving the mosque, they find standing at the bottom of the steps a camel ready for the sacrifice. The king, having mounted his horse, gives the camel a lance-thrust in the neck ; or if he does not do it himself, he orders one of his children to do it. Usually when Shāh 'Ālam was at court it was [13] he who performed that ceremony, or sacrifice, as they style it. After that the slaves stretch it (the camel) on the ground, and divide its flesh among themselves, as if it were a saint's relics. As I have already given a list of many names of the mahal women, I consider it is not without use to give those of the principal eunuchs of the royal household, serving inside and outside that mansion, or rather prison, for the ladies. Among these principal eunuchs there is always one set above the rest who directs and looks after everything that goes on in the mahal. The man holding this office is highly esteemed by the king. He has a large allowance, has charge of the treasury, is master of the wardrobe, decides on the details and the pattern of the sarapas (robes) to be prepared; in short, it is he who has charge of all the mahal expenditure of the clothes, the linen, and the precious stones, of the jewellery, of everything that goes into or comes out of the palace. Each of these eunuchs has a separate title given him by the king.
203.4.4
Nader Nadir The Excellent Danial Danyal Of Good Family Danech Danish The Learned Doulat Daulat Riches Matlub Matlab Intention Issof Yusuf Goodness Yacut Ya'qut Ruby Almas Almas Diamond Semerad Zumurrud Emerald Nilem Nilam Sapphire Marjan Marjan Coral Macbul Maqbul Graceful Meva Jan Mewa-i-jan Fruit of Life Inayat 'Inayat Favour Nee nam Neknam Good Name Feros Firuz Valour Imaet Himmat Courage Fata Fath Victory Faem Fahim Learned Mahalat [? Mahabat] Mahabat (?) Of Good Family Sahadet Sa'adat The Efficient Salamat Salamat Health Ayat Haiyat Life Daem Da.im For Ever Elal Hilal New Moon Balat Balat Loud-voiced Anvar Anwar Limited Abnus Abnus Ebony Maharem Mabram A Confidante Amit Amrit The Precious Coja Sara Khwajah Sara The News-writer of the Seraglio Holfat Ulfat Friendship Macul Ma'qul Prudent Sadec Sadiq Confident Maclhad Maslahat Imagination Assalat Asalat Noble Amanat Amanat A Deposit Atbar I'tibar Faithful All the eunuchs whose names are given above have the title of nazir — that is to say, guardian or superintendent. The kings, princes, queens, and princesses, place great confidence in these people, and each queen, princess, or other lady of quality has a nazir in charge of her property, lands, and income. All the officials, servants, and slaves are bound to account to the nazir for all they do, and for whatever they have in their hands.
203.4.5
This nazir generally has under him other eunuchs, young and old, of which some have access to the mahal, either to carry billets or do other messages, as the service of the person employing them requires. There are others who are posted at the doors to see who comes in and out of the mahal. They search everything with great care to stop the entry of bhang, wine, ophion (opium), nutmegs (noix muscades), or other drugs which could intoxicate, for all women in mahals love much such beverages. Nor do they permit the entry into the place of radishes, cucumbers, or similar vegetables that I cannot name. When any women come to pay a visit or otherwise, if they are not known they are searched, no respect being paid either to the position or rank of the person. What forces the eunuchs to such strict measures is the continual fear in which they exist that some young man in disguise might enter in female dress. When masons or carpenters, or other workmen are wanted to carry out any job, their names are registered at each gate they pass through ; the descriptive marks on their faces, and so forth, are taken down. A paper showing all this is delivered to other eunuchs, who are required to conduct them out in the same way, and to take care that they are the same persons with the same physiognomy and the same personal marks. All this is for fear of anyone remaining inside, or any change being made.
203.4.6
There are also at the doors women, ordinarily natives of Kashmir, who are employed to carry away and to bring back anything that may be necessary ; these women do not veil themselves to anybody. The chief doors of the mahal are closed at sunset, and the principal door of all is guarded by good sentinels posted for the purpose, and a seal is attached. Torches are kept burning all night. Each of the ladies has a clock, and a scribe who is obliged to report to the nazir all that comes in or goes out, and everything that happens. When a physician enters, he is conducted by the eunuchs with his head and body covered as far down as the waist, and he is taken out again in the same way. All the nobles exercise the same exact supervision of their women that the king does. The reason is that Mahomedans are most extraordinarily distrustful upon this chapter ; and what deserves mention is that some do not even trust their own brothers, and do not permit their women to appear before them, being jealous of them. Thus the women, being shut up with this closeness and constantly watched, and having neither liberty nor occupation, think of nothing but adorning themselves, and their minds dwell on nothing but malice and lewdness. Confession of this was made to me once by one of these ladies herself.
203.4.7
It was the wife of Asad Khan, the wazir ; her name was Naval Bae, and she told me that her only thoughts were to imagine something by which she could please her husband and hinder his going near other women. From this I can assert that they are all the same. If they have any other thought, it is to regale themselves with quantities of delicious stews ; to adorn themselves magnificently, either with clothes or jewellery, pearls, et cetera ; to perfume their bodies with odours and essences of every kind. To this must be added that they have permission to enjoy the pleasure of the comedy and the dance, to listen to tales and stories of love, to recline upon beds of flowers, to walk about in gardens, to listen to the murmur of the running waters, to hear singing, and other similar pastimes.
203.5.1
There are some who from time to time affect the invalid, simply that they may have the chance of some conversation with, and have their pulse felt by, the physician who comes to see them. The latter stretches out his hand inside the curtain; they lay hold of it, kiss it, and softly bite it. Some, out of curiosity, apply it to their breast, which has happened to me several times; but I pretended not to notice, in order to conceal what was passing from the matrons and eunuchs then present, and not arouse their suspicions. Physicians are very well treated by these ladies, and they too, on their side, maintain much discretion both in their way of acting and in their speech, which is always restrained and polished. These ladies are also very liberal in making presents to the nobles of the court, and most industrious in obtaining appointments and promotion for those that they esteem. The presents they make consist of horses, sarapas (robes), plumes, and other things. Very rarely is any service done them or any civility shown that they do not acknowledge it in one way or another, subject, of course, to treating everyone according to his merit, or, rather, according to how he touches the heart of the lady. Thus I have seen how the daughter of Aurangzeb acted towards the Nawab Zu,lfiqar Khan and his father.
203.5.2
This Nawab, having been sent by the king to govern the Karnatik, went before starting to take leave of this princess, because he was married to one of her relations. She presented him with a box for betel-leaf and a spittoon of gold, all covered with precious stones. A year afterwards the king sent his son, Kam Bakhsh, to the same place, for reasons of state, under charge of the wazir, Asad Khan, father of the Nawab above named. He, too (the wazir), went to bid good-bye to the same princess ; she gave him a present of another box for betel, which was only of enamelled silver. Asad Khan, seeing a present of such small value, complained, and said that at the least he deserved a present equal to that of his son, for he was the father, and held higher rank, being, moreover, chief minister of the empire. The princess in reply said there was a difference, he (the son) being her relation, while he (the father) was only in their service. The good man was overcome by this retort, and having made her an obeisance such as is rendered to the king — this being done to all persons of the blood royal, however distantly related they may be — he retired.
203.5.3
The mode in which one bids adieu to these ladies is not such as one might imagine, for you never see them at all. Here is what happens at these meetings : First you go to the door of the mahal, and there speak to the eunuchs, stating the purpose for which you have come. You say you wish your presence announced to the person from whom you are to take leave. The eunuchs carry the message and bring the reply, for, as I said, none of the ladies appear, except when they go out, when they sit in their covered seat, whence they see everything by a little window made of a netting of thread of gold. In a word, no man ever approaches these ladies except their husbands and the doctors who feel their pulses. Nobles dismount, and from afar off make their bow ; to those whom they think more highly of the ladies send word to draw near, and themselves move on for some steps at a gentle pace. Then, when they wish to proceed, they send from their seat some betel-leaf by the hand of a eunuch, as if to send their compliments and a farewell. On receiving this, the noble makes another bow and goes on his way. This is an honour that I myself have received on various occasions.
203.5.4
Among other occasions there was one when the king's wife, the mother of Shah 'Alam, was graciously pleased to give me this testimony of her goodwill towards me in recognition of my having accompanied the prince, her son, from Goa to the court. This princess showed me great affection because I had attended her and bled her several times, in addition to which she had often to send for me, as she suffered much from gout. As it was I who prescribed for her, she often sent me some dainty, as is the fashion of these ladies to do to those they esteem. When I bled her, she put her arm out from the curtain, but wrapped up, leaving only one little spot uncovered, about as wide as two fingers, close to the veins. For that attendance I got from her four hundred rupees and a sardpd (set of robes) as a present, and I bled her regularly twice a year.
203.5.5
It should be understood that before a European can acquire the office of physician among these princes he must be put to the proof for a long time, for they are extremely distrustful and nice in such matters. Every month the princesses and the ladies have themselves bled, which is done in the way I have above described. It is just the same when they want themselves bled in the foot, or have any wound or fistula dressed. Nothing is ever shown but the part affected, or the vein they wish opened. When I bled the wives and daughters of Shah 'Alam, each of them gave me two hundred rupees and a sardpd; but when I had to bleed that prince who was my employer, and he was at the court, I could not do it without the leave of the king. For this bleeding I got four hundred rupees, a sardpd, and a horse. When I had finished I had to report [16] to the king the quantity of blood I had drawn, what was the prince's reigning humour, and reply according to circumstances to the inquiries made by the king on this subject. After this he would give me my dismissal, granting me a sardpd. For each bleeding of one of the prince's sons I received two hundred rupees, a sardpd, and a horse.
203.5.6
Since I have spoken of physicians, and the way the princes and princesses act towards them, I shall state here that the Mogul himself is extremely choice and scrupulous over the selection of his physicians, appointing always the most learned and the most experienced, in order the better to preserve his health. What is more, as there are so many people in his palace, and his court extraordinarily numerous, he keeps in his employ several physicians, to whom the following names are given, which agree either with their knowledge or the treatment and cures they have accomplished :
203.5.7
Great Physician Aquim Busurg Hakim-i-buzurg Physician of the Country Aquim Elmulq Hakim-ul-mulk Physician of Sight Aquim Bina Hakim i-bina Beneficent Physician Aquim Mossen Hakim-i-muhsin Life-giving Physician Aquim Janbalch Hakim-i-jan-bakhsh Physician of Believers Aquim Momena Hakim-i-mu'min Physician in Place Aquim Muzin Hakim-i-muzaiyan Instructed Physician Aquim Fased Hakim-i-fazil Physician Slave of Victory Aquim Abdul Fata Hakim 'Abd-ul-fattah Favoured Physician Aquim Taccarrob can Hakim Taqarrub Khan Good-natured Physician Aquim Salle Hakim Salah Physician of the Pulse Aquim Nabas Hakim Nab? Physician Cherished by God Aquim Alayar Hakim Allahyar Physician Unparalleled Aquim Nader Hakim Nadir Physician Friend of God Aquim Coda Doste Hakim Khuda-dost Physician Giving Repose Aquim Faradbach Hakim Farah-bakhsh Physician Divine Aquim Emteriani Physician of the Body Aquim Badan Hakim Badan Faultless Physician Aquim Becata Hakim Be-khata (?) Physician Assistant Aquim Moccorrom can Hakim Mukarrab Khan Plato of the Century Aflutum El zamana Aflatun-uz-zamanah Aristotle of the Century Aristu El zamana Aristu-uz-zamanah Galen of the Century Jalisny El zamana Jalinus-uz-zamanah Hippocrates of the Century Pocraig El zamana Buqrat-uz-zamanah Bu Ali (Avicenna) of the Century Bualy El zamanah Bu 'Ali-uz-zamanah
203.5.8
All the physicians whose names are recorded above are Persians by race. Those bearing the title of khan — that is, ' noble ' — have a gross allowance of from twenty, thirty, fifty, one hundred, to two hundred thousand rupees a year. I have seen among them men who cured hot complaints with cooling remedies. Few of them know anything about, or can cure, the stone, paralysis, apoplexy, dropsy, anaemia, malignant fevers, or other difficult complaints. They follow the ancient books of medicine, which say a great deal, but tell very little. However, illnesses in the Mogul country are very easy to cure, owing to the heat, which causes perspiration and thus relieves the patient. When these physicians enter the seraglio (mahal) the eunuchs lead them, their heads covered with something thick, which falls as low as their stomach, as I have already said, and they are brought back equipped in the same fashion. It is the habit of these kings to have usually in their service seven thousand slaves of different nations, and some among them are established as chiefs to govern and guide the rest. The king gives them names, and in my time these chief slaves were called as follows. I append a list, in which one will not be displeased at finding the meanings as entered below :
203.6
Hiaesi Bahuder Ghiyas Bahadur (?) Good and Brave Farrad Furada. Haughty or High Nee Ruy Nek-roz Good Morning Nee Cadam Nek-qadam Good Prince Nee Del Nek-dil Good Heart [17] Nee Niet Nek-niyat Good Intention Serrotar Sar-utar Meeting (?) Ilachi Ilaechi Grain of Paradise [cardamom] Mabarec Mubarak The Well Placed Bactavar Bakhtawar Good Fortune Uchara Isharah Vigilant Faim Fahim Judgment Zirac Zirak Understanding Cuchala Khushhala Happy Chalawa Chalawa Good Walker Doulat Daulat Riches Salamat Salamat Health Mahama Mahama (?) Repose Nazer Bahader Nazar Bahadur Valiant Sight Jam sid Jamshid Divining Cup Hiay Haya. Shame Esselam Aslam In the Faith Ala Berdy Allah-wirdi God took him Faridum Faridun Great among the Little Matalub Matlab Wish Mamara Ma'mur Replete Massur Mashhur Clear Azer Hazir Present Niamat Ni'mat Ragout Tara Tara Shining Corcom Khurram Happiness Delavar Dil-awar Lively Atam Hatim Liberal Sujan Sujan Discreet Maharam Mahram Confidante Macbul Maqbul Gentle Elal Hilal New Moon Belal Balal Shouter Cambar Qamar Full Moon Nazer Nazar Sight
These are the names of the king's principal slaves. They are all gentlemen troopers, and have good pay. Set over all the slaves are two captains, and the horsemen are three thousand in number, the foot or infantry four thousand. They have various employments, both within the household and in other duties connected with it. They are resorted to when some coup has been decided on ; it is they who write about it, and execute the royal commands. In addition, they are used as spies to report what is going on, as well among the nobles as the common people.
Just as these princes give names to the queens, the princesses, and all the other ladies of the mahal, so do they impose them upon many other things which they use, such as their swords and shields, their finest horses, their elephants, their heavy artillery, and the principal generals in their army. Of all of these will be given lists, each separately, with the meaning opposite each name. With these I will include the names of several Hindu princes and others of that race. At present I make a beginning by the names of the cattarres (katarah), or sabres of the king, which are as follows :
Duch man Coch Dushman-kush Killer of Enemies Var par War-par From Side to Side Bigily Bijli Lightning Be cata Be-khata Without Fault Duch man setan Dushman-sitan Menacer of the Enemy Be gererem Be-qarari (?) Devoid of Doubt Alam satam 'Alam-sitan World Astonisher Abdar Abdar Fine-tempered Fate Lascar Fath-i-lashkar Army Vanquisher Kam kam Qamqam The Worker Kafar Coch Kafir-kush Infidel-slayer Cha Enaet Shah-'inayat Royal Gift Duch man Pe Dushman-pai Enemy-pursuer Zauro Catell Zahr-i-qatil Murderous-poison Coda Baech Khuda-bakhsh God-given Ali madat A'la-madad Great Assistance Atiar Hathi-yar Hand's Friend Damdar Damdar Life-giving Farque Dota Fariq-i-du-tah Divider in Two Camarzeb Kamar-zeb Waist Adorner Alamguir 'Alamgir World Conqueror (the one Aurangzeb usually carries in his hand) Hiar Bafadar Yar-i-wafadar Faithful Friend Hioson Gusar Joshan-guzar Helmet-cleaver Zore zareb Zor-zarb Violent Stroke Zolom Coch Zalim-kush Tyrant-slayer Zarab Zahr-ab Venomous Fate Alam Fath-i-'Alam World Conquest
The king values all these swords very much ; they have gold hilts covered with costly stones. The daggers are also made in the same fashion, and they are of three kinds, called canjar (khanjar), banc (bank), and cataris (katārah). The king gives them names much the same as those of the swords. Every Friday morning this prince inspects them as part of his devotions, and asks of God that with them he may obtain victory. These swords and daggers have come down from the ancient kings. The prince gives them away to no one, not even to his own children ; as to those of which he makes presents to the generals and captains, they are swords that he orders to be made expressly, or that he buys, or else those acquired in some conquered country.